Gamefishing Event

The Game Fishing Club is staging the Carpenters Game Fishing Event on 12 and 13 May 2007 out of the Suva Yacht Club. The Carpenters Event has a F$20,000.00 prize money available. 15 to 20 boats are expected to compete. Note : For accommodation in Suva, try our two bedroom rental home with sea views. Click on the appropriate link at the right hand side of this blog for more details. To contact us, e-mail gilbertv@connect.com.fj or call telephones (679) 3396427 or (679) 9921427.

Fiji Games Beach Volleyball Competition

The Fiji Games Beach Volleyball Competition will be held on 4 and 5 May 2007, 8.30am to 5pm, at the National Beach Volleyball Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva. Interest players to fill an indemnity form and pay a fee of F$2.00 at FASANOC Office before 30 April 2007. For more information, contact Alita on telephone (679) 9992804.

2007 National Youth Week Celebrations

The 2007 National Youth Week Celebrations will be opened today, Monday, 30 April 2007, at 9.30am, Sukuna Park, Suva. Details of the program organised is as follows :

• 9.30am - All invited guests to be seated;
• 10.00am - Arrival of Chief Guest, Flag Raising Ceremony, Devotion by President of the Methodist Church of Fiji, Garlanding of the Chief Guest, Welcome, Address by Chief Guest, Vote of Thanks, Refreshments, Tour of Booths
• Entertainment follows by : Provincial Youth Forum of the Fiji Islands, Youth Band, Fijian Song (FIT), Indian Cultural Group, Narere Youth Group, Rotuman Youth Group, Chinese Youth Group, Vocal Brothers.
• 12.00pm - Departure of Chief Guest.

Suva Rental Home : 10 weeks remaining of winter season

Ten weeks remain to be rented out over the winter season from June to August 2007 for our Suva rental home. The home has two bedrooms and is furnished with telephone, Sky TV, full kitchen and a Personal Computer together with Broadband Internet access and enjoys sea views out to Nukulau Island (read more on Nukulau Island on earlier posts on this blog). We are offering an 18% discount for early bookings for the period, with the rate per night for the entire home set at F$115.00. Increasingly, visitors from Australia and New Zealand relocate to the warmer climate in Fiji during the southern winter period. Given that the home is equipped with a Computer together with Broadband Internet access and a property writing/work table, you can relocate and run your business from Fiji. For more details on amenities provided, click on the appropriate links at the right hand side of this blog. Also read comments left by former guests at our rental home on another link. If you wish to enquire about the home or to negotiate a rate, you can e-mail us on gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephones (679) 3396427 or (679) 9921427. You might convince us to offer you a lower rate if you are considering a longer stay. Contact us now!

Annual Savenaca Siwatibau Memorial Lecture on Good Governance

The Pacific Institute of Advanced Studies in Development and Governance of the University of South Pacific and Transparency International (Fiji) will be holding the Annual Savenaca Siwatibau Memorial Lecture on Good Governance. Details are as follows :

• Topic for 2007 : "Good Governance in Sports";
• Presenter : Sam Yavala, a former Fiji representative and gold medallist in athletics;
• Date : Wednesday, 2 May 2007;
• Time : from 7pm;
• Venue : Marine Studies Lecture Theatre, Lower Laucala Campus, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva.

The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion with panellists from Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Fiji.

No admission free required. All welcome.

For more information, pls contact Ms Dolores Joseph on telephone (679) 3232764 or e-mail joseph_d@usp.ac.fj.

Suva Activities, Events and Accommodation (Updated 27.4.07)

The following events are scheduled for Suva: One-off Events:

• 'Words & Flowers' Photo Exhibition, currently showing until Thursday, 10 May 2007, Fiji Museum, Suva;
• Australia Week in Fiji - Australian Product Promotion throughtout Fiji Stores, 22 to 28 April 2007;
• Training on Business Diagnostic Toolkit, organised by the Private Sector Development Unit of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Graduate School of Business, University of the South Pacific with funding from the European Union, from 23 to 27 April 2007, Suva;
• Oceania Centre for Arts & Culture 10th Anniversary Celebrations - Art Exhibition, Wednesday, 24 April 2007 to end of day Friday, 27 April 2007, Oceania Centre, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Australian Building & Construction Trade Show, 26 and 27 April 2007, Australian High Commission, Suva;
• Fiji Musicians Concert Fundraiser for Tsunami and Cyclone victims, Friday, 27 April 2007, from 12pm to 2.30pm, Civic Foreshore, Suva;
• Coca Cola Games (Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Competition), Friday, 27 April, and Saturday, 28 April 2007, Post Fiji National Stadium, Laucala Bay;
• Party in the Park (organised for the young people of Suva as an alternative for going to nightclubs and drinking parties after the Coca Cola Games), Saturday, 28 April 2007, from 6pm to 10.30pm, Sukuna Park, Suva;
• 'Suva on Sale', 28 April to 5 May 2007, Street Sale on selected streets of Suva; World Chess Qualifiers, May 2007, Suva;
• Isa Lei Reunion (for former students of the International School) Registration, closes on 30 April 2007;
• 2007 National Youth Week Celebrations, Monday, 30 April 2007, at 9.30am to 12pm, Sukuna Park, Suva (includes music and entertainment);
• Wine Tasting, Tuesday, 1 May 2007, 6pm to 8pm, Bad Dog Restaurant, Victoria Parade, Suva;
• Suva City Library Holiday Program - Story telling and puppetry, Wednesday, 2 May 2007, 10am to 12pm, Suva City Library;
• Bula FM and Radio Fiji One - Fijian Variety Concert, Wednesday, 2 May 2007, 12pm to 2pm and from 5pm to 9pm, Suva (Part of Suva-on-Sale events);
• Suva City Library Holiday Program - Origami, Thursday, 3 May 2007, 10am to 12pm, Suva City Library;
• Ratu Sukuna Memorial School (RSMS) Old Scholars meeting, Thursday, 3 May 2007, from 5.30pm, Ratu Sukuna Memorial School, Nabua, Suva;
• Fiji Games Athletics events, Thursday, 3 May 2007, 5.30pm, Post Fiji Stadium, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Ratu Sukuna Memorial School (RSMS) Old Scholars - reunion barrel night, Friday, 4 May 2007, from 5.30pm, Police Officers' Mess, next to the Central Police Station, Suva;
• Fiji Games Beach Volleyball Competition, Friday, 4 May, and Saturday, 5 May 2007, 8.30am to 5pm, National Beach Volleyball Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Fiji Games Athletics events, Friday, 4 May 2007, 9am to 5pm, Post Fiji Stadium, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Rewa (Beauty and Charity) Carnival, Friday, 4 May, to Saturday, 12 May 2007, Syria Park, Nausori (near Suva);
• Training on Bee keeping, 8 to 10 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Carpenters Game Fishing Event, Saturday, 12 May, and Sunday, 13 May 2007, from the Suva Yacht Club, Walu Bay, Suva;
• Start Your Business Training, 14 to 18 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Training on Bee Hives Case Making, 14 to 18 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations, Singing Contest, June;
• Opening of the new Morris Hedstrom's outlet, June, Thomson Street, Suva;
• Start Your Business, 11 to 13 June 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Store Management, 18 to 20 June 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Double Dialogues Conference, 4 to 6 July 2007, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Art Display to coincide with the Double Dialogues conference, 4 to 10 July 2007, Suva;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations Ball, August;
• Fiji Hibiscus Festival, 17 to 25 August 2007, Albert Park, Suva;
• Isa Lei Reunion (for former students of the International School in Suva), 17 to 19 August 2007, Suva;
• Oceania Women's Hockey Qualifiers for 2008 Olympic Games, from 10 September 2007, Suva;
• World Invitational U18 Rugby League Championship, October 2007, Suva;
• 18th Hobie 16 World Championships, from 8 to 19 October 2007, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations, week long celebrations, October 2007.

