Coming Home

Setting Sun, Baie des Citrons, Noumea, New Caledonia, August 2010

     Road buddy and I decided to escape the hot and humid Japanese summer and headed for the Southern Hemisphere in 2010. After considering various locations we decided on the South Pacific Island of New Caledonia some 2000 miles east of Australia. We rented a beautifully located 1-bedroom condo for a very reasonable price. The building was situated between two bays--Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons--with views of one or the other from the apartments. 

       We chose one facing the Baie des Citrons in order to catch the sunsets. It turned out to be an auspicious choice, not only for the breathtaking sunsets but for shelter from the prevailing easterly winds in the area. As our apartment was in the lee on the western side of the building and the temperature was in the very comfortable mid 70s Fahrenheit, we were able to keep our veranda doors open all the time. Some friends came down to Noumea for a week while we were staying there and rented an apartment on the eastern side of the same building facing Anse Vata, but they had to keep their veranda doors closed all the time because the wind was both strong and chilly. 

       The above photo was taken from the veranda of our apartment and was just one of many wonderful sunsets.