Green mountains and blue water
Fiji is an archipelago located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with a hot and humid climate all year round, blue sea and white sand with beautiful coral reefs. Located 2,000 km from New Zealand, with a total of more than 300 large and small islands, Fiji is considered an "island paradise", comparable to Hawaii in the US, with an average temperature of 25oC and the temperature of the sea water is always maintained at 27oC, ideal for beach activities. In winter, the temperature can drop but not below 18oC. Therefore, for those who want to travel or vacation in Fiji, any season of the year is the ideal time.
The crystal clear blue sea, the clean white sand and the lush tropical forests visible from the boat that took me to Castaway Island, I was truly captivated by the impressive beauty of this place. Perhaps because Fiji has so many small islands, no place is overcrowded with tourists, the scenery everywhere is very peaceful and poetic.
I chose Castaway Island from the Fijian Islands, and it was a good choice. Located quite close to Nadi (where the international airport is), Castaway is famous for its low cost, easy access, always has a lively atmosphere, and especially, this is the setting for the famous movie "Cast Away" starring Tom Hanks. In addition to slow boats, visitors can choose to go by sea taxi or helicopter, but the cost is much more expensive. Each island in this archipelago has at least one or two resorts, most of which are quite cheap, including food and entertainment services, but not many high-end services.
Nadi International Airport is simple and old, but all the staff are smiling brightly, chatting happily with tourists. The taxi driver, the traffic police, the train ticket seller..., everyone is very friendly, with a very sincere attitude, a very genuine feeling, not just a polite smile for strangers. It's the same at Castaway Island. The resort owner smiled and sent a car to pick me and some other guests up at the pier. Although it's called a "resort", the class is quite ordinary, the feeling is no different from staying at a homestay right next to the sea. White sand underfoot, blue sky above, open landscape, strong wind, rolling clouds above, rolling the dormant volcanoes in the distance.
I went to the beach, chose a deserted spot, stretched out, and relaxed after a long journey. It was still blue sky, white clouds, clear water, fine sand, and cool coconut trees. What was different from Phu Quoc, Vung Tau, and Nha Trang? Quite different. The beaches in Vietnam were warm and affectionate, enthusiastically welcoming visitors with lyrical and poetic scenery. The islands in Fiji brought an overwhelming feeling, half soft and gentle as if wanting to get close, half fierce as if challenging visitors to embark on an adventure and discovery. The sunset fell red, painting the sky with contrasting yet splendid colors. In the yard, torches were lit and the quiet atmosphere was broken by music and laughter. The vitality of this volcanic island began to flare up in the strong movements of traditional Fijian music and dance.
East of the Sun
Fiji is on the international date line and uses GMT+12 time zone, 3 hours ahead of Japan, which uses GMT+9 time zone. Therefore, anyone who comes to Fiji tries to wake up early to be the first people on earth to greet the sunrise.
I walked barefoot on the sand. The sand here was very white and clean, the sea water was crystal clear, there were no dykes or sewers, no sewage, no one littered, and no one sat fishing. Before my eyes was a long, curved beach, smooth as a crescent moon, no competing shops, only seaweed drifting ashore and fresh, young sea spinach swaying in the early morning breeze. The waves crashed loudly on the sand, as fierce as thunder, with a lively rhythm like the beat of a war drum, carrying with it a salty breath. As I said, the sea here is not murmuring, gentle as a lullaby like the sea in Vietnam...
Of course, when coming to the “paradise island”, swimming is indispensable. But besides that, there are many other recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, surfing, swimming with dolphins or diving with… sharks. Those who want to learn more about Fiji’s nature can sign up for some tours to visit the botanical garden, nature tours or bird tours on the island…
Fiji Smile
Fiji is beautiful, but the world is also full of tropical islands that are considered "resort paradises". What is it about Fiji that captivates tourists so much? Fiji's smiles.
Everyone is extremely friendly and welcoming to all foreigners. I hear “Bula!” (the local greeting) everywhere. Wherever I go, people enthusiastically welcome me, chattering and asking for photos. Once I stopped by a papaya stall, intending to buy a few, but ended up carrying a heavy bag home because the ladies there were so enthusiastic!
The fruits and seafood in Fiji are delicious, very fresh and without any preservatives or freezing. The dishes have local flavors but still have cultural influences from Europe, China, Polynesia or India. Some special dishes include Kokoda (raw fish marinated in coconut milk and lime), Kassaua (a dish combining grilled cassava, coconut, mashed banana and ice cream) or Fiji Bitter - a typical Fijian beer. For a Vietnamese like me, these tropical specialties are delicious but not too rare. But for Western tourists, this is truly a paradise, not only for sunbathing, relaxing, but also for enjoying the cuisine.
Infrastructure in Fiji is still not very developed, in many places it is even worse than in Vietnam. But why are Fijians always optimistic, living slowly, not competing? Come to think of it, living slowly, eating well, sunbathing, being in harmony with nature, isn't that the "happiness" that tourists - mostly from more developed countries - are looking for in Fiji? After all, Fiji is not necessarily less developed than other countries, when the lifestyle they have is the destination many of us are striving to achieve...
