Our new home in Fiji…A few nuances…A few photos…

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The galley kitchen, small with little counter space, works for me. We purchased the tiny cutting board when the one in the cupboard was a little too used for my liking. The tiny coffee pot only makes two cups at a time. We make two pots, one for each of us. To the far left is the portable oven with the microwave above. Other than a few items we’ll purchase next week, we have everything we need.

There are no words to describe how thrilled we are to have windows with screens. Fresh air day and night, has an enormous effect on one’s state of well being. Even now as I write on a Saturday morning with it raining off and on, the cooling breeze is refreshing and invigorating. 

The living room. 

After three months with no breeze and little fresh air in the house in Australia without screens, we feel renewed. Also, there’s something magical about living on a fairly remote island with the quaint village, the friendly local workers, the vast array of birds and wildlife that is particularly appealing to us.

There are no poisonous insects or any snakes in Fiji. Centuries ago, snake eating mongoose was brought to the islands. They proliferated in vast numbers ultimately wiping out the entire snake population.

The bed with the new pillows and bedding. There no hanging closet space. We left the items we usually hang neatly folded in the luggage.

That’s not to say there aren’t other creatures slithering around the house and grounds. We’ve had several of those yellowish almost clear looking (comparable to a pale yellow gummy) geckos running on the walls, pooping and making their peculiar noises. But, years ago we stopped paying much attention to geckos. They’d be unlikely to crawl on humans or go onto the bed at night. 

This morning I cleaned several gecko poops off the stovetop. We’ve seen a few large spiders, other insects, and an endless supply of mosquitoes. We’ve yet to see a single fly.

The kitchen table where we dine. We moved this lamp (the only lamp in the house) from the bedroom putting it on this table enabling us to see our plates better while dining.

Based on a report Tom read online many months ago, I started taking 100 mg vitamin B1 supposedly to aid in the reduction of attracting mosquitoes. After one month on the B1, I noticed an improvement, seldom being bitten during the remaining time in Australia. I still use repellent when we visit rain forests as will be the case here when we’re outside for extended periods.

Sitting on the veranda seems to attract a swarm of mosquitoes around one’s head so we pick and choose the best times to venture out avoiding dawn, dusk, and cloudy days. 

A large porcelain sink in the bathroom. The small spoon atop the plastic container is for scooping baking soda to add to toothpaste for whiter, cleaner teeth.

On our first shopping trip, we purchased a bottle of locally manufactured repellent and it seems to be highly effective in combination with vitamin B1. I’ve only received two mosquito bites since we arrived on Tuesday. I can’t guarantee this would work for everyone but, somehow it seems to be working for me.

Not having a car is an adjustment. As Mario had described, the steep hill to the property would be impossible to navigate without a four-wheel drive. I doubt we could even walk the hill up that hill when even the fittest 20 year old would struggle.

This is a good-sized shower.

With the cost of a four-wheel-drive vehicle at no less than USD $40, FJD $87 per day plus fees and taxes we’d decided against a rental. With the hourly rate Rashnesh quoted at USD $13.81, FJD $30 for tours,  we can go anywhere we want for much less than we’d pay for a rental, especially when we’re paying for days we don’t use it.

For a round trip to the village Rashnesh charges USD $9.20, FJD $20, dropping us off at one market and picking us up at another location at either a designated time or when we call on our now working phone containing a local phone SIM card. If we went out every day, the taxi fare with Rashnesh would still cost less than 25% of the cost of a rental car.

The living room with our stuff. 

We explained to Rasness that we’ll pay him each time we go out and tip him all at once at the end of our stay in December, giving him a good chunk toward his Christmas holiday. He seemed to like this idea. 

With the high cost at an ATM and with many local services requiring cash and, with the choice we made long ago (for safety purposes) to only be able to receive USD $300, FJD $652 per day per card, we’ll probably need to get cash every few weeks to pay for dining out, the farmer’s market and the meat market. The grocery store clerk explained there is a 2.5% fee for using a credit card. 

The screened window in the kitchen. Sitting on the sill is chalk “ant stick” which we use after washing the counters after cooking hoping to keep the ants away.

With the cost of getting cash exceeding the cost of the grocer charged credit card fees, it makes sense to use the credit card at the grocery store. With 1% cash perks for purchasing groceries on the card, it all works out in the end. 

As for the house, Mario and his wife Tatiana provided us with additional items we needed: six dish towels, one washcloth (all they had available) a large skillet and bowl, a medium-sized pot, a sharp paring knife, three plastic reusable containers,  a knife sharpener, and a broom. We still need a metal spatula and a cookie sheet which we’ll purchase soon.

The screened window in the living room with cooling breezes. No AC here. Outside the window, you can see our dishtowels hanging to dry. With no washer, and laundry done by Charlotta a few times each week, we’ll be hand washing kitchen towels and underwear as needed.

Many months ago, I wrote to Mario that we’d need an oven. He immediately went into town to find a good-sized countertop oven which seems to work well. We are very grateful for the oven, the bed, and all he’s done for us. 

Yesterday afternoon, I made Tom’s breakfast dish, which he cuts evenly into 18 squares to be frozen in bags of three. Once he has the last of the three portions over three days, he takes out another bag to defrost overnight in the refrigerator. This way, I don’t make his breakfast for 18 days and he loves having this item at his leisure each morning, while I’m busy with the day’s post. 

The huge pan of Tom’s breakfast eggs dish, the first item we baked in the new oven.

Yesterday, it took about an hour to prepare the large pan of breakfast since there’s no grated cheese available in the market. Grating the cheese by hand and also cooking the required 18 slices of bacon, five at a time in the microwave is an equally slow process.  

The countertop oven cooked the large dish in 50 minutes using a tin foil pan we’d purchased. We soaked and washed the tinfoil pan to be used again. With no parchment paper available in the stores, soaking and scrubbing baking pans will be required while we’re here. How I wished we’d shipped a roll of parchment.

Overall, the house is ideal. Getting in and out of the low-to-the-floor bed is challenging and good exercise for the legs. Tom says he needs “pet steps” to get in and out. 

For more details on this vacation rental, please click here.

The toilets are higher in other countries as opposed to the US. When we arrived in Boston by ship a year ago we were flabbergasted by the low toilets, almost falling over each time.

We’ll continue with more of the nuances of living in Fiji as time goes on. The WiFi is working again today. Since it’s raining we see no reason to go out. Surely, there’ll be plenty of sunny days in the near future allowing us to explore the island. We’ve arranged for some exploring on Monday with Rashnesh picking us up at 10:00 am, hoping for such a day.

So far, in four days we’ve had insects in the bed, a five-hour power outage, and an all afternoon WiFi outage. More of these types of inconveniences will undoubtedly occur. When they do, we’ll “suck it up” as we always do, putting a smile on our faces knowing it all “goes with the territory.” This has become the norm for us.

Tomorrow, we’ll share outdoor photos of the exquisite views surrounding us.

Our heartfelt condolences to those in the US who lost loved ones in the tragic events of September 11, 2001, a day we’ll always remember with heavy hearts.

Photo from one year ago today, September 12, 2014:

DSC03571
We dined in a specialty restaurant on the ship, Giovannia’s, with Judy and Gary a lovely couple Tom had met on cruise critic. We enjoyed several get-togethers with them over the cruise. For more details, please click here.
Day #171 in lockdown in Mumbai, India hotel…Is a donut a fair trade-off?

Adapting to life in a new land with hiccups along the way…

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The ferry docked at the edge of the village makes a daily trip to Viti Levu, the largest island in the Fiji chain. It’s an overnight journey, arriving at 4:00 or 5:00 am. Since we’ll spend our last month on that island, we see no reason to take the ferry and will again fly on the commuter plane when it’s time to leave.

We feel compelled to share a story we’d considered not writing to avoid embarrassment for the owners of the property.  However, after careful consideration and the unbelievably fast response from the owner, Mario to resolve the problem, our comments will only enhance the perception of how lucky we are to have Mario as our landlord and how quickly he responded to our needs.

Long ago, for many years, I owned rental properties throughout the Twin Cities. Even Tom had been a landlord for almost six years when he rented his old house after he moved in with me and, prior to daughter Tammy buying the house.

The dock is available for use of boats in this small harbor.

We both realized as landlords that maintenance issues and general problems may not be known to a landlord if they aren’t reported by disgruntled renters living in the property over a period of time. 

Such was the case here in this charming ocean view house we’ve rented for three months in Savusavu, Fiji, an issue unknown to the owner based on no complaints from prior renters. Also, many vacation homes have renters for only a few days at a time.

On the night we arrived, this past Tuesday, we were exhausted from a long 24 hour period of flurried activity with only five hours sleep in between. On three separate flights, overnight in Sydney, hauling our heavy bags and little food, by the time night fell on Tuesday, we were ready for a good night’s sleep. 

As we wandered through the busy local farmer’s market, open daily, it was hard to decide which vendor to choose for our purchases. We purchased the following for FJD $22, USD $10.12: 2 red bell peppers (also called, capsaicin, here); 6 medium-sized aubergine (eggplant); 3 heads cabbage; and 8 large carrots.

Tom usually stays up an hour longer than I do, so I was the first to fall into bed to read the book on my phone to hopefully lull me off to sleep.  As soon as my head hit the pillow in the darkened room, I knew something was wrong. There was an awful, undefinable smell emanating from the pillows and blankets.

It reminded me of a small one would find in blankets that had been stored in a cupboard for many years, never to be used.  I jumped out of bed, turned on the overhead light, and pulled back the covers. In the dim lighting, I couldn’t see a thing. 

Again, I lay back down but found myself having difficulty breathing. Was I feeling anxious due to lack of sleep?  Not one prone to anxiety, I’d felt a bit panicked and confused. I simply could not allow myself to lay on the pillows. 

These are breadfruit often used in curry dishes, popular in Fiji.

No matter what, in the morning we were asking Mario for four new pillows. If we had to, we’d go out and purchase them ourselves. Again, I got out of bed, grabbed a large bath towel from the bathroom, and wrapped it entirely around one pillow, tossing the second pillow on the floor.

Shortly Tom came to bed. I didn’t want to alarm him to have an effect on his quality of sleep but I did ask him if the pillows smelled funny. He said “no” and lay down, quickly falling asleep. From sheer exhaustion and the help of one Tylenol PM, I finally drifted off, sleeping fitfully for a mere four hours, dreaming I was being bitten by bugs. I was.

Jumping out of bed at 5:00 am, I awoke Tom asking if he was OK. He, too, had a bad night, feeling as if something was crawling on him and awoke several times scratching. 

These are the sizes of the aubergine we purchased. These adjoining bowls contain a variety of hot peppers which I’d love to try but Tom doesn’t care for spicy food. 

We turned on the overhead light when daylight had yet to arrive to find zillions of tiny ants crawling all over the sheets, the blanket, and in and about the four pillows. At that point, we expected they were bedbugs. But, they were visible to the naked eye and looked exactly like miniature ants.

Bolting out of the bedroom, I stripped off my nightshirt and dashed under the shower into the hottest water I could stand. How were we going to wash off the hundreds of nibbles these creatures took on our bodies all night long? Tom showered right after me. 

We worried about everything we’d unpacked, our clothes in the closet, our luggage in the corner of the room, everything we owned possibly subject to an infestation of these tiny ants.

These are some type of sweet potato.

Trying not to overreact, as soon as it was a reasonable hour, I sent Mario an email explaining what had transpired. Our thoughts were running wild. Would we have to move out, find a hotel, lose the entire rent we’d paid for three months if we couldn’t live with the situation? 

Our thoughts ran back to the dreadful first seven days of living outside the US in Belize when the little house had no screens and thousands of no-see-ums (sandflies) were in the house biting me and there was running water only a few hours a day. It took us a week to find another property while we lost the entire first month’s rent when the owner refused to return even a portion to us.

Well, within minutes of my email to Mario, he was at the door, worried and concerned for our well being. Within a few hours, the mattress (it’s common in most countries outside the US that beds don’t have box springs) and all the bedding including the pillows were long gone. The bedroom was treated for ants and completely wiped down with vinegar and water. By noon, a new mattress and all-new, never-used bedding were on the bed, beautifully made, awaiting that night’s much-needed rest.

We haven’t seen an ant since and we both slept like babies for no less than eight hours over the past two nights, awakening both mornings back to our old cheerful selves, full of energy and enthusiasm. 

Coconuts peeled of outer shell were readily available in the market.  If we had a machete, we’d buy a coconut for the delicious meat inside.

Yesterday, we’d called our new driver, Ratness, to take us to town for more shopping when we’d done poorly on the day we arrived in our tired condition, unable to think well enough to find items we needed in the sparsely equipped little market.

Prior to visiting the grocery store, the vegetable market, and the meat market, we stopped at the roughly built Vodafone outdoor hut to buy SIM cards, one for the phone so we can call Ratness to arrange outings and another to enhance the slow wifi in the house, typical for this small island. 

When we couldn’t get the data SIM card, for which we purchased 32 gigs for Fiji $110, USD $50 to work in either of our old hot spots, I spent time online figuring out how to use Tom’s phone as a hot spot (router) when mine was already set up as a phone. Finally, I got it to work but the signal is awful. 

Tom will use the equally slow connection in the house while I’ll use the SIM in his phone, preventing us from having to share the poor signals. Next week Mario will be working on improving the quality of the connection to the house. In the interim, we’re only able to post a few photos each day when today it took over an hour to upload what we’ve shown here.

We weren’t certain of the significance of this tower a vendor was creating.

Yesterday, we shopped at a different grocery store, New World IGA, with much better selections to accommodate the remaining items on the list. We headed back to the meat market for more grass-fed meats and spent considerable time in the fabulous all organic farmer’s market which is open all week where we’ll shop for produce in the future as well.

Back at home by 1 pm, I happily put away the groceries, washed veggies, and prepared most of our dinner. It’s a little odd without the news on in the background keeping us abreast of the latest affairs of the world, but we’ve settled into a nice routine, thoroughly enjoying this wonderful little house, its terrific views, and the sounds of nature. 

With daily maid service and laundry, other than cooking and dishes, we have nothing to do but revel in our new lives as we look forward to exploring this gorgeous location.

So far, we’ve been unable to find cream cheese on this island which I often use in making a sauce for some dishes we make. But, I found funny little tinfoil bags of Marscapone I’ll use instead. Improvise. That’s us.

Tomorrow we’ll be back with photos of our new home and surroundings.

Photo from one year ago today, September 11, 2014:

It was raining most of the day on our 4X4 outing in Iceland. At the end of the countryside tour, we drove through Reykjavik to see downtown. For more details, please click here.

Our travel days continued…Flying in a small prop plane to Savusavu…Tomorrow’s post, our shocking first night in Fiji…

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Tom was standing in front of the tiniest airport we’ve seen to date, except for the dirt landing strip with no airport in the Maasai Mara.

