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My home office for the next 4 months. Not bad, eh? Fiji rocks.
Savusavu, Fiji has been the most beautiful, breathtaking location I’ve seen during my 39 month trip around the world.
The beaches? Stunning. The mountain views? Majestic.
Kelli and I are living in a place nestled on a jungle cliff, some 50 meters above the bay. We see the bay to our right and have an expansive view of the Pacific Ocean to our left.
This place has embodied paradise more than any spot I’ve seen on earth.
The only downside I see is 2 pronged; getting around is more challenging as motorbike renting is not as common a thing here, and there’s not a ton to do in town, or around the island.
Hey, that’s not the point in Savusavu.
We’re here to chill for the next 3 months.
Blogging from Paradise
My Fiji trip should inspire you to live your blogging dreams. Whatever drives you, use it, to push yourself through uncomfortable but freeing conditions.
5 years ago I spent my nights looking out on Newark Bay, in New Jersey, working as a pier guard.
Now I spend my nights looking out on the mighty Pacific Ocean, being blessed with a million dollar view.
Why? What prompted my change? I wanted to be free. I dreamed of being free, and did what it took, to be free.
Benefits of Reading this Post
Why are you blogging? What drives you? Your success or failure roots itself in your driver. Maybe you believe in your writing skills. Maybe you believe in your blog.
All well and good, but if you’re not inspired to be free you’ll turn around when things get tough.
We all face blogging obstacles but the retirees, the pro bloggers, the island hopping set, these folks know why they’re blogging.
They know why, and the why reason is more powerful than any fear, doubt, worry or other negative emotions they may experience. When the why emotion overpowers the fear emotion, you win. You succeed.
If you see me traveling all over the world you’ve likely dreamed yourself in the same scenario. Maybe you’ve pictured yourself lazing on the beach here in Fiji. Maybe you’ve seen yourself living in this crib, perched on a dramatic jungle cliff/hill, overlooking the water.
The emotions you generate during visualization feed into your why. Seeing me all around Fiji, and sharing why it rocks, can put your dreaming into overdrive.
You may snap out of a malaise, or simply take it up 10 notches, to retire, to island hop, and to follow a proven blogging strategy to fund your world travels.
Inspiration set it all in motion.
This blog post may be the spark you need to:
Make retirement plans
Start blogging
Ramp up your blogging efforts 5 notches
Create your own product
I intend to inspire you. Hence, seeing my mug all over paradise.
What do I love about Savusavu, Fiji?
Million Dollar View from this Place
Kelli and I are chilling up on a cliff, some 50 meters above the ocean. Our view is a million dollar deal. We’ve been told by locals that our view far surpasses the views from down the block, at the world renowned Jean Michel Cousteau Resort.
Here is a video I shot from our front deck in Savusavu. Enjoy!
The resort rates run from $800 to $3600 a night, by the way. We have a better view. Amazing, jaw-dropping view from here, and you can look back through each Fiji themed post to see at least 1 shot from our front deck.
We wake to this view each morning.
Another gorgeous day from the front deck in Savusavu, Fiji.
Something else, right?
The Friendly People
Fijian people are genuinely friendly. You will receive a “bula”, along with a cheery smile, when passing a local on the way into town, or when heading anywhere for that matter.
Fijans are kind, generous, and pretty much the nicest people I’ve come across during my world travels. They care. They are authentically interested in you, and will wave at ya, or smile, or “Bula” you, at the drop of a hat.
The thing is, the people here are really, really friendly. They aren’t looking for business, or to be hired, with a smile on their faces hiding a strong, not-too-well-hidden, agenda.
I can appreciate people who are struggling financially who use such approaches. Let’s face it; you struggle financially for a reason, and usually, it’s because you’re trying too hard to get something from someone, that you cease treating them like people and see them as dollar signs.
Here in Fiji they are treating Kelli and I like people in a warm, genuine way. They are kind.
Low Cost of Living
Kelli and I just noshed on lunch; chicken teriyaki with fries, a vegetarian quesadilla, a Fiji water and bottle of coke for FJD $31, which is roughly $15, USD.
Not bad at all.
