Tropical Island
The island is ours. Here, in some way, we are young forever.― E. Lockhart
Now that the sun has set and I've checked out the things to do at night, even sampled the nightlife and visited the beach, it would be nice to go to some tropical island and lay on the sand. No half-clad natives, no kids, just me and thee laying on the sand! Interesting, islanders wish they were in a city and city folk wish they were on an island. No one seems content.
I can see it now. The sun has just come up on our Hawaiian retreat on Kaua'i and we set sail for our southern location, another island deep in the Pacific. An island just for us. A place we can truely call our own.
Kaua'i was nice but it had people, its' one real drawback. Being the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago and according to a 2010 census the population of Kauaʻi was almost 68,000 people, with the largest town being Kauaʻi.
It is a great day for sailing. Just enough wind to laboriously get us to where we want to go without a lot of tacking and altering course. After a few days of sailing we reach our island retreat but the sun is about to set so we wait... tomorrow we would lay on the beach and work on our tan.
No footprints! No volleyball net! Not one sign of human habitation. Just the sun, the sand, and .... A chance to satisfy those classic desert-isle fantasies while relaxing in my hammock.
Back to reality! I'm anchored a few yards off shore so when I need water or food it is only a swim away, or 5 minute row. I remember a story about a Frenchman... (true story!) anyway, this Frenchman went mad after two years of solitude on Mauritius. He tore his clothing to pieces in a fit of madness brought on by a diet of nothing but raw turtles. Sure glad I have those sandwiches. And what clothes?
Watch out for those Volcanic islands - makes for darkened sand - sometimes they are sinking. Maybe even growing. I recall reading about Japan's Niijima island, a volcano which broke through the ocean's surface last November. It has now merged with a nearby island.
Forget golden sands and swaying palms - the reality of solitude is different. Remember, solitude was a priority with you so no package tours for independent travelers, no hotels, no airport, no holiday reps, no night clubs, no restaurants, no jet skis nor safe sea swimming areas. Just you and, and you.
Do you know how hard it is to find a really uninhabited island? Especially in the Southern seas. When you can they are either Nature Reserves, lots of bird ca-ca and dense foliage, require permission or privately owned.
Best to just forget the whole idea of escaping to an uninhabited tropical island. Better to look at what is out there!
Fiji
Fiji offers so many different options to choose from. Whether you’re interested in secluded private island resorts, upmarket boutique properties, budget accommodations or large sprawling beach resorts, Fiji has something for everyone and almost any budget.
Seclusion! If you want something a bit more secluded then think of a Fiji resort in the Yasawa Islands. There you find an exclusive retreat on one of the most remote and unspoiled islands of Fiji. Just 18 luxury bungalows are hidden among the palms, each just a few steps from a pristine white beach.
Tahiti
Ah, the French Polynesia, the land of dreams.
If you want to relax and romance in one of the most beautiful spots in the world then a Tahiti holiday is ideal – and a bed in an overwater bungalow is a must!
If these two are just to commercialized for you perhaps an escape to some of the lesser islands would be best.
The Cook Islands
In a place that is a little less populated than the more popular spots in Fiji and Tahiti, the Cook Islands are a great option.
Rarotonga offers fun and the sun while Aitutaki is ideal if you want more privacy on an idyllic lagoon surrounded by uninhabited islands.
Hoping for a very French Polynesian overwater bungalow experience in the Cook Islands then the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort (left) is the spot for you.
Tonga
The “king of the uninhabited islands” is also an off the beaten track destination, meaning you’ll not only have beauty but privacy. Tonga is less about glamour and more about authenticity, and the lack of tourists in comparison to hot spots like Fiji and Tahiti mean you’ll feel like you have discovered a whole new world.
It’s hard to put your finger on it, but a tropical island resort has something very special about it. Sure, you're away from that hustle-and-bustle of city life but I think it is the beauty of island living combined with the convenience of being in the modern age.
The beach is definitely tropical looking with towering palm trees backed, on many islands, by steep forested hills. Patios often face a beautiful bay and maybe a solitary small island. Don't forget that endless horizon of clear calm sea. Everything moves at a much slower pace than back home and nothing beyond the ocean view seems to be that important any more.
Vacation is over... oh well, back to civilization. Darn!
A word of caution. It was the sign that caught my eye. It read "WANTED: Island Caretaker" and when I inquired within I was shone a picture (right) taken at low tide. I would have to bring my own umbrella during monsoon season. They provided the desk, the surfboard and the plane. Not for me... at least, not this one.
A word of caution. It was the sign that caught my eye. It read "WANTED: Island Caretaker" and when I inquired within I was shone a picture (right) taken at low tide. I would have to bring my own umbrella during monsoon season. They provided the desk, the surfboard and the plane. Not for me... at least, not this one.
*****
