Islandliving fiji from the editor
SPRING 2016 | ISSUE 17
The
e u s s I g n i d
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR THE PERFECT PACIFIC WEDDING FOOD I FASHION I PLANNING I BEAUTY I HEALTH I FINANCE
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ext issue, we will be celebrating four years of Pacific Island Living. We started this magazine for Pacific people – to find, review and recommend things to see and do, and ultimately, buy. We are proudly an aspirational magazine, we want our readers to sit back and indulge just as much as we want to tell the world how great the Pacific really is. From Georgie Gordon’s health and beauty columns, to Carolyn Ernst’s gardening tips, we hope you agree Pacific Island Living has something for everyone. In four years our market has grown from Vanuatu and Nauru Airlines to cover most of the Pacific. We’re particularly proud of our market share in Fiji and the Solomon Islands as well as our distribution in Australia through Qantas Club lounges. As I write this column I’m in Fiji, having just flown in from Vanuatu. Next month it will be Nauru then the Sollies. Pacific Island Living truly is a Pacific magazine and we’re so pleased you have enjoyed it and helped its growth over the last four years. Please do keep in touch via our website, Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter. Happy reading. Tiffany Carroll
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and Instagram at instagram.com/pacisliving or read this and all our magazines online at www.pacific-island-living. com Cover images - Fiji Island Living courtesy Adrenalin Fiji; Solomon Island Living, by David Kirkland; Nauru Airlines Cover courtesy Nautilus Resort, Kosrae; Vanuatu cover courtesy Pavol Stranák. Copyright: All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Articles express the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of Nauru Airlines, Tourism Fiji, Vanuatu Tourism Office or Pacific Island Living.
islandliving | 1 pacific
1 | Islandliving paciďŹ c
Ni Sa Bula
PICTURE: Tourism Fiji
Bula Vinaka!
Looking for a little romance and spark? Fiji consistently turns up the heat as a dreamy wedding and honeymoon destination. With 333 verdant islands, jewel-coloured water and people as warm as the weather, we have all the elements to make your South Sea fantasy come true. Hide away in a charming ‘bure’ amid lush, floral-scented gardens, a lavish overwater bungalow or a spacious hilltop villa with jaw-dropping panoramic views. You will forget that a real world exists as you relax with a book, laze languidly on a hammock or spend long sunny days getting weightless in our warm waters. And when you are ready to amp up the adventure, there are secluded bays, picturesque rivers and native forest trails to lose yourself in. Steal a kiss under a roaring waterfall or strap on a snorkel and fall head over heels for statuesque coral cities and their colorful schooling fish.
We recommend getting beachside front row seats for the sunset’s spectacular lightshow before feasting on an exquisitely prepared dinner under the stars. You are in for a treat as Fiji’s exciting diversity extends to our food a melting pot of rich multi-cultural cuisine and local ingredients. We will pamper your palate with mouthwatering seafood, succulent smoked meats cooked in a traditional underground oven and fiery curries with a local twist. You will be so smitten you might never want to leave! See you soon!
Vinaka!
Islandliving | 1 Fiji
on the water
Luxury cruising e r a m ’ l e B d r a onbo
Tiffany Carroll finds solo cruising isn’t so bad, especially when you’re a guest on the 86ft catamaran and pride of Adrenalin Fiji’s fleet, Bel’Mare. There’s Champagne and canapes, watersports and Fiji’s most beautiful locations to explore. No wonder she didn’t want the day to end.