Peering out the scratched window of the plane to Fiji’s exquisite terrain below to make our world seem infinitesimal and insignificant. The 19 seat passenger plane with only 14 seats occupied, along with two pilots in the cockpit, reminded me of only a few weeks ago when we were packed into the semi-submarine in the Great Barrier Reef. Tight quarters.

It was windy during our flight as shown in this photo of me at the Savusavu Airport. In less than three months we’ll return to fly back to Nadi to live on the larger island of  Viti Levu for one more month. We’ll certainly gain a good perspective of life in the Fijian Islands.

At this point, I believe I could fly in an aircraft of any size having accepted this mode of transportation as necessary in our desire to experience life in somewhat remote areas of the world. 

That was the plane we flew on from Nadi Airport to Savusavu Airport.

Who are we but a dot in the horizon for anyone on the ground as our lives are suddenly predicated by two pilots, sometimes one, navigating an aluminum tube with two props, our lives in their hands?

Unlike our first such flight in an even lesser sized plane on October 5, 2013 while on our way to a photo safari in the Maasai Mara in Kenya, I’m no longer afraid.

The captain made a safety speech before we took off.

Once we were above the clouds unable to take ground photos, I felt compelled to write, in a similar manner I’d written while flying two years ago. Was it a diversionary tactic on my part to avoid thinking about our current mode of travel? Or, was it my voluminous expectation that the situation prompted my more creative self?

I’ll opt for the latter while my heart fluttered with excitement as we embark on yet another remote adventure, those that make me feel most alive.

Tom and I sat below the wing.

With childlike wonder, Tom continually diverted my attention to look below at yet another pulse-pounding scene. With the camera in his hands he snapped away with a burst of creative thunder to take more of those magical shots he’s become known for in my eyes and at times, in the eyes of others.

He too, was in the clouds with me, literally and figuratively. This is the dream we acquired that grew within us in a short span of time, none of which we possessed a mere five years ago.

As we left the Nadi Airport from the largest of the Fijian Islands, Viti Levu to head to the second largest island Vanua Levu.

Back then, if someone had asked, “How would you like to give up the life you’ve always lived for a life of travel?” I would have chuckled, saying, “That’s never going to happen!”

The views from the plane were impressive.

And yet, almost three years into it, we’re figuring its a mind-boggling head-scratcher. Who knew that these two relativity main stream overly responsible individuals would merge into a somewhat adventurous traveling machine, hell-bent on seeing the world before our inevitable end?

With the small seat and unable to move around, the scratched window, and the location of our seats, we could only take photos that included the underside of the plane’s wing.  Nonetheless, the views made it worthwhile.

Sitting here now, copying the above words I’d written on my phone on the plane on Tuesday, the sun is blissfully bursting through the screened window with a lofty breeze cooling our skin, roosters crowing around us, and a vast array of birds chirping in harmony.

It’s ironic how at our ripe ages of 67 and 62, respectively, we’d thrive on gaining personal strength and integrity in experiencing less than convenient scenarios in the hopes of handling them with dignity and grace.

Fiji has an interesting terrain with scattered hills and mountain ranges, lush green valleys and endless waterways.

No delusions here. It’s not always easy. But, we chose this life, this life that allows our eyes to scan the vast ocean before us, the dense rainforest of Mother Nature’s finest vegetation, and the endless sounds of wildlife encircling us. 

In a sense it’s “heaven on earth” and God willing, when our time comes and we arrive at the Pearly Gates, we can say, “Oh, we’ve already been here.” 

Photo from one year ago today, September 10, 2014:

In October of 1986, President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met for the Summit Meeting in this building in Reykjavik, Iceland which was formerly the French Consulate. The meetings broke down to be carried on at a later date.  See this link for details of that meeting. Please see our link for that day’s tour, please click here.

Stepping on a commercial scale in public?…What??…Tricky luggage situation…Late post due to our first power outage in Fiji…

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Fiji comprised approximately 330 islands, of which one third are inhabited. The two major islands are Viti Levu, the most commonly visited, and Vanua Levu where we are staying for the next three months.

On our first morning in Savusavu, the power went out from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm. As a result, we were unable to complete today’s post until now. From what we’ve heard, power outages on this remote island aren’t uncommon. If, or when, in the future, there isn’t a new post, most likely it will be due to a power outage. Once the power returns, we’ll immediately get back to preparing and uploading the day’s post. Now on to the story we started this morning at 7:00 am.

Fiji Airways’ baggage policy, vague online, proved to be more complicated than we’d expected. For the first time in our travels, we weren’t allowed to carry on our duffel bag or the small rolling cart. They had to be checked to add grossly to the weight.

As a result, we had to pay USD $298, AUD $430 in excess baggage fees. No doubt we’d have had to pay for the bags being overweight anyway with or without checking these two extra items. Tom was frustrated. I’d expected this and tossed out a credit card to pay.

With another flight once we arrived at the Nadi Airport, on Fiji’s largest island, we had to collect our bags, go through customs and immigration, and check-in the bags once again, (we expected this) although the payment we’d already made saw us all the way through to Savusavu, our final destination. 

As the small plane approached the island of Vanua Levu, heading toward the Savusavu Airport. (Photos shown today were taken through the window of the aircraft).

When we were done at customs and immigration, we used two free trolleys loaded up with all of our bags and made the required 10-minute walk to the domestic terminal from the international terminal. 

When we depart Savusavu in three months to fly back to the mainland for one additional month, we’ll have to pay all over again. Am I redundant in saying, “It’s the nature of the beast?” Probably. But, we have to remind ourselves that it’s only these travel days we find challenging, the hauling of the heavy bags, from gate to gate, immigration desk to immigration desk.

Getting up at 3:45 am worked out well. I was asleep by 10:00 pm and Tom drifted off by 10:30 when I heard him rustling about to turn off the TV. Sleeping all the way through the night until we heard the alarm on my phone and moments later the wake-up call, I bolted out of bed raring to go.

In Fiji, there are many atolls, ring-shaped reefs, islands, or chains of islands formed or coral. Notice one of the wheels of the plane in this photo.

Within 20 minutes I was showered, dressed and ready to pack up the odds and ends we’d unpacked when we’d arrived the previous night. By 4:15 am, we called the front desk to deliver two trolleys to the room. Luckily, the hotel keeps airport trolleys on hand for this very purpose. Thus, we were able to leave the trolleys at the airport when done checking the bags. This avoided the necessity of a cab fare to go a mere six-minute walk.

Back to the arrival at Nadi Airport in Fiji, when we arrived at the domestic terminal, we had to once again check the prepaid bags. In doing so, all looked good at the start until the agent with Fiji Airways explained that my large yellow Costco bag had to be checked. 

Since I no longer own a handbag, when we travel I use that bag in part as a handbag. Now I had to let it be checked since they explained the plane was too small with no overhead compartments or room for storage. 

After days of rain, Savusavu was still experiencing a huge cloud cover. Today, for the first time in days, the sun has made an appearance. With sunset views from our veranda, we’re looking forward to some awesome sunsets although partially blocked by mountains.

Immediately, I scrambled through the bag removing the camera, our phones, my wallet, and a few personal effects, stuffing them into the blue pill bag that we were allowed to carry. At that point, the agent told us to individually step up onto the raised baggage scale along with our remaining one carry on bag each.

