A Dutch girl in Samoa: CH 8 ‘Home’
Door: Naomi Levels
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Naomi
07 Augustus 2015 | Fiji, Nadi
Malo! Bula! Hallo!
Finally! This is my very last update about my Samoan adventure! The main things that happened were a nice holiday in Fiji, my last days in Samoa and the journey back home.
Because I spent my last week in Fiji and came back to Samoa for a couple of days, my last day and goodbye at the school was on Thursday, 18th of June. The next day was my last day at the hospital. On both days I just worked and there was nothing special. At the school I already got a short thank you speech and some gifts on Monday during the usual morning tea. On Friday, the 19th of June I first went to the morning assembly at the school. I wanted to be present at the last morning for a Japanese volunteer. She has been volunteering at the school for 2 years. I also wanted to take that opportunity to give some presents and say a quick thank you. After that there were some speeches, dances and a lot of gifts for the volunteer. It was so nice to experience it. The rest of the day I spent at the hospital. We decided to have dinner together at Naomi’s house instead of a lunch that day. However, plans changes a lot in Samoa and I finally found myself at a 21st birthday party. Turning 21 is one of the milestones. The birthday girl was a niece of Naomi. Guess three times, no one time, what her name is.
So, a Samoan 21st birthday party is basically typical Samoan. There was a lot of praying, speeches and food. Of course there was also music, talking and some dancing. Around 10 o’clock everyone went home. This was very early for me, while I had to stay awake and do something until 2.45am. At exactly that time my flight would leave for Nadi, Fiji. It would become a very short night for me. Fortunately I could sleep and rest the whole next day. Now back to after the party. With Naomi (that is the Social Worker) and her husband I watched a film I didn’t really like at their house and afterwards they were so kind to bring me to the airport. Saves me another 60 Tala taxi money. Arriving at the airport everything went well and being 3 hours in the air I arrived at 4.50am local time in Fiji.
As you might imagine I was pretty tired the first day in Fiji (Sunday, 21st of June). That day I did nothing. I just slept, read a book and ate at the hotel. The rest of the week was actually pretty active. I am not a girl who only want to go sunbathing for the whole week and only likes sun, sea & beach. So, the rest of the week was as followed:
Monday:
I went on a day cruise to two Islands. All the boats, ferries, etc. goes from Denarau Island, which is just a couple of kilometres from the centre of Nadi. You also have several resorts over there. Not something I can afford right now. That day I first went on a ferry which took us to the Island of Mana. There the schooner Seaspray awaited for me and the others who did the same day cruise. The schooner first took us to Mondriki Island. The film Cast away with Tom Hanks has been filmed there. After some snorkelling, making pictures and a barbeque on the boat we went to another Island nearby. There we visited a village. We first had kava ceremony. Kava is a drink made from a kind of plant and water. If you wanted you could taste it. Of course I tasted it, but I can tell you it does not taste very special. After the ceremony you could walk around and could give out money for souvenirs. After this we headed back to Mana and then back to the mainland.
Tuesday:
On Tuesday I did a tour in and around Nadi. We first went to the biggest Hindu Temple, the Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple. The other Hindu temples in Fiji must be really small, while I did not find it that big. Perhaps I am spoiled with nice big old churches and cathedrals. It was really colourful though. Oh yes, approximately half of Fiji is of Indian descent. Hence the existence of Hindu Temples in Fiji. I was the only who was appropriately dressed. Sarong, shoulders covered, flip flops put nicely with the other shoes at entrance. The others could get some clothes they could wear. We walked a bit around, making pictures from outside of the Temple as was another rule and got on the van again. In the centre of Nadi itself we went to a souvenir shop and a market with fruits, vegetables, fish and flowers. I liked the second part of the day better than the first. Because after the market we went to a very nice and tranquil garden outside of Nadi. The last thing we did that day was to rub ourselves in with mud, let it dry, take it off in a pool, jumped in another pool that was bloody hot and all got a massage from the ladies of the village. Massage costs money of course, but it was not that expensive. I smelled like coconut oil for the rest of the day.
