Info about Fiji
The Majestic Country of Fiji
Fiji is sometimes called the Fiji Islands. It is a country in the South Pacific. Fiji is about two thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand. It is an archipelago that is made up of three hundred and thirty-two islands. About one hundred and ten of the islands are inhabited but most of the land mass is made up by just a few.
The islands of Fiji are actually the tops of volcanic mountains. It is a majestic place with warm tropical waters and beautiful coral reefs that bring tourists from all over the world. Fiji is mostly a noncommercial place. The people live in large extended families and have a very sharing attitude. They have access to many natural resources. Fiji is a land made up of dense tropical rain forests, fine beaches, coconut plantations, and hills cleared by fire. Tourists are free from such evils as landmines, terrorism, or malaria that are found in many similar places.
In the recent past, internal political events has caused a decline in the number of tourists visiting Fiji. The tourism industry has lowered prices and increased advertisement of the main resort areas that are away from the politics in and around the capital.
The climate of Fiji is a tropical marine climate so there is only a slight change with the change of seasons. From November to April hurricanes can occur. Tourists that are sensitive to hot temperatures may prefer to visit during the winter of the Southern Hemisphere.
The main islands’ interior has many remote villages. There are some roads and lots of trails. Buses or open carriers with canvas tops travel the Vanua Levu Mountains several times a day. They travel the interior Viti Levu Mountains several times weekly. The bus that leaves Nausori in the morning goes past the hydroelectric reservoir and mount Tomanivi and arrives later in the day in Vatoukola and Tavua. You can see spectacular scenery on this ride when the weather is good.
Fiji’s main airport is Nadi, but the Suva airport has a few international flights. From the United States you can fly Air New Zealand or Air Pacific directly to Fiji from Los Angeles. Korean Air also makes several flights a week from Seoul to Fiji. When making reservations, be careful if you are using travel agents at the airport. They make fifteen or twenty percent commission and will tend to book you into the accommodations that pay the highest commission instead of the one that will serve you best.
Fiji has public transportations such as buses, private taxis, or share taxis. The share taxis are usually white mini-vans that sit in a group and do not leave until they have reached their capacity of six to eight people. There is never much traffic, but most of the vehicles used for public transportation run off diesel and air pollution on major roads can be very high.
Fiji is a beautiful place to visit. You will see beautiful coral reefs, volcanic mountains, and exquisite coastline. Just be careful when you make your reservations to be sure that the accommodations you are getting will be acceptable.