There's no place like home

 

It's time for my final post!  Don't worry, I'll make it as brief as I can :-)

 

After leaving Fiji I made it safely back to Lucia's where the mammoth task of making everything fit into my bags began.  It was like packing away in the beginning!  In my travels in and NZ and the South Pacific I had picked up a few more things, mostly Christmas and gifts for family.  I had been fortunate enough though to be able to leave things in Lucia's as I had been travelling so I now had to figure out how to fit everything in.  At this point I decided to ditch a few things, mostly clothes.  To be honest they were pretty much falling apart anyway - 7 months of constant wear and constant hand-washing is not good for clothes!

 

I had a day and a half in Auckland before my epic journey home (more about that shortly) so it was good to have a final catch up with Lu.  I think it's only now that I'm home that it's really sinking in that she now lives so far away!  I also got the chance to have a drink with Kelly and Hayden from the Odyssey group who are now living in Auckland.

 

 

After some final farewells it was time to start the journey home.  The flights that I had booked were not how I would choose to fly home from Auckland, but given that my plans had changed and I was not going to the Philippines, I had to alter my flights and the route was longer than I would have preferred but the best option available at the time.  In all it was to take me more than two days travelling on 5 different flights as follows:

 

Auckland to Melbourne - 3.5 hours

2 hours in Melbourne Airport

Melbourne to Singapore - 8 hours

15 hours in Singapore, including clearing immigration and changing terminal

Singapore to Kuala Lumpur - 1 hour

3 hours in Kuala Lumpur Airport

Kuala Lumpur to Heathrow - 14 hours

5 hours in Heathrow, including clearing immigration and changing terminal

Heathrow to Edinburgh - 1 hour

 

I am not going to lie, it was hellish.  I had already booked and paid for accommodation in Singapore as it was supposed to have a night there before heading to the Philippines so I headed there for a few hours to get a shower and some sleep, which was great.  The 14 hour flight to London though felt like it took forever, I honestly think I watched the flight information screen showing 'Time to Destination' count down for 14 full hours!  There were times I had a pair of these so I could click my heels and be home.....

 

 

 

Anyway I made it back to Scottish soil and it was lovely to be met at the airport by Gillian, Natalie and Liz.  We headed towards home and picked up Mick before heading to my house.  My mum, Viki, Keira and Tracy were there.  Viki and Tracy knew I was coming but it was a surprise for Keira and my mum - well worth the hassle of keeping it secret just to see their faces!  I think they were pleased to see me :-)  An hour or so later it was time to surprise my dad, who had been at a night out.  After some more emotional hellos it was time for bed!  After me being the one doing the surprising, there was a surprise for me - Gillian and Viki had decorated my bedroom whilst I was away (anyone who know me well will know that painting is something I hate more than most things so this was totally appreciated!).  They had put this transfer on the wall which I think totally sums up the past year....

 

 

I spent the next few weeks getting over my jet lag (it was a complete and utter nightmare turning round the 13 hour time difference), catching up with friends and family, trying to do this blog and getting ready for Christmas.  All of that is over now and it's time for me to go back to work tomorrow.  I have to say that I am very pleased to be home.  It was a long time to be away and I was ready to come back - it was hard work living out of a backpack and never spending more than a few days in the one place.  It was exhausting but amazing at the same time.

 

I suppose it's time for me to get reflective about the whole experience - but I'm not going to say too much.  I didn't do this to 'find myself' or for some life changing experience.  I think I know who I am already and I think my life is pretty good too.  I did it because, after 20 years of working I decided that I wanted a break from it all.  I was in a fortunate position of being able to do this financially and I decided to combine this time off with the opportunity of travelling.  It has been amazing - I have met some wonderful people whom I hope I will stay in touch with, shared some fantastic experiences and been to some spectacular places.  If anyone gets the chance to do any sort of travel of this nature I say go for it, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. 

 

As for future travels, the world is a big place and there's still a lot I'd like to see.  In fact for Christmas my mum and dad bought me a map where you can scratch off all of the countries you've been to.....

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see there's loads still to be scratched off but that will (hopefully) be done during shorter holidays over the course of my lifetime rather than a big trip like this.  Well that's my view at the moment but never say never!  As for the next destinations, I have my eye on a few places - Canada, Cuba, Morocco and Central America to name a few but all in good time.  I also plan to see more of the UK - I've spent a lot of time money and energy travelling when there is a beautiful country right here to see.  Let me know if you fancy joining me at all, company is always welcome!

 

All that remains to be said is thanks for reading - it hasn't been easy keeping up this blog!

 

PS - I was going to write a whole lot of hints and tips for future travellers but decided against it.  If however, you would like any of this information I'd be more than happy to pass it on from both mine and my fellow travellers perspectives.

Bula and Vinaka from Fiji!

Bula!

 

Bula means hello or welcome in Fijian and you are greeted with it everywhere you go, with strangers stopping to say bula as you walk past initial impressions of Fiji definitely welcoming.  Now that my plans have changed and I'm no longer going to the Philippines, Fiji is my last 'new' country on this trip (I have a few days in NZ and Singapore on my way home).  I'm also on my own again for the next 10 days as Katie has returned home.  Although I've now been away from home for 7 months I haven't had a great deal of time on my own so I'm hoping to enjoy it before I return home.