A sand bank between Plantation Island and Cloud Break was the first stop on Bel’Mare’s day trip from Port Denarau. 2 | Islandliving Fiji
Islandliving | 3 Fiji
Welcome on board! I’m often told I have the best job in the world, visiting gorgeous South Pacifc destinations and writing about magical experiences, but the truth is, these kind of experiences can be quite tiresome and at times, a little lonely. Joining group activities on your pat Malone kind of feels like being the final wallflower at a school dance. Everyone else is in their groups and you’re there wearing a neon sign saying ‘no mates here’. So when the team at Adrenalin asked me to go aboard their flagship cruiser, Bel’mare on a scheduled day trip around the Mamanuca islands, I could have been more excited. Seven hours later I realised I did, in fact, have the best job in the world. The Bel’mare is an 86ft catamaran, staffed by an experienced, professiional Fijian crew. Day trips around the Mamanucas include canapes and drinks, lunch and afternoon tea as well as activites including jet skis and standup paddle boards all for just FJ$299 per person. This offers excellent value for money, a day trip on Bel’Mare
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The The Bel’Mare Bel’Mare can can take take up up to to 50 50 guests, guests, with with spacious spacious 8.35m 8.35m decks decks
really is a five-in-one tour, with pleasure cruising, sightseeing, snorkelling, lunch and watersports. The Bel’Mare can take up to 50 guests, but there is so much room on board, I can’t imagine feeling cramped. With spacious 8.35m decks (upper and lower), a skylounge, saloon, guest rooms, master stateroom and five bathrooms, space is plentiful and it’s luxury all the way. The guests on my trip were mainly from New Zealand and Australia and all agreed it was the best day out they had had in Fiji. “It’s just the ulimate,” a 70 year old woman from Auckland said. “We saved this trip until our last day in Denarau as we all had different tours in mind. This one ticked all the boxes and it’s the perfect way to spend our last day in Fiji.” The Bel’Mare day trip to the Mamanucas departs from Port Denarau at 9.00 am. The Captain and crew personally welcome each guest on board and follow with an entertaining but informative safety demonstation.
(upper and lower), a skylounge, saloon, guest rooms, master stateroom and five bathrooms, space is plentiful and it’s luxury all the way.
The crew ensure all guests are well looked after, even those on their own, by calling everyone by name, getting to know their preferred style of travel and what sorts of things they are hoping to get out of the day. For me, I was invited in to the pilothouse where I got to see the captain manouver this rather large boat safely and easily. It was then I thought, and he agreed, he had the best job in the world. “Especially on days like today – look at this water, look at the sky, have you ever seen such blue?” I hadn’t. Leaving Port Denarau several other boats were taking off for the day’s adventures and I noted our guests seemed rather proud to be on board Bel’Mare. Another Kiwi tourist nailed it in his best Australian accent “Livin’ the dream we are.” The Bel’Mare cruised at 13 knots passing by several island resorts including Castaway, Plantation Island, Tokiriki, Malolo and Likuliku. For those staying on Denarau, it was great to see other styles of accommodation.
Our first stop was at a sand bank off Plantation Island, a warm strech of white sand between the resort and Cloud Break where the Fiji International Surfing competition is held. Here you could snorkel, feed fish, paddleboard or just sunbake on the sand bank. The water was crystal clear and the fish plentiful. Bel’Mare’s crew was in the water with us, pointing out fish species and keeping a watchful eye on the younger (and older) guests. Next we enjoyed a sumptuous buffet lunch and Champagne, local and international beers and soft drinks. It’s an open bar on board Bel’Mare and there is no skimping on the food. Later in the afternoon we moored off Malolo island for more swimming and snorkeling, jet skiing and relaxing in the sun. By the time we cruised back in to Denarau strangers had become friends, bonding over what is undoubtedly the best day trip from Denarau all had experienced. Book directly with Adrenalin or your hotel tour desk.
Islandliving | 5 Fiji
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out and about
Suva Dining Guide pital a c y r a n i l the cu
Tiffany Carroll took time out in Suva to discover some of the best restaurants in Fiji.
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uva has endured living in the shadow of Nadi, its western big brother for tourism, beaches and, up until recently, its dining scene. At the urging of the Grand Pacific Hotel’s management, I went on a three day gastronomy tour and found Suva offered locals and visitors an abundance of local and international restaurants to choose from. And what sets them apart from their western neighbours, is their commitment to using fresh local food and fusing modern techniques with traditional cooking methods.
