From Regent of Fiji

Trade Winds

From Regent of Fiji to the Michoutouchkine Restaurant

For the first time since Cyclone Oscar struck in March ’B3, Fiji’s tourist industry came fully back on stream in late November with four days of festivities to mark the reopening of the Regent of Fiji on Denarau Beach, Nadi.

Cost of refurbishing the 300room hotel after the cyclone and a serious fire which struck

the hotel a few days after the cyclone is estimated at SF4 million.

An Australian travel writer who was there for the reopening celebrations wrote: “Guests at the ceremonies found it hard to believe tales of cyclone damage.

“The buildings showed no sign of ordeal, there’s more beach

than ever there was and with imported white sand and the gardens studded with transplant ed fully grown trees, are aston ishingly beautiful already.

“Highlight of the reopening was the official inauguration of the rebuilt hotel by Governor- General Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, on the Friday, which underlined the importance Fiji attaches to tourism.

“It also gave WOO guests from Fiji and overseas a rare chance to witness the traditional Fijian ritual associated with welcoming a visiting chief.”

At about the same time, West ward across the water in Port- Vila, another inauguration was under way: the grand opening of

the revamped Michoutouchkine Restaurant at Le Lagan Hotel. [There has long been a Michoutouchkine Restaurant at the hotel, but it is only recently that hand-painted fabrics by the Vanuatu capital’s famous resi dent artist have been hung inside as part of the restaurant’s decor.] As with the reopening of the Regent of Fiji, there were local dignitaries and foreign guests present for the occasion.

One visitor wrote, after de scribing the lavish fare at the dinner: “As you may guess, Le Lagon aims at making its new Michoutouchkine Restaurant an exclusive rendezvous. But cheer up, it hasn’t forgotten its less well-heeled friends.

“The general manager, Masa Nakauchi, is broadening the ap peal of the coffee shop and ter race restaurant menus. Drinks will also be cheaper in the New Year, and the use of equipment for all non-motorised water sports will be free."

PNG’s ethanol

petrol fuel

From early December, motorists in parts of Papua New Guinea were driving on “sugar fuel”.

Fuel sold in the Morobe, East ern Highlands and Chimbu Pro vinces contained ethanol, made from sugar produced in PNG’s Ramu Valley.

Minister for Minerals and Energy Francis Pusal said blend ing of ethanol and petrol would save the country more than K 1 million a year in foreign exchange.

Air Niugini cuts

Honolulu link

Air Niugini is to end its Port Moresby-Honolulu service from February 1.

Part of the reason was said to be the plan by the Australian airline Qantas to launch a service between the northern Queensland port of Cairns and Honolulu.

Air Niugini general manager Joe Tauvasa said the Boeing 707 aircraft previously used on the route would be switched to the Hong Kong-Port Moresby- Auckland service.