It is 2 p.m. Daughters Stella and Adelaide and I are on board the Yasawa Flyer, a boat that will take us from where we were for a week, Nanuya LaiLai, to Port Denarau on the biggest Fijian island. From there we will get a taxi or Uber to drive us to the airport in Nadi, where we will take a plane leaving at 9:15 p.m. to Dallas. In a geographical time-traveling trick, we arrive in Dallas the same day, earlier than we departed, at 4:50 p.m.

Civilization is encroaching. Piped music drones out of a speaker above our heads, and there's "free" Wi-Fi on this vessel. Although they don't have my beloved Diet Dr Pepper, I spied a cold Coke Zero available at the snack bar, and it is calling my name.

My girls and I are quiet. Adelaide leans back in her cushioned chair, staring out the window at the boundless blues of the South Pacific. Stella is reading. The experience we have just had is not one that lends itself to chattiness. It is so much to take in. It is not only what we saw of Fiji that stretched our hearts and minds, but our conversations with fellow travelers.

In retrospect, I think the choice to stay where we did afforded us unique access to some of the loveliest people in the world. You have to be laid back, looking for adventure, and........

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