We landed in Suva this morning. After breakfast in the room, we ventured outside into the humidity and heat. Even with a nice breeze, both were righteous! We left the ship and were immediately assaulted by vendors selling taxi rides, as well as various sightseeing trips lasting from 1 to 4 hours. All of the vendors boasted busses with air conditioning, which is absolutely necessary.
We walked through the gauntlet, took a deep breath and ventured out into the streets. It was the same but not quite as orderly. That’s when we decided we really did not need to see Suva again. We were here several years ago, and I doubt the basics have changed.
What has changed is the Chinese presence. I’ve been reading that the Chinese are offering “foreign aid” to these little island countries.
Fiji is poor—China has cash—so China is offering projects to enhance the island and Fiji is taking the money and letting the Chinese build.
The writing is on the wall...if China decides that it wants to push it’s dominance in the region, all it has to do is put their people on these little islands they are quietly usurping. I’ve read that this is happening, but seeing it is different. The big story with Fiji and the other islands in the area is Chinese development ...and I do not think that bodes well for the west!
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