Antarctic Center ---------- Arthur Pass -------------On Way Bridge

Christchurch to Greymouth, NZ 10/31/08
We visited the International Antarctica Center that is adjacent to the airport. The US Antarctic Program has its headquarters across the street. The Center gives you the feeling of being in Antarctica. They have displays on the 22 varieties of Penguins and standup cutouts of full size penguins. They range in size from the Little Blue penguin at 18” to the giant Emperor penguin at 51” or almost 5 feet. The Emperor is not only tall, he is heavy. I was surprised as I stood next to the cutout. The Little Blue is a favorite of the New Zealanders. They have extensive trap systems to capture the predators of the penguins. We saw about a dozen Little Blue Penguins swimming in a natural pool setting and also looked into their nesting tubes.

The Center has a snow room that requires special clothing and footwear due to the extreme cold and snow. We chose not to go into this arctic blizzard room. We did walk through the ice cave and it was very realistic. The sea around Antarctica freezes and thaws during the year. They had a display showing the depth of the ice. It is the height of a person. There was an exhibit with explorer’s equipment that you could dress in and take photos with the snowmobiles and sleds. They have Hagglund vehicles for you to ride on in the parking lot. Their extraordinary documentary film is shown on a 30 foot wide screen. The vastness of the icy wilderness is captured on screen. For example, you see an icy plain that you know is large but then you realize that the Hot Wheel size car shown on the screen is actually a helicopter flying below the camera.

We visited the AA Club of New Zealand and became reciprocal temporary members. They supplied us with knowledge and plenty of maps and suggestions. We traveled east to west across South Island on Highway 73 from Christchurch to Greymouth. We went through Arthur’s Pass and the Southern Alps. The area was beautiful with sheep and cattle ranches. We were surprised to see one car width bridges on this main road. The uphill car has the right away.

As we approached Greymouth, we felt we had gotten used to the one car width bridges until we came upon the Combo bridge. This bridge is a multi use one car width bridge traveled by car, bike, pedestrian, and TRAIN. We settled in Greymouth for the night and drove around the area. We saw costumed kids ready for Halloween night. We went to see the town of Blackball which is known for a pub called “Blackball formerly known as the Hilton”.. The town is “the way it used to be” We decided not to stop in for a drink!

We spent time walking on the rocky shore with the waves pounding. The evening was clear and beautiful. The countryside is pastoral with ranches and small villages.

Greymouth to Franz Josef, NZ 11-1-08

Sign ------------------ Bridge [Cars Trains one Way] ----------- Motel @ Franz Josef

Greymouth to Franz Josef, NZ 11/1/08
We drove up to Punakaiki known for its pancake rocks and 30 foot blowholes. Our weather had made a change and we had severe weather warnings. It rained hard and we decided not to walk out to the shore and blowholes. The large amounts of rainfall created waterfalls flowing out of the rocky cliffs. We came around a turn and I saw a beautiful large waterfall about 40 feet high and 6 feet wide. As we got nearer, we wondered “ Is that water fall actually falling on the road”. It was!

We then headed south towards Franz Josef Glacier. Nowhere in the world outside the arctic region will you find glaciers just 1,000 feet above sea level and just 7 ½ miles from the sea. We drove through 12 miles of Rain Forest Preserve area. The rainforest was the most beautiful that I have seen. Punga fern grew out of the cliffs. The tree ferns towered above us. What an unexpected sight it was. The rainforest has Totara, Rimu, Rata, and Kmahi trees. The bellbird and Kea a mountain parrot are in the glacier while the Thrush, Fantail, Blackbird and Wax Eye are in the rainforest.

In Franz Josef we learned that the one lane bridges were created about 10 years ago when they did not expect increased traffic. The car/train bridge was created because the train line is not too busy. This area has traditionally been one of isolation. There has been a 50% increase of visitors since 1996.

We had dinner at the Alice May Pub. A very nice restaurant filled with antiques. A history included in the menu tells the story of Alice May a very religious young woman. In the early 1900s she killed her lover when he refused to marry her. She was sent to prison and served 6 years before the New Zealand people petitioned for her release. She was pardoned and married and had 10 children. Her grandchildren opened this pub in her memory.

Franz Josef to Queenstown, NZ 11-02-08

Franz Josef Glacier ------------ Fox Glacier ---------------- Queenstown

Franz Josef to Queenstown, NZ 11/2/08

We drove to Franz Josef Glacier. The new Zealanders pronounce it Glay-se-er. Ours was only the second car in the parking area. We walked through the rain forest to overlook the beautiful glacier.
We continued down the road to Fox Glacier. We hiked back to the mouth of the glacier. It was an amazing sight.

We continued through the countryside with beautiful rainforest and rolling valleys. We took the high road over Crown Range. It looks down over Queenstown.

We stopped at Haas for lunch. This area has a beach and is known for penguins and seals. We asked if we would be able to see the penguins if we drove to the beach. We were told that if they were there they were there. We got a better description later that the penguins come out at sunrise and sunset. We had a delicious lunch and I asked about the fish. I was told it was monk fish. The New Zealanders like to accentuate the vowel sounds in their words. We hear a lot of Yip! Yip! like we say yeh.

We spent the night in Queenstown over looking the lake. We rode the Skyline Gondola up to the top of the mountain. They have luge rides for kids and adults. The track hugs the side of the mountain with a spectacular view over the side. Queenstown is known for adventure. About every other shop is making reservations for adventure activities.

We made reservations for the Glow Worm Caves in Te Anu

Queenstown to Te Anu, NZ 11-3-08

Te Anu West Side View ----------------------East Side From Glow Worm Cave

Queenstown to Te Anu, NZ 11/3/08
Again we were treated to stunning views as we passed over the road to Te Anu. The grassy plains were so green and lush. In Te Anu, Wayne found a Lakeside Motel with stunning views of the lake and mountains.

We took the catamaran across the lake to the Glow Worm caves. The water was choppy with strong winds. We got off at the dock and walked through a rain forest and up to the caves. There was a stream coming from the entrance to the cave. Our guide told us to prepare to bend over since the entrance was very low. Also we were advised not to talk in the Glow Worm cave since they would shut off their lights. The glow worms hang strings to catch bugs. They shine their lights to attract the bugs.

I had to bend in half to enter the cave. Only the guide had a “torch”. We walked along aluminum walkways built above the stream. The water was rushing through with rapids and loud noise. We passed tunnels that went up and out of the cave. The ceiling height was either low or cathedral height. We came to a very large waterfall. We were advised that we would get into a boat and our guide would pull our boat through the glow worm cave.

