Day 5 - Hideaway Island

The day started with our free 30 min massage down at the beach. I regret doing that massage course because now whenever I get a massage I am highly critical, and if there is no proper technique, I feel like I have just got a rub down. That being said, Damo enjoyed the massage and I always enjoy a 'rub down' by a stranger :)

With the weather clearing up we decided to head off to Hideaway Island, which is well known as a good snorkeling reef, less well known as the destination of Brian and June Bragg's 2nd honeymoon to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary 15 years ago! Although a bus would have cost us roughly $7, we caught a taxi for $28, we thought that our lives were worth more than the $21 saving. Taxi ride was uneventful, which is exactly what we were wanting. The taxi driver, Solomon, also said he'd come back to pick us up at 4pm so we didn't have to worry about transportation home (and he had a guaranteed $50)

Damo wasn't too interested in snorkeling that day, so he had the pleasure of watching me snorkel for a while...which turned out to be rather boring for Damo! Snorkeling was great, so many fish around. As soon as you put your head under the water you are confronted by the fish. I swam out to the world's first underwater post office, but didn't post any letters. While there were plenty of colourful fish, the coral was not that interesting as most of it was dead.

Around 3pm, the clouds came in and we decided to leave the island and wait for Solomon at a bar back on Mele Beach. We waited and waited, either Solomon changed the colour of his car during the day, or we totally forgot which car we travelled in! At one point a taxi driver was walking around, Damo and I didn't think it was Solomon, as the taxi driver was wearing a blue shirt, and I was certain Solomon was wearing a green shirt - I think the possibility of him changing shirts is more likely than changing the colour of his car. Turns out it was Solomon, I think given he didn't recognize us proves that they think all us white people look the same! 

We finished the night with dinner at Breakas Resort, well known as one of two resorts with a surfing beach, less well known as the location of Elle and Dan's honeymoon. During dinner the rain started just as the Melanesian dancers began. The poor dancers were out in the rain, and it was bucketing down. They continued dancing with fake smiles on their faces - good sports! After dinner we asked reception to call us a taxi, we waited about 10-15min when our 'taxi arrived' - it was a bus! We did not like the idea of another bus ride late at night in the rain, but like any phobia, the only way to get over it is to confront your fears. The trip was uneventful, but I'm still not convinced that buses are the way to travel!