17:18.253S
178:13.060E
15.-31. July 2015
Paradise for Sale -
Nananu-I-Ra, Viti Levu, Fiji
Some interesting facts
from wikipedia:
The island is 3.5
square kilometers and has a maximum elevation of 180 meters.
The name "Nananu-I-Ra" means "Daydream of the West" in Fijian.
Fijian mythology holds
that Nananu-I-Ra is the point of departure for disembodied
spirits leaving this world for the afterlife.
Nananu-I-Ra was once
used as an experimental sheep farm, a cotton plantation and
then a coconut plantation. At one point, Procter and Gamble
purchased three fourths of the island then sold it in 2004 to
a New
Zealand based Developer.
The general population is predominantly European retirees and
some Fijians with a permanent population of roughly 40 full
time residents. There are no roads on the island and the mode
of transportation is by foot.
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We enjoyed 2 lovely, mostly also pretty
windy days at this wonderful, somewhat
peculiar shaped island. We anchored in
the SW in front of many empty vacation
homes with beautifully kept gardens.
Right:
At low tide it was difficult to get
ashore, even with the kayak.
Below:
A little walk up the hill gives a lovely
view of our anchorage and
Malake Island
on the right.
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After
4 days underway and with no
civilization, we were delighted
to
find a MacDonalds!
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We
came for a simple but delicious dinner
(mostly because of absence of
preparation and dishes on board) and met
some nice guest. This gentleman just
turned 70 and bought an old resort at Taveuni
Island.
He had a construction company and no
inclination to lean back and relax for
long it seems!
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The
Developer keeps several paths all across
the island, surely to make it easy to
show the different areas to prospective
buyes ideal for daily walks and
explorations with lovely views.
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It is very
laid back here and yachties are welcome at the
budget pensions and at the Safari Lodge, a
backpacker place that offers kiting, surfing and
diving.
We found a
deserted hotel with beautiful suites on top of a
hill and were surprised to find ourselves walking
through a big forest with huge tree trunks, palm
trees and vines.
Michael
also caught up with a Swiss cruiser he had met in
2006 in Trinidad and Tobago!
Here's
his crew Sara who joined me for snorkel excursion
one day.
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