Oh, good grief. Were they going to announce our weight over the loudspeakers? Was there a digital readout everyone could see when we stepped up on the scale? No, it was a relatively painless process when no one could see our weight, not even us. 

When all was said and done, our carry-on consisted of one laptop bag and the pill bag containing a year’s supply of prescriptions, some vitamins, and two Epipens (we’re both allergic to bees).

How small was this aircraft that we had to trim down to this effect and be weighed in public? A short time later we met a couple from the US on their honeymoon and they explained that the agent changed their seat assignment due to their combined weight being too heavy to sit together. How embarrassing was that?  Fortunately, we were able to retain our two seats, side by side. 

We can understand the reasoning of weighing people along with all of their bags in one fell swoop but doing it with only one carry on, could be difficult to take. There’s been a lot of controversy on this topic.

An hour later, we walked outside to board the plane, having been told that some of the passenger’s bags wouldn’t make the flight due to the weight restrictions. Who that would be was unknown at this point. 

We had no idea if our bags would make it through on our flight until after we landed at the tiny airport Savusavu. All of our bags made it through but the newlyweds, heading out on a boat to a more remote location, had a few bags yet to arrive.

Scattered across roughly 1.3 million square kilometers of the South Pacific, the Fijian Archipelago encompasses one of the most extensive coral reef systems in the world, which many claim is more beautiful than the Great Barrier Reef. 

With the necessity of a trip to the grocery store (more on that later), once we arrived in Savusavu and, before we arrived at the new house and, with the property’s owner-driver picking us up, we wondered how and when we’d have time to return to the airport to pick up the bags. We both stayed calm.

In tomorrow’s post, we’ll share the exciting adventure on the little plane and some amazing photos. The plane was almost as small as the plane we took in Kenya landing on a dirt runway in the Masai Mara when we went on photo safari two years ago.

Need I say, we were excited and fearless? Goodness, where is the old Jessica, formerly terrified of insects, snakes, and confined spaces? In the past two weeks, I’ve been in a submarine and on a tiny plane. Has this crazy life been able to change me so much, that now, my heart pounds with excitement, not fear?

All I can say until tomorrow is that we made it! As I write this now, on the night of September 8th, the 7th in the northern hemisphere, we’re totally unpacked, our groceries are put away and we’re incredibly content in our new home; the bed’s a little hard but there are five windows in the house with screens. There’s no closet for hanging clothes, only shelves for stacking them. 

There isn’t a bowl large enough to toss a salad or a pot big enough to make any of our favorite entrees let alone the fact that there was no lettuce or cabbage available at the sparse grocery store, comparable to the sparse markets we experienced in Belize. We’ll find a farmer’s market. We’ll adapt. We always do.

Photo from one year ago today, September 8, 2014:

A year ago photo from September 8th…We arrived in Iceland to embark on a wild 4×4 ride through the countryside on a terribly rainy and cold day. For details, please click here.
The geothermal activity in Iceland is unbelievable. It’s a time bomb ready to explode so explained our driver on the 4×4 adventure. For more details, please click here.

Just a short blurb….Waiting at the airport…Posting over a few stops along the way…

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A few hours before we left the house for the airport, I noticed a creature walking past the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living. Alerting Tom, he too saw it. 

But, by the time we got the camera which was already packed in one of our carry-on bags, it was too late. It resembled the monitor lizards that made an occasional appearance in our yard in Marloth Park. Most likely it was a monitor lizard, about three feet, one meter long.

Of course, when visiting Mexico or Costa Rico, lizards and iguanas are spotted regularly.  When I mentioned the arrival of the lizard to Andy, he said it lives behind the kitchen, and once it awhile takes a walk along the patio.

With Tom busy inside getting ready to go, the lizard saw he/she had a safe path unencumbered with a human presence. Most days, Tom sat outside on the veranda working on his laptop in order to get a better signal on the Internet which was almost nonexistent when indoors.

Off we went to the airport, heavy bags in tow, wondering how much we’d have to pay for extra weight. I wasn’t worried. Tom was. I could tell by his frenzied demeanor, typical on travel day. He wasn’t so much grumpy as he was a little tense, which is a vast improvement from “overly grumpy.” 

He dropped me and the baggage at the airport while he dropped off the rental car. Oddly, the rental car facilities didn’t have any shuttles and he had to walk back to the domestic terminal. Thank goodness I stayed at the airport as opposed to going with him as I’d suggested. I found a comfy chair and played with my phone while I waited. 

Once he arrived, within minutes we were at the Qantas counter ready to pay for our bags. Much to our surprise, it was only AUD $90, USD $62 for the extra weight generated by the third bag. We were thrilled. But, we still had two flights on Fiji Airways ahead of us and had no idea how much extra we’d have to pay once we check in early tomorrow morning. We’ll see how that goes.

Now, as we wait, I’m glad we had our prepaid hot spot, allowing both of us to stay amused while we waited. I must admit, I don’t like flying, not the airport, not the plane, not the baggage drop off and pick up, none of it.  Tom agrees.

If we had our choice we’d sail everywhere we wanted to visit and in essence, it’s what we’ve been able to do in many cases. Although, to retain such strict criteria would be extremely limited when we think of all the places we’d never have been able to experience. The inconvenience proves worth it in the long run. 

I suppose I could use Twitter or some other such app for short blurbs. As all of our readers know, I’m not much in the way of “short” comments when writing has such an appeal, and sharing photos has even more.

Any moment, our flight will be called and we’ll do, as usual, wait in chairs until the very end when everyone else has boarded. That’s a Tom thing. I’d get on early and get situated. This life is an ongoing compromise. We do some of what each other prefers and we do a lot of what appeals to both of us.

Going to Fiji was on the “what appeals to both of us” list. Hopefully, we’ll be pleasantly surprised and pleased with our new home. If not, well, we’ll live there anyway, a smile on our faces and determination in our hearts.

Happy day to all.

Final expenses for Australia…Leaving Trinity Beach today!…Last favorite photos…

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Pond view at the Cattana Wetlands.

It’s 7:45 am as I begin here today. I have the final load of laundry going, I’m showered and dressed back into my nightshirt while the clothes I’ll wear for the next 48 hours spin in the washer.  

A huge croc was found here in Deadman’s Gully last year which was later found and moved to another less populated location.

Packing the duffel bag for the overnight in Sydney is challenging when it already contains all of our jeans, both shorts, and heavy long pants in order to lighten the weight of the checked bags. We always carry-on the duffel bag. With two pairs of blue jeans each, plus three pairs of jean shorts each, it’s a heavy load.

Another of Tom’s sunrise photos.

Also, I’ve packed my large Costco beach bag, which is a temporary-for-travel-days-only handbag with a few toiletries we’ll need in the hotel:  toothbrushes and toothpaste, shavers, contact lens case filled with solution for tonight only, antiperspirant, and my small black cosmetic bag. No fluff. No creams, lotions, or potions for us.

An eye-catching orchid found at Rusty’s Farmers Market.

The three bags to be checked need to be arranged and weighed one last time to fit what we’re currently wearing and any last-minute items. Tom’s busy in the kitchen washing our iced tea pitcher which we’ll pack with clothes and place in a bag. I just packed the half-full large grinder from Costco containing Himalayan salt.

It was cloudy and rained almost every day during our first month in Australia. Once it cleared, the weather was nearly perfect day after day.

Sleep was fleeting last night as it always is before leaving. Tonight won’t be much better when we have to awaken at 4 am and be out the door of the hotel at 4:30 am. We’ve timed ourselves and when necessary, both of us can manage our entire time in the bathroom in the morning to less than 20 minutes. No dawdling here.  Efficiency is the name of this game.

