>> male announcer: WELCOME TO TRAVELSCOPE WITH JOSEPH ROSENDO, WHERE EACH WEEK, YOU JOIN US AS WE ACCEPT THE WORLD'S INVITATION TO VISIT.
>> Rosendo: TODAY ON TRAVELSCOPE, I CELEBRATE ROMANCE AND CULTURE ON THE SUN-BAKED ISLANDS OF FIJI.
>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY AND COUNTRY GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, HOTEL AND DINING CHOICES, GUIDED WALKS, AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
[low hum] >> Rosendo: VOILA.
JOIN US ON TRAVELSCOPE'S FIJI ADVENTURE.
[Fijian ukulele music] THERE ARE 332 SUN-SOAKED ISLES TO PICK FROM IN FIJI.
MOST TRAVELERS STAY ON VITI LEVU, THE LARGEST AND MOST POPULATED.
BUT WE FLY ON TO TAVEUNI AND THEN BY BOAT TO MAKE GOOD OUR ESCAPE TO ONE OF THE SMALLEST ISLANDS, MATAGI, AND THE MATANGI ISLAND RESORT.
[upbeat music] FIJI HAS MORE THAN 300 ISLANDS.
TAVEUNI IS THE THIRD LARGEST.
WE'RE ABOUT SIX MILES OFFSHORE AT THE ISLAND OF MATANGI, CONSIDERABLY SMALLER HERE AT THE MATANGI ISLAND RESORT.
NOW, EVERYBODY LOVES HAWAII; I THINK FIJI IS LIKE HAWAII WAS 30 YEARS AGO.
BULA!
>> WELCOME TO MATANGI.
THIS IS A WELCOME DRINK.
>> Rosendo: OH, WHAT IS IT?
>> IT'S A FRESH COCONUT JUICE.
>> Rosendo: OH, BEAUTIFUL.
PERFECT.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> Rosendo: AT THE MATANGI RESORT, WORLD-WEARY TRAVELERS LIKE MY WIFE, JULIE, AND ME CAN INDULGE IN THE THREE Rs: ROMANCE, RELAXATION, AND RECREATION.
THE TREE HOUSE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE ESPECIALLY LUXURIOUS, BUT IT'S HARD TO BEAT THE SIMPLE PLEASURES THAT A SUNSET STROLL ON THE BEACH AND A SEASIDE HAMMOCK OFFER.
THE NEXT MORNING, WE GREET THE DAY WITH A HARDY BULA, AND A WAKE-UP SWIM WITH THE FISH.
BULA.
BULA, BULA.
AFTER MY OTHER VISITS TO FIJI, I'VE DISCOVERED THIS IS THE BEST PART OF THE DAY.
YOU CAN WAKE UP WITH THE FISH.
WHOOPEE!
THE UNDERSEA WORLD AT MATAGI IS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD.
IN THE GIN-CLEAR WATER, IT'S EASY TO FOLLOW THE MULTITUDES OF MARINE LIFE THAT LIVE AMONG THE BEDS OF HARD AND SOFT CORAL.
IT'S A MAGICAL UNDERWATER GARDEN THAT WILL EVEN CHANGE COLORS AT THE SNAP OF YOUR FINGERS.
OKAY.
SHOVE OFF.
COME ON.
>> WOMEN DO ALL THE WORK IS THIS WORLD.
HE'S INTO THE POLYNESIAN SPIRIT.
>> Rosendo: COME ON.
HOP ON.
JUST A MILE AWAY AND A WORLD APART FROM MATANGI, IS THE ISLAND AND VILLAGE OF QAMEA.
BY PREARRANGED APPOINTMENT, TRAVELERS CAN CATCH A GLIMPSE OF FIJIAN LIFE, COMPLETE WITH TRADITIONAL SONGS AND DANCES AND A BOWLFUL OF KAVA, FIJI'S NATIONAL DRINK.
IF THE TIDE'S IN YOUR FAVOR, IT'S FUN TO MAKE THE CROSSING BY KAYAK.
>> BULA!
>> all: BULA!
[all singing in native language] >> Rosendo: IN FIJIAN CULTURE, WHEN VISITING A VILLAGE, IT'S CUSTOMARY TO PRESENT A SEVUSEVU, OR A GIFT, TO THE CHIEF.
USUALLY AN OFFERING OF KAVA, OUR MATANGI GUIDES SUPPLIES THE KAVA, AND WE BRING A SPECIAL TRAVELSCOPE SEVUSEVU FOR CHIEF MANAWABU.
