Back to the Islands, Nananu-I-Ra

There's something so exciting about gliding between islands, not knowing which is to be your next destination. With the long boats zig-zagging in all directions to avoid shallow reefs, there's often really no way of telling where you're heading. 

This time we were even more excited than usual because we thought once we'd returned to the mainland that we'd seen the last of our Fijian islands. However, whilst touring around it we caught wind of the fact there's islands on the North and West side which are far less touristy but no less beautiful. 

There were hundreds of islands to choose from but we settled on Nananu-I-Ra in the North, partly because it was one of the closest to the mainland and partly because we just liked saying it. That's one thing I'll definitely miss about Fiji; all its wonderfully named places. Where else in the world will you find a Wayalailai, a Rakiraki and a Nananu? 

Anyway, as we pulled up to our island and the faint sounds of exotic birds replaced the usual blaring Bula song it was immediately apparent that this was indeed less touristy. A resort was nowhere to be seen, just a small reception, an even smaller bar and our averagely sized room at the top of a really steep hill. And of course a stunningly beautiful beach! 

Whereas by the end of our island hopping trip we'd become a little tired of simply lying on a beach, after almost a week of trekking around the mainland we were ready to appreciate it again. Even more so because Nananu seemed so much more authentic, the closest we've felt to being on a deserted castaway island. The power supply cut out every time the wind dropped and the population of frogs more than tripled that of the people. 

One evening it turned a little cloudy which worried us slightly as deserted island activities rely heavily on sunshine. However, it lasted only a couple of hours and brought along with it the most beautiful rainbow which stood proudly in the sky, fading into the water. If there was a pot of gold at the end of it it would have been lost to the depths of the ocean.

On our last morning on Nananu it really hit us that our time in Fiji is almost up and we have no idea when we'll next find ourselves on a tropical paradise island. It's an uneasy feeling to say the least!