Today’s agenda includes a sailing trip to Monuriki Island, an exquisite uninhabited location renowned as the filming site for the movie Cast Away. I experienced a challenging night, much like the others in the dormitory. The room was chilly and drafty, and the sheet provided wasn’t particularly warm. Rather than enjoying an uninterrupted night’s sleep, I found myself waking up multiple times throughout the night.
Basking in the Morning Sun: Enjoying Breakfast and Sunshine on South Sea Island
Jacob attempted to wake me early for sunrise, but I declined and went back to sleep. He and the American girl went to witness the sunrise, and Jacob managed to capture some amazing pictures. An hour later, I woke up for breakfast, which was delightful and quite substantial. I was thrilled to finally have some orange juice, a treat exclusive to South Sea Island.
Following breakfast, I reclined on a lounger next to Jacob, basking in the morning sun. The gentle breeze and the overall atmosphere left me somewhat disappointed about leaving this paradise. South Sea Island truly lives up to its reputation as a little piece of paradise. After some sunbathing, I decided to capture some pictures of the island before my departure for my trip to Monuriki Island.
A Nostalgic Departure from South Sea Island
At 9 am, the moment to bid farewell to South Sea Island arrived. I utilized my flight bag to protect my backpack from getting wet on the boat and to make it easily recognizable. The Fijian staff had crafted a lovely sign on the beach, and I took some final pictures as a keepsake. Wistfully, I contemplated the distance from home, wishing I could return to this idyllic place someday.
Martina, Stine, Beth, Marco, and I boarded the small motorboat, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the flyer that would take us to Mana Island. While waiting, a Fijian guy struck up a conversation with me about football. He expressed his support for the Netherlands in the upcoming World Cup, and I thanked him, acknowledging that we would certainly need it.
The flyer approached, and we all settled on the top deck. From that vantage point, I captured some last pictures of South Sea Island.
Mana Island
We surrendered our vouchers for our trip to Monuriki Island, receiving in exchange stylish paper bracelets—a reminiscent feature of those you often receive at festivals or clubs. It felt somewhat akin to entering a club, though this one came with the perk of free drinks, haha.
About an hour later, Mana Island came into view. It presented itself as a picturesque honeymoon destination exclusively catering to affluent couples. Unfortunately, solo travelers were not permitted on the island at all.
Boarding Seaspray
As the boat turned the corner of the island, we were greeted with breathtaking views. The coral reefs in this area were truly magnificent, prompting me to capture about 30 pictures within just three minutes. Upon reaching the port, I felt a slight disappointment with the size of Sailspray; I had anticipated it to be larger with massive sails.
However, my disappointment quickly turned to joy as I disembarked the flyer and spotted Valeria and Andrea, the Italian couple I met at Nacula Island. I was pleasantly surprised that they were joining me to Monuriki Island. I realized my genuine fondness for Italian people these days. Their charming accent and ever-present smiles always bring joy. It’s amusing how their conversations sometimes appear like arguments, but in reality, it’s just their way of engaging in a normal discussion.
Arrival at Cast Away’s Movie Location
Each of us received a cup of champagne, and when a staff member approached me with mine, I jokingly quipped, “Can’t I get the bottle instead?” To my surprise, he handed me the bottle, creating a moment of laughter. The weather was splendid, and the sea was calm. After a delightful 40-minute journey, we reached Monuriki Island, the iconic film location of “Cast Away.” Excitement bubbled within me as I anticipated capturing some incredible pictures.
Our access was limited to the beach of Monuriki Island, where each of us received a snorkel set before disembarking from Seapray onto the small tender boat. Since the boat had a capacity for 20 people, it had to make two runs, accommodating the approximately 40 of us in total. I waited patiently for the second run, content with everything as life felt good in Fiji.
From Film Scenes to Real-life Exploration
Strolling along the beach of Monuriki Island felt incredible. I found myself yearning to have the movie on my laptop so I could watch it once more. It had been six months since I last saw the film. I had downloaded it with the intention of getting a glimpse of Fiji. While reading about Fiji had already sparked my enthusiasm, watching the movie intensified my desire to explore the Yasawa Islands and visit the film location.
Valeria and Andrea headed toward the shade near the palm trees on the beach. Monuriki Island had such a serene atmosphere. Eager to explore, I set down my towel and immediately engaged in snorkeling with Andrea. Unfortunately, Valeria felt a bit unwell, so she rested in the shade. After 15 minutes of snorkeling, I returned to the shore and organized my belongings near my towel.