Recurring Events:

• Fiji Museum displays, daily at The Fiji Museum, Suva;
• Bridge night, every Monday nights, from 6.30 to 9.30pm, The Fiji Club, 1 Selbourne Street, Suva;
• Wai Tui Cycles ‘After Work’ ride, 5pm every Mondays and Wednesdays, starts from Wai Tui Cycles, Garden City, Raiwai, Suva;
• Suva Orchid and Horticultural Group Meeting, from 5.30pm, every first Monday of the month, Wesley Church, Butt Street, Suva;
• Stormy Monday Blues Night, Mondays, from 9pm, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Victoria Parade;
• Rasta Tuesday, from 9pm, Tuesdays, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Suva;
• Talei Burns and Friends, every Wednesdays, 6pm to 10pm, The Malthouse, 88 Jerusalem Road (next to the Fiji Golf Club), Vatuwaqa, Suva;
• Jazz at the Holiday Inn, every Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 6pm to 10pm, Holiday Inn;
• Rucksack Club Meeting, every second Wednesday of the month, from 6.45pm, St Andrew's Church Hall, Suva;
• Alternate Rock, every Wednesdays, from 9pm, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Victoria Parade, Suva;
• Soul, funk, disco and classics DJ music, from 8pm, Fridays, Traps Lounge, Victoria Parade;
• Velocity Cycling Ride, from 7am, every Saturday, leaves from The Roc, FNPF Dolphins Plaza;
• FIT School of Arts, Culture and Design : Saturday Classes for Children (covering piano, art & craft, acting, choir), from Saturday, 3 March 2007, School of Arts, Culture & Design, Carpenter Street (near Garden City), Raiwai, Suva;
• Kid’s Arts Classes with Kathy Oyagawa, Saturdays, 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm, The Homestay, Princes Road, Tamavua, Suva;
• Saturday Night at JJ's for the Family : Dinner, Saturdays, from 6.30pm, JJ's on the Park, Suva;
• SideStep, every last Saturday of the month, 9pm to close, Traps Upstairs Lounge, Victoria Parade;
• Arts Village Firewalking Show, starts 11am, every Saturday, Grandstand, Arts Village, Pacific Harbour;
• The Roc Market, every third Sunday of the month, The Roc, Dolphins Plaza, Victoria Parade, Suva;
• Wai Tui Cycles Ride, every Sundays, from 6am, start at Wai Tui Cycles, Garden City, Raiwai, Suva;
• Sunday Church Services, 8am or 10.45am, Wesley Church, Butt Street;
• Jazz by the Beach, Sundays, 1pm to 5pm, Pearl South Pacific, Pacific Harbour.

For accommodation for any events, please check out a two bedroom rental home with seaviews in Suva on links at the right hand side of this blog or contact telephone (679) 3396427, (679) 9921427 or e-mail gilbertv@connect.com.fj directly. Those that wish to have their events included can contact me on the e-mail address provided above.

Suva on Sale venues

The Suva-on-Sale venues will include :

• Pier Street (entire street);
• Cumming Street (entire street);
• Marks Street (one side of the entire road only);
• stretch between Waimanu Road and Raojibhai Patel Street;
• Greig Street (along Nabukalou Creek);
• Renwick Road (from Currey House to Deluxe Footwear); and
• Thomson Street (one side of road only from the (old) Tappoos Store to Harbour Centre).

There will be merchant/shopping stalls on the venues noted above.

2007 Suva on Sale

The 2007 Suva on Sale gets under way this Saturday, 28 April 2007 and runs until Saturday, 5 May 2007. The sale runs from 9am to 9pm on each day. Check out the bargains and live entertainment. There are also competitions to win prizes including a new Proton car. Word of caution : check quality and expiry dates before you buy.

Media Freedom Show at FIT

The Fiji Institute of Technology's (FIT) Media and Journalism Course students have put together a program to highlight the principles of media freedom. The show will be held on Thursday, 3 May 2007, at the FIT's School of General Studies. Program will start at 8.30am and will end at 1pm with quizzes, oratory contests and entertainment.

Media Freedom Day Seminar

The Fiji Media Council and the Australian High Commission are sponsoring a Media Freedom Day Seminar. Details are as follows :

• Topic : "Media Freedom during a State of Emergency";
• Speaker : Chris McLeod, Editorial Development Manager, The Herald and Weekly Times Pty Limited, Victoria, Australia;
• Moderator : Daryl Tarte, Chairman, Fiji Media Council;
• Date : Thursday, 3 May 2007;
• Time : from 7.00pm;
• Venue : Oceania Centre, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva.

A panel discussion will follow the address by the speaker. Panellists will be :

• Dr Steve Ratuva, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, University of the South Pacific - representing the public;
• Sophie Foster, freelance journalist - representing the media;
• Captain Esala Teleni, Deputy Commander, FMF - representing the State.

Admission is free. Light refreshments to be served.

Coca Cola Games

The Fiji Secondary Schools Coca Cola Games starts this morning, Friday, 27 April 2007, at the Post Fiji Stadium, Laucala Bay, Suva. The Games, which is the highlights of the athletics calendar for Fiji's secondary school students, will continue tomorrow, Saturday, 28 April 2007, at the same venue. Suva is full of athletes coming from all around the country to pitch their abilities in competition. We wish the students well and hope that they enjoy their two days at the Games and time in Suva for those coming from around the country.

Fiji Musicians Disaster Appeal

The music extravaganza that was posted on this blog on 12 April 2007 will now be held on Friday, 27 April 2007, from 12.00pm to 2.30pm. The show is being organised by a group of local musicians to raise funds for victims of the tsunami in the Solomon Islands and Cyclone Cliff in Fiji. The show will be held at the Suva Civic Foreshore.

Fijian Creations at Suva-on-Sale

Visit the Fijian Creations at Shop 15, Downtown Boulevard, Suva, during Suva-on-Sale week and check out their new and latest design, quality garments. Some of the items that will be on sale include :

• for ladies : tops, pants, shirts, jeans, bula shirts, surf shots, crew neck T-shirts;
• for men : bula shirts, polo shirts, T-shirts, surf shots, vests, muscle tops;
• for kids : Kids Creations, bula shirts, shorts, dresses.

For more information, pls call the Fijian Creations shop on telephone (679) 3304342.

Fijian dishes : Freshly baked coconut buns

Coconut buns is a favourite for Fijians and whoever has tried it. The recipe is just about the same as one for preparing ordinary buns but with coconut milk poured over the buns before baking. Here is a recipe for freshly baked coconut buns or "bani vakalolo" as we call them in Fijian, which I found on this website http://becksposhnosh.blogspot.com/. Ingredients

• 4 cups plain flour;
• 3 tsp fresh yeast;
• 1/4 cup sugar;
• 2 oz melted butter;
• 1 beaten egg;
• 1.5 cups of milk warmed to tepid;
• 2 cups of quality coconut milk at room temperature.

Preparation

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F;
• Dissolve 1 teaspoon of the sugar and the yeast in the warmed milk;
• Sieve the flour into a large bowl or Kitchen Aid bowl and stir in the sugar;
• Make a well in the centre and add the beaten egg, melted butter and the milk/yeast mixture;
• Mix the ingredients to form a dough that no longer sticks to the bowl;
• Knead by hand on a lightly floured board, or using the dough attachment on the Kitchen Aid, until the dough is smooth and shiny;
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic film;
• Leave in a warm place for an hour until the dough has doubled in size;
• Return the dough to the floured board and punch down using your fists;
• Divide the dough into 32 equal pieces and roll each into a ball shape;
• Oil a 10" round cake tin with sides at least 2" high;
• Pack the dough balls into the tin and leave in a warm place for a second rising;
• Again, the dough should double in size;
• Pour the coconut milk over the buns until it reaches the top of the buns;
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes until golden brown and cooked through;

Best served warm.

If anyone wants to promote some of your Fijian or Indian recipes on the Internet, e-mail us a recipe and your contacts and we will post it on the blog for you. Send your e-mail to gilbertv@connect.com.fj. As our blog has rising readership on the Internet, you would have a good opportunity to profile your recipe and business.

