Fiji (South Pacific Islands)

“There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going,” read the Thought for the Day in the Fiji Times. This at least gave me something to think about as my wife and I lounged by the pool at the Tanoa International Hotel just outside Nadi. Having travelled half-way around the world in just two days to be there, I was inclined to think that we had indeed taken a short cut. The first visitors to these shores from Europe took years over the journey, and suffered on the way. Surely the earth was never meant to be so small as it is now, nor finding one’s way to its ends so effortless. More to the point ... more

The island of Kiritimati (pronounced Ki-ris-mas’, or Christmas) is the largest of the 33 islands in the Pacific Ocean that make up the nation of Kiribati. The island has some 388 square kilometres of land area, which equals that all the other 32 islands of Kiribati combined. About 5,000 people live on Christmas Island, while the total population of all the islands of Kiribati is about 92,000. All but one of the islands of Kiribati are coral atolls. Christmas Island is not only the largest atoll in this nation but also in terms of land area, the largest coral atoll in the world! In addition ... more

Fiji. A small pocket of paradise in the South Pacific, which is breathtaking to even the most seasoned world citizen. The first thing to strike you as you set foot for the first time on their soil is the Fijian people who have a calm, happy and down to earth nature about them. Fiji is a culturally diverse country although a good majority of the population is Indian and their cultural influences are ever present in the small town of Nadi (pronounced “nan-dee”), which is a short distance from the International airport. Nadi is a bustling little town bursting with people, arts and crafts and food ... more

A great spot for a resort holiday or stopover. Very enjoyable. Despite the recent turmoil I believe that it would still be safe. Most of the drama was in Suva which is a couple of hours away from Nadi Airport and the islands. I took a 10 day trip to Fiji and stayed at the Sheraton Fiji Resort which is located on Denaru Island just outside of Nadi. It is actually part of the main island but entering the Sheraton resort is like entering a different world. It si one of those places that you could spend your entire holiday in without venturing outside. The rooms are spacious and have air con (a ... more

fiji is everything you would imagine tropical paradise to be, lush palm fringed beaches surrounded by turquoise waters...... i arrived in fiji in the early hours of the morning, so my first impression was the sudden hot, humid environment that hit me as i left the air conditioned airport buildings, quite a change from the wintery weather i had left behind. I gradually started to build up a picture of the country on a 2 hour long coach ride from nadi to suva, and i have to admit i did like what i was seeing. i was either surrounded by green vegetation, or able to look out of the window at the ... more