Blackberry and Rugby

We spent the second day to shop all the basic needs to work such as the mobile broadband, phone credits, and also some modest clothes to go to the Welcoming Suva Suva (Kava) Ceremony on the next day. I realized that Vodafone is a major cellular provider in Fiji with its massive advertisements and number of stores. It is also the only blackberry internet service provider in Fiji, which I found is interesting. The ones in Indonesia and Australia are focusing on the use of blackberry as a business gadget. However, the Fiji blackberry advertisement focuses on lifestyle; it mentioned zumba and young people dancing as the background. I think this reflects the relax lifestyle of the Fijian people that Vodafone decided to target lifestyle more than business needs.

The only reading I have partially done before the departure was We Are Fiji by Cattermole (2008). Therefore, I was aware that Fijians are very fond of their national sport—Rugby or Sevens. Staying in Fiji definitely helps me to understand the reading. I saw some advertisements featuring Rugby on the Air Pacific in-flight magazine, the ANZ board at the airport, and Vodafone television commercial. Our host also couldn’t stop talking about the winning of the Fijian team in the Gold Coast Sevens Fever Pitch tournament few days ago.

I lost my vodafone blackberry flyer and I can't find it on google, but I will post it once I got another one :)

The Departure

Canberra was pouring when I hopped into my bus at the Jolimont Station and it was raining all the way to Sydney. Sydney Airport was hectic as usual, however, I didn’t expect the longest line to check-in was for my flight to Nadi. There were a lot of young families, couples, and, possibly, schoolies queuing. The flight was better than expected as Air Pacific offers private multimedia entertainment. I have never been to Nadi before so I did not expect it to be as familiar as it was. The modest airport, long tourist lines, taxi offers and humidity all reminds me of Bali or any other local airports in Indonesia. The noticeable differences were the language and people, not to mention the singing Fijian waiting for us in the arrival hall. It was both familiar and foreign for me.

I’m glad Nikki had already arranged taxi for us to go to Suva because it was already dark when I, Elise, and Elle finally managed to get out of the airport after the long immigration queue. Suva is four to five hours drive from Nadi if we follow the maximum speed limit. However, as expected and been told by Kati, the taxi drivers was speeding. He pointed at the speeding limit sign on the road and said ‘We will get in Suva at 3 AM if we follow that sign’. This sounds very familiar.

We were all relieved when the taxi finally reached Colonial Lodge in Suva.

Finally.