A final visit to Trinity Beach on a sunny day.

Today, we plan to be out the door at 3:30 pm for our three hours 5:20 pm flight to Sydney. Based on what we have left to do, getting out the door won’t be rushed or stressed.

As for the expenses, there aren’t any surprises. We were very close to the amounts we’d budgeted, except for the medical exams and tests which we hadn’t originally included.

Last week’s full moon over the bay.

Here are our expenses for the past almost three months:

Rent:                  USD $7,058  AUD $10,207
Car Rental:          USD $2,628  AUD $3,512 (fuel costs included)
Airfare:               USD $   477  AUD $   690
Entertainment:    USD $   553  AUD $   800
Groceries:           USD $2,854  AUD $4,128
Dining Out:                        $0
Misc.*                 USD $5128   AUD $7,413
Total:             USD $18,698   AUD $27,032

*The above mentioned miscellaneous is a category we’ll add to the future final expenses posts as we’ve done today. In this case, it included all of our medical expenses,  medical tests, prescriptions, the cost for SIM data, clothing and supplies we had shipped to us from the US, shipping fees, various toiletries we purchased at the local pharmacy, clothing at a local store, etc. 

Standing on the pier at Green Island, the expanse of this tiny portion of the Great Barrier Reef was breathtaking.

We’ve always kept track of these non-rental related expenses but haven’t included them in the totals we’ve posted in the past.

Peeking through the trees to Double Island on a cloudy day.  Sunny or cloudy, we took many photos while in Trinity Beach

Bottom line, the above totals are every last cent we spent while living in Australia. Of course, these totals do not include deposits and payments we’ve paid for future rentals and cruises while living in Australia. 

Kangaroo family resting under a tree on a hot day.

For example, we did not include the final payments for the rental in Fiji or for the paid in full cruise to Vietnam.  Those figures will be reflected at the end of each of those experiences as we’ve listed these today.

Feel free to inquire if any of you have questions regarding any of these expenses. We’ll always happy to answer any of our readers’ questions in regards to costs.

Local Bluewater Marina.

Also, please note that we haven’t dined out while living in Trinity Beach, not once in an entire 88 days. This is a first and it’s unlikely this will occur again. As mentioned in a prior post, we’d been unable to find suitable restaurants for my way of eating. We could have found a few options but with the beautiful organic vegetables, free-range chicken and eggs, grass-fed meats, and fresh fish, we had little interest in dining out.

There are warning signs at each of the beaches regarding crocs and stingers when an encounter can be life-threatening.

Also, with an enormous outlay for future venues, we tightened our belts and ate meals at home. We could easily add another USD $1500, AUD $2169 to the above totals and with the outlay of funds, we felt it was a good time to cut back.

Each of the many beaches in the area had its own unique appeal.

With Fiji on the horizon and many expenses behind us, we can look forward to dining out each week if we’d like, using the driver to take us back and forth. From what we’ve heard the cost of the driver several times a week will be considerably less than what we’ve paid for rental cars. We shall see.

Many homeowners become annoyed by cockatoos who can be noisy and destructive. Many afternoons they arrived in the yard in huge flocks. The noise is deafening but it was always fun to see them.

One odd item, we decided to try while here: Could we get by entirely using credit cards only, never stopping at an ATM? We did! The only cash we have is a refund given to us by Woolies for bacon we’d purchased that was slimy. Not only did they replace the bacon with fresh bacon at no charge, but they also gave us back the entire amount for the cost of the bacon. 

Exquisite Holloways Beach view from atop a steep hill.

At first, I refused the AUD $12, stating they’d already replaced the bad bacon at no charge and I didn’t require more. But, the store manager insisted I take the ziplock bag of cash, explaining it was their policy to not only replace the item at no charge but also, give the customer back the money. Only in Australia!  Now, we have some cash for tips at the airport.

That’s it for now, folks. Back to wrapping things up, finishing the laundry, packing the odds and ends scattered about the house, and cleaning the house as much as time allows. Sylvie insisted we do not worry about cleaning but, we always like to leave the property somewhat clean and definitely free of trash and debris.

Kookaburra stopped by the yard to sit atop the fence, next to the rain gauge.

Thanks to Sylvie and Andy, our wonderful hosts. If the Cairns area is on your mind for a future visit, you too could enjoy spending time in this lovely property. Click here for details.

Soon, we’re off to the airport to pay for our excess baggage and await our flight to Sydney. If time and WiFi allow we’ll do a quick post with photos.  f not, we’ll be back in 48 hours from our new home in Fiji.

Thanks, again to all of our loyal readers for staying with us during crazy, exciting, and also mundane times as we slowly make our way around the world.

Photo from one year ago today, September 7, 2014:

Standing on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, one year ago. We were in awe of having the opportunity to visit this profoundly emotional historical site.  For more photos and details, please click here.

Reflections on a life on the move…Leaving Trinity Beach tomorrow afternoon…Total expenses posted tomorrow…Favorite photos…

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A dingo, a wild dog, is representative of the Australian Outback.

It’s impossible not to compare one location to another. Moving every three months or less, with only a single exception most recently in Kauai, Hawaii, where we happily lived for four months, leads us to the inevitable:  How does each location compare to another?

Love, companionship, and comfort are evident in the most unexpected species.

If it were based entirely, on the beauty of a location, our opinions would be very different. Some of the least attractive locations could be included in the most fulfilling. Were it based on the people we met and the memorable occasions associated with making new friends, it would be entirely different.

Mother koala in a tree with a view of her joey in the pouch.

As it turns out, not surprisingly, many factors enter into the equation of what proves to be the most pleasurable places we’ve experienced on earth thus far. With so more much to see, we’re premature in listing them by preference. 

Mom and Joey…precious.

If we were to say that “convenience” would be a factor in determining the quality of our experiences, we’d be kidding ourselves. Some of the most inconvenient, lackluster locations proved to be the most meaningful.

In no time at all, joeys become adept at hanging on to eucalyptus trees.

In a way, it’s similar to having a preference in the “type” of person we want as a partner. Often in life, as in mine and Tom’s case, we end up happy with the polar opposite of what either of us would’ve expected in a mate.

What a gorgeous pelican.

No more than we can control whom we fall in love with, falling in love with a location almost becomes a matter of chance provided it has the basic necessities we require in our travels: access to a grocery store, running water, electricity, an indoor working toilet, and shower, fresh air, comfortable clean property with a lounge or living room, a good bed, a kitchen, somewhat of a view, warm weather, a reasonable means of transportation and wireless Internet or the ability to buy SIM cards. On the wish list? Screens on doors and windows, a pool, an ocean view. We no longer require air conditioning even in hot climates.

Most beaches in Australia are pristine sand. Even the few locations with a rocky shore are beautiful.

Once we find we’ve accomplished the above in a new location, we settle in making adjustments and adapting as needed to best enhance the experience. Anything beyond these basic comforts is a bonus: pleasing sites to visit, great views, friendly people, convenience for shopping and entertainment, and an easy means of local transportation. 

Australia is not only abundant in unique wildlife but also in unusual vegetation. 

With all of these factors in play in varying degrees, it’s not easy to classify one location as better than another.  It all boils down to one single fact: did we have a good experience? If so, we’re content.

One of Tom’s many sunrise photos.

In Trinity Beach, we had a good experience. We saw the sites we wanted to see; we had all the “creature comforts” we needed; we had a great view and surroundings with some access to wildlife; and the people were as warm and friendly as they could be, although we never had a chance to socialize to any degree.

