Fiji Me

Its our last day on the island.
I can't find my shoes, I haven't worn them in over a week. This is what life was like in Fiji.

We decided to "escape" from the NZ winter by taking a short trip over to our neighboring island of Fiji.
Fiji is only a 3 hour flight from Auckland. It should have been a quick, easy trip. Unfortunately, the people at Air Pacific didn't get that note. Our short, 3 hour flight was delayed by a LONG 8 hours. Then our short layover in Suva turned into a 5 hour delay that gave us the opportunity to do a little sightseeing in the captial city of Fiji. I guess I can't complain. We got the chance to see the Fijian Museum and to see what "city" life is like for many Fijians.

Downtown Suva, the capital city of Fiji

In front of a replica of the boats ancient Fijians used

Bruce, posing with the military guards outside of the Presidential Palace

Fiji has a very rich and sometimes complicated history. They have had several coups but have never had any severely violent uprisings like in other countries. The Fijian are Melanesian people who were descendants of the Lapita peoples. Evidence of pottery was found in Fiji as early as 3500 BC. They are also one of the most successful ocean going people and were able to navigate around the islands of the South Pacific thousands of years ago.

After we did finally get to Fiji, we had to take another short flight onto our final destination of Taveuni. Taveuni is heaven on earth. It is one of the rainest places on earth which makes it into a lush rainforest. The locals call it the "Garden of Eden". It is everything that you imagine a paradise could be. Lush, rolling hills, coconut trees, papaya trees and fruit of every sort falling onto the ground. Most people recall the "Blue Lagoon" being filmed there. I didn't realize how incredibly remote this place was. We arrived via "crop duster" flight which included the surreal opportunity to watch the pilot fly from our seat.

View of Fiji from the air

Not how I like to fly...I can see the captain from here

Lush gardens

Tropical beauty

The locals still live in villages that are sprinkled all around the island. Some of the villages were small, simple houses with electricity but most were more remote with no electricity and no running water. To most of us, this would conjure up images of horrible poverty but it was no such thing. The native Fijians had everything they could need. There were pineapple trees, banana trees and papaya trees growing wild in their yards. Everywhere you looked, there were fresh waterfalls and clean pools.  There were actually large springs coming out of the ground with fresh, cold water. You know, like FIJI water?! The company that bottles the water was on a neigboring island. Men were tending to their crops of cassava and taro and women collected fruit and veggies. Children played around and laughed. It really was like stepping back in time.

The Lavena village

Fijian boys on their homemade raft

Bananas growing "wild"

Villagers doing traditional songs

What made it more amazing is how it felt like we had stepped back in time. There is no electric company on Taveuni and the only electricity was avaialble through generators. After 10pm, the lights went out. Everywhere. Some small homes and hotels had generators that would allow for electricity all night long but for most, there would be no electricity until the morning. And who cares?
It was good and simple. To sleep under a mosquito net with  ocean breezes keeping you cool. Walking around barefoot. Sitting crosslegged on a mat while eating outside.

During our time in Fiji, we became close with some of the villagers and were taken on several tours of the island. In Fiji, women are expected to wear a sulu, or a sarong when in the village. Everywhere I went, I had a long sulu that I would wrap around my waist to hide my pants. But that got a little hot and after a while, I learned to hike and move around in a sulu like a real Fijian girl!

You try to hike and climb in a sulu! Its not that easy!

We visited Fiji's highest waterfall, Bouma, and hiked through the rainforests to find cool, pristine rivers and streams to swim in. It seemed like everywhere we went there was lush forest punctuated by cool mountain fed streams and an occational waterfall. It really did seem like the real "Blue Lagoon" island.

Bouma Falls

Bruce, jumping off of a ledge at the falls!

I feel like Indiana Jones, hiking through jungles and rainforests!!!

I can't believe I drank that!

We also got the chance to participate in a traditional kava ceremony. Kava, is a root plant which is shaved, and strained through cloth with water to make a potent drink. Everyone reports a different feeling from using kava. Some people say is causes hallucinations and psychotropic changes. Others feel drunk or high. some feel numb. I have to admit, I was scared to try it but after a couple of others had tried it, I gave it a swig. It tasted like wet tree bark (not good) and after a couple of seconds, my lips and tounge started to go numb. It was a weird feeling, like being at the dentist without the anxiety.  (I think I like Kava!)

Bruce at the Kava ceremony

Even after a good night of drinking, sitting crossleg on a woven mat, we knew we had to get up to go to church. We were invited to go to mass with some of the local villagers. Most of the villagers on Taveuni are Catholic and we went to mass at the oldest Catholic church on the island. The church was beautifu but what made it more amazing is that it was empty. There were no pews, no where to sit. The parishoners sat crosslegged on the floor on mats. The entire mass was done in Fijian and we understood parts. What made it so beautiful was the singing. I have never heard such angelic singing in my life. It is like every Fijian has been blessed with the voice of an angel (or an American Idol). The enitre parish sang each hymn in a 4 part harmony that sounded like a professional choir. It brought tears to my eyes and gave me goosebumps.

Wairiki Catholic Church...Possibly the prettiest church in the world!

Where else do you come out of church and see this?!

No pews here. Just sitting on the floor during mass

People say that Fijians are some of the most hospitable and nicest people in the South Pacific and I see why.

Everywhere we went, we were invited into homes, offered food and drink (and kava). The people really made us feel like we were home and not just "tourists".

Possibly the best drink ever!

home sweet home....

I know it seems so cliche but Fiji seems more like home to me than anywhere else we've been. The people, the lush surrroundings, the amazing diving and the food all put us at ease and made us feel like we were home. Who knows, maybe one day it will be?

You have GOT to see the rest of the pictures from Fiji. Click here.