Wednesday:
As relaxing and enjoying tranquillity the day before, I did a lot of active things this day on Barefoot Kuata Island. In the morning I did a guided snorkel safari trip. I did a couple of things for the first time that day. First is that I swam with flippers on while snorkelling. Secondly and lastly, I dived for the first time. I did this in the afternoon together with another girl around my age. She did really great for her first time as well. I was glad all went well with me too. I only had tired legs, because I am not used to swim like that. You could see that the other girl had been in the water many times already. Also my ears starting to hurt at a certain depth and signalled to the instructor to go up a bit. I don’t know what happened exactly, but suddenly my mask was off and I had to let my instructor guide me to the surface. I got complimented on not panicking. I was like, what did I had to panic about? Although not seeing anything was not a real nice feeling. He also told me he let me up slowly to the surface, but luckily it felt not that far and fast going up the surface. I still don’t know how deep I went. It must be about 10-12 meters or he even let us go lower, because it all went so well.
Thursday:
Because I was gone all day to Kuata Island I couldn’t book anything for today. The only thing that was still possible was a day cruise to Mana Island. After a quick lunch I did some snorkelling and then I had to go and wait for the boat again.
Friday:
Again an active day. I went zip lining! 16 lines! It was fantastic. Wasn’t scared at all. It is 45 minutes west from Nadi. The instructors were also nice and were in a good mood. We were with a pretty big group. But while waiting you can enjoy the view of the ocean. When we had all 16 lines, we got rewarded with a nice lunch.
Saturday:
Today was a longest day of the week. We had to drive approximately 3 hours. We first visited a village at the Navua river not far from the capital of Suva. Again there was a kava ceremony. The second time I tasted it. You have those ceremony’s everywhere I guess and they must make a lot of it for all those tourists. Also you could buy something from there and being a total tourist that week I bought something again. We had a nice ride in a canoe afterwards. Somewhere in the middle we had a short ride in a typical Fijian bamboo raft. I thought it would all be a bit more adventurous, however it was all quiet and relaxed. We also went to a waterfall where you could swim. The weather was pretty cold and rainy, nevertheless I still went for a quick swim in the fresh cold mountain water. From there the journey back home began over water and land, immediately lying on my nice hotel bed when I saw it.
Sunday:
Return back home (that is Samoa ;)), but not until spending an extra four hours at the airport due to delay. Still don’t know exactly why it was delayed. Also I couldn’t contact my host mother, so they were getting worried of course. Internet in Fiji is also not that great. Fortunately, all went while during flight and I landed safely in Apia, Samoa. I am glad I went to Fiji for a week holiday. I could see some similarities and differences with Samoa. The dancing, ceremonies, language, tourists, nature, people, etc.
I should be going together with Annick to Sydney on our way back home to Europe. However, Annick got sick and was not allowed to travel for a week. So I the whole journey I travelled alone again. This time I went via Sydney and Singapore. I even got a small tour from a friendly girl my age. Looking back I found that the way back home went better than when going to Samoa. I felt less nauseated when the food trolley passed bye, I could sleep well (could lay down even at two flights) and could eat more. I think on the way back I gained a bit more experience with flying cause of the way to Samoa and the trip to Fiji. In Amsterdam my mother was waiting for me, this time knowing via internet I had an hour delay from Singapore. We had to get back to the gate, while the hydraulic pump was not working properly. So having arrived in Amsterdam we still had to drive two and a half till three hours and stopping buy at my dad’s office before I finally got home again after being away for five months!
I hope you all enjoyed reading about my adventures in Samoa! And I hope my next adventure abroad would be very soon! Again I am very much infected with the travel virus while being in Samoa!
Again do not forget to check my Facebook page ‘Psychologist Projects Abroad Samoa’ (http://facebook.com/psychologistsamoa) for photos and videos. Pictures belonging to this last update come next week! Now it is time for me to have a nice (warm! :D) shower and go to bed. Tomorrow I go to France for one week! Kind of my next very little small trip abroad. France feels more like home now.
De wereldreizigster (the world traveller),
Naomi
For the non-Dutch readers: if you want to read my previous updates. I have translated the Dutch words on this site to English in my first update. You will find it on the left side of this update at ‘reisverslagen’ [= travel blogs] (below the photo of the beach). Next click on ‘new adventure awaits’, (name of my first update). Or you can click on ‘vorige bericht’ [= previous blog] below this update until you get to the first update.
