I am so fortunate to be able to travel and work remotely. Readers, tipsters, assistants, friends and family all make this possible, helping confirm things back home.
As I have mentioned, my husband retired from UC Davis on July 1. We hit the road on July 6. I’ve posted photos of Alaska, Hawaii and Tahiti. This post will include photos from the island of Moorea in French Polynesia; Korotogo on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, and Drawaqa Island in Fiji’s Yasawa Island Group.
Note: The photos make this email long. If it’s truncated, click on “View entire message” to continue reading the post.
After five days on Tahiti, we spent seven days on Moorea. We found French Polynesia beautiful, with sharp mountain peaks and brilliant blue waters. It was also full of mosquitoes, some that carry Dengue Fever. Our open-air bungalow was basic. We slept under a mosquito net and wore lots of DEET. The food and lodging were expensive, especially compared to Fiji.
We took a cooking class at Food & CookLab, which was recommended to us by Brennan Flemming of Davis’ Dunloe Brewing. We learned about the culture, the importance of organic farming, and how to make several dishes native to French Polynesia. It was a highlight of our week. Below, I shred coconut the traditional way.
In Fiji, we stayed for a week in Korotogo, on the Coral Coast. We paddled and waded in water across the street from Kaila Na Ua Resort, where we stayed. Our room had a kitchenette. Twice, we rode the bus into the larger town of Sigatoka to buy groceries and supplies. Long-term travel requires a tight budget. We typically make breakfast and lunch ourselves, and dinner a couple of times a week
The snorkeling in Fiji was unbelievable, even compared to Hawaii. I don’t have more than a lanyard pouch for my phone, so I didn’t take it too deep. We enjoyed paddleboarding, where I had a 5-foot white-tipped reef shark swim under me in shallow water. I didn’t get a picture of that, either. There are lots of blue sea stars everywhere.
We spent three days at a homey and lovely resort in the Yasawas. Barefoot Manta Resort on Drawaqa Island was a highlight. They provided snorkeling gear – even a mask with prescription lenses for my husband, which made a big difference. We got to eat traditional food and participate in a kava ceremony. My favorite dish was Kokoda, a ceviche-like dish of fish marinated in lime and served in coconut milk. It was very similar to the Poisson Cru we learned to make on Moorea but that wasn’t cold cooked in an acetic marinade, so it was truly raw.
It’s fun to share my adventures but I can’t promise that all my travel photos will come with this much explanation. I’m a business columnist first. This is bonus content, and I am not getting any perks for mentioning places. Thanks for reading and supporting Comings & Goings. Bula!
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Wendy, you're a skilled writer. I always enjoy reading your travel updates, and the photo of the blue sea star was a highlight. I'm glad you're able to continue writing professionally while exploring the South Pacific.
P.S. I still have your excellent notes from your Ireland trip—they’ve been really helpful.
I add my thank you yo the chorus of appreciative folks who like the photos and narrative….