Since returning to Denarau from Suva, much of our time has been spent readying Amandla for our passage to New Caledonia.
Installing The Bimini
Our canvas designer Mohammed and the entire Marshall Sails team have done a marvelous job rebuilding protective cover for our cockpit (first the dodger and now the bimini). We are very pleased with the results.
Mohammed With The Captain
The Captain has completed his lengthy list of boat maintenance and Amandla has been cleaned top to bottom, so basically, we are ready to go. Now we are just waiting for a weather window.
And while we’ve waited, I’ve enjoyed three special treats.
The first was meeting the very talented photographer blogger, Michelle Hill from City Streets and This Melbourne Life. I was delighted when circumstances kept us in Fiji longer than expected, resulting in an overlap with Michelle’s sailing trip here.
While we were never in the same anchorage, Michelle kindly took the Malolo Cat from Musket Cove to Denarau, and we spent the day together ‘taking’ Nadi. I’ve been admiring her work online since November of 2014, so it was wonderful to have an opportunity to meet her in person. She is awesome!
The second treat was an opportunity to take a day trip to our canvas designer Mohammed’s hometown, Sigatoka.
Outside The Sigatoka Market
Sigatoka is a vibrant, colorful town with a diverse culture and bustling marketplace. It is also home to Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, a natural wonder and important archaeological site.
For me, the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park simply offered a quiet, beautiful place to spend sometime completely alone. I didn’t see another person there until I came to the conclusion of my walk. It was sublime.
Back Outside The Sigatoka Market
The third treat was seeing my very first venomous sea snake. Lucky for me it was from the bow of our boat rather than head-on while snorkeling. Although minor in comparison to the first two treats, it was cool none the less.
Eek! A Snake
Our weather window is fast approaching and we anticipate leaving Fiji by the end of the week. Once we leave the shores of Fiji, we will be off-grid for a week but will be sending periodic position updates via satellite phone along the way. You can follow our updates on Farkwar, Twitter or in the sidebar on my blog.
Checking This One Into Lucile de Godoy’s Welcoming Photo 101 Rehab – The Clinic For Passionate Photographers
Janice September 23, 2015
Fair winds and safe passage, my friend. xx
Lisa Dorenfest September 23, 2015 — Post Author
Thank you Janice ⛵️
Liesbet September 23, 2015
Amazing photos, Lisa! I especially liked the “girl at market” one. The scene, the composition, the colors. And, the water in Fiji looks so nice and inviting. I’m glad you got to wrap up Fiji with some extra tasty treats! Have a safe and enjoyable trip to New Cal!!!
Lisa Dorenfest September 23, 2015 — Post Author
? You are wonderful to say so Liesbet! These last days in Fiji have been tremendous. Am really going to miss this place. Hope to see your St Petersburg blog post before we set sail. No pressure ⛵️
nowathome September 23, 2015
Amazing place! Have fun!
Lisa Dorenfest September 23, 2015 — Post Author
Thank you Aletta! Am so looking forward to visiting New Caledonia. Have you been there?
lexklein September 23, 2015
Neither the snake nor the snake photo was minor in my book! That is a beautiful picture, and I have both admired it and shivered every time I scroll back to look at it again (which has been numerous times). I am captivated by the colors and composition and the very idea of meeting that snake in the water!
Lisa Dorenfest September 23, 2015 — Post Author
? Thank you. I think I might have swam quickly in the other direction if I saw that snake while snorkeling ….although I have been known to chase sharks to get a good shot (but only reef sharks, not Great Whites) Luckily the waters were cooperating that day. It has been raining here ever since I took that shot ?
Latitude Adjustment: Two Wanderers in Panama September 23, 2015
Great blog post!
Lisa Dorenfest September 23, 2015 — Post Author
You are lovely to say. Thank you
Amy September 23, 2015
Beautiful place! Love your shots, Lisa! Sailing safely. 🙂
Lisa Dorenfest September 23, 2015 — Post Author
Thank you for your kind words and well wishes Amy ?
Michele September 23, 2015
I’m glad you got some unexpected adventures. The sand dunes are beautiful, but I could live my life happily without seeing a venomous snake in person! Wishing you smooth sailing on your new trip!
Lisa Dorenfest September 24, 2015 — Post Author
Thank you so much Michele. May your life be venomous snake-free ?.
Frankie Beane September 23, 2015
Have a safe trip! Have you ever noticed that really poisonous snakes are very attractive. That is one attractive snake–and it can swim. Looking forward to your posts form NC.