ANZAC Day Dawn Service

The ANZAC Day Dawn Service will be held on Wednesday, 25 April 2007 starting at 5.25am at the grounds of the Australian High Commission, Princes Road, Suva. The service will conclude at 6.15am. To ensure entry to the compound, those attending the service should bring a photo identification. For further information, pls call the Australian High Commission in Suva on telephone (679) 3382211.

Preparatory workshops for report/essay writing for students

Preparatory workshops on project, report and essay writing for Forms 3 to 6 students will be conducted from 30 April to 2 May, 2007 at the (SUVA) Senate Conference Room, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva. Details are as follows :

• Program Objectives : To provide students with project and report writing skills;
• Target Group : High school students in Forms 3, 4, 5 and 6 who need to be familiarised with project and report writing skills to enable them to complete various exercises, activities and projects for classroom learning and assessment purposes;
• Tutor : Jack Maebuta;
• Venue : (SUVA) Senate Conference Room, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Date and Time : Monday, 30 April, to 2 May 2007, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm;
• Fees : F$39.00 (i.e. F$13.00 per workshop);
• Due Date of Fees : Friday, 27 April 2007, or by special arrangement before session starts.

For more details, pls contact Jack Maebuta on telephone (679) 6666800 or e-mail maebuta_j@usp.ac.fj.

'Words & Flowers' Photo Exhibition

A photo exhibition, ‘Words & Flowers’, is currently showing at the Fiji Museum, Thurston Gardens, Suva, and runs until Thursday, 10 May 2007. The exhibition, by Brazilian photographer Ariana Mendes, will feature 30 pictures of flowers of France , 30 extracts of poems about flowers from French writers with an English translation. There is also a slideshow of 138 pictures of flowers of Fiji and 30 extracts of poems in French and English. Visit the Fiji Museum to see more. Note : For those that require accommodation in Suva, pls try out our two bedroom furnished rental home with sea views. More details are available through the appropriate links at the right hand side of this blog. To contact us, e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephones (679) 3396427 or (679) 9921427.

Suva Activities, Events and Accommodation (Updated 20.4.07)

The following events are scheduled for Suva: One-off Events:

• 'Words & Flowers' Photo Exhibition, currently showing until Thursday, 10 May 2007, Fiji Museum, Suva;
• Regional Ecumenical Organisations - Pacific Feast and Entertainment (to fund raise for tsunami victims of the Solomon Islands), Friday, 20 April 2007, Pacific Theological College, Veiuto, Suva;
• FMF Chow National Swimming Championships, from Friday, 20 April, to Sunday, 22 April 2007, National Aquatic Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Adi Cakobau School Variety Concert - Diamond Jubilee Project (for Multi Purpose Hall), Friday, 20 April 2007, 7pm to 9pm, Tattersalls Leisure Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• First FMF Pro-Am Golf Tournament, Saturday, 21 April 2007, from 7.45am, Fiji Golf Club, Vatuwaqa, Suva;
• Launch of the new Maggi Noodles - Maggi 2 Minute Kids Noodles (including rides and other fun events for kids), Saturday, 21 April 2007, from 9am to 1pm, Sukuna Park, Suva;
• Fiji Musicians Concert Fundraiser for Tsunami and Cyclone victims, Saturday, 21 April 2007, Civic Foreshore, Suva;
• Suva Touch Rugby - Fantastic Four Franchise Competition, Saturday, 21 April 2007, from 11am, Veiuto grounds, Suva;
• Suva Hockey League Competitions, Saturday, 21 April 2007, from 12pm, National Hockey Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Suva Netball Games, Saturday, 21 April 2007, from 12pm, National Indoor Stadium, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Fiji FA Soccer National League match between Suva and Labasa, Sunday, 22 April 2007, from 1pm, Post Fiji Stadium, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Australia Week in Fiji - Australian Product Promotion throughtout Fiji Stores, 22 to 28 April 2007;
• ANZAC Day Dawn Service, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, starting at 5.25am, Australian High Commission grounds, Princes Road, Suva;
• Training on Business Diagnostic Toolkit, organised by the Private Sector Development Unit of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Graduate School of Business, University of the South Pacific with funding from the European Union, from 23 to 27 April 2007, Suva;
• Oceania Centre for Arts & Culture 10th Anniversary Celebrations - Opening, Dance and Music Performances, Art Exhibition, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, from 6pm, Oceania Centre, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Oceania Centre for Arts & Culture 10th Anniversary Celebrations - Art Exhibition, Wednesday, 24 April 2007 to end of day Friday, 27 April 2007, Oceania Centre, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Australian Building & Construction Trade Show, 26 and 27 April 2007, Australian High Commission, Suva;
• Coca Cola Games (Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Competition), Friday, 27 April, and Saturday, 28 April 2007, Post Fiji National Stadium, Laucala Bay;
• Party in the Park (organised for the young people of Suva as an alternative for going to nightclubs and drinking parties after the Coca Cola Games), Saturday, 28 April 2007, from 6pm to 10.30pm, Sukuna Park, Suva;
• 'Suva on Sale', 28 April to 5 May 2007, Street Sale on selected streets of Suva; World Chess Qualifiers, May 2007, Suva;
• Isa Lei Reunion (for former students of the International School) Registration, closes on 30 April 2007;
• Rewa (Beauty and Charity) Carnival, Friday, 4 May, to Saturday, 12 May 2007, Syria Park, Nausori (near Suva);
• Training on Bee keeping, 8 to 10 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Start Your Business Training, 14 to 18 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Training on Bee Hives Case Making, 14 to 18 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations, Singing Contest, June;
• Opening of the new Morris Hedstrom's outlet, June, Thomson Street, Suva;
• Start Your Business, 11 to 13 June 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Store Management, 18 to 20 June 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Double Dialogues Conference, 4 to 6 July 2007, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Art Display to coincide with the Double Dialogues conference, 4 to 10 July 2007, Suva;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations Ball, August;
• Fiji Hibiscus Festival, 17 to 25 August 2007, Albert Park, Suva;
• Isa Lei Reunion (for former students of the International School in Suva), 17 to 19 August 2007, Suva;
• Oceania Women's Hockey Qualifiers for 2008 Olympic Games, from 10 September 2007, Suva;
• World Invitational U18 Rugby League Championship, October 2007, Suva;
• 18th Hobie 16 World Championships, from 8 to 19 October 2007, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations, week long celebrations, October 2007.

Recurring Events:

• Fiji Museum displays, daily at The Fiji Museum, Suva;
• Bridge night, every Monday nights, from 6.30 to 9.30pm, The Fiji Club, 1 Selbourne Street, Suva;
• Taekwondo classes, Mondays and Wednesdays, 4pm to 5.30pm - Junior class, 5.30pm to 7pm - Senior class, Suva Civic Centre;
• Wai Tui Cycles ‘After Work’ ride, 5pm every Mondays and Wednesdays, starts from Wai Tui Cycles, Garden City, Raiwai, Suva;
• Suva Orchid and Horticultural Group Meeting, from 5.30pm, every first Monday of the month, Wesley Church, Butt Street, Suva;
• Stormy Monday Blues Night, Mondays, from 9pm, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Victoria Parade;
• Rasta Tuesday, from 9pm, Tuesdays, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Suva;
• Talei Burns and Friends, every Wednesdays, 6pm to 10pm, The Malthouse, 88 Jerusalem Road (next to the Fiji Golf Club), Vatuwaqa, Suva;
• Jazz at the Holiday Inn, every Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 6pm to 10pm, Holiday Inn;
• Rucksack Club Meeting, every second Wednesday of the month, from 6.45pm, St Andrew's Church Hall, Suva;
• Alternate Rock, every Wednesdays, from 9pm, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Victoria Parade, Suva;
• Soul, funk, disco and classics DJ music, from 8pm, Fridays, Traps Lounge, Victoria Parade;
• Velocity Cycling Ride, from 7am, every Saturday, leaves from The Roc, FNPF Dolphins Plaza;
• FIT School of Arts, Culture and Design : Saturday Classes for Children (covering piano, art & craft, acting, choir), from Saturday, 3 March 2007, School of Arts, Culture & Design, Carpenter Street (near Garden City), Raiwai, Suva;
• Kid’s Arts Classes with Kathy Oyagawa, Saturdays, 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm, The Homestay, Princes Road, Tamavua, Suva;
• Saturday Night at JJ's for the Family : Dinner, Saturdays, from 6.30pm, JJ's on the Park, Suva;
• SideStep, every last Saturday of the month, 9pm to close, Traps Upstairs Lounge, Victoria Parade;
• Arts Village Firewalking Show, starts 11am, every Saturday, Grandstand, Arts Village, Pacific Harbour;
• The Roc Market, every third Sunday of the month, The Roc, Dolphins Plaza, Victoria Parade, Suva;
• Wai Tui Cycles Ride, every Sundays, from 6am, start at Wai Tui Cycles, Garden City, Raiwai, Suva;
• Sunday Church Services, 8am or 10.45am, Wesley Church, Butt Street;
• Jazz by the Beach, Sundays, 1pm to 5pm, Pearl South Pacific, Pacific Harbour.

