Day 1 – We arrived on Matangi Island at 11 a.m. after taking a boat from Taveuni Island. We were greeted by native Fijians, who gave us leis and fresh milk in coconuts. Everyone gathered in the main hut where we were introduced to the staff and each other, and told about the various activities on the island.
We were then taken to our hut, Bure #7. It had a big porch, an indoor and outdoor shower and our bed was draped with mosquito netting. We found sarongs for each of us in our room.
We explored the island, checking out the resort's facilities and ate chicken satay with rice and chili calamari for lunch. During the meal, a small group of Fijians played music and sang songs. Later on, we lounged in a hammock on the beach near our bure and watched the sunset. At 5 p.m. Dan found a volleyball game in full swing with resort staff. I sat and watched, and chatted with a woman who works at Boeing in St. Louis. What a small world!
In the evening, we attended dinner at the main hut where again, the natives sang and played instruments. We had zucchini soup, roasted rib roast with potatoes and pineapple lemon cheesecake for dessert (accompanied with white wine). We met many people, include honeymooning couples from Australia and New York. We also met the in-laws of the Douglas Family who owns Matangi Island. Everyone has been kind, happy and pleasant – stopping us to introduce themselves and use our names whenever possible.
The staff gave us a flashlight to find out way back to our bure - as it is dark by the time we are finished with dinner. The staff tells us to look for frogs and crabs along the path. Since it’s Fiji’s winter, the sunset is much earlier. The resort has three dogs that enjoy chasing sand crabs along the beach, and a cat. The view out our bure offers spectacular views of the Pacific and neighboring islands.
Day 2 – Things are looking up, despite the fact that we still didn’t have our luggage. We took an early walk along the beach and ate breakfast with the other guests. They offered a buffet of fruit, cereal and muffins along with an assortment of juices. We also got to choose from a hot breakfast menu. After that, we found batteries and shampoo at the resort’s small boutique and met a couple from Utah who is willing to offer me a spare swimsuit. Yay! We hope our luggage comes today on a morning flight, but we ordered a few things from the neighboring island, just in case. Later that morning we plan to hike the mountain on Matangi. It’s supposed to have some fantastic views of Horseshoe Bay. The weather has been perfect – sunny and between 80 and 85 degrees. The couple from St. Louis said it rained all last week and stormed for several days. We’ve only gotten rain at night so far. Our room is surrounded by windows and lush plants around our bure, which allows us to leave the windows open for a breeze.
In the evening, we attended dinner at the main hut where again, the natives sang and played instruments. We had zucchini soup, roasted rib roast with potatoes and pineapple lemon cheesecake for dessert (accompanied with white wine). We met many people, include honeymooning couples from Australia and New York. We also met the in-laws of the Douglas Family who owns Matangi Island. Everyone has been kind, happy and pleasant – stopping us to introduce themselves and use our names whenever possible.
The staff gave us a flashlight to find out way back to our bure - as it is dark by the time we are finished with dinner. The staff tells us to look for frogs and crabs along the path. Since it’s Fiji’s winter, the sunset is much earlier. The resort has three dogs that enjoy chasing sand crabs along the beach, and a cat. The view out our bure offers spectacular views of the Pacific and neighboring islands.
Day 2 – Things are looking up, despite the fact that we still didn’t have our luggage. We took an early walk along the beach and ate breakfast with the other guests. They offered a buffet of fruit, cereal and muffins along with an assortment of juices. We also got to choose from a hot breakfast menu. After that, we found batteries and shampoo at the resort’s small boutique and met a couple from Utah who is willing to offer me a spare swimsuit. Yay! We hope our luggage comes today on a morning flight, but we ordered a few things from the neighboring island, just in case. Later that morning we plan to hike the mountain on Matangi. It’s supposed to have some fantastic views of Horseshoe Bay. The weather has been perfect – sunny and between 80 and 85 degrees. The couple from St. Louis said it rained all last week and stormed for several days. We’ve only gotten rain at night so far. Our room is surrounded by windows and lush plants around our bure, which allows us to leave the windows open for a breeze.
The trail to the top of Matangi took about 3 hours. Along the way, we saw goats, a cow and many interesting spiders. There are amazing views and the trail is very steep at some points – they provided us with walking sticks to help.
We make it back for a lunch of corn and ham quiche and breadfruit (similar to fries). Later that afternoon, we took a boat over to Quamea with a few other island guests where we toured a Fijian Village. They showed us their homes, schools and sang traditional songs and danced. Afterward, they presented us with leis and Kava - a drink that supposedly has the affects of alcohol. We find it neither strong nor tasty. :) They also gave us breadfruit and yams along with lemon tea. They had many drawings for sale, so we bought one and made a donation to the village.
After we got back to Matangi, we rested a bit before heading over to the Fijian Feast – Lovo. A couple there from New York – Graham and Carrie – are nice enough to loan me a swimsuit!
