After leaving Papeete, the Villa Vie Odyssey carried us to Fakarava, a remote atoll in French Polynesia that feels like a secret waiting to be discovered. The name itself is a joy to say, but the experiences there go far beyond the sound of the word. This post shares a personal journey of reflection, adventure, and the unexpected lessons found in this beautiful place. A Walk on Shore and a Moment of Reflection Stepping onto Fakarava’s shore with Shirene, I wandered toward a c

Our outdoor kitchen for the day in Apia, Somoa. Ellie made her plate in no time. They demonstrated how to make our own plates from palm fronds. We had a cooking class in Apia, Somoa. View of our ship from shore in Fiji View of Leleuvia Island from our ship. A cat nap near the end of the day. Underwater artwork. https://youtu.be/ONGZb3dOWws https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONGZb3dOWws https://studio.youtube.com/video/F5ypjQfZeN0/edit Our shp stopped for a day at a private islan

Ellie and I had worked on the ship our first day in Levuka, Fiji. It was the first capital of the country when they gained independence.  The old-style downtown was so unchanged since the 19th century that it is a World Heritage Site.  One of the highlights of the location was the 199 steps to a lookout over the harbor.  We were going to stroll the old city and see what we could see in our last stop in Fiji.  And spend the last of our local currency since it would become wort

It had been just over two weeks since my hernia surgery.  I had restricted my activities as much as I could without just lying around.  We were arriving in Vanuatu.  Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. Espiritu Santo means Holy Spirit.  It seemed like a good day to go for a walk.  Ellie, Dougie, Sue, Lyn, and I were going to walk into town and hit an ATM for local currency.  Then, whatever. Some people joked about being in a container port again.  But this is how we travel, and islands