We climbed into the boat- reminded me of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. We moved into the glow worm area and it was so dark that I could not see my hand in front of my face. The glow worms were all over the top of the cave. It looked like tiny pinheads of light. We moved a distance and I realized that we were back to the spot that we had first entered the boat. I didn’t know that we had turned but Wayne did by the movement of the lights on the ceiling. It’s a great activity to do once but I don’t think I would be excited to do it again.

Later, I walked through the town of Te Anu and window shopped. I passed a vehicle parked by the side of the road as the driver ran into the Chemist store “pharmacy”. He left his vehicle in park with the motor running. The vehicle was a large farm tractor.

Te Anu & Milford Sound, NZ 11-4-08

Milford Sound --------Tunnel & Birds-------- Camp for Tunnel

Te Anu & Milford Sound, NZ 11/4/08

We’re up at 6am to head out for an 8 hour drive to Milford Sound. The road passes through beautiful farmland. We expected snow because of a North/Westerly. This is a wind that travels over the Tasman Sea picking up water. When the clouds hit the shoreline of the South Island, they are driven up by the Southern Alps. The winds then release their moisture and in our case winter snow conditions were expected for the afternoon. We continued on through Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys. We started our drive through the Homer Tunnel. This ¾ mile tunnel was built in 1935 and completed in 1940. It is one way with a signal advising you when to start. The tunnel is narrow and dark and just tall enough for the tour buses to drive through. We visited the museum afterward and the workers stayed in little cabins and moved their families as the work progressed. The road is very steep as you leave the tunnel.

At Milford Sound, we walked the docks. We decided not to go on a boat trip since we had seen the three Fiords by the Dawn Princess in ideal weather. Two Kea birds were on the dock. They look like a heavy parrot. They have a long curved beak. On our return trip after we passed the Homer Tunnel. We stopped and there were several Kea birds. They are very aggressive and make the sound K-E-A. We were told that they are destructive and peckand /or pull the rubber weather stripping out of cars.

We also drove through Manipouri famous for the underground power plant at the west end of the lake.

We had a lot of rain as we settled in for the night.

Te Anu to Wanaka, NZ 11-5-08

Te Anu to Wanaka, NZ 11/5/08

This morning about 2am, I woke up and looked out to see the rain. To my surprise, the grass and everything on it was covered with white. We had expected snow in the mountains but instead it was right here on the lake shoreline. Basically it was snow at shore level. I woke up Wayne so he would see the beauty before it melted in the AM. When we got up in the morning it was still covered with 4 inches of snow. As we drove to Cromwell the landscape was ice and snow, mountains and grassy plains. What a view! The sheep that had been grazing on grass were now walking in snow. As we drove along, we saw a ewe and two lambs running towards us in our lane of the highway. We avoided a head on collision. We came along side the Kingston Flyer (a local train) and it was traveling slowly. At the front end two sheep were running on the tracks. The conductor was yelling at them trying to get them off the tracks.

We stopped in Cromwell a village where families have lived for generations, farming, and now with the addition of wineries. .We were advised of the closure on the highway due to a truck spillage of hazardous material. We attempted to drive round the spill area but could not. We waited for the next advisory and were told that the road would not be open until the morning. We returned to Wanaka, my favorite setting in New Zealand. We found the Oakridge Resort and settled into a beautiful room for the night. There have been snow flurries off and on during the afternoon. We drove into the town to take photos of the Lake Wanaka with a backdrop of snow covered Alps.

Tomorrow we head out since we are now a day behind in our plan to see Mt Cook.

Carns to Christchurch, NZ 10-30-08

Cairns to Christchurch, NZ 10/30/08
We flew Virgin Blue from Cairns to Sydney and then took a bus to transfer to the International Terminal. At the airport we were told by the check in agent that he had a conversation with one traveler who had paid $5,000 dollars in excess baggage fees. This same agent had taken a trip following the sale of his restaurant. He traveled for 6 months and finally just got rid of most of his luggage. He got tired of paying high fees.

We planned to have a leisurely meal in the International Terminal. We were surprised to find that they did not have a food court just a couple of small stands sushi, Pad tai etc. We were worried about dinner for awhile but ended up finding a hamburger!

We arrived a little after midnight. We had planned to spend a few hours sleeping in the car. Somehow it didn’t sound as good when we got there so we stayed at a motel close to the airport.

Carns, AU 10-29-08

Cairns, AU 10/29/08
We found a very nice opal store, Everts, in Karunda and decided to visit their main store in Cairns. Wayne took me opal shopping. I had great memories of shopping in Surfer’s Paradise on the gold Coast with our Scott, Colleen, and John in 1991. The kids waited on the sidewalk outside the store while I looked for the perfect opal. Well this time, there were no kids waiting but my selection skills did not improve. It is so hard to choose from all those beautiful opals. There are three types to choose from Black, Boulder, & Crystal. Each is found in a different location within Australia. The opal can be a full stone or a triplet (three sections glued) or a doublet (two sections glued). The black is from Lightning Ridge and the Boulder is from the Moore Mine in Queensland. The Black is only available in a smaller stone while the boulder (ironstone) is available in larger pieces. The black has a black background while the boulder is usually found in blue/blue green colors. The crystal is usually found in light/white background colors. Wayne bought me a gorgeous opal as a memory of our trip. He also found a statue of a wild stallion made of Boulder opal as a souvenir for himself. We talked with the two sisters about their opal store. Their father had started the business as just a hobby. He expanded the store through the years. He and his wife had ten children. His widow still lives in Minton a town of 1,000 close to the mine. The children continue to operate several stores. They purchase directly from the mines and have the stones polished and set in the Cairns area. It was a pleasure to meet them.

We had a lovely gourmet dinner at our favorite place, Hungry Jacks (better known in the USA as Burger King). We took a long walk on the Esplanade enjoying the cool evening along with many others. A sign close to the pool, showed the UV index as very high. The Australians have made many accommodations to prevent skin cancer. Much of their outdoor activity is done at night. The shops along the street all have very wide 25 foot verandas to protect from the sun. Outdoor eating and displays take up much of the area. Hats are sold for all ages along with sun resistant clothing. Even the pontoon that we swam from on the reef was almost completely covered with sun shade. We passed a group of school children playing at recess. All of the children wore hats.

We spent the rest of the evening packing and eliminating weight in our suit cases. With the increased weight restrictions on the airplanes, we have to make every kilogram count. We are allowed one 50 pound checked in and one 15 pound carryon each.