Governor’s
This gem of a restaurant quickly became my favourite hang out in Suva for its friendly staff and historical photographs and memorabilia, each capturing the essence of the romantic South Seas. From posters for movies filmed in Fiji to photographs of Royal visits and colonial wharf scenes your lunch could take an hour to come out (which it doesn’t) and you wouldn’t get bored wandering around the historic house. Governor’s is housed at the former residence of Fijian High Chief and Pacific statesman, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna. It’s a gorgeous colonial home, lovingly restored without losing any of its original charm by owners Ken and Carolyn MacDonald. The clientele is local business people, mums taking a day off, visitors and government workers. The menus are extensive and chef Jason Allport prides himself on sourcing local, sustainable food. “We spend a lot of time at the market and only buy fresh fish, in season so as to protect breeding stock in Fiji. If something is not available fresh, we simply don’t offer it,” he said. Being a sometime Melbourne girl, going out for breakfast is high on my priority list, but to be honest, I’ve found breakfast choices in the South Pacific a little limited. Not at Governor’s however. Their breakfast selection includes frittatas, eggs many ways, banana and coconut pancakes, a filling South Seas full breakfast as well as crunchy museli with fresh fruit and French Toast. For lunch, Governor’s has a large salad range, burgers, seafood specials, soups and the Fijian specaility Kokoda – a traditional fish salad cooked in lemon juice. Since our last visit, Governor’s have expanded their enteraining area to include an uber-cool tapas and wine bar, with gorgeous furniture and fittings, one could feel like they’re in a Soho bar in Hong Kong or Raffles in Singapore. Open Wednesday to Saturday, make sure Governor’s is first on your list for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks. Phone: +679 337 5050 Chef Jason Allport and his team on the steps of the lovingly restored Governor’s in Suva, check out the uber cool tapas.
Islandliving | 7 Fiji
Ginger Café
Located in the Suva Museum complex in the Thurston Gardens, this new addition to the Suva café scene is perfect to escape the hussle and buslte of city life. With a daily selection of cakes, muffins, wraps, biscuits and terrific coffee (the best we found in Suva), the Ginger Café is a great pitstop whilst checking out the Suva surrounds. Open Monday-Saturday 9.30 am-4.30 pm and surrounded by park lands, Ginger Café is a particularly good place to take the kids. They can run around in the park area while you sit back and enjoy a semifreddo coffee and a sneaky dessert.
Grand Pacific
The Grand Pacific Hotel is Suva’s answer to Raffles in Singapore, a colonial era masterpiece recalling the days of pith helmets and elegant cocktails by the pool. But while tradition is important here that doesn’t mean there isn’t innovation and fresh offerings on the food front. The hotel has had a recent menu upgrade and a new chef for the Prince Albert restaurant. This fine diner is now in the hands of Mo (for Mohammed) Arun who is Nadi born and raised with an award-winning CV honed in some of Fiji and New Zealand’s best dining rooms where for three years running he was the recipient of the ‘Entertainment Gold Award’ for Best Fine Dining Restaurant. He plans to showcase the flavours and traditions of Pacifica by concentrating on the best of local produce, food that smells great and tastes even better. One example being Vudi Vakasoso a dessert which pays homage to a Fijian favourite featuring plantain bananas poached in coconut milk, infused with cinnamon and cardamom before getting a drizzle of sugar cane caramel and a mint garnish. Address: The Grand Pacific Hotel, Victoria Parade, Suva. For reservations, contact the restaurant manager on +679 322 2010 or email: restaurant@gph.com.fj
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Above: The Ginger Café is located in the museum complex in the Thurston Gardens. Enjoy fine art of their coffee, muffins, wraps and a selection of cakes while the kids run freely. Below: The Grand Pacific Hotel is Suva’s answer to Raffles. Step back in time and be swept away by the romance of this colonial masterpiece set right on the harbour’s edge.
