Temples, Coconuts, and Bures
The Sleeping Giant Mountains
We’ve been here almost 2 days and have decided that Fiji could very well pass for a territory in Heaven. The air is crisp and balmy, the sky blues as topaz and the ocean warm as bath water. We were fortunate enough to find a resort of “bures.” A Bure is a little hut on stilts, perched about 2 feet off the ground. Ours is on beachfront property with a prime view of the ocean. Hammocks hang between the palm trees here and we’ve made fast friends with the bartender, Cookie.
Everyone here says “Bula!” all the time, with a giant smile on their face. It’s the standard greeting for any time of day or anyone you approach, but the cynic in me suspects it may be code for “Hey, tourist! Come buy some trinkets in my store!” There’s also Vinaka, which means Thank You.
So we arrived in Fiji at 5 am and within 1/2 hour of settling in to our hotel, I was in the pool. Alan picked up one of the many coconuts on the ground and, with the help of my swiss army knife, managed to get it out of it’s shell, drill a couple of holes in it so we could drink it. I never knew he was such a primal being!
Indian Temple
Then we took a taxi cab into town to visit the Indian Temple, which is claimed to be the largest in all of the South Pacific. It’s vivid paintings and spires were stunning to see against the backdrop of the Fijian sky. One funny thing to note: you must remove your shoes upon entering the grounds, but the concrete is scorching hot. What I wouldn’t give for some photos of ourselves hustling on tip-toes between the few grassy and shady spots around the temple! Afterwards, with blistering soles, we walked through the town of Nadi, a strip of convenience stores, fast food stands and gift shop proprietors heckling you to stop in so they can part you with your money. Our first “traditional Fijian lunch” was Chicken Fried Rice and Curry Chicken. Apparently the food here is heavily influenced by Indian and Asian cuisine. The food was cheap and delicious, and we discovered a new breed of chili pepper never before seen. Tiny and green, Alan dared to taste it, and by the looks of him, it was VERY hot!
Market
We got suckered into a classic Fiji scam: the gift shop that lures you in by offering a free Kava ceremony. As tourists on a tight budget, we jump at anything preceded with the word “FREE.” We were ushered to the back of the store, removed our shoes and sat down to a traditional Kava ceremony. But we got a Waaaaay better one back at the hotel that night, so I’ll tell you about it in a minute. After getting shafted for some cheap trinkets, we moseyed over to the open market where we picked up some fresh local fruits and ogled the many unusual delicacies on display. We saw mussels, crabs, and tables chock full of fresh Kava root. I love food markets because you get a real sense of what the locals eat and there are very few tourists cramping your style. This one did not disappoint.
Bula!
-Michelle
Check out the photos here.