Oceania

This has very beautiful countryside, with stunning views. We spent one month here in October 2005, traveling from one end to the other - this time in a campervan. I did have more photos of here, but when we were in Rotorua our campervan got broken into, and lots of our traveling photos, passports, and a few other belongings were taken. So if anyone does travel though New Zealand in a campervan, please be careful with your belongings in Rotorua. However, this didn’t ruin our visit, and traveling in a campervan was such a great experience for us. We also went skiing in the mountains, and took a high altitude tandem skydive at Lake Wanaka. This lake has the most spectacular views and has to be one of my proudest moments, as I am not great with heights. But it was on my bucket list of things to do, and I’m so glad I did it. It was such a buzz, and a happy moment in my life.

The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific. This place is just a Wow moment, and the waters here are just incredible. We were on Rarotonga in November 2005 for a few weeks. We went jet blasting - have you ever heard of jet blasting? There is only so many places in the world that you can do this, and they have signs saying ‘JETBLASTING AREA’ like in the picture to the side. Jet blasting is when planes fly over you, and you can feel the power of the plane and wind blow your hair everywhere, as you are that close to it. But not to worry, as you are still safe.

The people here are so lovely; such happy, loving people. When we were here we went along to the church, and I am not a church person, but this church was rocking. They were singing, dancing, clapping, screaming praise, and falling onto their knees. Proper gospel singing. It was so buzzing to watch and join in, you must pop along if you ever go here just to experience it, even if church isn't your thing. Then at the end of the service they do a free food buffet on the grounds outside, for everyone that went. After Rarotonga, we took a short flight over to Aitutaki, on a small plane. I didn't think we could see clearer waters, but Wow, just blown away. Then Barefoot Island, wow again, just out of this world - so picturesque.

I was here Fiji in October 2005 for 1 month, traveling around a few of the islands. We travelled around the Yasawa Islands, which are a chain of islands in north-western Fiji formed from volcanic activity. The islands are mountainous, and filled with greenery. Picture perfect beaches with palm trees.
When you are here, the locals love you to try their local drink ‘Kava’. They are obsessed with it, and find it rude if you do not try it. Some say it makes you hallucinate, and it tastes horrible. It didn't make me hallucinate, but it didn't taste too good. It was very chilled here on all the islands, so take lots books to give you something to do, read and relax. We went to the beautiful Nanuya Levu Island, where the blue Lagoon was filmed. It was stunning here.