A flower with a face.

Would we come back to this area?  In reality, we’ll return to Cairns on a future Australian cruise next year during which we may stay aboard the ship. Why pay for a tour when we’ve already spent three months in the area? With so much world left to see, repeats aren’t on our radar right now (except for South Africa for me, for which I’m chomping at the bit to return).

Shade is common along the many beaches from many varieties of trees.

Easily, we leave Trinity Beach with a sense of comfort and accomplishment, grateful for the experience which only enhanced our love of this country which over the next 20 months we’ll further explore with six more cruises circumventing the continent. 

A huge banyan tree in Port Douglas.

By the time we’ll sail away from Australia in April 2017 to head back to the US for a short visit, we can feel confident we’ve seen as much as we wanted of this huge continent and the South Pacific, content to continue on to visit new continents, new worlds we’ve yet to explore.

Today, we share some of our favorite photos of this area, and tomorrow, the final expenses with the balance of the favorite photos.

Thanks to all of our worldwide readers for sharing our first Australian experience as we continue on to the vast South Pacific for more.

Photo from one year ago today, September 5, 2014:

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We visited the final port of call visited by the Titanic in the town of Cobh, Ireland. As a tribute to the Titanic, each cruise ship that enters and departs the port is greeted by these ladies dressed in the era of the Titanic. For more photos of the Blarney Castle, the villages of Cork and Cobh, Ireland, and fun times out with friends we made aboard ship, please click here.

A sheepish story on the news…Shocking photo…Three days and counting…

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An overgrown sheep found by the RSPCA outside of Canberra on September 2 2015
This is a photo (not ours) of previously long lost sheep, now named Chris, who was lost for years to be found in this dreadful condition. With the help of professional shearers, Chris has been relieved of his mass of wool and is doing well. Stories such as this are newsworthy in Australia. See a portion of the story below and a link to the full story.

With a population of over 23 million throughout the entirety of the massive continent of Australia (as large as the US), there if often news broadcast via TV that is horrific and heartbreaking. Sadly, we watch this news along with the lighter versions presented on the many news broadcasting TV stations.

The passion of its people for “footy,” Australia’s version of football and other sports news occupies a portion of each day’s broadcasts as does local and political news.

An important element in the news in this country is surrounding the indigenous people’s lives, programs including both government and volunteer involvement in the betterment of the Aboriginals who occupy 3% of the entire population. 

Aboriginal selected statistics

“3%  Percentage of Aboriginal people in Australia’s population
93,200  Approximate Aboriginal population in 1900
670,000  Number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in 2011
721,000  Estimated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia in 2021
2.2%  Annual growth rate of the Aboriginal population. Same rate for non-Aboriginal population: 1.2 to 1.7%

Aboriginal population figures

Experts estimate the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders at 700,000 at the time of the invasion in 1788 [3]. It fell to its low of around 93,000 people in 1900, a decrease of almost 87%.

At present, 3% of Australia’s population identify as Aboriginal.

It will take until 2021 for population figures to recover. If the current annual growth rate of 2.2% remains stable Aboriginal people can be as many as 721,000 by 2021 and more than 900,000 by 2026.

The faster growth in the Aboriginal population (compared to 1.6% for the general Australian population) is the result of higher levels of fertility and better life expectancy. More Aboriginal people move into peak child-bearing age between now and 2026.

The median age for Aboriginal people, currently 22, is projected to reach 25 by 2026. But this remains much younger than the median age in the general population, which is currently 37 and is expected to rise above 40 by 2026.

A problem is though how many people identify themselves as Aboriginal. “There are a large number of people who don’t answer the Indigenous question in the Census,” explains Patrick Corr, Director of Demography with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

“We have approximately 1.1 million people whose Indigenous status, we don’t know, so we have made some assumptions.” This uncertainty lets the ABS tag some figures as experimental estimates.”

Along with the above ongoing news, updates on local, national, and international affairs, crime stories, accidents, injuries, shark encounters, including any natural disasters, a substantial portion of Australian news centers around human interest stories. 

Tongue-in-cheek, Australians share many newsworthy stories with a sense of humor that is unstoppable. The news commentators spend little time hiding their perceptions and holding back comments they feel appropriate to express. In doing so, many human interest stories precipitate fits of laughter by them and by those watching, often including ourselves

We’ve loved their news. Knowing we won’t be able to watch the news in Fiji for four months without a TV, we’ll be reliant upon online news with apps we’ve already been using made into tiles on our Windows 8  laptops. A single click and we’re updated.

With Australia’s extensive animal population, we often watch stories regarding farm animals, wild animals, and domesticated animals, all of which appear to hold a special place in the hearts of most Aussies.

Yesterday, a story caught our attention, repeated again this morning that found us smiling from ear to ear from a great outcome about a stray Merino sheep lost in the wild near Canberra for years who suddenly appeared desperately needing to be shorn.

(Click here for full story)

Very woolly sheep before and after shearing
Chris, before and after his shearing (not our photo). The pink stain is not blood. It’s an antiseptic. He’s doing well now.

See a portion of the story here:

“Wool shorn off an overgrown sheep found near Canberra on Wednesday has set an “unofficial” world record for the heaviest fleece removed in one shearing, the RSPCA says.  The sheep, dubbed Chris, underwent a risky shearing operation to remove 40.45 kilograms of wool.

It smashed the previous world record held by a sheep in New Zealand called Shrek, whose fleece weighed 27 kilograms. ”  Click here for the balance of the story.

It is these types of stories that we’ve found clearly illustrate the compassion and love for animals so typical in Australia. That’s not to say that other country’s people are less compassionate. However, in Australia, we’ve found a greater focus on the love of animals frequently expressed in detail on the news.

We’ll miss these types of stories. From time to time, we’ll check on Australian news and those human interest stories will surely bring a smile to our faces. Most likely, while living in Fiji, we’ll seek and discover heartwarming stories as once again we embrace our surroundings.

This morning we headed to the Trinity Beach post office sending two packages; one to our mailing service with my boots, medical paperwork, and receipts which won’t arrive for up to three months (lowest rate), and two, a 16 kilo (35 pound) box of food and supplies to Fiji, which should arrive within 10 days. Total cost for both packages: AUD $269.70, USD $188.97.

With the flight to Sydney at 5:30 pm on Monday, we’ll wrap up the final packing during the day, heading to the airport by around 3:30 pm. It’s a domestic flight and all we’ll have to do is pay for the extra bag and check-in. 

As we wind down over the next few days, we’ll be preparing and posting the final expenses for the time we spent in Australia, almost 90 days. You just may be surprised!

Photo from one year ago today, September 4, 2014:
DSC03394
Tom at Stonehenge.  Story and photos here.

DSC03395

Me, at Stonehenge.  We were both wearing headsets for listening to the history of this renowned site.  For details and more photos, please click here.

Handling excess baggage fees…Unable to prepay…Packing remains time consuming and tricky…Four days until departure!

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A sunny day makes all the difference in taking good photos.

With the complicated upcoming five flights necessary over the next many months and the slower Internet connection, a few months ago we decided to book all five flights with a local travel agency after we’d verified pricing online.

Travel agencies generally charge the same prices for their services that we’d receive on our own other than the voracious online searches, we may perform from time to time for the best possible fares. 

In the case of these upcoming flights, we could search day and night and the prices remained within a few dollars either way. Rather than using $100 in data searching online, a trip to the travel agency made sense, especially when it’s located in the same mall where we’ve shopped each week.

