Bellingham couple experiences peaceful relaxation of Turtle Island

| COURTESY PHOTO

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  Find more information about Turtle Island by going online to www.turtlefiji.com.

"It was heaven on earth," Dave says. "There's no way you can describe the sense of peace and relaxation there."

The couple returned to their Bellingham home in early June after spending eight days on the island, which is part of Fiji but is privately owned. The couple received the trip as a gift from friends who had bought vacation time on the island and had a free week to give away.

If it weren't a gift, the couple probably would never have been able to go. Though both are successful — Dave, 54, is an architect and Jean, 49, is a cranial therapist — the regular price to stay on the island would have been exorbitantly expensive. The exclusive island has 14 cabins and a staff of about 100, and it costs about $1,600 to $2,350 per couple, per night.

"You just think, ‘Wow, that's insane. Who would spend that kind of money?' " Dave says. But the Christensens say the relaxation might just be worth the high price.

"Usually I bring my work with me and I do all kinds of things whenever I'm on vacation. I always do that stuff," Dave says. "For the first time, I didn't (do any work). It was shocking."

What the couple did do was a lot of relaxing on their private beach, deep-sea fishing and eating. Tons of eating. The cost of the island included all activities and food, and their cabin — called a bure — had a 24-7 attendant, a "bure mama" named Kini.

"It took us awhile to get used to that," Dave says of the high level of service. "We bored her because we weren't asking for anything."

But after adjusting to the luxury, the couple found they loved the company of Kini and the other staff members, who were always attentive, always kind and often singing.

"They are the most amazing people," Jean says of the bure mamas. "You'll be heading down to dinner and hear your mama singing, and this beautiful voice floating behind you."

The couple enjoyed private meals in the bure or on the beach, but they had the most fun when they attended the large, group dinners.

"The family style dinners are a riot," Jean says. "You've got all these people from all over."

As the days on the island passed, the fell deeper in love with the island and the staff and guests they'd come to think of as friends. The attachment was difficult to break when the final day of vacation rolled around.

"I cried so hard when we flew away from the island," Jean says. "I started crying that last morning."

But there's always a chance they'll be back.

"The tradition is that they put a lei on you and you throw it out of the sea plane," Jean says. "If it comes back to shore, you'll be back to the island." The tide was out pretty far when they were leaving, so Jean isn't sure if the lei made it back to shore. The couple still has other spots around the world they'd like to see, but they're just not sure how they'll stack up against the idyllic splendor of Turtle Island.

"We just melted into this place. It was just unbelievable," Dave says. "It ruined every vacation for the rest of our lives."

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