Hi All,
Wow, what a treat for us to have the opportunity to spend my 60th birthday and our 38th wedding anniversary at the Namale resort in Fiji. Namale Resort for us is one of the top resorts we have ever been…..it is certainly in the Post Ranch (Big Sur, CA) league!!!! If you are interested here is the link: http://www.namalefiji.com/
Namale is owned and developed by Tony Robbins, one America’s leading life coaches, self-help author and motivational speaker. He became well known through his infomercials, seminars and self-help books. We have never read or attended any of his seminars but we know people who have had life changing experiences via Tony’s teachings. Tony’s story is quite impressive and what he has created at Namale is truly amazing. It’s like being wrapped in a cocoon of happiness!!!
Kathy and I spent our 20th wedding anniversary at Namale in 1996 and have always wanted to return. That was our first touch of the Fijian culture where we experienced some of the happiest, most content people we have ever met. And, they very much did not want our American lifestyle….too fast paced, too material oriented, too much stress, etc. That experience I think planted the seed for us to understand better more non-American cultures which manifested itself in our worldwide cruising lifestyle.
As many of you know, I have been quite bothered by my 60th birthday……you know, so much to do, so little time….too many aches and pains. Yes, I know all the platitudes….Kathy certainly gave them all to me…..but as our good friend JoJo says, birthdays with a zero in them truly suck…..she gets it and she is soooooo right!!!!
We were thinking while we were in Savusavu to go visit Namale (it is about 10 miles from here) to see all the improvements and if it was the same cultural experience. So, when we arrived in Savusavu I emailed Namale asking if we could visit, tour the resort and maybe have a birthday dinner. Nowdla, the general manager, wrote back asking why don’t we stay for a few nights as they are normally booked but she had some accommodations in between bookings and they always welcome repeat customers. Kathy and I looked at each other and we could not accept the invitation fast enough.
So, we readily accepted for last Monday (my actual birthday) and Tuesday. We thought we might take Mystic around the point and anchor in the small bay by the resort, but as we did further investigations we thought better of it…..the bay is quite exposed to the SE swells and would not be a good anchor spot. So, it was our good friends, Phil and Norma on Minnie B, to the rescue. They had just arrived in Savusavu after a very successful passage from New Zealand and readily agreed to watch Mystic and run the Gen periodically so we could go to our “love nest” as Phil liked to say:))))
When we arrived by the Namale van, we were immediately surrounded by 20 or so staff, all singing the Fijian welcome song, presenting us with flowers and a welcome drink….and then they all broke out in a Happy Birthday song…..in English and Fijian….and then we were presented with a birthday cake!!!! Everyone on the staff (thy have 150 for up to 40 guests) knew our story and they all wanted to know about our stay in 1996 and what has changed. Two of the employees were there in 1996 and sought us out and we had some good laughs reminiscing about those days!
Next up were massages. Well, live and learn. Kathy and I have been treating ourselves to couple massages for about 30 years now….when we go on vacations or for special occasions. We had asked for a couples, tandem massage. They first start you with a foot scrub on the veranda overlooking the Koro sea…..a truly beautiful South Pacific setting. Next you get on the massage tables and the massage begins…..but, wait, is that 2 hands or 4 hands…..a few moments later…..that is 4 hands…..oo-la-la……gotta love the Fijians…..so off to massage never never land I go only to have the brain kick in about 15 minutes later…..tandem, they must interpret as two masseurs…..oh, ok, I get it…..then the other voice kicks in….yeah, I bet you pay double too…..shut up, it’s my birthday, live a little….and back to never never land I went……Well, I have to say it was the BEST massage I have ever had…..right up there with Post Ranch…..it was twice the massage time on my neck, shoulders, back and calf….all, sore spots for me. I went in with a gimpy left calf muscle and came out with no pain. Kathy’s ankle was still swollen from when she fell down the stairs and she came out with no pain…..oh, wow!!!! (and yes, for those left brainers…..the cost is double:)))))
For the rest of the day/night it was champagne to celebrate and a scrumptious lobster dinner and then a very peaceful night’s rest listening to the ocean surf!!!
The second day we celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary (actual date is on May 20th so a bit early):
We were up early for a dive. In 1996 the reef was already under some stress from bleaching (from the water being too warm) and an attack from the crown of thorns. We were a bit concerned as we have seen too many damaged reefs in our travels. Well, indeed, the reef had been damaged but was making a remarkable comeback. We did see too many dead coral but on our second dive we saw brilliant coral and a host of small reef fish…..it was one of our better dives in quite a while!!!
That night there was a Kava bowl…..the traditional Fijian drink…..yoqona (Fijian for Kava) is from a pepper plant and is quite enjoyable…..there is typically a ceremony and lot’s of singing….it leaves you in a very mellow and relaxed state just perfect for a very restful night’s sleep!!!
So, that was it….a 2 day cocoon of happiness….sweet indeed!!!! AND as we left, Kathy told several people that we will see them again in 2 years for our 40th wedding anniversary and HER 60th birthday, you know, a very big deal birthday:)))))
Other happenings:
– opening and closing ceremonies with Minnie B…..they left the other day to do a quick tour of Fiji and Vanuatu before they go on passage eventually ending in Darwin!!. It was very sad to see them go but we know at some point our paths will cross again!! We will be following them in a few years!!!
– a quick trip to Labasa via cab. Labasa is on the north coast and is one of the major cities on Vanua Levu……a 2 hour cab ride!! We went there for Kathy to see a very well known dentist for a tooth repair. She saw the dentist, got the slightly broken tooth filled with resin and 20 minutes and $30 later we off to tour Labasa!!
– opening ceremony with Somerset – they also had a very successful passage from New Zealand
– fueled Mystic with 3400 liters (890 gallons) of fuel…..about a 4 hour process with a tanker from Labasa…..fuel is about $4.95/gal after taxes and with other fees it came to $5.14/gal…..oweeeee……that is the 3rd highest price we have ever paid…..#1 was $6.43 in Tonga and 2nd was $5.19 in Nassau Bahamas. Hopefully this will last us for all of Fiji and when we fill again as we leave Fiji for New Zealand we hopefully will be able to get duty free fuel!!
– We are preparing for a visit by our very good friends Craig and Jeanette. They arrive the end of next week and we will leave soon thereafter for the Taveuni area…..about 40 nm east of here which will be all upwind….ugh!!!
– So for next week we will just be relaxing here in Savusavu,doing a few projects on Mystic, may take Mystic to anchor around the Cousteau resort area (5 nm from here) and hopefully get in some dives with some of the operators here out to Namena!!
View from our Balcony of the Koro Sea
Kava Bowl
Birthday Dinner
Love Nest:))))
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