September 21 The view as we flew over Fiji was awe-inspiring. Mika and I have seen many beautiful islands, but this archipelago is the most impressive in terms of sheer beauty from the air. Islands and islets surrounded by white beaches, coral reefs and pristine blue water dot the ocean as far as the eye can see. It looks like one of those idealized South Pacific island postcard photos that have been heavily photoshopped, but image manipulation couldn’t improve this reality.

From the moment we stepped off the plane in Nadi, we were greeted by warm, friendly smiles. Khan, from Khan’s Car Rental, got us into our vehicle in under 10 minutes with no hassles. We were off for our fist destination, Sigatoka.

We headed east on Queen’s road along the southern shore. After a brief adjustment to driving on the left (its been a while), we were able to start enjoying the scenery. Along the way we saw dozens of street side vendors selling papayas, pineapples, coconuts, pumpkin, gourds, fish and other food stuffs. Fiji’s diversity was immediately evident. We passed churches, Hindu temples and mosques on the short drive from Nadi to Sigatoka. Mika asked me to stop so she could photograph a garden area. Within minutes the gardener approached her with a wave and a “Bula!” He inquired as to where she was from and invited her to tour the grounds. Striking up conversations with strangers seems to be a pleasantly common occurrence in Fiji. We decided to stop by one of the small markets on the edge of town to buy some drinks. At this point it was clear that the warmth we encountered at the airport was not a carefully orchestrated show for tourists. Even in this small market, far from any tourist spot, the people were sincerely friendly.

After about an hour we reached our hotel, Outrigger on the Lagoon. The gentlemen at the gate greeted us with an enthusiastic, “Bula!” At the front desk we were greeted by Charlotte, the reservations manager, with warm smiles and cool tea along with oshibori (moistened hand towels.) After checking in we were treated to a personal orientation by an instantly likable young woman named Moreen. Fiji’s first five star resort features a an expansive property dotted with bures (bungalows), water features, restaurants and outdoor bars. Moreen explained that the property was once a dairy farm that was eventually converted into a small hotel property. Nine years ago the small hotel was replaced by the current grandiose resort. The Outrigger has managed to maintain an authentic Fijian feel by using an organic, village-like layout for the buildings, all of which have traditional thatched roofs.

Our spacious room is furnished with chic South Pacific themed furniture. It opens onto a lanai looking over the lagoon. A small stream winds its way along the side of our room and empties into the ocean.

Fiji Outrigger Photos

• Resort Property
  
• Hotel Room
  
• Bures
  
• Fire Walkers
  
• Kalokalo Bar
  
• Chapel
  
• Bebe Spa