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Mary Jane and Granny travel |
to Honolulu and the Fiji Islands ...
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October-November 2003 |
Bula!
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The colorful Meke Dance of Fiji |
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Fiji (Viti) is located 18° south of the Equator in the South Pacific, due north of New Zealand, due east of Cairns in Australia, and due west of Tahiti and the Cook Islands. There are over 300 islands in Fiji.
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Hawaii, at 18° north of the Equator, is close to the halfway point when traveling from the Northwest USA. We stayed over in Honolulu in both directions. |
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The two largest islands are Viti Levu (Fiji Large) to the west and Vanua Levu (Land Large) to the east.
We stayed on Denarau Island in Nadi (pronounced Nandi) on the west coast of Viti Levu.
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Port Denarau is the marina from which day trips and cruises leave on their way to such resorts as South Sea Island, Honeymoon Island, Castaway Island, Beachcomber Island, Treasure Island, and many other idyllic islands in the Mamanuca (pronounced Mamanutha) Group.
We sailed on The Whale's Tale to Honeymoon and Malamala Islands, and took another day trip on a catamaran to Mana Island for snorkeling.
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The Fijians still live in villages and own most of the land, unlike on many other islands where European explorers and colonists took the land away. |
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English is the official language, although Fijians also speak their native Fijian, and Indo-Fijians speak Fiji-Hindi.
Friendly smiles and the greeting "Bula" are everywhere. |
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South Sea Island, one of hundreds of idyllic islands in Fiji |
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Fiji was once known as "The Cannibal Isles" because of the early tradition of eating one's enemy as the ultimate revenge.
Fortunately, Fiji has changed, and thus we did not appear on any local menus. |
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