Fiji Time, a.k.a Just Chill
It means slow down, and smell the roses.
It means put your feet up.
It also means, not giving a d@mn about anything. Not to stress, and let it be.
Fiji is known for its turquoise ocean, white sand, palm tress and beach resorts.
What is less known for, it's the ridiculously delicious food, and ridiculously friendly people despite not having much money.
We recommend allowing at least one week to get a good taste of Fijian culture in Viti Levu, the main island, as well as visiting some of the islands nearby, such as Yasawa.
Yasawa Islands
Yasawa is an archipelago situated on the northwest of the main island Viti Levu, It's a paradise for nature lovers especially those who loves marine activities such as snorkelling, diving or just chilling off the white sand beaches.
The natural wonder has attracted the Hollywood to make the 1980's blockbuster The Blue Lagoon, which is filmed at the location of the Blue Lagoon resort, named after the movie.
It's not at all just about the TV fame, the dramatic and exotic scenery of the island is really something else. One of the most unforgettable visit was the Sawa-i-Lau caves.
You'll need to be a reasonably fit swimmer to dive in the narrow underwater tunnel for a few seconds to see the best of the cave. Simply magical.
To get to the Yasawa Islands, take the ferry from the main island Viti Levu. You can choose to visit one of multiple islands in the Yasawas by reserving with the resort on the island of your choosing.
I wanted to be as close to the sea as possible and dive in the water at sunrise, so I booked one of the resort that has individual bungalows that literally sit on the beach. Waking up to the sound of waves and floating on the warm sea water with tiny tropical fishes was a dream come true.
We are happy to give you some insiders' advice on which island / resort to choose from, and what activities are available.
Suva
It takes about 3.5 hours drive from the Nadi to Suva. We recommend giving yourself plenty of time to take in the scenery of tropical forests and traditional villages on the road.
Suva, the capital of Fiji, is full of buzz and reflects the friendly, warm Fijian spirit with a bit more business attire. It has quite a few Western brands and shops, while still embraces the traditional markets and culinary delights.
No matter how busy life gets, the Fijian local know when to take a break and gather by the river to watch the majestic sunset.
Food & 'Drink'
Fiji's traditional culinary scene was quite a pleasant surprised.
I've never clapped so much while having a 'drink', until I was in Fiji.
Kava, also known as yaqona, is Fiji's traditional national drink, made from the crusehd root of yaqona which is then strained with water. It has a slight sedative and calming effect itself, and often it served during a joyous occasion, either at a ceremony welcoming guests into a village and on other important occasions.
The etiquette involves clapping once and yell 'Bula!' - the Fijian word for "hello", then scout the bowl and clap three more times and say "Maca" (pronouced Ma-tha'), which means "finished', and everyone will clap together. Happiness is in the air!
I also never knew how good the leaf of a fern-like plant could taste until I was in Fiji.
I've also never made my own fresh coconut milk until I was in Fiji.
Other than carpaccio, sashimi and ceviche, I've also never known that raw fish could be 'cooked' in coconut milk broth and taste this good.
The lobster dinner on the beach organised by one of our resort was easily one of the most romantic and unforgettable dinner I've had to-date.
It was a trip that will always have a special place in my heart and always bring me a smile looking back.
It's not something to just tick off the bucket list, but to visit again and again.
The Fijians' genuine, happy and generous nature is infectious. The palm trees, sea breeze and endless white sand will bring you to the Fiji Time in no time.
Bula!
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