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The Capital City - Suva
I wake up on Monday morning a couple of weeks back and drag myself out of bed. It is the 4th of January, my birthday and the start of a serious week of work. I had planned a business trip to the capital to go out with the reps into the trade to learn more about the market place so that I can get going with my product and market development job.
After spending the morning in my office, I get onto the road for the 4 hour drive along the coast. The drive is awesome as I stop at different places checking out for kiting locations. All the time I was driving, there was a 25knot SW blowing which is much like the direction of the NE back at home in Durban as this is the West Coast. As I head more South, the wind direction gets better and I see some of the most amazing places, mostly flat water behind reefs and I start to take note. There are only a couple of hazards at some of the beaches, but nothing that we can’t cope with. A lot of the beaches on the Coral Coast are quite narrow, especially at high tide. But with there being no waves, you could launch very easily from in the water and also put down into the water. Then there are the Palm trees. Again, there are plenty of areas where there are none, but you just have to be aware. The last hazard is the coral. Again on low tide this is more of a problem in some areas, but once you are in the channel you have these massive areas of ultra smooth water, with reef breaks on the outside. None of these are issues enough to stop a good session. Just something to be aware of (like parked cars).
4 days in Suva was great. First night at O’Reilys pub , second night at the Yacht club sitting outside taking in the views drinking Fiji Bitter and the third night at a house having Taki and dinner. This guy whose house it is goes by the name of Boila and he is a partner at Price Waterhouse Coopers. Imagine sitting for 5 hours around a dining room table and every 5 to 10 minutes, having a small glass of beer passed to you to down. Needless to state the end result. You sit at the table Yaaning away (chatting) and simple get pissed. It is about the sociable side of drinking together and telling stories.
The next day after visiting supermarkets with one of the reps in 40 degree heat, he takes me to shown me the beach where the guys kitesurf. There it is, just masses of open water and a steady 25Knot cross shore blowing. Now I am really getting amped up. Later that day while driving back to my hotel, I see a guy on a bicycle with a kiteboard strapped to his bag on his back. I spin the car around to chase the guy who had disappeared around a corner through some houses. I am too late, but now I know that there is at least one other kiter in Fiji.
Suva is a bustling city about the size of Port Elizabeth. There is an energy there that you cannot explain. Sort of what I would imagine it to be like in a place like India where there are crowds walking the streets, cars hooting, taxis hustling and busses trying to get through the mess. The temperature is about 40C and the humidity is at around 80%. With every step you take, more sweat pours down your back. Its all part of the experience. Then you walk into one of the new shopping malls where you find 1st world shops, Gloria Jeans, restaurants, movie houses, etc. Everyone you walk past says Bula. Super friendly people.
I sit down a bit later at yet another real Indian restaurant. Not like what you would imagine. These places look more like the shops in Grey St Durban.
You walk in, wash your hands and then choose from a display of all types of traditional Indian Food. I always have roti with my curry as you eat with your hands so the roti helps. The food is just amazing. I try anything except the goat curry. I ate enough goats back in my days as a paratrooper. I really don’t need more. 
On the Thursday before I head back to Lautoka I meet Rosie who is on town visiting her mother and her friend who is a high commissioner for lunch at a little off street restaurant. What an interesting woman. While at the table, she is tutoring a young guy called Daniel, a Fijian who is battling with his studies and she is trying to help him to get through his upcoming exams. She is from New Zealand and was posted to Fiji years back. Also at the table is Rosie’s niece who writes for the local media.
Eventually at about 3pm I start the 4 hour drive home, feeling completely inspired and alive from my few days in this city. There is a good possibility that in 6 months time I may be moving to Suva as it is the Capital and that is where it all happens.
The whole way back I am just astounded by the places I see that are beckoning to be kited. Every 5km or so I stop my car and get out to have a closer look. This is foreplay to what is going to be a crazy time. My knee is almost pain free, now I just need to make arrangements to get a new bar and lines sent from SA. I can’t wait to fly again.
Live to fly! Peace.