The low cost of living combined with the stunning scenery and exclusive nature of Savusavu makes this quite the place to visit for 4 months.
We usually don’t spend more than $10 to $15 bucks between our trips to the market and the supermarket each day. Hey, we can afford more, but why spend more when you can save money, invest, and multiply your bankroll, so you can spend on what you truly value?
Chilling on the beach across the street from the house.
I don’t mind paying a few bucks for food and shelter but if I can capitalize on a strong exchange rate – USD terms – why not?
House Location
It’s not just the million dollar view we have here in the crib, it’s the fact that a few locals told us we’re living on the best real estate in Savusavu. Factor in that many Fijians told us – both on the main island, and here – that Savusavu is about the best spot in all of Fiji, and Kelli and I are sitting on about the most prime real estate, on perhaps the most desirable chain of tropical islands on earth.
You need to walk up a good 50 meters of winding driveway to reach the backyard. We are situated on a jungle cliff, with the right side of the property dominated by a jungle canopy of 3 or 4 monstrous trees.
The front yard is decorated with flowers, papaya trees, coconut trees and banana trees, spreading far and wide to the street.
Across the street – literally – is the bay. We fall asleep to the sound of Savusavu Bay gently lapping at the black, volcanic Fiji sands.
Again, we’ve been told many times by our neighbors that this is one of the better located houses in the community, let alone on the whole island. It’s exclusive, quiet, and set back.
This Is a House Sitting Gig
Did I mention we’re living here rent-free?
This is a house sitting job.
The Universe has some really neat ways and means of delivering you some pretty neat gifts.
We see plenty of these here in Savusavu.
A million dollar view for free…OK, save the airline tickets.
Part of living the blogging from paradise lifestyle involves manifesting stuff without having to pay a dime.
Kelli and I are not minimalists, but shoot; if you could live somewhere for free, with that somewhere being a place that would cost an appreciable amount of money each month, you may as well live there for free, right?
Healthy Fresh Produce
Savusavu town market offers you peppers, tomatoes, taro, bananas, papaya, and all manner of fresh, healthy, organic produce.
Kelli and I pick up fresh produce daily.
Keeps us healthy, and youthful looking.
We’ve also met a handful of friendly people selling produce at the market. We’re scheduled to visit one market lady’s village – on a stunning, gorgeous white sand beach – soon.
You have variety, freshness, and you can’t beat the price. 50 cents – USD – for a pretty darn big bag of tomatoes.
That’s good money.
We’ve noticed nice, fresh food in the local MH Supermarkets too. We buy our potatoes there, as well as rice and tasty snacks, canned goods and water. All prices are reasonable and the food quite tasty.
I pick dessert from the front yard. Papaya most of the time, but I’ll snag passion fruit too. There are hundreds of papaya just waiting to ripen. I see about another 5 to 10 turning each day. Dessert awaits folks.
Savusavu, Fiji
Coconut trees, regular banana trees and red banana trees are also on the premises. Each of these is still coming into season. When they’re ripe, or they fall, I’m harvesting. As for now I’m putting down 1 to 2 papaya each day, fresh picked.
The Fruit Bats by the Crib
The Fruit Bats – or Flying Foxes – cruise in from the jungle each night at dusk. Imagine a bat with a 4 to 5 foot wingspan, gliding in to raid the papaya, passion fruit and mango trees each night.
Watching these fascinating creatures and hearing them fight, trying to get the prime papaya-picking spot, is quite the experience.
I recall seeing some fruit bats in Nepal but these guys seem much more active and much more vocal too.
Sometimes they wake me in the middle of the night as they squawk but I don’t mind.
I’m visiting their home; they run the show. I’m cool with that. The fruit bats are my only competition for my fruit harvest, and really, we live in abundance. So nope, they are no competition at all when you think about it.
Solid Internet Connection
Without a good, dependable internet connection, we’d be in trouble.
I recall a harrowing month in Kerouatan, Bali, where we had access to the internet for only 15 minutes some days.
Not good, for people who make a living online.
Even though we’re working off a WiFi stick/device the internet has been outstanding. Most times, it’s up, and pretty darn quick too.
