Day Seven - October 14th, 2013

Today, which was October 14th, the weather was around 85 degrees. It felt very nice outside, not too cold or too hot. Today we decided to go Mountain Biking and we set the alarm for 8:00. Once we were awake we changed out of our pajamas and ate leftover room service from the day before. Once everyone was ready to go we headed downstairs and picked up the car. Megan drove to the place we were supposed to meet for the tour.  We got there around 9:30 and waited for the place to open.

Once it opened at ten, we picked out our bikes. I got a small pink bike, Miranda and Megan got a double seated blue bike, and Meghan and Krista both got green bikes. We collected our free water bottles, bike locks, and helmets and tr. walked outside. A shuttle took us and our bikes up to the top of the mountain. You could see so far from the top of the mountain. The view was stunning!!

We started our journey down the mountain. Megan and Miranda kept falling off the bike and it took a while for them to get used to pedaling at the same time. Once they got the hang of it we took off again down the mountain. It was pretty easy since the trail was mostly down hill and the breeze felt so nice since it was very warm out today. We stopped for a few minutes and took a dip of our water and stretched our legs. We kept going down the eighteen mile trail and when we got halfway we stopped at a campsite. They offered us crackers as cheese, pretzels, or a turkey sub. We all got the turkey sub but Ashlyn picked the crackers and cheese. We stayed there for about thirty minutes while we rested and climbed on the giant rocks. 

Once we were ready, we headed down the mountain and stopped at the creek we went swimming in the pond and played in the many waterfalls. The water was so refreshing and it felt nice to relax.

When we finally got to the end of the trail, it was almost dinnertime. We packed up our stuff, returned our bikes and headed to the parking lot. We drove back to the hotel and ordered food from the bar in the lobby. They offered burgers, chicken, anything greasy. We all got chicken fingers and a huge order of onion rings to share. We went back to the room when we were done and changed clothes. We headed down to the beach and took our snorkel sets with us. We looked at all of the fish in shallow water and ordered drinks from the beach side bar. Megan tanned and Meghan sat at the bar. Krista, Miranda and I went on a walk and collected shells from the hot sand.



It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

-Ashlyn 

Day Six - October 13th, 2014

It was October the 13th and it was a little bit colder than it has been the past few days. Today, we are going white water rafting in the Navua River. We had to wake up SO early. We woke up at around 5:45 and ordered room service since none of the hotel restaurants were open until 6:30. I ordered fresh fruit and toast with jelly. Miranda and Megan split an order of scrambled eggs and bacon, and Meghan got pancakes again. Ashlyn ordered eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, fruit, and a tall glass of orange juice. I guess you could say that she was hungry. After eating and putting on swimsuits underneath our clothes we headed downstairs.

We were getting picked up from the hotel a few blocks down the street so we started our walk. The sunrise was so beautiful! We all took pictures on our phones and then sat down on a bench to wait for our ride. Ashlyn was grumpy because it was so early in the morning. Ashlyn is not a morning person. When the car got there we hopped inside to begin the 45 minute drive to the Navua River.

Once we got there we all met in the River Fiji Tours building. A nice lady dressed in a flowered top, and jean shorts talked to us about the rules and safety of White Water Rafting. It was about 7:30 when that was over and she took us on a walk through the jungle. We finally got to the beginning of the  River and three guys handed out life jackets, paddles, and helmets. They assigned all five of us into one boat and we started out on our journey.

 

The River had really tall walls on both sides and the water was so pretty! After a few hours of going down steep areas in the river and almost getting flung out of the raft about ten times, we reached the first stopping point. The people waiting for us gave us a small snack and a bottle of water to take with us in the raft. So far,  it had been a really fun day. We got back into the raft and started paddling again. This section of the river was crazy! We were going so fast and there were so many rocks in the water. We flew off of one waterfall and landed back on the bottom. We got soaking wet!



We finally reached the second stopping point and we were all hungry and tired from paddling. The people waiting for us gave us lunch and they were so nice! We all got turkey subs and a bag of chips. We got another bottle of water and we waited about fifteen minutes before leaving again.

