Matamanoa: Island Paradise

When I first told people I was studying abroad in Fiji, people constantly joked that I'd spend all my time on gorgeous beaches, tanning all day and lounging by the pool side bar. Hopefully by now, everyone's realized how much I've learned and how much I've grown here, and how little time I've actually spent on a beach. However, in celebration of my 21st birthday, I did just that! It's not everyday that you get to spend 4 days on the picture-perfect poster image of Fiji:

Matamanoa Island

Oceanfront bures at the resort

In fact, if you ever come to Fiji, you'll probably walk past the top image in the airport in Nadi! Mom and I were lucky enough to meet up with Aunt Katherine and Uncle Jim and have a wonderful stay at the Matamanoa Island Resort, a private resort on an island in the Mamanucas (pronounced Ma-ma-NU-thas), a group of islands west of the main island (Viti Levu). It literally was island paradise!!

Welcome to Matamanoa Island!

From the moment we stepped on the island, we were greeted warmly by the resort staff and had a very peaceful and relaxing vacation. In fact, this was my view for a lot of it: 

However, we did spend some time snorkeling in the water. The first day we just snorkeled from the beach, but the second day we took the boat out to a specific snorkeling site around the other side of the island.

Aunt Katherine and Mom ready to snorkel 

Never thought my mom would be a snorkeler!!!!

 We saw lots of cool fish, including a huge school of zebra fish, a puffer fish, a jellyfish, clown fish...even a barracuda:

Barracuda sighting!

The current was a bit bumpy so we were all exhausted by the time we came back to shore! The next morning we woke up early to enjoy a sunrise on the beach:

Sisters :)

Good morning, sunshine!

The steps from our bure to the beach

The next day we were pumped up to explore the other parts of the island and joined other visitors on a mountain trek. And believe me, at times it was a hike! I've gotten used to not wearing shoes because of how muddy the terrain gets in Fiji, but the tour guide wouldn't let me leave without putting shoes on! As a volcanic island, it got pretty rocky and steep at times, but it wasn't anything the three of us couldn't  trek.

View from the top

Our tour guide was great at pointing out local fruits like paw-paw (papaya), the bark on trees they used as medicine, and even some fruit bats that lived up in the canopy!

3 peas in a pod 

Our volcanic terrain at sea level

Unfortunately, it was a bit chilly when we got back and this is how we spent most of the afternoon:

Bundled up! 

The food was fantastic, very sophisticated in their preparation and all very very tasty!! Every night during dinner time, the staff had what was called "Bula Time" where they would announce the new visitors, wish a warm farewell to those who were leaving, gave out awards for the activities of the day, and listed off the activities for the evening. They were enthusiastic and fun, singing before and after each bula time. A few even came around during dinner serenading tables with their acoustic guitars. 

Preparing our Caesar salad

Yummy :)

Preparing for Bula Time

 The final night we were there, we celebrated my upcoming birthday. The whole staff of the resort was around our table singing and laughing and giving me hugs and kisses. I couldn't stop laughing and I'm sure I had the biggest cheesy smile on my face!! It was a bummer because it was our last night there but all good things must come to an end.

Birthday girl :)

I'm grateful for the time I had with my family, and shout out to Aunt Katherine and Uncle Jim for choosing such a spectacular resort. This will be a birthday I will treasure for a lifetime, thank you for making the time and sacrifices to come visit me!