We had a wonderful week staying with Bill, Polla, Api, Nani, Sarah, Moses, Dam, Omni and Jim. It truly was a cultural immersion, where we lived like a Fijian villager, but we ate like Fijian kings - thanks to the womens' amazing cooking skills with produce sourced mainly from their backyard and the ocean. The family's local knowledge made our daily adventure trips to several of Fiji's natural treasures even more amazing. There is good coral snorkelling off the beach that is a shell's throw from our accomodation, as well as off the beach behind the school. Trips to Castaway Island, the limestone cave, snorkling with sharks, the walk up the mountain and others were excellent. Visits to the church service and school were delightful. We loved the beating of the traditional drum early in the morning and evening calling families to pray.
Some tips if you plan to visit from overseas:
- buy a Vodafone sim (Digicel is useless on the island)
- bring your own snorkels to ensure a perfect fit
- bring hats with good straps under the chin to ensure they stay on during the boat rides
- consider bringing stationary items for the local school
- bring cards and books for rest times
- come with a flexible attitude as you wont have several of your western comforts.
We highly recommend this stay for those who are adventurous and outdoor inclined.