First of all, there are finally a couple of photos online. NZ ten, our crossing to Fiji and Fiji one. For the last two nights we’ve been anchored off Mana Island. We’ve made use of the resort’s pool for several hours a day, Adam is usually parked next to a Pina Colada. The ladies had a night out in the resort and got roped into a ‘sexy leg’ competition (neither of them won due to the ‘judges’ being newly married husbands). Leonie made an impression during Karaoke later on.
Yesterday we somehow ended up playing Bingo next to the pool… Adam winning enough for another Pina Colada…
Leonie looked after a boat load
For the last two nights we’ve been anchored off Mana Island. We’ve made use of the resort’s pool for several hours a day, Adam is usually parked next to a Pina Colada. The ladies had a night out in the resort and got roped into a ‘sexy leg’ competition (neither of them won due to the ‘judges’ being newly married husbands). Leonie made an impression during Karaoke later on.
Yesterday we somehow ended up playing Bingo next to the pool… Adam winning enough for another Pina Colada…
Leonie looked after a boat load of sleeping children while we went snorkeling on the south side of the island which turned into an absolute wonderland of amazing fish, clear water. The highlights were seeing two turtles, and Nemo and his brothers and cousins, sharks and a very relaxed Napolean Wrasse which was huge – around 1 metre long and maybe 50kgs. The most entertaining part was a visit from an overly friendly White Tip shark who came cruising up behind Sharon. I think she wet her pants. She did not find it amusing at all when I tried to offer her hand to it, in fact she literally crawled onto my back to get away from it. I’m not sure what she thought was good about drowning me in the process! It certainly made the heart beat faster.
So, today, we all went to the same spot on the reef, this time with 4 blonde children as bait. Wow, 2 Turtles, 5 sharks, big schools of fish – in fact, a whole ocean of fish right where we were! Spectacular. When I asked Kent what he saw underwater today he said "A shark (a White Tip bigger than him), and 7 turtles” (which is true, except the 7 turtles were in a tank onshore after we’d been snorkeling!) A small celebration was held for Nathan - finally looking under water with his goggles. It was just a pity it was in the pool and not out on the reef.
Tonight we’re back in Denarau, we’ve had a fun afternoon playing in the fountains, and a very nice Italian meal. Tomorrow Adam and I will go 40 mins north by taxi to clear customs (removing us from Elena’s crew list) and then head back towards Denarau for the flight home to New Zealand.
We have had a fun time, and a challenging time, we are not rested, in fact we are very tired, but we are refreshed. Would we do it again? Oh yes. I would anyway. Sharon will fly next time. We take away lots of great memories, and 1157 photos to sort through.
Adam and Leonie have been such good fun, we’ve shared so much together over the past 6 months, and shared even more in the past 3 weeks. They are really wonderful people who have a very refreshing outlook on life. Sharon and I are very happy to call them friends.
Summary:
Adam has learned me some good sailing knowledge, I have tried to learn him some gooder English. And to put less sugar in his coffee.
To those we’ve met on our travels with Elena, good-bye, and we hope to see you again another time.
Ciao. Jon, Sharon, Kent and Nathani