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Despite the plethora of natural sights, visitors
should not start thinking that Fiji is all trees and water – they have a diverse
cultural history that has built up Fiji to be a highly advanced country. To
check this out, visitors can head to the Parliament of Fiji. The building is
purely striking and is considered one of the most remarkable political hubs. It
is a beautiful fusion of contemporary design with the traditional arts of the
country – a perfect example of the Fijian people and their society.
To better understand Fijian culture, visitors can take a step into the
historic past by heading to the Fiji Museum. The Fiji Museum takes visitors on a
journey into the country’s archaeological, political, cultural and linguistic
evolution. There is an extensive collection of original musical instruments,
cooking equipment, jewellery, whale-bone necklaces, Fijian war clubs and
cannibal utensils. This offers visitors a heightened understanding of the
country’s customers and their people.
But what a visit to Fiji really shows is not just that it is a wonderful
island paradise; it is a place that is a fantastic mish mash of culture and
history that it has become one of the most popular places to visit. In other
words, it is possibly the world’s most perfect holiday destination.
Suva
Suva, Fiji's capital, is on the south-eastern coast of the big island of Viti Levu. While Nadi, in the west of this island, is the tourism centre of
the country, Suva is interesting as the country's political and
administrative centre as well as the major port. Suva and its urban
surrounds are home to half of Fiji's urban population, and it is one of the
South Pacific's largest and most sophisticated cities, housing the
University of the South Pacific, the fascinating Fiji Museum and many
interesting colonial-era buildings. It's a multicultural city with many
mosques, temples, churches and cultural centres. The Roman Catholic
Cathedral (1902) is one of the city's most prominent landmarks.
The waterfront area is very interesting, and the Suva Municipal Market is
a must-see for visitors for its exotic fruits and vegetables, kava, fish and
seafood, and spices. It has an exciting multicultural flavour, with vendors
selling brightly coloured Indian sweets and savouries, and fruit drinks from
glass tanks.
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Sigatoka
Sigatoka is a small town on the southern coast of Viti Levu, 61km (38mi)
south of Nadi and 127km (79mi) west of Suva on the banks of Fiji's
second-largest river. It's principally a farming community, but acts also as
a service town for the Coral Coast resorts. There's a produce market, a
large mosque and a few cheap places to stay and eat. The most striking thing
about the town is the sight of the weird fantasy-style mansion on the hill
behind the town. Sigatoka is a good base for exploring the the huge Sigatoka
sand dunes nearby, the southern coast, and the Sigatoka Valley. The Sigatoka
Valley is a highly fertile strip containing almost 200 cultural and
archaeological sites, including the Tavuni Hill Fort, a series of defensive
earth works built by the Tongan cheif Maile Latemai in the 18th century. The
valley is also home to some of Fiji's best potters.
Nausori Highlands
Due east from Nadi, in the interior of the Viti Levu island, are the
fantastic landscapes and remote villages of the Nausori Highlands. The
village of Navala is perhaps the most picturesque in all Fiji. While most
Fijian villages now have a preference for prefab concrete and corrugated
iron, almost all of Navala's homes and buildings are traditional bures
arranged around avenues with a central promenade leading down to a river.
They don't get too many visitors here, and it's polite to ask to see the
village chief, and then ask him if it's OK to hang around and take some
photos. Sunday is not a good time to come as it's the day of worship and for
spending time with the family. Bukuya village is further west and it too is
a worthwhile excursion. There's simple accommodation available in the
villages, but you have to mind your manners.
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