A Familial Welcome

On Fiji, what you find is a sense of community, no matter who you are

- Peiying Siew

Most of the people who knew I was headed to Fiji couldn’t point it out on a map, and those who could spoke of swaying palm trees, scenic sunsets, white sand beaches and the sprawling ocean at their feet. Lesser known than the Maldives, and therefore more untouched, the natural beauty of the land takes your breath away, but the crown jewel of Fiji’s charm is its people. From the resorts to the villages, Fijians radiate warmth and friendliness, an inviting sense of home away from home.

Fijian hospitability was, however, the farthest thing on my mind as I disembarked from the 10-hour direct flight. The seats were comfortable and the service was impeccable, but I simply can’t sleep on flights and happily passed the time indulging in the in flight entertainment, exiting the plane as a sleepy, Wi-Fi- deprived zombie. On the way to Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, the van driver slid open his window many times. “Bula!” he would yell, as he waved to almost every man, woman, and passing family on the street. As we pulled up to the sprawling resort, a Fijian loudly proclaimed “Bula! Bula! Bula!” with his hands raised, with the Fijian version of a mariachi band welcoming us with a lively local song.

An hour’s drive from Nadi International Airport, Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort has an inviting island charm with a rustic reception area overlooking the vast resort, designed and built to reflect a traditional Fijian village. After breakfast, we had a choice of whether to swim or explore the resort before our next activity. I chose to catch up on some much-needed sleep.

Through The Eyes Of A Local