/countries/show/fiji/1.rss en-us It's sunset just after dinner on the Korovou Eco Tour Resort in the beautiful Yasawa Islands of Fiji, and the local Fijian Bula dancers are ready to play. Most of the tourists reluctantly head to the centre, realizing they don't have a choice. I, on the other hand, giggle in anticipation of the fun we're about to have. The Bula Dance, created by the more touristy resorts of Fiji, is in no way traditional. As opposed to the Meke, Fiji's cultural ceremonial dance involving voices and symbolic movements, the Bula Dance loosely follows the structure of the Macarena. It's performed in a single line with the Bula Boys: a group of three to five young, local men (usually the same ones taking you on various activities around the resort) leading the crowd in the front. Two steps left, two steps right, two steps left, two steps right; roll your hands up to the left, roll your hands down to the right; up to the left again, then down to the right again; hand on your shoulder, hand on your other shoulder, hand on your hip, and hand on your other hip; then a grand pelvic thrust along with a giant—“Bula!” from the whole crowd. Rotate counter-clockwise one-quarter circle, and repeat. After a full circle comes the fish move: bend slightly over with one hand spread in front and one spread in the back like fins; then shake your bum and wiggle back and forth like a fish. All throughout the dance, the lead Bula Boy shrieks and claps to increase the energy. If anyone dares sit it out, he randomly runs up to them and screams in their face. After the full circle, the Bula Boys will ask you to perform a centipede, connecting your hands in between your legs with the people in front and behind you. Needless to say, you’d only be able to get away with this sort of public fondling in a place like Fiji. By the end, everyone seems to be cured of their hammock comas. The Bula Dance is done at resorts all over Fiji, and is meant to be an icebreaker to welcome the newly arrived tourists. Fiji is known for its hospitable natives, and the Bula Dance serves as a way to bridge the gap between the tourists and the locals by merging modern-day booty shaking with Fijian traditions. Even the village children perform the Bula Dance for visiting tourists to raise money for their school. The art of hospitality is taught to the youngest of Fijians. Perhaps the most captivating aspect of the Bula Dance is the way it gets you out of your shell. In a matter of minutes, you’ll go from sitting at a table chatting with your friends, to bumping booties with a giggling Fijian local and shouting “Bula!” so loud you’ll swear they heard you on the next island. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 02:08:08 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/fiji-bula-dance http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/fiji-bula-dance Scaling a mountain doesn’t have to be a dramatic episode of blood, sweat and tears. From the bottom to the top of Kuata Summit in Fiji takes about forty-five minutes (though the humidity actually did cause quite a bit of sweat). The summit is the tallest peak on Kuata Island: the southernmost island in the Yasawas. Being a volcanic group of islands, the Yasawa Islands boast stunning views of endless lagoons and beach-meets-mountain terrain that is perfect for the infamous summit walks. Kuata Natural Island Resort is the only resort on the uninhabited Kuata Island, owned by village members on nearby Wayasewa who designated it a nature sanctuary. Some staff members live on the resort, while others kayak over from the neighboring island of Waya Lailai. The smallest of the three islands of Waya, the resort offers daily summit walks to tourists, taking place just before sunset, and finishing in time for dinner. Visitors are asked to sign up at lunch; and for those who don’t have the inclusive package, it costs $12 Fijian dollars. The Kuata summit walk begins in the late afternoon and is led by a barefoot staff member. It seemed more like a stroll in the park to him; and he climbed confidently through forest while the rest of us panted heavily and begged for water because of the humidity. He took two dogs with him, and they easily left us in the dust. This is obviously not their first Kuata summit hike. The ground was covered in leaves and twigs as it was early November and the beginning of the rainy season. The previous day’s rainfall had left the area muddy and slippery, and I instantly regretted wearing flip-flops. The walk up isn’t ridiculously steep, but the humidity is nearly unbearable. Bring water with you. Meanwhile, our guide looked like he could do this walk with his eyes closed. Every once in a while I caught a preview of the magnificent sight through the trees, and anticipated the view from the top. As we ascended the last hundred meters of the journey to Kuata summit, we emerged from the looming trees and were surrounded by bush and beautiful flowers. The winding forest backdrop becomes a lush, untamed scene leading up to the final view. I took a deep breath of fresh air as I looked out at the volcanic mountain formations and the clear blue ocean that looks like it's topped with whipped cream. It’s like you're in a painting, and you can’t get much closer to paradise than this. There’s glorious blue water for miles, and it’s clear that Kuata is the little sister of the Waya Islands. Across the lagoon is the rock formation of Waya Lailai, which resembles a giant face. Our guide gave us some time to soak up the view, then ditched us and ran back down the mountain as soon as the dinner conch was blown. It takes about thirty minutes to descend back to the resort, and we only slipped a couple times on the way down. The Kuata summit walk, otherwise known as my new “happy place,” is an absolute must-do for all visitors to Kuata Island, and completely worth the short hike to the top of the world. Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:30:33 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/kuata-summit-walk http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/kuata-summit-walk Nestled in the middle of nowhere, in the wide, blue Pacific Ocean, Fiji is a prime destination to just get away from it all. Sandy beaches, gorgeous sunsets and cheap food and drink are just some of the attractions of this little island nation. Most unique among these attractions, however, has to be the national drink of kava. If you've never heard of it, kava (which is also known as Yaqona, or grog) is a drink made from the root of a pepper called piper methstyicum. It looks a bit like muddy water, but packs a secret punch. It's not alcoholic or narcotic, but it has analgesic (pain relief) properties that make it very relaxing to drink. If this sounds like something you're not sure about but would like to try, then fear not, because a small dose of kava is perfectly harmless. It's merely loaded with Vitamin B, which acts as a natural muscle relaxant and antidepressant. And if you're not sure where to go to try it… Finding a kava ceremony in Fiji is about as easy as finding coffee in North America! Kava ceremonies are used in almost every tradition of Fijian life, but you don't have to be local to give it a try. Traditionally, if you attend a village ceremony, you should bring a piece of the kava root with you to offer to the local chief; but in other areas this may not be necessary. In all cases, participants will sit in a circle before a large bowl of kava called a “tanoa,” with their feet facing away from the bowl. The actual drinking is done from a smaller wooden bowl called a “bilo” that is passed around the group. To prepare the drink, the root is ground into a cloth with a mortar and pestle, which is then dipped in water and massaged and squeezed into the tanoa. For the kava ceremony itself, the host will begin by speaking in Fijian, but don't worry; you only have to know a few words to take part. The chief is the first to drink, and then the bilo is passed around in a circle. When the bowl is passed to you, clap once and say “Bula!” Drink the bowl down in one go before saying “Bula!” again and clapping three times. For extra politeness, you can also say “Vinaka,” or thank you. You'll probably feel your lips going numb, but it's perfectly normal. After another few rounds, you will feel your whole body relax and you might sweat a little, even though the drink is served cold. By the time you leave the kava ceremony, you should experience a tranquil light-headedness. You are now initiated as a true Fijian! Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:34:00 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/kava-ceremony http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/kava-ceremony Fiji is a country with over three hundred islands, which can beg the question of which islands to visit. Whatever your choice, the one phenomenon not to be missed—regardless of age, money or familiarity—is snorkelling! Fiji snorkelling is unparalleled with its warm clear waters and spectacular array of coral reefs. Flying into Nadi International Airport on the main island of Fiji is an incredible sight as an endless number of islands sprawl for miles in the distance. Among them is the tropical paradise of Robinson Crusoe Island. Framed by teal-alluring waters, Robinson Crusoe Island is a tiny island which can be covered in under a half an hour and has a maximum of fifty people allowed on it at one time. With free kayak and snorkelling gear available, this is the perfect base to begin a Fiji snorkelling adventure. A 20–30 min kayak excursion into the ocean from Robinson Crusoe Island will land you on the fringe of the Great Barrier Reef. From here, you can tether your kayak to a buoy and begin snorkelling Fiji. With a quick spit-and-rinse of the goggles, you’re ready to take the plunge. The reefs are the highlight of snorkeling in Fiji, and the three main reef types: barrier, fringing and atolls, have earned Fiji the title of the “Soft Coral Capital of the World.” The reefs here are locally referred to as “bommies,” and characterized by large coral heads that rise like pinnacles from the ocean floor to within a few feet of the surface. These open-water corals attract a wide array of sea life, including: turtles, the common clown fish, lion fish, basslets, puffers, angelfish, triggers, groupers, butterfly fish and numerous wrasses (including parrotfish). True to its title, the soft corals are the most spectacular sight in a rainbow of colours, and they are often described by guides as "tropical sunset." Some of the best snorkelling sites in Fiji are nestled between the Taveuni and Vanua Levu islands. A particularly popular spot is the Somosomo Strait which houses the Rainbow Reef and the Great White Wall. Here, the corals are nothing short of spectacular; showcasing over four hundred species of coral from fine and feathery to tightly-textured-tentacles. Other excellent snorkel sites found along the coral coast are between the islands of Nadi and Suva. Fiji snorkelling is like a hands-on lesson in marine biology. The coral life here is abundant and flourishing. Just below the crystal-clear waters there is always a colour, shape or form of sea life waiting to be noticed. The beauty of snorkeling in Fiji is there is always something new and exciting waiting to be experienced. Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:42:18 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/snorkeling-fiji http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/snorkeling-fiji