Bula Honeymoon!

Bula!  That is Fijian for hello and welcome!  Two weeks ago, over the Thanksgiving holiday, Rob and I took our long awaited honeymoon.  A dear friend of mine, Ruthie, gave us (as a wedding gift) a free week at her Fijian timeshare.  She completely arranged it so all we had to do was show up.  We stayed at the Wyndahm Resort in Denarau Island; a short taxi ride from the Nadi airport.  Several weeks prior to our holiday, I looked into activities and events for us to explore but held off on making any concrete plans.  This ended up being a wise decision.  As soon as we arrived, Rob and I morphed into Fiji island time and spent our days relaxing, enjoying the ocean, pool, sun and free time.  Although it's officially summer time in Hobart, the days are rather mild.  There have been a few warm days, but no consistent warm/hot summer days as of yet.  Just mild and a bit cool... however less rainy which makes a big difference!  While in Fiji, we basked in the warmth and when too hot, took a dip to cool off.

We did move off our seaside chairs to explore another island for two nights.  We had a recommendation from friends, David & Annette, to check out Octopus resort on Waya Island while in Fiji.  Midweek, Rob and I boarded a speed boat that took us on a hour and a half ride to Waya island and Octopus resort.  Once our boat arrived, the resort staff lined the beach, sang a traditional welcoming song that ended in a big BULA!  As we walked up to the resort, we were handed a cool, tropical drink.  I liked this place!  The Octopus resort was small, simple, tropical and friendly. Our bure (small seaside hut) was rustic and cozy but was missing one key element to total comfort - air conditioning.  As advertised there was a ceiling fan running on high but was no match to the tropical heat.  During the day, we would get in the water to cool off but at night, we both took cold showers a few times during the wee hours, after waking up in a light sweat, to be comfortable enough to sleep once more.  Two nights were enough for this time of the year, perhaps in a cooler season, air conditioning is less needed.  As we departed the island, the staff once more lined up and sang us goodbye.  Parting is such sweet sorrow!  Enjoy the pictures as I recap our week in Fiji!

Our Honeymoon.  This is it in one picture!

This is a more accurate representation of our honeymoon, hehe.

Rob and I realized while driving to the Hobart airport on the morning of our early departure to Melbourne that we'd forgotten our camera!  At first, we decided to use our iPhones to capture honeymoon memories.  However we changed our minds and while running through Duty Free in Sydney, we purchased our honeymoon/Christmas gift... a new Nikon camera.  This camera is very fancy and has many more buttons and options then I can manage.  You may notice a difference in the quality of the pictures in this post.  I promised Rob I'd take a photography class to learn my new sidekick- camera.

The newlywed, wife!
We flew from Hobart to Melbourne, Melbourne to Sydney and finally Sydney to Nadi.  Here I am enjoying a glass of red as we were delayed in Sydney

The newlywed, husband
Profile shot
Are they calling us to board the plane yet?

BULA FIJI!

Once we checked in to the Wyndahm Resort, the reception staff were kind enough to deliver a bottle of champagne to our room.  Cheers!

The first day of our honeymoon, Rob made me breakfast of coffee, cheesy eggs and toast.  I love him so!
The night prior, our taxi driver was so nice to take us to the market on our way from the airport.  He waited, not charging us extra, to grab a few staple items.  Fijians are very nice people.

The pool to our backs and the ocean before us...  There should have been a plaque, "The Doyles" right here.

The stairs lead down into the cool water

Hi Honey, can you put the camera down and get me a drink, wink.

Yes Dear, but it's your turn to go to the bar, wink.

We had this great patio with table and chairs.
Almost every night we sat outside, talking, reading and people watching. It was sooo relaxing.  Our first night, we were sitting out here, minding our own business when fireworks erupted into the sky above us.  After I peeled myself off the floor (I had been unexpectedly frightened), we enjoyed the display.

View from our patio.  We had a rainstorm every afternoon and on a few early mornings.  The storms did not last for long and brought the humidity index down about 2% ;)

From the patio, looking out to the ocean

A pic from the first night we were in Fiji.
We took a walk down the sand to other resorts along the coast line.
Our ONE picture together for the whole honeymoon!

Sunset

This is the Wyndahm Resort - a boardwalk leading out to the pool and beach area.  Timeshares line the walkway and a small river runs along side it.  We used the gym facility twice, had a massage at the spa and rented a movie from the front desk.

We were very pleased with the Wyndahm and would love to stay there again.  The Fijians are very open and kind; very helpful, relaxed and always smiling!  I think Fiji is the happiest place on earth next to Disneyland.  Of course, we stayed on the resorts for most of the trip...  However in the Nadi airport, singers with guitars greeted travelers as they came in and went with Fijian music.  It's pretty special.

Along the beach there lies Octopus Resort... you can kinda see the bures.

This little dinghy met us at our speed boat and brought us to shore

Rob outside our Bure 10

From the porch of the bure, the ocean awaits!

Honeymoon suite #10
or
Dont' Touch me, I'm too hot #10 

Once more, we sat out here at night and watched the stars

At night, the resort staff turned down our bed and secured the mosquito net.  Thank goodness!

Outdoor shower

We came well prepared

We spent some time here

Our first night at Octopus, Rob arranged a cocktail hour at our bure with fresh fruit and champagne.  Delightful!

BULA!

Mad skills with my new camera

One our second night, Rob arranged for massages on the beach and a lobster dinner for two on the beach. Complete with champagne!
This was one for our favorite memories.  The staff brought out our food then left us to enjoy the sunset.  The meal was delicious!!

Lobster, shrimp, calamari, white fillets, mussels and scallops

I love him

After dinner, before dessert, we took a little skinny dip

The next day we headed back to the Wyndahm resort and were grateful to leave the more tropical experience of Octopus resort.  At one point during the last night, I awoke to the sound of something crinkling on the side table next the bed.  Not recognizing the source of the sound, I quickly awoke Rob to get out of bed and hit the lights.  Sure enough, as soon as the light went on, a mouse squired away.  Needless to say, I couldn't fall asleep until dawn after that happened.  We had a package of salted peanuts on our side table.  That got discarded as well.

One last afternoon at the Wyndahm

Thank you, Ruthie

The final night, we dressed up for one last nice dinner
The sunset was the BEST this last day

Bula good looking!

We were sad to leave Fiji.  A week was not quite long enough and we are fairly certain we will be back to Fiji sometime soon.  One more huge thanks to Ruthie for making this happen.  Even though we didn't snorkel, windsurf, fish, sail, shop or participate in other touristy activities - we really just enjoyed the beauty of the islands, the company of each other and the week of endless amounts of time.  We read, napped, listened to live music, ate and unplugged.  Now, that's a good vacation!

Trips and Treats

What in the world have the Doyles been up to?

You can tell that I have gone back to work.  Endless hours of free time are now being interrupted by relentless work schedules; the demands of the job are mind draining... well that's not entirely true.  I am grateful for the pleasure to work as much as I see fit thanks to a husband who works more than full time.  I've kept myself scheduled twice a week for ten hour shifts - mostly night shifts as a causal worker.  Since I'm on the subject, I will continue by saying that Rob and I are enjoying our work here as we've grown accustomed to Australian style medicine.  Medical science is hardly different across the world but the politics, policies and procedures vary.  Although challenging at times, I am enjoying the intensive care unit and last week, because our unit census was low,  I was floated to the emergency room for the night.  Terrified at first, I ended up having a great night working with friendly nurses and "colorful" patients.  I might request to work there again based on my good experience.  

Rob and I attended a conference in Hobart for critical care health providers.  For three days we listened to lectures and presentations concerning intensive care medicine.  It was interesting to learn what research is being studied and implemented in Australia and there were even presenters from the United States - with their familiar and refreshing accents (smile).

Spring is in full swing here in Hobart Town.  I could not be more ecstatic!  Rob and I moved from Colorado winter into Tasmania winter and the year of early darkness and chill was wearing on me.  We turned our clocks ahead a few weeks ago and now it doesn't get completely dark until eight thirty at night!  All the winter rain has turned Hobart into a lush, green, flowering city.  I am seeing flowers and plants that I haven't seen before - native plant life to this side of the world.  I'm not a botanist and not keen on looking up these flowers/plants but I'd like to share some of the beauty with you.   These pictures are from my walks with Maggie.

White Popcorn Tree
(my made up plant name)

Tickle Me Purple

Outer Space Ball

Red Tide

Purple People Eater

Maggie waiting for me to stop taking pictures of flowers while we are walking.
How do I get her to sit nicely and look at the camera?
In rapid secession I say her favorite words,
"ball,ball,ball, walk, bunny, bunny, treat!"
Does the trick.

Cup of tea spot

Note the dog in the right side of the picture

Maggie is grateful for the warmer, sunny days as well.  One of her favorite past times is sun bathing.

Let a sleeping dog lie

Since the last blog post, Rob and I made a trip back to Colorado to join our friends, Mike & Jess, in celebrating their ten year wedding anniversary.  We arrived a day before the major flooding started in northern Colorado and were able to witness the damage brought on by the flooding to our little hometown.  Our immediate area, friends and family were not flooded but surrounding areas were impacted.  Luckily, Mike and Jess were able to hold their vow renewal ceremony, despite the flooding and the anniversary celebration was a blast.  We are so thankful to have been a part of this special occasion.  Our trip home was for ten days in which the time flew fast.  We came back to Hobart, once again, happy to have had the opportunity to fly home but I found myself with a new found sadness.  I don't know when we'll be back in Colorado... most likely not until we move back for good.  It's funny how you can feel happy and sad at the same time.  I am happy to be in Australia; to be in a beautiful place, a different county with a different culture, learning about myself and exploring a new marriage.  But I'm sad not to be home with my dearest family and friends.  And I love Colorado, its the one place that I feel most at home.  

Homesickness.  Probably more the reason why the blog has been quiet - there is no place like home and I miss it.  Rob is very supportive, he misses home as well.  I think as the summer sets in, bringing with it traveling friends, city events, festivals and more opportunities to sight see surrounding areas of Tasmania and Australia.   I'll have distractions and the reminders that this is a grand adventure right now for Rob and I.  And home will always be there.

A few weeks after our Colorado trip, Rob and I took four days off to see the western side of Tasmania. We packed our car with fishing poles, bikes and hiking gear and drove about five hours to Strahan.  Now a quiet tourist and fishing town, it has a rich history in importing/exporting goods, mining and convict encampment.  Sarah Island is a very small island directly off Macquarie Harbor in Strahan and it housed one of the most notorious penal settlements known in Australia.  Second time offenders were sent to imprisonment on Sarah Island, home to cannibalism and mutiny.  We took a tour!  Well, what is left of the penal colony on Sarah Island (est 1822), mostly rubble... and stories.  But a lot of interesting history about the area, prisoners and way of life in Tasmania.

Over the four days Rob and I hiked out to waterfalls and to an abandoned town (now deconstructed and covered in wildlife), rode our bikes to Ocean beach (the longest stretch of beach in Tasmania), took a small float plane ride for arial views of Strahan and the Gordon River, took a day river cruise aboard the Lady Jane (out to Sarah Island), had cozy time in our cottage, reading and napping and just relaxing.  I'll let the pictures continue to tell the story.

The car is packed! Bikes removed off to the side.

Queenstown is just 40 min from Strahan & is a big mining town.  After driving for several hours, it was nice to see signs of life and to stretch our legs before finishing the drive.

Just a quick view from our drive.  We are looking down into Queenstown and just past it, is Strahan.

Main street, Queenstown
Rob bought new hiking boots here

You know you're in Tassie when...

Downtown Strahan

Don't miss Tut's Whittle Wonders!
You'll regret it...
Look closely, its for sale.

We are driving out to a hike called Kelly Basin.  The trail follows an old train line that used to service East Pillinger Town (1889-1920).  The railway was almost completely removed but you can still see remnants of the line and town...
The area is sooo dense with greenery.  We saw two people while driving in and out but not a soul on the walking path

At the trail head
I do like to hike!

Watch for falling logs, they will impale you

Everything is covered in moss

Our one friend along the way.  A little pademelon who hopped along with us then disappeared.  We were amazed as to how quiet the forest was - hardly a sound outside our treading feet.  Perhaps all animal life was quiet while we passed by but I also think not much wildlife resides in such dense areas

We kept our eyes out for snakes, especially in these high plant areas

Part of the Kelly Basin trail went along Bird river, with it's tannin colored, fresh water.  Safe to drink but I'd have to be pretty thirsty...

