The main picture of our blog has been updated (as you can see) and this is courteous of my wife's amazing photography skills.
So, Namale is amazing, the people are great, the food is spectacular, and the activities are endless.
But first, lets finish up the drama portion of the story:
Turtle Island. So we went to Turtle Island as the representative at the airport stated we could go their and extend our visit day to day, until we find out our resort (Namale) is ok and we can fly there. So, we hopped on a sea plane. I have never been on a sea plane before, only read about them in my Jimmy Buffett books. The smallest airplane I have been on was an 8-10 person puddle jumper. This plane fit a pilot and copilot, and four passengers. FOUR. We had to weigh everything that was going on the plane, including ourselves, and some of our baggage had to come on a later flight. Needless to say, the seaplane experience was ok, no major issues. When we arrived, there was a group from Turtle Island waiting with cocktails and a welcome sign. Little did we know they were luring us in to hold us captive!
In all honesty, our visit was short, but it was good until the last 1/2 hour or so. We arrived, were served breakfast, and assigned our very own momma. At Turtle Island, everyone is assigned a momma, and the momma is responsible for taking your food orders, doing your laundry, scheduling any activities, and pretty much making sure anything you could ever want or need is taken care of. It was pretty cool.
After breakfast, we went to our bure (meaning your room). We got settled in, took a shower, and tried to relax as much as possible. The people were very nice there, and we went on a tour of the island. They are pretty self-sufficient, but I guess you have to be when you are on a remote island.
Anyway, we went to dinner later that night, and afterwards we participated in the "kava ceremony". Kava is a powder that comes from a root. Upon first drink, it makes your tongue tingle, and the more you have, the sleepier you become. Jenny had one cup, and I had three. Then we retired for the evening.
Next day, we woke up, and we used the computer to check the email. We saw that our travel agent had tried to contact us, but no one at Turtle Island informed us. It felt very suspicious, as though the Turtle Island management were trying to keep us in the dark, so that we would have to stay there longer. So, we ended up using the cell phone of one of the natives, and got on the phone w/ Rosie Travels, who informed us that we could get on a flight to Namale later that day, either at 1pm or 4pm. We quickly mobilized, and spoke w/ the manager to see how to get back. They informed us that their plane will not be coming until 330pm, and that we would not make the 4pm flight to Namale, so we would have to spend a night at a hotel by the airport in Nadi and catch a flight the following morning. UNACCEPTABLE, was my mental response to that. So we asked how else could be get back to the mainland so we cna make a flight. She said we could "charter" their plane to come earlier, but we would have to pay for that. Her "ballpark" quote was 600 FJD ($300). We said fine, call them up to pick us up, so we can make it to our resort. She got on the phone and let us know that the pilot would not be able to leave the dock (seaplane remember) until 1230pm, so we would miss our 1pm flight (we did not tell her about the 4pm flight at first...) We then informed them that would be fine, and we would catch the later flight at 4pm (disappointing sigh from managment). Ok, so they organized the plane to come, and informed us that the charge would be 1200 FJD ($600). At this point, Jenny and I are thinking GET US OFF THIS FRICKIN ISLAND!!) So, it was finalized, we were leaving, and managment treated us ok from this point on. We had our bags packed, and they brought them to the dockman until the seaplane came. They got us one last cocktail, and sang a fairwell song to us. Then, we went back to the customer service person who confirmed the seaplane had left and we were all set...
