Nadi, Fiji

Had a light breakfast in Qantas Lounge before our flight departure to Nadi.  We tried to escape from a brutal cold weather in Sydney and hideaway in a tropical paradise of Fiji Island.  With only four hours' flight journey, we can be in a completely different weather.  Around 28 to 30-degree Celsius, perfect temperature for swimming, snorkelling or simply basking in the sun.

The bar-rier reef in Fiji can be seen very clear from above 

 

When we landed in the Nadi Airport, on the way to the custom, I can hear people playing some music.  It came to my surprise that these group of three Fijian men sing folk songs for a warm gesture in welcoming travellers into the country.  I've never seen this such a thing.  It is very thoughtful of the People.  Good on them. 

Toilet sign with Fijian pattern

This time, we came a little bit unprepared with the money.  Normally we always exchange some currency from home country.  Luckily, we spotted an ATM still inside the airport and withdrew from there.  To be honest, the rate wasn't that bad and less the hustle too.  I suggest you carry enough cash while travelling in Fiji unless you just stay or dine in your hotel because most of local shops and transportations, they only accept cash. 

Chicken fried rice FJ$12.95 (around AUD 9)

Their fried rice tasted a bit like adding teriyaki sauce, sweet and salty.  They were generous with the meat though.  To be honest, it looked a lot like my homecook fried rice.  Satisfied with this dish, but their bhajia was too floury. 

  

Bhajia FJ$0.5 each

We grabbed a taxi to our hotel.  The driver was very friendly and ended up we used his service to take us around the island and back to the airport again on the last day.  Ps. Bargaining is the key. 

For our first night, we stayed in Nadi city for a convenience as we arrived pretty late in the afternoon.  Although, our flight was leaving early in the morning, but Nadi time is two hours ahead Sydney.  That's why we are losing our clock.  From airport, it only took around 20 minutes to Mercure Hotel.  

We went to a supermarket just a block away from the hotel on that night.  I noticed that they sell lots and lots of Australian and Indonesian products on their shelfs.  If you are thinking of buying some local snacks as a gift to people back home, I suggest getting them from big supermarket like one of this, as they are cheap.  We got crispy dahl, mixed bhajia, something like cheese ring but made in Fiji and a few chocolates as well.  

 

Before got here, I looked up on the internet that Nadi is popular with their BBQ food.  They are normally setting up a stall-like with a few tables in an empty space or yard.  There was this one with good ratings, but that shop won't open until 10pm.  So, we ended up going to a random one.  They don't have much on the menu.  Only lamb and chicken along with some fried rice and fried noodle that we didn't try.  

We got the combination BBQ with lamb and chicken in it and topped with one fried egg.  It looked a little messy but surprisingly tasty and the meat were tender too.  Their lamb wasn't gamey too, somehow, I couldn't really tell them apart.  It could be either the chicken meat was tougher, or their lamb wasn't gamey.  Weirdly, it made me hard to distinguish them.  

Back to our hotel, we enjoyed some good cocktails and dessert.  A meal won't feel complete without sweets, are you guys agreed?

Pineapple fritters FJ$15

Today we checked-out from Mercure hotel and moved to the next hotel, Warwick hotel for two nights.  As I brought it up earlier about our taxi driver, so today he picked us up from our hotel then were visiting some places in Nadi city, such as the famous Sri Suva Subramaniya Temple, Nadi market and a souvenir shop before heading to Warwick hotel.  He charged us FJ$200 for this.  I believe it is a good price as I checked with the hotel. taxi transfer between Mercure hotel to Warwick would normally cost FJ$160 already.

Sri Suva Subramaniya Temple

 

   

when we walked inside the market, right away, we were greeted with lots of kava plants.  Locals of Pacific Islander use this plant to make a very popular drink that works as their alcoholic drinks but some said it can be used as an herbal treatment as well.  We wanted to try it but then changed our mind, we went for a refreshing coconut drink instead.  In here, that kava drink looks a little bit too extreme, I mean, if I want to give it a go, I will do it in the hotel or some places like cultural centre or similar.  

Very interesting how they display their fruits and vegies, they always stack them up high.  It is very eye-catching.

The taxi driver recommended this Jack's in Nadi in getting souvenirs and some Fijian made products like wooden crafts, flowery shirts, magnets or keyrings and plenty other items too.  They have it all, memorable items for yourself or gifts for friends and family.

Mercure Hotel Nadi

Queens Road, Nadi Airport, Nadi

Ph: +679 672 2255

Nadi Market

Open: Monday - Wednesday 7am - 5pm

           Thursday 7am - 5:30pm

           Friday 7am - 6pm

           Saturday 6am - 4pm

           Sunday closed

Jack's Nadi

401 -403 Queens Road, Nadi

Ph: +679 904 1747 

Open: Monday - Saturday 8am - 6pm

           Sunday 9am - 2pm

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Fiji:

Warwick Hotel, Fiji