Finally! This is my very last update about my Samoan adventure! The main things that happened were a nice holiday in Fiji, my last days in Samoa and the journey back home.
Because I spent my last week in Fiji and came back to Samoa for a couple of days, my last day and goodbye at the school was on Thursday, 18th of June. The next day was my last day at the hospital. On both days I just worked and there was nothing special. At the school I already got a short thank you speech and some gifts on Monday during the usual morning tea. On Friday, the 19th of June I first went to the morning assembly at the school. I wanted to be present at the last morning for a Japanese volunteer. She has been volunteering at the school for 2 years. I also wanted to take that opportunity to give some presents and say a quick thank you. After that there were some speeches, dances and a lot of gifts for the volunteer. It was so nice to experience it. The rest of the day I spent at the hospital. We decided to have dinner together at Naomi’s house instead of a lunch that day. However, plans changes a lot in Samoa and I finally found myself at a 21st birthday party. Turning 21 is one of the milestones. The birthday girl was a niece of Naomi. Guess three times, no one time, what her name is.
So, a Samoan 21st birthday party is basically typical Samoan. There was a lot of praying, speeches and food. Of course there was also music, talking and some dancing. Around 10 o’clock everyone went home. This was very early for me, while I had to stay awake and do something until 2.45am. At exactly that time my flight would leave for Nadi, Fiji. It would become a very short night for me. Fortunately I could sleep and rest the whole next day. Now back to after the party. With Naomi (that is the Social Worker) and her husband I watched a film I didn’t really like at their house and afterwards they were so kind to bring me to the airport. Saves me another 60 Tala taxi money. Arriving at the airport everything went well and being 3 hours in the air I arrived at 4.50am local time in Fiji.
As you might imagine I was pretty tired the first day in Fiji (Sunday, 21st of June). That day I did nothing. I just slept, read a book and ate at the hotel. The rest of the week was actually pretty active. I am not a girl who only want to go sunbathing for the whole week and only likes sun, sea & beach. So, the rest of the week was as followed:
Monday:
I went on a day cruise to two Islands. All the boats, ferries, etc. goes from Denarau Island, which is just a couple of kilometres from the centre of Nadi. You also have several resorts over there. Not something I can afford right now. That day I first went on a ferry which took us to the Island of Mana. There the schooner Seaspray awaited for me and the others who did the same day cruise. The schooner first took us to Mondriki Island. The film Cast away with Tom Hanks has been filmed there. After some snorkelling, making pictures and a barbeque on the boat we went to another Island nearby. There we visited a village. We first had kava ceremony. Kava is a drink made from a kind of plant and water. If you wanted you could taste it. Of course I tasted it, but I can tell you it does not taste very special. After the ceremony you could walk around and could give out money for souvenirs. After this we headed back to Mana and then back to the mainland.
Tuesday:
On Tuesday I did a tour in and around Nadi. We first went to the biggest Hindu Temple, the Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple. The other Hindu temples in Fiji must be really small, while I did not find it that big. Perhaps I am spoiled with nice big old churches and cathedrals. It was really colourful though. Oh yes, approximately half of Fiji is of Indian descent. Hence the existence of Hindu Temples in Fiji. I was the only who was appropriately dressed. Sarong, shoulders covered, flip flops put nicely with the other shoes at entrance. The others could get some clothes they could wear. We walked a bit around, making pictures from outside of the Temple as was another rule and got on the van again. In the centre of Nadi itself we went to a souvenir shop and a market with fruits, vegetables, fish and flowers. I liked the second part of the day better than the first. Because after the market we went to a very nice and tranquil garden outside of Nadi. The last thing we did that day was to rub ourselves in with mud, let it dry, take it off in a pool, jumped in another pool that was bloody hot and all got a massage from the ladies of the village. Massage costs money of course, but it was not that expensive. I smelled like coconut oil for the rest of the day.
