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I’m guessing if I didn’t know much about Fiji, then neither do you. So, I’m going to enlighten you just a bit of FYI. For starters, it isn’t just one little volcanic island. I know, who knew? There are two main islands where 87% of the population lives. The capital city of Suva, as well as my mural site, are located on Veti Levu. With an area of around 4,000 square miles (10,000 square kilometers), it is nearly twice the size of Vanua Levu. However, the nation of Fiji is spread across the Pacific Ocean and includes 332 or 333 islands, depending on who you ask. But, that doesn’t count over 500 tiny islets.
It was a ten hour flight from Los Angeles to Fiji. I left on Friday night and arrived on Sunday morning. Saturday conveniently disappeared somewhere as I crossed both the equator and the International Date Line, flying in between Hawaii and Christmas Island. And to give you just a little more bearings, Fiji is located south of the equator and about 1,100 miles (1,700 kilometers) north of New Zealand. The International Date Line actually crosses through the island of Taveuni and there is a place where you can stand with one foot in the current day and the other foot in the previous day.
For many people, if you’ve heard about Fiji, it has to do with the Mutiny on the Bounty. Captain Bligh mapped the islands in 1789 as he and a few of his loyal supporters from the infamous mutiny made their way to Timor, the closest European settlement, over 4000 miles away! But, he was hardly the first visitor to the islands. The Lapita people, famous for their pottery, settled the area around 3000 years ago. Both European and Chinese merchants arrived in the early 1800s in search of sandalwood, hardwoods, marine life and later gold.
Fiji has a very diverse population. About 54% of the population are Native Fijian of Melanesian or Polynesian ancestry. Another 40% of the population are Indians, descendants of indentured laborers brought to the islands by the British in the late 1800s to work in sugarcane fields. The rest of the population is a mix of Chinese, Australians, Europeans and other people from neighboring countries in the region. This diversity brings the islands a lot of variety in food. The official language is English, but Fijian and Hindustani are widely spoken.
Fiji gained independence in 1970 and, as of today, you have a little more background on this beautiful island nation. F.Y.I.
It was a ten hour flight from Los Angeles to Fiji. I left on Friday night and arrived on Sunday morning. Saturday conveniently disappeared somewhere as I crossed both the equator and the International Date Line, flying in between Hawaii and Christmas Island. And to give you just a little more bearings, Fiji is located south of the equator and about 1,100 miles (1,700 kilometers) north of New Zealand. The International Date Line actually crosses through the island of Taveuni and there is a place where you can stand with one foot in the current day and the other foot in the previous day.
For many people, if you’ve heard about Fiji, it has to do with the Mutiny on the Bounty. Captain Bligh mapped the islands in 1789 as he and a few of his loyal supporters from the infamous mutiny made their way to Timor, the closest European settlement, over 4000 miles away! But, he was hardly the first visitor to the islands. The Lapita people, famous for their pottery, settled the area around 3000 years ago. Both European and Chinese merchants arrived in the early 1800s in search of sandalwood, hardwoods, marine life and later gold.
Fiji has a very diverse population. About 54% of the population are Native Fijian of Melanesian or Polynesian ancestry. Another 40% of the population are Indians, descendants of indentured laborers brought to the islands by the British in the late 1800s to work in sugarcane fields. The rest of the population is a mix of Chinese, Australians, Europeans and other people from neighboring countries in the region. This diversity brings the islands a lot of variety in food. The official language is English, but Fijian and Hindustani are widely spoken.
Fiji gained independence in 1970 and, as of today, you have a little more background on this beautiful island nation. F.Y.I.