Destination Paradise Destination Paradise It’s all about you, the reader Destination Paradise Staff eing stationed overseas can have its setbacks. The opportunity to travel is not one of them. On Oscar Johnson the contrary, living in the Pacific offers you the chance to explore the many wonders of this re- Editor gion. And judging by the stories in our 2014 edition of Destination Paradise, your fellow readers Bare making the most of the opportunity. Yuko Okazaki This year’s magazine features first-person takes from readers who found their own piece of paradise Layout Designer in the Pacific region. From Fiji and Phuket to Bali and China, they’ll take you on an adventure that covers 11 destinations. Kat Nickola, whose family is stationed in Korea, takes us on four journeys, including hiking in Tibet and riding elephants in Laos. She and her family are definitely enjoying their Max D. Lederer Jr. time in the Pacific! Publisher Destination Paradise is just a taste of what Stars and Stripes offers. Our community newspapers – Lt. Col. Brian H. Porter, USAF Stripes Kanto, Stripes Okinawa, Stripes Guam and Stripes Korea – serve up travel and culture stories, restaurant reviews, and the latest happenings on and off the local bases. Commander And if you’re looking for even more ideas about things to do or see, check out Kanto.Stripes.com, Terry Wegner Okinawa.Stripes.com, Guam.Stripes.com or Korea.Stripes.com, all of which are packed with travel Business Operations Manager and dining information. These interactive sites allow you to share your experiences with your military Chris Carlson community – all you have to do is log on and submit your story. Publishing and Media Design Manager Stars and Stripes wants to hear from you and give you a voice. Whether it’s a story you want to Ed Kelin share with the rest of our audience, or if there’s something you’d like us to do better, reach out to us. We’ll get back to you, right away. I promise. Advertising and Circulation Manager Now it’s time to turn the page and escape to a piece of paradise. Enjoy the journey. Maria Kato Marketing Chris Carlson John Parker Publishing and Media Design Manager Interactive Media Manager Yoshifumi Yagisawa Production Manager Area Managers Monte Dauphin, Japan Scott Wheeler, Okinawa Rick Villanueva, Korea Multimedia Consultant Max Genao Doug Johnson Scott Jung Jason Lee Carolina Nishimoto Megumi Savoy China Hans Simpson Robert Zuckerman Page 30 Graphic Designers Korea Ayako Kamio Yukiyo Oda Laos Page 14 & 22 Kenichi Ogasawara Kayoko Shimoda Pages 36 Sales Support Ryoko Imahori Yoko Noro 14&22 Yuko Saito Yusuke Sato Tibet 30 Saori Tamanaha Hye Yong Yi Page 8 8 34 Beppu Destination Paradise 2014 is an exclusive Page 34 Stars and Stripes adverting supplement for members of the U.S. military community 18 36 26 serving overseas. The content herein is India unofficial and is not to be considered as Page 18 24 Philippines the official views of, or endorsed by, Stars and Stripes, the U.S. government, or the Page 26 Department of Defense. The advertising in this 38 publication does not constitute endorsement Phuket 6 by Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. All rights reserved. Cover and Page 24 contents may not be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission. Bali Email: [email protected] with Page 38 Fiji questions or comments. To subscribe to Stars and Stripes, email: SSPcirculation@stripes. Page 6 com. Mailing address: Unit 45002, APO AP 96338-5002 4 Destination Paradise 2014 Yes, we dove at “night and petted sharks.” My housband and I (we are the couple in the middle) had a great time with our friends in Fiji. his past summer my husband and I went ceremony. You toss a flower into the sea as you on a once-in-a-lifeatime scuba diving depart the island, and if the flower comes back trip to Beqa Lagoon resort on Beqa to the shore, you are said to be destined to re- TIsland, Fiji. We went back and forth on whether turn. I actually cried when we left. I’ve been on we should go because of the cost and the fact many a vacation and was never moved enough my husband received military orders to Japan to cry when it was time to leave. around that time. But, we’re so glad we did! We had a single bure (a private hut) and it We were worried we’d be too stressed out was lovely. We even had a few geckos visit and with the upcoming PCS move to enjoy a vaca- chirp at us. Oh! Be on the lookout for mon- tion, but we were wrong and we’d do it again goose as you walk the grounds. in a heartbeat. Some of the most amazing dive Just be sure to bring the right kind of sites in the world are in Fiji, so dive there if you adapter for your electronics. There is In- ever get the chance. ternet, but you have to pay for it. It was so We went with our local dive shop’s group of refreshing to be unplugged from Facebook, 12 and there were about 10 other email, and the web. People Dive guests outside our group actually talked to each other on the island that week. MY PARADISE during meals and we only This gave us a very low-key used our phones for pictures. It vacation with an exclusive feel to it. I’m unsure was so nice to be unplugged. into Fiji’s if it is true, but I heard there was a two-year One of my favorite things from this trip was wait to vacation at our Fiji location. After our waking up and falling asleep to the waves softly experience, I would not be surprised if that crashing in the distance. welcoming were the case. I took advantage of the complimentary I was most impressed with the kindness welcome foot massage the second day while and warmth of the locals who worked at the my husband, David, took a nap. The massage resort. They lived in a small village that you therapist was so friendly and had a great sense waters could see from the resort’s dining hall. We of humor. It was delightful and I knew that I were welcomed by the staff at the shore with a would want to look into their other services. traditional welcome song and we were offered Later in the week we treated ourselves to the fragrant garlands. Beqa signature massage and that was so very When it came time to leave they sent us off relaxing. The therapists are professional, kind, Story and photos by with a goodbye song and a traditional flower and experienced. And even though you were in ANGELA SCHNABEL 6 Destination Paradise 2014 a private hut, you could still see out across at The Bistro site were a lot of fun, but we the ocean and feel the sea breeze. got just as many great pictures, video, and The food was fabulous (the best resort memories from the other boat dives. Yes, we food I’ve ever had, actually), and the staff and dove at night and petted sharks. The night level of service were impeccable. They knew dive was just so fascinating. So many differ- your names within a few days, which blew ent sea creatures come out at night. my mind since we aren’t used to that kind of Seeing only by the beam of your flash- service in the States. light adds another level of adventure to I rarely eat dessert but had it every night scuba diving. You look to your left only to while in Fiji. We dove hard every day so see complete darkness until you shine your I figured my body could handle the extra light over. Then you see a small reflective calories. They also had lean and vegetarian dot. Then another. Reef sharks are check- options available. ing you out. What a rush! I will definitely The soups were delicious. The fish tasted do it again. One of our dive masters even wonderful. The steak was to die for; it was grabbed shark teeth for us from the bottom perfect. It took a lot of will power to avoid of The Bistro shark dive site. I turned them licking the plate. into necklaces that look pretty awesome. The fire walkers are exclusive to Beqa and they put on quite a show. The local villagers Taking a dive put on what they called a fashion show, but it was more of a cultural display of different The diving was unbelievable. I have outfits and dances. never experienced anything like it, and look Usually I’m ready to get back to the daily forward to other amazing dives in our future. grind and see our two fat cats. But this time We have dived at Playa del Carmen, but Fiji I found myself wishing the vacation would was the perfect place to start our scuba div- never end. I imagine it was mostly because ing bucket list. I knew the same daily grind and packing for I wore my traditional sarong at home The dive crew was very experienced and the move to Japan awaited us back home. after work for weeks and it took about two took us to wonderful dive sites. How they I also knew there would be no freshly cut months for me to get over my daily longing kept up with everyone I’ll never know.