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Shopping in Fiji

February 9, 2014 by Tania 7 Comments

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One of the things I love about travelling is going to the market and the local shops. I enjoy seeing what the locals buy and what the prices are like. So when I was in Fiji just recently that’s exactly what I did.

A butcher in Fiji

I also have many blue sea and white sand photos to wave in front of you, I wanted to take you to a tour of the markets first.

Fiji’s allure is completely dependent on it’s climate and beaches. It doesn’t have much of a reputation for food.  It is a little hard to find the type of food you might find in Asia- you know, the grilling over coals on the street or a noodle soup thrown together in a small movable van. There is not a lot of street food and no smells of cooking when you walk around, not even in the markets. They don’t stir fry their abundance of ingredients. Processed food is sadly becoming more popular as supermarkets appear.  But there is fresh seafood, coconut, root vegetables pineapples, plantains, herbs and spices a beautiful marriage of Indian and pacific flavours. Cooking over a fire is common in the villages and root vegetables are eaten simply boiled and sometimes curried. The “Lovo” is food cooked in a hot pit much like the New Zealand Maoris practice, but this is a special occasion dish.

Lots of food is frozen so that it can be carried back to small villages on the bus. Bus is the way most people travel here, there aren’t many cars, or motor bikes or even push bikes.  In the butcher shop I discovered there was a butcher boy cutting meat and he had time to smile, while on the other counter the guys were flat out dispensing frozen meat.

A butcher shop in fiji

Fijians are a laid back bunch and it’s easy to fall in love with their gentle happy nature. Before long you’ll be replying to their enthusiastic greetings….Bulla!

on the buses

on the buses

There was a kitchen in the place I was staying, so I got to cook here. There was a lot to choose from in the markets and we skipped the frozen meat and chickens and bought a big fresh fish. Shopping in Fiji is fun and easy, all Fijians speak English and they aren’t into overcharging nor do they chase you to buy.

 The photos to follow are both from the central market and various roadside stalls.
Bananas and Plantains are at every stall

Bananas and Plantains are at every stall

There is virtually no rubbish, no plastic laying around and no pollution. These traditionally woven disposable baskets are still common. This small village is a bus and shopping stop between villages on the east coast

Waiting for the bus

Waiting for the bus back to the village with shopping and kids in tow

Fresh vegetables on the side of the road

Fresh vegetables on the side of the road in Suva

Sweet potato

Sweet potato

Chillis everywhere but on my plate

Chillis everywhere but on my plate

Fish 4 sale

Fish 4 sale

Mussels

Mussels

Fish man

Fish man

Comedic fish

Comedic fish

Take away parcels full of a type of boiled nut

Take away parcels full of a type of boiled nut

The lady at the fish shop

The lady at the fish shop

Market activity in the rain

Market activity in the rain

Dalo an absolute Fijian staple . grown and sold everywhere

Dalo an absolute Fijian staple . Grown and sold everywhere

Cassava

Cassava

Highly popular cassava and taro cooked by boiling

Highly popular cassava and Dalo cooked by boiling

The colour of the markets

The colour of the markets

 

The loaf shop

The loaf shop

White bread is the order of the day in Fiji. There is an interesting bread that’s yellow, called custard bread. It sounds exotic but it is just white bread made with custard powder.

One stop shop for funerals

One stop shop for funerals

If you like to travel like me or you just want to compare prices from one city to the next in Australia and overseas I have come across this amazing link that compares prices and costs in real time. Have a look HERE at the cost of living comparison tool. I love it! .

I can’t wait to take you to a few more places in Fiji. Visiting Dolphins at Moon Reef and staying in heaven at Voli Voli.  See you soon!

signiture

 

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Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Fiji fish shops, Nadi, Shopping in Fiji, South Pacific Islands, Suva, visiting fiji

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Comments

  1. InTolerant Chef

    February 11, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Those woven baskets are gorgeous Tania. The fish looks great too, but the meat is certainly different 🙂 I could definitely do with a laid back holiday, maybe Fiji is the place for me xox

    Reply
  2. Kari @ bite-sized thoughts

    February 10, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    The produce all looks incredible. I love markets with vibrant colours and fresh local wares – it’s so different to visiting a supermarket!

    Reply
  3. Hotly Spiced

    February 10, 2014 at 8:16 pm

    I love Fiji but so many tourists just go there and don’t experience the real Fiji. It’s great that you got out and about and experienced how Fiji really works. All the produce looks very natural and fresh xx

    Reply
  4. Krista

    February 10, 2014 at 2:08 pm

    I love this post so much. 🙂 Fiji has such a special place in my heart and I cannot wait to return and stay in a place where I can do the cooking and take advantage of these inspiring markets. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Victoria of Flavors of the Sun

    February 10, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    What fun traveling with you in Fiji. Looking forward to more posts from your journey. The trip through the market was particularly interesting as well–plus those baskets that held the bananas and plantains are just gorgeous.

    Reply
  6. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

    February 10, 2014 at 8:03 am

    I love that link, Tania. I also loved this peek into your time in Fiji. I never thought about how people got meat home. When I was in Cuba there was no refrigeration at all in the butcher shops. I was a bit nervous about that.

    Great post.

    Reply
  7. Liz

    February 10, 2014 at 7:08 am

    Looks like you had a wonderful trip, Tania. I love having a kitchen in our vacation rental…as I enjoy the shopping in foreign spots, too 🙂

    Reply

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Tania Cusack Hi, I'm Tania and this is My Kitchen Stories. I share all kinds of recipes here. Most recipes are quick and easy, just perfect for families. BUT, you could also find vegan, cakes and desserts too. Come and have a look around Read More
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