Fiji: the first impressions! | The Family Without Borders

The Family Without Borders

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Fiji: the first impressions!

Fiji: Kids sleeping in the bus (Vanua Levu, Savusavu)

Fiji is the 50th country I have visited. And I can already tell you: it’s my new favourite country.

We arrived to the northern island Vanua Levu (there are two main islands in Fiji and more than 300 small ones) by boat. First time in my life I was waiting for a passport control on the lovely catamaran. Already the guys coming on the boat where hyper-friendly. – Bula!!!! – which means hello. With the biggest and most natural smile ever. When the second guy and the third one said this “bula” in the same way, I thought that was weird. Now I know. This is how Fijian people are. No idea why and no idea how come.

Just after long weeks in Tonga, there are few big (and positive) surprises. Tonga was our first country on the Pacific Ocean, so we were taking everything there as it is, without complains or doubts. But this is, what is different here, as a first impressions:

1. People: we made a lot of friends in Tonga but those people here: from the poorest lady at the market to a lady boss of the hotel – are honestly friendly and non problematic. Happy with life, happy with their Fiji.

2. Streets: even small ones, somewhere in the bush – kind of clean. No pigs everywhere, no shit of pigs everywhere, not too much litter. Ok, so it can be like this ;)

3. Trees: full of food! You look around and you see tons of fruits and vegetables. People cannot be hungry here, no way.

4. Houses: pictures and drawings on the walls. After the time in empty walls in Tonga – it feels so cosy and like at home!

5. Houses again: they can be not only cosy but also clean!

6. People DO read: so many newspapers on the ferries, books are read on the market or even by a waitress in the bar, when she is not working. Uffff.

7. Time: things come on time! A bus or a boat, for example. Or a man, when you agree on a meeting. What a difference! :)

8. Food: there is food in the shops! When we arrive to Fiji and entered the shop, we all got crazy: – Mummy, do you think we could buy a yogurt? – Mila asked. – Haaaaaam! – Hanna saw one first time in looooong weeks. And cold beer! And chocolate!

9. Epidemic: there is no chikungunya here! (ok ok, there is still dengue fever).

10. Work: people seem to be much more busy here than in Tonga, they get up early, they run little businesses, they have companies…

That’s just the first few things we have noticed here. While driving sweet, open buses, while talking to people. – So where are you planning to go? – asks a bus driver. – Hmmm, doesn’t matter, anywhere. We will tell you when we want to go out. – They don’t really understand this attitude but after one hour drive the bus stops and the bus driver says: – This is a good place for you. – Together with us some women is leaving the bus. – Bula!! – again this smile – My name is Mary and I would be so happy to show you around! Let’s go here, just through the bush. – She went with us to the closest village, she found a house of the chief and somebody from his family (that’s their task: to welcome and show around, if anybody from outside is coming).

Gabriel and Larry spend the whole day with us: feeding us, showing little secret places and giving tips (for example which plant to use to stop the bleeding – both of them were playing with Tom’s knife and cut their fingers;). And days like this happen in Fiji just one after another.


Our first book is out!

We have published our first book (for now just in Polish:) about our Central America Trip.
See, read and order here »

16 Comments

  • Posted August 20, 2014 at 21:12 | Permalink

    Bula, I just discovered your blog! What a great example that is possible to travel with kids – and even faaaar away! I lived and worked in the South Pacific – on the Fiji Islands – and since then it will always stay my dream destination. It is good to hear that you like it! So much changed in the last few years…And of course if you live somewhere – it is not only fun and paradise, but most of the people were really very friendly.
    Great that you visited also other pacific countries! I didn´t had the time as I was working :-) Will you go to Samoa or Vanuatu? Very brave to hichhike – but with kids? Did you feel save?
    I see you like the open buses – I called them “music bus” as they always played reggae musik on the way to the office :-)
    Have fun on your travel!

    Reply
    • Anna Alboth
      Posted August 21, 2014 at 08:15 | Permalink

      Thanks for all the nice words! Next stop: Vanuatu!!
      Answering your question: yes, we do feel very very safe. Music bus, true!! Im a bit jealous for you that you were working there. I could imagine doing it too….

      Reply
  • Posted August 21, 2014 at 06:20 | Permalink

    It seems like paradise… Friendly people, a lot of tasty food and everything is clean :)
    You guys are lucky to be on Fiji!

    Reply
    • Anna Alboth
      Posted August 21, 2014 at 08:15 | Permalink

      Maybe it’s such a paradise just after Tonga? No idea, we are in love!

      Reply
  • Zosia
    Posted August 21, 2014 at 08:27 | Permalink

    Hey. I love your blog, the way you travel and you write about it and I adore your pictures. But after some changes on blog, which make it even more readable, I have some problems with captions. This longer ones are incomplete and in full screen mode there are none. Should it be so or I need to change my browser settings?

    Reply
    • Anna Alboth
      Posted August 21, 2014 at 12:11 | Permalink

      Hmmm. No idea! I will ask Tom ;)

      Reply
  • sarah
    Posted August 21, 2014 at 22:15 | Permalink

    Your girls are looking bright & happy!!
    PS Anna, you always manage to look like you’re so comfortable with yourself, which I really like. you seem to be one of these women being a woman and a mother at the same time – thanks thanks for showing me this.

    Reply
    • Anna Alboth
      Posted August 22, 2014 at 08:58 | Permalink

      Thank you so much for this comment, you made me happy! But when I think longer about it, I think it might be that Tom makes such a pictures, where Im both: mother and woman, because… because he sees me like this!

      Reply
  • Posted August 28, 2014 at 06:47 | Permalink

    i love your blog! It is inspirational how your lovely family is travelling so adventurously. I am from Fiji and am so happy that you have shared your great impression of our country. I started my own blog about my travels around the world as well (Making it a Fijian’s perspective on the big world :) ) Do check it out if you get the chance :)
    One more thing: I was driving past the Handicraft market in Suva today and saw another family like yours at a restaurant there. I thought it was you so i excitedly told my mother next to me, “ma! that’s the family i was telling you about travelling around the world and through Fiji!” but i guess i was mistaken… Thanks for visiting and good luck!

    Reply
  • Posted August 29, 2014 at 13:11 | Permalink

    What a beautiful photo in a bus!! :) I love it:)

    Reply
    • Anna Alboth
      Posted December 16, 2014 at 21:50 | Permalink

      Thank you!

      Reply
  • Sylwia
    Posted September 6, 2014 at 05:08 | Permalink

    piekne zdjecia. mam pytanie, gdzie kupilas kolorowe spodenki dla coreczki?

    Reply
  • Posted September 7, 2014 at 03:16 | Permalink

    I’ve seen so many travel blogs by 20-somethings, but never another family traveling also traveling like us. So glad to have found your blog! We are an American family with 3 young daughters. We started an around-the-world trip about 5 months ago. We are still in Europe but will eventually make it to Fiji and the areas you are currently in. I’m wondering how you’ve found internet access to blog in some of these remote places you’ve been to? I’ve found it hard to update our web site sometimes even in Europe. :-) Love your stories and photos and will keep reading about your adventures as we experience our own. Best of luck to you!

    Reply
    • Anna Alboth
      Posted December 16, 2014 at 21:51 | Permalink

      Where are you in Europe? Any plans for Berlin?

      Reply

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