Fiji - coral reefs or coup?
Posted Wednesday, November 29, 2006, 2:23 PM by Lonely Planet
When you think Fiji - do you think islands fringed with coral reefs, lapped by warm azure waters; diving and snorkelling and diverse cultures? Or do you think of an archipelago dogged since 1987 by military coup and political instability?
Unfortunately the latest talks to settle the rift between the military and the government have been unsuccessful, so travel warnings have been released for those visiting Suva.
But how might this affect your trip to Fiji, how much impact will this have on travellers on the ground? This matter is being discussed on the Thorn Tree right now. The majority of the advice says that if you give Suva a wide berth, you will be unaffected. Most conclude you wouldn't want to go there normally anyway. Copperspoon reports: "You worry too much! Political games have nothing to do with tourists."
Read the responses for yourself here.
Labels: Asia and Pacific, Breaking travel news
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7 Comments:
I think about peace, Fiji bitter, diving, corals, beaches, amazing people, my Fijian friends and chilling out. I DO NOT think about the coup at all as most of it happens as usual in Suva and Suva is a world of its own!
I hope the coup doesn't stop anyone from travelling to Fiji. In times like these Fiji needs all the tourists they can get.
My father (who died when I was 5) was from Fiji and I visited Fiji for the first time 2 years ago. Fiji is friendly, relaxing and beautiful generally but I found Suva a very depressing place that I wouldn't hurry back to. Visit the unspoilt outer islands and you will see Fiji the way it should be.
YOU are right Fiji is all the coral reefs which protect our beautiful 320 islands and its friendliest people. We arrived in Fiji on Dec. 23rd and stayed at Stoney Creek Resort up in mountains of the Sabeto Valley. The resort location is magical 360 degree panaromic view, clean running river, the owners spell it clearly as Fiji's only mountain resort and animal friendly too. Tom and I really missed our dogs and loved the dogs and cats at Stoney Creek Resort. By the way the food is superb - Tom went righteo for the curries and T-bone steak. Away from the hussle and bussle of the so called military takeover - Fiji is still the way the world should be!! We love the Fijian and Indo-Fijians, their interaction is nothing compared to what Aussie and Kiwi papers report. Hey even the soldiers smile with a big bula in and around Nadi. Just do it - visit Fiji and rock up to the mountains of Sabeto and cosy up at Stoney Creek Resort.
As a persn who has spent the first 18 years of her life in Fiji and in that duration lived through 3 out of the 4 coups - there is absolutely nothing to worry...
Fiji is a small island of about 800 000 people - it is not a place where the military or the citizens would pick up a gun and start bloodshed because everybody, somehow is intrinsincally linked - as the military commander commented during the 2000 coup heist of the parliament - if we were to start firing now, we would be shooting our own brothers...the rest of the world can learn something from this sentiment.
The previous coup was intiated by 'citizens'(funded by big busienss who they have remain tied to) and for more than 5 years, the military and the public has seen them govern or more accurately hinder the progress fo the country - for the first time the motivation behind the coup is not racial - and thsi is enough to give us hope that something good will come out of it...
at this point note that the racial strife exists really only at the political spectrum - thankfully it has not cascaded to the rest of the population...so you would not seen indo-fijians and fijians killing each other or anyone else.
So do not worry - go any enjoy the coral atolls - they are really something - the water is absolutely clear and the lagoons very very calm ...
I Live in New Zealand and travel to Fiji every month on business; Nadi, Lautoka and Suva.
In my experience, there has been little change and in fact I cannot see what all the fuss is about.
I have never traveled to Fiji. I am from LA and have spent a lot of time in Hawaii. Can you tell me a good vacation spot with great beaches and some forests? Thanks. Appreciate your help.
We travelled to Fiji in January - we got married there and this was not long after the coup started - we flew into Nadi and went first to Malolo Island Resort and then to Nanaya Island REsort a week later we weren't effected at all by the coup - SUVA really was the only area that saw any action. Loved Fiji and loved the people!! Fantastic
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