Today, my plan was to depart from Barefoot and embark on the Yasawa Flyer to South Sea Island, a vibrant party island in the Yasawa Island chain. I woke up just before breakfast, as was my routine. Ten minutes later, the drums sounded, signaling everyone to gather for the morning meal. Despite the lingering clouds, the forecast promised their eventual dispersal.
Departures and Payments
Following breakfast, I returned to the dormitory. Kim and Dan needed to check out before 9 am as they were set to board the flyer bound for the northern Yasawa Islands, particularly the Blue Lagoon region, a place I had explored a few days earlier. Fortunately, they avoided the potential disaster of staying at Oarsman’s Bay Lodge.
I packed my belongings and completed the check-out process before the 10 am deadline. Placing my backpack in the lobby, I waited in front of the reception desk. There was one person ahead of me, but the receptionist was occupied with a phone call. The call seemed to drag on, lasting a frustrating 15 minutes. With four people now queued behind me, my patience wore thin. I settled the payment for my recent drink expenses, totaling around 55 dollars.
The Phone Call Saga: Unveiling the Fate of My Towel and Book
Inquiring about my book and towel, I questioned whether they had contacted Oarsman’s or Blue Lagoon, a query I had posed multiple times the previous day, with assurances each time that they would make the necessary calls. Observing the receptionist finally dialing the number, I couldn’t help but humorously think, “Yesterday was probably Fiji time.” After three attempts, she successfully reached the staff at Oarsman’s. Though the people waiting behind me had been inconvenienced for about 20 minutes, I remained indifferent, as this delay was beyond my control. The only thing I could claim responsibility for was forgetting the towel and book, haha.
Upon concluding the call, my initial fear was that she had received unfortunate news – that the towel and book were irretrievably lost. Fortunately, luck was on my side; they had located my belongings and promised to dispatch them. I had to ask for Mela on the flyer, the woman that would have my items in her possession when I boarded later in the afternoon.
Parting Ways: Farewells with Dan and Kim
The discovery of my book filled me with immense joy; at last, I could indulge in reading again. I strolled back to the dormitory, only to realize that everyone had vacated the premises. Following their whereabouts, I located the group enjoying the ambiance of Sunrise Beach.
They chatted, and I opted to grab a drink before joining their conversation. Once we were all gathered, I shared the exciting news about finding my lost book. As Dan and Kim prepared to depart, we exchanged farewells. Kim provided valuable information that I knew would come in handy later. After bidding goodbye and shaking hands, they left.
Hospital Chronicles and Svetlana’s New Roommates
Svetlana and I lingered on the beach, engaging in further conversation. She opened up about her work as an assistant in the operation room of a hospital in Germany, sharing some captivating and, at times, unsettling stories. The tales made me ponder the myriad things that can go wrong. Despite the occasional fear-inducing stories, discussing hospital experiences turned out to be an engaging and fun conversation. I reciprocated by sharing some of the crazier incidents I had encountered during my time on the neurology ward in Amsterdam.
Svetlana’s new roommates arrived after some time. I had playfully teased her the day before, predicting that they would be Germans, which she had hoped to avoid. As fate would have it, Svetlana overheard them speaking German, confirming my prediction. True to form, they turned out to be two German girls, with one displaying a slightly arrogant and agitated demeanor about traveling, much to our amusement. Svetlana later confided in me that she didn’t like them at all.
Navigating Fiji’s Risks
After lunch, we headed to Sunset Beach and relaxed there. I approached Mette, asking to borrow her Fiji Lonely Planet as I needed some quick information about the map. My plan was to explore the southern part of Viti Levu and possibly visit Suva if time allowed. However, I couldn’t shake off a bit of concern, as some people had warned about the potential dangers in Suva due to robberies. Mette shared her experience of having her phone and other belongings stolen in Nadi, which served as a stark reminder of the presence of criminals in Fiji. It surprised me, even though I had read about such incidents six months ago, haha.
After a while, it was time for me to bid farewell. I boarded the motorboat and set off towards the flyer.
Farewell to Barefoot: A Heartfelt Send-off and Seaside Arrival
The weather was idyllic. Moments before our departure, the Barefoot Island crew gathered us together. They delivered a heartfelt speech and sang a farewell song in Fijian, creating a genuinely moving atmosphere. It was a stark contrast to the lone individual at Oarsman’s, strumming an effortless tune on his guitar with a weary expression, haha. After their heartfelt performance, each member of the crew shook our hands. Their warmth and kindness made my stay truly memorable, and I couldn’t help but cherish the moments spent here.
