SEVERE Tropical Cyclone Winston may have caused a lot of destruction on the island of Koro, but what it did not take away was its beautiful scenery.
In this week’s travel page, we take you on a new journey of an island devastated by the Category 5 monster cyclone.
Koro is a volcanic island with a land area of 105.3 square kilometres. It is the seventh largest island in the country and forms part of the Lomaiviti Group. A roll-on, roll-off ferry services Koro twice weekly from Suva, and also connects Koro to Vanua Levu in the North. The island has an unusual airstrip on the east side near Namacu Village — you land uphill and take off downhill. This, you get to experience via the airline’s once-a-week scheduled flight from Suva.
About an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Muanivanua jetty is Nacamaki Village. the cyclone may have forced the villagers to relocate to higher ground but it did not take away its magnificent beach and rocky coastline.
Nacamaki is home to 205 villagers. Before the cyclone the total population was far greater, but many have left for greener pastures in urban centres. The village on the northern side of the island does a traditional turtle calling ceremony during which villagers chant songs and turtles rise to the surface.
The caller stands at Tuinaikasi, a high cliff located about a kilometre west of the village and repeats the ritual to summon the turtles to surface. If anyone points a finger or camera to the turtles, they will submerge.
Towards the beach stands the remains of two churches — a Methodist church which was built in 1918 and the other of a Catholic church which was built by French priests in 1903.
Clearly there are a lot of reports behind these historical buildings.
The Nacamaki beach is located on the northern part of the island.
Infinite blue skies above with promising sunshine is what greeted us. A warm breeze swirled around in all different directions.
Out in the open is the majestic deep blue Koro Sea and before you the shimmering sunlight making the sand sparkle like a thousand tiny jewels decorated by beautiful seashells.
On the far end of the beach is a rocky coastline with pools big enough to fit two people.
A dip into these pools reveals the fresh scent of the ocean and warm waters surround you as the waves crash on to the rocks.
You get to feel the cool breeze trickling your nose amid the sound of roaring waves as they roll into the rocks with a crashing halt and a wispy splash.
If you are already on the island or the next time you plan to visit the island, check out these volcanic rocks sculptured by the hand of nature, or take a walk on the beach — you will not regret it.
As they like to put it, if you have never been to the Nacamaki beach you have never been to Koro.