Paridiso
Another newbie on the Suva restaurant scene, Paridiso has a club-like feel to it, overlooking the tennis courts and rugby field opposite the Grand Pacific Hotel. It’s the sort of place you want to sit back with a Pimms and Lemonade and watch the afternoon sports on a weekend. And while you can do this, Paridiso is better known for its delicious Italian food and freshly squeezed juices. As you would expect, there are plenty of pastas on the menu including Bucatini Aglia e Olio (long pasta with garlic, olive oil and chilies), Bolongnese, Canelloni and Lasange. Other favourites include Beef fillet, grilled tuna and Mahi Mahi and woodfired pizzas. For dessert, the sticky date puddings are amazing as are the selection of gateau. Open Tuesday-Sunday for breakfast and lunch. Phone: +679 777 2303
And if you’ve been in Suva more than half an hour, you know how bad the traffic can be! However Sangeeta’s food is so delicious and so interesting the restaurant is nearly always booked out. As I write this I realise by the time we go to print, Sangeeta’s menu would have changed again, mainly due to what’s available at the Suva market. “We go three times a week, sometimes doing three runs a day. I buy colour, I buy flavour and I only buy what’s fresh,” Sangeeta says. The vivacious cook is also an avid gardener and grows many of her own herbs and spices “you just can’t get them here”. She uses influences from Asia and the rest of the Pacfiic in her cooking and often has themed dinners throughout the year. There is usually lamb and salmon on the menu as well as Vanuatu steak but it’s her local seafood, mahi mahi and tuna that people rave about. For me it is the presentation, there is always at least three, but more often five colours on the plate with everything from freshly cut edible flowers to bright veggies and salad herbs. Eden is open from 8.00 am each day and on weekends has an extended breakfast menu. Takeaway and a small selection of gourmet deli products are also available – hard-to-find relishes, smallgoods and meats.
Eden
Sangeeta Maharaj is a powerhouse in Suva. The fast talking owner of Eden has been around the industry so long she has influenced many other restaurants in Fiji with her passion for using local ingredients, colour, flavour and not being intimidated to introduce new ways of cooking in the islands. Eden restaurant is a bit off the beaten track as far as Suva for visitors goes, located at 11 Bureta Street, Tamavua Heights. Depending on your driver and the route he takes, the time from downtown Suva to Eden has varied from eight minutes to 20 each time I’ve been there.
Above left: Seafood chilli pizzas at Paridiso, perfect for a lazy lunch while others play tennis or rugby at the adjoining grounds. Above: Sangeeta Maharaj’s gluten free quiches at Eden where freshly sourced produce is their speciality.
Islandliving | 9 Fiji
buy local
Authentic Fijian Buying locally grown food is not only good for you, it helps Fiji. Same for souvenirs and beauty products. If they carry the “Fijian Made or Fijian Grown” emblem, you’re helping Fiji. To be certified Fijian Grown, all products must be in an unprocessed state such as fruit and vegetables and products harvested and obtained by hunting and fishing. “You’ll no doubt see billboard, television, print and radio commercials promoting the campaign while you’re here. Know that when you buy Fijian Grown and Fijian Made, you’re getting the very best quality food, grown in our mostly organic family gardens which supports local Fijian people,” he said.
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he Fijian Government wants you to buy Fijian made products and not just becase they are good for you. Every chef we interviewed for Fiji Island Living told us that – you can’t beat locally grown products – and a visit to the Suva markets on a weekend shows an abundance of colour and variety. Tours to the market can be arranged on a Saturday morning (contact Patricia Kailola – pkailola@gmail.com ) or you can pop down during the week yourself. Rather than just encouraging us to eat healthy, Minister for Trade and Tourism Honorable Faiyaz Koya is putting the government’s stamp on Fijian grown and made products. “The Fijian Made – Buy Fijian Campaign commenced in 2011 with the approval of an industry emblem decree and the subsequent launch of the emblems by the Honorable Prime Minister,” the Minister said. The Fijian Made and Buy Fijian Campaigns aim to promote and raise the profile of Fijian made products both domestically and internationally through branding and marketing strategies. The Fijian Made branded products carry the emblems or logos on the products to distinguish them from imported products. “This Campaign aims to build a sense of loyalty amongst Fijians to buy our own creations and for visitors to buy locally made souvenirs and products to expand employment in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors,” Minister Koya said.