Upon boarding the Yasawa Flyer, I encountered Jacob, but he opted to sit inside. Choosing to relish the outdoor breeze, I found a pleasant spot. The weather cooperated beautifully, prompting me to capture some photographs. To my delight, Mela, a Fijian woman employed by the ferry company, handed me a bag containing my towel and book.
Arrival at South Sea Island: A Sunset Odyssey
After a journey of two or maybe three hours, we eventually reached South Sea Island as the sun was setting. Approximately 30 individuals arrived at the flyer from South Sea Island, mostly day visitors. To my surprise, only Jacob and I were departing from the flyer.
Upon boarding the small motorboat, I promptly captured 30 shots of the sunset. Capturing images on boats is often challenging due to the rocking motion, resulting in many potentially poor shots. Despite these difficulties, I managed to capture some incredible images. Additionally, Jacob had a close call, nearly losing his hand while disembarking from the flyer. Fortunately, the attentive staff on the flyer prevented the potential disaster.
In just 5 minutes, we reached the island and were welcomed by two guys lounging around. It seemed they were anticipating the arrival of some girls, haha.
Seaspray Voyage: Concluding the South Sea Island Chapter
We checked in, and the lady at South Sea Island welcomed us warmly with a touch of humor. “Okay, Maarten, you’re doing the sail trip tomorrow? Then I don’t want you to come back. When you leave tomorrow for the Seaspray, you will return directly to Port Denarau and not South Sea Island,” she said with a big smile.
Playfully, I responded, “You’re a horrible host, miss,” accompanied by a smile. Tomorrow, a full day of sailing awaited me, marking the end of my island-hopping adventure. The lady mentioned that I was fortunate as the sailboat was back in operation after undergoing maintenance for a few days. Reflecting on the remarkable luck I’d experienced on this trip, I eagerly anticipated visiting a special island the next day—a destination I had been looking forward to for six months.
Sunset Photography and Dorm Exploration
After getting comfortable in our spacious dormitory, I decided to capture the picturesque surroundings. As dusk transitioned into darkness, the colors of the sunset evolved gradually, showcasing the incredible beauty of Fijian sunsets.
Following my photography session, I returned to the dormitory, ensuring all the doors were securely locked. Currently, about 15 people were asleep in the dorm, although it had the capacity to accommodate 30. Interestingly, there was a significant number of girls on the island, mostly English and reminiscent of the Geordie Shore type – a group I personally didn’t have much fondness for.
Dinner at the Island
At dinner time, I joined Jacob and the two guys, Rooney and George, whom we had encountered upon our arrival. Rooney and George, hailing from Norway, were on an incredible global journey, having explored countries such as India, Vietnam, Australia, and many others. Their travel route was truly remarkable, extending to the United States and South America after Fiji. They shared some fascinating stories about their adventures.
The dinner menu featured chicken, two types of salad, and a pancake, served on a generous platter. Although it was delightful, the portion was quite substantial, and I found myself unable to finish it.
Lively Nights and Happy Hours: A Vibrant Evening at South Sea Island
The party atmosphere at South Sea Island was lively, as they generously extended their happy hour by an additional 30 minutes. Even after the official happy hour had ended, when I inquired about getting a beer at the happy hour price, they graciously agreed. Typically priced at 6 dollars, during happy hour, a beer cost only 3.50 FJD.
After dinner, we gathered outside for a chat, and after about 30 minutes, some girls joined our group. The newcomers included a girl from the US, one from Canada, another from Germany, and two from Norway. To break the ice, I initiated a conversation by jokingly asking the Canadian girl if it was true that Canadians were afraid of the dark, making a reference to How I Met Your Mother. Everyone caught the reference and shared a laugh.
The evening unfolded pleasantly at South Sea Island, with everyone sharing their travel stories. Martina and Stine, the two Norwegian girls, along with Beth, the Canadian girl, had also booked the sail trip. Marco from Switzerland was joining as well, but Jacob opted out due to the 200 FJD cost. Despite the allure of free alcohol, soft drinks, and food on board, Rooney and George chose not to join us, finding it too expensive.
I felt a surge of excitement for the upcoming trip, and it seemed contagious as the others shared in the anticipation. Around 11:30 pm, I headed back to the dormitory, finding only Martina, Stine, and me still at the table. The rest had retired early for the night. I spent some time typing travel blogs before deciding to call it a night at around 1 am. Tomorrow promised to be an awesome day.
