Today marks my 7th month here in Suva. It’s not a long time, but not short either. “Cause of this, I feel like writing about Suva.

First, why visit Suva for a vacation? Well, life’s simple here. The city still has its rustic charm, which many modern cities are bereft of. There are not many things going on (or there are many depending on how you view it), so it can be a break from overstimulation from your surroundings, especially if you are staying or have been living in a fast-paced environment for years.

So here we go.

Where to stay? If you want luxury and you have the budget, then book your stay in the Grand Pacific Hotel, or the neighboring Holiday Inn. Those two hotels are just across Albert Park, have a great view of the sea and sunrise/sunset, and have their own restaurants.

There are other options. You may book at James Cook Hotel (near Albert Park; not so expensive; has its own cafe), or Suva Peninsula Hotel (3-star hotel; walkable to Albert Park, Thurston Gardens, and Fiji Museum; near Baka Books); or Quest Hotel (4-star serviced apartment hotel, if you want to be in the midst of establishments–grocery stores, shops, bank, fast-food, restaurants). Quest is also very near the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva, so it’s a good choice if you are Catholic. There are also some apartment hotels which offer cheaper rates.

Where to eat? All hotels mentioned above (except for Quest) have their own cafes and/or restaurants although the 2nd floor of the same building where Quest is located has a food court, which is part of the mall. Aside from the hotel cafes or restaurants, downtown Suva has several options. There is a food court on the 2nd floor of MHCC shopping center and another on the 4th floor of Tapoo City. There are fast-food chains in downtown Suva area: Mc Donalds, DMC Chicken, Burger King. Commercial centers Damodar City, Garden City, Flagstaff have their restaurants and/or food shops.

If you want to try something special, then book a meal at My Kai restaurant located on Knollys Street, or The Bar-belle restaurant (serves authentic Fijian food) located at Queen Elizabeth Drive, or Sakura Sushi Train (located beside My Kai), or Great Wok of China located in Flagstaff. Or if you want something chill and are into cafes, then you may go to The Farmers Daughter (Disraeli road), Chef Philippe, a French cafe located at Selborne street, or The Coffee Hub – Suva (Gordon vs. Joske Streets), or Republic of Cappuccino (ROC) Cafe.

If you happen to be in Suva on a Sunday, then there are bazaars! There are so many food stalls in Bazaars, of various cuisines: Philippine, Chinese, Indian, Korean, Indonesia, Fijian, etc.

And there’s the Suva wet market, if you’d like to buy fresh ingredients and cook your own meals.

What activities can you do? You may visit the Fiji Museum. If you’re into parks, you may go to Thurston Gardens, My Suva Park, and Ratu Sukuna Park. Well, Albert Park too, but it’s more for walking/jogging around. You may go to book shops; one cozy and small bookstore is Baka Books.

Of course you shouldn’t miss the beach and the sea. You can stay in one spot the whole day and watch the colorful hues play in the sky and the clouds transform. Or you can visit the same area at a similar time each day, and marvel at the uniqueness of the sky’s color, mood, and appearance.

If you want to pamper yourself, you can go to spas, massage parlors, hair salons, nail salons. If you love walk, then walk around the area. But to be safe, have a companion, or walk in areas where people go, or during time.

Where can you buy pasalubong? There are shopping centers like MHCC and Tapoo City, and Prouds. If you want to buy really fragrant and skin-softening products, then it’s a must to visit the Pure Fiji outlet, which is open only on Saturdays, until 1pm.

If you like handicrafts, then you may visit the Handicrafts Store near the Ratu Sukuna Park or the flea market. You also might be able to finds some nice things during bazaars.

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Gotta stop now. Will write part 2 soon. 🙂