| 7 mins read
By Rachel Barac
Palm trees fringe the white sandy beaches, warm sapphire waters beg to be swam in and explored. Fresh seafood and tropical fruits are on the menu and the locals are as equally welcoming as the surrounds. Bula Vinaka; a warm welcome to Fiji!
Fiji is an archipelago of more than 300 islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It is plentiful with lush tropical rainforests, spectacular marine life, and picturesque beaches to laze on while soaking up some sun. The Fijian people make an equally positive impression with their friendly hospitality. Words that you will hear in abundance are “Bula” and “Vinaka” which roughly translate to “welcome/hello” and “thank you” and are delivered with a huge smile. Forget about setting your watch, here the locals operate on “Fiji time” a much slower, more relaxed pace then what the rest of the world conforms to. Take it easy, go with the flow and enjoy everything Fiji has to offer as you hop from island to island.
Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are the two main islands in Fiji. The former is home to the capital city of Suva and the well-known tourist town of Nadi (pronounced Nandi). There are numerous luxury beachfront resorts on Viti Levu especially at the well-known Denarau Island and on the Coral Coast, where one can really splash out and get pampered.
But if you’re looking for something different to do, stray from your resort and take a half-day trip to Kula Eco Park. Here, explore the tranquil rainforest by using man-made walkways and bridges providing views of Fiji’s natural wildlife and brightly coloured exotic plants. If you’re feeling extra brave, go ahead and hold iguanas, snakes or hand feed the turtles. The park is also a captive breeding ground for Fiji’s rare animals. There is also the Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple in Nadi, the largest Hindu temple in the Southern hemisphere.
Tourists might not be as well acquainted with the second largest island, Vanua Levu, but this means it’s also less crowded. Meet with a Fijian tour guide who is intimately familiar with the island and go for amazing hikes through the lush tropical rainforests, mountain ranges or through a coconut plantation. When you’ve finished hiking, visit Fiji’s most charming town Savusavu and explore the cosmopolitan restaurants, farmers markets and hot springs. If island hopping is more your thing, then head off the coast of Denarau to the crystal blue waters and white sandy beaches of the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands. Transport options for getting there include water taxi or boat transfer with a number of cruise companies. Alternatively, there are options to splurge in a helicopter or seaplane! But if feeling the wind rush past your face and flying across the water at high speeds gives you a kick, then ask your Fijian tour guide to organise a Jet Ski safari. This is a fun way to see the islands and stop off at uninhabited destinations such as Modriki Island where the movie Castaway was filmed.
Accommodation on the Mamanuca and Yasawa string of islands tends to be less commercial than on the mainland. You’re more likely to be in a beach bure than a high-rise hotel. That doesn’t mean however that it has to be less luxurious. In fact, some of the most luxurious resorts are found in the Mamanucas and the Yasawas, along with family friendly resorts and backpacker lodgings. Wherever you decide to stay, you are likely to receive a warm Fijian welcome in the form of song and huge smiles as you pull up to the island. Not surprisingly many activities in Fiji take place in or on the water. Diving hot spots for example can be found in spades all over Fiji, with the best months for diving being April to October.
Beneath the azure waters that lie between Venua levu and Taveuni Island, known as the Somosomo Strait, is the famous Rainbow Reef. Follow your Fijian diving guide below the surface of the water to a spectacularly colourful scene exploding with so much marine life you won’t know where to look. The strong tidal currents in this area bring in a constant flow of nutrients resulting in some of the best soft coral in the world. The Rainbow Reef also features the Great White Wall. A magnificent vertical wall displaying luminous pale coloured coral for many metres. Other popular dive spots in the area are the Fish Factory, the Zoo, Cabbage Patch and the Purple Wall.
Another famous dive spot is at Beqa Lagoon not far from Mana Island in the Mamanucas. Known as the Seven Sisters these underwater peaks that stand in front of a reef wall brim with exceptional coral, small fish, turtles and reef sharks. For a heart-stopping encounter with Fiji’s marine life head to The Supermarket dive site, it’s alive with white tip, black tip and gray reef sharks. Or glide through the sea with majestic manta rays at the Great Astrolabe Reef near Kadavu Island.
Another incredible water experience that doesn’t require scuba gear is swimming in the limestone Sawa-i-lau caves in the Yasawas.Featured in the movie The Blue Lagoon, the Sawa-i-lau caves can be reached with a Fijian tour guide. Explore the limestone formations while swimming through deep pools of clear water. Some areas require you to swim through an underwater tunnel to reach an open cavern during high tide.
Back on land, Fiji offers more than fancy resorts and beautiful beaches. The lovely little country is rich in culture with Indian, Chinese, European and neighbouring South Pacific influences. Get a glimpse into the Fijian way of life by visiting a Fijian village. Your Fiji travel guide will recommend carrying a sevusevu (an offering or gift) to give to the chief of the village, which will then allow you entry. In order to show respect for the Fijian people it is best to wear modest clothing. Also, remove your hat and sunglasses; carry your bag in your hand not over your shoulder and refrain from touching someone’s head (including children). Fijians have a strong sense of community and visitors will be made to feel like they are part of the extended family. You might be treated to a choir of children singing, a meke, which is a ceremony of singing and dancing, or a lovo dinner where food is wrapped in banana leaves and slow cooked in an underground oven, giving the food a delicious smoky taste.
Then wash the food down with a Kava ceremony. Kava or Yaqona in Fiji, is an earthy tasting, muddy looking drink prepared from a root that belongs to the pepper family. It is served in a coconut bowl and works as a relaxant similar to alcohol. Depending on how much kava you’ve had you might experience some numbing of the tongue and lips for a short period of time. It’s not the most pleasant tasting drink you’ll ever have but it’s worth trying and joining in the ceremony. In no time at all you’ll be clapping your hands, saying ‘Bula’ and relaxing into village life.
The most difficult part about visiting Fiji is having to leave this relaxing island paradise. But rest assured you will leave feeling revitalised with amazing memories and a strong likelihood that you’ll be back. As the Fijian farewell song, Isa Lei, goes “…over the ocean your island home is calling.”
Image Details and Licenses: https://flic.kr/p/ffqwb5 (Paul D'Ambra, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/jXXm9h (Nathan Hughes Hamilton, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/71Hxt (Annie & John, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/8ofmYD (Mark Heard, CC BY-NC 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/aCWjSS (WorldFish, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/qoBhyj (Nick Hobgood, CC BY-NC 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/2V3qDL (noelsmetanig, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/9snLAs (daryl_mitchell, CC BY-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/tx5pPJ(amanderson2,CC BY 2.0)