Fiji/Samoa Holiday Trip

Happy New Years Everyone! Here is how I spent the holidays in 2015. This was the first Christmas I was away from my family, so I knew I needed to do something awesome. So 9 of us, Peace Corps Volunteers, headed to Fiji and Samoa for the holidays.

First stop: Nadi, Fiji: 9 Volunteers

In Nadi, we went shopping because we decided to do secret Santa, visited a Temple, and waited for our luggage. The crew in Vila did not put anyone’s luggage on the plane. That’s right none!!!! So we had a little over 24 hours without luggage. Once we had our luggage, we were ready for our next stop.

And we are off!!!

On our way into town!

The market in Fiji!

Lunch!

Hindu Temple in Fiji!

We had to wear their tradition clothing to walk around!

Second Stop: Beach House: 9 Volunteers

On our way to Beach House we stopped at the Sand Dunes. It was really hot and I was not feeling that great, so this was not fun. LOL! I was so happy when we got to the Beach House. This is a backpacker’s hotel. It was really neat. They had a swimming pool, pool tables, games, activities, and the beach. We hung out here for a few days and just relaxed. The food was really good. We did our Secret Santa exchange here. Lucas drew my name and he got me a frame and a wooden bowl. I love them. Thank you Lucas! We said goodbye to two of the volunteers who were making their way to the states to spend Christmas. It was a sad day.

Sand Dunes

On the beach of the Sand Dunes.

Birthday Sparklers for Cole and Lea!!

Sunset at Beach House.

Our Secret Santa Exchange!

Third Stop: Suva, Fiji: 7 Volunteers

This was the best part of the trip, because I got to eat McDonalds, sushi, and drink margaritas. We also all sucked it up for Lucas and went and saw Star Wars in there brand new theater. It was great. It felt just like home.

 

Need I say more...

Busing it!!!

It taste so good!

Hanging out!

Hanging out!

Hannah's Breakfast!

Star Wars Movie

My movie buddy!

What??? We couldn't go there because the locals say it is not safe :(

Fourth Stop: Apia, Samoa: 7 Volunteers

Samoa was amazing. We started out in the city for a couple of days. We ate BBQ, went to a museum, swam in a trench, trek through a cave that had fresh water at the end of it, visited the Ma Tree, and 3 of us got tattoos. We also stayed in Beach Fales, which were amazing. You are literally sleeping on the beach. This was my favorite part of the whole trip. It was absolutely beautiful.

Hannah swinging in the park!

Chillin' in the water!

 

The trench!

Inside the trench! It was beautiful!

At the other end.

Photo time!

This was the scariest thing!

Our Beach Fale! Hannah and I shared this one!

Playing card games at the Beach Fales.

The Cave!

Took a stroll on the beach!

Hannah made a friend!

The Ma Tree!

Hello!

Just the Girls!

Fifth Stop: Savaii, Samoa: 7 Volunteers

In Savaii, we stayed in Beach Fales again and had a beach to ourselves. We swam in a waterfall, watched blowholes, walked on a canopy, and celebrated Lucas’ birthday. We were quite busy but always found time to enjoy the sunrises and the sunsets.

 

Our Beach and Beach Fales for a few days!

Walking to the Blowholes

Blowholes

Busing it!

The Cool Kids!

He is too cool for pictures!

The other Cool Kids!

Walking and Walking!

The View!

The view from the waterfall!

The waterfall!

Walking to the Blowholes!

Blowholes

It was so cool!

Loved it!

The stairs to get to the canopy!

Elise on the canopy!

The walk!

Lucas!

The view from the top!

We made it1

All of us at the top!

Lucas turns 25!

First thing in the morning!

Happy Birthday Lucas!

It was so windy that he had to sit on the floor to light the candles!

He got it!

Make a wish!

The sunrise from my Fale!

Sixth Stop: Apia, Samoa: 7 Volunteers

We headed back to the capital for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. On Christmas Eve, 3 more of us got a custom tattoo. This is how I spent my Christmas Eve. It is said that the word tattoos originated from Samoa. Custom tattoos are huge in Samoa and you can find them everywhere. I did not have an interest in getting one until I saw them, and I fell in love. So, I decided to get a custom one. It was in the cultural center of the city. We were in a verandah by the water. You lay on a mat and he does your tattoo tools from bones, turtle shell, and wood. We had to wait about 7 hours because he was fully booked but made time for us because we are Peace Corps Volunteers. It was an awesome experience. (There are no pictures because you were not allowed to take pictures.) This was my fourth tattoo in a year. Then, on Christmas day, we were all not feeling that great. (I let you infer why.) We did go eat Christmas dinner at an Indian restaurant. I really missed being home and all of the Christmas traditions. However, I will say I did get to hear all Christmas music I wanted to because they were playing it everywhere in Samoa. Even if it was a remix version of “The Little Drummer Boy” with Lil’ Wayne in the background. On Christmas Day, we said bye to two more volunteers as they were making their way to New Zealand.

Our Christmas dinner!

Seventh Stop: Fiji: Beach House: 4 Volunteers

Here we parted with another volunteer as she headed back to Vanuatu. So now it was just the four of us girls! First we went to Beach House for a few nights. We relaxed and hung out.

Eighth Stop: Suva, Fiji: 4 Volunteers

In Suva, we ate guacamole and drank margaritas again. I met with a volunteer who is from Tampa and is serving in Fiji. We went and saw a Bollywood movie. Then for New Years we hit the town and went club hoping. Then on New Year’s Day we had to make our way back to Nadi due to a cyclone that was headed towards Fiji.

 

New Years Eve!

Ninth Stop: Nadi, Fiji: 4 Volunteers

We stayed at another backpackers hostel called Bamboo. It is very nice and relaxing. We hung out for the next 3 days. On our last night we went and ate Indian Food and it was amazing. Then on January 4^th, we made our way back to Vanuatu.

 

My view for the weekend of the cyclone!

At the airport! 

I finally got a picture with a Christmas tree! 

Overall, this was an amazing experience. I would have never done any of this without this group. This group is very adventurous and they make me do things out of my comfort zone. Three weeks is a long time to spend with anyone, but there were defiantly more laughter than tears.

12 months in, 15 to go!