On the road again...

Travel writer Dee Farrell currently lives and works in Australia.

Scenes from my recent excursion to the world's largest lagoon, which surrounds the Loyalty Islands. Lifou, Ouvea and Mare islands are almost unknown, but now that the lagoon is World Heritage listed, it won't be long before divers and snorkelers and sailboats show up.

My 2009: Fours Seasons Around the Globe

Dee Farrell currently lives and works in Australia, Canada and the US, as the weather suits. Her skirting the weather took her from New York City in one of the coldest Winters on record to Florida for one of the most hot and humid Summers ever in Fort Lauderdale.

In August, she was ticketed for Vancouver in time for a colourful Canadian Maple Leaf Fall, but by September she was unexpectedly back in Sydney for Spring time and a green instead of white Christmas.
Have suitcase, will travel.

My year in photo review includes New York, Pennsylvania, South Florida, The Conch Republic (Key West), New South Wales (Sydney), Tasmania (Hobart), Queensland (Surfers Paradise), and a new island destination for me - New Caledonia. (A French Territory in the South Pacific).

--DeeTouring Dee

24 hours in an offshore, French-accented hideaway

New Caledonia. Who knew?

When forced to depart OZ for 24 hours to stay in line with silly, antiquated migration rules, I chose somewhere new. Not New Zealand like last time, but New Caledonia for the first time.

Turned out to be an old place, inhabited by former French criminals and Kanak tribal people with advanced architectural design skills.

The capital city Noumea appealed to this Island Nomadbecause it is rather cosmopolitan in a charming way, not third world like some Sydney neighborhoods! I liked it because it was not crowded with tourists, the beaches were pristine, and snorkeling magical.

What more could a food and wine buff want more than 5 days of waterfront Cuisine Francaise and vin rouge from Bourdeaux, Rhone and Alsace regions where my grandparents toiled in the wine making industry a century ago.

PS I liked it so much, I spent 124 hours away, not a day. My flight on Aircalin's new 777 was one of the best in terms of comfort that I can remember. Pity the flight was only 2.5 hours long! I highly recommend the airline and the destination for ex-pats, honeymooners, and women wanderers. --Deetouring Dee