SUGAR CITY OF LAUTOKA, FIJI

October 15, 2017 - day 15 of my TransPacific cruise found the Explorer of the Seas docked at the port city of Lautoka, Fiji.  Right behind Suva, Lautoka is the second largest city in Fiji and a 30-45 minute drive North of Nadi, Fiji. 

Docking in Lautoka, Fiji

I stepped off the ship at 8:30am and began walking to the downtown area.  The walk to downtown is listed as 1/2 mile but it seemed more like a mile and took close to an hour.  In my defense,  I did make two stops along the route.  

Checking prices at stores along the way to downtown

A stop to look at the old sugar cane rail cars

I was able to quickly locate a pharmacy and pickup much needed Sudafed and Robitussin to help quiet the annoying cold and cough I picked up on board.  Once that mission was accomplished I found myself at a local market. 

Local market

Local market

Tiny little pinneaple

At the local market

Next came a stop at the Sugar City Mall.  I joined up with friends on the walk and they needed to to exchange some currency.

Entrance to Sugar City Mall

Nicknamed the “Sugar City”,  Lautoka is in the heart of a very lucrative sugarcane belt with Lautoka Sugar Mill being the largest sugar cane mill in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Lautoka Sugar Mill

Sugar cane harvesting at Lautoka Sugar Mill

Fiji has the highest percentage of Hare Krishnas per capita in the world and is also the home to the largest International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple in the South Pacific, founded in 1977.  The Sri Krishna Kaliya Temple is where the Krishna Consciousness movement started.  

Sri Krishna Kaliya Temple in Lautoka, Fiji

Sri Krishna Kaliva Temple in Lautoka, Fiji

Sri Krishna Kaliva Temple in Lautoka, Fiji

Sri Krishna Kaliva Temple in Lautoka, Fiji

Sri Krishna Kaliva Temple in Lautoka, Fiji

Next I was interested in sampling some of the local beer of Fiji but quickly discovered that the town was almost entirely a “dry” town, presumably due to the heavy Hindu population here.  After asking several locals and receiving some very strange looks, our small party of four manage to find a very small, dark, dingy, out of the way place to rest and enjoy a local beer.  I am not sure I would have entered the place alone but felt a little more comfortable in a pack of four.  

Finding a local beer in Lautoka

Next it's off to find the local bus station.  I love taking local transportation in foreign countries.  

Local bus station at Lautoka, Fiji

Shortly after arriving at the station a local approached asking if we needed help.  I must have had that ‘deer in the headlight look’.   I discovered that you can not simply hop on a bus and pay a toll.  First you must purchase a bus ‘card’ from one of the individuals walking around looking very official.  Similar to a credit card, the cost was $10FJD or $5USD.  One card would prove to be sufficient for the four of us to ride. 

Nice clean buses

After another lengthy discussion with a local we were ushered to the ‘hospital’ bus that would take us on a circular route around town.  It was only called the ‘hospital’ bus because it made a stop there.  As we boarded, a very young boy was sitting in the front, scanned the pass and presented me with a receipt for the four of us.  The cost was $0.68FJD per person and the trip would take about an hour, presenting a good look at rural life in Lautoka. 

Local Scenery

Local Scenery

Local Scenery

Local Scenery

Local Scenery - Cemetery

Local Scenery

Local Scenery - the hospital

Local Scenery

Local Scenery

It was now early afternoon so the four of us began the walk back to the dock, arriving close to 2pm.  It was a good day overall, with good weather and good friends, but Lautoka is not a port I need to visit again.