Fiji Dream

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

By Fred J. Eckert

The 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.

FIJI’S PEARLS ARE FAMOUS

due to their unusual colors. Visit J. Hunter Pearls retailers for a closer look at these natural treasures.

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.

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

fire-walking ceremonies, Indian curries, and Fijian song and dance. Fijian music is exceptionally pleasant, and Fijian singing can be unforgettably beautiful.

What seems to deter many from considering Fiji is a false perception about costs. Actually, the costs of accommodations, entertainment, and food have always been considerably less in Fiji than in either Hawaii or Tahiti.

TAKING A CRUISE, either to the Mamanuca group, the farther away Yasawa group, or still more distant parts of Fiji, is a great way to see and experience what many—me among them— think of as the real Fiji. On them, I’ve relaxed on pristine beaches, snorkeled in some of the finest snorkeling spots in the world, AUSTRALIA visited Fijian villages, attended a village feast, enjoyed some great Fijian singing, and learned about Fijian culture. Accommoda- tions aboard the ship were very comfortable, food and service excellent, and sailing in these waters very smooth.

The capital city of Suva, set on a bay against a backdrop of volcanic hills, isn’t much of a tourist destination—no beaches and a lot of rain. While it’s the largest city in the South Pacific outside Australia and New Zealand (pop. 100,000) it has a small-town ambiance.

From Suva, it’s easy to get to a few places I’ve enjoyed visiting, one of which is the tiny upscale resort of Toberua Island. Reached by a 30-minute boat ride, its beautiful beaches and crystal-clear water make it seem a world away from Suva.

An hour or less flight away from Suva lie three Fiji islands worth visiting.

Vanu Levu, Fiji’s second-largest island, is home to two particularly outstanding resorts, both located just outside the tiny town of Savu Savu: Namale Plantation, one of Fiji’s finest, and the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort,

A country with Western heritage and South Seas charm, Fiji is a mosaic of cultures.

FIJI

NEW ZEALAND

Fiji is an 11-hour

nonstop flight from Los Angeles.

The archipelago of Fiji consists of 300

islands, 100 of which are inhabited, in addition to 540

islets. (Top) A girl in a song and dance performance.

(Above) A Fijian

blows into a shell to announce an event.

If You Go

Best Time to Go:

Anytime. Fiji’s climate is sunny and tropical; the weather is generally pleasant year-round. You’ll get better pricing if you take care not to schedule your visit during Australian or New Zealand school vacations. Safety: Fiji is considered a safe travel destination— and one of the friendliest—but petty crime is becoming a problem in the capital city of Suva. Costs: Food and accommodations are reasonably priced. Compared with Hawaii or Tahiti, Fiji can be a bargain destination.

which caters to everyone, not just divers.

Taveuni, Fiji’s third-largest island, known as the Garden Island, remains a largely undiscovered gem. The island has some beautiful black sand beaches as well as white sand ones, and scenic parks and waterfalls. Accommodations are limited to a few small hotels, which mostly cater to divers who have made Taveuni a favorite destination.

Ovalau, a small volcanic island known for its high peaks, is an interesting place to visit if you’re a history buff. Its one town, Levuka, once a whaling settlement, was Fiji’s capital until 1881.

For those who want to splurge for the experience of a lifetime, Fiji offers some incredible upscale resorts that are like something out of the movies. A good example is Turtle Island, which was, in fact, featured in the 1960s film “The Blue Lagoon.”

Sited on its own 500-acre island in the far western Yasawas group and reached by a half-hour seaplane flight from the main island, Turtle Island is the resort that set the standard for Fiji’s reputation as one of the world’s finest get-awayfrom-it-all destinations. “As close to heaven as you’re likely to get,” Harper’s Hideaway Report calls it.