Latest news with #LilaLandowski
The Age
24-06-2025
- The Age
When our trip threatened to turn sour, this cheery nation surprised us
Somehow, we've managed to lose a $10 note between the ATM and the day spa we are visiting in Suva, Fiji, leaving us with exactly $FJ10 to get back to the port to reboard our cruise on Celebrity Edge. It cost us $9.90 to get here; and now, stuck in traffic in torrential rain, we fear our taxi fare will exceed our meagre allocation. '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.
Sydney Morning Herald
24-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
When our trip threatened to turn sour, this cheery nation surprised us
Somehow, we've managed to lose a $10 note between the ATM and the day spa we are visiting in Suva, Fiji, leaving us with exactly $FJ10 to get back to the port to reboard our cruise on Celebrity Edge. It cost us $9.90 to get here; and now, stuck in traffic in torrential rain, we fear our taxi fare will exceed our meagre allocation. '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.