Kuranda, AU 10-28-08

Train

Skyrail

Butterefly

Koala

Kuranda, AU 10/28/08
We took a 1 ½ hour trip on the Skyrail Cableway. The trip goes over the rainforest canopy. Inga, I looked for you for cockatiels. They live in this area. Just at the highest point, I saw a flash of white and a beautiful white cockatiel landed on the top of a tree. There were two stations to get off and explore. As we walked around, I could just envision the Robinson Caruso Treehouse in Disneyland. We spent the day in Kuranda Village. One of the highlights was the Butterfly Sanctuary. I took photos of Wayne holding the video camera with butterflies sitting on his hand. We went into the Koala Gardens and I held the second Koala in my lifetime. The first time was with my kids in the Gold Coast. Wayne stood with me as the Koala just relaxed.
We took a 1 ½ hour trip to Cairns on the Kuranda Railway. The engine is painted with an aboriginal theme. The train hugged the mountain peaks and traveled past waterfalls and the area power plant.

Cairns, AU Great Barrier Reef 10-27-08

Reef Pontoon

Underwater

Submarine

Cairns, AU Great Barrier Reef 10/27/08
We took the Quicksilver Sunlover Reef Cruise. http://www.sunlover.com.au/ We traveled about 15 miles to the Moore Reef and their Outer Reef Pontoon. We had quite a bit of wind and choppy water. At the pontoon we took a semi submersible tour of the coral reef wall. We saw the boundaries of the reef wall with a coral forest filled with three colors of staghorn coral including yellow and blue.

We then went on the glass bottom boat. We saw a 1,000 year old coral growth that looked like a flat mushroom. We passed a colony of 12 clown fish (Little Nemo) that stay close to the sea anemone. We watched the helicopter land on a pad about 20 feet wide. They require 3 years of flying experience for the pilot.

We then snorkeled for about two hours. The water was different from the tropical island water and instead was choppy and windy. It just made it a little more difficult to stay in one place or to make movement to a different area. The fish were strong and hardy. I was very surprised to look down and sea the scuba diving photographer signaling me to swim next to a sea turtle. The turtle was so beautiful and had lots of brown variegated color. His fins looked so graceful as he moved all over the area. .I reached out and touched his shell.

It seemed like each time I looked down I was surrounded by a different school of fish. Wayne has high speed action and covered a very large area. The photos can be viewed at http://www.daypix.com/ Day of trip 10/27/08 Sunlover I had on blue rimmed goggles with a blue snorkel with a red tip and a yellow life jacket with a teal and black bathing suit. We had a wonderful time. It was hard to get out of the water.

Sydney - Cairns AU 10-26-08

Sydney, AU 10/26/08
We left the Dawn Princess at 8am on Sunday 10/26/08. We took a city tour around Sydney which ended at the airport. We traveled through the various neighborhoods or districts. Each had its own characteristics and style of housing. Several originated at the time of the early colonists. We had several stops to view the Sydney Harbor and take photos. It was stunning. The weather was perfect. The Opera House stood out and our guide pointed out various government buildings that ringed the harbor. Russell Crowe lives in a condo complex on the water where he has the top three floors. We passed within a few feet of Nicole Kidman’s Sidney house with a view of the harbor. One of my favorite sights was of the church that was used for the movie Muriel’s Wedding. This church was also used for Elton John’s wedding. Wayne pointed out that we saw so much more of Sydney then we did with the kids in 1991 when we were walking through Darling Harbor.

Cairns, AU Great Barrier Reef 10/26/08
We arrived by plane in Cairns and stayed .on the Esplanade at the Holiday Inn. This is a great location. The boardwalk is filled with people at night. The wharf area is highlighted with a very large infinity pool. It varies from a children’s wadding pool to 5 feet. It has fountains so it looks like a fountain from the distance. It also looks like it flows into the sea. It actually backs up to the boardwalk. The boardwalk is built up from the shoreline. The water comes up under the boardwalk. When the tide is out, there is very little beach and the shore is muddy with algae. There are exercise stations along the boardwalk and pictures of birds that inhabit the area.

Disembarcation/Sydney

Following the beautiful day at Milford Sound , we crossed the Pacific to Sydney. We had two days of swells but then settled into beautiful calm seas. The weather warmed up to beautiful sunny days. I tried several days of bingo but today someone else won the $4500 jackpot. We went through Immigration on board ship. We'll pass through customs as we get off.

One last thought on Captain McBain's lecture on Antarctica. Surprisingly Princess Cruises is now sailing the largest ships to Antarctica. The Captain has sailed there and showed us his photos and told us about his adventures. Princess does not land anyone on shore instead they sail up and down an inside passage. The ice in some areas is 3 miles high above the land. The icebergs are as large below the sea as above. The winds are at times 65 miles per hour. Princess sails from South America. Any help, if something happens, is over 600 miles away. It is an interesting journey and there are still only a few people in the world that have seen it.

As our time on board ship nears an end, I'm sad to see this part of our trip end. It has been so exciting seeing and doing some different adventure each day. We have sailed much of the same area as Captain Cook. It is hard to believe that he accomplished so much with simple equipment.

We have met so many people from around the world. It is surprising how much traveling so many people do. A woman from Germany was discussing how interdependent our global world is. She told us about a comment made by an Australian. If the USA sneezes then Australia gets pneumonia.

We have had a wonderful cruise. The crew has been very good to us.

In the morning, we travel from Sydney to Cairns.

Fiordland National Park NZ 10-23-08

Dusky Sound

Doubtful Sound

Milford Sound

Fiordland National Park, NZ 10/23/08

The ship entered the Fiordland National Park, on the west side of South Island of New Zealand, three times to view the fiord landscapes. The ship brought aboard a naturalist from Te Anau to describe the history and the current status of the park. The ship first entered Dusky Sound and exited at Breaksea Sound. This started at 8 AM and completed at 9:30 AM. The next viewing started from Doubtful Sound and the exit was via Thompson Sound. This cruse started at 10 AM and completed at 11:45 AM. The last excursion was in and out of Milford Sound. We start about 3 PM and left about 5:45 PM. Nice views of the cliffs, waterfalls, snow capped peaks all from the comfort of our room at the back of the ship.

At Milford Sound our ship put down a tender to video our ship in this pristine setting. Many times ships are not able to enter the sound due to the bad weather conditions. We were so lucky that we had an ideal day. One of the waterfalls that we passed had the sun shine on it and creates a rainbow effect in the mist.

The water was calm in the Sound much different than last night. I woke to the ship rolling with the sea. I checked the TV but we were only going 15 knots. The area around here has strong winds and large swells. I put my reading glasses on the nightstand and a few minutes later they flew across the room. I put them in the drawer and in the morning all the drawers were open. They had opened and closed with the movement.

