Fiji – My Brother Traveler

This post is part of a series called Oceania

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FIJI – Southern Lau Group – Fulanga Atoll _2003_DSCN0077

FIJI – Southern Lau Group – Fulanga Atoll – local architerture_2003_DSCN0036

FIJI – Southern Lau Group – Ono-I-Lau Atoll – dancers _2003_DSCN0111

FIJI_Yasawa Group_Sawa I Lau Island_2003_DSCN6653

FIJI – Southern Lau Group – Fulanga Atoll _2003_DSCN0056

DU_78/79 DOWN UNDER TRIP
Date of travel: Dec 14, 1978 – Jan 7, 1979

ITINERARY:
Flight from Los Angeles, California via Honolulu, Hawaii to
FIJI – (3 days, Nadi, Lautoka with sightseeing of the Viti Levu island, a day by boat on Molololailai island), flight to
NEW ZEALAND (13 days, bus tour through the North and the South Islands visiting: North Island: Auckland, Waitomo / Glow-warm caves, Rotorua / flight above volcanoes, Palmerston North, Wellington, ferry to Picton on South Island: Greymouth, Haast, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Omarama, flight above Southern Alps, Christchurch), flight to
AUSTRALIA – (5 days, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, all with sightseeing trips and flights between cities), flight to Tahiti via Auckland (New Zealand)
TAHITI (France) – (2 days, bus tour around the island) and flight to Los Angeles and San Diego, California.

Travel office: Brandon Tours (through May Company Travel in Oceanside)
Who took part: 20 travelers (incl. Aramis), Brandon Tour leader, bus drivers, local guides

MMP-03 Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia
Date of travel: Sep 9 – Oct 29, 2003 (48 day trip)

ITINERARY:
Early on Sep 11 in a rented car from Vista to Los Angeles Airport, flight via Honolulu to GUAM, where in the afternoon Sep 12 (due to the Date Line). Next day sightseeing the island by bus and later boarding the ship “World Discoverer” for an expedition sailing through Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. Days on the ocean covered by interesting scientific lectures.

Between Sep 14 and Sep 22 our ship was wandering among islands of the FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA visiting their inhabitants and allowed frequent snorkeling of its passengers. In the State Yap the ship stopped at: Gaferut Island, Ifaluk Atoll and Satawal Island; in the State Chuuk: Pulap Island and the famous Truk Lagoon where the Americans in WWII destroyed 60 Japanese ships in two days; in the State Pohnpei: Ororuk Atoll, Pohnpei Island, Nukuoro Island and the Island Kapingamarangi.
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Sailing south and crossing Equator we encountered islands of PAPUA NEW GUINEA (PNG) between Sep 23 and Oct 4. The first was the Tatau Island in the Tabar Islands Group, then Tingwon Island. On the larger New Britain Island with volcanoes Tavurvur (still smoking and erupting) and Vulcan (quiet at the moment) we visited the town of Rabaul partly devastated after 1994 eruption of both volcanoes and with number of traces of the Japanese occupation during WWII. Japanese had an important military base here. Next was Kitava Island in the Trobriand Group and Watts Island in the Engineer Group. Then our “World Discoverer” anchored in the capital of PNG Port Moresby on the Iarge New Guinea Island. There was a sightseeing tour of the city and part of the passengers left the ship while new passengers came on board.

During the second leg of our expedition trip we visited the following PNG islands: Kwato, Wagifa, Nabwageta (this one part of the Amphlett Group) and Punawan (from the Calvados Chain). At the last island we spent more time in order to fish out from the ocean our lost anchor (its cost is about $60 thousands) and we were successful.

After two full days sailing east we reached the island country VANUATU (it was called New Hebridies in the colonial era and the chain was shared by Britain and France). Between Oct 7 and Oct 10 we visited Loh Island in the Torres Islands, Ambryn and Malekula Islands followed by Makiro and Aniwa Islands.

A day on the ocean brought us to FIJI . On Oct 12 our ship made stop at Sawa-I-Lau Island in the Yasawa Group (here I drowned my digital and video cameras). The following day we anchored in Lautoka on the Fiji biggest island Viti Levu (I bought a new digital camera here. Also some passengers left and new came on board).

