FIJI FACTS

Geography
Fiji consists of 322 islands, of which 110 are inhabited, and 522 smaller islets. The two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Viti Levu hosts the capital city of Suva, and is home to nearly three quarters of the population. The islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1,300 metres (4,250 ft), and covered with tropical forests. Other important towns include Nadi (the location of the international airport), and Lautoka. The main towns on Vanua Levu are Labasa and Savusavu. Other islands and island groups include Taveuni and Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands respectively), the Mamanuca Group (just outside Nadi) and Yasawa Group, which are popular tourist destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, outside of Suva, and the remote Lau Group. Rotuma, some 500 kilometres (310 mi) north of the archipelago, has a special administrative status in Fiji.

Location
Fiji lies in the southwestern Pacific, 1,750 miles northeast of Sydney, Australia. The 333 islands of the archipelago are arranged over 80,000 square miles of ocean. The islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Taveuni make up 90 percent of the nation's landmass and are home to 85 percent of the nation's population of 750,000. .

Currency
The currency used is the Fijian Dollar FJ$. There is a bank at Nadi International Airport to change currency both on your arrival and departure. There are banks in all the towns. Major credit cards are welcomed by most resorts, restaurants, shops and tour companies.The fijian dollar . You can check current exchange rates here www.xe.com/ucc

Language
English is widely used with Fijian and Hindi also predominant. Hotel staff are fluent in English.

Departure Tax
There is a departure tax of F$30 for passengers. Children under 12 years of age are exempt.

Visa
Visas are issued on arrival for Nationals of most countries. Nationals of some countries will require prearranged visas which can be applied for at the nearest Fiji Embassy to their respective country. Please check with your Travel Agent for details. Visitors must have a current passport valid for three months from the date of entry, adequate funds to support themselves and a return airline ticket.

Driving
A visitor may drive in Fiji if they are in possession of a valid home country driving licence for the same class of vehicle. Driving is on the left side of the road and most roads are good for driving and most resorts on the mainland are easily located on, or a short distance from the main road. The speed limit in built up areas is 50 kilometres per hour and 80 kilometres per hour on the open highways.

Health & Medical
Fiji is free of most tropical diseases. However, travelers may want to exercise caution in outlying areas. Hospitals are located in major towns. There is a hospital and recompression chamber available.

Clothing
Visitors to Fiji need a light tropical wardrobe. Togs, shorts, T-shirts and a sulu are a must. During the cool season it would be advisable to take a sweatshirt particularly at night when temperatures drop. Wearing togs is fine at the resorts but visitors should be careful to respect local feelings when visiting villages or shopping in town. At such times it is easy to take a sulu to use as a wrap around so no offence is caused.

Drinking water
Fresh water reticulated in major towns on the mainland of Viti Levu has been treated and is safe to drink. This applies to many of the resorts on the mainland. A number of island resorts pipe their water from the mainland as well, making the water drinkable. Some resorts have installed desalination plants and in these cases, visitors will be advised by the resorts, as to suitability of water for drinking.

Duty free
Each visitor may bring the following free of duty into Fiji: 500 cigarettes or 500 grams of tobacco, cigars etc, two litres of liquor or four litres of wine or beer and up to F$400 of duty assessed goods.

Electricity
240 volts, 50 cycles. Fiji has 3 pin power outlets identical to that of New Zealand.

Tipping
Tipping is not expected and is, in fact, discouraged in some resorts. That is the stated policy. You may find porters will appreciate a tip, especially in resort settings where they do seem to expect it. Divemasters and live-aboard crew will very much appreciate a gratuity as well.

Culture
Fijians are a modest people, and outside the resorts, you should avoid wearing anything that shows too much leg. When visiting a village or attending a church service, women must wear long pants and men are often encouraged to follow suit.

Meke (Dance)
Visitors are often welcomed at resorts and hotels with a ‘meke’, a dance performance that enacts local stories and legends. While performances for tourists may seem staged, the meke is an ongoing tradition. The arrangement of the group and every subtle movement has significance. Important guests and onlookers are honoured with the best seating positions.

In the past, Fijian meke were accompanied by chanting by a chorus or by ‘spiritually possessed seers’, and usually rhythmic clapping, the thumping and stamping of bamboo clacking sticks, the beating of slit drums and dancing. They were held purely for entertainment, for welcoming visitors, or on important religious and social occasions; births, deaths, marriages, and property exchanges between villages.

Men, women and children participated in meke. Men performed club and spear dances and the women performed fan dances.

Yaqona Drinking (Kava)
Yaqona, otherwise known as kava, is an infusion prepared from the root of Piper methysticum, a type of pepper plant. It is extremeny important in Fijian culture - in the time of the 'old religion' it was used ceremonially by chiefs and priests only. Today, yaqona is part of daily life, not only in villages but across the different races and in urban areas. 'Having a grog' is used for welcoming and bonding with visitors, for storytelling sessions or merely for passing time.

There are certain protocols to be followed at a kava ceremony and in some remote villages, it is still a semireligious experience. Sit cross-legged, facing the chief and the tanoa, or large wooden bowl. Women usually sit behind the men and won't get offered the first drink unless they are the guest of honour. Never walk across the circle of participants, turn your back to the tanoa or step over the cord that leads from the tanoa to a white cowry (it represents a link with the spirits).

The drink is prepared in the tanoa. The dried and powdered root, wrapped in a piece of cloth, is mixed with water and the resulting concoction looks (and tastes) like muddy water. You will then be offered a drink from a bilo (half a coconut shell). Clap once, accept the bilo and say 'bula' (meaning 'cheers', or literally, 'life'), before drinking it all in one go. Clap three times in gratification and try not to grimace. The drink will be shared until the tanoa is empty. You are not obligated to drink every bilo offered to you, but it is polite to drink at least the first.