For accommodation for any events, please check out a two bedroom rental home with seaviews in Suva on links at the right hand side of this blog or contact telephone (679) 3396427, (679) 9921427 or e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj directly. Those that wish to have their events included can contact me on the e-mail address provided above.

Party in the Park

A Party in the Park is being organised on Saturday, 28 April 2007, from 6pm to 10.30pm at Sukuna Park in Suva. The party will feature up to 20 secondary schools from the Suva area, up to 20 youth groups, guest artists and Suva tertiary schools. The event is organized to attract the young people of Suva as an alternative to going to nightclubs and drinking parties, after the Coca Cola Games. For more information, pls contact telephones (679) 9401740 and (679) 3383322 or e-mail suisgroup@yahoo.com.

Oceania Centre for Arts and Culture 10th Anniversary Celebrations

The Oceania Centre for Arts & Culture located at the University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva, will be holding its 10th Anniversary celebrations beginning Tuesday, 24 April 2007, from 6pm. Aside from the speeches and the opening of celebrations by Patron, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, there will be dance and music performances that night. An art exhibition starts on Tuesday night and will run until end of day, Friday, 27 April 2007. For more information, pls contact the Centre on telephone (679) 3232832. For accommodation in a two bedroom rental home with sea views in Suva, click on the appropriate links at the right hand side of this blog for more details. To contact us, e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephones (679) 3396427 or (679) 9921427.

Maggi Party Time

Members of the public are invited to celebrate the launch of the new Maggi Noodles, Maggi 2 Minute Kids Noodles, which is made specially for kids. The launch will be held on Saturday, 21 April 2007, from 9am to 1pm, at Sukuna Park, Suva. Take your kids down to enjoy :

• the rides;
• bouncy castles;
• free face painting;
• competitions;
• giveaways;
• the Malaga Choir; and
• many more.

Adi Cakobau School Variety Concert

The Adi Cakobau School will be holding a Variety Concert to fund raise for their Diamond Jubilee Project (Multi Purpose Hall). Participating at the concert will be :

• Adi Cakobau School;
• Queen Victoria School;
• Marist Brothers Primary School;
• FIT Tour Group;
• Butt Street Youth Dance Group;
• CMF Youth Dance Group;
• Jazz Dance Group; and
• Talei Burns.

The events will be on today, Friday, 20 April 2007, from 7pm to 9pm at the Tattersalls Leisure Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva.

Solomon Islands Tsunami Appeal

Regional Ecumenical organisations are organising a Pacific feast and entertainment to fund raise for tsunami victims of the Solomon Islands. The event will be held at the Pacific Theological College, Veiuto, Suva, on Friday, 20 April 2007.

Australia Week in Fiji : 22 to 28 April 2007

The Australian Trade Commission and its partners invite members of the public to their promotion of Australian products on sale at stores throughout Fiji during Australia Week from 22 to 28 April 2007. Purchase F$20.00 or more worth of products labelled "Product of Australia" during the week and send your receipt docket (and/or bar codes) to "Australia Week Promo", PO Box 1252, Suva to get in a draw to win a return trip for two flying economy class to Sydney on Air Pacific & Qantas. There are also five hamper prizes to be won. Enter as many times as you like.

Australian Building & Construction Trade Show

The Australian Building & Construction Trade Show will be held from 26 and 27 April 2007 at the Australian High Commission in Suva. Pls visit the show for an exhibition of innovative and wide ranging building, construction and industrial products from Ausralia, presented by experts in the field. A must if you are looking for :

• metal architectural products;
• sealants, insulation, cement sheets, partitioning suites;
• water storage tanks;
• pressure and drainage pipes;
• swimming pools and pumps;
• fibreglass pools;
• semi-frameless glass fencing;
• pleasure craft bathroom;
• steel wall and roof truss framing;
• sealy posturepedic beds;
• innovative visual communications solutions;
• roofing fasteners;
• sanitary ware;
• surface water drainage, access covers and grates, sewerage treatment systems;
• plaster boards; and
• many more things.

Opportunities for powerful networking to provide your business with a competitive advantage.

Pls contact Mrs Api Kurusiga on telephone (679) 3382825 or e-mail apisake.kurusiga@austrade.gov.au to register and for your invitation by Friday, 20 April 2007.

For accommodation in a furnished two bedroom rental home with sea views in Suva, pls click on the appropriate links at the right hand side of this blog for more details. To contact us, e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephones (679) 3396427 or (679) 9921427.

Isa Lei Reunion Registration

Registration for the Isa Lei Reunion (for former students of the International School in Suva) closes on 30 April 2007. The Reunion will be held from 17 to 19 August 2007 in Suva. Pls contact nicola@connect.com.fj, eqbigshark@hotmail.com, or marigoldmoody@hotmail.com to register or for more information. For accommodation in a furnished two bedroom rental home with sea views in Suva, pls click on the appropriate links at the right hand side of this blog for details. To contact us, e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephones (679) 3396427 or (679) 9921427.

Tappoo City Complex to go up soon

The Tappoo City complex is to go up soon after the company's Suva Store was moved to opposite the Suva Market last week. The Tappoo City complex will be built on the present site of the company's buildings in Suva. The complex will house the company's flagship Suva store and have rental space for other retailers. Construction is to begin in the next few weeks.

National Art Gallery to be built

A National Art Gallery for Fiji will be built in Suva to address the lack of facilities for promotion of art in the country. The gallery is to be built at the present site of Government's Information Technology Centre (ITC) along Victoria Parade between the Suva City Library and the Fiji Development Bank buildings. The proposal has been approved by the Interim Government on a submission by the Minister for Fijian Affairs, Heritage, Provincial Development and Multi-Ethnic Affairs.

Suva Sights

Here are some shots of Suva found on the Internet.

The Annual Reverend Paula Niukula Lecture

The Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education & Advocacy (ECREA) and the School of Social Science in the Faculty of Arts and Law, University of the South Pacific, will be holding the Annual Reverend Paula Niukula Lecture. Details are as follows :

• Topic : "Human Rights & Social Justice : Moving beyond the divide";
• Presenter : Professor Vijay Naidu;
• Moderator : Dr Sandra Tarte;
• Venue : Marine Studies Lecture Theatre, Lower Campus, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Date : Wednesday, 18 April 2007;
• Time : 7pm to 8.45pm.

For more information, pls contact Savu Tawake on telephone (679) 3307588 or e-mail info@ecrea.org.fj.

For accommodation in Suva, try out our fully furnished two bedroom home with sea views. The home has a Personal Computer and Broadband Internet access provided complimentary for guests' use. For photos and more details, pls visit the appropriate links at the right hand side of this blog. To contact us, e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephones (679) 3396427 or (679) 9921427.

