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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

JEWELS IN THE PACIFIC/Fiji Here We Come




Guest Blog—Today we’re in Fiji thanks to Marguarite Clark, owner of Marguarite Clark Public Relations (Mc@mclarkpr.com). She penned this travel blog after recently returning to San Diego from the gorgeous island nation.

FIJI CHRONICLES--Those of us who travel for work know it isn’t as glamorous as it sounds, but you didn’t need to twist my arm when I was invited to Fiji for a press trip. My client is Royal Davui Island Resort Fiji – and my very tough job was to introduce a group of journalists to the many activities and natural beauty of this spectacular resort.

Royal Davui is not a hard sell. In fact, it’s just what you picture when envisioning the ultimate island getaway: a remote retreat with sapphire blue seas, white sandy beaches and towering palms. This über-exclusive escape is even situated atop a living barrier reef – home to a variety of fish, sea creatures and spectacular coral gardens. While I did spend time relaxing and reveling in the beauty of this amazing spot – each spacious room has sweeping ocean views and its own pool – a large portion of my days was consumed by the multitude of fun activities this idyllic island paradise offers.

Here’s a small sampling of my itinerary:
• I faced my fears and tried my hand at zip lining. I was reluctant at first, but I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of whisking through the verdant Wainadoi Forest (as long as I didn’t look down). Zip Fiji was our operator, and they did a fabulous job.

• A real highlight was a boat trip from the resort to the sand quay – a deserted sand bar – for swimming and breakfast (lower image). We spent hours at this remote spot luxuriating in complete solitude.

• I also did some game fishing. This was my first time fishing and with beginner’s luck I caught a large Spanish mackerel! We brought it back to the resort where the kitchen prepared my fresh catch for our lunch – it was delicious! In fact, the resort’s Banyan Restaurant & Bar is widely known for its ultra-fresh Pacific fusion cuisine. The food throughout my entire trip was incredible – lots of fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables.

• I was treated to some Fijian culture and visited a church service at a village on the nearby island, Beqa. The singing by the children and adults in their choir was spine tingling….simply amazing.

• Sea kayaking around the island of Royal Davui (top and middle image) was an incredible experience. The water is so clear that I could see perfectly the vibrant fish and coral below me.

• I had the chance to do some hobie cat sailing with a young guide – Kaveni Natadra – the current Fiji youth champion. That fellow can sail! Although, we went so fast that we ultimately tipped over! It was exhilarating, but quite a chore up righting our boat.

One of my favorite moments of the trip was visiting the former home of Raymond Burr – the famed Hollywood actor who starred in television’s Ironsides. Located on the main island, Viti Levu, his home has been transformed into a charming five-room boutique hotel called Fiji Orchid. We had a few hours before our departure back to LAX, so we dined there while awaiting our flight. . They took great care of us! It was a wonderful finale to a simply fabulous trip.

Resources:
www.royaldavui.com,
http://fijiorchid.com,
http://zip-fiji.com,

Images: Fiji Photography by David Lansing

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