Fiji Local Custom Tips by sunshinejo

Fiji Time!

The phrase "relax... it's Fiji Time" is probably one you wil come to hear a lot during a stay in Fiji! The basic concept of "Fiji Time" is that things will happen when everybody is good and ready for them to happen! If somebody says "The snorkelling trip will leave at 10am." then you will probably be lucky if it's left by 10.30am! To most people this sounds like a complete nightmare, as you're always waiting around for other people. However, I found it helped to remember that you're in Fiji, and they just do things differently here. There is a slower pace of life here, and leaving to do things right on the dot of time just isn't a priority to them. At the end of the day, is it really the be all and end all if the boat doesn't leave exactly when it says it should? My advice, if you're struggling to adjust, is to banish you're watch - you'll only get a nasty tanline anyway! - and think of it as something that will help you relax and enjoy your holiday. As soon as I got used to it I loved it!

Kava Ceremonies

Something that should not be missed during a visit to Fiji is participation in a Kava Ceremony, a Fijian tradition that dates back centuries. Kava is the dried root of a pepper plant, which is finely ground and disolved in water in a large bowl made of hardwood known as a tanoa. Before drinking, the grainy bits are drained out with a cloth, although this was traditionally done using vegetable fibres. The guest of honour is always the first to drink the Kava, which is handed to him from the Master of Ceremonies in a half coconut shell called a bilo. Before accepting the Kava, the guest of honour claps once and says "Bula!", and then drinks the Kava down in one. He hands the bilo back to the master of ceremonies and everybody claps again and says "Bula!" The master of ceremonies is the next person to drink, followed by everybody else in order of importance or social rank. The process is repeated until all the kava is finished. Not to finish the Kava handed to you is considered a huge insult, so if you don't want a lot, then ask for "low tide", which means you only want a small portion. Similarly, to ask for "high tide" means you'd like a larger portion! While I was in Fiji, I heard many people compare the flavour of Kava to dirty dishwater! While I consider this comparison to be slightly harsh, it certainly doesn't have a nice taste! It also leaves you're tongue feeling furry and numb. Drinking Kava is supposed to induce a state of relaxation and feelings of contentment and peacefulness, although these effects are best noticed by people who are feeling stressed, tense or anxious rather than people who are already relaxed.