Culture

Fiji sees two main groups of people; the native Fijians and the Indians, with a small helping of some Chinese.  The two main groups tend to live separately in small villages as their religious beliefs and customs are hard to combine.  They will go to separate primary schools but begin to mix as they grow older and work together harmoniously across the islands.

As a whole, Fijians are very religious with regular church visits being an important part of weekly life for the whole family.  They enjoy celebrating their religion and indeed, all aspects of their life with music.  Songs and music can be heard around any of the Fijian islands in the small villages.  With their love of music comes an equal love for dance.  There are many occasions where people from both groups come together to perform their own dances dressed in their own traditional clothing.  The dances tell intricate stories from the past and offer a beautiful glimpse into the Fijians rich history.

Food

The Fijian food, like its people, is a wonderful blend of Indian and traditional Fijian ingredients.  It combines aromatic spices from India with the fresh produce found around the islands such as fish, coconuts and an abundance of wonderful root vegetables and tropical fruits.  The flavours come together to produce a unique and delicious pallet.

Fijian tradition sees the women as the chefs, often using one pan and catching their own fresh seafood.  For special occasions, a Lovo is made.  This feast sees the food being wrapped in palm leaves and baked in the ground in a makeshift earth oven.  The method is used in many different countries around the world.

Who can go?

Over the years, Fiji’s tourism has risen dramatically and the different islands have resorts which have adapted to cater for all whether it is for a family, romantic or backpacking holiday.  Kids clubs with many activities including music and dance groups are great for families whilst couples can choose from any number of luxurious hotels with private beaches and numerous spa treatments.

Activities that can be found on many of the islands include:

• Yoga
• Deep sea fishing
• Turtle feeding
• Aqua aerobics

One of the most wonderful activity’s to take part in though would be snorkelling and scuba diving.  Fiji is world renowned for its stunning soft coral reefs and amazing sea life.  There are over 400 species of coral, 1000 species of tropical fish and a plethora of sharks, manta and sting rays, turtles and dolphins which can be found in the warm, crystal waters around the islands.  There are excursions for divers of all abilities but with a visibility of 50 metres or more, snorkelling is also a great way to experience the lively world beneath the water.

A trip to Fiji offers a precious experience that will never be forgotten.

Contestants in the competition must submit their personal proposal story.  Each story is placed in one of 5 categories; “romantic,” “humorous,” “adventurous,” “non-traditional” or “gone awry.”  The winners of each category will receive various keepsakes, tableware and an engagement party.  The overall winner will receive the grand prize of a six day honeymoon in the resort of Wananavu, Fiji including flights.  Finalists are selected by a team of judges, before the public vote online to decide the semi-finalists and overall winner.

Two couples which are lucky enough to have made it into the top three in the “romantic” section of the competition are Phyllis Jarrell, fiancée of Tyler Claytor, and James La Pierre with his fiancée Diana Plazas Ospina.

Story of Phyllis and Jarrell

Jarrell and Claytor are both “poor college students” as Jarrell put it.  With Jarrell majoring in Spanish and Claytor majoring in Maths, they aim to teach their preferred subject in term time and spend summers continuing previous mission work carried out by both in Honduras.  The couple state that the money saved from the honeymoon, should they win the competition, would be put towards their ambition to perform the mission work together.

Their romantic proposal tells the story of Claytor taking his now fiancée to a place rich in memories from when the couple used to counsel at YMCA summer camps: Maymont Park.  Claytor took his beloved to the Japanese garden there and showed her seven boxes signifying the time they had spent together as a couple.  Each box contained memorabilia such as cinema ticket stubs and show programs from previous dates along the years as well as a poem and letter which Claytor had written for his partner year after year without ever giving her.

Story of James and Diana

La Pierre and Plazas Ospina are a military couple with Plazas Ospina working as an Er Med Tech for the Air Force ROTC.  In 2010 she was deployed to Afghanistan for almost 7 months.  La Pierre claims that this was a “make us or break us” point in the relationship but that he had every faith that it was the more positive of the two.

