With its breathtaking coastal beaches and lush greenery, the South Pacific's beautiful island nation of Fiji is a dream for any sea lover. For instance, this country is known as the soft coral capital of the world, thanks to its wonderful and diverse marine life. Firewalking on hot stones, craft ceramics, cultural displays, and the refinement of stunning beaches all make Fiji a unique destination to explore. Although the island is famous for its rich culture and renowned attractions, there are unusual facts that anyone should note before taking a trip to this marvelous destination.

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10 Bringing A Gift When Visiting Locals Is A Must

Before entering their community, many villages in Fiji request guests to engage in a Sevusevu (gift-giving ceremony). Therefore, visitors are expected to provide a little gift whenever they visit a Fijian village (usually kava). The village chief, known as the Turaga ni Koro, would greet the outsiders and most likely offer them kava to welcome them into the community. Walking into an unfamiliar village without a Sevusevu is considered rude and even poaching, particularly in Fiji's more rural towns.

9 Fiji Is Expensive

Fiji remains an expensive destination to visit, even for a high-budget traveler. There are usually only a few affordable resorts on the island if guests wish to tour throughout Fiji's outer areas. Many of these resorts entice visitors with affordable accommodation. However, they would still have to account for the expenses of necessary meal plans, activities like scuba diving, and transportation to the secluded island. The Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands' boat rides are notably pricey, and many resorts demand visitors to reserve their transportation trips via the property's own services.

8 Buying Fresh Items From Markets

Fruits and vegetables are neatly stacked on top of one another in Fiji's local marketplaces. It's common to be unable to purchase just one or two tomatoes because fruit is sold by the heap. So, even if people only want to buy one tomato, they will end up with at least four. Because Fijian society is based on sharing, this price-per-heap method of selling produce is used. It would not be a bad idea to have extras to always share with family and friends.

7 Cooking Roro Is To Be Avoided

Fresh fish, coconut, root crops, and steaming greens are all staples of Fijian cuisine. Steamed taro leaves, onion, garlic, oil, and coconut milk are used to make Roro, one of the most renowned recipes on the island. This dish has the flavor of creamed spinach with a tropical twist. However, calcium oxalate pin-like crystals in raw taro leaves act as a bug repellent and protection for the taro. Raw taro can cause minor wounds in the back of the mouth and throat because of the calcium oxalate. Thus, it is always better to taste that dish at a local restaurant in Fiji.

6 The Nama Harvest Experience

Every Fijian town has its own distinct culture, which visitors may discover on any village trip. One of the most intriguing is the Yasawa Islands' Nama village. Travelers can spare a day for learning how locals collect seagrapes and use those in massages for their skin-rejuvenating benefits.

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5 Yaqona Drink In Fiji

All ceremonial and recreational gatherings revolve around kava's intoxicating substance (also called yaqona). It is usual to give a gift of kava root and join in the kava drinking tradition when visiting a community. Everyone gathers in a circle to see the root be beaten to a pulp, combined with water, and poured into kava bowls.

4 Fusion Of Culture in Fiji

It's a mash-up of civilizations with native Fijian, Indian, Chinese, and European influences. Only two of the 333 islands in the Fijian territory, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, are hosts to 87 percent of the population, totaling roughly 900,000. It would be a valuable experience to visit the island, mingle with locals, and learn from their cultures.

3 Indo-Fijian Food Is Exquisite

When Fiji was under British colonial rule, Indians initially arrived in the late 1800s as indentured enslaved people. Nearly 38% of Fiji's current population is of Indian heritage. As visitors stroll through Fiji's main towns, past sari shops and Hindu temples, and pick up on the unusual Fijian-Hindi language, the Indian influence can be easily sensed.

 

The standard tourist journey begins in Nadi and continues through Denarau, with the possibility of a boat journey up to the Mamanuca and Yasawa island chains. Occasionally, some travelers make their way down Fiji's main island, Viti Levu, to stay at a resort on the Coral Coast for a few nights. This location is undeniably beautiful, yet the best parts of Fiji are off the beaten path. Visitors can travel 10 kilometers south of the main island to Beqa Island to get a sense of some real Fijian vibes. There are no frills in this fire walking ceremony, and it is not the kind of hot coal fire walking that might be seen at hotels or street performances. The vibes and atmosphere are absolutely unmissable.

1 Cannibal Caves In Fiji

 

Travelers must visit Fiji's Coral Coast and not miss the chance of seeing the Sigatoka Valley's Naihehe Caves with selected tour providers. Visitors can enter the cave after getting consent from the location's protector to observe stunning limestone structures once used for cannibalism.

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