Welcome to Paradise

This was always our greeting as we sailed into the moorings at Paradise resort Taveuni.   This time as we sailed towards Tavenui,  all we could say or think was OMG.  The lush green island was now brown and very different.   The palm trees that lined the shores and trees that hide buildings are either broken or gone. 

As we sailed close to the island we even  passed a dead cow floating by and of course lots of trees and coconuts.   People have been describing the destruction of Winston in some areas as like a bomb went off,  not have ever seen that before,  but  if you have describe it...yup a bomb went off.  We saw structures in the hills we have never seen before and the village that was always hidden behind green was now  visible showing the broken homes of some of our friends.
 

We needed assistance to pick up our mooring as it was not quite right yet, but Allan had made sure we had a safe place for us to tie up too.  So Christina the dive master came out to tie us off with a big a Bula smile, we did get our usual WELCOME to PARADISE.

 

As we looked around the whole topography of the shore line had changed there are new alcoves and rock walls, rock slides and fallen trees plus broken pieces of concrete. Even when I went in the water to just have a look at our mooring and a little snorkeling on what used to be our favorite house reef, I was shocked.  It was like a land slide had taken place, I guess it did, underwater.  Our mooring which used to have a chain wrapped thru a huge piece of rock and had about 30 feet of chain secured all over the place and visible, was now buried under the rubble and only 6 feet is showing, yup that is secure for sure.  Good news I did see some fish who came to say Welcome Back. 

 

We were invited for dinner at Terri and Allan's,  but first we had to first figure out where tie our dingy and climb up the shore as the dock is still there but no walkway.  So with our minds set on being mountain goats  we walking gingerly up over lava rocks.  On what used to be the grass lawn we wondered around and could not believe our eyes, it is so hard to describe the destruction, there were a few walls, but pretty well every structure had only 2 walls left.   The dive shop and compressor room were gone, spa gone, boat launch gone you get the picture.   WOW WOW.  We turned to each other and said we made the right choice to come and help.  Our reason for helping our friends rebuild their resort was by doing so, we were helping them and  the villages in the area by the villagers having  a place to work and make money to rebuild their lives.



As we made our way up to their house we saw some of the staff we have known for some time and as always and maybe even more special for us a BIG SMILE AND HUGS.  Yup the BIG HUGS continued up at the house. We brought in a bottle of bubbly and the stories began,  it was an amazing evening.

Paradise as we arrive

This was a bure  now just a few walls and a toilet

The next morning with jobs list  and our crew assigned off we went to rebuild Paradise

What did we do...

• Build 3 bures (Fijian type roofs/huts)
• Take down walls and ceilings, to be rebuilt.
• Put up fences
• Remove debris
• Clean up the old generator room and fuel depot, including cleaning all the jerry cans!
• Move rocks, the small ones became part of the walkways, the big ones part of walls
• Mix concrete
• Sort bottles, refundable vs to become land fill
• Paint trim, Put up trim
• Paint boards, trim you name it.
• Remove nails, so trim can be reused
• Took up tiles, for changing bure layouts and redecorating
• Temporary fixed plumbing and Toilets
• Repair water heaters
• Repair furniture, thrown around by Winston
• Started to build the ramp from the dock.

Removing the bamboo in the restaurant



Toss bottle into where concrete will be laid...yup landfill

The day began at 7:30  and finished at 4 pm.  Lunch was provided for over 60 staff and us...so if you have to feed the masses what do you serve you ask,  in Fiji it Dahl and rice....yup 6 days in a row.  actually the food was Dahl and rice, chick pea curry and rice and  curried eggs and rice on a three day rotation. Only  Cheryl doesn't  eat eggs, so it was Dhal six days in a row!  Cheryl will never eat Dahl again.  Dahl Dahl, Dahl!!!

Karen was assigned 4 women from the village who had never worked outside the home, but had fantastic attitudes.  They thought of themselves as doing men's works and they did it well.  We did so many different things, input from all so we did it smartly and the ladies did work , so we exceeded expectations on each task.  A group of ladies I would be delighted to work with anytime!

Karen and her ladies

 

Cheryl had a group men some of which she had worked with before, and some new guys who were farmers who had lost their  homes and crops and needed some money to rebuild and plant. So with our task of building bures, off we went rain or shine.. The joke is if there is ever another  cyclone everyone will hide in the roof of the bures my guys built. Yup it will be strong.  They were a joy to work with and I did learn a few more Fijian words for various tools and some other words....hummmm and they learned a few from me.  We all shared at least one or two ouches as we hit our fingers with a hammer or a cut from tin but all with a Bula smile at the end.

 


Cheryl and her guys.  Two of the bures that we built are behind us

During our weeks of helping the weather changed a bit one Sunday ...of course it was the day we were going to have a massage, so instead of a massage  we had to  run for shelter...first thought was just up to Viani Bay an 11 mile sail, but the waves and winds kept growing and in the wrong direction and our speed dropped to 2 knots and as we had a pass to go through, so we changed direction and went to Savusavu.  Karen figured it would take the same amount of time to go 11 miles or 40!  This was also good as we could get a fix of food other than, You guessed it, Dahl!  We also needed some fruit and veggies as  not much was available  in Taveuni..  So we called Waitui marina and by 6:30 pm we were safe and sound.

After a quick hello to everyone in Savasava and food shopping we set off again to head back to Paradise,  but oh no the weather and waves had different ideas, so we ducked into Viani bay for a night.  We could not believe it some 11 miles away from Tavenui and Paradise this little bay had absolutely no signs of a cyclone, not even a palm tree down, it was unbelievable did we mention. .....just 11 miles away. WOW. 

The next morning off we went as the weather settled and by 1pm we where back to work, but this time Cheryl refused to go in for Dahl so lunch on Interlude.....smart you bet.

For over a month we worked and once again the weather changed and maybe another cyclone oh boy, just what Fiji needs.  So off we ran  again to Savusavu but this time it was to stay until we head back to the big island to put the boat to bed for our trip back to Canada. So we took an afternoon off and prepared the boat and then went in to say our goodbyes to the staff, we had bought pop and cookies which has become a tradition for anyone of the volunteers who have flown into help, so with a little speech and lots of Hugs, we said see ya to our new and old  friends.  The staff where truly amazing. 

 That night before we left we had a lovely" thank you, goodbye,  see you soon", dinner hosted by Terri and Allan complete with Lobster yummmmy, plus a song that Terri and Allan composed to the theme song from the show Laverne and Shirley, it was so funny and  very  special.  We are so glad we went and helped and we wish them and the staff all the best for their opening of the New Paradise. If any group can do it,  it is the team of Paradise.  We will be back for sure in June.

We were not the only ones to go to help Paradise, Terri and Allan.  Phil, Ian, Travis, Bevan, Dip, Paddy where also there when we were, plus all the support from their friends and guest from all over the world who  had given support in one form or another, that speaks volumes for the resort and it staff.. People reaching out to help, awesome!   Disasters really do bring out the best in people.

As for the cyclone, in this case Zena, well it was definitely not a Winston in fact it passed the other side, so all we had was a little wind but all was good.....However the rain was another story...Fiji got hit with record  breaking rain...so glad we live in a boat and float. .Some areas had 11 feet of water on their main streets....okay Fiji has had enough. But no matter what happens you will always see a Fijian with a Big Bula Smile.

So we are now heading to the main island and to a mooring in Denarau to put the boat to bed for a month while we head to Canada so that is all from us  for now.