And walking along the stately Victoria Parade led us into the bustling business district of downtown Suva. And we pass by offices, banks and government offices. The sheer number of high-rises (relatively speaking), bank branches along the Victoria Parade make it evidently clear that Suva is the financial capital of the South Pacific, the New York of the South Pacific...
The Downunder Pub on the Victoria Parade...
Passing by a Fijian bank, HFC...
The impressive colonial architecture of the Fijian Ministry of Information and Communications...
The history of Suva is filled with colonial intrigue. In return for a promise to pay off debts owed to the United States by a local Bauan chieftain, Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the Australian-based Polynesia Company was given possession of 5000 square kilometres of land, of which 575 square kilometers was then the village of Suva, in 1868. Polynesia Company intended to develop a cotton farming industry, but the land and climate proved unsuitable. Following the British takeover of Fijian sovereignity in 1874, the colonial authorities decided to move the capital to Suva from Levuka. The transfer was made official in 1882. Colonel F.E. Pratt of the Royal Engineers was appointed Surveyor-General in 1875 and designed the new capital...
Stopping by for lunch at the Maya Dhaba - a restaurant that serves both north and south Indian cuisines...
Maya Dhaba claims to have outlets here in Fiji, Sydney and in India (wonder where?)...
We were served by young and petite Fiji-Indian lady who was very prompt, efficient and friendly...
And food was well, close to authentic...
The spread on the thalis was indeed quite delectable. And with our tummies full of spicy food from home, we couldn't complain...
The Bad Dog Cafe...
Vodafone connects this remote corner of the Pacific...
The Suva City Council...
The buses here are quite colourful...
With yummy desi food in our tummies, who wants fish 'n' chips...
It's lunch time, but the place is bustling...
A Chinese salon...
The history of the Chinese here in Fiji dates to the year 1855, when Moy Ba Ling, also known as Houng Lee, who reached Fiji from Australia and settled in Levuka. Even though he later returned to China, he brought in his relatives and some others to settle in Fiji. These settlers were lured in by the gold rush. The next wave of Chinese immigrants came looking for sandalwood and beche-de-mer or sea-cucumbers. Today, there are around 6000 ethnic Chinese in Fiji, mostly Cantonese speakers, and there any more descendants of the original immigrants who have mixed blood, resulting from mixed marriages with Fijians...
Some more banks - and here it is - Bank of Baroda from India!
O dear, McDonald's here?
And that reminded me of the Regal cinemas in Delhi and Mumbai...
ANZ, where incidentally I had my first bank account is quite big here!
Fiji-Indian establishments are to be seen everywhere around here, clearly the diaspora has a great deal to do with business and commerce here...
Mannequins dressed as Indian bride and groom...
Approaching Tappoo City - the swankiest shopping mall of Suva city. The mall is owned and operated by the Tappoo family, whose founder, Tappoo Kanji, left India and settled in Fiji in 1941 in the hope of providing a better life for his family...
The Tappoos are today one of the biggest business houses in Fiji...
The Fijian flag looks resplendent in the sun...
A building built by an Indian...
The food court of Tappoo City...
And there are quite a few options for Indian food...
Wow! Titan watches sell in Fiji!
And it's almost time to say goodbye to the New York of the South Pacific, Suva to head to Nadi!
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