Travel Islands
It’s the abundance of uncrowded beaches like this that has convinced many travelers that Fiji is a better choice destination than Hawaii. It’s also considerably less expensive.
A South Pacific Dream In Fiji, if you’re visiting, you are considered a friend
T
By Fred J. Eckert
58 I N S I G H T January 21–27, 2022
Visitors are amazed by Fijian hospitality. Few other countries in the world make the visitor feel so welcome. Fijians are unbelievably friendly and hospitable. It’s not feigned, not just some gimmick designed to boost tourism—it’s the real thing. It’s just the way they are. Being nice comes naturally to Fijians.
FIJI’S PEARLS ARE FAMOUS
due to their unusual colors. Visit J. Hunter Pearls retailers for a closer look at these natural treasures.
A COUNTRY WITH Western heritage—it’s a former
British colony, a member of the British Commonwealth, and English is the official language—and South Seas charm, Fiji is a mosaic of cultures. Indigenous Fijians, most of Melanesian ancestry but some of Polynesian, make up about 54 percent of the country’s population of 900,000. About 38 percent are Indo-Fijian descendants of indentured workers the British colonial power brought in to work on Fiji’s sugar plantations. The remainder is a mix of European, Chinese, other Asian, and other South Pacific islanders. Fiji’s cultural diversity brings forth some pretty good cuisine and makes for interesting cultural performances. Especially noteworthy are Fijian
FROM TOP L: DON MAMMOSER/SHUTTERSTOCK, FRED J. ECKERT, FRED J. ECKERT, FRED J. ECKERT
he sand under my bare feet is sparkling white and powdery fine. As I stroll along the winding beach, my feet sink in ever so slightly—just enough to nicely cushion my steps. The weather is perfect—temperature in the low 80s, clear blue skies overhead, a gentle tropical breeze blowing. There’s no one else on this stretch of beach, no one else anywhere in sight. This is the South Pacific everyone dreams of. Far more so than most other popular tourist destinations, the islands in the Fiji archipelago—especially as you move away from its large main island—have essentially maintained the character and culture that make them so wonderfully pleasant. You can find beautiful islands with plenty of sunshine and great beaches all over the world, but it’s the Fijian people, as warm and delightful as these islands they call home, that are what gives Fiji its edge. “The nicest people in the world,” “Tales of the South Pacific” author James Michener called them.
