If you are planning an exotic island honeymoon to the Fiji islands then it maybe very likely that Nadi is your gateway to the mainland of this archipelago before you hop onto a catamaran to your remote sun-drenched island resort. Before your ocean paraphernalia begins, you must make the most of the plethora of frangipanis, setting foot into a traditional Fijian village and a polyglot food scene influenced by Indian origin Fijians and by locally grown ingredients.
We have covered our trip to Fiji in 3 Chapters from the lens of travelling to Fiji from India, experiences to include in your itinerary, availability of vegetarian food in Fiji and exploring the local Fijian culture.
You are reading Chapter 2.
WeddingSutra Feature with Fiji Tourism: https://www.weddingsutra.com/real-weddings/honeymoon-stories/henna-and-yash-fiji/
Table of contents
How long is the flight to Fiji from India?
We checked into Novotel Nadi and after a sumptuous lunch we decided to get some shut-eye without an alarm clock. We had spent almost two nights on an airplane and our bodies had still not recovered from our Indian wedding. And you may have guessed it right, we only woke up by dinner time and could tuck ourselves back in bed after a light dinner and some drinks. You may also want to consider a no-agenda Day 1 in Fiji Islands after the long flight from India as this helped us get back on our two excited feet the next day.
Why is Fiji called mini India?
Almost 37% (out of a total population of 9.3 lakhs) of the Fiji population trace back their roots to India as their ancestors were brought to the island which was a former British colony to work on sugarcane plantations. No wonder Fiji is called mini India! Indigenous Fijians are believed to be of Melanasian descent and this was the first time that we interacted with people from this part of the world and was blown away with their warmth and hospitality.
Traditional Fijian village tour
We started our day by being driven to a traditional Fijian village by our driver who was of Indian origin and could speak broken Fiji Hindi. As we walked around the Fijian village, I was asked to cover my legs with a colorful cloth that they provided me with. As a cultural practice, women are not to wear shorts or short dresses and roam around in the village. Both men and women are not to wear hats or caps as a mark of respect to the locals while in the village. We visited their community church and learnt about the aspirations of the young Fijians. We also spotted their age old wooden drum called the Lali that the village Chief uses for traditional announcements and on festivals. We shopped for some freshwater pearl bracelets from the village locals as I found some champagne colored pearls which were unique to this region.
Garden of the Sleeping Giant and exploring the tropical fauna of Fiji
We then headed to the Garden of the Sleeping Giant where we were welcomed with some fresh passion fruit juice and it was pure delight to us as the Pacific sun hits way harder than the one back home. We took a guided tour through the botanical gardens and loved the varied flora of the region. Almost all the men and women of Fiji wore a frangipani flower behind their ear and our guide told us that it signified their relationship status. A frangipani behind your left ear indicates you are married or have a partner and behind the right ear indicates you are open to a relationship. We also learned that the Fijian greeting is Bula! and that they love to cook their food in an underground earth oven called Lovo much like how we eat root vegetables (Umbadiyu) cooked in an earthen pot underground in Gujarat.
Visiting the Sri Siva Subramaniya Hindu Temple in Fiji
Our final stop was the Sri Siva Subramaniya temple which is the largest Hindu temple in the Pacific and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Nadi, Fiji. It felt like home away from home in this mini India as we removed our footwear and tip-toed our way inside the temple as our feet were burning under the scorching afternoon sun.
What to buy in Nadi, Fiji?
We then visited a local store to buy some shell based accessories and wall hangings, wood carved artifacts on which we got our names carved and some Masi Kesa which is Fijian art on a cloth made from the bark of mulberry trees. These are some local souvenirs that Fiji is known for which will remind you of this little piece of heaven for years to come and if you have shopped above a certain amount and carry your bills and all the items in your carry-on luggage, you can even claim some of the tax paid at the airport on your way back.
Last Word
While these are some of the best places to visit in Nadi Fiji, if you have a few more days here you can also explore day trips to other parts of the mainland, sand bars and smaller islands. Some of the best places to stay in Nadi Fiji are at the Denarau Island with close proximity to the Denarau Port to hit the bluer seas of the archipelago. However, a day is enough time to rest after a long flight from India to Fiji and to explore the highlights of the mainland.
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