Last Day

Last day here in Fiji. I first came to Fiji to visit some of the most beautiful islands and masses of water in the world, but i've found that looking back on my stay, I've actually done quite a bit in Nadi as well. For instance I went to the 'Sleeping Giant', 'Nadi Market' where I sampled Kava and then the Navala Village.

Don't leave Fiji without visiting the most picturesque village in the South Pacific. Navala Village is located about 50 minutes drive into the highlands and is one of the few remaining villages where all houses are built from traditional materials. The houses, locally referred to as bures, have bamboo woven walls and thatch roofs and are single room buildings. Kitchens and toilets are separate buildings out yhe back. A visit to Navala includes a welcoming yaqona ceremony where guests are introduced and bonded by drinking the traditional Fijian drink mixed from roots of the Yaqona tree.

Well my plane is here so I better go.... :(

Miss you Fiji!!!
Sarah

Day 4.

Hi again. One more day till I leave Fiji. I must admit that though Fiji is beautiful and everything, the mosquitoes are a pain in the backside!!

After I eat breakfast and send off e-mails to various people, I'll take a look at the wide array of natural and cultural attractions and activities of the Nadi region.The following attractions are located in the local area:
* Sri Siva Subrahmaniya Swami Temple
* Batilamu Trek
* Garden of the Sleeping Giant
* Koroyanitu National Park
* Mt Evans Ranges
* Nausori Highlands
* Sabeto hot springs & mud baths
* Wailoaloa beach
* Navala Historic village

I believe Navala Historic village will be the best option for me. Navala is a village in Fiji that still uses traditional Fiji construction for all its bure (huts). It is in the interior accessed from Ba and has a picturesque setting in the Navala River valley surrounded by mountain ranges and grasslands.

Better head of!!! :)

Day 3.

Hey people! Before I start telling you about my day, I just wanted to share this.....

Fiji is essentially a bilingual nation. In fact, many people speak three, four, even five languages. Schools are taught in English, and all forms and signs are in English, so if you’re living in Fiji you kinda have to have a good grasp it. “Fijian” is a pretty broad term when you’re describing the language spoken here, as there are over 300 regional varieties, all of which developed fairly independantly and are significantly different. The Fijians had no written language until the European missionaries arrived in the mid-1800s, and at this point in time the most powerful chiefdom was that of the region of Bau, and so the Bauan dialect has been adopted as “Standard Fijian”, which is the form taught in schools and in any publications and so is the form that an outsider like myself will learn.So, your average Fijian can speak English, Bauan and their own dialect of Fijian. Many also have a grasp of Hindi as well.

Fascinating, don't you think? Well, I think so. If only I could learn how to speak Bauan, yet I'm afraid I only have two more days in this remarkable place. I will miss it when I go!! :(

However, my day today was like any other day here.... exciting. I went to the Nadi market, located one block south of the Nadi Main Street. The Nadi Market offers a wide variety of fruit, vegetables and other produce. It was here that I stocked up on the famous Fijian pineapples, which are especially worth sampling. Smaller than other pineapples, they compensate by being much sweeter and tastier.

One whole section of the market, about thirty stalls, is devoted to just one product, kava. Kava consists of the dried roots of the plant 'piper methysticum' (‘intoxicating pepper’), which are ground into powder to produce a mildly intoxicating drink, which plays an important role in the social and cultural life of indigenous Fijians. It is often considered very good manners to present the chief of a village with Kava.

After this, I went to the 'Garden of the Sleeping Giant'. 14 km north of Nadi, this botanic wonderland is nestled at the foot of a ridge of the Sabeto Mountain Range called the Sleeping Giant because of its shape. Originally established by American actor Raymond Burr, to house his personal orchid collection, the Garden of the Sleeping Giant now also includes a wide range of diverse Fijian plant-life. A boardwalk trail across streams and alongside pools guides visitors through a lush and colourful jungle walk. Five stars if I must say so!! ;)

I finished off today in a relaxing spa at my hotel and a bowl of salad, before retiring for the evening. Good Night!!

Day 2.

Yawn, I am so tired from yesterday. I feel like going back to bed!! Yet, I have a fun and exciting day ahead of me today. Let me think, first i am off to the 'Mamanuca Island resort day cruise'. I believe this will last most of the day as The Mamanuca Islands is a collection of over 30 small islands just off the coast of Nadi. I've heard that the Island Hoppers helicopters, Pacific Seaplanes and Turtle Airways also provide daily sightseeing tours of the Mamanuca Islands, but these tours are in the air, literally! However, I feel i'll take the aerial tour, because though it uses green house gases, I can't touch or destroy habitats (not that I would of course). Okay that's settled, so now what else? Well, I have heard that the Bouma National Park in Taveuni is exceptionally friendly. If you guessed that it was a wildlife and habitat reserve, you are correct. Bouma National Park was specially designed to inform tourists about protecting the Fijian environment. Oh goodness!!! Look at the time, i have got to go and eat my breakfast of fried banana, whipped cream and pecan nuts. :)

Sifton pic

Day 1.

Yesterday I touched down in Nadi International Airport, which is of course in Viti Levu, Fiji. The place was packed with people. It was amazing to see so many different races together. There were Europeans, Asians, Australians, Americans and a few other. However, I had to get going for there was alot I wanted to do!

Quickly dumping my luggage in my room at the Sofitel Fiji and Resort Spa, I went on the 'Fijian Islands and snorkel Whales Tale Cruise'. This was amazing. The scenery was breathtaking and the best part, was that you could walk and swim in some of it. I also thoroughly enjoyed this because some areas I saw were protected by fences and goverment laws, that would hopefully preserve the amazing sights. This tour lasted around nine hours, so it was a good thing I had taken the early morning flight to witness it all.

I must regret though, that the most dissapointing thing I had witnessed in the day was none other then Nadi beach. This is a very good example of tourist's impact on the enviroment. There was litter on the beach and in the water and this beach is said to attract rather dubious characters such as robbers and vandalists.

However, my first day in Fiji was utterly fantastic and very tiring. I can hardly wait for tomorrow's events.

FIJI information

Hey people,
This is a blog about me going to Fiji. That's right i'm going to Fiji!
I am so excited about seeing this place of paradise. However, I must say that I am nervous. So, i've taken the time to look at what Fifi really is.

Believe it or not, Fiji is one of the more developed islands of the southern hemisphere. However about 65% of it still remains untouched (as i'd like to call it) or agricultural. Fiji occupies around 322 islands, so you can imagine it was hard to choose which island to stay at, but its been decided Viti Levu is the place to be. Viti Levu and Vanua Levu account for about 87% of the population and are the main islands.

In my research, I have also learnt that Fiji has vast fishing and forest industrys, that support them economically as the tourists do. Tourists of mainly European race enjoy Fiji alot. This is mainly because beaches are very far away in Europe and not very beautiful as the beaches in Fiji. Another possible reason for Europeans to be greatly attracted to Fiji is the weather. Europe is normally very cold in Winter with temperatures roughly between -3 to 28 degrees celsius, though there are exceptions! However, on the other hand Fiji is very warm with tropical sunshine normally always around.

Japanese is to Japan as Fiji is to Fijians and Indo-Fidgians. Fijians are the overall group of natives that inhabit around 58% of Fiji, while Ethnic-Fijians and Indo-Fijians are the groups. Ethnic Fijians are Melanesians and Polynesians, while Indo-Fijians are of Indian backgorunds.
The religion of Fijians are mainly Muslim, Christian and Hindu.

Well, I think i've had enough for today. Besides, dinner's nearly ready.

Sincerely
Sarah