What you can see and do in Fiji

Kilometers of white sand beaches lined with palm trees and coral reefs untouched by man: these are some of the dreams of tourists who visit one of the favorite destinations for vacations of international celebrities. In this place, you cannot wear sunglasses or hats anywhere, and every man’s wardrobe must have a skirt combined with a jacket. Just take one step to go back to the past and one more to be the first to welcome the new day. All this is possible in a unique place: its name is Fiji, a group of islands in the Pacific that are part of Oceania.

O awesome.club researched the popular traditions of this small island country and found out what not to do when visiting one of the most paradisiacal places in the world.

The country is made up of 332 islands, only a third of which are inhabited. But much of the population lives on two large islands: Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

More than 80% of Fiji’s territory belongs to former groups of villages, and today they are ecological reserves. But that doesn’t stop Hollywood celebrities from buying entire islands in the region. For example, actor Mel Gibson acquired the small island of Mago for 15 million dollars in 2015. About 40 people live there, working for the famous. Employees take care of plantations, maintain the local nature, work on the buildings, on the roads and on the landing strip of the small airport that receives Gibson’s jet.

If you go to any village in Fiji, leave your sunglasses and hats at home, as these accessories can only be used by local officials. And never touch the natives’ heads: in the old days, they could eat whoever did that alive.

It is not recommended to arrive at the village empty-handed. The ideal is to take some ingredients to prepare kava (a drink based on the root of a plant from the pepper family) and give it as a gift to the village elder.

Don’t complain when local children start throwing talcum powder in your face, as this is part of a welcoming ceremony (sevu sevu), which involves consuming the national drink.

The art of walking barefoot over hot embers was born in Fiji 500 years ago, in the Vanua tribe. Today, the natives perform this ceremony more to show tourists, who are invited to also walk through the fire.

Most visitors come to the island to swim with exotic fish and see the majestic coral reefs nearby.

But, without a doubt, the most radical and well-known attraction is the possibility of swimming with sharks.

And for those who enjoy sunbathing with their favorite drink, there is a luxurious floating bar.

Fiji is one of the few countries on Earth where you can go back in time. The international line that determines the date change passes through the Taveuni islands. So you can move from one day to the next just by crossing the line.

Fiji has inherited much from Great Britain since colonial times. This can be seen in the driving of cars (which is on the left) and in the love of sports of British origin.

Rugby is the national sport of Fijians, both among women and among men. Before the start of the match, each team performs a choreography of Cibi warriors, in order to scare the opponents. The ritual is somewhat reminiscent of the Haka, the Maori warrior dance performed by the New Zealand team, the All Blacks. Here, a match between the two teams.

It’s hard to believe that the hospitable Fijians were once the most ferocious cannibals in the world. In reality, this has kept many sailors at bay. Cannibalism still existed in Fiji when the first Christian missionaries landed there in the mid-1800s. One of them was the Reverend Thomas Baker, who was devoured. Of him, there was only one boot left.

One of Fiji’s superstitions is that coconuts have eyes. They would stalk certain people, falling on their heads. That is: if a coconut falls on you, it is because you have bad luck that will accompany you for the next few days.

Previously, the islands of Fiji produced and exported cane sugar. Today, one of the most famous products worldwide is the local mineral water.

On the island of Bau, men are forced to wear the local clothing, a kind of sarong, during the day. Over there, these long skirts are called sulu. It is common to see, in official meetings with representatives of other countries, Fijian authorities wearing traditional costumes, which are part of their culture.

And before traffic police officers dressed like this.

British traveler James Cook produced a misnamed map of the Fiji Islands, and it is still used today. Only the local population called the country “Viti”. However, residents of Tonga, the neighboring island, pronounced “Physi”. Probably the members of the English expedition heard this version of the name, adopting it definitively.

In 1879, Europeans began to hire Indians to work on Fiji’s sugar plantations. This provoked a foreign population explosion in the islands: it didn’t take long for the number of Indians to outnumber the natives. Today, Fiji is home to the tallest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere: Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami, in the city of Nadi.

Under the 1970 Constitution, Fiji was a state that formed part of Great Britain. The head of state was the British queen, represented by the governor-general appointed by her. A coup d’état in 1987 canceled the constitution and eliminated the post of governor-general. Fiji became a republic. The head of state became president, and Fiji became independent from Great Britain. However, local coins still bear the face of Elizabeth II.

Members of the royal family have been to Fiji several times during official visits, and some Fijians are closely associated with it. The driver of the car that took Meghan and her mother to the wedding ceremony with Prince Harry was Fijian Rotuman, a former army officer who has worked for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for years.

The light blue background of the country’s flag symbolizes the waters of the Pacific Ocean, while the dove on the coat of arms represents peace and friendship with Great Britain. In it, you can also find other symbols of Fiji: the coconut tree, sugar cane and bananas.

Would you like to visit Fiji? What is the most attractive about the country in your opinion? Comment!