Bula! Its Fiji Time

THE DIARIES : FIJI

From the moment you step off the plane, you are instantly reminded of where you are. All of your senses come alive with the smell of coconuts and the sights of luscious green palms trees; and let’s not forget the humidity (not AJ’s favourite part) that wraps around you. That’s right, this is true island life for the next little while and let’s not forget that you’re no longer on normal time; your time zone now is “Fiji Time”.

Trust me when I say you will learn by the end of your stay what "Fiji Time" really means.

With regards to accommodation, we did things a little differently. Instead of staying at the resorts like most people do, we found Smugglers Cove; which is somehow a perfect mix between a resort and a hostel. For all those backpackers out there, this is the PERFECT spot, complete with a bus stop literally right outside the front entrance, making it easy to get into town and explore. And if you're not in the mood to go on an adventure, then be sure to get up early to enjoy a buffet breakfast and get your spot amount the sunbed or hammocks.

Nightly entertainment at Smuggler's Cove reminds you that you are on holiday.

"BULA!" is truly the only word you will ever need, a friendly smile and big loud "BULA!" can help you out in any situation, not that there will be ever a need for that. The people of Fiji are always willing to help out and they do so with a smile.

The very feel of Fiji is such that it makes even the worst of workaholics (*cough* AJ) take a deep breath and relax, there really is nothing to worry about. You are on a tropical island in the Pacific Ocean, with plenty of islands to hop, white sand beaches and crystal clear waters to swim in, secret coral reefs filled with some of the most beautiful brightly coloured fish to explore. Our tip to you is to truly tune in to "Fiji Time" and enjoy what is on offer.

Although only there for a short time, we managed to sneak in as many activities as possible. There are tour desks at most of the places you stay at, but if you are like us, you know there is always a good bargain to be had.

Key Takeaway: Head into town and shop around for Tour Companies. We found that most of the places we wanted to go to, such as the Nadi Hindu temple and the local markets, and even the mudpools, could be done by ourselves or if you found a wiling enough taxi driver.

We decided we wanted to explore even further, so we booked a tour through a tour company downtown Nadi called Awesome Tours. For those of you who don’t mind getting out and using your legs, and I really mean using your legs, check out some of these not so familiar destinations :

The Biausevu Waterfalls, where after arriving at the village, we were introduced with a Kava ceremony to become part of the village. You are then in for a bit of a walk to the Falls, but trust me, it is worth it. Caution – you are crossing streams multiple times, so wear appropriate footwear or better yet, if you want to be one with the locals, go barefoot (at your own risk!).

Sigatoka sandunes, where we stopped at on the way back. Now this is where the legs come in. These sanddunes are deceptively steep and very tall, and as a matter of fact are used but rugby players to train. Both AJ and I had burning calves by the time we got to the top (I won the race, but that's a story for another time). Once you reach the top and walk over to the other side to get spectacular views of the coast, you will realize just why it was worth all the pain, sweat and yes, almost tears. AJ was able to get some "$#$%ing epic" footage from this vantage point on our drone.

Mudpools, where we took in the sunset views amongst the stunning backdrops of the Gardens of the Sleeping Giant. Here, I overcame some of my fears and (with the assuring grip of AJ's arm) accepted the cleansing embrace of mud. This was a rather relaxing experience and both of us left rejuvenated and headed to the nearest McDonalds for a pack of Chicken Nuggets to eat in bed at our hotel.

We spent the last couple days at our hotel, in total relaxation mode, embracing the water and the sun and the smells of this tropical paradise for one last time before we flew back to reality. We felt no worries, just the sweat down our forehead and the beer in our hands. We had finally learnt what Fiji Time really meant.

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