by Heather Hauswirth

Guam - Fiji's 322 islands vary dramatically in size. The largest islands are Viti Levu, where the capitol and 70% of the population are located, and Vanua Levu, but just over 100 of the smaller islands are inhabited.

Port Denaru is the jumping off point for island hopping - boats leave from the harbor throughout the day, but the harbor itself is vibrant and bustling too and worth checking out. It boasts a number of fun restaurants and bars.

The band greeted passengers boarding the Oo La La Day Cruise en route to Savala Island - a remote blissful paradise just over an hour away. And once we were all aboard - Captain Sereni Serekilevu shared stories about Fiji's history. "That's how Fiji came to be and then it came to be colonized by the English and in the 1970s we gained our independence so we are our own country, just over thirty years," he said.

There was never a dull moment on board. There was non-stop entertainment and music too. And lunch was fresh local produce, which everyone enjoyed.

When we finally saw the shores of Savala Island, we suited up for some snorkeling - first making sure our masks and fins fit snug. The captain of course insisted he demonstrate how to snorkel to the first-timers.

Savala is an island just a mile long. It is entirely empty aside from a couple of beach chairs and a canopy that offers some shade. We played games like a competitive boy vs. girl contest that involved cracking the coconut blindfolded.

I went up first.

It was a lot harder than I thought it would be - but eventually I smashed that coconut and the girls won three to two. We also learned to weave baskets out of banana leaves the Fijian way. He said, "You fill it with fruits and bring it home on the shoulder. Sometimes the basket is four or five times the size of this."

We watched a boatsman husk coconuts - and nothing tastes better than fresh coconut meat. After our day long beach excursion we got back on board the Oo La La and took turns jumping off the top of the boat. We took off with a running jump - it was an adrenaline rush like nothing else. And after an action packed day we finally made our way back to the port

And headed to the five-star Intercontinental Hotel, which you need a golf cart to explore. It was the most beautiful hotel I think I've ever been to in my life. It boasts a spectacular restaurant and top of the line accommodations.

The world class Intercontinental Hotel is also home to the world famous Fijian Golfer Vijay Singh's golf course, which he designed very recently.

Singh, nicknamed "The Big Fijian" grew up on Nadi and came from a poor family. In fact, he couldn't even afford golf balls so he practiced with coconuts. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2006. Hungry to explore more, we decided we would check out Beachcomber Island next a popular choice for those wanting a different kind of action and adventure.