It was close.... but it wasn't me..

1. view from the window in my hotel room at the Savusavu Hot Springs Hotel

2. the hot springs- the gentleman is cooking Taro root- which takes about an hour in the bubbling water

3. so is this safe?? looks like the logs are holding up the second floor!

4. from my window I can see the rain coming and going each day- pretty neat.

5. the pool I try to swim in each day- when it is not raining and there is a bit of sun

6. start of the natural rock water slide

7. middle of the natural rock water slide

8. The Garden Island Resort staff cultural show

9. The Garden Island Resort staff cultural show

10. back to traveling on small planes

11. The good bye song at Mantaray Island - the staff was amazing there- so nice.

12. Then Band Boys played each night

13. Kava- a local drink- tastes like mud and you mouth and lips go numb.. lots of fun!

14. the cross marks the spot where the last missionary was eaten by the Fijians!

15. the international dateline- one foot in today and one in tomorrow

16. basket making 101

17. my poorly made basket, that the guy literally called "crap" and made me a new one the next day!!

18. view from the top of a coconut palm - I didn't climb it though!

19. the main bure from outside- pretty stable huh!

20. the main bure where the meals were held ( and good meals they were! Only two with cilantro and I tried everything!)

21. sunrise

22. the nicest sunset ever

23. somehow the males dancer photos turned out better than the ladies!

24. dragged on to the dance floor... uggg..

25. Soso villagers doing a show

26. first sunset at Mantaray Island Resort - the Yasawa Islands

27. went on a village visit... some live better than others!

28. my double bed- finally

29. Bure #7 - 2 nights!

30. my view from the hammock at Mantaray

So I had a close call, but I am fine and after 3 days of sleep don't feel so stressed... but I'll get to that later..

So since the last posting I haven't done a whole lot. I have really gotten into the relaxing in the sun bit, so nothing too exciting to report. I headed to the Northern Islands of Fiji after the Yasawas and Mantaray Island Resort, to the Island of Taveuni and the Garden Island Resort for 6 nights. This resort was soley focused on the amazing 15-20 different dive sights in the Somosomo Straight's Rainbow Reef. So I did dive two of the sights. Amazing 60 foot coral walls full of fish and colorful coral at the White Wall and I did a drift dive at the spot they call Pot Luck. I finally think I am getting the hang of diving and appreciating what it is all about.

On the fourth day I ventured out of the hotel with one of my dorm mates and toured a catholic mission where the last act of, recorded, cannibalism occurred in Fiji, then to the international dateline that runs through the town, and to Waitovala and natural rock waterslide. That was fun!

In the afternoon Brandy and I joined 5 others for a hike to a waterfall to spend the rest of the day, but it was a slippery walk and on one path we had to climb over a sketchy spot along an embankment to see a cave, then go back over it to get to the path with the waterfall. I got over, then one of the other ladies and as I climbed the next path toward the waterfall I looked back and someone had fallen. Brandy had slipped down the 15-25 foot embankment to the rocks in the river below and was unconscious and bleeding from her head. The guide had also fallen with her and likely saved her life by keeping her upright. After what felt like forever (2+ hours, in and out of consciousness, vomiting) help arrived and they carried her out and after a bumpy ride to the hospital and another long wait she had x-rays and has a small fracture to her skull.

Luckily for her a group at the resort had become friendly with us and one of them was a doctor, who likely saved her life, by encouraging the Fijian hospital to take certain steps. Another of the group had some good insight of the steps to take and the resort manager had a lot of pull as well. She spent 24 hours in the hospital (F$150), then they got her out of there to spend her time in the much more comfortable hotel room (away from the Yellow fever outbreak at the hospital as well!). So for 3 days I spent at her side helping out as much as I could and trying to make her as comfortable as I could.

My plane was scheduled to depart of Friday, so I left her in the hands of the others and flew off to the town of Savusavu on the island of Vanua Levu. I was exhausted, so literally slept for 2 1/2 days, then ventured out to tour the hot springs (which they cook in , not swim in!) and the one main road of town, that took about an hour! Then it has been raining, so I got to sleep again. I have a few more days, so I will see what there is to do, not too much I hear, but I will see. Brandy was scheduled to arrive here as well so I think I will hunt her down tomorrow.

I hope all is well. Missing ya, but will be back soon. 6 1/2 more weeks or so..