In the first part of August, The Captain traveled stateside to renew his USCG license. I spent the predominance of that time in Denarau Marina cleaning SY Amandla and preparing for our journey to Australia with the much welcome support of the Port2Port Rally team.
I also managed to enjoy a few afternoons of shore leave.
On my first outing, I did the resort hop on the Bula Bus and decided to treat myself to lunch at one of the hotels. After ordering, it looked like I might have to change my plans as the hotel restaurant did not accept cash and I wasn’t carrying my credit card. Luckily, a lovely couple from New Zealand did accept cash and offered to charge my lunch to their room.
After we’d settled the bill, I struck up a conversation with a wonderful couple from Baltimore. I wish I’d heard more of their awesome story, they certainly have a great one to tell, but they seemed more interested in learning about life at sea. They were kind enough to let me blather on about my adventures for two hours, asking all sorts of brilliant questions. They made my month!
On my second outing, I hopped the much more reasonably priced Westbus, and headed to Nadi to feed my addiction to color. My first stop was at the marketplace. We weren’t in need of any provisions so I just consumed a delightful array of color.
After leaving the market, I headed south along Queens Road to the Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple. It is the largest Hindu Temple in the Southern Hemisphere and an incredibly peaceful place.
I paid a very nominal entry fee and was given a sarong and wrap to cover my shoulders and knees as modest dress was required. I walked the grounds for quite some time soaking up the magnificent colors.
Before I knew it, The Captain was back on board, this time with his wonderful cousin Mary Lou in tow. And once again, it was anchors up for the crew of Amandla.
Next stop, Likuri Island.
Checking This One Into Lucile de Godoy’s Welcoming Photo 101 Rehab – The Clinic For Passionate Photographers
Lisa, I have to say your photos just get better and better. As always I love reading your posts.
Seriously Mark, I wish you wrote my blog posts and I just did the photography. Then I would love my blog :-). Thank you so much for your kind words and for hanging out with me in the virtual anchorage.
Lisa, your posts are making me so excited to be travelling to Fiji. You describe life on the islands so beautifully and your photos are stunning. I especially love the shot of the couple at the bus stop.
I’m telling you, every day that I am out there these days photographing Fiji I keep on thinking “Oh, Michelle is going to love this place’. CAN NOT WAIT to see what you capture here with your camera. Not long now. Thanks for your wonderful compliments.
That’s so nice. It sounds like you’ll be gone by the time I get there but very excited that you’re heading to Australia soon.
Current plan is to leave Fiji around 10 September, spend 3-4 weeks in New Caledonia, and then head to Sydney in mid-October. But who knows what the future holds, We may still be here when you arrive. If not in Fiji then definitely will see you in Australia at some point.
I am enjoying all the colours. I remember the temple but not that it is so large.
?It is always a pleasure to hear from you Ann and to share time with you in Fiji, albeit years apart. Interesting that you remember the Temple as smaller. I find that my memories from childhood often enlarge places and when I see them again I am surprised to find they are so small. Glad that you enjoyed the colors. Are the crocuses providing any color for you locally yet? ?
No crocuses yet. 🙁 Yes, I too remember some childhood places as bigger than they actually are. When we visited our old home in Lautoka I was amazed at how small it seemed, and the garden which was huge to my child’s mind wasn’t really big at all.
I will be visiting your old home on my way out of Fiji. Very excited.
Oh excellent. Give it a hug from me. Such wonderful memories I have.
Lisa, I agree with the comment above about the quality of your images. And we are not the only ones thinking like that. Congratulations with your photo featured by Cheri Lucas. It was a beauty. Only someone with a sharp eye and a refined sensibility would have made that shot.
These galleries are vibrant, and the stories they evoke pop out of my screen. Fiji has is definitely marked in my mind as a beautiful place with a lively, friendly and welcoming culture. You surely do justice to their culture and sights.
Thank you for being my friend and mentor Lucile. I always find respite in your wonderful clinic. And I truly appreciate your felicitations on my featured photo Lucile. To be counted among Cheri’s favorites was an unexpected treat.
Great post and pictures! Love it all.
This world is an amazing place, and you’re meeting it: up close and personal!
Thanks!
⚓️ Ahoy Barbara! Wonderful to hear from you! Hope you and Dan are doing well! Really pleased you liked the post. Thank you for your kind words!
Lisa,
While the Captains away the crew will play!
Stunning colors captured exceptionally well by a gifted eye!
….or clean the boat without the Captain simultaneously ripping the boat apart ⛵️. I am certain you can appreciate that sentiment given your own sailing experiences!
Thank you for visit and for your very kind words.
I enjoyed reading about your adventures while Fabio was away, Lisa. I found myself so relaxed and in the moment while I read. Thanks for the vicarious experience! -margo
Oh, for some reason, most of the photos didn’t show while I was reading the blog. I scrolled back and there they were. Wonderful!! The construction of your photos shows what a talented photographer you have become especially the ones in the market. -margo
Missing you Margo and you know we miss Steve! Thank you for your kind words. Lovely to have you aboard virtually but so which you both were really here. Come visit. You would find so much inspiration for your paintings here ?
How long have you been living on the sailboat Lisa? Does life at sea ever get lonely? I guess not because you always have company! Beautiful post. How long will it take you to sail to Austrailia?
