SB-South Sea and Bounty Islands

I got up at 6:30 this morning to head to our Island trip. We were going to South Sea and Bounty Islands for a day trip. We were told to be in the lobby at 7:30 but didn't get picked up until around 8:05--they call it Fiji time--not being on-time, but very relaxed about it! I had some banana bread for breakfast and a cinnamon roll.  We boarded our bus and headed to Denarau Harbour where we checked in, got our wristbands, and boarded our ship called the Tiger. The ship was fairly large, 3 levels. We sat on the top to get the best views. The boat ride was only 30 minutes to South Sea Island. It was fairly cloudy today which was a break from the blazing sun, but made the mountains very misty in the distance. I could see many little islands in the distance.
We came up to South Sea which had huts, tons of trees and sand, hammocks on it. Now in order to get to the island, we got off the big boat and on to smaller boats which took us to the island shore. This smaller boat rocked really bad with the waves. We got to South Sea around 9:30AM, greeted by 4 Fijians--singing and playing the ukulele. We gathered around the Island's main area --the island only had 3 acres so we met in the center and were welcomed by the staff that lives there.
South Sea is very tightly centered so there was no real place to "get away." There were a lot of activities to do though. The first activity we did was go on a Subsea Adventure Boat (submarine) for viewing the ocean floor. This was really neat. I got to see my first coral reef and lots of colorful fish without getting wet! I really wish Brandon you were with me --you would have loved this and probably could have told me about all the sea creatures I was looking at! Made me think you bud! I saw some really cool blue fish, black and yellow fish, and even some blue/purple starfish. We were done in the sub for about 15 minutes and then returned back to the Island. Once we got back, Abby and I decided to go snorkeling so we got our fins, mask, and snorkel and headed back out on a boat. I was very nervous to get in and there was no real directions but to put our gear on and jump in the ocean. I got a huge mouthful of saltwater when I did----this was awful! I think I swallowed 2-3 mouthfuls trying to clean out my snorkel and adjust to breathing while waves over me. This is the worst taste I have ever had in my throat---made me feel like I was going to puke everywhere. It was in my nose, mouth, and eyes---its just burned! I got a few more tastes of saltwater before breathing correctly, but then it was off to explore. I wanted to stay close to the guide so I just followed him out. He went down to the reef and brought me up a starfish to hold which was really neat---it was hard and slimy. We swam around for another 15 minutes exploring the reefs and seeing a ton of fish. As much as it made me nervous, I saw some really beautiful fish and coral---it was cloudy colored but still really awesome formations. I saw rainbow fish which were brilliant, neon fish, and more cool blue fish. The fish would continuously go in and out of the coral, get really close to me and dart away too. I made sure I was always close to someone in the water at all times. I didn't want to get left behind. I did keep scaring myself-thinking a shark was about the corner, but everything went fine with my first snorkel.
After returning to the Island, it was time for lunch which meant buffet----salads, fruit, chicken/steak/fish/sausage, fried rice, potato salad, coleslaw, rolls----tons of food but we all enjoyed it! During lunch we also enjoyed a meke performance by a Fijian group from another Island. They danced, sang, and moved about a bit---very entertaining! The performance consisted of men clapping, drumming, playing guitar and the ukulele and women shaking their hips. The guys did a masculine dance with wooden sticks.
After the performance, it was off to the next island. We got back on the smaller boat which took us back to the big boat for a 10 min ride. Then it was back to another smaller boat to head to Bounty Island. This ride was more harsh than the first---lots of waves crashing and the small boat was hitting them hard.
We got to Bounty about 1 PM and were greeted by the Island staff. Mostly the staff was guys but they joked around a lot on this island and were fun! One of the workers even cracked open a coconut we found and I got to try coconut milk (not very good-chalky flavor) and also the coconut itself which I really liked (tasted like vanilla flavoring, very plain and subtle tasting).
This island was much bigger---47 acres and lots of trees, cabins, hammocks--it was very forestry--had walking trails among the trees. Once we landed on the island, Misha, Austin, Colin, and I decided to walk around the edge of the island to check it out. We walked around the entire island---over coral shells, rocks, hot sand---this island had way more land than South Sea so it took us about 45 min to get all the way around. Returning to where we began, we got in the fresh water pool and talked to some English backpackers.
Then it was tea time---so cookie time!! They were kind of burnt so not so great. The English girls told us about a turtle pond--so we went to check it out and found 3 turtles can came up to our hands if we put them in the water---one almost bit my finger! There was also a nerf shark in the water but that was a pretty mellow fish. By this time it was starting to get really cloudy and the sky was turning dark, rain hit about a half hour later and it hit hard. For about 40 minutes it down poured. We sat playing cards underneath the main picnic are where everyone else was hanging out.
Soon it was 4:30 and time to get back on the little boat and head back. We got to see a cargo ship come in and bring food to the island---the Fijian guys who lived on the island all lined up and passed the packages up the shoreline. We had to get back on the smaller boat which was brought us to the big ship which took us back to the Harbour. It was a bit chillier on the way home since the sun was covered, but it was only about 30 minutes to get back. Then we boarded a bus to get to the hotel where we ordered pizza from Mamas and had them delivered--we were all starving. It was time to eat, shower, and relax. I was exhausted but had a enjoyable day. This was the last full day in Fiji too---:(
I enjoyed Bounty better--more space to move around, more time to walk around. I felt the Islands were fairly dirty and buggy. I was expecting paradise and clean gorgeous beaches and they were well maintained but not as much like paradise as I thought. The Islands were very relaxed and laid back and run by their own Island staff. Over-all I am glad I went out to the Islands, but if I had a choice I would go back to Natadola beach instead of another Island.