Transpacific 2016 STOP 6
June 13, 2016
Flight distance: 1361 nm
Hours in the air: 3.10
Getting up early did not help today since we had to deal with moody and incompetent handling agents. So we left slightly delayed but got compensated with a warm welcome in Nadi. Today we started our 2 1/2 days off which we will spend at a nice resort in the Yasawa’s island group of Fiji. A sea airplane from the 60ies took us here and we quickly switched into “island mode”, meaning everything goes a bit slower and life just takes its course. Side activities include going on walks, snorkelling the resorts own small reef with plenty of fish and getting the professor up to speed with with “jassing” skills. However, hanging around is the way to go here.
Needless to say that internet remains very limited and I am not sure if I will be able to post photos or even videos. I count on Tonga or Samoa for better connection to upload great scenes taken with the Phantom4 and the GoPro. Stay tuned.
Facts & figures
Fiji is an archipelago of more than 330 islands, of which 110 are permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islets, with a total landmass of about 18,300 square kilometers. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the population of almost 860,000. The capital and largest city, Suva, is on Viti Levu.
The population, named Vitian, comprises from a unique mix of many Southern Pacific peoples starting with the Lapita and ultimately the three major sub-regions from 35 countries.
Fiji was more or less free territory until 1874 when the British declared it a colony, after violent times subsequent the introduction of firearms in the 1840ies and widespread cannibalism. The need for workers in the cotton industry lead to an immigration of 80’000 Indians in the late 19th and early 20thcentury which resulted today to 37% of the current population. Independence was gained in 1970 after 96 year of colonial administration. However, political instability remains even after all these years and on top of everything a strong tropical storm hit in early 2016.
