Get out of Suva
These are pictures are from Lawaki Beach House. Our most recent attempt to escape the rainy cold Suva winter. A complete jungle of an island with just a handful of villages and of course, resorts. If the tide is out here, you can't snorkel, which means your are pretty much restricted to doing not much. Great for relaxation from our busy lives over here.
If i had a boat like this i would sail it to a spot like this too.

If you look to the background of this photo you can see what we were running away from in rainy Suva. Meanwhile, we had fantastic weather on Lawaki, except for the wind of course.
Whilst this photo adds to our collection of Fijian sunsets, it also shows the boat that we got over there in. As sturdy a vessel as she is, I think it will prevent some from making it to this island. Admittedly we did have pretty bad conditions, but it is not the most comfortable vessel to be in when there are about 1.5-2m swell combined with wind of about 25 knots and about a one hour trip back to mainland.
Another over the shoulder photo.

What comes before Part B?

Like all good overseas jaunts we are having our share of parties. Below is the birthday girl getting on down to celebrate her day.

Bella decided to have a Masquerade theme for her party. A few anonymous bowls were had beforehand. If you have worked out which one Bella is the other two are our housemates Joel and Lou.

A mad cow and half a fairy crash the party.

This is just Bella dressing up for a "wrong" party. I just thought i would put it in.

First visit from a Family Member

Benson graced us with his presence for a week in which he saw a side of Fiji most tourist choose to ignore. He spent about 10 days with us in rainy Suva to start with. Mostly occupying himself with the various eateries around the place and what he could get for a little as possible. I think his favourite was the 50 cent roti wraps at the market which are a veggie curry wrapped up in a roti. The local open aired buses pumping out the reggae music was also a favourite.

Ben also brought with him the first care package from home. Of which, the main ingredients were a whole bunch of lollies and 4 pairs of thai pants. Bella, needless to say, was excited to see both Ben (who she hadn't seen in over 12 months) and the package.

Somehow we managed to get sunshine on the first weekend but Bella and Ben chose an indoor option, much to the disagreement of myself. The evidence is below, notice the brilliant sunshine outside. I don't know, the Wallace's and reading, honestly.

We did however make it to the touristy path on the last weekend before Ben's departure. But still just staying at simple accomodation and catching the local buses around to the local beach. Ben you'll be pleased to know i didn't put in the photo of you losing all your money in poker.

This is Natadola beach, the best on the main island. Notice the huge surf that me and Ben were about to take on. There was a perfectly breaking lefty a short walk away. Problem was it was about half a foot and pretty hard to catch. Twas fun to paddle around in the sun, none the less.

The elder siblings.

DIVING

Finally got some pictures of us diving. Been doing a fair bit and will hopefully be doing a lot more. The first lot are from Nananu.

Me, Bella and Shaun (another aussie volunteer)

Me

These are from Beqa Lagoon. Our closest diving option being only an hour out of Suva. Dodgy gear but good diving. Pity the regs (the important bit) weren't as new as the wetsuits.

The dive guide obviously thinks its cold during the chilly Fijian winter. Still happy though.

The all aussie dive team (notice the matching uniforms). Tim, Bella, Me, Neil and Shaun.