Finding Yourself In Fiji

Far away from the mundane, Fiji lies in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with natural beauty that brings to mind images of paradise. On a recent visit to the tropical nation, VISHWAVEER SINGH discovers cerulean waters, untouched islands, and sunsets that melt the heart

- VISHWAVEER SINGH

WHAT DO The Blue Lagoon and Castaway have in common? Both films, though from completely different eras, showed their protagonists being marooned on tropical islands that made one yearn for the simple life—hacking away at coconut trees, angling for fish, and mastering the art of lighting a fire, all while being surrounded by picture postcard views. The forbidden paradise, those green jungles, blue seas, and stunning caves were all backdrops from Fiji.

The island nation is not easy to get to, as I discover after a 10-hour flight from Singapore’s Changi. Nestled somewhere above Australia, but a fair distance from Hawaii and Bora Bora, Fiji is a world unto itself. Trees and lush green fields line the mainland of Viti Levu, which is where the nation’s capital Suva is. An airport that reminds me of the one at Koh Samui or Colombo, welcomed me with open windows and atriums, quite unlike the glass and steel behemoths one gets used to these days. A former British colony, Fiji has an Indian population that’s been resident to the islands for over four generations. They speak Hindi—their version of it—and are keen to converse with visiting Indians.

THE MAINLAND