Travel and Events

This Fiji Trip was the best I’ve ever been on. Everyone was just so friendly and they welcomed you so easily into the community. I became close to so many people and made new, amazing friends that I hope to keep in touch with. I’m going to miss Tiko and Savay who made me so comfortable in Fiji and they always made me laugh and be happy. I definitely thank them for helping guiding me around Fiji and teaching me everything about their culture. I’m going to miss the group I spent my Fiji trip most of the time with as well. Such wonderful people that helped make this trip fun and memorable. Just overall, I’m going to miss everyone so much and I hope there’s a reunion trip sometime soon! All I can say now is Vinaka. Thank you for the great memories! x

It’s the last day in Fiji and we spent it doing Island hopping. The first place we went to was a this boat out in the ocean that is a bar/restaurant called ‘Cloud Nine’ where you can eat, sun bathe, and hire snorkeling gear. We also got the opportunity to jump off the boat into the water which I did after quite awhile. Otherwise the water was so blue and clear and even if the ocean was 5-10 m deep, you’re still able to see the bottom of the ocean.

After 1 hour we left to go to Island #2 where we sat and ate lunch which was pizza! I spent my time there relaxing, chilling and tanning. 

Our last destination was a sand bank where I was able to snorkel around and see the fish swim close to you and lie down being surrounded by water.

Today was a very relaxing day with not many hard working activities to be done. We continued with out previous activity which was digging the trench, this was also our last missionary activity to be done. During this activity we got the opportunity to watch people prepare for a feast for someone’s birthday in the village.

Going back to the lodge we helped prepare food to give to a home housing widowed woman and divorced that can’t get jobs or money for them and their kids.

We also had a big bonfire and learnt the meaning of it to the Fijians and how Fijian warriors danced around it in post times. So as you can tell it was calm and relaxing day which I needed.

BULA BULA! Today we continued our missionary work doing the footpath and finishing the toilet block. At the secondary primary school we were invited to go to their award ceremony and watch performances, we were also invited to another primary school later that night!

The day began with more mission work at another primary school where we built steps for the school outside. After completing this job we took photos with the primary students who were so photogenic and ALWAYS asked for their photo to be taken to see themselves.

We continued to another mission work after lunch break at the lodge. We had to be welcomed into the community so we gave the chief of the village Kava as a gift to be welcomed to walk around. Our job was to build trenches for sewage pipes so sewage can be separated from the drinking water.

After our time there we went to the ‘Sabete Mud Pools’, covering ourselves in mud before we enter the mud pools.The minerals in the mud apparently helps clean your skin and makes it smooth. As we were covered in mud we camouflaged with this tree and we created the perfect photo with our model poses. The Mud Pools were very relaxing but the temperature got a bit much for me and I almost broke my leg when I missed the step in the pool because I couldn’t see it.

Today was a very busy day. In the morning it was a 1 hour drive to a sand dune national park where we took a 5 km walk the sand dunes. The highlight was being told we had to climb them and receiving motivation from our guide Jim who was yelling “Beyonce legs! Think of Beyonce’s legs” until we reached the top of the dunes. Our struggle was rewarded with the view of the ocean and all of the national park.

In order for our walk to continue we had to do the big leap off the dunes, it did take a lot of courage but we did it!

Meet Jim!

Our walk continued on the beach below with sand crabs running around and walking on hot sand - Jim saw my pain and gave me his thongs because I couldn’t put my sneakers back on with sandy feet!

After two hours of walking we headed off to do our first missionary task which was building toilet blocks for the primary school. Our job was to mix the cement and fill the buckets, which was handed to the guy that was filling up the holes in the bricks to form the wall.

After this we had another activity which was kayaking. As we arrived I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it when I saw the tide coming the opposite way. Five minutes of trying and my kayak flipping I gave up and walked out of the water and just sat in the van watching the others struggling and staying in one spot.

As the group finished early we had time to swim in the pool before dinner. This time was used for our group to bond with each other and just have nice conversations and laugh together. We all realised after this we make a good team as we all get along with each other so well and we are able to just have fun together always. Apparently other groups are jealous of the bond...

Continuing on, after dinner we all gathered to watch traditional dance from Fiji and we were told that those dances are meant to tell a story. These dances put a smile on your face and it was fun to get up and dances as well. 

Today we attended a church service up on a hill where there was a beautiful view of  the ocean. The church was a small little hut with paint peeling and a few icons, but it still felt like a holy place to me. I was also happy to have been at the mass celebrating the Feast Day of Christ early.

After this short church service we headed back to the lodge where we had lunch and headed off to ‘Natdola Beach’ which was a 1 hr trip. Arriving there they had many activities available including snorkeling and horse riding, but otherwise you were able to enjoy the warm yet cool temperature of the ocean and not worry about any sharks. I couldn’t resist when I heard there was a 30 minute massage available on the beach. Straight away I paid and got a massage while listening to the waves crashing and enjoyed getting a good and needed back massage.

