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Fascinating story -- and the author really lucked out in that the technicians were there at the same time, because just showing up in places like this without m

Fascinating story -- and the author really lucked out in that the technicians were there at the same time, because just showing up in places like this without making arrangements is not a good idea. For comparison, some thoughts about the opposite end of the spectrum for Pacific travel: https://driftingclouds.net/2019/03/12/manufacturing-bula-mass-tourism-in-fiji/ https://driftingclouds.net/2019/03/12/manufacturing-bula-mas...

almostarockstar 8y ago
Indeed, a terribly interesting read. I have a couple friends who have a knack of landing on their feet like that. Somehow, they can plan nothing and experience everything in great intimacy and depth. It's a skill. I have no doubt that if the technicians were not there at the same time, some other opportunity would have arisen.
markdown 8y ago
While it's nice to read a negative review of a Fijian trip for a change, I wish you'd made it more obvious that your experience was limited to the most boilerplate tourist resort island (Denarau) and one other aussie-owned resort. It's a bit like going to Disneyland and complaining about the manufactured happiness there. There are 300 other islands in Fiji off the extremely well-beaten path you walked where your experience could have been very different. Or you could have just visited a village that isn't part of any pre-packaged travel tour to find that in fact most rural Fijians will be extremely welcoming, hospitable, and amazing with kids without any expectation of payment.
- jpatokal 8y ago
  Fair enough, but it's worth pointing out that Denarau & the Mamanuca island resorts are the "Fiji experience" for the vast majority of visitors to the island. I need to rewrite that last paragraph though...
  - markdown 8y ago
    > Denarau & the Mamanuca island resorts are the "Fiji experience" Denarau is mostly multinational chain resorts (Accor, Sheraton, etc) so yes the experiences there are pretty boilerplate and "manufactured". But there are numerous different resorts of all shapes and sizes in the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands. There are resorts owned by foreigners like the one you went to, resorts owned by locals, resorts for backpackers, resorts run by their owners, and 5 star resorts. To assume you'll get the same there is like walking into McDonalds and saying that all restaurant food is crap.
jacobush 8y ago
If the technicians had not been there, the author would have stayed on the slightly large island for a week instead of going to the tiny island too. Perfectly OK I think.

almostarockstar 8y ago

Indeed, a terribly interesting read. I have a couple friends who have a knack of landing on their feet like that. Somehow, they can plan nothing and experience everything in great intimacy and depth. It's a skill. I have no doubt that if the technicians were not there at the same time, some other opportunity would have arisen.

markdown 8y ago

While it's nice to read a negative review of a Fijian trip for a change, I wish you'd made it more obvious that your experience was limited to the most boilerplate tourist resort island (Denarau) and one other aussie-owned resort. It's a bit like going to Disneyland and complaining about the manufactured happiness there. There are 300 other islands in Fiji off the extremely well-beaten path you walked where your experience could have been very different. Or you could have just visited a village that isn't part of any pre-packaged travel tour to find that in fact most rural Fijians will be extremely welcoming, hospitable, and amazing with kids without any expectation of payment.

jpatokal 8y ago
Fair enough, but it's worth pointing out that Denarau & the Mamanuca island resorts are the "Fiji experience" for the vast majority of visitors to the island. I need to rewrite that last paragraph though...
- markdown 8y ago
  > Denarau & the Mamanuca island resorts are the "Fiji experience" Denarau is mostly multinational chain resorts (Accor, Sheraton, etc) so yes the experiences there are pretty boilerplate and "manufactured". But there are numerous different resorts of all shapes and sizes in the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands. There are resorts owned by foreigners like the one you went to, resorts owned by locals, resorts for backpackers, resorts run by their owners, and 5 star resorts. To assume you'll get the same there is like walking into McDonalds and saying that all restaurant food is crap.

jacobush 8y ago

If the technicians had not been there, the author would have stayed on the slightly large island for a week instead of going to the tiny island too. Perfectly OK I think.