My Introduction to Fijian Hospitality

Prior to my Nadi layover, I asked my friend Alex, who had recently visited Fiji, for his recommendation for drivers in Nadi, and he put me in touch with Sam. I contacted Sam and we agreed that he would collect me from the airport at 6am.

As mentioned in my previous post, I landed in Nadi at 4.10am. I didn't ask Sam to come to the airport this early because I knew it would be dark and there wasn't any point to starting my day tour this early. So, I sat in a designated waiting area in the arrivals hall until 6am. I was pleasantly surprised that, despite a number of yellow taxis nearby, not a single taxi driver attempted to solicit my business until I was out on the curb.

At 6am, I made my way out and met Sam, who turned out to be a friendly and engaging chap. Sam explained that his father Shiu would drive me for the first part of this day tour, and that he would take me to his home for the handover. Truth be told, I was happy to do this as I am always interested in seeing how people live.

Sam's village is a 20 minute drive in the foothills southeast of Nadi. We drove through his village, where he pointed out the schools, shops, and places of worship. We then went to his house where I met his wife, four children, and dog. Sam's second child turned 11 on this day, and I wished him a happy birthday. His wife made me a pumpkin stuffed chapati for breakfast; this was a pivotal moment as Sam assessed then and there that I am a respectful traveler and that I could handle authentic, non-touristy food. Later in the day, his wife actually contacted him to invite me for a curry lunch, but, unfortunately, it would have been impractical for us to return there for lunch.Read more