Wednesday:
As relaxing and enjoying tranquillity the day before, I did a lot of active things this day on Barefoot Kuata Island. In the morning I did a guided snorkel safari trip. I did a couple of things for the first time that day. First is that I swam with flippers on while snorkelling. Secondly and lastly, I dived for the first time. I did this in the afternoon together with another girl around my age. She did really great for her first time as well. I was glad all went well with me too. I only had tired legs, because I am not used to swim like that. You could see that the other girl had been in the water many times already. Also my ears starting to hurt at a certain depth and signalled to the instructor to go up a bit. I don’t know what happened exactly, but suddenly my mask was off and I had to let my instructor guide me to the surface. I got complimented on not panicking. I was like, what did I had to panic about? Although not seeing anything was not a real nice feeling. He also told me he let me up slowly to the surface, but luckily it felt not that far and fast going up the surface. I still don’t know how deep I went. It must be about 10-12 meters or he even let us go lower, because it all went so well.
Thursday:
Because I was gone all day to Kuata Island I couldn’t book anything for today. The only thing that was still possible was a day cruise to Mana Island. After a quick lunch I did some snorkelling and then I had to go and wait for the boat again.
Friday:
Again an active day. I went zip lining! 16 lines! It was fantastic. Wasn’t scared at all. It is 45 minutes west from Nadi. The instructors were also nice and were in a good mood. We were with a pretty big group. But while waiting you can enjoy the view of the ocean. When we had all 16 lines, we got rewarded with a nice lunch.
Saturday:
Today was a longest day of the week. We had to drive approximately 3 hours. We first visited a village at the Navua river not far from the capital of Suva. Again there was a kava ceremony. The second time I tasted it. You have those ceremony’s everywhere I guess and they must make a lot of it for all those tourists. Also you could buy something from there and being a total tourist that week I bought something again. We had a nice ride in a canoe afterwards. Somewhere in the middle we had a short ride in a typical Fijian bamboo raft. I thought it would all be a bit more adventurous, however it was all quiet and relaxed. We also went to a waterfall where you could swim. The weather was pretty cold and rainy, nevertheless I still went for a quick swim in the fresh cold mountain water. From there the journey back home began over water and land, immediately lying on my nice hotel bed when I saw it.
Sunday:
Return back home (that is Samoa ;)), but not until spending an extra four hours at the airport due to delay. Still don’t know exactly why it was delayed. Also I couldn’t contact my host mother, so they were getting worried of course. Internet in Fiji is also not that great. Fortunately, all went while during flight and I landed safely in Apia, Samoa. I am glad I went to Fiji for a week holiday. I could see some similarities and differences with Samoa. The dancing, ceremonies, language, tourists, nature, people, etc.
I should be going together with Annick to Sydney on our way back home to Europe. However, Annick got sick and was not allowed to travel for a week. So I the whole journey I travelled alone again. This time I went via Sydney and Singapore. I even got a small tour from a friendly girl my age. Looking back I found that the way back home went better than when going to Samoa. I felt less nauseated when the food trolley passed bye, I could sleep well (could lay down even at two flights) and could eat more. I think on the way back I gained a bit more experience with flying cause of the way to Samoa and the trip to Fiji. In Amsterdam my mother was waiting for me, this time knowing via internet I had an hour delay from Singapore. We had to get back to the gate, while the hydraulic pump was not working properly. So having arrived in Amsterdam we still had to drive two and a half till three hours and stopping buy at my dad’s office before I finally got home again after being away for five months!
I hope you all enjoyed reading about my adventures in Samoa! And I hope my next adventure abroad would be very soon! Again I am very much infected with the travel virus while being in Samoa!
Again do not forget to check my Facebook page ‘Psychologist Projects Abroad Samoa’ (http://facebook.com/psychologistsamoa) for photos and videos. Pictures belonging to this last update come next week! Now it is time for me to have a nice (warm! :D) shower and go to bed. Tomorrow I go to France for one week! Kind of my next very little small trip abroad. France feels more like home now.
De wereldreizigster (the world traveller),
Naomi
For the non-Dutch readers: if you want to read my previous updates. I have translated the Dutch words on this site to English in my first update. You will find it on the left side of this update at ‘reisverslagen’ [= travel blogs] (below the photo of the beach). Next click on ‘new adventure awaits’, (name of my first update). Or you can click on ‘vorige bericht’ [= previous blog] below this update until you get to the first update.
Reageer op dit reisverslag
Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
