"Thank You Junko" - Bunaken Cha Cha

It was with great sadness that we said goodbye to, most probably our most important collaborator " Junko san" in February 2008. Junko started working at Cha Cha in April 2006 together with her boyfriend (Nyoman), she had just recently acquired her Instructor license and had approx.. 200 dives total, so still rather "green" to the world of Diving, Teaching and Diving Resort Management.
Things did not work out with Nyoman and within a couple of months he left to return to Bali, luckily for us Junko decided to remain at Cha Cha and so began our two year work relationship with her.
Up to that moment I had been very protective of all my diving guests, rarely would I allow them to be guided by any body else other than me, but slowly Junko proved that I could trust her, I often explained that guiding is guiding and teaching is teaching you can have good guides and good Instructors, but the key to success was to be good at both.
Over time Junko did become that person both attentive and sharp eyed at guiding and a patient and methodical Instructor, in this way she gained respect from us at Cha Cha and also from her "Fans"...our guests.
Now that she has left, there is definitely an empty feeling in Cha Cha from time to time, though I can joke with almost anybody, the "connection" we had with Junko was very special.....a friend that we could totally trust, joke and laugh with.

So we wish Junko all the best for her future, we miss her and I hope she knows and understand that Reiko & I are always here should she ever need anything and that our "small paradise" is always her home too.

Here is a little tribute to her....our good friend.