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Fiji was one of the first places to greet the new millennium. Most of the Fijians
I met were looking forward to spending it in their villages, performing ceremonies and drinking
Kava.
Kava is a root that when mixed with water and drank, it numbs the mouth. Kava was relatively inexpensive, until the United States began exporting it for relaxation products. People who visit Fiji should expect to drink a lot of Kava, especially if they plan on having a real cultural experience.
Before I left Australia, I met a Fijian in Australia who called her family when I mentioned I was going to Fiji. They offered to let me stay at their house and took me out to a delicious dinner. I met several other Fijians while I was there who took me out and showed me around. I left the mainland for a day at Malamala Island, which had incredible snorkeling.
I also visited an old cave that the natives lived and practiced cannibalism in during war times. It was amazing.
The natives guided us through the dark, water-filled cave by lantern light. They told the stories
of the warriors and pointed out where they would stand at the entrance. Fiji is a great place to visit, but a waterproof camera and a desire for adventure it is necessary. There is no winding lines and steel handrails like at Disney. During the day it will suddenly pour, but it is the most refreshingly warm, tropical rainforest rain. The good thing is that the mongoose ate all the snakes on the mainland, so there's no need to worry about walking through forests and water-filled caves. |
BIOGRAPHY |
Fijians are warm and friendly -- and always smiling!
Fiji gives a whole new meaning to tourism. Fijians are very sensitive to their culture, history and environment.
They want visitors to appreciate it by making them do as the natives do. In order to visit this
sacred waterfall, we had to travel to the chief's house, participate in a Kava ceremony and address the chief in his
language. Then we had to trek through muddy, rocky paths and white-water. I lost my shoes and slid so many times I
was re-named "city princess."
The entrance to the cave is small, but once inside,
it opens up into huge areas with high ceilings. I did a nice rendition of "Goonies" when I was walking through the water, slid on
a rock, lost my balance, and ended up sliding into the water.