Approximately two months after Plazas Ospina had been deployed, Staff Sergeant La Pierre sent her a box with an engagement ring.  He left strict instructions with his partner and her work colleagues to leave the box unopened until her return.  All parties kept their promise although the co-workers admitted to finding the task rather hard once they had sneakily taken an X-ray of the box to view its contents!  On the day of Plazas Ospina’s return, her parents and La Pierre went to meet her at the airport with her parent’s video recording her arrival.  Captured on camera is the heart warming  moment that the ER Med Tech is finally given the chance to open her beautiful present and realize that it is in fact a proposal.  The tape, along with this amazing story, was entered into the proposal contest.

Voting

To vote for either couple or any of the other finalists simply go to www.brides.com/ProposalAwards and follow the links in each category to “view” and “vote” for couples.

As far as islands go, there is an incredible amount of diversity available for you to enjoy. Most of the larger islands in Fiji are made up of a somewhat rugged terrain formed by volcanic activity, with plenty of vegetation scattered along their surfaces. Some islands offer plenty of sandy beaches whereas others are rocky and made up of mostly coral reefs. You can expect relatively calm water that is clear and undisturbed in most Fijian islands.

A Perfect Fiji Honeymoon Experience

Fiji offers plenty of opportunities for honeymooners, as the warm waters and temperate climate are ideal for establishing a relaxing and romantic atmosphere. This is why Fiji is one of the highest ranked honeymoon destinations in the world, with plenty of resorts set up that cater specifically to the desires of honeymoon vacationers.

One such resort is Yasawa Island, a relatively large Fijian island where honeymooners can expect to encounter a wide range of things to see and do, as well as plenty of outstanding services to enjoy. Some resorts will even allow honeymooners in Fiji to book a private beach for a day or two, allowing you to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere undisturbed by other vacationers. The local cuisine is typically based around seafood, and there are plenty of exotic options to choose from. Many resorts also offer personalized spas, massage therapy, live entertainment, as well as snorkeling and scuba diving for those interested in observing the abundance of life under the crystal clear sea.

Your Fiji Honeymoon – In Conclusion

Make sure that you plan your Fiji honeymoon well, as there are plenty of options to choose from; a little research can help you to find the honeymoon resort or location that will suit you best.

A Fiji Honeymoon – Research is Essential

As is the case with most traveling, preparation and planning are essential. You should research the destinations you are interested in, and look for information on the type of activities, hotels, restaurants, facilities, and services that are available in the area. Fiji is a popular travel destination for people from all over the world, but there are still plenty of secluded islands where many of the luxuries enjoyed by most Westerners are simply not available. This means you will likely be choosing between a resort and a self-made Fijian honeymoon in an area that is not too overshadowed by tourism.

Fiji honeymoons can be original, interesting, exciting, and relaxing all at once. However, a thorough amount of research and planning will help to ensure that you will make the most of what these islands have to offer. It can be helpful to read about the area and look for details on what to expect from the local culture. Ask your travel agency for detailed information. Friends, family, or coworkers can also help to provide you with a personalized glimpse into what you can expect from a typical honeymoon in Fiji. There is also plenty of advice to be found on Internet forums and encyclopedias. The more you know about where you are going, the less likely you will be to run into any complications that would be unnecessary had you known about them beforehand.

Your Fiji Honeymoon – In Conclusion

In conclusion, if you want to enjoy a Fiji honeymoon free from problems, you will need to to some planning on your part. Travel agencies offer plenty of advice, but you can always acquire more in-depth knowledge through your own research. Once you have found the resort or honeymoon spot that is most appealing to you, take some time to study up on the area. This will help you to figure out what you will need to bring along with you, and how to go about planning an unforgettable Fiji honeymoon.