Pacific Sun Flight Schedules to/from Suva

Flights scheduled by Pacific Sun to/from Suva are as follows :

• Nadi to Suva, Fare F$85.00 one way per person : 5.30am to 6am, 7.30am to 8am, 8.30am to 9am, 5.30pm to 6pm, 8.15pm to 8.45pm. Flights are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays;
• Suva to Nadi, Fare F$85.00 one way per person : 6.30am to 7am, 10.50am to 11.20am, 2.45pm to 3.15pm, 6.30pm to 7pm, 9.15pm to 9.45pm. Flights are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays;
• Nadi to Labasa via Suva, Fare F$125.00 one way per person : 7.30am to 9.10am, 2pm to 3.55pm. Flights are on daily;
• Labasa to Nadi via Suva, Fare F$125.00 one way per person : 9.40am to 11.20am, 4pm to 6pm. Flights are on daily;
• Suva to Labasa, Fare F$105.00 one way per person : 8.30am to 9.10am, 3pm to 3.55pm. Flights are on daily;
• Labasa to Suva, Fare F$105.00 one way per person : 9.40am to 10.20am, 4pm to 5pm. Flights are on daily.

Flights Nadi-Labasa-Nadi and the afternoon Suva-Labasa-Suva are operated by Twin Otter. All other flights are on the new ATR42. Fares quoted above are all inclusive with no additional charges. For more information or to book a flight, pls call Air Pacific on telephones (679) 6720888 or (679) 3304388. For booking online, pls visit www.airpacific.com. For more information on Pacific Sun, pls visit www.pacificsun.com.fj.

Suva Activities, Events and Accommodation (Updated 13.4.07)

The following events are scheduled for Suva: One-off Events:

• The Indian Village Craft Mela (Festival), from Thursday, 5 April, to Sunday, 15 April 2007 at the Suva Civic Auditorium. Show opens from 11am to 9pm daily on those days;
• Rugby League Eastern Conference matches, Saturday, 14 April 2007, from 9am, Baseball Court and Bidesi Ground;
• Suva Cricket games, Saturday, 14 April 2007, from 9.30am, Albert Park; Nasinu Netball games, Saturday, 14 April 2007, from 11am, Vodafone Arena, Laucala Bay;
• Touch Rugby Fantastic Four Franchise Competition, Saturday, 14 April 2007, from 11am, Veiuto Grounds;
• Suva Netball games, Saturday, 14 April 2007, from 1pm, Multipurpose Courts, Laucala Bay;
• Nasinu Soccer matches, Sunday, 15 April 2007, from 8.30am, DAV College Grounds;
• First FMF Pro-Am Golf Tournament, Saturday, 14 April 2007, Fiji Golf Club, Vatuwaqa, Suva;
• Tabu Soro Triathlon, Sunday, 15 April 2007, from 6am, National Aquatic Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Start Your Business Training, 16 to 20 April 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Annual Reverend Paula Niukula Lecture, Topic : "Human Rights & Social Justice : Moving beyond the divide", presented by Professor Vijay Naidu, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 7pm to 8.45pm, Marine Studies Lecture Theatre, Lower Campus, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Training on Bread Making, 18 and 19 April 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Fiji Museum Fundraising Quiz Night, Thursday, 19 April 2007, from 7pm, Fiji Museum Verandah, Thurston Gardens, Suva;
• Regional Ecumenical Organisations - Pacific Feast and Entertainment (to fund raise for tsunami victims of the Solomon Islands), Friday, 20 April 2007, Pacific Theological College, Veiuto, Suva;
• FMF Chow National Swimming Championships, from Friday, 20 April, to Sunday, 22 April 2007, National Aquatic Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Fiji Musicians Concert Fundraiser for Tsunami and Cyclone victims, Saturday, 21 April 2007, Civic Foreshore, Suva;
• Australia Week in Fiji - Australian Product Promotion throughtout Fiji Stores, 22 to 28 April 2007;
• Training on Business Diagnostic Toolkit, organised by the Private Sector Development Unit of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Graduate School of Business, University of the South Pacific with funding from the European Union, from 23 to 27 April 2007, Suva;
• Australian Building & Construction Trade Show, 26 and 27 April 2007, Australian High Commission, Suva;
• Coca Cola Games (Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Competition), Friday, 27 April, and Saturday, 28 April 2007, Post Fiji National Stadium, Laucala Bay;
• 'Suva on Sale', 28 April to 5 May 2007, Street Sale on selected streets of Suva;
• World Chess Qualifiers, May 2007, Suva;
• Isa Lei Reunion (for former students of the International School) Registration, closes on 30 April 2007;
• Rewa (Beauty and Charity) Carnival, Friday, 4 May, to Saturday, 12 May 2007, Syria Park, Nausori (near Suva);
• Training on Bee keeping, 8 to 10 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Start Your Business Training, 14 to 18 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Training on Bee Hives Case Making, 14 to 18 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations, Singing Contest, June;
• Opening of the new Morris Hedstrom's outlet, June, Thomson Street, Suva;
• Start Your Business, 11 to 13 June 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Store Management, 18 to 20 June 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Double Dialogues Conference, 4 to 6 July 2007, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Art Display to coincide with the Double Dialogues conference, 4 to 10 July 2007, Suva;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations Ball, August;
• Fiji Hibiscus Festival, 17 to 25 August 2007, Albert Park, Suva;
• Isa Lei Reunion (for former students of the International School in Suva), 17 to 19 August 2007, Suva;
• Oceania Women's Hockey Qualifiers for 2008 Olympic Games, from 10 September 2007, Suva;
• World Invitational U18 Rugby League Championship, October 2007, Suva;
• 18th Hobie 16 World Championships, from 8 to 19 October 2007, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations, week long celebrations, October 2007.

Recurring Events:

• Fiji Museum displays, daily at The Fiji Museum, Suva;
• Bridge night, every Monday nights, from 6.30 to 9.30pm, The Fiji Club, 1 Selbourne Street, Suva;
• Taekwondo classes, Mondays and Wednesdays, 4pm to 5.30pm - Junior class, 5.30pm to 7pm - Senior class, Suva Civic Centre;
• Wai Tui Cycles ‘After Work’ ride, 5pm every Mondays and Wednesdays, starts from Wai Tui Cycles, Garden City, Raiwai, Suva;
• Suva Orchid and Horticultural Group Meeting, from 5.30pm, every first Monday of the month, Wesley Church, Butt Street, Suva;
• Stormy Monday Blues Night, Mondays, from 9pm, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Victoria Parade;
• Rasta Tuesday, from 9pm, Tuesdays, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Suva;
• Talei Burns and Friends, every Wednesdays, 6pm to 10pm, The Malthouse, 88 Jerusalem Road (next to the Fiji Golf Club), Vatuwaqa, Suva;
• Jazz at the Holiday Inn, every Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 6pm to 10pm, Holiday Inn; Rucksack Club Meeting, every second Wednesday of the month, from 6.45pm, St Andrew's Church Hall, Suva;
• Alternate Rock, every Wednesdays, from 9pm, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Victoria Parade, Suva;
• Soul, funk, disco and classics DJ music, from 8pm, Fridays, Traps Lounge, Victoria Parade;
• Velocity Cycling Ride, from 7am, every Saturday, leaves from The Roc, FNPF Dolphins Plaza;
• FIT School of Arts, Culture and Design : Saturday Classes for Children (covering piano, art & craft, acting, choir), from Saturday, 3 March 2007, School of Arts, Culture & Design, Carpenter Street (near Garden City), Raiwai, Suva;
• Kid’s Arts Classes with Kathy Oyagawa, Saturdays, 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm, The Homestay, Princes Road, Tamavua, Suva;
• Saturday Night at JJ's for the Family : Dinner, Saturdays, from 6.30pm, JJ's on the Park, Suva;
• SideStep, every last Saturday of the month, 9pm to close, Traps Upstairs Lounge, Victoria Parade;
• Arts Village Firewalking Show, starts 11am, every Saturday, Grandstand, Arts Village, Pacific Harbour;
• The Roc Market, every third Sunday of the month, The Roc, Dolphins Plaza, Victoria Parade, Suva;
• Wai Tui Cycles Ride, every Sundays, from 6am, start at Wai Tui Cycles, Garden City, Raiwai, Suva;
• Sunday Church Services, 8am or 10.45am, Wesley Church, Butt Street;
• Jazz by the Beach, Sundays, 1pm to 5pm, Pearl South Pacific, Pacific Harbour.

