What's the population of Fiji? About
893,354 (July 2005 est.)
. The majority are indigenous Fijians.
What about the weather? Bring your shorts. It's tropical and can be very humid in the summer (November-February). Check today's weather for a clue. 
Are the people friendly? Very friendly.
How much will I have to spend per day for accommodations? US$15 on up.
What's the cost of a meal at a local eatery? US$4-6 on up.
How much is a beer at a local bar? About US$2.50.
How do you get around the countryside? Local buses are good cheap transportation and taxis are fairly inexpensive.
What language do the locals speak? English is the lingua franca. Learning a few words of Fijian, however, will go a long way.
What's the best time of the year to go? Christmas is the most fun. Lots of parties and plenty of beer is consumed. If weather is an issue, it's coolest and driest from May through September.
What about Fiji's exchange rate vs. foreign currencies? You can exchange one U.S. dollar for approximately $2 Fijian.
Is there trekking? Yes, there are several national park- type facilities and other areas where you can hike and camp.
What about picking up my tent and living off the land? Don't even think about it, unless invited. All the land is either communally owned or government land.
How much does it cost for a two tank dive in Fiji? Figure it will be about US$80 - 85 per tank dive.
What about health care? Basic medical care is OK. I wouldn't go there for open-heart surgery.
Why is approximatey half the population of Indian extraction? The Indians came to Fiji as indentured laborers in the late 19th century to cut cane and stayed.
Were the indigenous Fijians cannibals? Yes indeed.
When did this practice cease? When the Fijians became Christians in the 19th century.
What religions are practiced here? The majority of the Fijians are Methodists and other Protestant denominations but there are many Catholics as well. Most of the Indians are Hindus and less than a third are Muslims.
What is the average daily wage? It ranges anywhere from F$10 - 30 per day.
Is Fiji safe? Is there a problem with crime at all? Violent crime against visitors is very rare. There is quite a bit of petty theft in the urban areas. Use common sense with dealing with cash and valuables.
What about women travelling alone? No problem if you use common sense.
Is Fiji politically stable? What's this about a coup? There was a bloodless coup in '87 followed by a more serious coup in May of 2000. Fiji is now stable.
Can I drink the water? The local water is generally good at hotels and in cities, but be careful in villages. Bottled water is available.
What about kava? Should I drink it if it's offered to me? Yes, and by the way it's customary to drink it in one swallow. It won't kill you and you'll also be showing respect to your hosts.
What about the nightlife? Fijians love a good time. Suva has great club scene and there are also clubs/dances on weekends in other urban settings. Be careful though, there are a lot of STDs.
Contacting the Fiji Visitors Bureau:
USA/Canada, Call: 1 800 YEA FIJI or e-mail fiji@primenet.com or write to the Fiji Visitors' Bureau, 5777 West Century Blvd Suite 220, Los Angeles, California 90045
Australia, Australia, Call 9264 3399 or write to Level 12,
St Martin's Tower, 31 Market St, Sydney, New South Wales 2000
New Zealand, Call 732 133 or 732 134 or write to Room 605, Tower Block, Canterbury Arcade, 47 High St, Auckland; postal address: PO Box 1179
UK, Call 0171 242 3131 Marketing Services (T&T) Ltd, 52-54 High Holborn, London WC1V 6RL
Japan, Call 03 587 2038, Embassy of Fiji, Noa Building, 10th Floor, 3-5, 2- chome, Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo