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.

Tourists flock to the Yasawa Islands in droves in search of idyllic beaches beneath rugged hills and a large dose of sunshine, shelling out lots of money as the prices take a dramatic jump from those on the mainland. In search of some respite and sun, we joined the mainly 18-22 year old set (all it seems on RTW tickets) on a quest for another slice of paradise. After a few days we have really started question whether the extreme imbalance between what you pay for and what you get is worth it - It is such a contrast from what we experienced on Vitu Levu and Ovalau, not just in price but also in lack of culture/authenticity.
To get to the Yasawa islands, there is only one realistic option: the Yasawa Flyer catamaran which, as of April 1, 2007, abused its monopoly on the route and increased its fares by over 25%! This nearly put us off completely but we really wanted to see for ourselves if it really is as beautiful as the guidebooks suggest. Nacula (Na-thu-la), Nalova Bay/Oarsman's Bay is where we headed first.

The snorkeling was fantastic and the best we have experienced so far, anywhere. The mostly healthy coral include many large staghorn and shelf formations accompanied by an amazing variety of fish. A beautiful reef runs out to sea right from the beach we stayed on and the water is not more than only about 8 meters deep for at least a few hundred meters out. There are also plenty of sandy areas just off the beach that are perfect for a swim.
Steep, green hills are lined with narrow walking tracks through high grass that provide glorious views out across the chain of
Yasawa Islands. All this said, natural beauty should not come at this high of a price as the accommodations and food standards are poor at best. We hop to one other island within the Yasawa chain and we'll see if the trend continues...