After going through the third section of the river, we were really close to the third stopping point. Right before we got to the dock, Megan went flying off the back of the raft. We were all laughing so hard that we had to stop paddling. Once Megan was back on we ate our snack and then kept on going.

By the time we got to the end of the river, we were all so tired. We got dropped off at the hotel, and then walked to a Chinese restaurant to pick up take out. We ate dinner by the pool and ordered some drinks from the Flying Fish poolside bar.



We took a quick swim in the pool and went back up to our room to watch a movie. We all took turns showering during the movie and we ate one of the fresh mangoes from the Shopping Tour. We watched Mean Girls and by the time it was over, everyone was asleep except for me and Ashlyn. We turned off the TV and went to sleep. It was a great day. I cant wait for tomorrow!

-Krista

Day Five - October 12th, 2014

Today is October 12th,
The past few days have been long due to the time difference. I am starting to get used to the time zone here. I have made sure to get a few naps in every now and then to try and catch up . This morning I woke up with no one but me in the room it was really relaxing. I think I must have overslept. I ordered room service which was free! I got so much food and the workers that delivered it were extremely nice! I looked down at my plate of food and that there was toast, fruit, eggs, bacon, and so much more. YUM!

Today is going to be one of my favorite days. We are going to the hot springs and mud pool, and then getting massages! I hope to be able to wrestle some people in the mud pit! I am going to a quick market just down the street with Megan and Miranda this morning to buy some bathing suits and these cover ups that  most girls wear down here!

Miranda, Megan, and I just got back and chose the CUTEST bathing suits and cover ups ever! I cant wait to be able to wear mine to the hot springs. Today should be so relaxing and fun with my friends. This trip was one of the best things that we all planned.

 


Today for lunch we all just wanted something small, but of course I was starving and ate a TON. Meghan, Krista, and I went to a local cafe. Meghan and Krista shared a salad and I had a sandwich, chips, and salsa.  Megan and Miranda stayed at the hotel and had room service.

Off to the hot springs now! I am soooo excited, I've been waiting for this since before we even left! I will have to write about it when I get back! I hope it is as good as I read it was.

One of the best experience in my life was today. The hot spring and mud pool was to die for! It was so nice stepping into the warm mud at first it felt gross then ended up being so fun! The hot spring was very relaxing and made me so tired. Megan, Miranda, Meghan, Krista, and I swam around for hours. 

After all the fun in the mud pool and springs we went for massages. Lets just say the Fiji people's hands work magic! It was the best massage I ever had. They had all our tables set up on the beach. You could hear the waves. They placed cucumbers on our eyes then started giving us messages. It felt like it went on forever! 

Now I am feeling so entirely relaxed. Now all of us are going to go down to the pool and try and get a bit of a tan! 

Here's to another great day❤️ 

Ashlyn

Day Four - October 11th, 2014

Today is October 11th and it is a beautiful day!
We woke up around 7:00 and started off the day by going to the Hotel lobby for breakfast. We went to the Pantry again. We all ordered the buffet and I had a HUGE stack of pancakes. Everyone else got omelets and fresh fruit and Krista got a muffin. It was all so yummy!

After getting ready we headed back downstairs and walked outside. Today we were going on a shopping tour in Sigatoka, a city near Fiji's capital. The first thirty minutes of the tour, a tour-guide showed us around this huge building. It sort of reminded me of a flea market, but the stuff was so much cooler! There were booths set up with fresh fruits and local food, some with hand woven clothing, and others with beautiful jewelry. We bought three papayas and saved one for later. Miranda, Megan and I all shared one papaya and Krista and Ashlyn shared another. They were SO good! It was juicy and sweet and I wanted to buy more. We bought two mangoes and three bananas to take back to the hotel with us.

Next, we walked over to where there was handwoven grass skirts and bowls made out of different kinds of grasses. We all bought grass skirts with really pretty flowers on the top. Ashlyn bought a scarf with purple and blue designs on it, it was gorgeous! Miranda bought a headband made of flowers and long grasses. Krista, Megan, and I all bought flower necklaces to match our grass skirts.

