1st Stop: Hamilton Island, Australia

Stayed at the Qualia

Qualia surprised us newlyweds with dessert...how sweet, literally!

Morning swim

The island's mode of transportation: Golf Carts

Time for koala cuddles @ "Wild Life"

Cubby cuddles

Peek-a-boo!

Cuddling with . . .

. . . the Newlyweds!

"Look, a kangaroo!"

"Oh no, crocodile!"

Exploring the island

Lovely architecture at the Hamilton Yacht Club...lunchtime!

Dessert time with my new fave: Australia's "Lamington" cake (sponge cake with chocolate frosting dipped in shredded coconut).....YUM!

Nap-time!...no working...no texting associates...no calling clients...no emailing...YAY!

GO-KARTS!

JET-SKIS!

Diving the Great Barrier Reef

Down Under . . . water

Heading back to Qualia

The reef from up above

The barrier's famous "Heart Reef"

Heart Reef, in the Great Barrier Reef of the Whitsundays, is a stunning composition of coral that has naturally formed into the shape of a heart.

Breathtaking!

Look who got to sit in front? LUCKY!

Good-bye Hamilton Island >>> Next stop: Sydney

Forget Waldo...where's the Sydney Opera House?

Stayed at the Shangri-La

The Bridge & the Opera House

Our bridge climbing outifts

Frightening but exciting!

Opera House in the background

Dinner under the architectural icon

Finally saw the classic musical, "South Pacific" @ the Opera House. How appropriate!

Good night Opera House

Rainbow bright Oxford Street

Dinner @ "The Winery"

Fun to people watch the chic Aussie hipsters at this fabulous eatery on the trendy "Crown Street"

Bondi Beach

Couldn't leave Sydney without checking out the cute Aussie surfers

Wave Hunting

Boys in action

Disgusting! KANGross

WINE . . .

. . . then DINE!

Our last night in Sydney >>> Next stop: Fiji

Welcome to Fiji

We're moving here! Men wear skirts!

On the mainland:

Heading to the north end of the big island, via 5-passenger plane, to catch a boat to our resort.

Backseat Flyer

Great! The wing is held up with masking tape. We feel safe now.

We spot a rainbow. Fiji knew we were coming.

Next, we take a boat to our resort.

Finally arriving at our small island resort.

Welcome to the Royal Davui

The multi level dining decks surround a banyan tree.

Paradise pool

Our hut

Our view

Dinner time!

Room # Hermit Crab Race

No crabs were harmed in conducting the race. All were returned to the beach :)

Back seat kayaker

Exploring the beach

Luckily we didn't visit the villages

All we needed to relax

Kava Tasting!

Kava is a Pacific cultural drink. It comes from the Kava plant roots. It's quite sedating and is primarily consumed to relax without disrupting mental clarity.

Island fronds

Other gorgeous island florals & foliage

Palms in paradise

Our last sunset in Fiji

Our last sunrise:

Woke up @ 6:15 a.m. to view the birth of a new day. DAMN CLOUDS!

Our last walk around the island

Our good-byes with the lovely staff:

Singing us a farewell song and buying a CD from an up n' coming Fijian artist Jimi Luita

Back at the mini airport to head back to the mainland airport

Bye-Bye Fiji:

Enjoying the lush island greenery of mainland Fiji from up above

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