The view as we look back on New Zealand is of the snow covered Southern Alps. They stretch as far as we can see in both directions. This completes the sea time in New Zealand. Next stop Sydney, Australia in three days.

Dunedin, NZ 10-22-08

Taieri Gorge Railway Larnach Castle

Dunedin, NZ 10/22/08

We pulled into Port Chalmers in Otago Harbor. The population of Dunedin is 122,000. Dunedin pronounced Dun(like Bun) Edin(like the Garden of Eden). Dunedin is rated the world’s third largest city. But it’s not based on population instead it’s on square miles. We traveled two hours one way by train and we were still in the city limits.

We rode the Taieri Gorge Railway. The train picked us up on the dock. The refurbished vintage carriages (passenger cars) were built in 1920. The Otago Excursion Train Trust operates the excursions and the 60KM Taieri Gorge Railway is New Zealand’s longest private railway. The historical society provides volunteers to staff the train. We were given champagne, shortbread butter cookies, and a box lunch with Cadbury chocolate for dessert. We crossed the Wingatui Viaduct; it is a wood structure bridge on a curve. It’s an impressive sight as you look down to the valley below. The tunnels were narrow and the slopes were covered with boulders that were shoved over the side as the tracks were built. At Pukerangi, 250 meters above sea level, we stopped to change the two engines to the back for the return trip. We had a few minutes to wait outside the train and the locals set up tables with locally made crafts for us to purchase.

After completing the train ride, we boarded the motorcoach and rode through the city on our way to Larnach Castle. We traveled high above the bay and got beautiful photos. Larnach Castle was built starting in 1871. Larnach was involved in politics and was weathly and also married into additional wealth. Since he was originally from Australia he built a home with a wraparound veranda. The weather is much harsher in New Zealand and he eventually enclosed the porch. The most impressive part of the house is the carved ceilings. Larnach brought carvers from England and plasterers from Italy. One of the carved ceilings took 6 years to complete. His wife Margaret started a garden. When the house and garden were restored the garden was replanted. It is now ranked as a world class quality garden. The castle sits on a mountain top overlooking the harbor and Pacific Ocean.

Christchurch, NZ 10-21-08

Christchurch Harbor at Lyttelton Rafting Wayne

Christchurch, NZ 10/21/08

Christchurch is the capital of the Canterbury region and known as the Garden City. We docked at Lyttelton which is a commercial port filled with logs and coal awaiting transport. After passing though the small village of Lyttelton we entered the Christchurch Tunnel. This is a 1.18 mile tunnel Aiport transport bus took passengers the 9 miles to Cathedral Square – about a 30 minute trip. Points of interest along the way included the Timeball Museum and the Mt Cavendish Gondola with a 360 degree view of either the harbor or Christchurch.

Wayne took the Rangitata raft tour. The motorcoach ride traveled southwest and took 2 ½ hours each direction. He went on an intense white water rafting trip that took 2 1/2 hours to navigate the Rangitata Gorge. This exciting trip included sections with grades 4 & 5, the highest grade of whitewater difficulty. The requirements for the trip included being a strong swimmer, good physical condition, and going through a training session. Each rafter was required to wear a wet suit, spray jacket, life jacket, thermal wear, booties, and helmets. The glacial fed water was crystal clear and the gorge was narrow giving more speed to the water. Sam, the guide, provided great training and safety guidelines. The raft pulled into eddies for breaks and to prepare for the next round of rapids. Wayne loved every minute of it. He got his favorite seat – the back left next to the guide. The Southern Alps were the backdrop scenery for the trip. www.rafts.co.nz.

I choose a different tour since I tend to bounce out of whitewater rafts. I took a 1 ½ hour motorcoach ride to the Waimakariri River canyon. This area is off of Highway 73 to Arthurs Pass and 10 kms from the village of Springfield, Canterbury. The Southern Alps Jet boat company provided the tour. The boat was designed in the canyon by a man named Hamilton. Since the river was at 8 meters in the spring a boat was needed that could provide the power to drive upstream over varying depths and rocky areas. This boat has a high powered engine and a flat bottom. We sped up river and stopped in calm pool areas for directions. When our driver, the owner, did a circular movement with his hand it meant-Hold On -we’re doing a 360. Well I was already holding on in fact it was a white knuckle activity and looking across at the three people next to me, it was white knuckle for them also. The spins were so exciting. It happened so fast and each time everyone in my row landed on top of me. I got all the spray in my face. It was so much fun – I just yelled each time. We stopped about 1/3 of the way up the canyon. Our driver explained that we would loose radio reception if we went any further and it would be a long walk out if anything happened. We stopped under the bridge for the Alpine Express the train ride rated in the top six train rides in the world. The train went over the bridge as we looked. The wind comes through the canyon so strong that they had to build sides to the bridge to help hold the train on the tracks. As we sped down the river with the current we drove at speeds of 80 meters per second.

The motorcoach dropped me off in the Cathedral Square in Christchurch and I toured around before taking the shuttle back to the boat. Wayne’s tour was late getting back and they held the gangplank waiting for him. He made it and we set sail for Dunedin.

Wellington, NZ 10-19-08

Hills outside Wellington Flower Garden Train Museum

Wellington, NZ 10/19/08

We dock at the Aotea Cruise Terminal. We had strong winds thus the name Windy Wellington. Our ship was an hour late docking due to the 50 mile an hour winds. We boarded a motor coach and headed out of the city. Our goal was to drive over the Rimutakas, 1600 feet, to the Wairararpa region, the heart of the New Zealand Wine Country. The ride was spectacular with winds blowing in the canyons. We passed one of the sites used in Lord Of The Rings. The area is often used for movie sites including Whale Rider and Piano.

We drove about an hour outside of Wellington and stopped in Martinborough. The town was started by Martin. He had traveled around the world and named the streets after cities that he had visited. Our coach driver grew up in this area and he remembers riding his horse to school and either giving him a pat to send him back home or putting him in a paddock to graze until school was out. The area has small ranches with sheep and cattle. Many are being combined to make larger ranches. Vineyards are also taking over the landscape with olive orchards also being planted. Grapes and olive trees grow well in the same climate.

We visited the Murdoch James Winery and were offered samples of their Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. They have 60 acres of beautiful vine covered slopes. Murdoch James Estate Dry River Road Martinborough NZ 5954. After leaving the winery we travel a few miles to Awati Gardens. The family had raised dairy cattle until the last few years. Over 20 years go they started a garden. Due to the high winds in the area they planted tall hedges enclosing large open garden rooms. Beautiful floral plants rise high over your head with stunning colorful flowers. They also have a pond with lily pads and many arbors. A bright blue peacock walked the garden. It is like a Secret Garden and you could easily get lost within the maze. We also had lunch with tea, homemade breads and a whipped cream and meringue desert.

