| Until recently,
backpackers heading up to the Mamanuca or Yasawa islands had to endure
a two or three hour ride in a small boat, which usually left them wet and
fearful for their life!
Now, however, there's
a more comfortable boat service which takes travellers from island to island
in the two chains, leaving from Denarau on the main Fijian island of Viti
Levu.
Take a look at the
weather in this photo - this is the dry side of Viti Levu, but it's still
quite common for the weather on the mainland to be cloudy or even raining,
while it's sunny just offshore. |
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Some of the islands in the Mamanuca group are high and arid like the ones
shown here - Malololailai, Malolo, and Mana. Any forest
these islands had has been stripped by goats and other introduced animals.
The
resorts on these islands are usually very expensive, but they are surrounded
by magnificent stretches of healthy coral reef. |
| However, many of
the islands are tiny, and it's entirely beyond my understanding why anyone
would spend their entire vacation here. |
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| As you can see,
it certainly is sunny, the beach surely is great, the water definitely
is magnificent, and there is even some coral down there, but if someone
comes here and thinks they've seen Fiji then they're delusional! |
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| These places are
so small than it wouldn't be at all surprising if a cyclone or hurricane
wiped them off the planet. Even their names are transitory
- every time ownership changes they change the English name of the island.
I think this is Navini, but I'm not sure if it's also called "Bounty Island"
or "South Sea Island". |
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| This one is Beachcomber,
it has a reputation as a party island |
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| It caters for 200
guests at a time, plus day visitors. |
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| The nearby Treasure
Island is a bit bigger, and caters more for families. |
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