Visitors spending time at the beach in the shade.  We did the same sitting on beach towels we placed on the grass.

When we booked the five flights, we didn’t prepay baggage fees at the time. Knowing we had to further lighten our load to stay within the 23 kilo, 50 pounds, maximum weight for checked baggage, we had some work to do. 

We’d purchased a few items of clothing while here, received in a shipment from the US and had to reduce the weight to compensate for the new items, easily done with many items becoming old and worn from frequent wearing and washing.

With one checked bag allowed per person at or under this weight, our only excess baggage is our third bag which also now weighs within the 23 kilo range. 

People, young and old, walk along the esplanade.

For those who may have missed why we need five flights, here they are:

1.  Cairns to Sydney, Australia:  stay overnight in hotel
2.  Sydney to Nadi, Fiji:  two hour layover
3.  Nadi, Fiji to Savusavu, Fiji  (first smaller island we’ll live on for almost three months):  landlord picking us up at the airport, to take us to our new home
4.  Savusavu, Fiji to Suva, Fiji (main island we’ll live on for one month): on our own, rental car from airport to house. 
5.  Suva back to Sydney, Australia: to stay overnight for one night, board a cruise on January 5, 2016 which will disembark 14 days later in Auckland, New Zealand, where we’ll rent a car to drive to our new home near New Plymouth, New Zealand for the next 89 days.

With the confusion of booking all of these flights individually online it certainly made sense to see a travel agent to book all of these flights on one ticket, all the way through to Sydney in January.

Unfortunately, it appears prepaying for our extra bag for all five flights is trickier than one would think. We’d planned to return to the agency a few days before departure and have the agent set up the prepayment of the extra bag.

There are numerous resorts, hotels and vacation rentals overlooking the sea in Trinity Beach.

With all of our bags filled, we weighed them on the our portable travel scale, happily discovering they all were within the weight restrictions for individual bags. 

The only issue is the third checked bag, one we cannot live without no matter how we’ve tried to trim its contents: all of our shoes (six pairs each), a few small boxes of our business cards, a portable scanner, bottles of vitamins a few sandwich sized ziplock bags of cosmetics, teeth care supplies (fluoride free toothpaste), emergency medical/first aid supplies, insect repellent, power adapters and cords including HDMI and a small stash of other toiletries, such as organic antiperspirant and shaving supplies. All of these items are included in the lowest amounts possible. 

Walking along the beach is enjoyed by visitors to the many beaches.  Of course, keeping an eye out for crocs, sharks and stingers is vital at most beaches in Australia.

Having checked for stores available in each location, we determine the necessity of bringing more or less toiletries. Fiji is not going to carry fluoride free toothpaste or organic antiperspirant. We’re bringing enough to last 89 days. We’re always monitoring the amounts of products we use in order to avoid packing any more than the minimum.

In that bag, I only have one small plastic jar of face cream with no other lotions, potions, perfumes or sunscreens. We use coconut oil as a lotion if needed, purchased new in each location and left behind when we move on. We purchase hair products as needed at each new location.

The top level of this condo complex has great ocean views.

On Tuesday, when we stopped in at the travel agency to hopefully pay for the extra bag, the rep explained that once she entered our confirmation numbers, a message appeared stating the excess bags can only be paid at the airport at the time of checking in.

This is odd to us. But, we too saw this notation online. Since we preferred to pay the excess all the way through, it appears the flight with Fiji Airways are tripping up the process. Smaller planes may dictate actual allowable weight once other passengers check in.  his is the only reason we can determine as to why we can’t do this in advance. The excess bag may have to be shipped on a different flight.

The shaded walkway, the esplanade, is an ideal path for walking.

As a result, we have no choice but to wait until we’re at the airport in Cairns on Monday, arriving in plenty of time to handle this and pay for the excess. Of course, we’d have preferred to have it handled up front but undert these circumstances, have no other option.

We’re expecting to pay no less than AUD $800, USD $562. Anything less will be a pleasant surprise. 

Tomorrow, we’ll head to the post office to ship the box of food supplies in Vanua Levu, most of which is only purchased in the health food sections of a large grocery store or in a health food shop. None of these types of stores exist  in Vanua Levu. 

With the intense sun in Australia, many former sunbathers spend only short stints in the sun, as we do on occasion.  On the date we took these photos, we spent all of the time in the shade except during the walk in the sand along the beach.

None of this planning is easy. Those who may believe that living a life of traveling the world is free of responsibilities with little planning are kidding themselves, especially if they have any types of special needs that requires certain products, foods and equipment.

As time marches on, we’ve accepted the reality of shipping certain products to ourselves in advance and paying for excess baggage fees. If we were 25 years old without any medical or health needs driving us to purchase and use specific products and, we were able to carry an even a smaller amount of clothing in  backpack, it could be an entirely different scenario.

A palm tree casting a shadow in the sand, a perfect spot for a beach chair.  We wished we had the two chairs we’d purchased at Costco in Kauai which we gave to Elaine and Richard before departing.

But, we’re not 25 years old. We’re grateful that we’ve figured out a way that makes this life work for us ultimately reducing stress of feverishly scrambling to find the items we need once we arrive in a new location.  

Once we unpack our bags and the shipped box we can sit back and relax as we settle into a new life in a new country knowing we have the supplies we’ll need for the best possible experience.

We’ll be back soon as we fast approach our departure from Trinity Beach, Australia to head to a new and different country where we’ll live for the next four months.

                                           Photo from one year ago today, September 3, 2014:
No photo was posted one year ago today when we had a very early morning departure from the ship to visit Stonehenge, although we posted a short blurb. Please click here for details.

Review of vacation rental in Trinity Beach, Australia…Great new and unique photos…

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Yesterday’s clear blue skies contributed to our colorful beach photos. 

Once we leave a location, our interest in writing a review rapidly dissipates. Arriving at a new location totally changes our focus to absorbing and settling into a new environment, having left the past location behind.

Knowing this, we usually post reviews on such sites as TripAdvisor and the vacation rental site from which we originally booked the rental. In each case, we strive to get this done during the last week before departure.

In the case of this property in Trinity Beach, Queensland, Australia, it is listed on this website. We can’t stress enough the kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness of the owners, Sylvie and Andy. Not only were they helpful and willing to answer endless questions via email many months prior to our arrival, but they were also quick to respond to any inquires or concerns, we expressed while on the premises. 

The beaches in this area during the winter months are relatively uncrowded.

Once we move into a location, we tend to be laid back with a few questions or concerns unless there’s a serious issue affecting our safety or comfort. In the case of Sylvie and Andy, living above us in the huge property, it was easy to ask to “borrow” a few items; steak knives, measuring spoons, a spatula, a pot, or a thermos, all of which they promptly supplied.

Having read that we enjoy lounging by the pool, they purchased two comfortable chaise lounges with thick cushions for the pool area that we’ve appreciated and often used. 

When on another occasion they’d read we were having trouble cooking in one of the smallest available skillets, later in the day, we found a new huge high-quality frying pan with a glass lid sitting atop the clothes dryer while our clothes were spinning. We’ve used that pan many times wishing each vacation rental had such a skillet.

Trinity Beach has many shady areas.  Although we didn’t have chairs, we sat on beach towels we’d brought along.

On top of it all, they’d offered to clean our entire house once a week. Instead, we suggested they only vacuum the area rug and wash the floors once every two weeks. 