On the return we stopped at the Fell Locomotive Museum in Featherston. The H199 is the only remaining Fell locomotive in the world. It is one of six engines that were designed for the Rimutaka Incline. The engine climbed grades as steep as 1 in 13. It was built in Bristol, England in 1875. Restoration of the engine took 8 years and was completed in 1989. Wayne certainly enjoyed the engine and the accompanying movie and memorabilia. The volunteers that staff the museum invited us to tea. As they said they “Put the kettle on”. We were served round scones with strawberry topping and pure whipped cream. Yum-O! http://www.fellmuseum.org.nz/.

As we returned to sea, we passed an island in the harbor. The creator of Lord of the Rings lives there.

Auckland, NZ 10-18-08

Sky Tower view of Harbor Wayne & Sue Sailing

Auckland, NZ 10/18/08

We followed the route that the Maori’s took from Fiji to New Zealand. New Zealand is the size of Colorado with a population of 4.2 million. Auckland or Tamaki Mahan Rau means maiden with 1000 lovers. This refers to a harbor with water and islands. It is the City of Sails It has 135,000 yachts in three harbors.

.Auckland is rated the 5th most livable city in the world. Auckland hosted the America Cup in 2000 and 2003. We docked at the Princess Wharf at 7am Saturday. The terminal is a 5 story tall building with a Hilton hotel and apartments and shopping. We were told that sniffer dogs might be used for banned foods woods etc. but didn’t see any. Kia Ora means Hello and Thank You.

As we started walking we pasted the Ferry Terminal and continued to walk uphill to Queen Street. There were three types of city buses available. Great access for tourists, shopper and workers. The downtown shopping was plentiful with shops ranging from 7-Eleven type with one employee, to Gucci, Prada department stores. We saw displays of merino-Mink clothing which looks like mink but is actually made from possum. New Zealand also specializes in paua shell jewelry in varying shades of blue and greenstone carvings which is actually jade. Some things to try also include Sauvignon Blanc wine, and Hokey Poker ice cream- vanilla made with bits of toffee.

We walked up to the Sky Tower. This is the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere. We took an elevator up to the viewing platform. The elevator had a section of glass floor and we could look all the way down as the elevator rose. Horrible view! As you walk around the viewing area, there are sections that are made of glass instead of concrete. I stood on it for a minute and took photos of Wayne standing on it. It was very difficult to stand there and look down even with the sign that said the glass was 38 millimeters thick and as strong as the concrete we were standing on. The view around the city was spectacular. The clouds were constantly moving and showers came and went. We also went another distance up to the skydeck and looked through floor to ceiling glass windows at the world below.

A high point of the viewing was watching the 360 degree Sky Walk. This is outside in the open air at 630 feet. People as young as 10, can walk around the outside of the tower. They use just a body harness and overhead safety line to keep you on the 3 foot ring walkway. There is no handrail. The other option is to do the 630 foot Sky Jump. This is popular that jumps occur every 4 minutes. Jumpers are suited up in jumpsuits and harnesses. They step off the platform, hang in the air for awhile and they go straight down.

In the afternoon we took a sailing adventure on the America’s Cup racing boat NZL 40. We walked to the Explore NZ dock and motored out of Viaduct Harbor. We had gone just a short distance when the Captain announced we had gone aground. Our keel had dug into the mud in the harbor due to the shallow water with the tide out. They worked for ½ hour with two small boats pushing tugging and pulling a rope from the top of our mast to get us out of the mud. All of a sudden we were free. We motored into Waitemata Harbor past our ship and into the open water. The wind was strong ranging from 22- 30 knots. There were showers that came and went. The crew gave lessons how to manage the boat since during the American Cup race they would have 17 crew and we just had 4.
The grinders were about three feet tall four in total. Two people worked on each grinder. Arrows at the top pointed in the direction for forward. When the Captain shouted Forward the volunteer crew would grind. He would then yell Reverse to change the direction. This movement raised and lowered the sail and jib.

We started our three hour sail. This boat does not have seats instead it has a narrow rim that we leaned against and a railing that we held on to. The wind was strong and we all moved to the high side and leaned out of the boat to balance. We flew. Wayne estimated we went 10 knots. I also heard 12 knots. The water rolled into the low side of the boat. We continued to fly with spray coming off the bow. It was wonderful. We sailed under a bridge. I’m sure our mast was just a few inches from the bridge- Wayne says the distance we further. As we sailed with the wind, it was like standing on my tiptoes holding onto the railing with the boat standing on its edge.

It was so much fun although I could not have held on any tighter. The harbor was beautiful and the open sea was just beyond.

Suva Fiji 10-14-08

Church Sunset Harbor

Downtown

Suva, Fiji 10/14/08

Suva, Fiji is one of 333 islands that make up Fiji. The islands range in size from Voti Lenu at 7,150 square miles to just tiny coral atolls. Suva is the capital and is located on Viti Levu. Fiji is a republic and had political unrest earlier this year. Fiji is known for lots of rain fall averaging 200 inches a year. Our ship docked at Kings Wharf.

Suva, although it is the capital, is certainly not representative of the rest of this island country. The island has tall rain forests and mahogany trees. Local Fijian tours advertise canoes to take you up river to see villages that are accessible only by water. The Fijian tradition of fire walking is still done for visitors using a pit filled with stones that are heated for hours. A religious leader walks over the stones first with others following.

Some of the smaller islands have affluent visitors. Celine Dion leads the list paying $7,000 a night to stay on a private island. Mel Gibson bought an island for $16 million.

The Fijian is known for .an openness. and friendliness. They tend to open their doors and windows to the world and hope for friends to stop in. Some of the crew went in a Taxi to a spot outside the city. On the way, one of the crew needed to use the bathroom. The taxi driver stopped along side the road at a private home. He knocked the door and asked if they could use the bathroom. They were cordially invited inside.

We also experienced this friendliness as we walked through the city of Suva. After leaving the crowded downtown area we walked up the hills to see the Sacred Heart Cathedral. A funeral service had just completed. Most of the attendees wore black.

The Fijian greeting is Bula [Hello]. Everyone we passed greeted us with this. We passed government buildings and Victoria Park. In a neighborhood, a Fijian came out of his home and asked if he could help us find something. We told him we were looking for the Holiday Inn. He proceeded to guide us for two blocks. He pointed out a shortcut that was a foot wide path down the side of a hill. He watched until we found the path.

