From: asanders@email.com
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999
Subject: Bula Bula!
Hello everyone!
Arrived Fiji with a not so bad flight from LA and met Liz accordingly in the airport.
Wow! What a sight. Tropical paradise. Upon arrival, we chatted with an agent who promptly persuaded us to go to an island that same day. A few hours later we were on a local bus to Lautoka and a very sketchy boat trip to Waya Lai Lai, an island in the Yasawa island group. The Blue Lagoon was actually filmed on the isle opposite the one where we stayed. Fell in love with the place and stayed a 7 days.
The Fijian people are by far the warmest I've ever met. Became very friendly with the staff and listened to story upon story of village life. So very different from the western experience. I mean... REALLY primitive. Anyways, also met some great people / backpackers. If you think I'm travelling for a long while, think again. My trip is weak compared to most of the others'.
Played a lot of volleyball. The coral reefs come right up to the beach. Made shell necklaces. Got up at 4:30 AM in pitch black to hike to the highest point on Waya throught the rain forests. Beautiful. Came back soaked in mud. There goes that white shirt. One down - 4 to go. Saw spiders that would keep you all up through the night. ENORMOUS! Cool vegetation - the works. Drank too much beer. Apparently, there is some diarhea epidemic that is sweeping Fiji and everyone on Waya complained that they were affected. Well, there went the weight I gained over the holidays. Wish it were always so easy.
OK. Do any of you even know that there are 3 hurricanes circling Fiji? Thought so. I'm in a record breaking cyclone summer. Surprise, surprise. Lizzie and I started to get really stir crazy on our island so came back to the main island along the coral coast and stayed at a beach house resort for $8.50 US dollar per night. Fun but still more rain. Went biking through villages. Went canoeing. Met Mali yesterday, who taught me to weave myself a fan, hat, and bowl. Very cool. Wish me luck getting through customs.
Came to Suva this morning with Liz and Robert, a fellow traveller from Texas who's been on the road for 6 yrs. Damn smelly bus ride. Would someone send deodorent to the Fijians pu-leaze! Nearly died but here I am in my first semi-urban area. We're flying to Taveuni tomorrow afternoon. It's supposedly the prettiest island of all with the best diving. I will get my certification this week! Yeah!
Hope you are all well. Love you all.
Amy
XO
Dad - Please email me the net amount of my bonus chk. I'm saving all credit card receipts so when Jan's bill comes, run down the charges from my FAC a/c so I can compare. Tks. Love you loads and loads. Give Robbie a kiss for me.