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Keep in mind that I am now posting from back in the states a couple weeks after our trip so I will probably update this after conferring with Shiloh.

In the morning we planned on going for a walk but when we had gotten down to the beach we met another couple that was taking out the kayaks. I forget their names (one of those things I will have to confer with Shiloh about ) but we all had a great time out there and rowed a good distance up the beach. The tide was on the way out so it was a good fight to get back into shore and the waves moved fairly good (but not enough to tip us over). The coral looked beautiful even from in the kayak. The next post will have photos from our snorkeling trip using the underwater camera, so you will see what I mean.

After lunch, we made our way to Honeymoon Island by boat. Honeymoon Island is a very small island a ways down the coast and out from shore. It had a small hut to sit at, a bathroom hut, and thats about it. This is the only time the whole week that the weather was less than hospitable. The wind made the waves rather choppy but that actually was the best part of the trip out to the island.

Once there, the wind made it unbearable to stand and was even unpleasant laying down. We did see lots of hermit crabs and other various crabs on the rocks as well as a great coral snake. It wasn’t long before we had had enough of being stranded on a tiny island being blown around by the wind. We radioed in to Maravu and Nei promptly came back with the boat and we had another enjoyable ride across the bumpy waves back to the shore.

That night they had a underground BBQ as well as a local group come to perform some traditional dances. The boys danced with a lot of enthusiasm and the girls were very graceful. I have a short video I will share later (not a very good quality since it was taken with the still camera). They even got us all up to dance at one point. This was yet another full, fun packed day and we were quite tired by the end of it.

Appearently this “Mad Max” style bus has been parked in front of this Walmart for several days now. All it needs is a couple of rifles sticking out of the windows and a flame thrower mounted on top.

While this post is being done on Friday it is really about Wednesday.
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The Internet has been very sporadic so these posts have been delayed a bit. On Tuesday we needed to go to the bank to change money out (strange how some people don’t take US dollars ). The front desk told us that the bank was in SomoSomo Village 40km away. They recommended that we take a taxi, but we opted to ride mountain bikes instead. That turned out to be a great decision.

We got to really see the country side as well as talk will the various people along the way. We definitely recommend it if you are ever here. On Wednesday, we took a fantastic ride up to a waterfall. We had to hike in a little ways but it wasn’t bad. That spider in the picture was right over our heads. The waterfall was magical. We climbed up behind the falls and jumped into the water from about 15 feet up. After that we hiked back and we drove to a black sand beach for a little while. Every day is filled will so many adventures and we are quite tired at the end them.

Hey everyone! Well, we didn’t die on the flight over. The flight was pretty hard for me the first couple of hours. Every time we would have turbulence and the “fasten you seat belts” sign came on, my blood pressure would rise. Nate, on the other hand, was just fine. Then again, he didn’t have all of the “final destination” dreams that I’ve been having the past week

When we arrived in Nadi, Figi, the sky was overcast and the air muggy. My first thought was “Oh, how fun. They messed up and sent us to Texas” . But as the early morning turned to mid-day the clouds blew off some and the sun shone through. The flight to Taveuni was in a very small propeller plane. It was scary at first, but the beauty of the ocean, and the clouds beneath us was too breathtaking that I had no choice but to enjoy it.

We landed safely, and then we beheld paradise. Everything about this place is amazing. We choose some pictures that we thought you all would like. Nate will post a message tomorrow with some more pictures.

Love, Shiloh
P.S. We love you Gemma!!!!!

Finally wordpress is installed. For now the site will be simple.

On Saturday I proposed to Shiloh who is the love of my life. We are looking at an October wedding. I am very happy.