Bula! from Fiji

FIJI: June 27-June 30

For reference, bula is a greeting used non-stop in the islands. From the time we boarded Air Pacific, every person we met exclaimed Bula! along with a warm Fijian smile.

The fairytale honeymoon destination, Fiji did not exceed any of my expectations. When I think of Fiji, my mind races to two things; one being the FIJI fraternity boys on 3^rd Street in Bloomington, and two being the ultimate location for all your wildest dreams to come true.

While the hotels may be phenomenal with every amenity imagined, traveling outside the hotel gates presents a similar scene to many developing countries. The island is made up of many villages that are headed by a chief with culturally driven tradition and rituals. The cost of living is extremely high due to the lack of sustainability forcing them to import all that they need. Upon talking with a local, he said they are slowly starting to grow their own cassava (Fiji potato), but it will be a process that will take many years to become sustainable. It was very eye opening to see the conditions of living and to hear the locals feelings for their island. My mom and I decided a group is needed to come over and teach the people how to grow their own gardens and nourish themselves. This could help them in so many ways!

If you need a solution for a diet and saving money on vacation look no further than the Liz traveling diet. Due to the high cost of living as well as the exchange rate, my diet for the duration of my stay in Fiji consisted mostly of Diet Coke and bread. My relatives are probably reading this and shaking their heads, but when the two meals I had were less than ideal it seemed absolutely absurd to spend $20 for a so-so pizza. This was definitely a money saving technique, but probably not the healthiest.

One thing the villages have capitalized on is the tourism industry. We took a village sponsored cruise out to a deserted island about 30 minutes from ours called Mala Mala. There we found the pristine blue waters and white sand that we had pictured for Fiji. The beach was full of shells, which made it a bit tricky to maneuver, but overall the waves were a blast to bounce around. Note to travelers eager to see the captivating Fiji waters...don’t stay on Viti Levu (the main island). Another small island is your best bet for crystal blue water and white sand beaches. One common ritual in villages of Fiji is to welcome visitors with a Kava ceremony.

Kava is a bitter plant grown on the island that is baked in the sun then turned to powder. In the ceremony the natives strain kava powder in water then bless the visitors and their stay in Fiji. The visitors drink the Kava first followed by the natives each clapping and repeating Bula in unison.

My first ceremony was a great experience; it was interesting to see the ritual. Than I learned a lesson in Fiji etiquette, unless you want to drink a gallon of Kava…don’t go into the local shops! If you see a mat on the floor with a bowl in the center it is best to politely excuse yourself from the shop, unless you enjoy the custom than please enjoy. To describe kava it is a very bitter substance that leaves your tongue numb and coats your mouth with the powdery liquid. It is a bucket list item while in Fiji, but I would advise the custom only once. During our recent kava experience, the locals decided to name my mom Chief Becky for the blessing and I was the assistant. Great times in Fiji!

I continue to question the reasoning behind traveling to Fiji for a vacation at least for U.S. visitors. Today, I met another American couple from Colorado, they've been the only I've met while in Fiji thus far. I love how friendly vacations make everyone!  Yes, I am here traveling from the U.S. but only for a few days en route to Australia. I have met several people from Australia and New Zealand. They seem to be the main visitors to the islands. I also met a couple visiting from Tahiti which I found ironic, but it would be the same logic as Floridians traveling to San Diego I suppose.

The only logic I can come to for traveling this distance is the mere renowned name that Fiji holds to Americans. It is a beautiful country and I would place it bucket list worthy, but I’ll be taking my honeymoon much closer to home. I would venture to say that Fiji and the thousands of islands in the Pacific are much like that of the Caribbean to the U.S. I wonder if the Cayman Islands hold the same clout to the Southern Hemisphere as Fiji does to the Northern?

Vinaka (thank you) for reading! See you in Sydney J

P.S. International planes are LEGIT! Double deckers are the greatest since sliced bread. The ride is so smooth and my ears never hurt which is rare! Yay Air Pacific