28 June 2011:

One last view of the Yasawas slipping into the distance. Although I loved my time here, I'm happy to be leaving what I see as as vacation within a vacation, and am on my way to more interesting adventures than island hopping at backpacker resorts.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-46.html

28 June 2011:

The ride so far has been surprisingly rough, and quite a few people were seasick from the ship bobbing up and down. As the sun set, everything was flooded with a warm golden glow.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-46.html

28 June 2011:

One last view of the Yasawa Islands. I'll miss this place. I have mixed feelings about the people, but the area was one of the most beautiful places in the world, and I had a lot of fun island hopping.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-46.html

28 June 2011:

The stop at Wayasewa and Kuta, a flurry of activity as usual.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-46.html

28 June 2011:

A closer view of the volcanic plug. I'd love to come back here one day to do some camping and hiking if the locals allow that.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-46.html

June 28 2011:

After a while, the familiar volcanic plugs of Wayasewa loomed into view. They looked especially dramatic in the evening sun, with the dense forests by the shore and the imposing jagged cliffs jutting up above.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-46.html

28 June 2011:

At low tide, the walk out to the boat was surprisingly long, while trying to step around the corals in the shallow-ish water. The yellow boat arrived behind schedule again, at around 3:30 to 4pm. The Yasawa Flyer, known as the "yellow boat" was much bigger than the white boat, and had an actual store and a travel desk section on board, with lots of cozy places to be on board.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-46.html

28 June 2011:

There was a surprisingly strong current in the passage, and I had to swim constantly against the current for control, especially around the corals in the shallows. There were huge schools of colourful fish being tossed around by the currents, but also some painful stingers. Coming back pretty tired, it was good to rest and dry off in a hammock on the beach. Looks like this resort has been here for a while - this rope around the tree has been engulfed.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-46.html

28 June 2011:

Looks like I'll be taking the yellow boat back later today. It definitely looks bigger than the white boat. The snorkelling trip took us on a long speed boat ride south to one of the passages between the islands, probably somewhere around Nanuya Balavu. Sadly, we didn't see any manta rays here, but this was the deepest water I've snorkelled in, where I couldn't even see the bottom. It was an interesting feeling diving down and seeing the empty darkness below me - it would have been awesome to see some giant manta rays gliding under me.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-46.html

28 June 2011:

I woke up to good weather today, what a difference! This area is famous for large manta rays that feed in the currents between the islands. Although there hasn't been reports of mantas for a few days, I decided to go on a manta ray snorkelling tour anyway, since this was my last day in the Yasawas.

Rough notes: http://mandarinmanmarktravelnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-nz-to-sf-day-46.html