| Candy man designed the deck and structure to simply break apart in the face of a hurricanes pounding waves, hopefully leaving the piles and major timbers intact. In theory, after the next storm, they can simply collect the flotsam from the surrounding beaches and quickly rebuild.
Candy man hasn't slowed down much over the years. In addition to all the other jobs, he still prepares the Samoan feast every Wednesday, takes customers on guided rainforest tours in Alega's backyard, and guided snorkeling tours at night so that customers can catch their own lobster dinners. Candy man still tends bar throughout the week, and has received awards for his rescue of many swimmers stranded in the whirlpool of sea in Alega Ava.
And, of course, Tisa's has the best drainage system on the island!
Tisa was careful not to ruin the ambiance while improving the buildings. The marine and wildlife show us our limitations, and we are humbled by their presence. Tisa's barefoot bar still has no doors or walls. Cyclone Heta blew off parts of the roof during a recent attack (January 2004). Candyman got up in the middle of the night and began strapping the Barefoot Bar's roof down. |
Tisa didn't object, but related that "I secretly wished the bar to fall so we can build a new frame. Yet, voices of our customers were ringing in my ears: "Don't change a thing. Leave everything as it is! The bar is so beautiful, like a scene you would see in the movies." So, when Cyclone Heta left without blowing the Barefoot Bar shelter down, Tisa was actually relieved. "I'm grateful it didn't fall. Our accommodations are still standing and the outdoor shower still delivers cold water from our waterfall in the backyard like magic".
Nature is still the daily (and nightly) featured guest at Tisa's, and where ever possible the bar's design has favored the creatures of the realm. Every calm moonless night, coconut crabs find their way into Tisa's Barefoot Bar coconut crab crossings. Flying foxes and wildlife help themselves to breadfruits and other seed trees surrounding the barefoot bar. On cool, quiet evenings, Tisa's becomes a magical place, where dolphins jump out of the water in delight before the evening star escorts the full moon across the southeast sky at dusk. This is a place worth keeping protected! |
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| Tisa, Candy man & Candy (Credit: Tisa) |
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