January 2005
G'day
Another big year ahead for the villages in Fiji as FijiBure.com moves into its third year!
Last year we hosted over 500 guests in eight villages and this year we anticipate reaching 1,000 guests and adding five new villages to our web site.
Our new villages will extend our homestays to islands just off Fiji's second largest island - Vanua Levu in the north and into the new province of Talevu on Viti Levu.
We would like to thank our Nadi Airport based travel agents in Fiji who meet and greet our guests on arrival. To Nancy and the crew a big thank you - it is great to have someone in Fiji backing up this operation.
Namatakula
Simon and Judith our hosts at Namatakula continue to invest wisely - their guest house can take up to twenty people and they have just bought a large fishing boat which now allows Iso, their son, to fish further out. The village fund is now helping several villagers in a range of craft areas and two children are having their education sponsored.
Namuamua
After a terrible flood in April last year (with no loss of life) the village has been rebuilt and the money from guests been used to construct a new community hall which I hope to see when I return to Fiji in April this year.
Naroro
Our host at Naroro, Sirelli, is currently building five new guest houses with the money he is getting from guests. The houses have magnificent views over the Sigatoka river. Naroro is famous for its historic Tavuni Hill.
Naiseuseu
The village fund at Naiseuseu is getting larger by the month and will soon be used to upgrade their magnificent church.
Nadrau
Our guides at Nadrau have now mapped out a number of great walks for people who sty at the village. Although it is a bit f a trek getting there (central highlands of Viti Levu) the views are just gob-smacking - as you will see from their web page on FijiBure.com.
Korovisilou
Business for our hosts at Korovisilou is really picking up this year as their reputation (matching Simon and Judith's for sumptuous meals) gets around.
Malevu
Malevu has been the dark horse - with its idyllic location on Naviti in the Yasawa Island group - we have been inundated with enquiries from people wanting to experience the miles of secluded beaches that this amazing paradise offers.
My next trip to Fiji is currently in the planning stages. I will be going over in April - probably for ten days and be visiting five villages that have been assessed as being suitable or inclusion into FijiBure.com.
During this trip I hope to meet with many old friends including village hosts, tourism officials and or travel agents.
Have a wonderful 2005.
Scott Balson