Well I am back On Tahiti after an amazing 2 weeks on Ninamu. No phones, no internet, just life as simple as it gets. And I loved every second of it. Even the hours I would wake up in the middle of the night itching the skin off my body cause of the 100+ mosquito bites (no exaggeration), or the burning of the sheets touching my skin because I was horribly sunburned (I swear I wore sunscreen Mom, it just washed off really fast..), it was still such a great time an experience. Being able to help out on the island really made time fly by, but the 4 hour surf sessions with Owen Wright, Dean Brady and Matty Wilkinson really blew by even faster. Originally I was just kind of supposed to help prepare the island for guests since they are due to open in February, but Chris, one of the coolest guys I have ever met who lives on the island and has been working on it for the past 2 years, informed us that Rip Curl was flying out some photographers and some surfers for a couple days to snag a swell that was coming through. So my role as helper turned into resort staff. Anyways turns out, the Rip Curl guys, Owen, Dean and Matt, as well their photographers, Ted and Johnny, were some of the nicest and fun people I have ever met. So cool, not demanding at all, and I completely fell off the wagon of doing my duties around the resort and just played with them the whole time. I was supposed to help with the boat stuff, and do whatever, but that all went out the window. I just ended up surfing with them for hours and talk to them about traveling and funny stuff. Awesome guys and so funny to hang around, as well as insane surfers. Actually the first day we all surfed together on the Left at 'the pass,' they were taking off so deep and getting 5+ second barrels and boosting enormous airs, so needless to say I tried to step up my game and ended up doing a late take off to seat drop on the reef. Ripped my trunks, ripped my feet up pretty nice, but nothing too bad. I was just glad I didn't damage any of my vitals... The very first day of surf, I was by myself at the left at the pass and scored. Head high, reeling right along the edge of dry reef, barreling, and not another soul out. The 85 degree water wasn't too bad either. After the first day there was always somebody else out.. it was brutal. Getting a world class wave with 1 or 2 other guys out, having a share?? I was spoiled after my first day. Pretty much every day we surfed, which was most every day, we had perfect waves. I can't remember any day it was not perfect. But enough about the waves, the island itself was an experience. I had never seen a coconut crab before. That was interesting. One of the gnarliest creatures I have come across. Some of the ones we caught were as big as a human head and their claws are so powerful they can cut through a coconut and would have no problem taking off a finger or two. But they were tasty. So sweet and delicious. Served up with some garlic butter or a garlic cream sauce, succulent to say the least. To catch these buggers we would have to go out in the daytime and break coconuts in half with an axe (that was my job, it was awesome) and then nail them to trees. Then once it was dark out, after dinner or whatever we would go out with flashlights and catch them eating the coconuts, grab them, tape their claws shut and together and then eat them the next night for dinner. We also did a little diving, Chris would spear fish and catch some tasty little reef fish for us for dinner. We would deep fry them or bake them usually. But I was amazing by the number of sharks. The first day I got there when we were loading up the boat I saw 3 sharks in like knee high water, just little guys about 3-4 feet, but the ones that were checking us out when we were diving were a little bigger. James, the chef, was with us and told me they get plenty to eat because the abundance of sea life around there. I was comforted in believing this and got a little frisky and started chasing them and trying to take pictures as close to them as i could. They were really curious and at times I times I thought I was on the menu, but nothing happened and it was a funny time. On the island there were also 3 dogs and 2 kittens, needless to say I spent a lot of my 'work time' playing with the doggies or the kitties. The kittens were so funny, they would fully battle eachother and fly all around the main room. and attack you if you weren't paying enough attention to them. I nearly got my nipple pierced by a tiny claw. The long haired white one was The Dude and the little tiger striped grey one was Donny, from the Big Lebowski, which was Chris' favorite movie. The kitties were so loving and cute but the dogs were my little buddies. The puppy of the 3, Astro, was my main buddy. He was 7 months, and would take swims with my and try to drown me. And if I was sitting on the shore he would have to have a paw on my and give me kisses when ever I looked his way. His mom and dad, Ginger and Chopper where also funny dogs. They loved to swim and have you throw corral for them in the water. They would just swim all over whining for you to throw more. Astro actually started sleeping outside my little room, I would have to look outside before i jumped down so I didn't land on the little guy. It was sad leaving him, he looked almost confused as to why I was leaving. But hopefully I will get back there and get to play again soon! I know there is so much I am forgetting to say, its hard to sum up such an amazing 2 weeks in such a small space. But being able to share an island with 3 amazing, diverse, cultured people was truly a blessing. Chris the legend and boss, and James and Stein the cooks, were so fun to hang around and we always had a laugh. We all loved the same movies, and had a very strong affection for Nutella, which we never seemed to have enough of.. probably because of me. Anyway, I am going to walk down the street now and find some food and head to bed early. Snuggle up in a nice cozy hotel bed after sleeping on the worlds weirdest mystery mattress in the fishermans' little room. I love you all, goodnight.
