Stepping off the boat we met the owners and they showed us the ropes, along with a very eager couple who’d been staying here before us. I was probably in a bit of a state of shock still at this point, as it was all I could do just to comprehend we were actually here for real. The photos can’t explain the warmth of the sun, the sounds, and smells of the place, and how the light flickered through the palm leaves… Then Cookie got a tutorial on how to open his first coconut… Machete time!
The main rules of the island?
“No climbing coconut trees” and “Be careful with the machete. You’re here on your own” :D…. And then… The owners got in their boat. And we were officially marooned!
We’ve been staying in DOC huts for the past 3 months, our new home for the next 3 weeks is not too dissimilar, it’s wood construction, painted DOC green. But this is way more luxurious than a hut, it has a flushing toilet, shower, two cats and a proper bed to sleep in. And even though we stayed at some mountain huts in some pretty impressive locations, they can’t hold a candle to this place perched just back from the white sand beach, over looking the blue lagoon, surrounded by lush green and coconuts everywhere.
Thursday say: I don’t like the look of these new castaways. I checked their luggage. No steak. Not even a Tesco’s tin of Cat Food… I can feel a mutiny coming on already.
Friday say: Welcome to the premier South Pacific cat sanctuary – One Paw Island. We’ve got cat flaps the size of windows and everything! There’s only 2 rules on One Paw Island – Feed King Friday and Queen Thursday three times daily, non of this dehydrated noodle muck, we only eat meat, oh and maybe a little bit of cake. Don’t let the monkey overlords stroke you, they’ve got the lurgy for sure.