Fabulous, Friendly, Fiji! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sailors that disappeared following the Mutiny on the Bounty

The first known sighting of the island of Rotuma occurred in 1791 by English Captain Edward Edwards and his crew of the HMS Pandora. They had been searching the area looking for survivors of the infamous Mutiny on the Bounty. Rotuma is known for its beautiful beaches and its interesting archaeological sites.

The population of this particular island is quite different from most of the island populations. They have their own language and are genetically more Polynesian than Melanesian. This was partially caused in the 17th century by an invasion of warriors from the island nation of Tonga.

They left not only their genes but also much of their cultural traditions.

Answer: Protection from storms

Many of the small villages are built near the mountains so that they are protected from heavy Pacific storms. The mountains also provide water pressure to the village springs and wells. You will see that many villagers now live in corrugated iron and concrete buildings instead of traditional grass type huts.

This is because the former provides much more protection from the seasonal cyclones.

Answer: Suva

Both of these locations can be visited while touring the city of Suva. This beautiful city is located on the largest island in Fiji, known as Viti Levu. Albert Park is an outdoor venue for concerts, carnivals, and parades. The ANZ Stadium is the largest multi-sport arena in the country. This city is also home to the Fiji Museum, as well as the Colo-I-Suva Forest Park, which features both native flora and fauna. Any tourist could go broke walking in their municipal markets each day. These colorful, smelly, and very lively outdoor markets are a must-see when traveling to Fiji.

Answer: Actor Mel Gibson bought it in 2005

In 2005, actor Mel Gibson bought Mago island, one of Fiji's uninhabited islands. Fiji has long been a popular vacation spot among the rich and famous, and he is not the only celebrity who has bought one of these islands. Mago is one of the largest privately-owned islands in the South Pacific. Gibson is reported to have paid nine million dollars for the 5,400 acres island.

The island is basically untouched and Gibson made public statements that he intended to keep it that way. He is also going to build a private home for himself and most of us will not be able to visit.

Answer: True

When visiting small villages on any of Fiji's islands, you will usually see the guides removing their sunglasses and hats as a sign of respect. Removal of these two things is followed by a short bow/bob. Remember, it was not so very long ago that cannibalism was somewhat common in many parts of area.

As with any trip, try and be polite to the local citizens, after all, it is their little corner of paradise that you are invading for your own pleasure.

Answer: Scuba diving

The islands of Fiji provide some of the most breathtaking scuba diving in the world. Hundreds or coral atolls, gorgeous reefs, and breathtaking sea life make Fiji one of the premier scuba destinations on the planet. Liku-Liku Bay, on Waya Island, Fiji, is just one of the many possible locations for a tourist-to-be.

The fantastic weather that is part of Fiji allows for scuba diving all year long. The only real downside to Fiji's weather is the occasional monsoon.

Answer: Vijay Singh

There are quite a few popular sports in Fiji. Undoubtedly, the most popular is rugby. Other sports that can be played while visiting Fiji include golf, cricket, and surfing. Probably, the one of the most famous athletes to come out of Fiji is Vijay Singh, who has been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Singh grew up in Nadi, one of the largest cities in Fiji, with a population of less than 50,000.

The other three options are all famous female tennis players from India.

Answer: Coffee cherries

Fiji has over 330 islands of which only 100 or so are inhabited. 85% of their population live on the two largest islands of Vitu Levu and Vanua Levu. It is on these islands that tourist can tour their coffee plantations. Fiji produces exceptional coffee cherries which are sold around the world. Often called 'bula', coffee cherries also grow wild on some of the uninhabited islands and after roasting, these coffee beans can be among the highest priced in the world. Sounds bucket-list worthy to me!

Answer: Roman Catholic

Completed in 1897, St John's Catholic Church can be seen at St. John's University on the island of Ovalau in Fiji. Most of this building was constructed using local materials including coral, river sand, and sea sand. These three substances were heated together until they liquefied and made a type of cement. Rough stones from local quarries in the surrounding hills were thrown in to increase the strength. Fiji is a wonderful mix of European and Polynesian influences.

It should be noted that there are a huge variety of religions practiced in the country of Fiji.

Answer: New clothes

On New Year's Eve, in many Fijian villages, large celebrations occur. The village partakes in wonderful food, dancing, singing, and fire-walking by the males. The women of the village play a game called 'veicaqe moli' which translates to "kick the orange". The members of the winning team are required to give a gift of new clothes to the losing team.