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On Thursday, May 22, 1997, a traditional Fijian marriage ceremony or Vakamau began
at sunset on Dolphin Beach, Turtle Island with the punting of a Billi Billi across
the lagoon to the beat of the lali drum and the echoes of the Davui
(conch shells). A Fijian witness accompanied Terri Baker of Washington, D.C.,
who was about to wed Kevin Davis, on the trip in a raft bedecked with flowers. When
they reached the outdoor altar where the rites would take place, the punters, dressed
in long flax skirts that Fijian men put on for festive occasions, carried her ashore.
She and the groom wore identical native wedding costumes with billowing skirts of
tapa cloth, made from masi, the bark of the mulberry tree, and decoratively
printed with dyes from mangroves and other trees and plants.
The bride looked as beautiful as every bride should; we might have preferred to
see the groom in summer clothing or even a sulu, the sarong worn by both men
and women. A native Fijian Methodist minister from a neighboring island officiated.
Although the guests had been strangers to the couple until a few days ago, they were
as moved as if they were witnessing close friends tying the knot.
The nuptials were celebrated with a lovo, the most important Fijian feast
that is named for the underground oven in which the food is cooked. Earlier in the
day a pit was dug; meat, chicken, fish and seafood were wrapped in banana leaves;
placed on heated stones, which imparts a slightly smoky flavor; and covered with
earth.
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Bride on a Billi Billi, Turtle Island (Credit:
Edwin Fancher) |
We first met Terri and Kevin at the dock in Nadi when we boarded
the four-passenger seaplane to fly to Turtle Island. The resort
is about instant friendship and after a few minutes together we
were excited to learn that we would be attending their wedding several
days later. Other pleasant surprises would follow. The promotional
video that we received prior to our departure did not entirely sell
us on the place, and we wondered (type A's, listen) how we would
pass six days here. But we had also heard that couples from all
over the world visit repeatedly and can't get enough of the resort.
The 30-minute ride - we had some trepidation about the seaplane - turned out to be
an intoxicating adventure. Members of the staff welcome every arrival with songs,
punch and garlands. They even carried us from the plane through the water to the
beach, so our pants would not get soaked. With 80 in lodge help (40 more are employed
in construction), that kind of personal attention was the norm throughout our stay.
The housekeeper noticed that we had gathered up the flowers that were strewn over
the bed and other surfaces in the bure (Fijian-style hut) and inquired as
to whether we would prefer the hibiscus and frangipani to be placed in bowls. When
we suffered a bout of seasickness, three musicians appeared at our door with
lunch in a cooler and stayed to serenade and serve us. Management even arranged massages.
Because of their crowded schedule the masseuses couldn't get to us until after
8 p.m. Since it was dinnertime and we were departing the next morning, they cheerfully
returned at 8 a.m. Two of them working together on one person using the lomi lomi
technique was the ultimate in body treatments.
Guests are in closer contact with those who work here than at any other vacation
site and everyone is addressed by their first names. The Fijians are familiar, sincerely
friendly and greet everyone with a smiling bula, bula, saying hello
twice to each twosome they meet. On a sunset cruise where both employees and guests
shimmied to a song, "I want to taki, taki, shake it, shake it,"
the staff's laughter was genuine, and their pleasure in being part of the silliness
was not a pretense.
Turtle Island accommodates no more than 14 couples at one time. Richard Evanson,
owner of the 500-acre private island, is a booster of romance and hosts only those
in committed relationships. He says that his "vision was to create an atmosphere
for people to celebrate and rekindle their love."
The days take on a rhythm of their own and as soon as we got into the routine,
we sensed how much there was to do. You can arrive at any time in the week - the
minimum reservation is six nights - and experience a full round of activities. A
golf cart tour to acquaint newcomers with the facilities and the landscape is followed
by a boat trip around the island to view all 14 private beaches where they can swim,
sun and picnic.
Vacationers choose from a wide array of water sports like deep-sea fishing, kayaking,
snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing and sailing. They can stroll on the boardwalk
that skims the top of the mangroves, hike in the rain forest and horseback ride at
sunrise and sunset. On a dawn ride we started out in darkness, but by the time we
reached Shell Beach, where we had a champagne breakfast a deux, the
sun had burst into the sky.
Visits to the missionary school on a nearby island; shopping at the shell market;
observing the kava ceremony, an ancient ritual in which islanders share a
special brew, and the meke, a festival of song and dance; watching the movie,
"The Blue Lagoon," which was filmed here; and the turtle auctions are regular
events. Local fishermen are paid a fee for delivering live sea turtles to the resort.
After the bidding by guests, the winners scratch their initials on the shells, rendering
them worthless to poachers and souvenir hunters, and release them. The money goes
to the island's ecology projects.
Turtle Island accepted its first guests in 1980, Branson having acquired in
1972 the desolate property where he built his "14 dream houses."
He is planning to reduce the number to 12. Accommodations are in
two-room, two-bath bures stretching along the shore of the
fabled Blue Lagoon. Our newly renovated luxurious thatched-roof
hut (a large spa bath was added) is called mana, meaning
magic in Fijian. Each room is double-height with an intricate ceiling
woven from coconut leaves and is furnished with pieces, such as
graceful free-form tables, which are produced from local wood in
the island's workshop. We had a bed on the porch, our own expanse
of sand and a personal hammock near the water's edge.
