Nadi, Viti Levu, Fiji

  Nadi, Viti Levu, Fiji 

,
When we arrive in Fiji, the National rugby team are also about to arrive, so trying to squeeze past the hysterical masses and out to the car park to find our hostel pickup was a challenge, to say the least. Two hours later and after 3 phone calls to the hostel, our driver finally appears. Welcome to a concept known as Fiji Time, where everything is approximated to about the nearest 5 hours 

Fiji is ethnically split, almost 50/50, between the native Fijians and the Indians, who descended from the original plantation workers brought over by the British. It´s quite clear that the Indians dominate business, and run most of the shops, restaurants and hotels. Fijian fear of Indian domination has caused some tension over the years, and has led to various political problems and a few coups.

, ,When we arrive at the hostel, we are met by the owner, a typical Indian businessman, whose eyes light up and who rubs his hands with delight, when he realises we haven´t booked any trips or further accommodation yet (money

01 Mana Island

! money! money!). It was a mistake telling him that, as now he won´t give us the remote control to the air conditioning (it´s very hot and humid at the moment in Fiji) or let us pay for the room, until we go back down to Reception after settling in, and discuss possible tours with him. So we decide to play him at his own game, and pretend that Patty is ill, can´t come down, so Marc can´t book anything until he´s taken all the brochures up to the room and discussed the options with Patty. Oh and we need the remote control for the air conditioning please, as our chocolate Easter bunny is slowly turning into a drink, in the incinerator type room.

The next day we take a 3 day trip to Mana Island, the hostel we wanted to book is supposedly full. Quite how our current hostel receptionist knew that without even calling, we don´t know, so we´re put in the "only" hostel with space left. Probably the brother or cousin of our current hostel owner. This is how things work here.

When we arrive in Mana Island after an hour´s boat ride, we are pleased to find a laid back island with only a few small Backpacker resorts. We spend the days chilling out on the beach. On the first night, we attend something very typically Fijian, a Kava ceremony. Kava is a mild euphoria-producing infusion made from the root of the Piper methysticum scrub

, ,,

,,,,,,,,,,