Fijians: The Friendliest Folk You'll Ever Find

And I do mean “folk.” Conde Nast Traveler just named Fiji the Friendliest Place on Earth, and for good reason. Visiting Fiji is like seeing members of your long-lost beloved family. Not just the hotel staff, everyone you meet smiles at you, raises their arms and greets you with a big “Bula!” (The word for Hello, Welcome, Greetings in Fijian). It’s not uncommon for them to ask you where you’re from, how your trip is going, and whether or not you’ve seen the local sights. With very little crime in Fiji, the locals have learned to trust and accept strangers in their midst, no matter how foreign.

During my most recent trip to Fiji, this point was hammered home in a typical Fijian moment. I was in a large tour bus filled with Americans snapping photos, barreling down a dirt highway, leaving a cloud of dust behind. I watched as we approached an old farmer with a machete slung over his shoulder, limping along the side of the road. “Oh no,” I thought. “We’re practically going to run him over, and surely fill his face with grit.” But as we got closer, he turned to look at us, stumbled into the wild bush on the side of the road, looked right at us through the bus windows, waved his hand, and shouted, “Bula!” Needless to say, I was stunned at his welcoming nature towards what surely would have been seen as a nuisance to most locals around the world. We weren’t stopping to purchase anything from him, or even slowing down to accommodate his presence on the side of the road. He simply felt the need to make us feel warmly received.

One experience not to miss during your trip there is visiting a traditional Fijian village or school. There is no better way to experience first-hand the friendliness of the Fijians than by shaking the hand of the village chief, hearing islanders sing songs just for you, or watching young schoolchildren perform songs and dances that they’ve rehearsed not only for learning purposes, but also just in case some inquiring foreigners come by. At the very least, smile and thank the locals who inevitably greet you upon arrival at your resort with a song and guitar.

It’s not even so much that the Fijians are friendly, but that they open themselves up, heart and mind, and want to share their lives with you. With Down Under Endeavours , we will make sure you have this experience on your next trip to Fiji. Contact us now to find out how!

And click here to see our June Special, this time for Fiji, at a resort with a wonderful local school nearby!