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Releasing a sea turtle, Turtle Island (Credit: Edwin
Fancher) |
The expectation at a five-star hostelry is that the food will be terrific and
it was. A sizable garden supplies the kitchen with organic fruits and vegetables,
and freshly caught seafood is delivered daily. Chef Jeremy Dochery, protégé
of Jacques Reymond, owner of Australia's finest restaurant, plans the menus and selects
the wines, serving vintages from New Zealand, France, the U.S. and Australia. Reymond
visits four times a year to consult.
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are served at a communal table on the beach, but
not everyone elects to join the group. For the noontime meal order from a long list
of selections, cold seafood, salads and so forth, and a boat will deliver you and
your hamper to Rachel, Rose, Channel, Honeymoon or any
one of eight secluded coves. At twilight it is possible to dine out alone in a different
private place. One evening we went to Karen's Point, an elevated spot, where
a table was set and dinner was served. On Saturday night everyone is driven to Mountaintop
to share Dockery's delectable spread. When the lanterns are turned off and the darkness
closes in, you feel as though you can reach up and touch the stars.
And about that video; we were given a new one when we left, a record of our days
on Turtle Island. We liked it better than the one we had seen beforehand.
Turtle Island, Nadi Office, Nadi International Airport, Fiji. Tel. 679-722-780,
fax 679-720-007. Reservations, Turtle Holidays, 10906 N. E. 39th Street, Quad
205, Suite A-1, Vancouver, WA 98682. Tel. 800-255-4347, 360-256-4347, fax 360-253-3934.
Rates are $910 per couple per night including meals, beverages (wine, champagne
and spirits), all activities and laundry. Six-day minimum required. The seaplane
is $620 round trip for two. Charges are subject to an additional 10% Fijian
tax. Dress is casual and guests are limited to 33 pounds of luggage. www.turtlefiji.com
Turtle Island Escape, a package, will be in effect through Dec. 31, 1997 and
includes round trip airfare from Los Angeles, seaplane transfers, one night at the
Sheraton Royal Denarau in Nadi and five nights at Turtle Island. Rates are $3,860
per person. Call South Pacific Holidays, 800-940-1712.
The Republic of Fiji encompasses over 300 islands scattered across 200,000 square
miles of ocean. Viti Levu is the major one and the three largest cities are located
there: Nadi, home of the international airport; Suva, the capital; and Lautoka, the
second-largest metropolis.
A two-day stay in Nadi proved disappointing. Flight connections from the United
States to Turtle Island might require a one-night sleepover in Nadi, which seemed
sufficient to us as we did not find much of interest in the area.
A one and one-half hour drive to Lautoka provided some pretty scenery,
but there was nothing to see in town except the outdoor market. If we had gone to
Suva, a three-hour drive from Nadi, we could have taken the city tour,
visited the Museum at Thurston Gardens, the Orchid Island Cultural Center
and the handicraft center.
The most interesting site in Nadi is the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, founded
by Raymond Burr. On display are acres of orchids and other flowering plants. Guides
are included in the admission charge.
The Shotover Jet is a 30-minute ride on a narrow mangrove-lined corridor of the
Nadi River. The highlights are jet turns, with the boat repeatedly spinning 360 degrees.
The Garden of the Sleeping Giant, Wailoko Road, 6.5 km. north of the
airport. Open daily except Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tel. 679-520-347.
Shotover Jet, Denarau Island Marina. Tel. 679-750-400. Reservations essential.
The Sheraton Royal Denarau Resort is convenient to town and to the airport. Every
room in this Fijian-style hotel has a terrace, is decorated like a bure and
is surrounded by gardens. The daily program lists a full roster of activities -
aquaerobics, tennis, lawn bowls and windsurfing classes. A shuttle takes guests to
the Sheraton Fiji, which is next door.
Sheraton Royal Denarau Resort, P O Box 9081, Denarau Island. Tel. 800-325-3535,
679-750-000. Rates start at $220. www.starwood.com/sheraton/index.html
Nadi Handicraft Center, Jack's Handicrafts and Nad's Handicrafts
are all located on Main Street in the downtown area and sell native artifacts, such
as tapa cloth, woven baskets and mats, carved bowls, sulus, war clubs, cannibal
forks and Fijian combs. Branches of the shops can be found at the Sheraton Fiji and
are open longer hours than in town.
Nadi Handicraft Center, P O Box 618. Tel. 679-702-357. Open daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Jack's Handicrafts, P O Box 259. Tel. 679-700-417, 700-744. Open weekdays,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Nad's Handicrafts, P O Box 956618. Tel. 679-703-588. Open weekdays, 7:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m.; weekends 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The driest, coolest months are June to October, winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
Year-round daytime temperatures range from 68 to 90 degrees. The nights are
breezy. December through March are the hottest months. The summer season from
November through May brings rain, high humidity and possibly tornadoes to the
islands.
Fall 1997
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