Friday, April 07, 2006

10 Things You Didn't Know about Fiji

10 Things you didn't know about Fiji. By Surf Trip Surf Travel

1) The name Fiji is a Tongan corruption of the indigenous name "Viti."

2)Fiji is made up of more than 800 islands and islets, 110 of which are inhabited. The largest islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, which together comprise more than 85 percent of the total land area.

3)Fiji has gone through two coup d'etats , with the latest one occurring May 19, 2000. Both coups were caused by racial tension between the native Fijians and the East Indians.

4) The population of Fiji is mainly split between indigenous Fijians and Indians. The Indians live mostly on Viti Levu, the main island, and are descendants of those brought from India by the British to work on the sugar plantations. Other Pacific Islanders, Chinese, and Europeans make up the remaining population.

5) In Fiji, there are many codes and rituals that are sill practised on a day to day basis. In visiting Fiji, it is helpful to be aware of some of these traditions in order to be respectful to the locals particularly when visiting a village or being introduced to a chief.

6) Indigenous Fijians live co-operatively in a lifestyle based on sharing within large extended families.

7) Bures, the traditional name for their dwelling - are single room structures with bamboo woven walls and thatch roofs. Families perform all the activities of daily living under one roof in these intricately designed structures.

8) Always ask permission when taking photos (which will almost always be granted), and as obvious as it sounds, never casually wander into someone's bure and start shooting.

9)In Fiji and other parts of Polynesia the drinking of yaqona(pronounced Yangona) or kava, is a common ceremonial and social custom. The yaqona ceremony has great significance in Fijian life but is now considered a social drink as well as a ceremony.

10) Chances are you will not find warmer, more hospitable human beings on the planet.

More Fiji Surf Trip Surf Travel Destination from SurfTrip .com

No comments: