The iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia. DAWN CATE | Times
Hideaway Island, in Vanuatu in the South Pacific, has a fun claim to fame: an underwater post office. Just buy a waterproof postcard at the gift shop, write a note with one of the pencils, don your snorkel gear, swim several dozen yards from shore, hold your breath and dive down a few feet to put your postcard in the mailbox. (I was a bit dubious, but my postcard did make it to me, and it's a one-of-a-kind souvenir.) Bonus? Clownfish nearby. DAWN CATE | Times
Carved statues are sold in a market in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, on Efate island in the South Pacific. DAWN CATE | Times
A koala at Taronga Zoo in Sydney poses for a photo. DAWN CATE | Times
A scene from Lifou, an island that's part of New Caledonia in the South Pacific. DAWN CATE | Times
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Hideaway Island, in Vanuatu in the South Pacific, has a fun claim to fame: an underwater post office. Just buy a waterproof postcard at the gift shop, write a note with one of the pencils, don your snorkel gear, swim several dozen yards from shore, hold your breath and dive down a few feet to put your postcard in the mailbox. (I was a bit dubious, but my postcard did make it to me, and it's a one-of-a-kind souvenir.) Bonus? Clownfish nearby. DAWN CATE | Times
Several stands on the South Pacific island Lifou, which is part of New Caledonia, sell kava, which is made from the roots of a plant native to the South Pacific. DAWN CATE | Times
The excursions available on Mystery Island, which is part of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, included a snorkeling tour by boat. Many people opted for the Kava Ceremony. By the time I returned from snorkeling, the kava was gone. Kava is thought to have originated in Vanuatu. DAWN CATE | Times
A blue starfish is seen in the crystalline water at Yejele Beach on the South Pacific island of Mare, which is part of New Caledonia, a French territory composed of a number of islands. DAWN CATE | Times
On the South Pacific island of Lifou, the snorkeling at Jinek Bay Marine Reserve, which sells tickets and limits the number of people per day, is good. I was delighted to see clownfish here. Lifou is part of New Caledonia. DAWN CATE | Times
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Trees at one end of Yejele Beach on the island of Mare, which is part of New Caledonia in the South Pacific, grow atop rock formations. DAWN CATE | Times
The water at Yejele Beach on the island of Mare, which is part of New Caledonia in the South Pacific, is mesmerizing. DAWN CATE | Times
Mystery Island, which is part of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, might be small, and it might not have any inhabitants, but it does have an airport, along with a very long grass landing strip. The plane that flew in that day drew quite a crowd. Workers had to keep telling people who didn't realize it was an active runway to get off the runway. DAWN CATE | Times
Mystery Island, which is part of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, might be small, and it might not have any inhabitants, but it does have an airport, along with a very long grass landing strip. The plane that flew in that day drew quite a crowd. Workers had to keep telling people who didn't realize it was an active runway to get off the runway. DAWN CATE | Times
This is essentially a smaller version of the underwater post office you'll find several dozen yards from shore at Hideaway Island in Vanuatu in the South Pacific. It took quite a few weeks, but the postcard I deposited in the underwater mailbox did arrive. DAWN CATE | Times
This gallery continues below...