Lisa Dorenfest September 23, 2015 — Post Author
? How about it! The more beautiful the more poisonous. Thank you for lovely the send off ⛵️
Terri Webster Schrandt September 23, 2015
Sounds like you had a lovely, and extended trip! You will surely miss Fiji, and how cool you got to spend time with a friend! Your pics are all so wonderful (as usual) but I am just in love with the shot of the sand dune leading out to the ocean! Bon voyage and fair winds 🙂
Lisa Dorenfest September 24, 2015 — Post Author
Once again your are too kind Terri. Thank you for your compliments and your tweet. I hope someday I get to blog about spending time with my friend Terri ?
PS. I like your new Gravitar
Terri Webster Schrandt September 24, 2015
Wouldn’t that be cool? Thank you, I was just arrived in La Ventana, Baja, after being awake for 24 hours 🙂
Lisa Dorenfest September 24, 2015 — Post Author
24 hours! Sounds like a travel experience from hell. Glad you’ve arrived. And what a wonderful place to relieve yourself of all that stress!
Indah Susanti September 24, 2015
Fantastic images and it looks like you had so much fun! Well spotted on the sea snake – I have seen them during diving and they can move very fast! You captured it very well 🙂
Lisa Dorenfest September 24, 2015 — Post Author
?You are lovely to say so Indah! Greatly appreciate your visit and your generous feedback.
BunKaryudo September 24, 2015
These photographs are great. I look blogs that remind me there are places in the world other than my apartment, my train to work and my office. 🙂
Lisa Dorenfest September 24, 2015 — Post Author
I appreciate your ‘world’. For many years, my world was so limited to apartment/commute/office that when I first left to travel, my colleagues couldn’t believe I’d leave. They thought I’d locked myself in my apartment and created a blog with pictures from the Internet, and that I’d shortly be returning to the commute/office . Thank you so much for your visit and lovely compliment
BunKaryudo September 24, 2015
You’re welcome. I had a look at your about page to check, but you appear in some of the photographs. I can now officially state to your ex-colleagues that you are really there in Paradise and not just typing away somewhere in some darkened bedroom. 😀
Lisa Dorenfest September 25, 2015 — Post Author
?Well if I was a talented enough ‘Photo Shopper’ I could have probably faked those too. One of my friends kids edited this picture so his face would appear on every body. I however am far from that talented in photo editing so I can guarantee that it is me appearing in those photos…so much better than hanging in a darkened bedroom!
BunKaryudo September 26, 2015
That picture’s hilarious. It’s so well done too that — just as one of the other commenters mentioned — it takes a minute before your realize something odd is going on.
Lisa Dorenfest October 1, 2015 — Post Author
?
Retirementallychallenged.com September 24, 2015
That snake is amazingly beautiful! It looks like a convict. Nature must have wanted to be sure it could be easily spotted… and thank goodness for that!
Lisa Dorenfest September 25, 2015 — Post Author
Indeed ?. He could be a great inspiration for a tiny but evil villain from a superhero comic
themofman September 24, 2015
Who named the boat?
Lisa Dorenfest September 25, 2015 — Post Author
The Captain. His two loves are the sea and Africa.
badfish September 25, 2015
Lisa, these are, once again, all just lovely shots. I truly like the first one on the boat. And the lady at the market. But that sea snake…whoa, there partner, that is just a vivid shot. I’ve seen sea snakes in the Indian Ocean, but I don’t think they were striped like that. I seem to remember sort of a yellowish color. But then, I was fairly high in a large boat, not a (ahem) sailing yacht.
Lisa Dorenfest September 25, 2015 — Post Author
You are very kind and ever whimsical Mr. Badfish ?. Was so excited to snap that snake…and really pleased that I didn’t have to look him directly in the eye to do so.
badfish September 26, 2015
snakes are scary…best to keep your distance…the ones I saw were like really poisonous, was that one? He looks like he is.
Lisa Dorenfest October 1, 2015 — Post Author
They are deadly if they manage to bite you but their mouths are so small that it is difficult for them to do so. Still, don’t want to get close enough to one incase it gets lucky.
badfish October 2, 2015
Yeah, I’ve heard about those lucky snakes. The deadliest are the luckiest…
badfish October 8, 2015
Scary…I don’t want to even think about it.
Lisa Dorenfest October 16, 2015 — Post Author
Totally!
badfish October 17, 2015
!!!
