Page 38 - The Costco Connection - October 2018
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Fiji’s year-round water
temperature of 81 F makes
swimming, snorkeling
and diving enjoyable in
all seasons.
Fiji on your own
There is no shortage of ways you can
explore Fiji. For example:
• Sunday is church day. For me, this is
a must-stop. Inside the churches, you will
experience the most moving, beautiful and
spirited harmonies. Get up early and go.
• Rugby is Fiji’s second religion. The
national team has won several world
championships and took gold at the
Olympics. The contact sport is a vestige
of the British colonial era in Fiji, and you
can always catch a local game.
• Love flowers? Check out the Garden
of the Sleeping Giant near the airport in
Nadi; it boasts thousands of orchids.
• Experience a Lovo Feast, essentially
an underground barbecue with meat and
fish covered by banana leaves. Most
resorts offer one.
• For an introduction to Fijian and
Indo-Fijian food, take a market tour and
cooking class from Flavours of Fiji cook-
ing school (flavoursoffiji.com/market-
tours-cooking-classes).
• Feeling a little bolder? Take part in
For some of the world’s best dive sites, a kava ceremony. This local drink, made
head for the northern islands. The Great from the bitter root of the kava plant (aka
Sea Reef, the Southern Hemisphere’s yaqona), is at the center of a Fijian cere- © VIEW APART / SHUTTERSTOCK
third-longest reef, runs along the coast of mony. Most kava ceremonies include
Vanua Levu, the second-largest island of small cups for you to try it; it is a sign of
the archipelago. respect to be invited to a ceremony. So
Looking for romance? Matangi is an return the respect and drink it!
adults-only, private island resort. The • Explore the ,-year history of
-acre former coconut plantation is the archipelago at the Fiji Museum in
one of many resorts in Fiji offering wed- Suva (fijimuseum.org.fj).
ding packages. This one comes with • Take a velocipede ride on Viti Levu.
an a cappella choir. Try to book one of These push-bike carriages have been
the three split-level treehouses with adapted to run on railroad tracks, and COSTCO CONNECTION
outdoor Jacuzzis for an especially roman- passengers can pedal with electric assis-
tic experience. tance. The tracks follow an old sugar Costco Travel oers cruises, vacation
Finally, when to go? I am not exag- plantation route through rainforests, packages, rental cars and hotel-only
gerating when I say there is no off-season mangroves and villages, with a beach options for destinations in the United
when it comes to the warmth of the peo- stop (ecotrax.com.fj). States and around the world. To learn
more, click “Travel” at Costco.com or
ple and Fijian hospitality. Any chance I call 1-877-849-2730.
get to go to Fiji, I go.
Garden island
two-thirds of it is protected rain coast, the 3-mile Lavena Coastal
Taveuni, Fiji’s third-largest island forest in the Bouma National Walk starts on a secluded beach
(it’s in the northern sector), attracts Heritage Park. and continues past lagoons,
water lovers as well as hikers. Most resorts are clustered on through rainforest and across
Taveuni is known as the “Garden the northern side of the island near a suspension bridge to end at
Island of Fiji,” and more than the Matei Airport. On the southeast Wainibau Falls.—PG
OCTOBER 2018 Costco Connection 35
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