Rob brought the fishing poles along but we didn't see any fish

We've reached the remains of East Pillinger Town and are looking for a lunch spot

The harbor for importing/exporting for the once, small town
Beautiful and very quiet
We sat at the end of the dock and ate lunch

Still and calm

This was the town's carriage house

Trees and wildlife have grown into and through it
We didn't see all the structures (still) standing (just a few)in the area because we had to get back before dark

Rob found a geo-ceche box under the carriage house.  Hikers leave these little boxes all over the world to mark someones presence in the area.  Its fun to find the box then you can leave a token and take a token to show you've been there

The tallest most white peak in this picture is called Frenchmen's Cap.  After our hike, while driving back into Strahan, we had many gorgeous views of the surrounding west coast areas

Selfie!

The next day, biked up and ready to ride to the beach

The long road out to the beach
Despite the gravel, an easy ride

Ocean beach

Instead of shells, there were a lot of small, smooth rocks along the sand

Cairn!

The float plane we took to see Strahan from above.
Rob would love to fly that plane solo but he needs to transfer his pilots license to Tasmania.  We had a pilot with us.

We landed once while on the plane tour to see this waterfall, again with the tannin water.  The take-offs and landings on water are very smooth as you can imagine!

The next day we took this boat tour of the Gordon River which included the tour of Sarah Island

Relaxing while we skimmed along the water

Beautiful day

This picture is enhanced by a photo setting on my camera but it was just amazing

Not enhanced, just windy

Enhanced pic
Model was not paid, however ;)

Did I mention the cruise hosted a wine and cheese plate while we were sailing?  We made the best of it.
Not sure if the Doyles will be invited back to Lady Jane

Later that day we hiked out to another waterfall
This was a short hike

Cairn!

The trees making a canopy above our heads
Once more it was very quiet where we hiked

The waterfalls

Sometimes the wind would blow through the trees just right and make a creaking sound... like someone was opening an old, rusted door.  Almost erie!

Upon leaving Strahan, traveling back to Hobart in the highlands, we encountered hail and pulled over until it was finished
Typical spring weather

And snow!

We were a little surprised but had no desire to stop and play in it for awhile - we are ready for warm weather!

We had a fantastic time in Strahan and are grateful for our friends, David & Annette who suggested the trip to us and gave us pointers on where to stay and what to do!  We had fun and relaxed without having to think about work or home duties- a true vacation!

And finally!  Our first "American" holiday in Tassie - Halloween!!  I've always loved Halloween because it happens during my favorite time of the year, autumn and there is chocolate.  I have decorated my house and carved a pumpkin for as long as I can remember and this year was the same.  Halloween is recognized in Australia but is not widely celebrated.  Trick or treating is just starting to gain popularity but only a few neighborhoods participate.  Our friends, Greg and Alicia had flyer placed in their mailbox along with a balloon that instructed them to blow up the balloon and tie it to their mailbox if they wanted trick or treating children to ring their doorbell.  Being the great friends that they are, Greg and Alicia hosted us for a small but fun Halloween party on Halloween night.  We had delicious, creative food, spooky music, carved pumpkins, handed out candy to about 15 children (two large groups of kids with parents) and Griffin went to his first trick or treating outing.  Note: Rob and I were very poor Halloween guest and did not wear costumes.  We are lame and will be costumed up next year...

Greg, Alicia and Griffin
Baby Edgar was taking a nap

Alicia made witchy finger bread sticks to go with dips

Busy in the kitchen piping icing on gingerbread skeletons

Alicia is talented!!

Carmel apples, cheeses, dips and bread sticks

I made a graveyard dessert

Carving pumpkins!

Alicia decorated their front door
Maggie is hoping for candy

Greg and Griffin off to Trick or Treat!
Good Luck!!

That night, our jack'0 lanterns ablaze

Having a normal Halloween holiday helped with the feelings of homesickness that night.  We had such a fun time with our family here.  Rob and I will be on our honeymoon during Thanksgiving so I think we will not miss it too much.  More to come on that with the next post...

Maggie and I were on a walk a few weeks ago and we came across this sign
Pretty clear...
And that is where we stopped our walk for the day

Maggie the beach bum, water dog
No snakes around here - I think!