Well thank you so much Nicole! You are very kind. I spent about 8 months at sea during my Atlantic ‘Sailbatical’ in 2011 and joined the crew of Amandla in early 2013. Funny enough, I tend to feel my loneliest in crowded anchorages ?. I much prefer the company of a few boats in more remote anchorages because I find that in those cases, I am able to get to know the other crews more intimately. We will set sail for Australia in mid-September but will stop over for a few weeks in New Caledonia. Our passage from New Caleodnia to Australia will take around days, Fingers crossed for fair winds and following seas.
Wonderful Lisa! Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful shots. Been following your travels with every post and living vicariously! Miss you 🙂
OMG, so miss you, Emma and Team Eclipse ⛵️. I mean it when I say that I think of you often. Will we ever be able to convince you to come for a visit? You would LOVE it here.
So colorful pictures! The first one is just adorable!
I am glad that you are also a lover of color. I so enjoy your wonderful photo blog. Thank you for your compliment!
Thank you, glad you like it!
Lovely images! I too love color and it appears that you were awash in it! Safe travels to your next destination. I’ve never been to Australia so I’m looking forward to those posts.
? Janis. You are wonderful to say so. I am thrilled that you will continue to sail with me virtually to Australia! Will leave Fiji in mid-Sept and then head to New Caledonia for a few weeks of baguettes, yummy cheese, and delicious red wine. Will then sail on to Australia and arrive in late October. So excited ?
Wow, Lisa, these are fabulous photos! I just read Lucile’s comment that one was featured by Cheri Lucas? congrats!!! Which one was featured? Your life sounds so amazing and idyllic, but I know crewing a sailboat is some work! Keep up the good work on the blog and the photos!!
☺️ Thank you for your very generous compliments and congratulations Terri! The featured image is here http://lisadorenfest.com/2015/08/08/the-ground-beneath-my-feet/ I’ve updated the post with a link to Cheri’s post. What can I say. It made my year ?. And regarding cruising life as idyllic ….much of the time it is but wherever you go, there is reality and sometimes, it’s not pretty. Still, even in my darkest moments I know that it is the life I want to live and I’m lucky to have the chance to live it ⛵️
Great photos. Looking forward to the photos from New Caledonia.
Well aren’t you wonderful to say so! Thank you ?
Looks like you had some wonderful solo adventures, Lisa. That temple is unbelievably gorgeous. So colorful! Glad to hear all is well with you and looking forward to tales from the next part of your adventure!
Thank you Britta ?. And you know how much I am looking forward to stories from your own adventure to Thailand! Woo Hoo!
We will both have such exciting stories to share. I can’t wait to start my journey as a world traveler!
I loved the two couples – the mynah birds and the people on the bench! And I can’t imagine the glorious feeling of not knowing exactly what the future holds on your trip … I know you have a general itinerary, but the flexibility you have and the incredibly good fortune to be doing exactly what you want to be doing with your life are so enticing. I hope some day to reach that point!
Funny how I was out photographing ‘couples’ during my 10 days solo. Must have been missing The Captain. I am so pleased that you loved the images.
And I can not tell you what a stretch it has been for me to ‘not know what the future holds’. I was a Project Manager in my career and find so much comfort in the illusion of plans ?. Thank goodness my love of the sea and travel has forced me to learn to be a bit more flexible. I am indeed blessed with good fortune to live the life I want and I am certain you will reach that point someday…you strike me as someone who can manifest her dreams.
You have such a gift for capturing moments! I love the rich colors in your photos. You make want to travel which is out of character for this homebody! Thanks for sharing your adventures with us
Well thank you for traveling with me virtually Kirsten and for being so generous with your compliments ?! I may be repeating myself here (apologies if I am) but the thing that I have learned most from travel photography is how much I wish I had picked up a camera before I left home. Now that I seem to think in pictures rather than words (something that changed when I set sail), I am kicking myself for all the cool shots I missed in my hometown. Still, the sailing life is perfect for a homebody (I am a bit of one too truth be told). Wherever you sail, you are home, its just the backyard that changes.
I just love your adventure, Lisa. God Bless you! Once again, you filled my heart with excitement for you.
? Hi Eva! Wonderful to hear from you. I am do pleased you enjoyed the post ?
As usual, your photos are wonderful. But that first one…strikingly beautiful. Are you using National Geographic photos on your blog? Have you thought of adding a map to your posts? Save us the time of googling these dang places?
Your National Geographic comment made me laugh out loud. A former colleague of mine told me once that he thought id never really set sail but rather I’d locked myself in an apartment on the Upper West Side of NYC and was creating this blog with pictures from the Internet.
Map idea is a good one…or at least a link to a map.
Thank you for your very kind words. Always a pleasure to hear from you ☺️
Maybe you should work for NatGeo?
You certainly know how to dazzle me Mr Badfish! I wish ?
What a wonderful way to live! I might never get up from sitting on C dock gazing at those reflections 🙂 Beauty of a shot, Lisa! But, yes- pass me a sarong and I’ll come strolling.
We have a spare sarong on board awaiting your arrival Jo! You are always welcome ⛵️.
What an amazing adventure! Lovely, colourful shots from both the temple and the market. Safe travels!
I am delighted that you think so Cardinal! Always a pleasure to have you aboard virtually ⚓️
[…] would like to give a warm welcome to Lisa Dorenfest from One Ocean at a Time, my preferred corporate fugitive, circumnavigating sailor, and aspiring photographer, who […]
Sounds like an amazing trip, Lisa. Although I enjoyed all the photos, I love the first one with the reflection of the boat in the water. Happy sailing.
janet
Thank you so much Janet! It is such a treat to happen upon such a pretty scene like that boat reflected in the water. My mom loves that photo too ?