Bruce
After spending the morning in my office, I get onto the road for the 4 hour drive along the coast. The drive is awesome as I stop at different places checking out for kiting locations. All the time I was driving, there was a 25knot SW blowing which is much like the direction of the NE back at home in Durban as this is the West Coast. As I head more South, the wind direction gets better and I see some of the most amazing places, mostly flat water behind reefs and I start to take note. There are only a couple of hazards at some of the beaches, but nothing that we can’t cope with. A lot of the beaches on the Coral Coast are quite narrow, especially at high tide. But with there being no waves, you could launch very easily from in the water and also put down into the water. Then there are the Palm trees. Again, there are plenty of areas where there are none, but you just have to be aware. The last hazard is the coral. Again on low tide this is more of a problem in some areas, but once you are in the channel you have these massive areas of ultra smooth water, with reef breaks on the outside. None of these are issues enough to stop a good session. Just something to be aware of (like parked cars).
4 days in Suva was great. First night at O’Reilys pub , second night at the Yacht club sitting outside taking in the views drinking Fiji Bitter and the third night at a house having Taki and dinner. This guy whose house it is goes by the name of Boila and he is a partner at Price Waterhouse Coopers. Imagine sitting for 5 hours around a dining room table and every 5 to 10 minutes, having a small glass of beer passed to you to down. Needless to state the end result. You sit at the table Yaaning away (chatting) and simple get pissed. It is about the sociable side of drinking together and telling stories.
The next day after visiting supermarkets with one of the reps in 40 degree heat, he takes me to shown me the beach where the guys kitesurf. There it is, just masses of open water and a steady 25Knot cross shore blowing. Now I am really getting amped up. Later that day while driving back to my hotel, I see a guy on a bicycle with a kiteboard strapped to his bag on his back. I spin the car around to chase the guy who had disappeared around a corner through some houses. I am too late, but now I know that there is at least one other kiter in Fiji.
Suva is a bustling city about the size of Port Elizabeth. There is an energy there that you cannot explain. Sort of what I would imagine it to be like in a place like India where there are crowds walking the streets, cars hooting, taxis hustling and busses trying to get through the mess. The temperature is about 40C and the humidity is at around 80%. With every step you take, more sweat pours down your back. Its all part of the experience. Then you walk into one of the new shopping malls where you find 1st world shops, Gloria Jeans, restaurants, movie houses, etc. Everyone you walk past says Bula. Super friendly people.I sit down a bit later at yet another real Indian restaurant. Not like what you would imagine. These places look more like the shops in Grey St Durban.
You walk in, wash your hands and then choose from a display of all types of traditional Indian Food. I always have roti with my curry as you eat with your hands so the roti helps. The food is just amazing. I try anything except the goat curry. I ate enough goats back in my days as a paratrooper. I really don’t need more. On the Thursday before I head back to Lautoka I meet Rosie who is on town visiting her mother and her friend who is a high commissioner for lunch at a little off street restaurant. What an interesting woman. While at the table, she is tutoring a young guy called Daniel, a Fijian who is battling with his studies and she is trying to help him to get through his upcoming exams. She is from New Zealand and was posted to Fiji years back. Also at the table is Rosie’s niece who writes for the local media.
Eventually at about 3pm I start the 4 hour drive home, feeling completely inspired and alive from my few days in this city. There is a good possibility that in 6 months time I may be moving to Suva as it is the Capital and that is where it all happens.
The whole way back I am just astounded by the places I see that are beckoning to be kited. Every 5km or so I stop my car and get out to have a closer look. This is foreplay to what is going to be a crazy time. My knee is almost pain free, now I just need to make arrangements to get a new bar and lines sent from SA. I can’t wait to fly again.
Live to fly! Peace.
Bruce
Add a Comment
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Comment by Craig Allsopp on January 26, 2010 at 1:07pm -
Goatmuncher...LOL
Awesome, awesome, awesome! I can only imagine what the spots look like. Please use your camera a bit more boet. I enjoy reading articles but pictures make it really good ;-)
I get the feeling Suva is quite a cosmopolitan town too. Very colourful and vibey. Really wish we were coming to visit soon...
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