A Resort Off Savusavu -- Back in the 1970s, Pennsylvanians Tom and Joan Moody (she pronounces her name "Joanne") opened a small, isolated resort in Panama's San Blas Islands, catering to serious scuba divers and others who just wanted a total escape. Terrorists attacked their peaceful outpost in 1981, however, shooting and nearly killing Tom and tying up Joan. Fortunately, they both survived, but they soon sold their place and left Panama. After searching the South Pacific, they settled on dragon-shaped Namenalala, little more than a rocky ridge protruding from the Koro Sea about 32km (20 miles) south of Vanua Levu and covered with dense native forest and bush. The huge Namena barrier reef sweeps down from Vanua Levu and creates a gorgeous lagoon, which is an officially protected marine reserve. The Moodys also have designated most of Namenalala island as a nature preserve in order to protect a large colony of boobies that nest on the island, and sea turtles that climb onto some of the South Pacific's most gorgeous beaches to lay their eggs from November through February. In other words, the setting is remote and fascinating. So is their unique little resort.
