2explore.net We are Niels and Amy van Dongen and this is our journey. Our home site is http://www.2explore.net. On February 16, 2007 we will leave behind the comforts of our home in Seattle to travel through the South Pacific. On this site you can follow along with us, read about our experiences and view some of the photos we have taken en route. Our insatiable urge to explore, sparked the idea for this adventure. In October of 2005, we had a taste of the South Pacific on a 3-week trip to the Cook Islands and have ever since wanted to go back to immerse ourselves in the South Pacific way of life and record our experiences. With many ecosystems at risk from pollution, global warming and climate change, this is now especially critical. We aim to capture the true character of the idyllic South Pacific through photographs and words in a way that makes any observer of our work feel a connection to this special place and in turn, join us in making simple choices in everyday life that can have positive, lasting effects on the world around us. For a year we will be living as modern nomads – traveling only with what we can carry in our packs, living amongst the locals on the islands we visit, spending time sharing stories and experiences and taking in the captivating underwater world on the occasional dive. We hope to help others along the way and keep a vivid record of this adventure to share with you, and keep at the forefront of our memory. Follow along with us and learn about far away places of natural beauty and rich cultures. Experience with us the big world we call home.

Last Saturday we arrived in Fiji. Unfortunately our flight into Nadi was three hours late. Because it was almost midnight, we had to take a taxi to our accommodation, which we fortunately booked from Rarotonga. It was pitch dark which made it difficult for us to get our bearings, but luckily Niels had studied the map enough that he was soon able to confirm that the taxi was not just taking us for a ride. The ride into the mountains was rough. The beat up wagon did not have any shocks and the brakes did not seem to be operating properly as we bumped along the potholed, muddy track. After about 20 minutes, we finally made it to our accommodation where we were welcomed by a pack of hostile dogs, one of which honed in on Amy's leg and clamped its jaw around her knee cap. For a few minutes, we trudged through the dark in search of the owners or any sign of human presence. When we finally found the owners, we were shown our room, but a small army of frogs stood guard outside the door. Unlike the dogs, the frogs were not interested in nibbling on any body parts so we could finally settle in for the night. (A night which would end up emphasizing the importance of setting up the mosquito net as Amy awoke bitten on the lip which caused major swelling) Yep, it's not all roses and sunshine ;).

After two nights, we caught a local bus to Lautoka. Riding the bus gave us our first real impression of Fiji. The bus appeared packed full when we boarded but the locals smiled and made room. The impatient bus driver would rev the engine to rush people getting off the bus so other passengers would hand their bags to them out the windows (no glass, just open window frames on the sides of the bus) to move things along. Everyone was friendly and quite courteous.

The bus made its way from the foothills of the Sobeto Mountains to Lautoka passing through sugar cane fields. Views of mountainous landscape, sea in the distance, and village life made the ride pass quickly. Strangely, this was juxtaposed by blaring, American rap and R&B. Hearing 50 Cent on the bus while ambling through rural Fiji was so out of place, though no one seemed to care - they were too busy smiling.