For accommodation for any events, please check out a two bedroom rental home with seaviews in Suva on links at the right hand side of this blog or contact telephone (679) 3396427, (679) 9921427 or e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj directly. Those that wish to have their events included can contact me on the e-mail address provided above.

Hibiscus Festival 2007 : Win a new car

Win a new Hyundai car in the buildup to the Suva Hibiscus Festival 2007 by texting Hyundai to 207. A draw to win a new car will be held every month from April up to August. Each time you send a text message to 207, you go into a draw for daily F$100.00 shopping vouchers from selected shops in Suva. Tourists need a local pre-paid mobile number available from Vodafone outlets to be able to take part in the competition. Post-paid mobile customers cannot participate.

Weekend Sports in Suva

The following sports events are scheduled in Suva this weekend:

• Cricket (Suva Cricket Association), Saturday, 14 April 2007, from 9.30am, Albert Park;
• Netball (Suva), Saturday, 14 April 2007, from 1pm, Multipurpose Courts, Laucala Bay;
• Netball (Nasinu), Saturday, 14 April 2007, from 11am, Vodafone Arena, Laucala Bay;
• Rugby League (Eastern Conference), Saturday, 14 April 2007, from 9am, Baseball Court and Bidesi Ground;
• Touch Rugby (Fantastic Four Franchise Competition), Saturday, 14 April 2007, from 11am, Veiuto Grounds;
• Soccer (Nasinu), Sunday, 15 April 2007, from 8.30am, DAV College Grounds;
• Triathlon, Sunday, 15 April 2007, from 7am, National Aquatic Centre, Laucala Bay.

Fiji musicians to raise funds for disasters

Fiji musicians, including the Fiji Military Forces and Fiji Police Forces bands, will be holding a concert on Saturday, 21 April 2007, at the Suva Civic Foreshore, to raise funds for victims of the tsunami in the Solomon Islands and Cyclone Cliff in Fiji. The organiser, Seru Serevi - a local singer, said that they hope to attract over 10,000 people to the concert. Members of the public are being invited to show their support and attend the fundraising event.

FTIB Exporting to the USA Workshop

The Fiji Trade Commission Los Angeles, Fiji Embassy Washington, the Fiji Mission to the UN and the Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau (FTIB) together with senior executives of the Montalvan Sales Inc will be conducting a workshop on exporting to the USA on Tuesday, 17 April 2007, 9am to 5pm, at JJ's on the Park, Suva. Topics covered will include :

• Understanding the US Market - Trends, Challenges and Opportunities;
• Things to Know Before you Export to the USA;
• Preparing Your Goods for Export - quality, packaging, labelling and shipping;
• US Market Entry Requirements.

The presenters are :

• Mrs Carmen Montalvan - Vice President and owner of Montalvan Sales Inc, one of the biggest US wholesaler and importer of food products from Fiji, NZ, Australia, Costa Rica and Chile;
• Ms Doreen Francis - Fiji Product Sales;
• Ms Marilyn Montalvan - Office Manager.

Bonus : Participants will receive a list of US companies (and contact details) who wish to buy kava, dalo, cassava, rourou, fish, fruits, vegetables, canned foods, chillies, beach-de-mer, etc, and participants may contact these US buyers directly. Registration fees is F$35.00 per person. The fee will cover full day workshop, workshop materials, hand outs, morning and afternoon tea, list of products that Montalvans Sale Inc wish to buy. For registration, pls contact Ms Katarina Lala on telephone (679) 3315988 or e-mail katarina@ftib.org.fj in Suva or Ms Yvonne Ravaga on telephone (679) 6667133 or e-mail yvonne@ftib.org.fj at Lautoka. For accommodation in a furnished two bedroom home in Suva, pls check the appropriate links at the right hand side of this blog for details. To contact us, e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephone (679) 3396427.

Child Care Training

The Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) will be conducting Training on Child Care from 16 to 19 April 2007 in Suva. For more information or registration, pls call telephone (679) 3312649. Note : For accommodation in a two bedroom fully furnished home in Suva, pls check details on links at the right hand side of this blog. To contact us, e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephone (679) 3396427.

Fiji Museum Fundraising Quiz Night

A fundraising quiz night organised by the Fiji Museum, will be held on Thursday, 19 April 2007, from 7pm at the Fiji Museum Verandah, Thurston Gardens, Suva. Participation fee is F$60.00 per team with a maximum number of five people for a table. Free snacks and glass of beer, wine or soft drink on receipt of entrance fee. For more details, pls contact Praveena, Prakashi or the Fiji Museum Director, Sagale Buadromo, on telephones (679) 3315944 or (679) 3315043.

Rucksack Club Meeting

The Rucksack Club Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 11 April 2007, from 6.45pm, at the St Andrews Church Hall, corner of Gordon and Goodenough Streets, Suva. At the meeting, a UK archaeologist, John Manley, who is on holiday in Fiji will talk about excavating in Jordan and an unexpected discovery of a child's tomb.

New Tappoo Suva Department Store

The new Tappoo Suva Department Store will open for business this Thursday, 12 April 2007 from the corner of Rodwell Road and Robertson Road. It will be located in a spot previously used by a Morris Hedstrom's supermarket, opposite the Suva Market on Rodwell Road and opposite a current Morris Hedstrom's Homemaker Store on Robertson Road.

Pacific Sun's Bula Pass Special Fares

Pacific Sun, Air Pacific's subsidiary which serves Fiji's domestic routes, announced its Bula Pass special fares over the last few days. The fares which are valid from 1 April to 30 April 2007 are as follows :

• Nadi to Suva, F$85.00 one way;
• Nadi to Labasa via Suva, F$125.00 one way; and
• Suva to Labasa, F$105.00 one way.

No additional charges apply. For more details or for reservations, call telephones (679) 6720888 or (679) 3304388. Pacific Sun's website is www.pacificsun.com.fj.

Seminar : Tertiary Qualifications for Hotel Managers

A seminar on "Tertiary Qualifications for Managers in the Hotel and Tourism Industry" organised by the Department of Tourism & Hospitality, University of the South Pacific and The European Union is being scheduled. Details are provided below :

• Presented by Mr Anthony Brien - a seasoned hotel industry practitioner and manager of university hotel degree programs;
• Date : Wednesday, 11 April 2007;
• Time : 6pm to 8pm;
• Venue : Marine Lecture Theatre, University of the South Pacific, Lower Campus.

For more information, pls contact the Department of Tourism and Hospitality, University of the South Pacific on telephone (679) 3232107.

Note : For short stay accommodation in Suva, try our two bedroom rental home with sea views. Details are available through links at the right hand side of this blog. To contact us, e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephone (679) 3396427.

Need for biracial and multiracial respondents for a survey

Posted below is a message/request for assistance from the University of Illinois, Chicago, for biracial and multiracial people to participate in an online survey on ethnic identity. Pls take time to assist, if you can.