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Above left: Minister for Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya (right) with Agriculture Minister Inia Seruiratu and the Fijian Grown emblem.
adventure
Rafting
The Upper Navua River
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old, wet and a little nervous – this wasn’t what I expected from my Fiji holiday. Surrounded by Kiwis and Melburnians who hadn’t felt double digit temperatures in weeks, I found myself in the middle of a water fight on the Upper Navua river about to head down white water rapids. The others in my raft were hell-bent on getting wet, oblivious to the (in my mind) freezing water temperature of the shaded Upper Navua. Soaked I eventually gave in and joined them in the fun before suddenly they all went quiet and stared ahead. The beautiful canyon narrowed and the sound of a very fast flowing river was just ahead. We’d reached our first rapid. Our guide Batirua, who (in my mind) had forgotten to take his ADHD medicine started screaming orders at his novice crew. “Now go forward, back easy, hard, stop!” He screamed in one sentence. Before we knew it, we had just survived our first rapid and it was paddle high fives all around. Our skipper was a master. Another raft carried those American tourists we all love to loathe – you know? The loud ones that have been there, done everything? Their crew included self-proclaimed experts “Dude, I even have my own raft. This will be nothing compared to our rapids at home” and long suffering partners. I’m not sure who was happier when they were tipped out after failing to listen to their guide, but the rest of us certainly had a good laugh.
Rafting down the Upper Navua is, believe it or not a really relaxing experience, despite the aforementioned screaming and flipping into the water. The rapids are fun and certainly get your heart racing, but for several hours of the day-long trip, you simply float through canyons and farm land while your guide tell tales (in our case, many of them were extremely tall) and folklore about Fijian custom and culture. I learnt more about Fijian language than from any guidebook during my Rivers Fiji trip and with no phone service, no distractions found myself completely relaxed and immersed in Fiji’s stunning inland scenery. Rivers Fiji runs several rafting tours, some include village visits. Ours was a long day, with an early pick up from the resort, morning tea on the way to the Upper Navua, rafting, lunch at a gorgeous waterfall then home mid evening. The team at Rivers is proudly Fijian and supports sustainable tourism. They are the protectors of the river and its surrounds, firm in their ‘take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but memories’ policy. The river is pristine, the canyons prehistoric and when you eventually get downstream you float by traditional Fijian farms and villages. Local kids run in to the water to say ‘bula’, mothers hang washing on the river bank and fishermen cast nets for dinner. This day trip is not only adventurous and fun, it’s a privileged glimpse into Fijian life, made amusing and interesting by informative, albeit slightly deranged guides.
Islandliving | 11 Fiji
golf
Fiji International s to town
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he Fiji International is one of the hottest golf tournaments in the South Pacific and a week not to be missed. This year the quality of the field is anticipated to be the best of the tournament’s short history with the European Tour coming on board as a sanctioning partner. To be played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from 6-9 October the best golfers from Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia will be in action. However the tournament is about more than just the golfing action. From some of the best beachside hospitality to a traditional sevusevu ceremony the Fiji International is the place to be seen this October! If you need some more convincing here are our top-four reasons you should come to the Fiji International. 1. World class golf Before we get carried away with the location let’s not forget about the most important thing – the golf! The Fiji International is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tours which means it draws some of the best golfing talent from the Asia-Pacific region. 2. Stunning views The Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course, designed by three time Major winner Vijay Singh, provides stunning views. The lush green grass of the rolling fairways contrasts with the dramatic hillside landscape making the course layout unique. But if the beauty of the course isn’t enough,
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turn around and gaze upon the Coral Coast. The Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course is built on one of the most beautiful stretches of beachfront in Fiji, ensuring that 15 of the 18 holes have a sparkling view of coral reefs and the Pacific Ocean. 3. Best seats in the house So, you think you have seen hospitality at a sports event? Think again! The beach at the 4th hole is the ultimate destination on course at the Fiji International. Combining golf and the best parts of Fiji – the sun, sand and water, the Natadola Beach Oasis provides prime viewing of the par-3 4th hole whilst you luxuriate in cabanas on the white sand beach. Enjoy champagne, an array of tropical delights and if it all gets too hot take a dip in the crystal waters! 4. Volunteers While it’s always fun to watch the Pros in action it’s even better to be part of it yourself. The Fiji International is looking for volunteers to go inside the ropes as walking scorers. This opportunity gives you the chance to see golf from a different angle, be closer to the action and interact with the players. But if scoring isn’t for you there are plenty of other volunteering roles that are integral at an international tournament of this calibre. To find out more information on travel packages, ticketing information, volunteer programs and corporate hospitality please visit fijiinternational.com
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1 | Islandliving paciďŹ c