Melissa McCoy's 'Birthday' Adventure

We have been in the country 6 nights.  It all started when...

We arrived chipper and ready to go and our Rosie’s Driver and personal concierge, Ponto,  was there waiting for us.  He is a gem and takes the best care of all of my staff and our clients.  Hey, he even took Paul and Madeleine to his cousins wedding!   Our first 3 nights were spent on the remote and truly amazing island of Kadavu at the little resort, Dive Kadavu. Dive Kadavu was the first resort my husband I ever enjoyed together in 1990 and my very first diving experience. Cava (pronouced Thava) has been at the resort the whole time and to this day graces the dinner table with his presence and laughter and plays ukulele and sings like an angel.   He is the Chiefs son, he is a chief to me.  He is part of the sheer joy of returning to this place.  

Dive Kadavu is a 2.5 ish star resort.   It’s geared toward divers as Kadavu has superior diving but it has so much more to offer.  I did not dive while I was there, although Lynne, one of our clients from Maui, went diving almost everyday (or was planning to). Her 80 year old mother just meandered around, snorkeling, reading and soaking in the pristine beauty of one of Fiji’s best beaches. Kadavu is similar in many respects to stepping back in time. The old ways, the old villages, the innocence remains. 1/2 of the island (or less) has no roads.  You get to Dive Kadavu after you land at a tiny landing strip, unload your luggage into a tiny clapboard airport building structure, and take a kind of tiny boat for a 15 minute boat ride where you roll up your pants to step foot in the water, the sand..  Stepping back in time.   And palm tree clad beach, littered with shells awaits.   Family run since the beginning of time,  don’t expect 5 star.   Expect some of the gentlest staff in Fiji, simple and respectful, doing a fine job. The food was the best it had been in years!   The owners, Bob and Rena, have upgraded a bit so a few more creature comforts are there to enjoy.

Highlights of Kadavu:
Susan and I had them take our selves and 2 kayaks up the west coast a bit,drop us off with some snacks and water, and we kayaked back to the resort after multiple stops for shelling, swimming, sunning and snacking. Mmmmm the 4 S’s!

Okay true confessions.   We had them mix up some fresh squeezed pina coladas (fresh coconut crème that is) and sweet Sue and I giggled our way down the coast.   Not to mention some serious shell collecting went on (take only empty shells) and shell envy set in!   For those that don’t know what shell envy is, it is an ailment that sets in when others find the shells that you really really want. Sometimes you have to give us something near and dear to “buy” the shell!  Once I offered Susan 1 night at the Fairmont Kealani in exchange for a shell that I wanted. Of course, you don’t have to wonder why she likes me as her best friend.  So Susan starts planning shell envy gifting prior to our trips to Fiji.  I did get back at her with one particular perfect shiny rare unique smooth and utterly delightful little shell.As best friends, shell envy never comes between us.   It only tends to make us better friends!  :)

The JAR BAR is a highlight at Dive Kadavu.  Unique in all of the South Pacific, Bob is a fun guy and he and only he could come up with using old spaghetti sauce jars to mix up fabulous drinks. Situated on the sand just feet from the beach itself,  you have not lived until you have a Pina Colada made with fresh coconut crème. Oh lord sooooo delicious.   And if that is not enough, the Mindless game, which Susan likes quite a bit, can keep you busy for hours.   Just swing that hook toward the tree and see if you can get it to land on the nail on the tree. I can do this 100 times and never “connect”. Susan on the other hand has it down and has success in less than 5 minutes. When the Band Boys start playing things really liven up. On this particular night, our clients Lynne and her 80 year old mom, Barbara, and my friend Sue, all were up doing the Tra la la. The Dive Kadavu Band Boys have delicious honeydew voices, you smile, you wiggle your feet and your heart leaps for joy. THESE are my people starts rolling around in my mind. I love these people.  I love this place. This happens every time. I fall in love with Kadavu and Fiji every time I come here. It’s like coming home each time I land in Fiji.

Listen to Melissa and Susan "Where are we today?


click here for Dive Kadavu pictures

Natokalau Village Meke:  These ARE my people. In my heart. Years ago when my husband and I ran our week long kayak camping trips here this was the village we ended at. Humble and motivated they were and will always remain the happy smiley village. Chief Tomasi, the head of the clan, is a dear fun joyful man. His flock, his village, has followed in kind with providing a heart warming fun experience every time we set foot in the village.  Now, Dive Kadavu and McCoy Travel offer the Natokalau meke experience.  We are boated for 30 + minutes across the island, wade up to our knees, walk up a hill and plant our selves on the floor of the Village Hall. The whole village is there as it is an event, to perform for visitors as it does not happen that often. Maybe 1-4 times a month. Not near enough as this is their only source of tourist income. Otherwise, their lives are ordinary and subsistence. To have these guests come to them brings them joy and laughter. They string the most fabulous salu salus (flower leis) and sing like angels in a performance fit for royalty. They dance (meke) and play and the girls laugh, the kids laugh and it’s all about en-joy ment.

Susan and I left Kadavu with bittersweet emotion.   We hated to leave, we loved the idea of moving on to other experiences.  There is no place like Kadavu in my book. 
Listen to Melissa and Susan "Where are we today?
click here for Dive Kadavu pictures