Denarau Island as Jump Off Point to Paradise (Viti Levu, Fiji)

Denarau Island is a multi-use facility for Fiji's tourists located west of Viti Levu, Fiji's main island. Attached to the main land by a short causeway, the island is the home of Port Denarau, the jump off point for travels to the islands of the Mamanucas and the Yasawas further north. 

It has Port Denarau Shopping Center, cafes and restaurants like the Hard Rock Cafe, a bakery; a pizza parlor; an Indian, Chinese, Fijian and Italian restaurant; a New Zealand ice creamery; a jewelry shop; several spas and hair/nail salon; an apparel shop (Harrisons); a car rental shop; foreign exchange; a medical and diagnostic center; a Westpac Bank and even a law firm, if you require representation in Fiji - Heaven forbid. 

It is home to posh 5-star hotels like Radisson Blu, Westin, Hilton, Sheraton, Wyndham and Sofitel. Simply put, it's the most non-Fijian place in all of Fiji. It also has a beautiful 18-hole golf course you'll see on your way to the port and shopping center.

A taxi from Wailoaloa Beach or Nadi to Denarau will cost you around F$15-20 one-way. It takes about 10-15 minutes covering 9.4 kilometers. 

I haven't really explored much of Denarau. Most tourists are always on a rush to either catch their chartered boats or hop into their Sea Cruise buses back to their hotels and guesthouses in Nadi or Wailoaloa. 

I didn't want to miss my bus because it's free service when you book for an island visit or head to one of the islands for a few days via the Yasawa Flyer. 

Port Denarau has a small building littered with many travel booths where you can buy tours. You can exchange your Bula Pass vouchers here for your boarding formality. For my visit to Castaway Island (from that Tom Hanks movie), I worried about my passport because I forgot to take it with me. But it wasn't necessary as long as you have your tour voucher or Bula Pass with you. I think, though, it is safer to have your passport with you. 

There is no waiting hall inside the building. You just stand near the jetty outside and wait for your yacht to board. Like most of Fiji, the dynamics of boarding your ride are relaxed. 

If you love shopping, Denarau is the place for you, although the airport has several shops that are surprisingly cheaper than the ones I saw in Wailoaloa or Nadi. Airport shops are usually more expensive. Not in Fiji.

I am not sure if it's a good idea to hike from Denarau to Nadi, particularly if you have heavy luggage with you. Remember that Denarau is considered private property (supposedly) with commercial activity. You're there to dine or shop; board a boat, check in at one of the posh hotels, or play golf. In short, paying guests are welcome.

Rent an electric bike at F$9/hour or F$38/day.

The port's check-in counter. has friendly staff.

After check-in, you go outside and wait for calls to your ship's boarding. No benches here.

Directory of Shops, Services and Offices in Port Denarau Shopping Center:

This photo only courtesy of www.fiji.travel/us

#denarauisland   #fiji   #melanesia   #southpacific   #port

Light Mall - New Mall as an Avenue of Convenience

There probably is no place like Metro Manila, where, with its vast space, malls proliferate in sheer dizzying speed. This conurbation such as the National Capital Region of the Philippines has 15 cities and the municipality of Pateros. Henry Sy's SM Malls and the Gokongwei's Robinsons Malls are ubiquitous. I was able to visit the newly opened Light Mall which is basically an SMDC residential complex of hundreds of condominium units. To make this new community functional, a mini-mall has been incorporated into this residential space, making it convenient for everyone.

"Light" because the commercial space is limited to 2 levels, the mini-mall has "Savemore" (for your supermarket needs) which also carries a Bills Payment and a Foreign Exchange counter. There are 2 BDO ATM machines and a Security Bank machine at the 2nd floor. At the time of my visit, the BDO ATM beside the Bills Payment isn't operational just yet.

The ground floor's right wing has gadgets and cyber needs, and even a CD-R King. At the end of the hall is a Savemore supermarket. At the 2nd level, there's a Watson's, a Medical City Clinic, an Ace Hardware, a National Bookstore (which is yet to open); a Shakey's, Brownies, Mister Donut, and a Formosa Bakery selling Taiwanese pastries and cakes. There's no SM Department Store here, but there'a a cineplex with 3 small theaters (probably the smallest SM Cineplex in the country) with very limited seating (think 4-5 rows).

One place that's worth visiting here is the newly opened Chef Lau's Pugon Roasters. In its infancy, this fast food-styled restaurant is already selling to SRO crowd. Yes, despite its very limited seats, there's a considerable queue "lusting" after their best seller, the Pugon Roasted Fried Chicken (aside from their sizzling chicken sisig) at a measly PhP99 price (without the drinks). We couldn't resist ordering it, alongside a "Pork Liempo Roast" said to taste like "lechon". They also have a "Chicken Liver Surprise", at PhP79 only. The verdict: my pugon-roasted (furnace) chicken wasn't something I'd be back for, or the lechon liempo roast for that matter. But I will definitely try the chicken croquettes, the chicken liver, the pancit lucban and the fried chicken adobo - if I have the patience to join the queue. Check their menu and you'd know there's plenty of options to choose from.

I was thinking, this mall would somehow eat into the clientele that Robinson's Pioneer (which is just 2 blocks away) is currently enjoying. Such is the nature of commerce, and if for anything, competition is good for the consumers. The place isn't quite done yet, with some floors outside that are yet to be completed. There's a 4 or 5 level parking but we weren't allowed to drive up the ramp. They're probably for the exclusive use of the residents of their units. We had to settle for the exceedingly limited outside-parking at the back of the building (check the photo).

The now-operational Light Mall spells convenience when we need to pay our bills, rush into a new movie not available at Robinson's Pioneer (The Forum), or try out a new dish from Chef Lau's Pugon Roast or the interesting-looking Eduardo's Restaurant. There's also an LBC shop and a Quantum Gaming arcade. If north-bound traffic to Megamall or Galleria is hellish, Light Mall will suffice. The second level also has a direct link to MRT's Boni station.

This is the Eye in the Sky!  
 

Pugon Roast Chicken

Lechon Liempo Roast

Mango Cheese Cake at PhP120 a slice.

Chef Lau's Pugon Roast menu.

Eduardo's has affordable steaks among other stuff.

The Baikery. Note the spelling with "i" between "bake".

This Taiwanese bakery has delectable looking bread, cakes and pastries.

I am reminded of the Australian cake, the Pavlova to a certain degree.

List of shops and services at the Light Mall.

Fern Country en route to the outside parking at the back of the building.

Second photo above shows parking as you turn right to Madison Street from Edsa, then right again to the open parking.

Light Mall and Residences. This photo only courtesy of SM Megamall's website.