It was time to capture some incredible pictures. Although Valeria couldn’t take underwater shots, Andrea returned just in time to capture some close-ups for me. Walking toward the reef proved to be an enjoyable experience as I carefully navigated around the coral, a task that Tom Hanks struggled with in the movie during his initial escape attempt. It was interesting how, in the film, the waves seemed formidable. However, as I walked on the sandy white area of Monuriki Island, the escape route appeared less challenging—perhaps it was low tide at that moment.
Barbecue Aboard Seaspray
I strolled back and observed that the main beach of Monuriki Island was now deserted. A crew member waved at us, displaying a bit of agitation – it was time to depart from the island. As we made our way back, we noticed the first group of people had already boarded Seaspray. Seizing the moment, I took a few final pictures of myself with the coconut ‘help me’ sign, framed by the palm trees. It was a pleasant opportunity, free from any photobombers disrupting my shots.
The initial group on board was already enjoying their barbecue lunch, and the enticing aroma made my stomach rumble. The food was simply divine, and the talented Fijian cook truly impressed me. Following a satisfying meal of salads and two skewers of chicken, I couldn’t resist expressing my compliments to the chef. To my delight, he had plenty of chicken remaining, so I indulged in another five skewers. It was an absolute delight!
After 30 minutes, we reached the next island. It was a brief stop as time was running short. Our plan was to visit a village and partake in a kava session.
Kava Session
The kava session was quickly over. I didn’t see anything of it, because I sat in the back. Everyone wasn’t allowed to wear hats or sunglasses. During the session you weren’t allowed to speak either. After the session I was allowed to drink some kava. It tasted earthy, but not as horrible as I expected. I could’ve drunk another cup without easy, yet I didn’t.
I browsed some souvenirs, but didn’t bought any. I hated these tourist traps. After 10 minutes I walked outside towards the beach. I had a talk with one of the passengers on Seaspray, a Dutch guy from Almere. He was the third Dutch person I met here in Fiji. We talked about my famous home town and the people living there. He asked if the people would marry outsiders, haha.
The Turtles at Mana Island
We swiftly headed back to Mana Island, taking a brief toilet break upon arrival. Andrea spotted a turtle reservoir, and Valeria mentioned it was okay to touch the turtles. Excitedly, I joined in and touched the turtles too. However, a few moments later, we noticed a sign that read ‘no touching or feeding.’ I shared the discovery with Valeria and had a good laugh about it.
Back to Fiji’s Mainland
The flyer was already waiting for us, and the Seaspray crew sang a farewell song next to it. They were lovely and had done an excellent job throughout the day. Valeria, Andrea, and I sat together. I spent the sail toward Port Denarau reading my book. We reached our destination around 7 pm, gathered our belongings, and received complimentary transportation to our accommodations. Valeria and Andrea stayed at Smuggler’s Cove Hostel, while I stayed right next to them at Bamboo Beach Hostel.
Arriving at my hostel was delightful; I instantly fell in love with the lively atmosphere. The place buzzed with activity — an ongoing kava session, vibrant party music in the restaurant, and a picturesque beach. Hammocks were scattered around, and friendly Fijians welcomed me warmly. Thanks to my reservation, the check-in process was smooth.
Laundry and a Facebook Update
After settling into the dorm, my first order of business was taking care of my laundry. The Bamboo Beach hostel provided a washing machine for 5 dollars, but for drying, I headed to Smuggler’s Cove at the end of the street, where I could use the dryer for another 5 dollars. With limited time and plans to explore the Coral Coast the next day, I couldn’t afford to wait for my laundry to air-dry.
While the washing machine was in operation, I returned to my dorm and took the opportunity to share some pictures on Facebook. A German girl entered the dorm, sparking a pleasant conversation. She worked in the Netherlands and kindly invited me to join her at her table. Our discussion covered topics ranging from Hitler to Bob Marley, and she shared her challenging experience at Oarsman’s Bay Lodge. She was leaving for Germany soon.
Fun International Conversations at the Bamboo Beach Hostel
After coming back from Smuggler’s Cove, I packed my clothes into my backpack. Heading to the restaurant, I ordered a beer priced at 3.50 FJD, a significant drop from the 6 FJD on the Yasawa Islands. Initially, I didn’t notice the Germans, but later, we engaged in conversation about our languages and hometowns. Among them were three German guys, accompanied by one German girl. The only name I recalled was Lucas. Although I conversed most with the German girl that evening, I never caught her name.
At around 11 pm, I made my way back to the dorm and spent time typing until 1 am. Tomorrow, I planned to embark on a bus journey to the Coral Coast, eager to explore and finally witness some of the attractions on the main island.
