Mago Island, the privately owned property of a Hollywood A-list actor, makes for the ideal destination to take visitors to, says Krishneel Ram.
The Savusavu-born hotel worker says the island, owned by New York-born actor and movie director Mel Gibson’s island, off Vanuabalavu, Lau, is “mindblowing”.
He recommends the island as a destination for visitors to Fiji.
According to Mr Ram, Mago Island was “full of Fijian way of living”.
He worked on the island between 2012-2014 as an accounts officer.
About Mago
One of the largest private islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, it is still home to some descendants of the original inhabitants.
The island is specific in that it looks like a loaf of bread, it rises almost immediately from the beach, so it is flat in many places.
Mago, according to tropicalisland.net, is one of only a few islands in the world to have a runway up the hill, instead of flat down.
The same website says the island even has a school of its own.
The island has a land mass area of 5000 acres.
In the 1860s, a cotton plantation established by the Ryder brothers of Australia flourished there.
In 1884, there was a well-established sugar cane plantation, and a sugar mill on the island.
The mill closed in 1895 and was dismantled, with equipment used to enlarge the Penang Mill in Ra.
The Ryders were succeeded by the Borron family.
In early 2005, Mr Gibson purchased the isand from Japan’s Tokyu Corporation.
Satellite images of the island dating from 2008 show a dirt airstrip of 1,110metres.
There is also a lagoon, a grazing area for livestock.
A a loosely arranged village has an appearance is more indicative of a resort, according to Wikipedia.
Tourism Career
Meanwhile, Mr Ram also worked at:
■ Jean Michel Cousteau Resort, Savusavu,
■ Koro Sun Resort and Rainforest Spa, Savusavu, and
■ Grand Eastern Hotel.
He now works as an operation manager at Airport Ace Hotel, Nadi.
The 32-year-old plans to own a hotel in Fiji.
“I love my job, especially meeting and serving new customers and pushing myself to be creative in order to retain the best customer service,” he said.
Mr Ram is a Diploma graduate in Accounting and Economics.
He is also a Business Management graduate, majoring in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Manager.
What is your favourite place for coffee/pie?
Ethan’s Coffee Heaven.
I have visited the Labasa and Savusavu branches.
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Savusavu town, on the island of Vanua Levu in the province of Cakaudrove.
What is your favourite backyard spot?
Savusavu.
It’s my home town, and reminds me of my younger days.
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Laucala Island Resort is taking the trend one step further and offering a buyout that includes not just exclusive access to your own personal paradise, but also chartered flights aboard Fiji Airways’ new Airbus A350 – so you can satisfy your inner aviation geek while also indulging in one of the world’s most extravagant getaways. Photo: Forbes
What is one place in Fiji on your bucket list, and why?
Laucala Island.
It has one of Fiji’s luxurious resorts.
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