[all singing in native language] KAVA IS A BREW MADE FROM THE POWDERED ROOT OF A PEPPER PLANT.
IT IS MILDLY NARCOTIC, LOOKS LIKE MUDDY WATER, AND MAKES YOUR TONGUE FEEL FUZZY AND YOUR LIPS NUMB.
IT IS A BEVERAGE ALL VISITORS EXPERIENCE BUT NOT ALL NECESSARILY RELISH.
>> WELL, HUN, THAT'S YOURS.
>> Rosendo: HMM.
DO I CLAP MY HANDS FIRST?
>> NO.
>> Rosendo: DRINK FIRST.
[all clap] >> THAT'S ENOUGH.
>> Rosendo: THAT'S GOOD.
VERY GOOD.
[all clap] [all singing in native language] IT MAY SEEM LIKE JUST A SHOW, BUT THE CULTURAL SONGS AND DANCES AND THE COCONUT SHELLS FILLED WITH KAVA ARE A MEANS TO AN END, THE EXCHANGE OF GOODWILL BETWEEN OUR HOSTS AND US.
MMM.
>> THIS IS CASSAVA COOKIES.
>> Rosendo: CASSAVA COOKIES?
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: ALSO VERY GOOD.
IT'S ALL LOW-CALORIE, RIGHT?
>> YES.
[laughs] >> Rosendo: SO YOU DO THIS FOR ALL THE GROUPS THAT COME TO THE-- >> FROM MATANGI.
>> Rosendo: FABULOUS.
WELL, VINAKA.
THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE.
WONDERFUL HOSPI-- FIJIAN HOSPITALITY.
THE MUSIC OF QAMEA CARRIES US BACK ACROSS THE WATER TO MATANGI, WHERE WAITING FOR US IS NOTHING MORE STRENUOUS THAN LOUNGING POOLSIDE AND PREPARING FOR DINNER.
[relaxed guitar strumming] IT WAS AN UNEXPECTED PLEASURE TO HAVE DINNER WITH ONE OF THE REGULAR GUESTS.
>> WANT TO TOUCH HIM?
>> NO.
>> Rosendo: YES, YOU DO.
>> NO, I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH HIM.
>> YOU CAN.
>> I DON'T WANT HIM TO BITE ME.
>> NO, JUST TOUCH HIS WING.
>> OH.
WHOA.
>> HE LOVES THIS.
>> A MARASCHINO CHERRY.
>> YEAH, HE LOVES IT.
>> HE'S EATING A MARASCHINO CHERRY.
IT'S, LIKE, COMPLETELY TAME.
HIS WINGS FEEL, LIKE, RUBBERY.
>> Rosendo: LOOK AT HIM.
LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL HE HIS.
>> CAN I PET HIM?
>> YEAH.
>> YOU'RE SERIOUS?
>> YEAH.
>> OH, WOW.
ACTUALLY, HE'S KIND OF COOL.
SO THIS IS THE FLYING FOX, BUT IT'S THE BIGGEST BAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.
HOW MANY LIKE THIS ARE THERE ON THE ISLAND?
>> OH, WE HAVE A LOT OF BATS, BUT ONLY ONE TAME ONE.
OKAY.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> Rosendo: BATS AS LARGE AS CATS AND PEPPER ROOT CONCOCTIONS.
AS WE DEPART TAVEUNI, WE WONDER WHAT SURPRISES AWAIT US ON NEARBY VANUA LEVU.
IT'S JUST A 45-MINUTE PUDDLE JUMP FROM TAVEUNI TO VANUA LEVU, YET ANOTHER FIJIAN TROPICAL PARADISE.
FROM THE SAVUSAVU AIRPORT, WE TRAVEL THROUGH THE LUSH COUNTRYSIDE TO OUR HIDEAWAY AT ONE OF THE ISLANDS MANY HONEYMOON RESORTS.
BOY, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SETTING.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE IN FOR A VERY RELAXING MASSAGE AND OTHER TREATMENT AS I LEAVE YOU IN GOOD HANDS.
LITERALLY.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
>> Rosendo: WELL, LET'S SEE.
THERE'S GOLF AND TENNIS AND VOLLEYBALL AND SNORKELING AND... DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
I'LL KEEP BUSY.
NAH.
WHILE SOME CAN HAVE A GOOD TIME JUST LYING STILL, OTHERS HAVE TO KEEP ON TRYING.
I GUESS SOME PEOPLE NEED COMPANY IN ORDER TO RELAX.
VANUA LEVU IS THE SECOND LARGEST ISLAND IN FIJI.
