businesstraveller.com OCTOBER^2017
waying lazily in
a rope hammock
strung between two
palms, I gaze through
half-closed eyes at the
glittering South Pacific,
mesmerised by the dramatic ombré
effect of inky blues blending into
an emerald lagoon. Add to this the
perfect cerulean sky, a crescent of
unblemished white sand and the
fact that the only way to get here is
a five-hour boat ride from Viti Levu
(Fiji’s main island), and I’m basically
living out my desert-island fantasies.
In fact, for filmmakers, this is the
archetypal island paradise, with
blockbusters from Blue Lagoon
to Castaway being filmed on
neighbouring islets in the Yasawa
and Mamanuca island archipelagos.
Several seasons of the hit TV
show Survivor have also been
filmed nearby.
The Yasawas and Mamanucas
are hugely popular with tourists
seeking a piece of heaven. A chain
of about 40 volcanic islands, they
range from literal strips of sand
in the ocean to hulking isles with
jungle-clad mountains, indigenous
village populations – and idyllic
resorts to suit a range of budgets.
At the ultra-luxury end are
options such as Turtle Island Resort- the actual film setting for the 1980
Blue Lagoon remake – which boasts
a US$2,600-a-night exclusive island
retreat accessible via private charter,
and has been the honeymoon
destination of choice for A-listers
such as Britney Spears. At the other
end of the spectrum are options
like Beachcomber Island – a
hedonistic party patch of sand for
those on a budget.
My tropical home for the next few
days falls somewhere in between:
the aptly named Blue Lagoon Beach
Resort on Nacula Island, one of
the northernmost Yasawa islands.
My beachfront bure (pronounced
booray) offers a clean, spacious
bedroom and a gorgeous outdoor
bathroom. It might not come with
a turndown service but I’m more
than content with the five-star
S
Time out in... Fiji I 63views from my private porch. And if
anything the patchy wifi reception
is helping to substantiate my
shipwrecked daydreams...
A burst of song from the beach
interrupts my glorious stupor; the
resort staff are welcoming a fresh
boatload of arrivals with cheerful
folk tunes kept in time with
enthusiastic hand-clapping and
ukulele accompaniment. Music, it
seems, is as much a part of life for
Fijians as breathing, or saying “Bula”- a customary greeting delivered
with gusto several times a day
(apparently it can also be used to
express anything from love and
friendship to boredom and farewells).
I watch as the new guests alight
on the crystal-clear shore, delighted
by the shoals of fish that have also
turned up in welcome. They’ve
arrived in time for lunch and we
all congregate in the beachfront
restaurant. Many of the island
resorts insist on all-inclusive meal
options, but there is plenty of
choice on offer, from Western dishes
to traditional delicacies such as
kokoda, a refreshing Fijian take on
ceviche with white fish marinated in
citrus juices and served in a creamy
coconut sauce.
After lunch, an itinerary of
optional island activities is arranged - should lazing on the beach
consuming fresh coconuts get
boring. One afternoon, I find myself
yelling enthusiastically at my hermit
crab (its shell painted with a number
four) to beat the others to the finish
line in a crab-racing competition.
Another activity sees us hacking
at palm leaves with machetes
and weaving them together into
traditional baskets – though
admittedly, I create something more
resembling a placemat.
The simple activities and relaxed
schedules are part of Fiji’s laid-
back charm, and as a city-dwelling
phone addict, I’m amazed how
easily I’ve adapted to “Fiji time” and
the total disconnect from modern
life... with just a hint of regret I’m
not able to flood my Instagram-feed
with jealousy-inducing posts.
Fiji Marriott Resort
Momi Bay