andrewCemmons

Back in Denarau

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:52:57 +0000

Trip is winding down now. We have gone around both main islands. Loved Savu Savu, much quieter over there. Most of the anchorages we stopped at were infront of small villages with only a few people living there. No electricity and they are collecting rain water for drinking and things. Leaving for NZ soon. Will hopefully take a week or less to get down there and only a week to get the boat packed away. May have a few more pictures to get up before I leave but dunno. Excited for the next adventure!

Off the Grid

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:58:00 +0000

Been off the grid for a while. Lots of pictures in this update. Revisited a the small island of Nananuira which I had spent a little time on the last visit to fiji. We hopped from island to island on our way to the town of Savu Savu on the island of Vanua Levu. There are some photos from the ruins of the leper colony on Makogai (mackongeye) which was also the location of Fiji’s first movie theater or atleast that what the locals told me. I saw the foundations of it. It was pretty big, probably cause there were so many lepers living there, I think they said 3,000 but I don’t know if that was at one time or over the period. The grave yard went up the hill quite a ways, contained some 1500 souls. I definitely didn’t walk through there alone and only set foot a few paces in when the sun was at its highest. Also some amazing underwater coral caves and giant clams! I think there is a picture with me next to it but I couldn’t frame it right to get the both of us in, the clam was too big! Some big yachts in Denarau. A few spanish mackeral caught in the passages. Some sealife, namely a few large crabs, a decent sized Barracuda (which the locals love to eat for some reason), and a school of bait fish and let me tell you, swimming in a school of bait fish after getting a few scratches from the reef didn’t make me feel all too comfortable, especially after swimming by that cudda! Then I threw in some artsy fartsy ones just for the fun of it.

Bula!

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:33:02 +0000

In Fiji now. Here are some photos sailing into Vitu Levu and Musket Cove ancorage. I found frogger, and he didn’t quite make it. Almost got a hair cut by a low flying aircraft. There is a photo from my sketchbook for a design for the title of my friend’s boat. The sunsetting over the surf Mecca, Tavarua. And a sailboat in a cozy little anchorage infront of the guys bungalow (man made lagoon). Think we are leaving Denarau tomorrow. Glad to get back OFF the grid. Spending too much money on ice cream and cookies. O, bought a wicked cool grass hat to keep the sun off my back. Even lathering up with spf 50 is not enough protection from the sun.

Vanuatu and Passage to Fiji

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:21:30 +0000

Random assortment of images. Too many to tell about each one. Now I am in Fiji, only a short time for internet. Fiji is dangerous with all the reefs. But beautiful. Went on a night dive a couple days ago. Tried to find some bugs (lobsters) only saw a small one not worth catching. Saw two decent sized gruper tho, if only I hadn’t left my spear onboard… haha. Well hopefully the catching will become as good as the fishing. Until then, its PBnJs!

Lightning During a Passage

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:42:08 +0000

Passed by a few lightning storms durning the passage from Vanuatu to Fiji. Caught a few explosions in the night.

The Fresh Local Produce

admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:28:16 +0000

I have never liked bananas, for their bland taste and their texture. But I find now, that I love bananas! Especially when they are Fun Size like these. And at 300 vatu (3 bucks) a branch, I can’t afford not to love them.

This was full at one point. But they go quick when fun size!

Fits in the palm of your hand.

Grrrr….. Bananas!

Sketchbook – Ouvéa

admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:17:59 +0000

I was sitting on some bluffs at sunset on the Island of Ouvéa and drew this picture. Later I drew the map at the bottom, looking at the ship’s charts, and added where we anchored and some of the towns and marked the major passages in the reef. Think I’ll make one of these for more of the islands we visit.

Photos from the Loyalties and Vanuatu

admin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:44:09 +0000

A few more images from the Loyalty Islands and two from Vanuatu.

Crew Berth

admin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:38:56 +0000

Here are my quarters. Quite Cozy.

And me as I frequently pass the time. Good thing I’m just shy of 6ft. Anything longer would need to be crumpled.

Images up to Vanuatu

admin — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:51:59 +0000

Here are some images from New Caledonea through the Loyalty Islands.

And here is a video of my diving through an underwater cave. I think it was a lot deeper then it looks but maybe thats just me. Met two reef sharks when I popped out the other side. It was an unwanted surprise.