 

After being greeted once again by the live music at the airport, I cleared customs and was met by Isao.  He was the driver who would be taking me to my homestay in the Fijian village of Namatakula on the Coral Coast.  It turns out he was also my host, as it was his family that I would be staying with.  On the way to the village we stopped at the local market to buy food before heading to the village.  I was exhausted when we got there as I had been up since 2am to get to the airport in Samoa so I had a siesta before meeting the family later that afternoon.  Everyone was very welcoming.  I met Simon, Isao's father, as well as his younger brother Boro.  I also met his wife Rosa and his children but I can't remember all of their names!  Everyone was very friendly and in the 3 days I spent there I got to see first hand how a Fijian family live.  I wandered round the village and listened to the church singing on the Sunday morning, went swimming with the children and visited the school on the Monday morning.  The children were happy I visited as they got a welcome break from their schoolwork and got up to sing me a song.  I've tried to upload the video here but it doesn't seem to work which is a pity :-(

 

Here are some pics!

 

(I took this from their website as I didn't have one of the family together)

 

The village...

 

 

 

Trip to the school.....

 

 

After farewells, it was time for me to head back to Nadi where I would head to the marina and try to get on a boat to the famous Fijian islands. I was very excited as I had wanted to Fiji for a long time and it was pictures of the islands that had drawn me to the country to begin with.  I had enjoyed my time with the family to get a taste of the real Fiji but it was time to hit the beaches!

 

I got to the marina and made my way to the desk to try and sort out an itinerary for the next 6 days.  I had missed the ferry that would take me up to the further away islands but was able to get on one to get to a closer island later that afternoon then connect a few days later to get to some other islands.  All in all I was to visit 3 islands in 6 day, 2 nights on each.  First stop was South Sea Island.  It was tiny, you could walk the perimeter in about 6 or 7 minutes!  It was lovely though.  Here are some pics of the island and others I passed on my journey there....

 

 

 

The sea was really amazing colour of blue

Storm in the distance

Next day I left the island to do a day trip on a sail boat round a group of islands called the Mamanucas.  During the day we would stop on the island where the Tom Hanks film Castaway was shot as well as visiting an village on one of the other islands.  I had been up during the night prior with an upset stomach and was in two minds about whether to go but I had paid for it so thought I'd best go.  I'm glad I did, whilst I didn't feel brilliant all day I did get to see the islands and even got to do a wee bit of snorkelling.  Not ideal but better than missing out!

Here are some pictures of the trip...

 

Where Castaway was filmed

 



The sail boat, Seaspray, which was built in Glasgow

Stop off at the village....

 

Mangos

Crew entertaining us on the way back

 

When I got back to South Sea Island I was pretty tired and still felt a bit rubbish so headed to bed for an early night.  The next day I was up and about ready for the ferry to take me to my next stop, Nabua Lodge.  I felt much better but was a bit nervous about getting on the ferry as it was a 4 hour journey and I was worried about how my stomach would handle it.  I was right to be worried, it was a very choppy journey.  I don't normally get seasick but having been feeling unwell before getting on the boat the choppiness just sent me over the edge!  Ah well, it was all worth it when I arrived at Nabua as it was just gorgeous, a true tropical paradise.   I was to spend 2 nights there and I was happy - my own little beach hut (bure) was great as was the view from my front door....

 

 

Inside my bure

My view

 

Chilling on the hammock

My bure

 

Being welcomed off the boat by the staff

General pics of the resort....

 

The drum - this gets beaten to advise of meals

Free mangoes left for you to help yourself

 

Teahouse 5 minutes walk from the resort

 

Afternoon tea and cake for £1.50

 

 

 

 

Next morning it was time for a snorkelling trip to the Blue Lagoon, where Brooke Shields had filmed the movie of the same name many years ago.  It was stunning and the snorkelling was great.  I wish had brought an underwater camera to show you what we saw - definitely a recommendation for anyone doing a trip where there is going to be snorkelling and/or diving.  Never mind - here are a few pics that I did get....

 

 

It was a lovely few days at Nabua.  I read, chilled on the hammock, swam, snorkelled and chatted to fellow guests and felt I was truly on Fiji time!

 

Next and final island stop was Wayalailai.  I got there late afternoon and my room wasn't ready, so I was asked if I wanted to do some jewellery making with the local women.  It was fun and I made a small bracelet for Keira.  Soon my room was ready and I found I had been upgraded to a luxury beachfront bure - luxury!  It was lovely and a perfect way to spend my last few days on the islands.

 

The next day was Sunday and there were no activities planned as the staff all attended church.  It was nice just to go for a walk along the beach and swim. 

 

Some pics of Wayalailai......

The inter island ferry

 

My luxury bure

 

 

 

I had one night back on the mainland before my morning flight back to NZ and basically the start of my very long journey home.  More about that in my next, and final, blog.  For now it is time to say farewell to Fiji.  It is simply stunning, spectacular, beautiful - I could throw a dozen adjectives at it!  The people are also lovely, very warm and welcoming.  All that remains to be said is a huge Vinaka (thank you), I hope I will visit again someday.