Category Archives: Daily Post

Early morning, Abu Dhabi airport

Monday 27th May 2013, 1.05am (day 641)

Abu Dhabi airport, 27/5/13

The title of this post is used with a mild sense of irony. Because of the role this airport wants to play — a bridge between Europe and East Asia/Australia as well as a destination in its own right — many of the flights seem to land and leave here between midnight and 3am, to fit in with flight schedules to and from countries that have stricter controls on when planes can come in and out. As a result, Abu Dhabi airport was as busy at 1am as anywhere I’ve ever been. I didn’t deliberately get a shot of these two, but was taking something of the decorative pillar in the center of Terminal 1 — as many other people were doing to pass the time — as she turned around. Cropping did the rest, it’s a bit out-of-focus but never mind, I quite like this shot.

And so, thanks to a three-hour stopover, another country, the United Arab Emirates, technically makes it onto the blog, though I don’t consider I visited the place. However, I think this shot is a little more representative than the dull one, technically of Singapore, that I got on the stopover during my flight out just over four months ago. This shot also becomes the earliest on any of the 641 days so far, and one of only four taken before 6am.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

My luggage, at Circular Quay Station

Sunday 26th May 2013, 11.25am (day 640)

Circular Quay, 26/5/13

Here is my luggage awaiting what amounted to the second leg of my 9,000-mile journey home: the train journey from Circular Quay station to Sydney airport. Circular Quay must have one of the best views of any railway station in the world — accepting stiff competition from Durham in the north-east of England (look it up…) – so you’d think they might clean the windows now and again.

Tagged , , , , , , ,

At the Jeff Wall exhibition, M.C.A., Sydney

Saturday 25th May 2013, 1.45pm (day 639)

Jeff Wall exhibition, 25/5/13

My last full day in Australia — for now. Spent the middle part of it at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, lured in by the promise of a free exhibition (and this is one of the most expensive cities in the world, so freebies are to be welcomed). Felt inspired by some really good photography, if you’re into this particular medium and you haven’t seen the work of Jeff Wall I do recommend checking it out. He works on some projects for up to six months, to capture a single image — like this one, for instance, probably my favourite of the exhibition and visible here on the left of my shot.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Pacific cloudscape

Friday 24th May 2013, 5.30pm (Fijian time) (day 638)

Pacific cloudscape, 24/5/13

Over the last 10 days Fiji has delivered some damn fine landscapes and seascapes, and here, as a final parting shot, it delivers a pretty fine cloudscape too. Taken from flight VA154, Nadi to Sydney. The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for.

Tagged , , , , , ,

Getting the boat back home

Thursday 23rd May 2013, 2.10pm (day 637)

Child on boat, 23/5/13

The boat that took us to the village trip a couple of days ago also serves as a kind of bus service between the two villages on the island of Wayasewa, this little girl was amusing herself while waiting for it to depart this afternoon. My last full day in Fiji, and only three more left in the Southern Hemisphere before I head for home.

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Kuata Island, at dusk

Wednesday 22nd May 2013, 5.25pm (day 636)

Kuata island, 22/5/13

The little island of Kuata is separated from Wayasewa by a few hundred yards of open water. It is uninhabited except for the basic resort which lies on the spit of land to the right. This shot was taken from the top of the huge crag of Vatuvula, which towers over the Wayalailai resort, and to which, each night, a bunch of tourists will be dragged by enthusiastic, barefoot and completely vertigo-resistant Fijian guides. It’s probably worth it, though.

Incidentally film buffs – and Tom Hanks fans – might be interested to know that the island on the horizon, just right of center (with the more visible peaks) was the location for the movie Cast Away.

Tagged , , , , , ,

Dormitory, Wayasewa Island primary school

Tuesday 21st May 2013, 2.20pm (day 635)

Dormitory, 21/5/13

A change of scene. Went on a guided trip today to the local village, having moved on from Waya Island yesterday but only to its neighbour, Wayasewa (a.k.a Wayalailai, or ‘Little Waya’). Both islands – which have no roads anywhere – have just one school, and the island’s children are taken here on foot or by boat at the beginning of each week and stay there in these dormitories. The island families take it in turns to look after them and cook their meals. All this is funded, in large part, by the resorts: on Wayasewa, indeed, the Wayalailai resort is 100% locally owned. This dormitory looks a little spartan but actually it was clean and colourful, and the school in an idyllic-looking setting with amazing views. Quite a place to grow up, I think.

Tagged , , , , , ,

Beach volleyball

Monday 20th May 2013, 1.55pm (day 634)

Beach volleyball, 20/5/13

Is there any point trying to convince any of you that I have actually been working while here on the Yasawas? Going through academic papers and taking notes for my book? No? Didn’t think so.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

A glass of wine at sunset

Sunday 19th May 2013, 5.35pm (day 633)

Wine at sunset, 19/5/13

Almost all the sunsets on Fiji have been good, but seeing as I have a backlog of posts to work through I can pick the best depiction of one and not worry about repetition. Sometimes one is just in the right place at the right time to get a particular shot.

Tagged , , , , , ,

The ‘Bula’ party

Saturday 18th May 2013, 10.55am (day 632)

Bula party, 18/5/13

‘Bula’ means ‘Welcome’ or ‘Hello’ and you hear it a lot in Fiji – because they are very nice and welcoming people. Each 11am, when the Yasawa Flyer turns up at the resort, the staff gather on the beach to greet the new arrivals. It’s the major event of the morning.

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,