| | Aug 29, 2006 - Fiji Part 2 - The Stunning Yasawa Islands | (click to enlarge)
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 | | show all 45 | | Mamanucca Island Chain | | View from the main bure at Manta Ray Resort | | Massive storm hits the Yasawa - can hardly stand in the wind! | | |
| Yasawa Islands - A Three Week Island Hopping Adventure
After working our way back to Nadi from the eastern side of Vita Levu, we boarded the big yellow high-speed catamaran called the Yasawa Flyer that runs like a daily bus through the Mamanuca and Yasawa Island chains. With our 21-day pass, we were set to explore these sunny islands, sandy beaches and friendly locals at a nice and relaxed pace. Previously, before the introduction of the Yasawa Flyer, the Yasawa islands were very isolated and cut off from much tourism with the exception of some of the high-end luxury resorts. However, today these isolated islands are experiencing a boom of tourism with resorts of all levels opening up and increasing in size. However, the isolation is still there with no access to phone lines, internet, newspapers or TV you are forced to relax and enjoy your surroundings forgetting about the rest of the outside world.
If you want some help to envision the Yasawa Islands, think of Tom Hanks in Castaway or Brooke Shields in Blue Lagoon - both filmed in the Yasawa Islands. For 21-days we hopped between 6 different resorts from the basic resort with incredibly warm and friendly staff of Coral View Resort to the quaint and incredibly well run boutique resort of Nanuya Island Resort situated on the Blue Lagoon. Our favourite beach, and one of the best in all of our travels we found at Oarsman's Bay Lodge. The huge white sand beach, perfect calm blue waters, incredible snorkelling and friendly staff made it our favourite stop in all of the Yasawas. However, Octopus Resort was a close second with it great food, beach, staff and incredible amenities.
Our three weeks in the Yasawas were marking the end of trip. From here, we fly back to the US before heading back home and wrapping up our year long adventure. Between basking on the beach, snorkelling, hiking or kayaking, we spent time dreaming of friends and family back home, what it will be like to return to work and what kind of an adjustment process it will be like returning to our regular lives. Regardless of what we were thinking or daydreaming, we were in a state of complete and utter relaxation in our tropical beach heaven.
The time flew by and before we knew it, we were back in Nadi getting ready to fly to LA. The Fijians definitely lived up to their reputation as being the friendliest people in the world. They just love to live a simple life, laugh, sing and have fun and often I think how they have the most important part of living perfected to an art - something which has been lost in our fast-paced commercial world. The beauty of the country and their people will definitely have us heading back for another visit - hopefully sooner rather than later!
www.carlhenderson.ca
www.imagestoframe.com
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