Facts About Fiji (:
Fiji is the 163rd largest country in world.
Fiji covers a total area of 18,270 sq km with 1,129 km of coastline.
The highest point is Tomanivi at 1,324m above sea level.
The country is made up of 332 Islands, of which more than 100 are inhabited.
In the 2007 census the population was 827,900 people.
The majority of the adult population work in the Sugar or Tourism Industries.
Fiji receives between 400,000-500,000 tourist annually accounting for a large proportion of money into their economy.
The country is located in the South Pacific so enjoys a tropical climate. This makes it an ideal destination to go during the long winter months to relax and enjoy a bit of warmth.
The currency of the country is the Fijian Dollar.
The country's capital is Suva which is located on the eastern side of the main Island, Viti Levu.
Suva is also the largest city in Fiji and contains one of the two ports in the country.
Although the country has a combination of both native Fijians and Indians it is an English Speaking nation. They do however speak their own dialects but all staff at resorts, restaurants, shops and the like are English speaking.
One of the most common words you hear in Fiji is a cheerful "Bula". This is the Fijian word for "hello", it is one of many words you might hear during your stay.
There is both an English and native version of their country's National Anthem. The people are very musical so listening to them sing is a joy.
Fiji has no area codes.
Fiji has a rich traditional culture. The people are mainly the followers of Christianity. The official language is Fijian, English and Hindustani but English is the most popular one.
The Fiji dollar has standard denomination in between 1 cent and 50 dollar and anything below $2 is a coin and $2 above it is note.
Visitors are allowed to bring any amount of money and can take up currency to the limit of amount imported.
Fiji has two international airports namely Nadi and Nausori and they are near Suva.
Fiji customs even operates in Dual Channel system namely Red and green Channels and they are basically for the clearance of the air travelers.
Fijians prefer casual dressing in any time of the day or night.
T-shirts, shorts, cotton dresses are the most comfortable dressing in Fiji.
"Sulus" is the traditional attire for both men and women and they can be worn in various patterns and are really versatile.
Fiji, sometimes referred to as the “Gateway to the South Pacific” has also been called a crossroads of cultures.
The two largest islands are known as Viti Levu (“Big Fiji”) and Vanua Levu (“Big Land”).
Fiji is composed of many islands. The closet land masses to Fiji are New Zealand and Hawaii.
Fiji is the 158th most populous country in the world.
A little over half of Fijians are Christian, but there are also large Hindu and Muslim communities.
Hindustani language is officially recognized by the Fijian constitution.
The Fijian flag is light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag.
The shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove.
The Union Jack (the UK flag) represents the long history between Fiji and Great Britain.
The blue background symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, which surrounds Fiji.
Fiji is one of the most developed nations of the Pacific.
The major agricultural products include - sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas, cattle, pigs, horses, goats and fish.
One Canadian dollar is worth about 1.28 FJD.
One American dollar is worth about 1.74 FJD
Fiji's main island is known as Viti Levu and it is from this that the name "Fiji" is derived.
Fijians first impressed themselves on European consciousness through the writings of the members of the expeditions of Cook who met them in Tonga.
Fijians were described as formidable warriors and ferocious cannibals, builders of the finest vessels in the Pacific, but not great sailors.
Fijians inspired awe amongst the Tongans, and all their Manufactures, especially bark cloth and clubs, were highly esteemed and much in demand.
Fiji was first promulgated by Captain James Cook.
Pottery art from Fijian towns shows that Fiji was settled before or around 3500–1000 BC.
The first settlements in Fiji were started by voyaging traders and settlers from the west about 5000 years ago.
Lapita pottery shards have been found at numerous excavations around the country.
Pots made in Fiji have been found in Samoa and even the Marquesas Islands.
During the 19th century, Ratu Udre Udre is said to have consumed 872 people and to have made a pile of stones to record his achievement.
According to Deryck Scarr ("A Short History of Fiji", 1984, ), "Ceremonial occasions saw freshly killed corpses piled up for eating.
'Eat me!' was a proper ritual greeting from a commoner to a chief."
Men were sacrificed whenever posts that supported the chief's house had to be renewed. Fijians today regard those times as "na gauna ni tevoro" (time of the devil).
The ferocity of the cannibal lifestyle deterred European sailors from going near Fijian waters, giving Fiji the name Cannibal Isles.
The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman visited Fiji in 1643 while looking for the Great Southern Continent.
The first European settlers to Fiji were beachcombers, missionaries, whalers and those engaged in the then booming sandalwood and bêche-de-mer trade.
Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau was a Fijian chief and warlord from the island of Bau, off the eastern coast of Viti Levu, who united part of Fiji's warring tribes under his leadership.
Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau also styled himself as King of Fiji or Tui Viti and then to Vunivalu or Protector after the Cession of Fiji to Great Britain.
In 1875-76, an epidemic of measles killed over 40,000 Fijians, about one-third of the Fijian population.
The population in 1942 was approximately 210,000 of whom 94,000 were Indians, 102,000 native Fijians, 2,000 Chinese and 5,000 Europeans.
The British granted Fiji independence in 1970.
In 1990, the new Constitution institutionalised the ethnic Fijian domination of the political system.
The Group Against Racial Discrimination (GARD) was formed to oppose the unilaterally imposed constitution and to restore the 1970 constitution.
Sitiveni Rabuka, the Lieutenant Colonel who carried out the 1987 coup became Prime Minister in 1992, following elections held under the new constitution.
Three years later, Rabuka established the Constitutional Review Commission, which in 1997 led to a new Constitution, which was supported by most leaders of the indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian communities.
Fiji is re-admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations.
According to Fijian legend, the great chief Lutunasobasoba led his people across the seas to the new land of Fiji .