THESE DAYS, IT'S KNOWN FOR ITS EXCELLENT SNORKELING, SCUBA DIVING, AND BIRD WATCHING.
IN FORMER TIMES, IT WAS FAMOUS FOR COCONUTS.
THEY'RE STILL A MAJOR SOURCE OF REVENUE.
HERE AT THE KORO SUN RESORT, WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT FIJIANS CAN DO WITH THE COCONUTS.
HI.
BULA.
>> BULA.
>> Rosendo: BULA.
BULA, OF COURSE.
BULA.
YOU'RE GOING TO TEACH ME ABOUT COCONUTS IN THIS ISLAND.
NOW, FIRST OF ALL, COPRA.
WHAT IS COPRA?
>> COPRA IS THE FLESH INSIDE THESE COCONUTS.
>> Rosendo: OKAY.
THE FLESH OF THE COCONUT.
AND WHAT DO THEY MAKE WITH COPRA THAT IT'S BEEN SO IMPORTANT FOR SO MANY CENTURIES, REALLY?
>> AH, YES.
THEY MAKE COCONUT SOAP.
>> Rosendo: COCONUT SOAP.
>> COCONUT ICE CREAM >> Rosendo: ICE CREAM.
>> AND SHAMPOO.
SHAMPOO.
>> Rosendo: WHOA.
I LOVE COCONUT.
MM.
FABULOUS.
>> AND THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE COCONUT--COCONUT CREAM, FROM THE FLESH.
>> Rosendo: SO NOW YOU-- HOW DO YOU MAKE THE COCONUT CREAM?
BY SQUEEZING THE COCONUT FLESH?
>> WE SCRAPE THIS ON A COCONUT SCRAPER.
>> Rosendo: OKAY.
GREAT.
SO YOU'RE GRATING THE COCONUT, IN A SENSE.
>> AND THEN YOU SQUEEZE IT.
>> Rosendo: AH, OKAY.
>> WITH NO WATER.
>> Rosendo: NO WATER.
>> SEE, IT'S PURE COCONUT MILK.
>> Rosendo: NOW THAT IS COCONUT MILK, AND IT LOOKS LIKE COCONUT MILK.
THE OTHER IS COCONUT WATER.
AND YOU USE THAT FOR COOKING?
>> FOR COOKING.
AND WE USE THAT, TOO, FOR PINA COLADA.
>> Rosendo: FOR PINA COLADAS, RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK THEY USED IT FOR PINA COLADAS CENTURIES AGO, THOUGH.
ALTHOUGH PINA COLADA MAY HAVE BEEN INVENTED LONG TIME AGO.
WHO KNOWS?
>> BODY BRUSH.
OR HAIRBRUSH.
>> Rosendo: LIKE A LOOFAH.
>> OR YOU CAN USE IT-- >> Rosendo: USE AS A HAIRBRUSH?
>> YEP.
[people singing in Fijian] >> Rosendo: HERE WE ARE NOW.
NOW I'M IN THE FULL-- FULL GEAR.
THE FULL--WE'RE GOING OUT AND GET SOME ROOT VEGETABLES, AND THIS'LL KEEP ME FROM GETTING SUNBURN.
JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW INTRICATE THESE PALM HATS CAN BE, THIS IS A MORE INTRICATE ONE THAT TAKES A DAY AND A HALF OR TWO DAYS TO MAKE, AND WOULD BE A GREAT SOMETHING TO WEAR WHEN YOU'RE SITTING UNDER A TREE AND TAKING A NAP ON AN AFTERNOON.
THIS IS INDEED THE TREE OF LIFE, CERTAINLY AS FAR AS LIFE ON THE FIJIAN ISLANDS IS CONCERNED.
>> BULA!
>> Rosendo: AFTER RECEIVING OUR PRIMER ON THE CULTURE OF COCONUTS, SOLO TAKES US OUT ON THE TUNALOA PENINSULA TO SALT LAKE FOR KAYAKING AND FIJIAN TALL TALES.
NOW, ISN'T IT TRUE THAT THE FIJIANS IN THE OLD DAYS WERE NOT SO FRIENDLY TO VISITORS?
THAT--THOUGHT THEY'D-- WELL, MAYBE THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT FRIENDLY.
THEY'D HAVE YOU FOR DINNER, EXCEPT YOU'D BE ON THE MENU.
>> RIGHT.
MAIN MENU.
>> Rosendo: YOU'D BE THE MAIN COURSE ON THE MENU.
>> MAIN COURSE, RIGHT.
THERE WAS A MISSIONARY THAT COMES TO FIJI.
