When our trip threatened to turn sour, this cheery nation surprised us
'We only have $10 left, do you think we'll make it?' I ask the driver as I watch the numbers on the screen steadily tick over. Making eye contact through the mirror, he flicks off the meter with a grin. 'You'll make it. Bula!'
Is everyone in Fiji this friendly? From our brief experience, the answer is a resounding yes. In Lautoka the following day, we chat to a young man as we walk along a backstreet, exchanging information about our respective lives. 'Does Australia smell?' Richard asks innocently. 'My aunty lives in Brisbane, she says it smells.'
'What do you think about all these people coming off the cruise ship,' I then ask him. 'Does it drive you crazy when a ship's in port?'
'Honestly, no,' Richard replies. 'In Fiji, we don't want to rip you off. We just want to see everyone happy, having a good time while they are here. We want to see you smile, like Fijians smile.'
In Fiji, the ubiquitous 'Bula!' is a greeting with many meanings. It means hello and welcome; it can also be used as a cheers when drinking. The literal translation, however, is 'life' – when Fijians say it, they are wishing you good health and happiness. And that happiness, it seems, is contagious.
According to a recent study by Tourism Fiji in partnership with neuroscientist Dr Lila Landowski, the key elements that contribute to an overall feeling of happiness – including social interactions, a sense of community, gratitude and being connected to nature – are found in abundance in Fiji. Furthermore, by being immersed into the Fijian way of life, participants involved in the study discovered that happiness comes naturally when you're in Fiji.
'I've noticed that in Fiji, everyone acknowledges one another and says bula (hello). And we know that when you're saying hello to people, you feel more connected to community, and connection leads to increased feelings of belonging and happiness,' Dr Landowski reported.
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I'm staying in the east-facing Lodge Suite. It has butter-soft leather couches, a remote-controlled fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the room with light and on my first morning look out to the most stunning burnt-orange sunrise I've ever seen. A luxury bush suite at Spicers Sangoma The mini fridge is stocked with cold-pressed juices, organic sencha green tea from Camellia's Tea House, coffee, and a selection of wines, including a full-bodied First Creek Hunter Valley shiraz. There's also a selection of snacks including Josophan's Fairtrade Milk Belgian chocolate. Next door, the two-storey Chief Suite takes things up a notch with its heated mineral plunge pool and candlestick globe chandelier over the freestanding bathtub. Next time, maybe. Bathroom in a luxury bush suite The amenities Complete disconnection is encouraged but if you fancy time in the great outdoors you'll find QR codes on your coffee table linking to maps of nearby walking trails. I plan to do the two-hour Vale of Avoca Loop but wake up feeling too relaxed to venture outside. Private yoga and meditation classes are available on request, or you can mingle with fellow guests at the 15m infinity pool and sauna. Spa Anise by Spicers offers eight premium wellness treatments from 10am to 6pm each day. Spa Anise by Spicers offers eight premium wellness treatments from 10am to 6pm each day For more intrepid guests, Australian Luxury Escape partners with the retreat to provide full-day custom tours to Featherdale Wildlife Park, just under an hour's drive away, and guided walks through the 28ha Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens. At 5.30pm every evening staff serve mulled wine with marshmallows and chocolate s'mores around the outside fire pit. Later I return here to attempt to tick off some constellations on the retreat's Winter Stargazing checklist, but find myself simply content to gaze in wonder at the clarity of the Milky Way in the clear mountain sky. 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The Age
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What new airline alliances mean for you (and your frequent flyer points)
While the airline's fleet of 34 aircraft servicing 40 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East is dwarfed by the fleets and networks of Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, there are reasons why you might prefer Oman for a multi-day stopover. This is one of the most interesting, cultured and likeable of the Gulf states, with a male population that still regards a dagger in the waistband as an essential item of daily attire. In the capital, Muscat, the souk in the nearby commercial area of Mutrah still carries on its ancient business of spices and gold, supervised by the descendants of traders who once sold carpets, camel skins and frankincense between India and the Mediterranean. Beyond Muscat is a heroic landscape of forts and toothy mountain ranges, where an intricate system of irrigation has created a web of startling green oases. Local tour operators offer expeditions from Muscat to take in the desert towns, the towering dunes of the Wahiba Sands and the lost-in-time landscape of the Hajar Mountains. Australian passport holders benefit from visa-free admission to the Sultanate of Oman for stays of up to 14 days. I flew with Oman Air in March, business class return from Delhi to Cairo, and although these were relatively short flights aboard the airline's 737s, with no fully reclining seat, the aircraft, amenities, service and food and beverage were all on par with the stars of the Middle East triumvirate. An 11-hour layover at Muscat's airport was pain-free. This is arguably the best international airport in the region – quiet, calm and well supplied with relaxation areas. This is the second airline to join the alliance this year, after Fiji Airways became a full member in April. The Fijian national airline was previously a 'Oneworld Connect' member, which allowed Qantas frequent flyers to acquire and spend points with the airline, but full membership brings extra benefits, such as admission to Oneworld lounges when travelling aboard Fiji Airways. Ways to boost your frequent flyer points Get a co-branded credit card Loading A co-branded card issued jointly by a credit card issuer and an airline is the best way to accelerate your points-earning power because they earn points with a specific airline rather than reward points, which convert to airline points at a lesser rate. For example, the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card earns 2.25 Qantas points per dollar spent on eligible Qantas products and services, and 1.25 Qantas points on everyday purchases per dollar. The American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card comes with two Qantas points per dollar spent on Qantas products and services, 1.25 Qantas points on everyday business spend and 0.5 Qantas points on government, utilities and insurance per dollar. Both cards come with a huge points bump by way of a sign-up bonus. Use airline shopping malls Airlines have online shopping malls featuring preferred merchants whose merchandise ranges from fashion labels to sporting goods, technology and office supplies. You pay the same price as if you were shopping direct with the merchant, but you earn extra points, often at a rate better than one per dollar. Bank your points with the alliance that best suits your needs Airline alliances expand your travel opportunities. Frequent flyer points accrued with one airline can be used to buy seats or upgrades within the alliance in most cases, which gives you a far greater choice of destinations when you want to spend your loyalty points. There are also perks and privileges that apply at each alliance membership level, bringing benefits such as speedier check-in, priority luggage handling, preferential boarding and upgrades, and lounge access across the alliance member airlines. Loading There are three airline alliances, but for most of us, the ones that matter are Star Alliance and Oneworld. As a Oneworld member airline, Qantas allows flyers to use their points for flights on 14 other airlines including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways. While it is not a member of any alliance, Virgin Australia flyers acquire Velocity points and status credits that can be used for flights and upgrades on partner airlines including Singapore Airlines, United, ANA, Air New Zealand and Qatar Airways.