Several of the local buses passed us. These buses were what they call air-cooled. Instead of glass windows, they have open windows with canvas or plastic shades to pull down when it rains. The Holiday Inn is located on Victoria Parade. The location was right on the water and we sat on the bench and looked at the harbor. Local fisherman walked in the shallow water pulling nets to catch fish. Several feet off shore a small raft held other fisherman. The view of the mountains in the distance was beautiful.

As we approached our ship, I decided to spend the last of my Fijian dollars. Several booths were set up. I immediately got caught up in the sword game. I had heard about this on the ship but it happens very quickly. A vendor shook my hand and gave me two free swords and put them in a shopping bag. He showed me his permit. He then filled the bag with other products. He showed me the back of his permit and it showed that in the department store it would cost $90 and he would sell it to me for only $30. I realized what was happening and said no. He tried to convince me but couldn’t. He then took each of the items out of the bag and also tried to take what I had bought at a store. I stopped that and gave him the small amount of Fiji money that I had planned to spend. I now have two engraved Fijian wooden swords.

Pago Pago American Samoa 10-12-08

Pago Pago, American Samoa 10/12/08

We sailed into the narrow harbor of Pago Page capital of Tutuila. We pasted the rock formation that is called The Flower Pot. This small formation is rock on the bottom with foliage on the top. The harbor is very narrow and deep and is shaped like a bowl with mountains rising all around. The original volcano collapsed on one side and the ocean flowed in making this natural harbor. Mt Pioa the highest mountain is called the rainmaker. This is the island of Tutuila, the mail island in American Samoa- the only US territory in the Southern Hemisphere. It is smaller than Bora Bora. Tutuilais 18 miles long and 6 miles across. There is no road that goes all around the island.

It felt good to be on a USA island. Since we arrived on Sunday, only two stores were open all the rest of the shops and businesses were closed. It was also a Holiday, called White Sunday. This holiday is a special day of activities and events for the children. As we walked around the town the churches were just getting out from their services. All the churchgoers were dressed in white. Something like our First Holy Communion dress. Some of the women wore puletasi. The boys and men wore a wrap around white skirt called lava lavas.

The Samoans love to sing and we could here their music. As we passed a local service station, I heard music playing sung in Samoan. I recognized the tune- the verses were Put your troubles in your old kit bag and Smile, Smile ,Smile! We heard cars and trucks filled with kids go by and yell Hi. At first we thought there were calling to friends but soon realized they were calling to us. We began waving at all the cars as they called out to us.

One of the stores that were opened had racks of white clothes for the kids. They also had a large selection of fabric that sold for $1.00 yard. A young boy was helping to sell fabric. He was about 10 years old and was cruising behind the counter in wheelies. I told him my grandchildren love wheelies also. I found a Baby Ruth candy bar for Wayne and a root beer for me.

The sail away was beautiful.

Roratonga, Cook Island 10-10-08

Rarotonga, Cook Islands 10/10/08

Rarotonga or Raro is the capital of the Cook Islands and is a New Zealand Protectorate. Raro is self governing. Their genealogy and history were orally recorded by the Taungas. This data is passed down to each generation. They arrived in the Cook Islands in 800 AD. The land is owned by the natives. They had 5 cyclones hit the island in 2005.

We took a tour with Raro Mountairi Tours.and Safari. This company is owned by a native who has dug out the roads and is building shelters for tours near his home at one of the sites. We climbed into a four wheel drive jeep with bench seats for ten and a canopy for a roof. We headed off for a 32 km circle tour of the island with stops at the highest viewpoints. We took the Ara Metua road built with lava stones which is centuries old and is now paved.

As we went uphill we left the paved road and took a wild ride on a rutted, cavity filled (about two feet deep) dirt road holding on and hoping we stayed upright. We stopped on a plateau and viewed the Needle, a large rock formation. We took a total of three off road adventures into the mountains. My favorite was the eastern heights overlooking Muri lagoon with four isles or Motus. We had our picture taken as we overlooked the Motu called Long Beach! The view was stunning with teal and blue. The reefs of Raro are more shallow then we have seen before and such a beautiful color.

We saw two hotels, one was a project started by the Raro government in the early 90s. The construction company was from Italy. They built the initial hotel rooms and were supposed to enlarge the lagoon in a multi-million dollar project. Instead, all the money disappeared. The furniture for the project was already in storage. As the years passed the furniture was decaying so they finally opened the storage units and passed out the furniture to the locals. Everyone has the same furniture! The second hotel is a new large hotel very nice. One of the co-owners is Ivana Trump.

Our guide let us out in the Town to walk back to the dock. We stopped at Captain Jack’s. This is a very popular seafood restaurant. When we purchased our drink, the waitress told us to take a seat and “Watch The View”. We did. At the dock, Wayne took a picture of the water- it is so clean. You can see the fish in the water.

Pictures 2

Kona, HI - Dawn Princess

Christmas Island

Bora Bora

Tahiti Bridge

Moorea

At Sea 10-9-08

10/9/2008 At Sea
Well its back to the exercise room. I did eleven miles on the exercise bikes, plus weights plus a mile on the promenade deck. I have now instructed many people on the use of the ship’s scale.

I went to the lecture on Roratonga, Cook Islands. It seems that many of the islanders moved to New Zealand. There is a monument to the people who left. Most of the people return at least once in their lifetime to see the monument and return to their roots. The Roratongans love to eat. They tell a story about a young boy going through the hair cutting ceremony. This is a right of passage here. The extended family is invited and the meal preparation takes three days. Fourteen pigs are cooked to serve 300 people. It takes 5 minutes to clear the table because besides eating, the guests take home food for the extended family that wasn’t able to come to the dinner.

I also went to a lecture on the famous Tahitian Black Pearl. Almost all pearls are now farm raised or cultured. Even so they are still raised in the sea water. Long stands of rope are attached to oysters. It takes several years for a pearl to grow. The Chinese pearls are gown in fresh water. The Chinese and Japanese pearls are shades of white and cream. The Tahitian Black Pearl comes in 26 colors ranging from the hard to find gold/champagne through variations of blue & green to black. Care of the pearl takes into account their origin. Pearls should not be kept in plastic or airtight containers or a safe. Instead they should be in the air and wiped with a damp cloth and dried with a soft cloth.

We have a four wheel drive adventure tomorrow.
As of Thursday evening we are halfway. We’ve gone 5,000 and have 5,000 miles to go.

