Melissa describes Qamea Beach Resort
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Melissa's Review:
Qamea Resort and Spa continues
to live up to it’s reputation as one of Fiji’s most EXCLLENT
resorts. Why? It’s not the most 5 Star or striving for 6 Star
status resort, it IS a resort that strives to please it’s guests
with unique day adventure options, increased dining options and venues,
and a never ending awareness of what guests are looking for in a Fiji
vacation/ honeymoon/getaway. Qamea is not perfect but forever trying
to better themselves and outperform other resorts in staff attitude
and desire to have everyone leave happy. It may not be perfect but
if feels like heaven.
My time at Qamea was nothing short of
DELICIOUS.
Upon arrival to Fiji I was met by Rosies
and personally attended to my Maureen, who is a top staff member and
becoming a friend here in the Fiji Islands. The flight from Nadi to
Taveuni was one of the best of my life. The water was like a lake
with deep aqua and turquoise brush strokes painting Fiji’s beauty
before my eyes. Thunder clouds rose over the heart of Vanua Levu with
the clear calm skies stretching for eternity. The coastline along
Vanua Levu was stunning with coral heads clearly visible and pods
of dolphins appearing. By the time I arrived to Taveuni I was mesmerized
by the day, something like a mouthwatering appetizer before the main
course. Which is, in the case, Qamea Resort and Spa.
After the drive to the boat launch (launch
being used loosely to describe the beach you take off your shoes and
walk in the water to get on the boat), the boat ride to Qamea was
short (about 10 minutes) and smooth as silk. Having said that, seeing
the water this calm is not always the way it is but a joy to experience.
Upon arrival at Qamea the staff sang the Bula song, we all clapped
and smiled and it was a sweet reunion. It was only last June that
I experienced Qamea for the 1st time in 2 years. I love this place.
It whispers peace and tranquility and soul changing metamorphosis.
It could be the green, the bird songs that warble in the early AM,
at noon and when the sun starts to say “moce”. It could
also be that I can just swim out into the deep from the sandy area
in the middle of the resort, dive and float and feel the salty tropical
waters slide past every inch of me. All this and then we have the
resort, that offers service with a smile, little touches that increase
the guest experience and more.
Day 1: I did not much of anything. They delivered Vieve Cliquot,
french toast and fresh fruit to my Premium Spa Villa where I toasted
to being back in Fiji and a chance to be alone for a few hours. The
bubbly did it’s job and cloud nine arrived on que. The chase
lounge and I became one with the sun for a couple hours. I floated
away as the sounds of the birds melodic discussions wafted through
the air. It was what the doctor ordered. Relax, unwind, feel the green
and remember life's simple things. I had lunch delivered by room service
as well and enjoyed a healthy vegetable “stack” and a
delicious salad.
The sunset was soft and inviting and
I took out one of the kayaks to get a better view of the expanse of
“my” islands. Yes, my Fiji. It happens every time I come
here. I’m sold, I’m smitten and I start looking at land
again. My husband exclaims “NOT AGAIN”? Yes, again, and
worse than ever I’m afraid. The magenta sky touched the horizon
and then retreated back to its beginning. I took a swim and readied
myself for dinner in the tropics.
Evening cocktail time consisted of a wine tasting, compliments of
the Owners of the resort. It’s fun to be in the lounge before
dinner as all the guests share their days, bond and make new friends
for life. It happens in Fiji all the time. Dinner was delicious and
the walk back to my Bure with stars shimmering and pulsing to the
universes primal beat was “almost” too much to bare. So,
enter my new ipod nano and bose headset. It’s a whole new world
to dance under the stars, barefoot on the beach, toes in the water,
to the great tunes you have loaded on that little little thing called
an ipod. I was only going to sneak in once dance under the stars but
it turned in to about 10! I have to watch it though.. Not to sing.
I woke my husband up one night back home when I was singing to songs
with a headset on. “What’s that noise, he said!”!
Okay, so I can’t sing. I can dance! Moce good night!
Day 2: Woke up got
out of bed and it was Fabulous with a capitol F. I wake up with the
birds or before and on “vacation” (using the term loosely)
I am no different. In fact, I LOVE getting up early on vacation as
I LOVE the morning. The joys of reaching menopause (oops... Revealing
secrets) is that you need less sleep. Which is really good news for
Melissa. The more I have a day the better. Since I am “really”
working on this trip, the early AM gives me time to have a fresh pressed
cup of coffee (which I do not do at home), sneak in some computer
time (which I always do at home all day) and then order room service
breakfast and continue to listen to the birds as they delight my senses.
