Are the LOCAL buses from Nadi to Suva really "not to be missed"?

This quote from another site really makes something of taking a (longer) local bus if possible.
Do you agree that it's really worthwhile to do, at least one way? THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT!

A number of people ask about local bus timetables on the main island of Viti Levu, where the international airport, Nadi, is located. Just remember Fiji Time, so the buses may not be right on time. Catching a local bus can be so much cheaper and will give you an experience not to be missed. Make sure you say hello "Bula" to the locals on the buses. Some visitors like the adventure of using the local open-windowed buses so they can take in the sights and sounds of the passing scene

There is nothing special about those buses.
Just basic, cheap local public transport.
I have taken them many times.

Thanks! So, if I want to get to Suva, I won't "miss anything", ie local color, scenery, etc, by taking an express?

No.

t'anks again!

sit on the right hand side of the bus as you go to suva from Nadi, that way you get the best views of the coast, but it is better to sit on the left hand side of the bus from Suva to Nadi, there are only two seats, the other side has 3. You will stop at Sigotoka and time to buy a snack or go to the toilet, your seat will be taken by someone else, but thats a fact of life or ask someone staying on the bus to make sure its still empty when you come back. the express bus has room for luggage underneath. The fare was FJ16 last time I travelled.

Hey, thanks, jbint! Good to know, in fact I'll write it on my itinerary printout!

by express bus I mean Pacific, Sundowner or Sunbeam, not the little 10 seater type

What's the deal with the little 10-seaters?

I'll send you a message in reply

got your message. Thanks yet again for all your help!

Say, jbinternational, yet ANOTHER question came to mind: I just looked up "Fijian Cuisine" and read an article. It sounds interesting, too. Are Fijian restaurants generally ok for a Westerner? Any you'd recommend in Suva? Thanks yet again!

all the food is OK to eat, if you are there on the Saturday you can get food at the market, pulasami, served in a coconut half shell, cassava cake and other things wrapped in banana leaves. I'm vegetarian so skewed that way, most fijian foods are served with Dalo or cassava, cassava chips are great, you will also see fish meals at the market and OK to eat, most fijian food is cooked with onion chilli and coconut milk, you will probably miss one of the delights 'duruka' as its seasonal. they also eat a lot of fatty mutton from New Zealand, and I know you can get goat curry. hope that helps

sure does!

Somebody wrote on another page that the small cross-island buses are faster because they have less people. Any truth? (This interrogation will all be over soon...I leave for Fiji tomorrow night!) :-)

all the buses are always full, one question how much luggage have you got, and do a google on mini buses in fiji

Have one 36-inch duffel, maybe 35 pounds, and a shoulder bag, is all.

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