[Getting there]
I boarded three planes - Northwest Arkansas to Dallas, Dallas to Los Angeles and finally Los Angeles to Nadi, Fiji. After 14 hours of air time, skipping over a day, and being 17 hours ahead of my body clock, I arrived in Nadi, Fiji and began the trip of a lifetime. [For those who may already be turned off by the long flight, you have to know that it’s totally worth it.]
[Geography 101]
Did you know that Fiji is made up of over 300 islands, and only some of them are inhabited? Fiji is located in the South Pacific; it is East of Australia [just a 3.5 hour flight] and North of New Zealand.
[The People]
Did you know that Fijians are known as the friendliest people in the world? I found them to be warm and welcoming individuals. Fiji has about 838,000 people - indigenous Fijians, descendants of settlers from India, Europeans, people of mixed race, Chinese and Pacific Islands. Fijian and Hindi are the first languages that majority of the population speaks. A vast majority of the people also speak English, and you can count on those working at the resorts and in the tourism industry to do so.
[Bula Spirit]
Before I go any further you must comprehend Bula! When in Fiji, you will hear Bula left and right. Loud BULAS, soft bulas, sweet bulas. It is the universal greeting in Fiji. It means welcome, hello, hi there, g’day, cheers, how are you? and, good health. Probably before you even leave the airport you’ll be saying Bula! yourself.
[Where I spent my time]
I spent my time on Viti Levu, or the mainland as we like to refer to it. We flew into Nadi [pronounced Nan-dee] and headed South to Outrigger on the Lagoon outside of Sigatoka on the Coral Coast. The hotel was very authentic with thatched roofs and bures [aka bungalows] and beautiful scenic views. The highlight of the resort was definitely the spa. Bebe Spa [pronounced behm-beh, which means butterfly] is set way up high overlooking the resort with the most breathtaking views of the land. I indulged myself with a Fijian Bobo Massage that was to die for. It was simply an ahh-mazing experience from start to finish and left me feeling rejuvenated after the long flight. I also took part in a Reef Walk one afternoon during low tide and saw some really cool creatures - blue starfish, sea urchins, bright colorful fish, coral and oysters. We harvested two gigantic oysters while we were out there. What a cool experience.
After two days at Outrigger, we headed to Denarau Island, a manmade island connected to the mainland by a causeway. We stayed at the Westin, but my favorite resort in the area is the Radisson. In Denarau they have what’s called the Bula Bus – you can buy a day pass for a nominal fee and it comes every 10 minutes to pick up/drop off at the hotels and Port Denarau – where all the shops are and the marina is located. Port Denarau is the starting point for those who want to head off to the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands – and these Northern islands are where it’s at. I would advise North American travelers to spend majority of their time there. One day we were fortunate to charter a boat out to a small island called Tivua. We got to snorkel and have a traditional meal once we arrived.
After Denarau, we headed to the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa (about 40 minutes from Nadi International Airport). This was by far my favorite resort and beach on Viti Levu. It is the only resort on Natadola Bay and the only stretch of natural, white sand beach on the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu. Forbes Magazine voted Natadola Bay as one of the 25 best beaches in the world in 2008. This resort is simply breathtaking. I had a stunning view of the crystal blue water from my room. My balcony was complete with a modern soaking tub and a beach bed. The room was stylish with all the modern technologies that wow travelers today. Just take a look at my pictures. Need I say more? I would return to this luxurious resort in a heartbeat.
[The Rich Culture]
During our day of seminars, the Fiji Tourism Board set up something really special for us. They had stations for us to rotate through so we could learn about the Fijian Culture. There were two that stuck out to me most of all. First we learned how to make Kokoda [pronounced ko-kahn-da] a traditional Fijian dish served with most meals. It is a cold soup made with white fish, onions, hot peppers, tomatoes and coconut cream. You cook the fish in a lime juice bath and then mix in the other ingredients. Second, we made kava, the National Drink. It is made from powdered pepper root. First you crush the root to a fine powder and then mix it with water. The drink is beige colored and you drink it from a coconut shell. This is one of their favorite ways to socialize. You must clap once or twice, drink the kava and then clap again while saying bula. During ceremonies or special occasions, kava is prepared and offered with elaborate ritual.
[The takeaway]
Fiji is beautiful and the natives are friendly. If you want the true experience of the South Pacific plan to visit the Northern Islands like the Mamanucas or the Yasawas. Or, for the outer island experience on the mainland, check out the InterContinental and you won’t be disappointed. My time in Fiji was rich and I have many warm memories to keep with me for a lifetime.
Bula!
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