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LIFE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
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WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY : CATRIONA MATHESON
Before me stood an all singing, all smiling, opposite side of the world and I couldn’t hotels but now a holiday destination for
Hawaiian Shirt-clad Fijian four-piece band. see myself having the funds or purpose a variety of travellers including families
I had just disembarked from a 22-hour to make the trip. This changed however and backpackers alike.
flight, it was 5am and I had a splitting head when I was in STA Travel, booking flights
ache, but I could appreciate the thought. to travel to Australia. When I was told When arriving in Fiji, you have a variety
These four Fijians, with their fantastic afros Fiji was a possible stopover, I nearly fell of options depending on how long you’d
and enthusiastic bright, white smiles, set the off my seat. like to stay. Some tourists choose one
tone for what would be a glorious week’s beach and stay there for their entire
holiday on one of the planet’s most isolated Located in the South Pacific Ocean, Fiji holiday. Others island-hop between
paradises. consists of over 300 tropical islands. Yet, the some of Fiji’s smaller islands, or
despite its pristine waters and tranquil alternatively, like me, you can
If you think of Fiji and imagine setting, Fiji has not always been so idyllic explore the main island, Vitu Levu.
white sandy beaches, palm tress and for those that live there. The country’s
lush rainforests, you’re spot on. Fiji’s social and political history has been I chose public transport as I was
landscape and climate are undeniably tumultuous at times and as a result Fiji travelling on the cheap but I also knew
what attracts its thousands of visitors has an interesting blend of Melanesian, I would witness more Fijian culture
each year. There is no traipsing around Polynesian, Micronesian, Indian, Chinese by doing so. I mingled with locals as
museums or visiting historical sites and European influences. In fact, for the rickety bus struggled around the
- Fiji is a travel hotspot due to its sand, nearly 50 years, until the military coup mountainous rainforests and decided
sea and surf. There is an abundance of of 1987 and the Indian emigration which to explore three separate parts of the
water sports on offer, endless mountain followed it, the indigenous people of Fiji main island, testing some water sports,
treks, or if you’d prefer, you can swing where an ethnic minority in their own climbing a waterfall and doing a trek
in a hammock, take in the views and land. More recently, a military coup took along the way. I also sampled ‘kava’ a
read your book. Due to jetlag, for my place in December 2006, and the army national drink made from plant root
first couple of days on Fiji I chose the now controls the country. which although is non-alcoholic, is
latter- and it was bliss. known for its numbing affect on your
The situation is generally safe but limbs.
Previously when I’d thought of Fiji, I’d travellers are advised to exercise caution
remember the scene from The Truman and check with the Foreign Office before Fiji certainly caters for its visitors. At
Show where Jim Carey’s character going. Despite this political unrest, Fiji‘s one of my favourite hostels - a campsite
announces he’d like to explore the tourist industry is thriving, mostly due but with wooden bunk houses rather
islands. I can imagine such an ambition to Europeans who include the islands than tents- I was served complimentary
was accredited to Fiji’s remote location. on their Thailand- Australia- New tea and scones with homemade jam,
To me, Fiji was surrounded by a sort Zealand world ticket. It is also due to this daily at 4pm. Free tea and scones on an
of mystique and the dream of visiting influx of tourists that Fiji is no longer idyllic beach is definitely close to my
seemed unattainable. After all, it was the a honeymoon hideaway with upmarket idea of paradise.
2•GUM
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