Viti Levu Island (Nadi)

I visited Fiji (specifically the main island, Viti Levu) and stayed at Wailoaloa Beach in Nadi from 23 June to 2 July in 2016. Fiji was a beautiful country and for the most part the weather was fine (sunny, comfortably warm, and with cool nights – June, July, and August is their “winter”). The only disappointment was Wailoaloa Beach itself: too many boats were anchored in the shallow waters right next to the beach, there were too many cars driving up and down the beach, there were horses (and touts) trotting up and down the beach (which really prevented bathers from laying out in the sand and added manure in to the mix), and – to top it all off – there was a crematorium not too far south from the beach (it was safe distance away, but still unsightly; I was told that that they dump the ashes in to the water and sometimes body parts not wholly consumed by fire float around – which is why no one swims right next to the crematorium; I was also told that many stray dogs hang around the crematorium looking for a free meal; finally, it was strange to see fires burning at the crematorium in the distance and to be breathe in the remains of human beings (carried in by the wind) from where I was lounging on the beach). Oh well. One should not travel to Fiji in expectation of finding paradise, but instead one should simply expect more of earth. Anyway, what follows are some of the photos I took while in Fiji.

The market at Nadi.
The market at Nadi.
Dalo for sale at the market in Nadi.
Dalo for sale at the market in Nadi.
Ginger for sale at the market.
Ginger for sale at the market.
Orchid flowers in the Garden of the Sleeping Giant.
Orchid flowers in the Garden of the Sleeping Giant.
Vanilla orchid in the garden.
Vanilla orchid in the garden.
Looking up at the Sleeping Giant Mountain.
Looking up at the Sleeping Giant Mountain.
Lotus flower in a pond inside the garden.
Lotus flower in a pond inside the garden.
Boardwalk near the base of the mountain, inside the garden.
Boardwalk near the base of the mountain, inside the garden.
The jungle at the base of Sleeping Giant Mountain.
The jungle at the base of Sleeping Giant Mountain.
Small field in the garden.
Small field in the garden.
Another view of the field in the garden.
Another view of the field in the garden.
Another boardwalk in the Garden of the Sleeping Giant.
Another boardwalk in the Garden of the Sleeping Giant.
Looking at the mountains from Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool.
Looking at the mountains from Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool.
The mud pool at Sabeto.
The mud pool at Sabeto.
The hot springs pool at Sabeto.
The hot springs pool at Sabeto.
Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple (a Hindu temple in Nadi).
Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple (a Hindu temple in Nadi).
The backside of Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, which is said to be the the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
The backside of Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, which is said to be the the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
Sugar cane field near Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple.
Sugar cane field near Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple.
Nadi River.
Nadi River.
The market in Ba (a town we stopped at to buy food for our lunch during a tour of Navala).
The market in Ba (a town we stopped at to buy food for our lunch during a tour of Navala).
Taro for sale in the market.
Taro for sale in the market.
Kava (used to make the traditional, numbing drink that is so popular in Fiji and Vanuatu) for sale in the market.
Kava (used to make the traditional, numbing drink that is so popular in Fiji and Vanuatu) for sale in the market.
Black mussels from the rivers in Fiji, for sale in the market.
Black mussels from the rivers in Fiji, for sale in the market.
Wooden bridge with a narrow-gauge railroad on it - this mini-railroad is used to transport harvested sugar cane and can be found throughout the northwest part of the island.
Wooden bridge with a narrow-gauge railroad on it – this mini-railroad is used to transport harvested sugar cane and can be found throughout the northwest part of the island.
Looking west, toward the mountains in Koroyanitu National Heritage Park, from an overlook on the way to Navala.
Looking west, toward the mountains in Koroyanitu National Heritage Park, from an overlook on the way to Navala.
Rugged terrain along the road to Navala.
Rugged terrain along the road to Navala.
The road to Navala.
The road to Navala.
A rocky outcrop.
A rocky outcrop.
Another view of the mountains on our way to Navala.
Another view of the mountains on our way to Navala.
Navala - the only [mostly] traditional village remaining in Fiji.
Navala – the only [mostly] traditional village remaining in Fiji.
A hut in Navala.
A hut in Navala.
Our lunch being prepared by one of the local women.
Our lunch being prepared by one of the local women.
Roof being reconstructed on one of the huts after the recent cyclone destroyed it.
Roof being reconstructed on one of the huts after the recent cyclone destroyed it.
Another hut found in Navala.
Another hut found in Navala.
More huts in the village.
More huts in the village.
A hut destroyed by the recent cyclone; all that remains is the stone foundation and posts.
A hut destroyed by the recent cyclone; all that remains is the stone foundation and posts.
Some more traditional huts in the village.
Some more traditional huts in the village.
View of traditional huts and mountains in Navala.
View of traditional huts and mountains in Navala.
The Catholic church in Navala.
The Catholic church in Navala.
Inside the Catholic church.
Inside the Catholic church.
View of Navala from the Catholic church.
View of Navala from the Catholic church.
The flag of Fiji.
The flag of Fiji.
Traditional huts in Navala with a picturesque view of the mountains.
Traditional huts in Navala with a picturesque view of the mountains.
The exteriors of more traditional huts.
The exteriors of more traditional huts.
A baby's cradle hanging inside one of the huts.
A baby’s cradle hanging inside one of the huts.
Our delicious Fijian lunch inside another hut.
Our delicious Fijian lunch inside another hut.
Bed inside one of the huts.
Bed inside one of the huts.
The Ba River and bridge near Navala, with pineapple plants in the foreground.
The Ba River and bridge near Navala, with pineapple plants in the foreground.
Another view of the Ba River.
Another view of the Ba River.
Back on the road, departing Navala.
Back on the road, departing Navala.
Another "sleeping giant" in Fiji.
Another “sleeping giant” in Fiji.
The town of Ba.
The town of Ba.
Sugar cane fields with mountains in the distance.
Sugar cane fields with mountains in the distance.
Mosque in the city of Lautoka.
Mosque in the city of Lautoka.
Sugar mill in Lautoka.
Sugar mill in Lautoka.
Sugar packaging plant in Lautoka, with mini-railroad cars in front (which are used for hauling the harvested sugar cane bushels).
Sugar packaging plant in Lautoka, with mini-railroad cars in front (which are used for hauling the harvested sugar cane bushels).
More mountains and sugar cane fields along the road between Lautoka and Nadi.
More mountains and sugar cane fields along the road between Lautoka and Nadi.
Wailoaloa Beach at sunset, with the Sleeping Giant Mountain in the distance.
Wailoaloa Beach at sunset, with the Sleeping Giant Mountain in the distance.
Wailoaloa Beach on a cloudy day.
Wailoaloa Beach on a cloudy day.
Another view of Wailoaloa Beach (looking south, toward the crematorium).
Another view of Wailoaloa Beach (looking south, toward the crematorium).

An open journal or an exercise in narcissism.