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| Chili's Galore |
Fiji will be home for the next 6 months and is WANANAVU! (That means awesome in Fijian.) The market place is a canvas of rich colors, textures, and aromas. The many varieties of chili's and spices lend to great Thai, Indian, and South American dishes. We rented a car and I have discovered all the local places with the best meats, vegetables, and breads; also, where the best supermarkets are. It's really fun shopping here! 5 different places to provision and the prices can't be beat. You get $1.72 for every US Dollar and of course that fluctuates somewhat. (Today it's $1.80!) My point being, I can go to the veggie market and come home with 6 bags of fresh produce for $15.00 US! A huge cabbage is $1.00 Fiji, but celery and avocados are pricey. The produce is fresh off the vine and if you want, you can call Natalie, the market lady for the yachties, and she will deliver fruits and veggies to the boat in various stages of desired ripeness!
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| Market at Suva, Fiji.Largest Market in the South Pacific |
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| Cabbage, Bok Choy, and Eggplant abound. |
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| Nap Time! |
The market has guys with wheelbarrows who follow you around and load up your goods, then place it in the car for you. The guy above opted for a nap, after all it was Saturday!
Fiji, alias, "Cannibal Islands"now a popular crossroad in the Pacific; A melting pot of Chinese, Indian, Fijian, Polynesian, Micronesian, and European population, salt and peppered with Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, and American tourist. Your money goes far here (except on Denarau Island) and there are a wide range of things to do. Nandi is a hub for tourist air travel and Suva, where we checked in, is more a commercial shipping center. The Fiji Islands are spread over 1,290,000 square km of the South Pacific ocean with coral reefs along much of the coast.
Some Fijian clans have the ability to call the giant sea turtles from the blue water below the cliffs. I defiantly want to be there to see that! The Fijians were born out of the first people to arrive to the island; light skinned Austronesian,s with broad noses; most likely, Polynesians. In 500 BC Melanesian people arrived and from fusing the two races, the Fijians were born.
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| Ladies of the market |
The Fijian people are like adult kids; sweet, open, and innocent. It is customary to say Bula (that's hello in Fijian) to every person you come upon. When visiting a village, be certain to bring the chief some good premium Kava (Kava is a root that is pounded all day into a fine powder, then wrapped in cheesecloth and steeped in water. It is enjoyed from a shared Kava bowl and is an acquired taste. It makes one sleepy and the mouth gets numb.) Do not wear sunglasses either, when meeting a Chief, as that is a sign of mistrust when a person can not look you in the eye. Also, no hats, a sign your covering up the most revered part of your body, the head. There was a time when chiefs used the skulls of their victims as the Kava bowl; a sign of humiliation to the deceased. (After they cooked and ate parts of him while he was still alive!) Amazing they have evolved into such sweet gentle souls.
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| Sooz tries her first Kava at the market |
Sooz is always the first to mingle with the islanders, which we love, because she finds out all the cool places and things to do. I found her upstairs at the market sitting on a pile of Kava, testing the wares. She also found out about some good hiking and biking.
Check out this Mahi Mahi; we put the lines out coming round the island from Suva to Nandi and caught ourselves one hell of a fish. I cooked it up in various ways over the next few day's; Fish Taco's, Fish Curry, Grilled Cajun, and fresh spinach salad with oranges, grilled fish and mango dressing.
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| Best Beer |
Fiji Beer is excellent especially, the bitter and the lager called Von-nu fire beer; which is served up in a huge 4 foot volcano and takes 8 people to drink it up. Except for the boy's, who can polish one off without any help!
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Sooz holds up our largest Mahi Mahi. We ate him for weeks! Very delicious
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