Fiji: reminding the world to live simply

Booking my flight back to the states, almost all the layovers where in Fiji. So Ben and I said screw it and decided to pay a few extra 100 to stay in Fiji for 6 days. After talking to other backpackers who had made their way through Fiji they recommended not booking anything until we got there. Other then the first night, I listened to my fellow travels. The hostel we were staying at was what is considered a backpackers resort, so its really nice. We booked a standard private room which would be very basic double, but the reception messed up on reservations and was forced to give us the ocean view suite! I was stoked. The Canadian guy I had met in the shuttle came up to me and said there was another guy from Portland here, stoked I finally met someone from my rad city. Ben and I talked to an English guy that had been in fiji for a month, he recommended going to mana island so we booked it.
Arriving to Mana we were greeted by guitars and people of all colors singing us a welcome, I loved it. our room was very minimal but we didn’t care. The power was only on from 5pm-8am and breakfast lunch and dinner served a certain times as well, food is included when staying at Mana because there are no restaurants and supplies are limited. The first few days Ben and I ventured around the island which takes about a hour to walk all the way around. Tom Hanks Castway Island was viewable on the other side of the island, Wilson and Tom say hi.
Later that afternoon we went fishing with the locals. Moses is a big Fijian men with the most hilarious laugh, we picked up Eleanor on the way who is a cute lady that lives in huge holiday house. The family that owns it only comes a few times a year and she looks after it when they aren’t there, nice deal! We fished for about 3 hours, Ben caught a nice size tuna and myself catching only a small rainbow colored fish, at least it was pretty. We were rained on about half way through, but that didn’t stop the islanders. Our success with the amount of fish was minimal, the Fiji experience maximum.
Later that night was the crab races, Ben’s crab ended up winning and as a prize got a free snorkeling trip the next day. we drank a stupid amount of wine and hung out with the other backpackers, Mana definitely has a more personal feel then most hostels, obviously because we are on small island.
The next night was “Fijian Night”, the staff did some amazing tradition dances, followed by the Kava ceremony. Kava is a plant that they grind up and make a drink out of it, the effect of the Kava is unexplainable. We moved all the tables together and everyone got to know one another, it had been one of the English guy’s birthday and he was sharing his chocolate cake with everyone. Good thing because Ben and I were having a serious chocolate craving and almost considered buying a block a chocolate for $16. The taste of Kava is not enjoyable, but not hard to get down. I decided I wanted to chat with the Fijians, so we moved to next to the kava bowl. Juno, Marie, Tony, were extremely friendly, we ended up drinking kava till 3am. Juno played the guitar, we all talked about life and I taught the Fijians how to play “bullshit”. Ben and I were the last to bed, it was an amazing night.

I got to know Juno pretty well and found him fascinating. He is a very confident 24 year old who’s profession to just simply live life. He has had every job under the sun, but prefers a low paying activities director job on small Mana Island, one of those people that I found myself listening a lot more then talking. When Ben went to the bathroom, he told me “I’ve met a lot of people, from all over the world, he’s a good one Claire” I smiled and agreed.
me: “you need to shave.. whats the evolutionary advantage to facial hair?”
ben: “to shield us from the elements, while I go and hunt wolly mammoths to being back big steaks for you to cook. And youre at home gathering berries and watching after 5 kids”
me: “you really think that would be me?”
ben: “actually no, you would be the witch of the town, talking about equal rights nonsense and being burnt to the stake.”
me: “hahaha yea that sounds about right”

The next morning we ventured to “survivor beach” were the show was filmed. A hurricane a few years ago destroyed most of the buildings, but the ceremonial building and circle was still there. The beach was extremely small and the buildings for the “staff” lined almost the whole beach. The walk was only 10 minutes from the village, so I’m sure the “survivors” could have ordered some fries at Ratu Kinis if they really wanted to. Not overly surprised that TV falsifies a majority of what we see, it was still cool to see where it all went down. Also to see the “authentic” stone chairs and building where made from styrofoam.
I was sad to leave Mana. The staff was amazing and the nights were insane, none the less I was stoked to leave knowing I got the island experience and not the tourist resort. Anddd guys, Fiji is CHEAP. Go there not Hawaii. Bula!!