After arriving back at the lodge and having dinner we visited the ‘Momi Guns Base’ where we learnt some history of the place and watched the sun setting over the ocean. The best moment was singing (well trying in a different language) with the Fijians on the way to the base and listening to them there while the sun was setting.

At the lodge we then had the ‘Kava Ceremony’ where they prepared this traditional drink made from a plant root that makes your body numb and relaxed. The drink was terrible! It tasted like this chewing gum from Greece made from tree sap! But I forced myself to drink it because it’s a way the Fijians welcome others into their community and it was also a time for everyone to introduce and get to know each other.

BULA! I was very nervous when I got ready to leave to the airport to Fiji because this is the first trip where I’m traveling without my parents and the first time going through to departures and customs alone. I’m the one that panics A LOT - Do I still have my passport, I hope my luggage isn’t over, Do I have my ticket, What does this/that mean, Where do I go!? So it felt good when I was finally on the plane - with my two friends as well.

I was happy with my seat 15K on Fiji Airways which was a window seat where I’m able to look out and see the clouds and begin to see us flying into Fiji! Additionally, for me to pass time and get into the Christmas mood I decided to watch ‘Polar Express’ my favourite Christmas movie.

As we arrived to a small airport in Fiji, we took a 45 minute trip to our lodge that will be our home for the week. With 6 others we are put in a small cabin with bunk beds, 2 showers, and toilets (of course) and a nice strong fan.

I also met Tiko and Savay that welcomed us to Fiji as we walked to the Inroads group. I never met such funny, friendly, and happy people. I can’t wait to see what Fiji holds and can’t wait to experience a new place and culture and be able to bring home stories of the adventures I had faced to my family and friends.

In Australia each year thousands of Year 12 students go to Schoolies destinations to celebrate the end of their school years. So basically schoolies is this huge party in destinations such as Queensland (the home to the largest schoolies celebration) and Fiji. But I chose not to go to schoolies where all you’re doing is drinking and dancing because that to me is something that’s not memorable. Yes you’re celebrating your freedom but schoolies isn’t the safest place either, hearing about someone falling off a balcony, taking drugs...that’s not the kind of environment I want to be in. I wanted to go somewhere where I am proud to tell my family and my future family about it . And then I heard about Harvest Inroads Alternative Schoolies! It’s similar to the actual schoolies where you celebrate the end of the school years but with Harvest Inroads you’re relaxing by the beach, exploring sights and lending a hand in the service projects, while still having the time of your life without alcohol. I was able to meet a great group of people there who joined me on the journey in helping the community in Fiji and celebrating no more school the safe way. 

The trip from Sydney to Coffs Harbour was 6 hours - longest drive I’ve been on. We did all the things people do in Coffs Harbour - visit national parks, swim at the beaches, go to the Big Banana but that’s about it. I was a little bit disappointed though because it didn’t end up with what I was expecting. But don’t get me wrong! Coffs Harbour is beautiful and peaceful even if it’s built on a highway! But would I go back...? Probably not. I don’t know, I think I did the mistake of imagining what it would be like and when I arrived it was totally different? Especially with the Big Banana! You hear about it so much because it’s a big landmark in Australia but when I went there I found it depressing and boring... people just come and take a photo with it and leave, what else can you do honestly. 

But you know what, this is just my opinion and my intention isn’t to stop you from going. I’m just writing about my experience but if you love taking nice walks through national parks and relax on the beach definitely go to Coffs Harbour. It is beautiful but I just found myself getting bored a little bit!

Well our trip is over, we’re finally home and unpacked and all I can say is I’ve really enjoyed my first overseas trip to Europe and definitely want to go back!!!

We managed to fit in visiting St Lazarus Church where they hold his tomb. The church was beautiful and we had the opportunity to go down and visit his tomb and wash our hands with the holy water.

Arriving back to our hotel we had a quick swim at the beach before we had to  head off to the airport for  our trip back home.

Today we’re visiting ‘Troodas Mountains’. Our first visit there was the ‘  Monastery’ that had beautiful icons everywhere and into their museum. Their museum had old icons, uniforms for priests, things they used in church services etc etc. We also went inside the church there where hey had their own mini museum as well and we amazingly found a bone from my mums saint ‘Kypiaki’. We also visited the memorial of Cyprus’s first president.

Sadly soon after we drove back and got ready for our trip back to Australia.

We drove to Nicosia to visit the ‘Green Line’ the boarder between Cyprus and Turkey. 

Today was spent in Farmaca visiting the local church and sitting in the local cafe. My mum also got the opportunity to visit her grandparents grave.

First visiting ‘Kolassi Castle’ and an Archaeological site with ancient monuments we walked to a beach that’s meant to be ‘Aphrodite's’ birth place. Apparently if you swim in this water you’ll become beautiful...

Afterwards we visited another castle called ‘Paphos Castle’.