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Viti Levu Travel Blogs

Background: Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). A 1990 constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government and gave a mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.

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By Maria and Ben
November 18th 2008

A taste of paradise

Oceania » Fiji » Viti Levu » Coral Coast

Our Bure

Bula! We've just spent 4 days and nights in Fiji. We had thought about going to Fiji on and off for a while, but it was just weighing up the cost etc, but luckily the cost of flights had gone down and down in various sales, so we thought it had to be done, as we are over this side of the world and we never may be this way again. After much researching on the net, we booked a place called the Hideaway Resort, as it had really good reviews, but had pretty respectable prices. We thought this will be [View Full Entry]

By emmam
November 7th 2008

Bula Vanaka Fiji - round Fiji in 8 days...

Oceania » Fiji » Viti Levu

Beachcomber Island
Take me back....

Fiji - Land of Smiles.... So Nadi isn't really what you expect when you disembark the overnight flight to Fiji. For myself.. i guess i was expecting leis and flowers, not the dull worn tiles of Nadi Airport. But on the outside it is a different story. Opening the door and getting smacked in the face by the heat of the tropics is one of my most vivid memories. I also remember the smiles of the Fijiians as I walk outside. The intense tropical heat agrees with me. My hair loves it and has a life of its own in a [View Full Entry]

By Jen and Hollie
October 29th 2008

Last Stop Paradise

Oceania » Fiji » Viti Levu » Coral Coast » Mango Bay

our house

Arrive in Fiji and get a $140 taxi to our resort yikes! It's on the Coral Coast and we have our own private beach! During our stay here Jen went snorkelling, Hollie done jewellery making and had a massage, we both done fiji cooking lesson and basket weaving. We visited the nearby village and school. We met Taz and all dressed up for an Indian festival they celebrate. We also go on a waterfall hike to a great spot. When we leave we drag new friends Taz, Shane, Geoff and Matt with us to Nadi! [View Full Entry]

By Karen and Matt
October 2nd 2008

Fiji to New Zealand

Oceania » Fiji » Viti Levu

The view from our patio was just beautiful

We got up early for our flight and I went straight outside onto the terrace to check out the view. It was breathtaking. Since being in Fiji we’ve only been on small islands so to be in the middle of a dramatic mountain range was amazing. It was already hot and sunny even at 7am. I was sorry that we didn’t have longer to enjoy the place as we felt really at home there. Around the corner from our room was the bar area, and in front of that was a pretty swimming pool. It wasn’t like a posh swimming pool [View Full Entry]

View from the inside before we messed it up!

By Frankie Lynn
September 30th 2008

Fiji - BULA Time

Oceania » Fiji » Viti Levu » Coral Coast

Tropical Paradise
this is what you expect from Fiji

We arrived into Fiji looking forward to the sunshine after 6 weeks of coldness in New Zealand. Our first experience was the bus journey which took 2 and a half hours to arrive at our hostel. It was a rickety old fashioned bus with music blaring and everyone staring at us two as we were the only white people on the bus with loads of luggage. To make matters worse it was in the dark so we couldn't see where we were going to had to pray that it was legit and we would arrive safely. We stayed at the Beachouse [View Full Entry]

By Olliep
September 27th 2008

Mana Island - Nadi - Pacific Harbour

Oceania » Fiji » Viti Levu » Nadi

emotional goodbyes!
some of the people we met during our stay!

It was an emotional goodbye. We could have easily stayed in Mana Lagoon for longer but we only had one day before our flight and we were also out of booze. After breakfast we checked out and waited for our boat to arrive. We had the goodbye song sung to us and then began the numerous goodbyes and email swaps! At 11.30 the boat arrived and 16 of us boarded. It was a tight squeeze and as the back was so weighed down Mark got to hang on to the front of the boat and used as ballast! We arrived back [View Full Entry]

By carterfamilyinoz
September 17th 2008

Fiji 2nd -12th Sep

Oceania » Fiji » Viti Levu » Coral Coast

view from the room

Well, hopefully you are still reading the blog, it has all been a bit quiet! We have just got back from 10 nights in Fiji. A beatiful island with lovely people. We stayed in a 'bure' which means house, just few metres from the beach. The resort had freat faciltities including a fabulous pool. The walk along the beach was amazing, with a lovely cooling breaze, a fabulous view and the gentle lapping of waves. Best of all, there were loads of hermet crabs. As a result it became tradition to stroll back along the beach after breakfast and spot them. [View Full Entry]

By Lisa n Toby
August 9th 2008

More sharkies

Oceania » Fiji » Viti Levu » Coral Coast

bull shark

We flew back to Fiji from Samoa for just a few days. How nice to be back in the land of Bula! :) Just enough time to get another dive in and this was a doosey - a shark feeding dive! I was at first not sure if this was environmentally responsible. Seems that whenever humans upset the natural balance of things there's some critters that lose. Toby was afraid it would be like watching animals fed at a zoo. But other people we had met who had done it raved about it. And they were right!!! After taking a giant [View Full Entry]

By traceyp
July 28th 2008

Island hopping

Oceania » Fiji » Viti Levu

World's 7th best beach!

July has been a busy month! As soon as I got back from Nauru, I met up with some friends visiting from Australia. First stop was Natadola Beach for the day. According to the sign on the Queens Rd, its the 7th most beautiful beach in the world. Stocked up with roti parcels and a pineapple, we had a great day just lying by the beach, swimming in the blue water and catching up on all our gossip. The next day we headed to Nananu-i-ra - an island just off the coast of Viti Levu near Rakiraki. The landscape from Nadi [View Full Entry]

By Welsh Wanderers
July 19th 2008

Bhangra Knights

Oceania » Fiji » Viti Levu » Natadola Beach

Photo 1

I was relieved to be leaving Chong’s Place. Stu had been kind in his description. It was a state, there was clearly a lack of female presence for some time, I don’t think the house had been cleaned for 2 years, and there was a very dark atmosphere about it - and I won’t even mention the kitchen! I am happy to experience basic living and have embraced it many times on this journey so far, but this was just plain dirty and unkempt. So we were off to find a more traditional form of accommodation, the problem being that Fiji [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Oceania » Fiji » Viti Levu