I have heard that Fiji is an amazing place to experience but I don’t think that anyone was referring to experiencing a cyclone! I arrived in Nadi (large airport/city for international flights) at 5:30 am on Monday, January 28^th, and by 5:30 am on Tuesday we were at the start of Cyclone Gene. Cyclone Gene created havoc across Fiji and caused widespread blackouts and flooding after it hit and strengthened to a category two storm. The main city of Nadi was under 5 feet of water.            

Fortunately, I was at the Sofitel Resort on Denarau Island, which has a generator for electricity. Squalls of rain hit the island of Viti Lavu for over 5 days keeping me grounded in this hotel. I didn’t realize how hard hit the island was until I was able to venture out to another hotel. On the ride there I could see uprooted trees, flooded roads and water marks 4 feet high on some homes.            

There are more than 300 islands that play host to endless days of snorkeling in crystal seas, surfing on some of the world’s most formidable waves, sunning on secluded beaches, trekking through lush rainforests, and more.

This was my first experience with the laid back, unworried Fijian attitude. No one panicked or seem overly concerned. The Fijian culture is lively and colorful, and the source of the islands’ friendly and inviting atmosphere. I asked the staff if they needed to get home but most of them couldn’t get past Nadi even if they wanted. They were not too concerned about their families because they knew that the village would help each other through this event.            Fijians are the most friendly, soft spoken, generous people I have ever met. In fact to speak loudly in their culture is to be rude. Fijians don’t “steal” from anyone, they just “borrow”. At times I had to strain to hear what the store clerk was saying to me. But everyone I saw would greet me with a beautiful smile and a hardy “bula”.            

When the weather let up I was able to visit the Coral Coast of the main island of Viti Levu and visit Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji. It is a South Pacific dream created in an enchanting 40-acre garden on the

It wasn’t until my final 3 days that the ocean calmed enough to visit Tokoriki Resort in the Mamanuca islands. I didn’t understand why we couldn’t make it to the outer islands after the cyclone had passed until I actually got on the ferry to go to the resort. Having been to

But

The 3 days at Tokoriki, a small, intimate resort with only 29 bures, allowed me to decompress from the stress of a cyclone and an American life style. The bures were romantic and large. The staff was friendly and learned my name within a day. Kava ceremonies, snorkeling and visits to a native village can all be experienced here. I was even privy to the beautiful wedding of a couple from

I will be returning to

Here I am sitting in snowy and cold Connecticut thinking of where else I would rather be. The first place that comes to mind is Tahiti. If you have never been there is nowhere else in the world as jaw dropping gorgeous as Bora Bora. This awe inspiring place is truly a work of God.

Visit www.tahitihoneymoon.travel for pictures to get you through the cold winter. Or call Ellen Keralla t 1-800-691-0243 for your personalized itinerary.