Bula from Fiji’s vibrant capital city of Suva!
🌴 A Brief History of Fiji
The islands of Fiji have a rich and complex history shaped by waves of migration and cultural exchange. Archaeological evidence shows that Fiji was first settled around 3,500 years ago by the Lapita people, seafarers from Southeast Asia who navigated vast stretches of the Pacific in double-hulled canoes. Over time, these early settlers developed distinct Fijian traditions, language, and social structures—while still maintaining ties to neighboring Polynesian and Melanesian islands.
Fiji’s strategic location in the South Pacific made it a crossroads for trade and exploration. The islands were later visited by European explorers in the 17th and 18th centuries, including Dutch navigator Abel Tasman and British explorer Captain James Cook. By the 19th century, Fiji became a major center for sandalwood and later sugarcane production. In 1874, the islands became a British Crown Colony, and after almost a century of colonial rule, Fiji gained its independence in 1970.
🌺 Suva – From Small Village to Capital City
Before becoming Fiji’s bustling capital, Suva was a small coastal village on the island of Viti Levu. The original capital was Levuka, on the island of Ovalau, but by the late 19th century, it became too small and constrained by geography to handle Fiji’s growing administrative and commercial needs.
In 1882, Suva officially became the capital of Fiji due to its larger harbor and central location. Today, Suva is a lively mix of cultures, colonial-era architecture, modern development, and traditional Fijian hospitality.
🌧️ Our Day in Suva
Today’s plan was simple—a relaxed morning at the municipal market followed by a stroll through Thurston Gardens—but Mother Nature had other ideas!
We started off optimistically, walking through Suva’s excellent municipal market, one of our favorites in the South Pacific. It’s always a feast for the senses—bright tropical fruits stacked in colorful pyramids, vendors selling bundles of leafy greens, cassava, and taro, and the air filled with the spicy aroma of dried chilies and herbs from the upstairs spice and Kava section.
Then the skies opened.
What began as a light drizzle quickly turned into a torrential downpour, one of those “wait five minutes and it’ll pass” showers that just keeps building and building. Before long, the rain was coming down in sheets, drumming on the tin roofs of the market. We managed a quick detour through the fish market, but by the time we were ready to make our way to Thurston Park, the deluge convinced us to call it a day.
So back to the ship we went, shoes squelching, for a late and leisurely lunch. The silver lining? Sitting under cover on the promenade deck, watching the rain ease and the mist lift from Suva’s lush hills. As the afternoon faded into evening, the clouds finally broke, and we enjoyed a beautiful sail away—the skyline of Suva slowly receding behind us, glowing under the soft tropical twilight.
Even with the rain, Fiji never disappoints. The warmth of its people, the rhythm of life, and that unmistakable “Bula spirit” always make it feel like coming home. 🌺🇫🇯
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