23 June 2011:

Spent the rest of the evening drinking some beer and chatting. Later on, I wrote my notes in my room, while two girls who were staying in the same dorm watched a part of RocknRolla on a computer before sleeping. It was quite jarring for me to see modern technology as I never bring these things with me when travelling.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

Dinner. The white bowl is a shared bowl of crab meat from two large mud crabs. The other guests were not too happy with the bony chunks of fish, but I was very happy with the meal. I've had a lot of bony food in the islands and am now used to it.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

Looking back at the beach from the rocks at the southern end. Past the rocks was a small cove that appeared to be filled with mangroves.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

Farther south on the beach, there was a small tea house. I really wonder how much business they get, but I did stop in here again later in the afternoon with a Welsh backpacker to enjoy some chocolate cake.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

The entire beach was made up of these tiny rings of varying sizes and in various states of being crushed. If you know what these are, please let me know! I had a lot of time by myself here, so I ended up spending hours on end on the beach just watching the ocean and making a strand of these rings using some string from a sewing repair kit I had with me. I'll show you the result in a few days!

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

The beach just outside my accommodations. Walking to the north end of this beach, I chatted with the owner of another set of bungalows who lamented that things were getting worse and that there wasn't enough money flowing around. What used to be four hotels here has dwindled to one, with some hotels being sporadically used by visiting non-profit organizations.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

A view inside the three-bed dorm I stayed in. I really like thatched roofs.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

After a surprisingly fast speed boat ride, I was at Gold Coast Resort. The first thing the owner did after showing my to my room is show me his prized pig. He was very proud of how big it is! I was a bit less impressed with the smell and the poop it left around the thatched-roof huts.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

Heading towards Nanuya Lailai, I could see a fancy-looking resort and a cove where a few modern yachts were anchored. That sight was a surprisingly comforting reminder of the modern world after being in the islands for a couple of weeks. This cove turned out to be where The Blue Lagoon was filmed.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

At the last stop in the middle of a patch of sea surrounded by a couple of islands, another scrum of boats rushed up to exchange passengers and supplies. I was ushered on to a small boat with a couple of other people.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

After a few hours of watching people come and go on the boat, chatting to some new people and some old (including a couple I met at Taufua, Samoa), we reached the end of the line. The boat was pretty empty at this point, and I was starting to wonder if I missed by stop. There were some patches of light blue water, which some people on the boat were excited to see, but it's nothing compared to Aitutaki.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

Leaving the Waya islands behind, I prepared for a long ride. After that amazing snorkelling-focused intro to the Yasawas, I'm heading to the northernmost easily-accessible island in the Yasawas - Nanuya Lailai. Nanuya Lailai's claim to fame is being the filming location for Brooke Shield's and Christopher Atkin's The Blue Lagoon, which apparently isn't that great of a movie, but people there like to bring it up.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

One of the small resorts (Octopus Resort) on Waya with the dramatic volcanic plugs in the background.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

Another view of the dramatic volcanic plugs of Wayasewa. Wayasewa and the nearly-touching larger island of Waya is home to a few small villages.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

We were treated to some great views of the dramatic volcanic plugs of Wayasewa on out way out. I was a bit sad the goodbye song missed us, but I had a good chat with a French traveller on the boat, and he even gave me money to buy an ice cream when the boat wouldn't take a $50 note.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html

23 June 2011:

In the morning, I tried to find the path to the summit, but gave up after seeing that the path goes through a patch of houses. I'm a bit sad I didn't get to see the supposedly great view, especially the sunset, but with the sore on my foot, I was glad to just get a bit more rest and wait for the boat off the island.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-41.html