Major credit for the discovery and recording of the islands went to Captain William Bligh who sailed through Fiji after the mutiny on the Bounty in 1789.
The first Europeans to land and live among the Fijians were shipwrecked sailors and runaway convicts from the Australian penal settlements.
Sandalwood traders and missionaries came by the mid 19th century.
From 1879 to 1916 Indians came as indentured laborers to work on the sugar plantations. After the indentured system was abolished, many stayed on as independent farmers and businessmen.
The original inhabitants are now called "Lapita people" after a distinctive type of fine pottery they produce.
Fiji has undergone atleast two periods of rapid cultural change in pre-historical times.
Pre-historians have noted that a massive 12th century volcanic eruption in southern Vanuatu coincides with the disappearance there of a certain pottery style, and its sudden emergence in Fiji.
Although the legendary king of Bau, Naulivou and his successors had control over a large area of eastern Fiji, at no time before colonization was Fiji a political unity.
Fijians first impressed themselves on European consciousness through the writings of members of the expeditions of Cook who met them in Tonga.
For over half a century, Fijian culture enjoyed what has been called its 'golden age', as tools and weapons brought by traders were turned by resourceful chiefs to their own advantage.
Fiji was ceded to Great Britain in 1874.
Today, Fiji plays a major role in regional affairs and is recognized as the focal point of the South Pacific.
Fiji islands have white sandy beaches, which are an outcome of natural grinding down of dead coral.
The rugby team of Fiji is one of the best in the world.
Fiji is situated on the 180o meridian, which is also known as the International Date Line.
On the island of Tavueni, a market indicates a place, where one can stand with one foot in the curent day and with one in the day before.
The country's coins and colorful banknotes still bear an image of the Queen of England.
Fijians are known for their hospitality and friendliness
Souvenir and craft shops on the islands offer four-pronged wooden forks for sale, reminding tourists of cannibalist days.
One unfortunate victim of the cannibals was the missionary Thomas Baker, who was eaten with the exception of one of his shoes. Today, the uneaten shoe is on display in the Fiji Museum.
Fiji is one of the first places in the world to greet each new day, as it is situated on the 180 degree meridian - also known as the International Date Line.
Fijians have an interesting way of celebrating the New Year - in January, some of the women of the villages take part in a traditional game of veicaqe moli, loosely translated as “kick the orange”.
The winning team must present a gift of clothes to the losing team, while the losing team prepares and serves the traditional Fijian drink of yaqona.
Fire walking is still popular in Fiji - although today it is practiced mainly to entertain the tourists, rather than for ceremonial or ritual reasons.
Fijian legend has it that a god once gave a Beqa warrior the ability to walk unharmed on fire, in return for a favor.
Fiji has become known as the melting pot of the South Pacific and, as a result, has some interesting food and drink for a visitor to sample.
Some delicacies you may want to try are various roots, boiled bat, and raw fish marinated in coconut cream.
Don't miss the chance to attend a lovo - a traditional Fijian banquet in which the food is wrapped in banana leaves and then heated on stones buried under the ground.
Rugby and soccer are the two major competitive sports. Cricket and golf are also popular.
Fiji hosted the Pacific Games in 2003, resulting in an increased interest in sports throughout the islands.
If you are invited to someone's house during your stay, there are some rules you must observe. It is polite to bring a small gift. If your hosts are feeding you, they may well wait for you to eat before eating any food themselves.
If you are visiting a Fijian village, only the village chief is allowed to wear sunglasses and a hat!
The Queen actually has the proud title of Paramount Chief of the Great Council of Chiefs of Fiji.
They dring kava. A mild intoxicant, looks and tastes like ditch-water, makes your mouth go numb in kind of a nice way. Makes Fijians even more cheerful.
Fijians say coconuts have eyes and choose who to fall on, and if a coconut falls on you then you are going to have really bad luck. Starting right then, presumably.
The climate is idyllic. There are no seasons as such - it is warm all the time, except when it is hot. Sometimes it rains.
Fijians like to sing. Whenever you step on or off a plane or boat, chances are some guys with guitars and loud floral shirts will sing you a cheerful song.
Fiji has its own time zone. Most things operate on flexible "Fiji Time", like manana but with less sense of urgency.
The sea is warm. Clear, blue and calm in the lagoons with lots of colourful fish. You can hear the splashes as they chase each other about after dark.
Big surf on the outer reefs to satisfy the kamikaze Aussies.
Fiji is actually a Melanesian Island.
The bay serves as a magnificent port with deep anchorage.
The thermal springs around are used by locals to cook their food.
Vanau Levu Islands being less polished than the rest of Fiji, gives you a glimpse of the villagers daily activities.
Mamanuca, near Viti Levu consist of 20 islands that have been formed due to the Malolo Barrier Reef.
Miles of white sand and coral blue waters are worthy of a glance.
Tourist can go diving or snorkeling in the reef or even take a cruise with a stop at the uninhabited Honeymoon Islands.
The Pacific Harbor is another tourist destination which has a good choice of hotels and restaurants.
Fiji is home to world-class surfing at Yanuca islands. The 12 km cruise can be taken from here to the Navua River into the interior to visit Nukusere which is a traditional river village.
The adventurous ones could take the Navua River Raft Expedition, where experienced guides will instruct visitors on paddling, river rafting and safety equipments.
The deserted islands in the Lomaiviti group consist of deep sea volcanoes. Its pristine reefs and sightings are very famous.
Most tourists arrive at the Nadi International Airport.
The unspoilt beauty of Fiji offers lush vibrancy of the rainforest. The wet season from December to April is hence the ideal time to visit.
Kayaking, rainforest treks, mountain biking, snorkeling and diving along with lush green surroundings and fabulous sea-bed offered by this dreamy island fulfills every visitor’s desire of having a matchless holiday.
- By Sunil R Yadav
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