‘Viti Levu’ and ‘Vanua Levu’ are the names of two main islands of The Fiji Islands. This South Pacific country has altogether 333 islands- big and small. Some are so small that there are only one or two houses, sometimes no houses at all. In the international map, Fiji can be identified only as some dots. It may be assumed that at anytime these dots will be washed away or will be deleted by blue salty water of the Pacific Ocean. But in reality it is not that. When a visitor arrives in Nadi- the international airport of Fiji Islands, his assumption is bound to be changed. The capital city is Suva, located in Viti Levu, he sees a hilly postcard-like city. The names of other cities in Viti levu are Namaka, Nadi, Nausori, Raki-raki, Ba , Loutoka, Sigatoka etc. In Nausori, there is also one international airport. There are about seventeen airports in other small islands. Only small airplanes & helicopters land in those airports. The neighboring countries are Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Samoa and Australia. It needs about 10 hours 40 minutes from Inchon, South Korean Airport, 17 hrs from Los Angeles, 7 hrs from Australia, six hrs from New Zealand to fly to Nadi. The international airline of the Fiji Island is ‘Air Fiji’. It has international fights to many destinations including Port Vila, Auckland, Brisbane, Manila & Los Angeles.
I started my journey from Beijing International Airport, China at 11:30 A.M., China local time. China was very cold and full of ice and snow everywhere. Our flight by Korean Airlines delayed because the runway was slippery due to heap of the ice on the runway. After 30 minutes, airport authority cleaned the ice out and we flew away to Incheon. I was a transit passenger in Incheon and my next flight was at 17 hrs Korea local time by the same airlines. The flight flew away for Nadi. I could see nothing but very small ships in the Pacific Ocean since the windows of the aircraft must be closed at night, I had to pass the whole night sleeping. Very early in the morning I was marveled at the sight of morning sun rising out of blue water in an extremely beautiful way. At 8:24 AM Fiji local time, our aircraft touched the land of Fiji Islands.
No prior visa is required for most of the nationals for entry into Fiji. I was thrilled to see that some local young people with Fijian dress were singing welcome songs inside the airport to greet the overseas visitors. “Bula, Vinaka”, the boys were saying to the foreigners which mean “Welcome, Thank you”. I proceeded to the immigration desk and submitting my passport, I got 14 days visitor’s visa. I came down to customs and doing all the airport formalities I went to search for a taxi for Suva.
It took 2 hour and 30 minutes to drive to Suva, a very beautiful city. On my way to Suva from Nadi, plenty of small hills, small markets, houses, canals, gardens were seen left and right.
In Suva, I got accommodated in Town House Hotel, at 3, Forster Street. Everywhere I was welcomed by the word “Bula”. Fijian people never use their local language to foreigner except the word of “Bula”. English is the official language in Fiji. Another information I got on the first day that if I wished to buy anything, I had to do it before 5:30 PM. Market usually closes by 5:30 PM. Fijian people start their everyday life very early but sleep before 9 PM.
Fiji is one of the cleanest countries of the world. Every day there is rain; as a result the plants are washed and the soil gets fertile. The gardens and greenery seem to be excellently fresh. Suva is guarded by a guard wall from South Pacific Ocean. So there is always fresh air blowing directly from Pacific. The weather is so fine all the time. Hundreds of tourist mainly from New-Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada gather in Fiji for enjoying the marvelous beauty of Nature. I asked a Fijian how many seasons they had, “We have all the seasons all the time” the answer was. In the afternoon, the bank of the Pacific is full of tourists.
Fijian people are very polite and hospitable. Whenever they pass any one, known or unknown, they utter “Bula”. This small country is governed by strict law and order enforcing authorities. No where can one find any riot, any chaos, any disorder, etc. in Fiji. So tourists are very free to move.
The Fijian currency is Fijian dollar. The conversion rate is 1USD = 1.67 FJD. International banks are there along with western union and money gram offices in all the towns. McDonalds, KFC, the Republic of Cappuccino have their business enterprise in Fiji.
Truly speaking Fiji Island is a heavenly abode for tourists. There are also many immigration consultants who help overseas tourists to extend or convert their Fijian visas. ‘Pooz travel’ is a remarkable consultancy (www. pooztravel.com) in Fiji. With their whole heart Fijian people are always inviting the world people by uttering “BULA”.
[…] Original post by John […]