Scanning the carpet of sand, my eyes fixate on a quite stern face. Or is {that a} look of confusion? Possibly curiosity? No. That’s an unmistakably stern glare – and now he’s strolling in direction of me. Shit. Simply smile again sheepishly. Possibly if I make a fast prayer, these unrealistically silky, paper-white sands will swallow me complete.
Eyes locked, I ponder what trespassing legal guidelines appear to be on a speck of land within the Pacific Ocean. I wiggle my toes and push downwards, begging the seashore for divine intervention as my thoughts unhelpfully conjures up pictures of lost-at-sea floating cells. Surveying the absolutely-not-swaying palms and bath-like waters lapping the coral reefs, I search for backup. Nothing.
My fellow island invaders are nowhere to be seen.
Wading throughout the waters to Castaway Island after leaping off the fishing boat
“Are you misplaced?” he asks, extending his hand for a agency handshake. How do you reply a query like that once you’ve arrived at – what you’re shortly realising would possibly nicely be – a non-public island? Oh yeah, mate, sorry, I simply took a flawed flip at that turtle again there; my unhealthy.
The irony wasn’t misplaced on me that it was one other agency handshake and a cheeky grin that had acquired me into this case. A state of affairs very a lot of my very own making.
You see, just a few hours earlier, my mates and I had paddled by means of the mild ripples round Nadi’s costly resorts in direction of our two new mates: a pair of native fishermen with broad grins and a penchant, it appeared, for serving to out cost-cutting backpackers. We settled onto the canary yellow slats on their weathered boat, the engine rumbling, and shortly snaked away from the manicured palm timber of the posh resorts.
The place had been we going? No concept. I’d heard fisherman one – the youthful chap, with a depraved grin and bucket hat – point out Qalito Island yesterday, and a fast Google had proven me a correct atoll utopia.
However the the place wasn’t essential. I used to be sure we had been off to some unimaginable islands, and I hadn’t spent a fortune. Pleased days.
All aboard the unofficial island-hopping non-express
Our fishermen’s rendezvous had been deliberate out the night time earlier than. Below a crimson sky and a dreamy sundown – you already know, the sort that tropical islands appear to have a monopoly on – once we’d covertly met on the shoreline. Our secret mission had been fuelled by the reception desk of my lodge on Denarau Island, a man-made, on-the-beaten-path luxurious resort, the place upon asking the beaming concierge about day and boat journeys, I’d quickly realised that my understanding of the alternate fee wasn’t the issue – my financial institution steadiness was.
Later, over a cracking meal of freshly grilled fish that the beaming Fijian waitress had upsold me – her laughter was so contagious I’d have seemingly mentioned sure to a tin of tuna – I hatched a plan to seek out whoever had caught my lunch and ask if we may be a part of them the following day. So there we had been, below that sundown, agreeing on a value, a time and which palm tree to fulfill by. Our island hopping-come-fishing-support journey was set.
Quick ahead to now, and our first port of name was beginning to appear to be it is perhaps our final. Apparently, the the place was essential.
Not a nasty view for awaiting expulsion from a non-public island
As I open my shamefaced mouth to utter an uncomfortable sure, he follows with an equally agency, “I’ll be proper again,” gesturing me in direction of a bar stool. His tone could be very a lot sit-down and don’t transfer, quite than right here, have a Pina colada.
Mr Go well with turns and bounds throughout the seashore, the sands seemingly a tropical trampoline. Within the distance, an incoming craft – clearly rather more luxurious than our commandeered vessel – is quick approaching. It seems awfully just like the day journey tour I’d glossed over within the brochure the day earlier than.
Scanning the waters for indicators of my getaway fishing boat, I believe I spot our fishermen mates within the far distance, rods solid, looking their haul. The place my precise mates are, I don’t know. Maybe they’re being held prisoner in an overwater bungalow.
Absolute paradise at Castaway Island
As a singular guitar begins to serenade the brand new arrivals and meke dancers bounce onto the trampoline seashore, I believe how good this setting is. What an unimaginable personal island resort getaway.
I squint my eyes, letting the just about missable breeze and musical notes wash over me. In one other world – the place my pockets wasn’t as skinny as these grains of sand – it could possibly be me arriving on that boat. Me stepping out to a heartwarming Bula. Me having fun with a welcome cocktail on the restaurant’s veranda, which spills right down to the ocean’s million cerulean shades.
Opening my eyes, I look up and see a framed paddle above the bar. I believe the small plaque says one thing about Tom Hanks, and it begins to daybreak on me the place I’m. (I might later be taught that Qalito Island is also called Castaway Island – and sure, it’s as luxurious, secluded and, maybe most significantly, as personal because it sounds).
Castaway on this Island? Sure, please.
As Mr Go well with springs again, I realise I must get myself out of right here with somewhat white lie.
“I’m a journey author right here to go to the resort,” I blurt, stunning even myself. I look down at my brilliant blue palm tree-covered swim shorts as he scans my left hand, clutching a snorkel and towel. Only for a beat, I believe he’ll arrest me there after which.
Someway, Mr Go well with appears to battle again the urge to ask all of the wise questions. However how did you get right here? Why do you’ve gotten fins quite than a pen? And even, why are you mendacity to me?
As a substitute, he offers a real grin, a agency nod and each ounce of that famed Fijian hospitality. “Effectively, I higher provide the grand tour then.”
Only a stunning Bure bed room that I completely had no place being in.
And that’s how I by accident ended up on a one-man media go to to Castaway Island Resort, one of the luxurious islands I’ve ever seen. (Subsequently, and never so by accident, I did find yourself publishing an article about it in an Australian journal – so I suppose it’s not likely a lie once you observe by means of.)
We flit between manicured flower beds, dazzling personal villas, sunset-facing cabanas and swimming swimming pools soundtracked by trickling water options earlier than turning our consideration to the ocean view eating places, breezy bars, indulgent spa and the large bures by the seashore the place I may fortunately spend the remainder of my days.
I gawp, I gasp, and I ogle. After we lastly discover my two mates – or quite ‘colleagues’ – I assume Mr Go well with has accepted I’d seemingly by no means seen a non-public island resort earlier than, not to mention was I going to put in writing about one.
Thought it is perhaps a bit cheeky to ask to hang around for longer
10/10 work from our fishing mates for getting us on the island
Now seemingly trusted sufficient, we share goodbyes like life-long mates and hunt down the pre-arranged assembly level hidden from the resort’s reception. The directions, “Wade in a bit away from the shore”, now make much more sense. Our fishermen mates haul us again aboard, and we begin laughing amongst tubs of the morning’s catch.
“That island,” says fisherman two, pointing to a tiny speck within the distance, “that’s the one the place they filmed the Solid Away movie.”
Maybe it could have made much more sense for our fishermen mates to take us to that uninhabited, resort-free isle formally referred to as Modrik on our Fiji day journey. However how may I be mad?
So far as failed (and unplanned, I need to stress once more) trespassing makes an attempt go, I assume this one is about as attractive and welcoming as they get.
Wish to go to Castaway Island with an invite? Guide today tour. Even higher, keep on this stunning resort for just a few days.