 

Finally, we went to the area that had handmade jewelry. They had so many necklaces, earrings, and bracelets! None of us could choose what we wanted to get, everything was so pretty! I finally decided on a silver ring in the shape of a starfish. Ashlyn and Miranda got silver earrings that were in the shape of a starfish with diamonds on them. Megan got beautiful rose gold seashell stud earrings and Krista bought a Silver necklace with a K on it. We all got matching leather bracelets that said FIJI on them to remember our awesome trip together. 

 

When we were done shopping we found a small cafe that had amazing looking sandwiches and pastas. I forget the name of it, but it was delicious! Everyone ordered a sandwich and a diet coke. We also bought a side of pasta salad to share. It was very refreshing and everything was to die for. When we were finshed eating we found a gourmet deli and we all ordered a slice of cheesecake and some ice water. We looked around the few stores and then it was time to go. We started heading back towards the meeting place and were all tired. We got there at 1:25 which ended up being perfect timing! After the 45 minute drive back to the hotel, we headed up to our room and put on our new swimsuits. We decided it was the perfect day to go relax on the beach after our eventful morning. 

 The view was so pretty! We ordered some cold sweet tea and put on some sunscreen. Miranda and Krista headed out into the water. They told us that there were a ton of fish, and we could tell that the water was really clear. Ashlyn, Megan and I laid out our beach towels and started tanning. 

Once we were all ready to head in we packed up our stuff and dried off. We went upstairs and took turns showering and we dressed up nice for dinner. Megan and Ashlyn were both wearing light blue sun dresses, and they looked drop-dead gorgeous. Krista and I wore a skirt with a tank-top and a light jacket in case it got cold. Miranda wore a strapless grey dress with white detailing and a white cardigan. 

We headed downstairs for dinner and we decided to go to the Hard Rock cafe. It was only about half a mile from the hotel so we decided to walk. We sat outside and watched the sunset. The colors were absolutely beautiful. The food was delicious and we all had a great time. 

After a short walk home we all went to bed. We had such a fun day, and I am so excited for tomorrow!! (:

-Meghan 

Day Three - October 10th, 2014

Today was our first full day in Fiji!

We rested up well yesterday and we all really enjoyed going kayaking! The water was so clear, it was a perfect first day there!

We woke up around 8:30 to start getting ready for our biggest day of the whole trip! Our timing was perfect! We were able to make it to the celebration of Fiji Day! This celebration rolls around every October. Fiji Day is the day that Fiji won its independence from the British in 1970 on October the tenth.

We decided to go for a walk and we found a little place for breakfast and coffee! We ordered fresh fruit and coffee. They let us grind the beans by ourselves! I've never had a better breakfast! It wasn't far from the hotel so we will hopefully be able to go back there again during the few days that we are here!

The walk back was such a pleasure. The scenery was to die for and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world! Miranda, Ashlyn and I decided to go for a quick wander on the beach. Krista and Meghan went back for a bit more rest. The beach sand was so warm between my toes and there were gorgeous shells all over.

We got back and had to start getting ready. Ashlyn, Krista and Meghan all put on pretty sun dresses with their hair and makeup done perfectly! Miranda and I wore long maxi dresses and curled each others hair on the balcony. It was amazing! Its so good being on vacation with my best friends.

Time to celebrate and have a great time! Fiji day is Fiji's largest celebration every year. We got there and sat in a room with hundreds of people! We listened to so many inspiring people speak. Then came the best part. A HUGE dance! There were so many bright colors all over, it was the prettiest thing I have ever seen. The native people put on a show with a few traditional dances and outfits and then it was our turn to start dancing. All of us were first on the dance floor! It was a blast! While we were dancing three cute guys told us that they would show us around the island sometime soon.

Next, we went to the parade. There were colorful costumes and lots of floats. There were people handing out small candies that I had never seen before. They were delicious! People in grass skirts walked by us juggling coconuts and it was one of the coolest things I had ever been to. Before we left, there was a huge fireworks show! The festival was coming to a perfect end.

