'Alani's Write-up about Fiji

'Alani cleaning up the boats after kayaking through the mangroves and getting in a mud-fight.

Carly & 'Alani in Fiji

Fiji, A Great Place for a Peace Corps Holiday

The following might sound like a travel brochure, or maybe even that I was bribed by the Fijian government to write this article. But, whatever you might believe, the truth is that Fiji is an extraordinary destination that should not be missed during a Peace Corps tour in the South Pacific.

Some might believe that Samoa, Vanuatu, or some other Pacific island destination would be a better choice in terms of money and scenery, but while I can’t comment on those destinations, I can confirm that Fiji can be done on the cheap, if you are thrifty with your Peace Corps pa’anga. It might be true that Samoa or Vanuatu are somewhat cheaper in terms of food and lodging, but if you add in the difference in flight fares I believe that it will all work out for nearly the same price, especially right now since the tourism numbers are low due to the coup—great deals are just waiting to be negotiated. To get there Air Pacific runs three flights a week to Suva (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and three flights a week to Nadi (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday), each for a reasonable $TOP 685. But that’s just the beginning.

To save some cash once you get there think about staying with some other Peace Corps volunteers. This can make you some new friends, allow you to learn about the Peace Corps experience in another country, and let you mooch off someone else in the process. When I traveled to Fiji in 2006 I made some great friends, most of whom were still there when I went back last month. It was really great to talk about our experiences; all the love and frustration that seem universal to any PC volunteer’s service. Visiting volunteers can also help you to learn where the best places to eat are, great things to see, and find out about activities that are off the beaten path. Carly and I were able to visit a microbrewery for some great beer and pizza at a place that we never would have found otherwise.

Suva is a great city. Well, it seems really big after being in Tonga for nearly two years. The population of Suva is about 400,000, nearly four times as many people as in all of Tonga. You can pretty much get anything you need here, and get it cheap. Carly and I even found a place called Cost-u-Less that was eerily similar to a Sam’s Club from America. You can have a great curry for under $5, and then go catch a movie at the six-screen Cineplex, a lovely treat after Tonga’s theater was so viciously burned last November. Finally, for all of you craving a treat from home, yes, Fiji does have a McDonalds and a KFC.

After a late night at one of Suva’s great night clubs or bars (for all of you who are interested Guiness is available on tap), head west to Pacific Harbor on the Coral Coast and spend a relaxing Sunday at a super-fancy resort called The Pearl. If the waterfall flowing down the mirror behind the bar doesn’t blow you away, then perhaps the live jazz on the patio in between the fabulous pool and the pristine beach will. For any runners out there, you know Carly and I can’t travel without putting in the miles, check out the Pac Harbor Hash House Harriers and join them for a relaxing run through jungle hills and mangrove swamps followed by beer guzzling and a nice meal. Did I mention that it’s a drinking club with a running problem?

After Pacific Harbor head west to Sigatoka where you can stay with more PC volunteers, or crash at a backpackers 10k outside of the city. $20 per person will get you a pretty nice bungalow just steps from the beach. Sigatoka itself is full of cheap eats and yummy treats, but head 5k or so west and check out the Sigatoka sand dunes. These dunes are like small mountains, especially after being in Tonga, and you can get an amazing view of the surrounding countryside and ocean with outlying islands, or, if you are really lucky, perhaps even find ancient relics buried in the sand for thousands of years. Check out the visitor center’s collection of these artifacts.

A trip to Fiji wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Robinson Crusoe island. This backpacker island will run you about $70 a day, but includes lodging, all meals (which are really *&^%$ing good), and various free activities to keep you entertained. While we were there Carly and I were able to go fishing from a kayak, make jewelry, watch a Fijian cultural show, drink kava, play crazy games, and go kayaking through a mangrove swamp followed by a mud fight. The staff goes out of its way to keep you happy and keep you from being bored, but if you just want to lounge in a hammock on the beach you are also welcome to do that as well.

The icing on the cake that is called Fiji would have to be a trip to the Mamanuca or Yasawa islands. These island groups are off the west coast of the main island of Fiji, a couple hour boat ride from Nadi. You can stay in backpacker resorts on most of these islands, and most of them include meals and activities though you do have to pay your own way there. Carly and I did a daylong sailing trip through the Mamanucas, which included a champagne brunch, drinks, a scrumptious barbeque, snorkeling, and trips to two different deserted islands. And did I mention free drinks? The Mamanuca island group is where the movie Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks, was filmed. I found myself wishing that the boat would sink so would be stranded there for a month or so. These islands offer all the perfect postcard worthy beauty and scenery that one would expect from a tropical South Pacific paradise.

‘Alani Ratliff