Korovou, Fiji

Dairy farms and hostage crises - welcome to Korovou, the self-proclaimed "centre of Fiji's dairy industry." While this village 31 km from Nausori was established by British settlers after World War I, the land was donated by local Fijian chiefs. Today, descendants of those original settlers still operate a few dairy operations, though many others emigrated in the late 1960s, selling their land to Indo-Fijian investors. This angered some chiefs, who felt the land should have been returned to the Fijian people.

In 2000, during a period of political unrest, Korovou's local police station was stormed by supporters of an insurrectionist, who took 30 hostages. This sort of bureaucratic headache and safety risk is a persistent reality for those living in this remote village.

Ultimately, Korovou may appeal to those seeking a quieter, agricultural lifestyle, but the political turmoil and land disputes are ongoing challenges to consider before making the move.