The laidback charm of Fiji

Fiji is one of the first countries I’ve heard about in my childhood. My recent trip to Fiji for around eight days was a memorable one. Fiji has the air of a fantasy island, far away from the crowded metropolis that I live in. Fiji has many flavors of taste and colours, dancing clouds, flowing rivers and inviting beaches. Fiji is a country of 330 islands in the Pacific Ocean, though people inhabit only 110 islands. The people of the island are more relaxed and happy. They are closer to nature and are less bothered about the rat race of the world.

It is said that the sun first kisses the earth in Fiji. Flying to Fiji from other parts of the world may take a couple of days. However, once you land in Nadi International Airport, the tropical salty breeze embraces you. The four-hour drive from the airport to Suva, the capital city of Fiji, reminded me of a drive through the lush green Kerala. In Fiji, the wild streams flow with a song. And the old tribal art merges with the modern malls. Suva is a nice little town that reminds one of the colonial past. The old buildings stand out among the new high-rise hotels here and there.

Fiji is the most populated country among the Pacific Islands. The population of Fiji is around 8.8 lakh. And in many ways Fiji is a melting pot of Taukei(ethnic Fijians), Indians, other Pacific Islanders, Europeans and Chinese. While politics is largely controlled by the ethnic Fijians, business is largely run by the Indian community. Indian food is everywhere.

When I went for a walk in Suva, I could hear people speaking in Hindi, making me feel at home. Most of the Indians came to Fiji as indentured labourers in the late 19th century to work in the sugar plantations. They kept their religion and culture intact, though majority of Fijians, including people of Indian origin, are Christians now. Many Indians migrated to Fiji in the last 50 years, including those from Gujarat and Kerala. The former are part of the business community while the latter are mostly teachers and doctors. The political competition between different ethnic groups over the years resulted in many educated Indians migrating to other parts of the world.

Fiji is also a favourite tourist destination. The beaches of Mamanuca Islands, near Nadi and Palau are indeed inviting. Eating tapioca and Goan fish curry in an old, colonial type restaurant was something that I enjoyed. An evening stroll, watching the glowing Sua Bay and experiencing the mild wind felt like soup for the soul. The flavour of beautiful Fiji still lingers.

(John Samuel is an international  traveller, and researcher on international relations, public policy and governance)