Fiji Local Customs

 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Kava Ceremony

by scrooge1947

I have drunk many times and never 100% sure of the real facts to this drink, so this information is from the net and very interesting.Kava is the root of the Piper Methysticum, same family as blackpepper.It is a tranquilizing non-alcholic drink made from the dried powdered roots and dried powdered stems of the plant.Helps muscles relax.Promotes relaxation.Promotes more restful sleep.Is a legal herb with medicinal properties.Provides relief for all kinds of pain including headaches and migrains.Promotes Sociability.I love that one!On the site it also states that A Premium grade 100% Kava is a minimum of three years old for maximum potency.Im not sure I should have been drinking it now.I certainly found after a couple (coconut glasses) my mouth firstly became numb, then another and then the wife pulled me away.

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There are many cultural things...

by MacKiwi

There are many cultural things about Fiji but one that stands out and has been completely re-engineered by the tourist industry is the typical Fijian thached bungalow known as the BURE. These were the main forms of housing for the indigenous Fijian in years gone by. Now anyone can stay in a resort BURE from the most basic to the ultra expensive. This picture is fairly typical of a 'normal' Bure.

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Dress appropriately when...

by Kis_Jutka

Dress appropriately when visiting a city or a village -- this goes for men and women. The Fijians dress very conservatively. When outside the resort women should wear longer skirts (sulus, the local wraps, are fun and attractive) and make sure their shoulders are covered.

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Greet people by saying 'Bula!'...

by Kis_Jutka

Greet people by saying 'Bula!' (the equivalent of hello) If invited to visit a Fijian family, bring a gift -- yaqona or kava is always welcome, much like taking a bottle a wine to someone's house. But do not show up at a village uninvited. Trust me, once you get to know a few locals, the invitations will be quick and forthcoming. When visiting a bure (house) remove your shoes. Be respectful of your hosts and be on your best behaviour especially with the village chief and his family. Remove your sunglasses when talking to someone. And never touch a Fijian's head or hair, they consider that part of the body private and even sacred. Do your best, but don't be stressed out about acting perfectly, Fijians are very tolerant of visitors. If you don't understand something or don't know what to do, just ask!

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Don't get confused but there...

by mocca

Don't get confused but there are two types of people living on the islands, The fijians, and the people from India who were brought there to work on the sugar cane fields. Get to know the fijians, they are extremely nice and will help you with almost anything, for no money, as the Indian people will ask you money for everything. Just with the Fijians, give your respect, your interst and your smile and they will do things for free. But don't be a spoiled Western tourist, do something in return for them, if you have to pay for something, don't try to lower the price to much because they are alreayd low on the price (unlike the Indian) or if you fish, give the local some fish, for it probably will be there dinner.

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Some useful Fijian...

by Jez79

Some useful Fijian words:Bula - a general greeting term used all hours of the day. As soon as you get to the airport you'll be hearing this one!Vinaka - thankyouVinaka vakalevu - thankyou very muchBula vinaka - the equivalent of pleased to meet youYaqona - (pronounced yangona) kava, a traditional Fijian drink used for ceremonial and recreational purposes. If you're given kava you know you're welcome to be there. Also called waka and lewa.

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The best way to make friends...

by jeremyg

The best way to make friends in Fiji is to join in a Kava ceremony. (Kava being a ground down root found in Fiji which is mixed with water to become a slighty narcotic soup that tastes of muddy water - it basically numbs the mouth but with excessive drinking can cause slight dissorientation). They drink gallons of the stuff and joining in is more than welcomed.

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Trains packed with sugar cane....

by nieldy

Trains packed with sugar cane. The hotel I stayed at in Nadi was near a railway line. I was woken from my deep slumbers by a train packed with sugar cane. The bloody thing was the longest train I'd ever seen. I had time to get up, shower, get dressed and walk out to see this colossal thing.

Bring CASH!

by TashieKitten

Bring CASH! I wrongfully assumed I would be able to get cash out the bank machines (none of the five I tried worked) but none of the machines had the symbols that were on my card. We had less than $50 Fijian and still had to pay $40 departure tax (total for both of us.) Also, there is no tipping in Fiji. Realize that a large portion of the population is Hindu and that some people are native Fijian while others are Indian-Fijian.

If you bring KAVA with you you...

by James_Cooke

If you bring KAVA with you you are welcome everywhere.Kava is like the national drink in Fiji. It's a root that is pouderized and pressed(mixed) in water in a big wood bowl (like an up side down tortoise). Then you drink this with a little ritual in coconuts shell. The effect is amazing, you are very zen (calm, cool...) and you make nice dreams. It has a little anestesic effect on the tongue. What is funnyer, the first time you take some you will need maybe 8 or 9 to feel it good but the second time 7 and then 5 and so on... So it's an anticommercial 'drogue'. There it's very popular, everybody drinks it (even the police) and on each occasion. If you want a band to play music in the night, you just have to say to one of the musician you will offer the Kava. It's cheap. This picture has nothing to do with Kava, these two Fijians just came back with our dinner.

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Local Customs: Cities in Fiji
  1. Nadi Local Customs
  2. Suva Local Customs
  3. Mana Island Local Customs
  4. Viti Levu Local Customs
  5. Savusavu Local Customs
  6. Viseisei Local Customs
  7. Wayasewa Island Local Customs
  8. Nanuya Lailai Local Customs
  9. Levuka Local Customs
  10. Namuamua Local Customs

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Western Division Local Customs  Central Division Local Customs  Northern Division Local Customs 

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