Fiji

Every single overseas holiday I’ve taken so far has been to busy cities or interesting regions where there is so much to do that whether or not I’d done any planning beforehand, my days would either be spent out-and-about and active or spent slower and regretting not making the most of my time. Knowing this, I was a little unsure how I would feel completely unwinding and doing nothing going into the nine days of my recent Fiji holiday.

Instead I discovered the true meaning of a vacation by enjoying the sense of weightlessness that spending a week in resorts provides (although, that weightlessness feeling might have just been from the hammock that I spent half my time snoozing in).

I understand the fascination that keeps drawing repeated crowds back to resort-style holidays; the buffet breakfasts, the ice cream stand, the pools and the beaches, the weather, the hospitality. I spent a whole week where every single need was provided for me with convenience and lapped it all up.

It wouldn’t be a good trip for me if I didn’t at least do something, so I did join a cultural tour of the island where we got to visit a local temple, a school, do a bit of shopping in town, and also visit a nearby village known for their pottery. My favourite part was the village visit, where we learned about their traditions and values and experienced their culture through song and dance. We also watched them make some pottery from scratch using raw materials which was pretty neat too.

While the tour was nice to have an experience learning about Fiji, I ended up learning a lot more from our taxi driver who took us on the two hour drive between resorts (which was supposed to be under an hour but we were travelling on Fiji time). He spoke on about the experiences of Fijian people, about his own family traditions and values, about the positive or negative impacts outsiders have on Fiji and its people, about the effects of climate change on the island, and of the degree of opportunity Fijian people have.

I was drawn to a story he told me about caring for his grandchildren so they can attend a school near his village since access to schools can be limited for some villages and his daughters had moved far away after getting married. I grew a deep appreciation for the sense of community I saw from him and from the village we visited which seemed to complement their laid-back island vibe. I really enjoyed hearing all of their stories so I’m grateful they were willing to share them.

While my next holiday is already planned, and of course I’m heading back to Japan for some time but also Taiwan again, I really learned to appreciate the opportunity to not do anything and kick my legs up for a week. I think I’d love to return to Fiji again for a similar holiday or perhaps even another Pacific islands.