Moorea 10-8-08

Moorea 10/8/2008

Wednesday morning we set sail for Moorea. It is just15 miles from Papeete.. We sailed with the rising sun. Moorea was used to film the Bali Hai portions of the film South Pacific. Comparing it to Bora Bora, I loved the beautiful variations of color created by the reefs at Bora Bora with the two ancient volcanoes one looking like of a woman and the other like a man. But I must admit that Moorea is my favorite. The ancient volcano peaks are the highest of all the islands. .Mt. Tohivea is the highest at 3,960 feet. We saw the keyhole at one of the peaks- recently a hiker was stranded there and was rescued by helicopter.

The island is a natural beauty with lagoons, reefs and two bays Cook and Opunohu. The land is tranquil with a population of 14,000 in the coastal area of the 51 square mile island. Lovely homes dot the hillsides and property can be owned only by a native. We sailed by one of the island’s pineapple plantations. This is their primary industry while also serving as home for commuters to Papeete. It’s about a 25 minute commute.

We sailed a 43 foot catamaran out of the harbor. Wayne likes to climb all over the boat and on the trampoline at the bow while I tend to stay on the bench seats. We soon sited a whale about 18 meters in length. We watched her tail come out of the water. We also saw a green sea turtle. They are protected. If you catch one, you will serve jail time. However the jail has relatively good conditions here.

Our guide, called Tahiti, fished with a line off the back of the boat. He didn’t catch any today but has in the past for dinner. His assistant, a young woman, just moved to Moorea from northern France. She got a job on this boat and decided to remain in Moorea. What a change from France! After sailing and viewing the gorgeous coastline, we put down the anchor in a sheltered area next to the boat channel. A coral garden was there. The depth was about 10 feet. We put on our gear and slipped over the back of the boat.

Wayne worked with the underwater camera and swam all over the garden area. He really enjoys snorkeling. I saw one of my favorite fish. It’s name is Cocher Zandas Cornulus. It is colored with yellow, black, and white stripes, has a pointy nose, and at the top has a long fin looks like a string. There were many fluorescent blue that I would assume were parrotfish. I wish I knew the names of all the varieties that we saw. I enjoy the water so much, I think I was meant to be a fish. Our guide book shows 83 varieties in the French Polynesian area. The colors are magnificent. Our guide had on a pair of Billabong shorts. The colors of yellow and black and the pattern matched some of the fish that we saw.

In the past the coral has been below us but parts of this garden rose to the surface of the water. I was careful to stay on the outside edges so I wouldn’t get trapped between the large coral pillars. I noticed several all white fish that borrowed into the sand. Also schools of tiny blue fish. Our guide told us that the black tipped shark frequented the area. But since he is vegetarian, we shouldn’t worry about him. We should just slap the water and the shark would swim away. The shark is grey all over but has black just on the tip of his fins and along the edge of his tail. I did not see one.

Wayne and I returned to the boat and climbed in. When I got to the deck, I saw that Wayne’s arm was bleeding. He said that he felt a pinch on his arm while he was swimming. Our guide used first aid and bandaged him up.

We were served ananas juice. Make a guess of what kind of fruit it is. Well its pineapple juice. The pineapples are smaller then the ones we usually see and are very mild and sweet. A banana is called Bananier. Other passengers have told me how good the bananas are. They are small, about half the size of the ones back home. They are also very sweet. Tahitian vanilla is a very popular export. I have not been able to price it here.

I saw what I thought was a rooster. They call it the Red Junglefowl. It sounds like a rooster.

I met a nurse from our ship who is traveling with her son. They are from Oklahoma. She said that she vacationed in Alaska and loved it so much she decided to return. She worked for two years in Nome. In the winter she would warm up the car for 15 minutes before trying to drive in the darkness. She loved it.

The dock has stands selling colorful fabric, shell jewelry and black Tahitian pearls. We walked up the dirt road and looked around for awhile.

At lunch and dinner at the buffet the ship have music. Sometimes piano and sometimes violin. It’s very nice.

Following our time in town, I kept feeling like the ship was moving. Wayne told me that the ship was anchored at the bow. So the current and wind move us around in a circle. We had a constantly changing view. As we sailed away, Todd McBain, ship’s captain, said we should expect rain and to walk carefully and hold on. Right on cue, it started raining and the ship rolled from side to side. It was fun

Papeete 10-7-08

Papeete Tahiti 10/7/2008

Papeete the capitol of French Polynesia. Papeete is pronounced Pa-pee-et-A. It means in Tahitian[Papee] Water and [ete] Bowl/Basket. It refers to the vast number of natural pools of water throughout the island. It is a large city with architecture of about the 50’s. We arrived being pushed by a tug boat. We docked in the center of town. It was surprising to see traffic on the main streets after the natural landscape and small population of Bora Bora. I used my high school French as French/ Tahitian/and English are spoken.

We walked through the city and spent time in the Public Market place. It dates back to the 19th century. There was an abundance of fresh fish, meat and stands of fresh produce. It also has stands of handmade creations and Tahiti’s pareo cloth- a colorful fabric used as a wrap around dress.

Much of the Tahitia’s diet is centered around fresh fruit grown on the island. The Breadfruit is a staple in the Tahitian diet. They have available about 30 varieties. It is boiled and then prepared in many ways. It tastes very similar to our potato just a little sweeter. We saw trees of mango, avocado, and other varieties of trees used for clothing that produces cloth of different colors.

We visited the Notre-Dame Cathedral built in 1875. The stained glass windows were scenes of Tahitians in traditional activities. We took a long hike and visited the Robert Wan Pearl Museum. We saw an incredible showcase of pearls and their history.

We took a four wheel drive tour from the West coast to the East coast of Tahiti Nui. Our new Land Rover was outfitted with benches in the back and a roof canopy. We rode 8 in the back. Very exciting as we rounded turns and drove through heavy traffic. The coast is used for surfing and in the winter months large waves come and heavy rains. We stopped at a black sand beach and walked in the waves. We turned into the entrance to the Papenoo Valley, a combination of natural preserve space and sacred Tahitian land. There is a cement plant in the valley that digs rocks out of the river valley and the hauling creates a lost of dust with the large rock haulers to scare the tourists and other drivers. The road is curvy and alternates between paved and gravel. There are also two small Hydro Electric Plants and small reservoirs to generate a portion of the islands electricity.

Our guide was a Tahitian with a great love of the land and his cultural tradition. He speaks 4 languages [Tahitian, French, English & Spanish]. He spent a year in the French Marines. He wanted to spend his time in Alaska but instead was assigned to the French nuclear testing at a nearby island.

