We left on a Friday evening, heading for the Fiji Islands, and arrived at Nadi Airport (pronounced [na.ndi]) on the main island at about five in the morning on Sunday. Our time in transit was not nearly as long as it would seem, since flying over the international dateline adds an arbitrary day to the journey. Besides, while over the Pacific we were able to enjoy the hospitality of Air Pacific, Fiji’s national airline. Service was as warm and hospitable as the Fijian people and—unlike the current trend on North America’s airlines—everything offered was complimentary

Having collected our baggage and cleared customs—a relatively quick and efficient process—we boarded a small twin-engine plane, part of Air Pacific’s domestic fleet, for the 30 minute flight to Taveuni, a small community in a group of islands off the north-east coast of the main island. The view from the plane was spectacular; endless corral reefs surround the islands in an ocean of crystal clear water. 

Upon landing we heard an exuberant “Bula!,” the traditional Fijian greeting, and met our driver from the Qamea Resort and Spa. During a short drive along a dirt road, which wound through lush vegetation and a number of very small communities, we were informed with a merry laugh that the people here enjoyed a stress-free life with few cares other than a little fishing and farming to put food on the table.

Our modest tour ended at a beach where we waded out to a small launch captained by another representative of the resort for a 20 minute ride to the small island of Qamea, which is home to the Qamea Resort and Spa. Again, as we waded ashore, boisterous cries of ‘Bula!’ emanated from the staff waiting to assist us. We were lead off along a grassy trail through the 16 well-equipped luxury burres that make up this ‘couples only resort’ to the main building. Here we were given an introduction to the island and informed that daily-organized activities were posted on the wall behind the bar, but not to expect more than one event per day—definitely a relaxed environment.