LDG luciledegodoy September 25, 2015
Lisa, I will start thank you for having shared your experiences and photos in Fiji and enriching my mind with so much beauty.
I’m sure that if I ever go there, I’ll remember every single image and elements of this culture and beautiful people.
Traveling virtually with you has been wonderful and I’m looking forward to joining your next adventure.
Safe travels, lots of fun, and my best wishes.
Hugs from Amsterdam.
Lisa Dorenfest September 25, 2015 — Post Author
Thank you Lucile for coming along for the ride and for offering us respite in The Clinic! We lift anchor today but I look forward to seeing more of your beautiful imagery in about a week when I have an internet connection again.
restlessjo September 25, 2015
Those sand dunes are for me, Lisa, and I would be greedy and want them all to myself too. 🙂 Have a safe trip!
Lisa Dorenfest September 26, 2015 — Post Author
Thank you Jo! Hope to have a Monday Walk to share from New Caledonia. If I can’t find one there, I will certainly find plenty when we get to Sydney in November. It will be nice to return to the big city for the cyclone season!
Kirsten September 27, 2015
Great shot of the sea snake, Lisa!
Lisa Dorenfest October 1, 2015 — Post Author
? Thank you Kirsten! I was pretty happy with that one. Ahoy from New Caledonia ⛵️
Susi September 27, 2015
Aloha Lisa,
You are so generous to share all your comments and terriific photos! Your photos keep getting better and better and the colors are magnificent!!! Fiji has been quite a trip….in your blog, perhaps the most mellow and serene and beautiful….and now in my imagination. The photo of the captain is great great! He looks so happy, totally in his element. I am in Italy loving his country, the history and the people. I am in love with the friendly and communicative Italians. Took Fabio’s advise and now in Spoleto. Love it here!!! As well as Orvieto, Turino and every place I go. Headed back to NYC to visit Shell…Bob and Kalysa meet me there for a week. I love traveling….knowing you do too. Keep up the sharing and loving your life. You both are inspiration. Warmest alohas, Susi
Lisa Dorenfest October 1, 2015 — Post Author
Well how wonderful to arrive in New Caledonia and be treated to all this love from you Susi! Am so happy that you are saying ‘YES’ to your wandering spirit and seeing so much beauty. Hoping that your travels bring you to Australia while we are visiting there ?.
sustainabilitea September 27, 2015
Some wonderful photos here, Lisa. That snake’s a beauty but in the snake world, beauty too often goes with the beast of poison. Your walk sounds like my favorite kind: no people and beauty all around.
Safe travels.
janet
Lisa Dorenfest October 1, 2015 — Post Author
Ahoy from New Caledonia Janet! We’ve just arrived. Thank you for your kind words. Looking forward to finding some more remoteness here after I enjoy a few days of city buzz in Noumea!
ledrakenoir September 30, 2015
Excellent – wonderful captured photos, so fascinating… 🙂
Lisa Dorenfest October 1, 2015 — Post Author
Thank you Drake ?
kirsten October 12, 2015
You have such a wonderful gift of capturing the “essence” of the place with your pictures and words. I feel like you are friend taking me on my own personal tour 🙂 I was having a blast until the poisonous snake swam by….YIKES! I’m glad you were in the boat too!
Lisa Dorenfest October 16, 2015 — Post Author
You are incredibly kind Kirsten! I hope that we meet in person someday and we can hang out together in person! That would be awesome.
kirsten October 24, 2015
That WOULD be awesome, Lisa. As June gets closer we can see if you will still be in port 🙂
Lisa Dorenfest October 24, 2015 — Post Author
We would have a blast
Artistami.Eva October 21, 2015
Beautiful pics as I am sure as your adventure there.
Lisa Dorenfest October 22, 2015 — Post Author
?Eva! Fiji was such a wonderful, magical place. I am very heartsick for it right now, but happy that I have a new adventure to look forward to in Australia.
snowsomewhere November 8, 2015
Wow, that snake photo is so gorgeous – and also scary! I’d love to follow you but can’t find a follow button? Usually email sign-ups aren’t needed if both are on WP? Anyway, great blog here, I’m in awe!!! 🙂 All the best, good sailing to you!
Lisa Dorenfest November 8, 2015 — Post Author
? Thank you for the kind words all around! I’m a self hosted site so it’s a bit more challenging to follow me. You can do so via the Reader if you use that. Hope to have you along for the ride!