• "We need your help, please! Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago's Department of Communication are conducting research on ethnic identity and online participation for multiracial and biracial people. If you are of multiracial or biracial origin (from more than one racial or ethnic group) it would be greatly appreciated if you could complete an online survey on this important topic. Alternatively, if you are NOT multiracial but know of anyone who is and who may be interested in participating, we would also appreciate you forwarding this email to them. You access the online survey at: http://universityofillinois.ethnicidentity.sgizmo.com/. Responses will be held in strictest confidence and will not be linked with participants' email addresses or other identifiers in any way. Email addresses will not be given to any third parties and results will be reported only in aggregate form. You may contact Dr. James A. Danowski from the University of Illinois at Chicago's Department of Communication at: mailto:%20jimd@uic.eduwith any questions you may have. Please forward this message on to as many people as you can who may have interest. Thank you very much. James Danowski Department of Communication University of Illinois at Chicago"

Upcoming Activities, Events in Suva and Accommodation (Updated 5.4.07)

The following events are scheduled for Suva: One-off Events:

• Children’s Easter Activities, from Tuesday 3 April to Thursday 5 April 2007, 3pm to 4.15pm, Suva City Council Library, Victoria Parade, Suva;
• Children of Fiji to share their Easter spirit and donate something, organised by Jack's of Fiji, donation boxes at every Jack's of Fiji outlet (Donations to be distributed to all children's wards at local hospitals this Easter);
• Training on Flower Arrangements, 3 to 4 April 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Official launch and public screening of "Struggling for a better living : Squatters in Fiji" - a documentary, Wednesday, 4 April 2007, from 6.30pm, Marine Studies Lecture Theatre, Lower Campus, University of the South Pacific, Suva;
• Poetry Reading & Photo Exhibit, Wednesday, 4 April 2007, 6.30pm, Alliance Française, 14 McGregor Road, Suva;
• Grand Easter Sale of coconut palmwood and native timber furniture, from Thursday, 5 April, to Saturday, 7 April 2007, 7.30am to 6.30pm each day, Timber Sports (Fiji) Limited, Nand's Pharmacy Building, 550 Ratu Mara Road, Nabua;
• Fiji Easter Games - Cricket, from Thursday, 5 April, to Monday, 9 April 2007, Albert Park, Suva. Competition starts 9am, Thursday;
• The Indian Village Craft Mela (Festival), from Thursday, 5 April, to Sunday, 15 April 2007 at the Suva Civic Auditorium. Show opens from 11am to 9pm daily on those days;
• Fiji Easter Games - Basketball, Friday, 6 April, and Saturday, 7 April 2007, Vodafone Arena (formerly the FMF Dome), Laucala Bay, Suva. Competition starts 10am, Friday;
• Fiji Easter Games - Athletics (also the first trial for the 2007 Pacific Games), Friday, 6 April, and Saturday, 7 April 2007, National Stadium, Laucala Bay, Suva. Competition starts at 2pm, Friday;
• Fiji Easter Games - Archery, Saturday, 7 April, and Sunday, 8 April 2007, St Joseph's School grounds, Suva. Competition starts at 9am, Saturday;
• Seminar : Tertiary Qualifications for Managers in the Hotel and Tourism Industry, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 6pm to 8pm; Marine Lecture Theatre, University of the South Pacific, Lower Campus, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Rucksack Club Meeting, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, from 6.45pm, St Andrews Church Hall, corner of Gordon and Goodenough Streets, Suva;
• Oceania Centre 10th Birthday, Thursday, 12 April 2007, Oceania Centre, USP Laucala Campus, Suva;
• New Tappoo Suva Department Store opening for business, Thursday, 12 April 2007, corner of Rodwell Road and Robertson Road, Suva;
• First FMF Pro-Am Golf Tournament, Saturday, 14 April 2007, Fiji Golf Club, Vatuwaqa, Suva;
• Tabu Soro Triathlon, Sunday, 15 April 2007, from 6am, National Aquatic Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Start Your Business Training, 16 to 20 April 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Training on Bread Making, 18 and 19 April 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Fiji Museum Fundraising Quiz Night, Thursday, 19 April 2007, from 7pm, Fiji Museum Verandah, Thurston Gardens, Suva;
• FMF Chow National Swimming Championships, from Friday, 20 April, to Sunday, 22 April 2007, National Aquatic Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Fiji Musicians Concert Fundraiser for Tsunami and Cyclone victims, Saturday, 21 April 2007, Civic Foreshore, Suva;
• Training on Business Diagnostic Toolkit, organised by the Private Sector Development Unit of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Graduate School of Business, University of the South Pacific with funding from the European Union, from 23 to 27 April 2007, Suva;
• 'Suva on Sale', 28 April to 5 May 2007, Street Sale on selected streets of Suva;
• World Chess Qualifiers, May 2007, Suva;
• Rewa (Beauty and Charity) Carnival, Friday, 4 May, to Saturday, 12 May 2007, Syria Park, Nausori (near Suva);
• Training on Bee keeping, 8 to 10 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Start Your Business Training, 14 to 18 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Training on Bee Hives Case Making, 14 to 18 May 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations, Singing Contest, June;
• Opening of the new Morris Hedstrom's outlet, June, Thomson Street, Suva;
• Start Your Business, 11 to 13 June 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Store Management, 18 to 20 June 2007, at Cooperative and Small Business Training Institute, Draunibota, Lami;
• Double Dialogues Conference, 4 to 6 July 2007, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Art Display to coincide with the Double Dialogues conference, 4 to 10 July 2007, Suva;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations Ball, August;
• Fiji Hibiscus Festival, 17 to 25 August 2007, Albert Park, Suva;
• Oceania Women's Hockey Qualifiers for 2008 Olympic Games, from 10 September 2007, Suva;
• World Invitational U18 Rugby League Championship, October 2007, Suva;
• 18th Hobie 16 World Championships, from 8 to 19 October 2007, Laucala Bay, Suva;
• Queen Victoria School 100th Anniversary Celebrations, week long celebrations, October 2007.

Recurring Events:

• Fiji Museum displays, daily at The Fiji Museum, Suva;
• Bridge night, every Monday nights, from 6.30 to 9.30pm, The Fiji Club, 1 Selbourne Street, Suva;
• Taekwondo classes, Mondays and Wednesdays, 4pm to 5.30pm - Junior class, 5.30pm to 7pm - Senior class, Suva Civic Centre;
• Wai Tui Cycles ‘After Work’ ride, 5pm every Mondays and Wednesdays, starts from Wai Tui Cycles, Garden City, Raiwai, Suva;
• Suva Orchid and Horticultural Group Meeting, from 5.30pm, every first Monday of the month, Wesley Church, Butt Street, Suva;
• Stormy Monday Blues Night, Mondays, from 9pm, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Victoria Parade;
• Rasta Tuesday, from 9pm, Tuesdays, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Suva;
• Talei Burns and Friends, every Wednesdays, 6pm to 10pm, The Malthouse, 88 Jerusalem Road (next to the Fiji Golf Club), Vatuwaqa, Suva;
• Jazz at the Holiday Inn, every Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 6pm to 10pm, Holiday Inn;
• Rucksack Club Meeting, every second Wednesday of the month, from 6.45pm, St Andrew's Church Hall, Suva;
• Alternate Rock, every Wednesdays, from 9pm, Golden Dragon Nightclub, Victoria Parade, Suva;
• Soul, funk, disco and classics DJ music, from 8pm, Fridays, Traps Lounge, Victoria Parade;
• Velocity Cycling Ride, from 7am, every Saturday, leaves from The Roc, FNPF Dolphins Plaza;
• FIT School of Arts, Culture and Design : Saturday Classes for Children (covering piano, art & craft, acting, choir), from Saturday, 3 March 2007, School of Arts, Culture & Design, Carpenter Street (near Garden City), Raiwai, Suva;
• Kid’s Arts Classes with Kathy Oyagawa, Saturdays, 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm, The Homestay, Princes Road, Tamavua, Suva;
• Saturday Night at JJ's for the Family : Dinner, Saturdays, from 6.30pm, JJ's on the Park, Suva;
• SideStep, every last Saturday of the month, 9pm to close, Traps Upstairs Lounge, Victoria Parade;
• Arts Village Firewalking Show, starts 11am, every Saturday, Grandstand, Arts Village, Pacific Harbour;
• The Roc Market, every third Sunday of the month, The Roc, Dolphins Plaza, Victoria Parade, Suva;
• Wai Tui Cycles Ride, every Sundays, from 6am, start at Wai Tui Cycles, Garden City, Raiwai, Suva;
• Sunday Church Services, 8am or 10.45am, Wesley Church, Butt Street;
• Jazz by the Beach, Sundays, 1pm to 5pm, Pearl South Pacific, Pacific Harbour.

For accommodation for any events, please check out a two bedroom rental home with seaviews in Suva on links at the right hand side of this blog or contact telephone (679) 3396427, (679) 9921427 or e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj directly. Those that wish to have their events included can contact me on the e-mail address provided above.