Internet connectivity is a big factor in whether or not we can visit a spot; we love doing stuff away from the computer but need at least a handful of hours daily for accessing the internet to get work done.
So far, so good, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, which is amazing to me.
TV
OK I admit it; I watch a bit of TV each night. Even in paradise. I’ve been treated to shows like:
The Dukes of Hazard
Glee
Burn Notice
And a ton of Rugby matches
For having only 3 channels, not bad at all. I also watched every World Cup match from the quarterfinals on in, here in Fiji, live.
Sunset from the driveway.
I spend more time admiring the beauty around us but it’s nice to unwind with some entertainment here and there, and Fiji has delivered.
We are treated to many different shows as well as Fiji news, New Zealand news, and Al Jazeera news. I deem Al Jazeera to be the top news site on earth, personally, even though I’m not a news hound at all. I pop in and watch 5 or 10 minutes to keep abreast of the world and to also focus on positive stories.
The Interesting Locals
I spoke to our neighbor Raja the other day. We’ll be meeting for Kava this Saturday on our front porch, which should be a real treat.
Anyway, he told the story of how he did the tech work for Tony Robbins at his world-famous Namale Resort here in Savusavu. I’ll flesh out the details later; needless to say, it was a way cool story about Tony Robbins’ generosity, and it gives a glimpse into why the guy is worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
We’ve also heard from locals that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sandra Bullock have paid visits to Savusavu over the years, as well as a handful of over movie stars and prominent business people.
The Kitties
Hazey, Tom, Sophie, Peggy Sue, and former resident Mady are the local kitties here. We love feeding them and showering them with and affection.
The kitties gladly soak up the love and gobble down the mackerel.
Mady was adopted by a local couple, so she’s now in a loving home.
I also sleep more at ease knowing when the kitties head out at night, they’re doing the killing.
We have cats in Fiji too. Say hello to Peggy Sue, Mady, Hazey and Sophie.
In places like Koh Lanta, Thailand, or Bali, cats are often killed by cobras or other venomous snakes, or eaten by 5 foot long monitor lizards or monstrous pythons. No venomous snakes exist on land here, nor do any larger lizards.
Also, other than centipedes – and we saw a fierce one on the road by the crib a few days ago, unfortunately, as road pizza – there are no aggressive insects here either. No scorpions, or venomous spiders.
The Cool Temperatures
We’re here during the high season. This means plenty of cool, relaxing temps, and dry air. If you’re an East Coast guy or gal in the US imagine Autumn-time.
We knew it’d be cool but on some nights, it drops into the low 60s, and feels like the 50s when the winds whip up.
Although I prefer hot and humid this has been a nice break from sweltering, humid spots like Pak Nam Pran and Koh Lanta in Thailand.
My Blog
Hey, Blogging from Paradise was launched here, as was my eBook.
Gotta add that one to the list.
We Are in Shape!
Kelli and I walk everywhere. That means 5 miles a day minimum, going into and back from town. On some days we do it twice. 10 miles of walking.
Me keeping fit in paradise. I carried this empty propane tank 2 miles into town and a full tank 50 meters up our driveway….which has a 20%, quad-popping, hamstring-overloading grade.
Factor in the 50 meter trudge up a steep grade when we hike up the driveway, usually carrying a bunch of groceries, and you can see why I’m getting both more ripped and packing on mass here in Savusavu.
Now, this can be inconvenient at times, but we’re doing justice to our tickers, and the fat is melting away, I must say.
Your Turn
I’m enjoying my time here in Savusavu so much.
Blogging from paradise has been the most thrilling period of my life. Fiji ranks right at the top of my most cherished destinations.
I derive great inspiration from living in a pristine, clean, uplifting environment, and hope to pass this energy on to you through my images, posts and blog.
Please subscribe to my find. Scroll up to find the form near the top of the page.
Share this post with your friends if you found it to be valuable.
Have you ever been to Fiji?
What is your favorite vacation spot?
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The post 14 Things I Love about Living in Savusavu Fiji (Read if You Love Pictures in Paradise) appeared first on Blogging From Paradise.