We’ve happily done the rest. With a broom, dust mop, and dustpan, we’ve been able to keep the floors clean in the interim along with the remaining cleaning; changing and washing the linen weekly, and the almost daily washing of the bath and kitchen towels. Had we not been so picky, it may have been easier, but we prefer to keep our surroundings clean and tidy.

Their warmth, friendliness, and willingness to suggest activities for us was unstoppable. They couldn’t have been better hosts always chatting when we ran into one another in the carport which occurred fairly often, sharing valuable tidbits of information.

View along Trinity Beach and the esplanade.

This house has been ideal in most ways. The living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, and bath (with separate toilet area) have fully met our needs. Everything throughout the property is in excellent, if not perfect, condition. 

With a comfy sofa, coffee table and flat-screen TV, we’ve easily been able to work on our computers and watch our shows at night. With no eating space in the kitchen, we ate every meal at the spacious dining room table.

The plates, flatware, and kitchen gadgets are matching and of good quality, and other than the few above items we requested, the only additional household items we purchased was a muffin tin, two small baking pans, and a microwave splatter cover, all of which we’re shipping ahead to Fiji, along with the food items we discovered we won’t be able to purchase there.

This rock in the ocean is the subject in a painting on the wall, known in the Bay of Islands as one of the rocks of the 12 Apostles in Victoria.

(Yesterday, we purchased a large box from the post office with a maximum weight of 20 kilos, 44 pounds. Back at home, we packed and weighed the package and we won’t have trouble staying under the maximum allowable weight).

As for the bed…it wasn’t as comfortable as we’d prefer and although it measured as a queen-sized, it seemed tighter. Neither of us moves around a lot while sleeping so we made the best of it with each of us tending to hug the edge of the bed in an attempt to give each other space. The bedding was comfortable with options for a lighter blanket or warmer comforter.

Tom spent a part of each day at home outdoors on the veranda in order to get a better wifi connection utilizing the included wifi service in the house. 

A wood decorator item on a wall.

I always used the hotspot “borrowed” from the Telstra store which we’ll return the last day, gobbling up at least a half of a gig each day, over one gig on some days, which proved to be expensive at AUD $140, USD $99.65 for 16 gigs. On average, I reloaded the data every three weeks. Had the signal been better in this property, we’d have avoided this unexpected expense.

Then again, we accept the reality that a property owner doesn’t expect this degree of data use and may not be able or willing to make it available during our stay. On a few occasions, we’ve had no choice but to purchase data when the signal in the property was inadequate such as in Kenya and South Africa. 

In all other locations, the WiFi has worked well enough for our use without incurring additional expense. We never know if it’s adequate until we begin to use the provided services and, we never rent a property unless wifi is included in the rent. At this location, it would certainly be adequate for most travelers doing email and searching for various venues.

A quaint farm-like decorator box located in the kitchen in the house.

Another area worthy of mention is the lack of air conditioning for visitors in the hotter summer months. The temperature, while we were here, was rarely over 85F, 29C during these winter months in the southern hemisphere. Had there been AC, we’d never have used it. The summer visitor may feel differently when the temperature can rise to the 90’s F, 30’s C, or more. 

We never used the hot tub on the veranda. With the warmth during the day and the insects at night, we had little interest. Plus, we are always sensitive to the cost of electricity, turning off lights and appliances when not in use.

Our biggest issue, one we experience all over the world except the US, is the lack of screens on the sliding doors and windows. As a result, when we’re staying indoors, we’re doing so without fresh air other than two tall, narrow windows (previously mentioned), one in the living room and the other in the bedroom.

Many tourists, here only a week or two, may have no problem with leaving the doors open without screens.  Rarely do tourists cook their meals other than a quick breakfast or sandwich. The fact that we cook daily is a huge draw for flies entering the house. 

This is where we’ve kept the only clutter we leave out.

The flies magically appear as soon as I begin to prepare meals. Luckily, these flies rarely bite, but the fact that they make everything feel dirty, we’re constantly covering food with clean kitchen towels as it’s being prepared.

Other than flies, there are mozzies, many appearing during the daylight hours and many more at dusk and at night  If it weren’t for them and the flies, we’d have been willing to leave the doors open. When we first arrived, we tried it but, after I ended up with dozens of bites itching for days, we changed our minds. Preferring not to wear repellent daily we’ve kept the doors closed. Luckily, there are quite powerful fans in each room.

We’d expected there to be many insects and snakes in this area and have been pleasantly surprised to see relatively few scary looking critters. Early this morning I awakened Tom when I heard something scratching at the bedroom and making odd sounds. 

As it turned out, it was a huge ugly gelatinous looking gecko which is harmless. It scampered off when we tried to catch it to put it outside. Most likely, it found a crack in the house and is long gone.

This antique mirror with doors is on the wall above the credenza.  You can see me in the mirror taking the photo.

Ants are prolific in Australia as they are in many other parts of the world. We’ve made a special point of not leaving damp kitchen towels in the laundry basket. All of these mentions of “critters” have nothing specifically to do with this property as much as it is an Australian thing. Luckily, there are fewer venomous funnel-web spiders in Queensland, although they’re prolific in Sydney and other states throughout Australia.

As for the location of Trinity Beach, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. There are many exquisite beaches, plenty of restaurants, excellent, conveniently located shops including the local Smithfield Mall and slightly further down the road, Cairns Central Shopping Centre with multi-plex theatre, food court, and multiple restaurants.

Although Cairns is a busy tourist area, Trinity Beach feels less so. Although the local markets and restaurants are busy, it’s never been a problem for us. Traffic is busiest at the many roundabouts on Captain Cook Highway which can be congested at times, especially during rush hour, lunch, and on weekends. 

We purchased these black washable placemats to prevent watermarks on the wood table. No longer using linen napkins we use these two kitchen towels that travel with us. Neither of us cares to use paper napkins.

Overall, crowds and traffic haven’t been an issue for us when we plan most outings during the quieter times of the day including on weekends. Our lifestyle doesn’t require that we visit local points of interest on the weekend unless something special is on the agenda that we’d like to see, such as our recent visit to Rusty’s Markets in Cairns on a busy Friday which is only opened on Friday through Sunday.

Overall, we’d give this rental a 4.5 out of 5, high on our overall scale. We’d encourage any travelers to the Cairns area to give Trinity Beach a try, staying at this conveniently located, lovely property, well maintained and respectfully managed by a wonderful couple we’ll always remember. Thanks to Sylvie and Andy. Click here for more information on this vacation home.

Yesterday, we visited the Trinity Beach esplanade for the last time, walking on the nicely paved path, nodding hello to others we encountered along the way. Later, we relaxed on the beach mostly in the shade, treasuring the view and the surroundings. It was the busiest day at the beach we’ve seen since our arrival, which most likely will escalate with spring in the air. 

Our electrical set up: our a converter/adapter plugged into the wall with our power strip.

Apparently, locals seldom lounge on the beaches during the winter months, not uncommon in many beach communities throughout the world.

Soon, we’re off to the mall for a few last-minute items to take to Fiji, to pay our luggage fees at the travel agency, and for our final trip to Woolie’s for a few groceries.

Tomorrow, we’ll share more photos and thoughts on the aesthetics of this area, including those we found most appealing and those which may appeal to the most tourists.

Happy day to all.

                                          Photo from one year ago today, September 1, 2014:

Tom was checking out the ship’s room service menus posted on the wall in our cabin on the Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas as we prepared to sail from Harwich, London to Boston, USA. For more details, please click here.