Paintball at Sonaisali Island Resort Fiji, What?

Let's fly all the way to Fiji to play paintball?

Okay, that wasn't quite the case, but we ended up having a paintball adventure while spending some time in Fiji.

We arrived at Sonaisali Island Resort on our last day and were disappointed to receive such a warm welcome and a beautiful room in a tranquil resort that was absolutely beautiful but we didn't have time to enjoy it.

Paintball in Fiji on Sonaisali Island

We left at 10:20pm and need to be on our way by 7:00pm.

With only a short time at Sonaisali Resort we had to make the most of it.

Paintball Orientation

Believe it or not, this was the first time any of us had played paintball, so it was pretty exciting.

It was a hot day and we were a bit late due to our champagne orientation to learn more about the resort.

It's a tough job, but someone has to do it!

Six people were waiting patiently for us, so we quickly dressed and got down to business.

After a few quick practice shots at the shooting range, we split into teams and set about strategizing.

First Attack

Dave and I joined another group and our fearless leader, Leroy, launched the first attack.

We had no clue about strategy so we just went into the jungle and hoped for the best.

The day was very hot and humid and the masks made it difficult to breathe.

I can't imagine what soldiers go through in combat.

Crawling around in the jungle during a silly game was hard enough for me.

I always thought everyone could hear my every breath.

I also broke branches and tripped over roots with every movement. You could see me coming from a mile away.

Paintball was fun, but we weren't pros

We weren't great at paintball.

What can I say, we are Canadians and I have never held a gun in my life!

Dave once stopped one in Vietnam to pose for a photo but he never fired a bullet. We're peace loving hippies, don't you know?

To be hit

The opposing team picked us up like rubber duckies at a fair.

As usual, I was the first to get hit. I'm just too impatient and figured I could work my way through the trees and sneak up on the guys.

They waited and called me out within minutes.

Luckily, if the attacking team gets hit, they can come back.

All we had to do was yell, "punch," and the game pauses until we get out of the bush.

Let the games continue

It then resumes and we go back to where we started. I returned determined to have a better strategy this time.

I had barely made it back when I heard Dave yell "I'm hit" and then the next and the next.

Our entire team regularly rotated out of the forest as we were constantly being shot at.

In the 30 minutes we had to capture the flag, I got hit four times and Dave got hit twice.

And man, those paintballs hurt.

Turns out the other team had an ex-soldier on their side and he knew all the tricks. No matter what we tried, we couldn't get through.

I joked before that I was very competitive and wanted to win and I think it showed.

When the game ended, I came out the dirtiest and most disheveled of the bunch.

capture of the flag

But I didn't care because we captured the flag in the final moments.

We had half an hour to conquer it before we had to switch sides and become the defenders.

I got kicked out with 5 minutes to go but quickly came on and decided to do it all or nothing.

I saw that the opposing team's "sniper" had somehow managed to get shot, so their ace was out of the game.

Paintball rules in Fiji

• The rules are; If you get hit on the attacking side, you're allowed back into play.
• If you get hit while defending, you're out until the end of the game.
• There is no turning back for the defenders.
• Without Rambo out of the equation, we had a chance.

I ran back as fast as I could and saw Dave on my right.

I whispered to him to do it. "I'll cover!"

cover what I wouldn't know. I had no idea where to shoot.

We still had 3 minutes.

Dave got stuck between a rock and a hard spot so I decided to run away.

I had no idea where the rest of the team was and like I said I'm very competitive and I wanted that damn flag.

I ran towards the flag and fell towards it while holding out my hand. I completely missed it and fell into the rocks.

I don't know where the shooters were because in my moment of awkwardness nobody hit me and I managed to get back up and lose the flag without a moment.

We won!

We won! And we did it in 29 minutes and 55 seconds!

When we switched sides and became defenders, it was a measly 15 minutes before I heard "Game over!" They captured the flag with ease. Our day on the battlefield was over.

Fun Fiji Fast Facts

• Sonaisali Resort is the only resort offering paintball in Fiji
• It is located near Nadi
• The cost is $85 Fijian dollars per person
• Contains 100 rounds
• Additional rounds cost $29 Fiji Dollars
• Transportation from Nadi is $20 per person round trip.
• 1 Fijian Dollar = CAD0.55

Read more about Fiji

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