>> Rosendo: A MISSIONARY?
>> A MISSIONARY COMES TO FIJI.
AND RIGHT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF VITI LEVU, AND THEY KILL HIM.
>> Rosendo: HM.
>> AND THEY EAT ALL THE FLESH.
>> Rosendo: UH-HUH.
>> AND THEY TRIED TO COOK THIS AND EAT, EAT IT TOO.
>> Rosendo: THEY TRIED TO EAT HIS SHOE?
>> SHOE.
>> Rosendo: THEY DIDN'T SUCCEED VERY MUCH IN THAT, DID THEY?
>> NO.
>> Rosendo: SO THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT HE WAS A LITTLE TOUGH.
>> IT'S REALLY TOUGH.
>> Rosendo: FOR A WHILE THERE, PROBABLY MISSIONARY WASN'T ON THE MENU ANYMORE.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: WHEN WAS THE LAST INCIDENT OF CANNIBALISM ON FIJI?
>> I THINK IT IS ABOUT 1800.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> Rosendo: LONG TIME AGO.
BUT YOU CAN STILL BUY CANNIBAL FORKS IN THE GIFT SHOP.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: [laughs] I USE THEM FOR HORS D'OEUVRES.
EARLY NEXT MORNING, WE HEAD OUT TO NATEWA BAY FOR A RENDEZVOUS WITH JOE NEWTON, WHO HAS A WAY WITH DOLPHINS.
>> THIS--WHEN I WAS SMALL... [horn-like call] >> Rosendo: HE CALLS AND CALLS, AND JUST WHEN IT SEEMS THAT THE DOLPHINS WON'T SHOW, AS PROMISED, THEY ANSWER HIS GREETING.
OH, YEAH.
I SEEM THEM OVER THERE, WAY OVER THERE.
THERE THEY ARE.
THERE THEY ARE.
AND THEN WE LEARN THAT NO ONE LOVES PLAYING WITH DOLPHINS MORE THAN THE DOLPHINS.
LOOK OVER THERE.
THERE'S A WHOLE PACK OF THEM RIGHT HERE.
THERE THEY GO!
OH, GOD.
OH, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH.
THERE'S ABOUT-- RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT NEXT--ALONGSIDE OF YOU.
HERE THEY COME.
WHEN ONE APPROACHES NATURE WITH THE HEART OF A CHILD, SHE NEVER FAILS TO RESPOND.
FIJI IS STILL AN UNSPOILED PARADISE, BUT IT WILL TAKE EXTRA EFFORT AND SPECIAL DEDICATION, LIKE JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU RESORT'S EMPHASIS ON ECOTOURISM TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
PROBABLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER RESORT IN THE AREA, THE JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU RESORT SPECIALIZES IN ECO EDUCATION WITH EMPHASIS IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM, AND JOHNNY SINGH IS THE MARINE BIOLOGIST HERE.
JOHNNY, WHY DON'T YOU SHOW US SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE DOING HERE ON THE PROPERTY?
>> UH, BASICALLY, THE WHOLE RESORT IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SHOW PEOPLE OVER HERE IS THAT YOU CAN LIVE AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS LIFESTYLE, AND IF LOOK AT THE BURES HERE, THEY'RE QUITE LUXURY BURES OKAY, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS LIVE THAT LIFE IN BALANCE WITH NATURE.
OKAY?
I MEAN, I KNOW PEOPLE COME FROM PLACES WHERE THEY DON'T GET ANY OF THESE.
THEY GET BIG CITIES.
THEY COME FROM BIG CITIES THAT DON'T HAVE ALL THIS NATURE AND GREEN.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS WE'RE RUNNING HERE AT THE RESORT, AND ALL OF THEM HAS TO DO WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, LIKE WE HAVE SNORKELING TRIPS, DIVE TRIPS.
WE HAVE REEF LIFE WALKS.
AND THE BIG PROJECTS INCLUDES OUR MANGROVE RESTORATION PROJECT.
WE HAVE AN ARTIFICIAL WETLAND FOR OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM, AND OUR GIANT CLAM REPLENISHMENT PROGRAM.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE VERAS UP HERE, IT'S BASED-- THE WHOLE DESIGN IS BASED AROUND A VILLAGE CONCEPT.
AGAIN, ALL THE BURES, THE HOUSES, REMEMBER, FROM THATCHING UP HERE, NOW, NONE OF THESE BURES HAVE AIR-CONDITIONING IN IT.
NONE OF IT.
AIR-CONDITIONING IS HARMFUL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, SO WE DON'T USE IT UP HERE.