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A scene from Lifou, an island that's part of New Caledonia in the South Pacific. DAWN CATE | Times
A palm tree sways in the wind on Mystery Island, which is part of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. DAWN CATE | Times
Boredom on a flight led me to create a list of places I've been fortunate enough to visit and those still on my to-see list. DAWN CATE | Times
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/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/LKUQ5YVMCJBJ7NO7BPRODHYITI.JPG "The iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HNECVYCH5ZAQHMZE7OERFLUXMA.jpg "Hideaway Island, in Vanuatu in the South Pacific, has a fun claim to fame: an underwater post office. Just buy a waterproof postcard at the gift shop, write a note with one of the pencils, don your snorkel gear, swim several dozen yards from shore, hold your breath and dive down a few feet to put your postcard in the mailbox. (I was a bit dubious, but my postcard did make it to me, and it's a one-of-a-kind souvenir.) Bonus? Clownfish nearby.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TMD7WNYY7FCBHJAXGPYK6NATAY.JPG "Carved statues are sold in a market in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, on Efate island in the South Pacific.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/G5GRPF47ZZFHLFSHMGRJ66MBSA.JPG "A koala at Taronga Zoo in Sydney poses for a photo.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/CAQ3G3MSPNAF5COWEU55YKGL44.JPG "A scene from Lifou, an island that's part of New Caledonia in the South Pacific.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YFVA2N47GVEUNKQTWBGR6LXSNE.JPG "Hideaway Island, in Vanuatu in the South Pacific, has a fun claim to fame: an underwater post office. Just buy a waterproof postcard at the gift shop, write a note with one of the pencils, don your snorkel gear, swim several dozen yards from shore, hold your breath and dive down a few feet to put your postcard in the mailbox. (I was a bit dubious, but my postcard did make it to me, and it's a one-of-a-kind souvenir.) Bonus? Clownfish nearby.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NYT5SJ3AUJB7JNUGO4O26WHEYM.JPG "Several stands on the South Pacific island Lifou, which is part of New Caledonia, sell kava, which is made from the roots of a plant native to the South Pacific.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZYUJBXCMINAW5NAXQ3T75C5BDE.JPG "The excursions available on Mystery Island, which is part of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, included a snorkeling tour by boat. Many people opted for the Kava Ceremony. By the time I returned from snorkeling, the kava was gone. Kava is thought to have originated in Vanuatu.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/P6XKYIMQ3ZB45BJWJ5YUOS2WGU.JPG "A blue starfish is seen in the crystalline water at Yejele Beach on the South Pacific island of Mare, which is part of New Caledonia, a French territory composed of a number of islands.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BZBHCKRDCFEAPDRLYDYDPR3CW4.JPG "On the South Pacific island of Lifou, the snorkeling at Jinek Bay Marine Reserve, which sells tickets and limits the number of people per day, is good. I was delighted to see clownfish here. Lifou is part of New Caledonia.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/APUWMRA7PBBNFGMB2UF4AEEHYU.JPG "Trees at one end of Yejele Beach on the island of Mare, which is part of New Caledonia in the South Pacific, grow atop rock formations.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZFAGOVXEDRFE5A2OOZRP4YKONM.JPG "The water at Yejele Beach on the island of Mare, which is part of New Caledonia in the South Pacific, is mesmerizing.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SVWLJHJEEBHOVBRICGMIZEQGHI.JPG "Mystery Island, which is part of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, might be small, and it might not have any inhabitants, but it does have an airport, along with a very long grass landing strip. The plane that flew in that day drew quite a crowd. Workers had to keep telling people who didn't realize it was an active runway to get off the runway.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/IBCUOZOLFZBHND4KHSMBD5MATY.JPG "Mystery Island, which is part of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, might be small, and it might not have any inhabitants, but it does have an airport, along with a very long grass landing strip. The plane that flew in that day drew quite a crowd. Workers had to keep telling people who didn't realize it was an active runway to get off the runway.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FQKAJVZP4VGI3ILMLXNYLMBJRM.JPG "This is essentially a smaller version of the underwater post office you'll find several dozen yards from shore at Hideaway Island in Vanuatu in the South Pacific. It took quite a few weeks, but the postcard I deposited in the underwater mailbox did arrive.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SXHUWHH2NRFOPJJONDQ3T3CGEQ.JPG "A scene from Lifou, an island that's part of New Caledonia in the South Pacific.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HNQXRWEEJBDBFOJKMVNNCSVVTM.JPG "A palm tree sways in the wind on Mystery Island, which is part of Vanuatu in the South Pacific.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/KFFFGWKL3ZAEXDEJTIEUMC6WHM.png "Boredom on a flight led me to create a list of places I've been fortunate enough to visit and those still on my to-see list.")
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