Of all the new flight routes added to Singapore in 2016, Fiji Island has generated the most buzz – and rightfully so. What other island vacation has a floating pizzeria, endless sand dunes and the footprints of a long-bearded Tom Hanks?
If you can’t afford the time or the air ticket to jet off, Fiji Airways is having a Virtual Rehab Roadshow at The Great Hall, Millenia Walk. Pop by anytime between 10am-10pm on 19-23 September and be transported to paradise with a VR experience and the Fijians’ hospitality.
The only 4D experience I remember involved screaming to Shrek the Movie at USS. You would too if you had your ankles tickled and water sprinkled on your face when Donkey sneezed!
Now replace those 3D goggles with a Virtual Reality headset, with which you can practically be anywhere on Earth. If the power of VR can take these fangirls on a date with Lee Min Ho, they can surely immerse you in the exotic sights and sounds of Fiji.
Step into The Great Hall and it becomes clear that a lot of thought went into the event set-up. The VR experience is stationed in a traditional Fijian thatched hut, or a Bure, where you can walk through the wonders of one of the happiest places on Earth.
You’ll be taken high up into the clouds and deep down into the ocean. The schools of fish and thick rainforests are so realistically created, they’re breathtaking. Stretch your palm out and a butterfly may even land gently on your finger.
If the queue for this unique experience is a tad too long, try the Samsung VR goggle booth instead, where you can enjoy a shortened but just as comprehensive run of virtual sightseeing.
A word that you’ll definitely hear here is Bula, which means hello, goodbye and even love. It’s a local greeting that celebrates life, joy and blessings of health.
Thanks to Lilo & Stitch, most of us know a Hawaiian dance when we see one, but I’ve never seen a Fijian dance all my life. At 12pm, 1pm, 6pm and 7pm, you can catch the artist group Rako Pasefika from Fiji, Rotuma and Rabi livening up the atmosphere. I loved how masculine and energetic the moves were when accompanied by the upbeat tunes!
And even if you can’t play an instrument or dance to save your life, you can at least match their heartwarming and friendly smiles for a picture.
The locals at any country will know their territory between than any TripAdvisor review or tourist guidebook. At the roadshow, you can chat with the bubbly cabin crew of Fiji Airways to find out where the softest sands or the clearest waters are. Fiji Airways’ cabin crew Lorna Emberson let us in on a beauty mudpool just 30 minutes from Nadi International Airport. We hear it guarantees a relaxing cleanse after your flight!
I also had a taste of her favourite delicacy called Kokoda – fresh fish slow-cooked in lemon marinade for a refreshing and citrusy flavor. When in Fiji, know you won’t go wrong with this when faced with a menu of foreign dish names.
If you’re stressed at work and dying to escape the minutia of everyday life, the 333 tropical islands at Fiji are now closer than ever with direct flights from Singapore.
Flights and 6-day trips start from $1,330 onwards, and while that is costlier than the average island getaway to Bali or Krabi, you get to go whitewater rafting at at Fiji’s ‘Grand Canyon’, snorkel with sharks in the Yasawa islands, and skydive over this spectacle of a destination.
Head down to the Fiji Airways’ Virtual Rehab Roadshow for a preview of Fiji and you could be one of the 20 lucky winners to walk away with an exclusive Happiness goodie bag!
Address: Millenia Walk , 9 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039596
Nearest MRT: Promenade
Event timings: 10 am – 10pm, 19-23 September
This post was brought to you by Fiji Airways.
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