Then it was dinner time and OH MY GOSH it was the most delicious dinner ever! We all tried almost everything that they offered including steak, fish, chicken and so much more. All of the food came from locals. It was all to die for! Then came dessert and HOLY COW! It was fresh pineapple covered in chocolate and cinnamon. I think we all decided we would have to have that again while we were here!

On the walk home we all talked about how amazing our day was and how were so glad to be in Fiji together. When we got to the hotel, everyone hopped into bed except for me. It was my turn to write about our wonderful day in Nadi, Fiji.

Off to bed now! Can not wait for another adventurous day tomorrow!

 -Megan

Day Two - October 9th, 2014

Today was the day we were going to arrive in Fiji!

We were still on our flight from LAX to Nadi, Fiji. Ashlyn and I were still asleep but everyone else was awake. We were flying over the ocean and we were about to start descending. Krista woke Ashlyn and I up and everyone was excited! Even though everyone was tired, we stayed awake to watch as we flew over Fiji. It was so pretty!

We landed at around 5:30 in the morning and got off the plane. We waited for our bags to come around the carousel and we called for a cab to get to the hotel.

We were staying at the Sheraton Resort in Nadi and when we pulled up everyone was amazed. The hotel was perfect!! Even the lobby was nice. We got to our room and asked for a rollaway bed. Everyone unpacked and we took a nap before starting our day.

We woke up around noon and went downstairs to find something to eat. We ate at The Pantry which was in the hotel.  It was a gourmet deli. Krista, Megan and I each got a sandwich and a small bowl of pasta. Meghan and Ashlyn both got pasta and salad. It was delicious!

We went back up to our rooms and got changed. We headed down to check out the pool. The hotel had SIX swimming pools! The main pool was surrounded by restaurants and bars and we decided to go for a swim. The weather was perfect! Not too hot, but  just right.



After relaxing by the pool for a while we decided to go kayaking in the ocean. The hotel had complimentary kayaks and life jackets. We carried two kayaks out to the waterfront and put on the life vests. After getting flipped over and washed in by waves, we finally got the hang of it. It was a lot of fun.


We decided it was time to go in because the sun started to go down. We carried the kayaks back up to the hotel and then went up to our room. We all took turns getting ready and then we headed back down for dinner.

We ate at the Flying Fish restaurant on the other side of the hotel. It was so cool! The restaurant had waterfront dining and live music. The fresh seafood was delicious! After a long day we headed back to our room and quickly fell asleep. It was the perfect day.

 -Miranda

Day One - October 7th/8th, 2014

Today we start our trip to Nadi, Fiji.

We left for the airport around 3:45 and got there at 4:00. After going through security, we found our gate and sat down. Krista went and picked up 5 sodas and some candy bars and  chips for the plane trip.
We were so excited to get to Fiji!!

When we finally sat down on the plane, Ashlyn was already hungry. She ate her chips and then went to sleep. Meghan and Krista were sitting across the isle from Megan, Ashlyn and I.

The plane took off and it started to get late. Everyone fell asleep except for Megan. She was watching a movie on her Ipad.
                                                                                          
Finally, we arrived in LAX. Our Flight was about five and a half hours with a three hour time change, so we got there around 8:00pm. Everyone was so tired, since it really felt like 11:00pm. Since we had such a long layover time we decided to sit down and eat at a nice restaurant.

Once we were all full we walked around the airport looking at different shops and stores. We decided to go sit down at our gate just to make sure the gate had not changed and that everything was running smoothly.

We boarded our next flight and it was almost midnight in West coast time.

Once again, we all went to sleep and it was a pretty smooth flight.

 We also experienced what felt like another day and which ended up being another day, but its only because we crossed the international date line while taking our last flight to Fiji.

Well, we are all awake now due to the fact we all are experiencing jet lag. We all decided to challenge each other in drawing contests and we got the flight attendants to judge! It was the most fun I've ever had on a plane. Of course every time the flight attendants judged, they could not even tell what Ashlyn, Meghan and Krista drew. On the other hand, Megan and I were always trying to beat each other.

 I am so excited, we are almost there! I can almost see the clear waters from the window! I can barely stay in my seat.

-Miranda