Some Fiji time...

Bula Bula. So Fiji was supposed to be the luxury part of the honeymoon, having spent the last 6 months in some amazing places but with some questionable accommodation dotted along the way.

Well, it's been that and so much more. Despite our relentless pace over the last 6 months we've managed to slow down and relax. We've actually not done too many 'traveller' things, we've not done much at all to be honest, though we have still moved about a bit.

The Blue Lagoon in the most northern of the Yasawa Islands was our first major stop and the hotel was situated on the best beach that we've seen. Snorkelling in the reef that starts virtually on the beach was a highlight. We also managed to take in a Sunday service at the local village - though everything was in Fijian and the pastor got very vocal, the singing choir was moving to say the least.

Getting back on the 'Awesome Adventures' Yasawa Flyer and a water taxi later, we found ourselves on Malolo LaiLai at Musket Cove resort, and we pretty much did nothing there either! We did go snorkelling on a beautiful sand bar and felt like we were in a massive fish tank. And we did have a banging New Year buffet and party, where the host for the evening said there was still a minute to go when the resort across the water was already letting off their fireworks - they truly operate on a different timescale here.

Finally we made our way back to the mainland and on the drive along the coral coast we got a sliver of a taste of local life, much of which was quite a low standard unfortunately, and we're told it can be worse on the islands themselves.

Our final stop was the Pearl hotel in Pacific Harbour. We've enjoyed all this luxury hotel has to offer, including frog racing and several happy hours, and we're just about ready to leave it all behind.

There are a lot of parallels between being here and our experience of SE Asia, certainly more than its Pacific cousins, NZ and Oz. The clocks run slower here, the weather has been mostly excellent, always with a chance of meatballs, and everyone has been genuinely friendly, which is fitting. I was particularly pleased that it was Thai night in the restaurant for our last night.

Today we say goodbye to luxury (and sunshine apparently) and head on an epic journey back the UK, completing our round the world trip, knowing that we've missed half of the 2nd wettest year on record back home - that's justification enough for a 6 month holiday!