Donate for children this Easter

Children of Fiji are being encouraged to share their Easter spirit and donate something that will be distributed to every children's ward at local hospitals over the Easter weekend. Donation boxes are available at every Jack's of Fiji outlet.

Coconut Palmwood and Native Timber Furniture

Check out the Grand Easter Sale at Timber Sports (Fiji) Limited, Nand's Pharmacy Building, 550 Ratu Mara Road, Nabua. The company specialises in designing and making furniture from coconut palmwood and native timber. The sale is runs from 7.30am to 6.30pm each day from Thursday, 5 April, to Saturday, 7 April 2007. For information, call telephones (679) 3305337 or (679) 9209690.

Easter dinner at JJ's on the Park

Looking for a place for a family dinner this Saturday? Try out the special at "Saturday Night at JJ's for the Family". A F$5.00 menu for children is offered while the rest of the family eats off the award winning JJ's a la carte menu. After dinner, the kids can watch free movies and hunt for those Easter eggs while the parents can enjoy coffee, aperitifs and dessert. Starts from 6pm. Call telephone (679) 3305005 for reservations.

Fiji Easter Games this weekend in Suva

The Fiji Easter Games will be hosted again in Suva this weekend. Some of the sports fixtures scheduled include :

• Archery, to be held on Saturday, 7 April, and Sunday, 8 April 2007, at the St Joseph's School grounds. Competition starts at 9am, Saturday;
• Athletics (also the first trial for the 2007 Pacific Games), to be held on Friday, 6 April, and Saturday, 7 April 2007, at the National Stadium. Competition starts at 2pm, Friday;
• Basketball, to be held on Friday, 6 April, and Saturday, 7 April 2007, at the Vodafone Arena (formerly the FMF Dome). Competition starts 10am, Friday; and
• Cricket, to be held from Thursday, 5 April, to Monday, 9 April 2007, at Albert Park. Competition starts 9am, Thursday.

The Rugby League Eastern Franchise competition also continues on Saturday, 7 April 2007, from 9am at the Baseball grounds and Bidesi Park, Laucala Bay, Suva.

Note : If you require accommodation in Suva to attend or participate at these events, check out our two bedroom rental home through links at the right hand side of this blog. Our current rate per night is F$115.00 for the entire home. To contact us, e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephones (679) 3396427 or (679) 9921427.

National Indoor Stadium Changes Name

The National Indoor Stadium, formerly called the FMF Dome, at Laucala Bay, Suva, has changed its name. It will now be called the Vodafone Arena after Vodafone Fiji bought the naming rights to it. The Vodafone sponsorship will run for three years. The Stadium was built around 4 years ago with aid from the Chinese Government and was used for the 2003 South Pacific Games which was hosted by Fiji.

18th Hobie 16 World Championships

The 18th Hobie 16 World Championships will be held at Laucala Bay, Suva, from 8 to 19 October 2007. The organisers said today that about 60 boats from around the world have already confirmed their participation. For more information on the event, check out this website. Note : If you require accommodation in Suva during this event, try out our two bedroom rental home with sea views. Amenities provided include Personal Computer and Broadband Internet access, Sky TV, telephone and a full kitchen. Check out more details at the right hand side of this blog. To contact us, e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephones (679) 3396427 or (679) 9921427.

FMF Chow National Swimming Championships

The FMF Chow National Swimming Championships will be held at the National Aquatic Centre, Laucala Bay, Suva, from Friday, 20 April, to Sunday, 22 April 2007. The championships is being sponsored for the first time by FMF. Note : If you need accommodation in Suva for this event, check out our two bedroom rental home with sea views through links at the right hand side of this blog. The home has a Personal Computer and Broadband Internet access provided complimentary for guests' use. Sky TV, telephone and full kitchen provided. Rate is F$115.00 per night for entire home for a maximum of 4 guests.

Sights of Suva

Here are some photos of sights in Suva taken from www.flickr.com.

Looking for accommodation in Suva for Easter?

Looking for accommodation in Suva for Easter? Try our two bedroom rental home with sea views. Home has Sky TV, telephone, working desk, Personal Computer and complimentary Broadband Internet access, full kitchen. Starter pack of tea, coffee, milk, sugar, soaps, etc is provided. Towels and bed linen also provided. Rate is F$115.00 per night for the entire home. A limit on guest numbers applies. More details and photos can be seen through the appropriate links at the right hand side of this blog.

Indian Village Craft Mela (Festival)

The Indian Village Craft Mela (Festival) will be held from Thursday, 5 April, to Sunday, 15 April 2007 at the Suva Civic Auditorium. It will showcase handicrafts, jewellery, brass and metalware, sarees and garments, home furnishings, artefacts and many more. The show opens from 11am to 9pm daily on those days. Be there!

Promoting Suva Blog Readership for Jan to Mar 2007

Here are some interesting readership statistics for our Promoting Suva blog for the period 1 January to 31 March, 2007 :

• total number of visits (not page views, which would be higher) - 2,303;
• top 15 countries of origin of readers and no of visits per country - Fiji, 701; United States, 424; Australia, 411; New Zealand, 180; United Kingdom, 111; Canada, 81; Nigeria, 39; Cote D'Ivoire, 35; France, 22; Satellite Provider, 21; Germany, 20; Japan, 19; India, 19; Switzerland, 12; and Togo, 12;
• top 10 referring source - google[organic], 1,318; (direct)[(none)], 217; www2.blogger.com[referral], 201; auckland.craigslist.org[referral], 86; yahoo[organic], 72; sydney.craigslist.org[referral], 33; babasiga.blogspot.com[referral], 30; wellington.craigslist.org[referral], 29; msn[organic], 25; and blogger.com[referral], 24;
• top 20 keywords used in searches - promoting suva, 19; nukulau island, 10; gilbert veisamasama, 8; pacificsun.com.fj, 8; jese mucunabitu, 7; vacation rentals suva vatuwaqa, 6; fiji blog usp students, 6; alliance francaise suva, 6; www.pacificsun.com.fj, 6; tips on relocating, 5; suva short stay, 5; jone qovu, 5; hibiscusfiji, 4; kidanet fiji, 4; adi nacola, 4; sera tikotikoivatu, 4; tadra kahani 2006, 4; fijian desserts, 4; destination suva, 3; and local talent shows, 3.

Based on the results of keywords used for searches, I hope to write soon about Jese Mucunabitu, Jone Qovu, Adi Nacola and Fijian desserts on this blog. If anyone knows Jese Mucunabitu, Jone Qovu or Adi Nacola personally, pls let them know that other people wish to read about them and if they could e-mail any information/photos of them or their products to me on gilbert@connect.com.fj. I will have them posted onto the blog.

Anyone that has a recipe on exotic Fijian desserts that they wish to market or tell others, pls also e-mail it to us at the above-mentioned e-mail address and we will post them on the blog with your contact details.

Keep reading and enjoying our blog!

A jazz alternative and Talei Burns

For alternative jazzy and earthy sounds, check out the Malt House on Wednesday nights on Jerusalem Road, next to the Vatuwaqa Golf Course, Suva, where Talei Burns and Friends perform from 6pm to 10pm. Talei Burns is one of our very talented local singers whose vocals reminds one of artists like Aretha Franklin and Anita Baker. Talei is one of the singers that feature on the modified Fiji national anthem song produced by other local music artist Daniel Rae Costello, which appears from time to time on Fiji One Television.

Oceania Centre for Arts and Culture - 10th Anniversary

The Oceania Centre for Arts and Culture, University of the South Pacific, will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary at the Centre at Laucala Bay, Suva, on Thursday, 12 April 2007. There will be a program of dance and art displays on the day. A detailed program will be posted later. For more information, pls call the Oceania Centre on telephone (679) 3232832. Note : For accommodation in Suva which is more spacious and cheaper than our Suva hotels, try our two bedroom rental home with sea views. Details are available on links at the right hand side of this blog. To contact us, you can e-mail gilbert@connect.com.fj or call telephones (679) 3396427 or (679) 9921427.