Sylvie:

I think Fiji is amazing, when we went to Plantation Island I had the best time in my life. When we went snorkelling we saw this coral reef which was outstanding – we could see loads of fish and starfish and coral and me and my mum even dived down to see them closer. We also saw a sea snake!!! My dad found it.

The inflatables on the sea were so fun I wanted to stay on them all day. We jumped off them and slid down them which was really really awesome sauce! My other favourite was the air pontoon, we jumped off it and played “who can stay standing on it”. Daddy pushed me off and I did a big belly flop!

There was a lot of pools there too, even if some of them were too deep to stand up in. I loved playing “catch Elijah” and “mermaids” with Nathan and Annabelle and also teaching them Go Fish.

My top 3: 1) snorkelling 2) inflatables 3) pools

Elijah:

I thought Fiji was a great experience because there were lots of cool islands you could go to and the sea was so clear you could see the fish in the ocean. I think people go to Fiji for the islands not the main island. But it is always hot and there are mosquitoes everywhere. It was cool to have the Ongers with us on the island but they are a lot younger than me and Sylvie so they like different things sometimes. If you were to go out at night you would find frogs everywhere and there was a chance you could step on one which is not ideal.

When I went snorkelling I saw some cool star fish which were blue and a sea snake with lots of coral everywhere. There were so many different kinds of fish, a huge variety.

My top 3: 1) snorkelling 2) being warm 3) tropical smoothie

Kate:

Well, what a beautiful, welcoming country Fiji is – everywhere we went there were shouts of “Bula” and big smiles. The warm weather was a lovely change from the chill of South Island, but it was trickier to get used to the humidity. Nadi town felt quite chaotic and busy compared to the relaxed lifestyle on Malolo Lailai Island.

A massive plus for me was having Vicky and her family with us for a few days. It was such a special time, just being able to spend time together in a gorgeous part of the world. The children got on really well, and I think our two enjoyed being the cool, older ones! I wish we lived closer, but we’ll treasure these memories forever and hopefully it won’t be too long before we see each other again.

Staying at Plantation Island Resort was a big treat for us, as resorts are not usually our go-to choice. I always feel like you miss out on experiencing the ‘real’ country, and we usually prefer an Airbnb where you can venture out for local food and things to do. That being said, we thoroughly enjoyed living on a “slice of paradise” for a few days and all the luxuries that came with it!

The fact that our children are strong, confident swimmers helped too as it meant we could venture out into the sea for hours, snorkelling and playing on the pontoon and inflatables. I loved being a water baby with my water babies for a few days.

I am definitely leaving Fiji full of happy memories; more relaxed, more tanned and with a slightly burnt bottom!

Martin:

The shock of transitioning from crisp, cold, winter weather with a hire car that gave us autonomy to start and stop journeys on our terms to the sweltering, humid Fiji with total reliance on people you don’t know to get you places when they decide, while waiting in their queues was tough! I struggled for a day or two to let go of what I’d got used to.

What replaced it was in fact a piece of paradise and luxury I was not familiar with, and loved it thoroughly. The highlight for me had to be the snorkelling and general playing in the clear blue sea with the kids. I also indulged a little in the local Fiji Gold and Fiji Bitter beer. Feeling grateful for the beauty Plantation Island had to offer and relaxation I felt at the end.

My reflections wouldn’t be compete without contrasting the island with the chaos and poverty of Nadi. A shock to the system but an important experience to remind ourselves that we do indeed live in a safe and privileged bubble at home. Something I’m keen for myself and the kids to acknowledge and remember, and not become complacent or entitled in our day-to-day life back home.

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