Visiting the Village ~ Tips for Travellers

Visiting the Village - and what to Bring

When visiting a Fijian Village, we are guests of a special kind.  Everywhere we walk, we are on someone's  land ~ just imagine a world with no fences!  

Stay with your guide, and try to stick to the paths if possible.  Be respectful of noise levels.  Shouting and loud voices are not allowed in the village, or calling out from one place to another  ~ someone's baby might have just gone down for a nap.

Ladies and girls are requested to cover their shoulders and knees, so please bring a t-shirt, or shirt, and a sarong, sulu, or skirt to pop on over the top of whatever you wear for hiking or swimming.

Hats and sunglasses (except prescription) are not allowed in the village.  Traditionally, this is because we don't know each other unless we see each other's eyes.

Shoes are not worn indoors, so leave yours at the door of any building you enter.

Standing taller than our elders is also seen as proud in Fijian culture, so when entering a room where others are seated, bow down a little until you get to where you are going to sit.

Imagine you are visiting your own grandparents, and you will be loved forever!  

Say thank you ~ Vinaka! and clap your hands on your lap.

Say no thank you ~ Vinaka and tilt your head to the side.

Fijians love singing ~ you can bring some stationery for the school, a football, or just sing a song after lunch ~ if you come with a good heart, your name will live on in Lovoni.

Bring ~ enough water for the day, shoes for hiking and swimming (walking sandals are best), sunscreen, something to swim in (Fijians swim in the clothes they have on, and you can too!), sarong, sulu or skirt, shirt with sleeves for entering the village, something for the village school if you wish, love in your heart.