Picking a Resort for Your Fiji Honeymoon

If you would prefer to have your honeymoon arranged for you, then a resort is the option of choice. Many couples are more interested in having a relaxing vacation within an atmosphere where everything is prepared and arranged according to a specific day plan. Resorts in Fiji offer plenty of things to do and great service, including luxury facilities with spas, massages, and beautiful restaurants where you can sample the local cuisine. Picking a resort is a great way to experience a Fiji honeymoon is without the hassle of having to worry about planning where you will be eating, where you will be sleeping, and what you will be doing. Popular resort locations for honeymooners in Fiji include Turtle Island and Yasawa Island. These resorts are well-known throughout the world and many travel agencies can help you to land exclusive deals with them. In addition to all of the top-notch service that you can expect from most of the well-known resorts in the area, there are other less expensive options for lower-budget honeymooners.

Finding your Own Way for a Fiji Honeymoon

If you are a more adventurous couple, than consider planning your own Fiji holiday. This will require a reasonable amount of research on your part, and you will also want to purchase a travel guide to help you find your way. There are many different ways to travel back and forth between different islands, and it is also possible to arrange tour guides who will show you the most interesting and attractive spots available. A Fiji honeymoon that is spontaneous might not turn out to be as enjoyable as expected, so you will want to make sure that you known what you are doing well in advance of purchasing those tickets.

Most luxury villas will provide plenty of additional space for you to move about in freely. You will typically encounter a sea-view terrace providing a great view of the beach, several rooms and bathrooms, and a large kitchen. Having all of this space for your Fiji honeymoon will make it easier to forget about the worries of life back home and enjoy the beginning of your marriage.

Research When it Comes to Your Fiji Honeymoon

If you would rather avoid the travel agencies and their sometimes high-budget rentals, you could also choose to do a little online research of your own. Chances are that you will be able to find a number of local villa rental services or even ads put out by private owners offering to rent out an attractive coastal villa at a price that is easily affordable. A Fiji honeymoon does not have to be so expensive if you are willing to put in a little extra research and figure out how to cut out unnecessary costs. Villa rental prices will vary according to the island on which they are located, and the location of the villa itself will influence the overall price as well.

Your Fiji Honeymoon and Hotels

On the other hand, if you don’t think you will be needing all of the extra space provided through the rental of a private villa, you could choose to stay at an overnight hotel instead. There is an extensive array of exclusive accommodation available to honeymooners in the Fiji islands, from 5-star hotel resorts to lower-budget inns and hostels. If you would like to enjoy your Fiji honeymoon but at the same time save some additional money, you can take advantage of these offers by finding the information on your own without necessarily having to rely on the package deals offered by popular travel agencies.

Wherever you land in Fiji, you will likely need to take a ferry at some point or another. There are a myriad of ferry services available, transporting people back and forth between various Fijian islands, although the smaller uninhabited islands are typically void of ferry service. If you are interested in having a more in-depth Fiji honeymoon, consider traveling to a different island every day or even several in one day. This is an excellent way get a lot more from your experience and savor everything that this beautiful area has to offer.

Fiji Honeymoon for Something Different

A Fiji honeymoon does not have to be boring or unoriginal. If you are tired of laying in the sand and watching the coastline, you could try snorkeling or scuba diving. Because the Fijian islands mostly lie along coral reefs, you will find an exotic array of underwater life, from angelfish to sea turtles. It is also possible to take a ride on glass-bottom boats, providing you with yet another opportunity to observe the diverse ecosystem thriving beneath the crystal clear island waters.

Sample the Culture on Your Fiji Honeymoon

For those interested in sampling a taste of the local culture whilst on their Fiji honeymoon, try visiting some of the villages and towns located on the major Fijian islands. The locals tend to be friendly and hospitable, and they will likely share interesting stories about the island’s history with you. There are also plenty of sight-seeing activities that go beyond the realm of sandy beaches. Many islands on Fiji offer scenic hiking trails through jungle landscapes. You might find a beautiful waterfall, a deep and mysterious cave, or a crystal clear lake to swim in.

In short, you can avoid the tedium of the cookie-cutter beach vacation by choosing to explore the island on your own and sample some of the unique activities they offer. This will help you to enjoy your Fiji honeymoon to the max.