Between Oct 14 and Oct 16 we visited the following Fiji islands: the Kadavu Group, the Fulanga Atoll and the Ono-I-Lau Atoll. There was great birding on these islands.

From Oct 17 to Oct 19 we were on islands of the KINGDOM OF TONGA . On the island of Tongatapu we visited Tonga capital Nuku’alofa. The next day we landed on two islands Lifuka a Uoleva a the last day on islands Neiafu and Nuku.

Due to a large storm with more than 10 feet waves we could not land on island of Niue (belonging to New Zealand) and Palmerston Island, which is part of Cook Islands (belonging also to New Zealand).

However we were able to land on the COOK ISLANDS (administered by New Zealand) on Oct 22 and Oct 23. The first day on Aitutaki Island, where a sightseeing tour in an open bus around the island. The second day on Atiu Island, where also a tour but on a truck.

Between Oct 24 and Oct 28 we were in FRENCH POLYNESIA specifically in its part called Society Islands. The first island which was accounted was Mopelia with an excellent birding trip. The following day the famous island Bora Bora, where a bus tour.

On Oct 26 many passengers left the ship in Tahiti and I was among them. (The last leg of the ship continued to the Easter Island without me). Those who left the ship in Tahiti had 3 full days on this island with accommodation in a hotel. First day bus tour around the island as part of the expedition. The second day I visited the capital Papeete by myself. The third day I took a ferry to the Moorea Island and a tour of that island in a van with a small group of English speaking travelers.

On Oct 29 we left our hotel very early and flew from Tahiti to Los Angeles where at noon local time. After renting a car I drove home to Vista.

Travel office: Society Expeditions from Seattle, Washington State

Who took part: From about 70 passengers during the first leg of the trip to about twice as many in the third leg of the trip. Good 2/3 from Germany and some other European countries and only 1/3 from North America.

SP-12 South Pacific (FIJI, AUSTRALIA, NAURU, SAMOA, American Samoa, TUVALU)
Date of travel: Nov 1 – Nov 22, 2012

ITINERARY:
On Nov 1 in the afternoon I drive a rented car from Vista, CA to Los Angeles airport. From there I take a plane to Nandi, FIJI. Thanks to the Date Line the plane lands early in the morning on Nov 3 there. Spending the day on the airport I fly in the evening from Nandi to Brisbane, AUSTRALIA where one night in a hotel. On Nov 4 I visit the Brisbane downtown.
Just after midnight on Nov 5 I fly to NAURU Island, where in the morning. I am taken to my hotel. I spent 2 days on Nauru. One of the days I take a tour through the island where the Australians have a detention camp for immigrants. In the afternoon on Nov 7 I fly back to Brisbane and my hotel there. Next 3 days I spent sightseeing the city. In the evening on Nov 10 I fly to Nandi, Fiji.
Early in the morning I am driven from Nandi to Sonaisali Resort. Last part is a boat ride to the island with the resort. I spend next 3 days in this tropical paradise. Late on Nov 13 I fly from Nandi, Fiji to Apia, SAMOA. Next 3.5 days I explore Samoa and one day I fly to Pango Pango in AMERICAN SAMOA. On Nov 17 I take a plane from Apia via Nandi to Suva, Fiji. Here I stay 2 days and do sightseeing of the Fiji capital, Suva and its surroundings.
On Nov 20 I fly to Funafuti Atoll in the island country TUVALU. I land there before noon. Local man drives me to my rather primitive hotel. In the net 2 days there I walk through the village, take pictures of the Tuvalu government house, buy some Tuvalu stamps and spend more time in a nice hotel, which seems to be a gathering place for foreigners who are here on business. I should have had room in this hotel. In case the ocean level rises in the future, Tuvalu Atolls will be impacted first, because they are only few stops above the sea level.
On Nov 22 afternoon I leave Funafuti Atoll for Suva, Fiji and then take another plane to Nandi on the other side of Viti Levu Island. In Nandi I board a plane and an hour before midnight it takes off for Los Angeles where I land at noon still Nov 22 due to the Date Line. I get a car from Hertz and drive home to Vista.

Travel office: I arranged the flights and hotels by myself.
Who took part: I traveled alone.