T R AVEL
F
or anyone who has harboured South Seas fantasies fuelled by old Errol Flynn films and
Joseph Conrad novellas, travelling to the far-flung paradise of Fiji is well worth the journey.
It's one of the last untrammelled places, where steamer ferries still ply the straits, and barefoot
bush pilots land on grass strips to deliver guitar strings and watermelons.
Fiji is an archipelago consisting of over three hundred islands in the South Pacific. Many of
them are hideaways of palm trees, trade winds, blue lagoons and secluded, pristine sandy shores.
The rest are volcanic towers cloaked with lush tropical rainforest and sugarcane fields. With miles
of endless white sand beaches stretching across its stunning coastline and untouched coral reefs,
it's no wonder that it has played host to the likes of Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and Mel Gibson.
It has a reputation for attracting privacy-seeking celebrities and many, such as Nicole
Kidman, Elle Macpherson, media mogul Bill Gates and Pierce Brosnan, have even chosen these
paradise islands as their honeymoon destination. It is a place where romance wraps around you like
a cloak. It is a place where everything is provided for you, yet solitude is as easy to find as the sea. It is
the perfect tropical island paradise for those who seek seclusion, romance and adventure.
With some of the friendliest people in the world and breathtaking settings perfect for the
most romantic of getaways, the islands also have plenty to offer thrill-seeking adventure travellers.
Water sports are big in Fiji resorts including kayaking, white-water rafting, surfing and snorkel ling.
If you're after a diving experience, Fiji, known as the 'soft coral capital of the world' and rated within
the top 10 dive destinations in the world, is where to make a splash.
Your first destination on arrival will be Nadi – the central hub of Fiji – a bustling city, jampacked with people, enticing shops, exquisite dining and some of the best resorts in the tropical
25
WWW. STGE ORG EPLC .CO M