Until the owner heard that we were leaving. He started screaming into the walkie-talkie (which everyone on the entire resort could hear as they all have one on the same channel. He was yelling about how no one stays for 1 night, there is a 4 night minimum, and why havent we charged them for their full stay. The customer service lady (his wife) informed him that we had an agreement that we only had to stay one night, and could extend day to day. He said he did not agree to this, that they never do that, and to charge us for a tleast four nights. Luckily, she disagreed, and said we would only be charged for one night (which we did not sign for yet). So, we were thankful to her for that. Then we waited around the dockman for the plane to come in. When the plane finally arrived, we say that "our charter" ended up bringing a plane-load of supplies for the resort...whatever, we were leaving. Then, just as they loaded our stuff on the plane, someone comes over to us with a bill to sign....FOR 5000 FJD ($2500)!!!!! They informed us this was for the charter. that Richard (the owner) said we had to be charged for the plane coming here and going back...At this point, we had no other choice. We signed the receipt, and got on the plane. As we informed the pilot of the seaplane, he informed us that Richard is always like that...screw him! He said, since we paid so much, he would take us on a great flight, and show us some beautiful sights...he did not inform us of the acrobatics he would perform as further entertainment!
And just when we thought we were free, as we get off the seaplane, here come two more receipts to sign...one for 4000FJD and another for 1000FJD. We were informed that these were for the remaining charges and for penalty for leaving early. We said we would take the receipts and work it out w/ the rep at the airport that we were heading to.
So, the adventure is over now, right? Everything will be paradise at last...that would be to easy for this couple. We get to the check-in area to find out...the 4pm flight is cancelled, and we will be put on the 7am flight the following morning. After expressing my unsatisfactoriness (not sure if that is a word) the airline called the local Namale rep to come speak to me, and Jenny went to get the Rosie Travels agent. They both showed up about the same time...same Rosie guy from our prior encounter (useless), so I looked to the Namale rep. She talked to the desk, made some phone calls and got us a free room for the night so we would be all set until our flight tomorrow. I calmy told her, NO, that is unacceptable. We are going to Namale tonight. I do not care how...seaplane, boat, helicopter, whatever. We want to go to Namale tonight, and we have no more money to pay for us to get there, so please help us. I literally told her that we would ride with goats, eggs, and supplies if we had to. She went and asked if there were any other flights anywhere, and came back with a smile. Someone who owns a small resort has a flight to another airport on the same island. She said we could fly with her, then a vehicle from Namale will come pick us up and drive us back...but the drive is 2hr long. I looked at Jenny and said "We are going to paradise tonight!"
The airport in Nadi (the main island) was the smallest one I had ever seen. It had one belt for luggage, and one security check where both departures and arrives went through. We were not given boarding passes, adn our passports were not checked at security. We were told our name was on a list, and to proceed to the plane.
Good Lord, talk about small planes, this plane was the dwarf spawn of a puddle jumper, fitting 6 passengers (yes, more than the seaplane, but felt much smaller inside). But the view...it was amazing! The mountains, the water, everything was breathtaking! Our flight was 1 1/2 hours, started off hot, after we got above the clouds, it started to get chili, and then, we landed at even a smaller airport. It consisted of one strip, and a small building, almost a hut (yes, that is the entire airport just beyond the plane!). That was it!
So, we arrived, and were greeted by a Namale rep, who took us over to the van. Inside was fresh fruit, and a cooler of Fiji water! The ride to the resort was also spectacular, great views, through some villages and towns, and we got there just after sunset. They had called ahead of us, and as we arrived, we were greeted by several natives singing to us, then they brought us some snacks. We met the managers, then went to dinner. Paradise exists, and we are here!
Although we live in Florida, the image to the left is not the "Eye of a Hurricane". As most of ou already know, Marc and I are expecting! This is the first sonogram taken @ ~ 8 weeks along, which we did on Marc's birthday, August 4th!
to eat at Jasper's Porch Restaurant, known for low country cooking. Does anyone know what LOW Country even means? Well it was a wonderful buffet of true southern soul cooking; fried chicken, chicken pot pie, fried okra and coconut cream pie! We then proceeded to North Carolina to see Sara and Dan where we enjoyed an evening of catching up and playing with their pup Bailey.
Marc's favorite meal was this Mahi Steak...wow and it was as thick as a steak. He fancied the Fish Kabobs too with more Mahi! And every morning, Marc found a way to inco