Day 3 – I pick up my swimsuit from Carrie, and we along with seven other couples head out for a boat trip over to Taveni for a waterfall tour. We arrived after an hour boat trip and board two small vans, heading toward a small hut in middle of the island. There we had a picnic lunch of hamburger/corn pie with potato salad and fruit. Mmm! By this time, it’s storming very hard, and many couples are debating whether to go. After a while, we all decided to brave the weather. After 10 minutes, we made it to the first waterfall. It’s enormous and we stop to take pictures. Drenched, we move on to the next waterfall, which is a bit more of a hike. We’re walking uphill on rocks and a little grass – mostly mud. It continues raining harder, but we all trek on until we get to the river. Carefully, we all cross the rocks, using a toe rope stretched across. We started up the next hill and are not for from the second waterfall. We’re about 10 minutes up the mountain when our guide Marika comes up running up, calling everyone back done. The river was flooding and if we didn’t turn back, it would be unpassable. We start to go back, but two other couples we’re still ahead of us. By the time we reach the river, the water is already waist high and all the rocks we walked across are submerged. Marika and Chris, a guest, start trying to get everyone back. Dan crossed first and Marika carries me on his back. I almost lost both shoes in the current. We made it over, one by one, even one guest who was four months pregnant. (Dan’s note: It was a spectacular show of international cooperation - a team comprised of members from Australia, the U.S., Scotland and Fiji managed to forge a rushing river, swollen from an entire day’s storms). We head back to the vans, and Marika notes that we must back it out before the bridges give out. We get back on the boat and start toward Matangi. It’s cold and rainy, but they give us tea, coffee and cookies to warm up. We got back to the island and ran to our huts for a hot shower. My pants were complete covered in mud and my shoes were soaked. Just before dinner, Kay, an island staff member, brought me a bag of spare clothes to wear. After we warmed up and dried off, we went to dinner and retold the story of the river to the other guests. For dinner, we had Mahi Mahi and apple porkchops. We sat for two hours talking with two other couples - newlyweds from Boston and a retirees celebrating an anniversary from Camberra, Australia.
Day 3 – I pick up my swimsuit from Carrie, and we along with seven other couples head out for a boat trip over to Taveni for a waterfall tour. We arrived after an hour boat trip and board two small vans, heading toward a small hut in middle of the island. There we had a picnic lunch of hamburger/corn pie with potato salad and fruit. Mmm! By this time, it’s storming very hard, and many couples are debating whether to go. After a while, we all decided to brave the weather. After 10 minutes, we made it to the first waterfall. It’s enormous and we stop to take pictures. Drenched, we move on to the next waterfall, which is a bit more of a hike. We’re walking uphill on rocks and a little grass – mostly mud. It continues raining harder, but we all trek on until we get to the river. Carefully, we all cross the rocks, using a toe rope stretched across. We started up the next hill and are not for from the second waterfall. We’re about 10 minutes up the mountain when our guide Marika comes up running up, calling everyone back done. The river was flooding and if we didn’t turn back, it would be unpassable. We start to go back, but two other couples we’re still ahead of us. By the time we reach the river, the water is already waist high and all the rocks we walked across are submerged. Marika and Chris, a guest, start trying to get everyone back. Dan crossed first and Marika carries me on his back. I almost lost both shoes in the current. We made it over, one by one, even one guest who was four months pregnant. (Dan’s note: It was a spectacular show of international cooperation - a team comprised of members from Australia, the U.S., Scotland and Fiji managed to forge a rushing river, swollen from an entire day’s storms). We head back to the vans, and Marika notes that we must back it out before the bridges give out. We get back on the boat and start toward Matangi. It’s cold and rainy, but they give us tea, coffee and cookies to warm up. We got back to the island and ran to our huts for a hot shower. My pants were complete covered in mud and my shoes were soaked. Just before dinner, Kay, an island staff member, brought me a bag of spare clothes to wear. After we warmed up and dried off, we went to dinner and retold the story of the river to the other guests. For dinner, we had Mahi Mahi and apple porkchops. We sat for two hours talking with two other couples - newlyweds from Boston and a retirees celebrating an anniversary from Camberra, Australia.
Day 4 – Today we have plans to snorkel with a group at 9:30 a.m.. About 14 of us boat out to a diving spot in Horseshoe Bay. We watched dozens of dolphins swim around the boat. After, we got back in the boat, we went over to another area and snorkeled some more. On my way back to the boat, I got stung by a jellyfish. It wasn’t bad, but it got my one arm and both legs. The rest of the group went to one more spot to snorkel while some of us hung back. We got to Matangi in time for lunch. I had Iko Volodo (fish) and Dan had lamb. Later that afternoon, Dan and I each got massages – it was so wonderful and very relaxing. We then went and laid on the beach and read. At 4:30, a bunch of us boarded a boat for the Sunset Cruise. The boat was all decorated with flowers. The staff played music, sang songs and had a bar set up with drinks and appetizers. We drank Kava from a bucket and took pictures of the surrounding islands at sunset.
By the time we got back, it was 6:30 p.m. and dark. We caught a glimpse of the frogs and went to dinner for chicken and beef curry.
Day 5 – Today we are going kayaking with couple from Utah. The morning was a bit overcast and windy so we relaxed and did some reading. After a lunch of ham and fettaccini, Bri and Collin and us took double kayaks out past horseshoe bay to a small beach on the other side of the island. We rested there for a bit, and looked at tons of shells and coral washed up on the beach. We picked some up, and headed back (against the wind) and made it back to the resort. After that we took a nap before dinner. Tonight’s dinner was special – we had our own private open air hut, separate from the dining room. The staff prepared BBQ pork, beef, chicken, sausage and fish – we sampled the selections with rice and baked potatoes – it was great! The table was lit with candles and decorated with flowers.
Day 6 – Today is our private day at the beach. At 10:30, Marika took us over to Horseshoe Bay where we had our own beach until 3:30 p.m. The staff packed us a picnic lunch and we took our snorkeling gear as well.
Day 6 – Today is our private day at the beach. At 10:30, Marika took us over to Horseshoe Bay where we had our own beach until 3:30 p.m. The staff packed us a picnic lunch and we took our snorkeling gear as well.
Day 7 – It’s our last day – We spend the morning taking pictures around Matangi and after lunch the boat takes us back. Before we leave, we were given beautiful leis. The staff plays music and sings as we leave while the rest of the guests wave goodbye. Before we take off, the boat makes a final passing front of the resort and we all throw our leis in the water. We are sad to leave, but throwing our leis into the water means we will be back someday.
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