There are oodles of Taveuni Parrots on Qamea now. There never use
to be any. I am in bird heaven. I adore the Kula birds which squeak
and zip around with their brilliant green/red and deep purple color.
Love those birds! the morning is usually ushered in by the Vanua levu
Honeyeater creating magic with a voice like honey or a raucous cackle.
When it comes to songs, these little bird brains take the cake as
far as split personalities. For years I thought I was listening to
2 different birds.. Not so. One day I’ll find out why this happens.
Today I went Scuba Diving on the Purple
Wall. Although the water was murky (normal for this time of the year
due the warmth of the water), I saw a zillion darling little fishies
of purple and orange, lots of purple soft coral (not as much as the
old days but the reef is really coming back after the bout of coral
bleaching), and clown trigger fish which just happened to my favorite
fish.
it was fun and easy and it felt good to be diving. I am making myself
do this more and more. It’s really not exercise, but it is connecting
with the natural underwater world which is so much of what Fiji is
all about and I love.
The rest of the day was casual and I
had room service for dinner. Lovely dining is all I can say. Amidst
the birds and ocean lapping at the shore just in front of my bure.
To be early. A fabulous day and tomorrow is Nanuku Atoll!
Day 3: After a delicious
breakfast of fresh fruits and Eggs Neptune (fish instead of ham),
we all packed up for the trip I had been waiting for for months. Nanuku
Atoll is about 45 minutes by boat to a pristine pure white sand atoll.
The day was perfect, the islands that dotted the horizon all around
us were like jewels mounted on a blue velvet carpet. I know that there
are health benefits to having this kind of scenery being absorbed
by your eye balls. I envision that it comes in as healing light and
shapes, transforms into vibrant energy that permeates each and every
cell in your body and starts healing anything that ails you on contact?
What do you think?
The snorkeling was awesome. Several people saw white tipped sharks
(they don’t bother people). There were 15 itsy bitsy hawksbill
turtles in a dingy that had been rescued the day before. They had
just hatched, were making their way down to the water and being picked
off by crabs and birds. That is nature’s way but in Fiji, between
people and nature, the little guys don’t have much chance. These
little guys were coming back to the resort to be raised to be big
enough to go out on their own and not be someone’s next meal
so easily. There is a growing trend for this in Fiji. Thank goodness.
Anyway.. At the far end of the atoll I found a place to call my own
for a hour as I counted the baby turtle tracks all around me. Oodles!
it was a great day, I am turning brown as a coconut and happy as a
clam.
Dinner tonight was under the stars with
my host, Ron Eckstom. Stars and swaying palms and great food. Ron
is fun to chat with and we have become good friends. An extra benefit
to me from all the years of doing business in Fiji is the forming
of friends ships that go beyond just business. It doesn’t hurt
that we are Qamea’s biggest producer in the USA, something we
have to work diligently at to maintain. It’s fun. Ron is fun.
Qamea is fun. Fiji is just too much fun!
Day 4: Isa Lei to the
sweet and delightful staff at Qamea. One lady comes to me and hands
me a little flower. “Please, throw it in the water so it floats
back to shore. Then you will come back to us”. How my gosh,
it almost makes me cry just thinking about it! I will be back.. Susan
and I are Qamea bound in Sept for our Annual Fabulous Birthday Adventure.
My Friend Sue (as I refer to her) wishes that Sept was here now.
I visited Taveuni island Resort and
it is looking great. Do Cammick , the owner, was there to show me
around. I was very impressed with everything they have done. And the
view is still the best in all of the northern island group. Lori Evans
(from my office) and her daughter Shannon have just spent 2 days there.
We’ll be reporting their experiences later this month.
I arrive at Savu Savu airport to pick
up my rental jeep and head to Koro Sun Resort where I will staying
in Jack’s House at the very top of the resort.
More to come on this later.
Moce for now
Romantic
Fiji
The jewel of Fiji's
northern islands, Qamea is a breathtakingly beautiful island of dramatic
lush, green, tropical rainforest clad hills and white sand beaches.
Qamea Resort and Spa is an
intimate boutique resort catering to a maximum of 28 adults with only
fourteen luxuriously appointed air conditioned beachfront bures and
villas nestled among swaying coconut palms and lush tropical gardens,
all accomodation is beachfront with sweeping views of the ocean and
sunsets. The perfect destination for travellers seeking an authentic
Fijian experience.
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