A) Prepare yourself for Canada’s entry requirements. Ask yourself following questions:

1. Do I need a visa to travel to Canada? While some travellers require a visa to travel to Canada, many do not. Persons lawfully admitted to United States for permanent residence who have a Green card or can provide other evidence of permanent residence, British citizens and British Overseas Citizens who can be readmitted to United Kingdom, persons holding a valid and subsisting Special Administrative Region passport issued by Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of People’s Republic of China, as well as other particular individuals, do not require a visa to enter Canada. For a complete list, visit Government of Canada web site web site.

2. What type of identification will I need to present to Canada customs? Canada’s entry requirements entail that every visitor from out of country needs a valid passport. However, your birth certificate or certificate of citizenship, and a valid photo identification such as a drivers licence will also be accepted. If you are a permanent resident of U.S., don’t forget to bring your green card.

Also, if you are travelling with children, customs officers may ask detailed questions about them. Parents who share custody of their children should carry copies of legal custody documents. If you are travelling with a child who is not your own, you need a note from guardians granting you permission to have child with you.

The dazzling white beaches, clear warm waters, colorful coral reefs, and sunny dry climate make Yasawa Group an ideal tourist destination, but until recently a visit involved a rough sea voyage from Lautoka in an unsafe village boat—or an expensive seaplane flight from Nadi. Blue Lagoon Cruises has been plying Yasawas since 1950s, but passengers aboard those upscale vessels sleep in staterooms and local residents receive few benefits from their presence.

Until 1987 Rabuka coups in Suva, it was policy of Fiji government that Yasawas were closed to land-based tourism. The long years of military-backed government brought few changes to Yasawas, although Australian investors were allowed to construct deluxe Yasawa Island Resort (www.yasawa.com) in 1991 and a couple of village-operated backpacker camps sprang up on Wayasewa and Waya. Since early 1980s, local families have operated three small low-budget resorts on Tavewa Island, thanks largely to Tavewa's status as a freehold island beyond authority of Fijian chiefs. For decades local church leaders have portrayed tourism as a corrupting outside influence to be kept at arms length from village life.

It would be hard to imagine anything more removed from real Fijian life than Turtle Island Resort on Nanuya Levu Island, Fiji's ultimate hideaway for US$1,500-a-night crowd. Nanuya Levu has been freehold land since 1868, and in 1972 Richard Evanson used US$300,000 he earned in Southern California cable television business to buy island.

Evanson's Turtle Island Resort (www.turtlefiji.com) became prototype of Fiji's current crop of boutique island resorts, hosting notables like Hollywood stars and millionaires. Brooke Shields stayed here during 1980 filming of escapist classic The Blue Lagoon.

A self-styled environmentalist, Evanson has planted thousands of trees on his island, and has converted mangrove forests into tourist attractions by cleverly creating boardwalks. The resort's food is grown in organic gardens and power is generated using solar and wind energy. Each year a group of volunteer California eye specialists visits Turtle Island Resort to perform eye surgery on needy villagers or to equip them with donated prescription glasses.