BUT WE DO HAVE ALL THESE NATURAL WINDS UP HERE.
MUCH MORE HEALTHIER, MUCH MORE BETTER FOR ANYONE.
TO CARE FOR THIS, WALL-TO-WALL WINDOWS.
NATURALLY HIGH THATCHED CEILINGS.
OKAY?
AND THE GOOD THING IS, WHEN THE HOT AIR RISES UP, IT JUST DIFFUSES AND GOES OUT THROUGH THE THATCHING.
SO IT'S LIKE A BIG COOLING SYSTEM.
AND THIS OUR ARTIFICIAL WETLANDS, AND WE-- BASICALLY THIS IS PART OF A WASTE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM.
>> Rosendo: BEAUTIFUL.
>> OKAY?
YEAH, PRETTY BEAUTIFUL STUFF.
>> Rosendo: THIS WOULD BE A GOOD THING IF EVERYBODY COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR WASTE WATER THAT WOULD CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THAT.
>> AND THE OTHER THING IS, THOUGH WE GET A LOT OF RAIN IN FIJI, DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.
IT'S A VERY LIMITED RESOURCE.
WE HAVE TO MANAGE IT PROPERLY.
THIS WATER STAYS IN THIS POND ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE, MAYBE A COUPLE OF CYCLES, AND THEN THIS WATER IS ALSO USED TO IRRIGATE THE LAND.
>> Rosendo: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, REGARDING PROFITABILITY, SETTING UP THESE KIND OF SYSTEMS, IS IT ULTIMATELY A WIN SITUATION AS FAR AS THE ECONOMICS OF RUNNING A RESORT LIKE THIS, OR IS IT A LOSE SITUATION?
>> NO, IT'S TOTALLY WIN SITUATION.
EVERYONE BENEFITS OF IT.
IT'S A LOW COST, OKAY?
IT'S A LOW COST.
DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS, OKAY, DON'T NEED HEAVY MACHINE, NOTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S A VERY SIMPLE SYSTEM.
LOCAL MATERIALS ALL THE TIME, AND EVERYONE WINS.
>> Rosendo: THE RESORT'S ECO-FRIENDLY LABORS HAVE PROVEN SUCCESSFUL AND A BOON TO THE AREA.
THE SURROUNDING SEA IS THE CLEANEST, THE CORAL REEFS THE HEALTHIEST, AND THE SNORKELING AND DIVING AMONG THE BEST IN FIJI.
BUT THEN WE EXPECT NOTHING LESS FROM A RESORT BUILT ON THE LEGACY OF THE COUSTEAUS.
IT IS A WORLD OF WONDERS THAT AWAITS OUR LAST EXCURSION UNDERWATER, A SEASCAPE OF COLOR, MOVEMENT, AND DESIGN.
[people singing in Fijian] DARTING IN AND OUT AMONG THE CORAL, THE SEA CREATURES SEEM TO HARDLY NOTICE OUR INTRUSION.
AND FOR OUR PART, WE GRATEFULLY EXCEPT THEIR INDULGENCE.
VINAKA.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR FIJI ADVENTURE.
IN FIJI, EVERYTHING IS BULA.
BULA MEANS "HELLO."
BULA MEANS "GOOD DAY."
BULA MEANS "CHEERS" AND "EVERYTHING'S GREAT."
BUT FOREMOST, BULA MEANS "WELCOME," AND A WARM AND FRIENDLY WELCOME IS SOMETHING YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON IN FIJI.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, THIS IS JOSEPH ROSENDO REMINDING YOU OF THE WORDS OF MARK TWAIN, "TRAVEL IS FATAL TO PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND NARROW MINDEDNESS."
HAPPY TRAVELING.
>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY AND COUNTRY GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, HOTEL AND DINING CHOICES, GUIDED WALKS, AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
TO ORDER A DVD OF TODAY'S SHOW OR ANY OF JOSEPH'S TRAVELSCOPE ADVENTURES, VISIT: OR CALL: VISIT US AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRAVELSCOPE AND TO JOIN JOSEPH'S WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES ON HIS BLOG.
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US: OR EMAIL US AT: >> Rosendo: JOIN ME NEXT TIME ON TRAVELSCOPE, WHEN I HEAD INTO THE ROCKIES TO TAKE IN THE GRANDEUR OF MAJESTIC ALBERTA, CANADA.
Captioning by CaptionMax www.captionmax.com [low humming] [laughter] >> ALL RIGHT.
IT'S NOT THAT HARD.
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