As we drove through the Valley de la Papenoo he pointed out the various trees filled with fruit. The Tahitian lived off the land and fresh fish. We saw the mountains of Aorai 2066 meters and Orohena 2242 meters in height. These mountains are considered sacred. The Tahitian would go to sea for a long time and then return to the sacred garden in the valley and live off the land to refresh his mind and body. We stopped alongside the road at a pool in the river and swam. Our guide climbed the riverbank and then dove into the pool. On the return we did not use a single lane bridge high over the river and instead took the road through the river. This is impassable during the winter rainy seasons. It was fun just to drive through the water. We passed a group of soldiers training in the wilderness. We stopped at a sacred spot. The Tahitians laid stones with an altar. They still provide food for God at the altar. The area was planted with a sampling of the trees that are used for all needs including medical. Our guide impressed us with his love of Tahitian culture and his knowledge of vegetation, and birds. It was a pleasure to meet him.

Pictures A

Sunset - Honolulu









San Francisco Bridge

Bora Bora 10/6/08

Bora Bora 10/6/08

This morning we sailed into the harbor at Vaitape. This lagoon is the same place Captain Cook anchored. The island was formed by two volcanoes. There is a small island named Topu and the islet of Toopua Iti. in the harbor of Bora Bora. Surrounding these islands is a reef. The ocean comes up to the reef with small waves. It is so unusual to see the waves some distance from the island of Bora Bora. The color of the sea is a beautiful light teal. In the deeper areas the color ranges from deep amethyst to a light turquoise. I have not seen this color variation before.

We were greeted by canoes and outriggers. We anchored in the harbor and used tenders to reach the shore. Wayne took lots of photos as we entered the harbor. The site of the huge volcanic mountains looming up from the sea is breathtaking. I can see why Michener used Bora Bora as a model for the fictional Bali Hi.

We took a catamaran ride around the Motu Toopua. Motu is their name for an island. The island has areas with bungalows built on pylons over the sea. I hear these range in price from $500 to $15,000 a night. Your food is brought to you by canoe. Our crew sang songs and played the ukulele and a drum for us. Again the range of color of the water is stunning. Our crew searched for a place to anchor our sail boat. They found one in a lagoon. A reef was filled with coral and we were able to snorkel. Those on the trip that could not swim were able to stand up on the reef. We swam in the deeper areas and saw many gorgeous fish. Some of the colors on the fish include vibrant shades of white, blue, & yellow.

Across the water were several boats anchored against a reef. Our crew told us these were tour boats feeding the sharks. Others on our ship went to a tour to feed the rays. They were huge.
We finished our sail with a high speed race across the harbor with dolphins swimming at our side. Again snorkeling was the highlight of our day in Bora Bora.

At Sea 10/5/08

At SEA Sunday 10/5/08

Our passports were collected by the room steward on Oct.4, 2008. The Immigration authorities of French Polynesia requested to see all of them. We were given a receipt and the passports will be returned after our last port in French Polynesia, Moorea. The French Polynesian Immigration Officials will board in Bora Bora and plan to stamp our passports.

We crossed the Equator- latitude 0- on Saturday October 4th. We passed from the Northern Hemisphere into the Southern Hemisphere...There is a tradition that all sailors who cross the Equator for the first time during a nautical voyage must go through a ceremony. This concept goes back to the middle ages. Those who have not crossed before are called “Pollywogs”. After crossing the Equator we are now “Trusty Shellbacks” I’m sure that most of the passengers were on the top decks to see the activity. It was impressive to see so many there. They had King Neptune and various costumed characters.

Saturday night was formal. We dressed up and had Chateaubriand for dinner. Wayne was offered a second plate and he said Yes! We ate with a couple from Toronto. They had emigrated from England 40 years ago. Wayne had a great time talking Soccer.

I decided to try my hand at oil painting. I made oil rubbings of two small Polynesian children. The result was not great but I had a lot of fun doing it. I also tried ceramics and painted my version of a tropical fish from our snorkeling in Kona, Hawaii. The crewman in charge of the ceramics said he will paint a fish with my pattern and colors and use it as a sample.

It has been very windy today. I walked a mile on the promenade deck and it was wet from the mist. I felt like a sail with the wind at my back. It is 82 degrees with clear sunny skies and with a wind speed of 40 miles per hour. The ocean has some waves with some white caps. The two main pools are closed. The waves from the pools splash about 4 feet high... Our balcony is sheltered and has a great panoramic view. It has particles of salt that have evaporated on it.

Our Snorkeling meeting gave us some pointers for Bora Bora. Le Truck is the local bus. It runs on island time. We will see Motus as we swim and sail around the island. The Motus are reefs that are along side the island. They are owned by various entities. In between the motus the ocean has strong currents. We are advised not to swim in between. We can expect to see the black tipped shark. It is friendly. We will also see the Garden Fish (snake). As you look across the ocean they will look like wavy fields of grain. If we step on the black spiny urchin, the barb can stay in our skin for one year. When we are looking for the beach, we say Oui est La Plage(sp)? Most of the beaches are privately owned, many by hotels, and have security guards. There is a grocery- variety store next door to the church. It is called Achu –just remember Ah-Ah Chew! The weather at 82 is warm. We were told that it will feel much warmer on the island.
What an adventure!

Christmas Island 10/3/08

Christmas Island 10/3/2008Christmas Island 10/3/2008
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Christmas Island was initially a destination port. We received an email in September that cancelled the stop. Our ship captain, Todd McBain, told us that the area around the island had not been prepared for our arrival. In previous years the ship has stopped there. However without the dredging required our ship could not put the ship tenders into the water. In a previous year two ship tenders ran aground on the sand bars that build up close to the island. Instead we did a cruise up and down the shoreline of Christmas Island. They like to call it an Eden. There are currently 5,000 people living on the island. There is very little infrastructure. The beaches are white with sand and the waters are clear and full of fish. Travelers come from all over the world to bird watch. A French priest is credited with planting the large number of palms. Christmas Island is part of the nation of Tuvalu- a collection of islands spread across two million square miles of Pacific Ocean..

Wayne took some beautiful pictures as we sailed up and down the coast. We did not circumnavigate the island because the opposite side of the island is Bay of Wrecks. It is not navigable.

We had an interesting discussion at dinner. We met a couple from Canada that took an ice breaker around Greenland. They found it very interesting with discussions with scientists. .They also traveled to India and met with a tribe. They were told that they were the second nonnatives that had seen the tribe. .They also traveled to any area between China and Pakistan. Rushgar(sp). They visited a secluded tribe there also.

We are having lectures on Tahiti preparing us for our arrival in Bora Bora.

At SEA 9/28/09

At Sea 9/28/2008
Happy Birthday Kyle
Our days at sea are wonderful. A typical day starts with oatmeal in the 14th floor buffet. Next is time well spent in the exercise room. It has a full range of equipment. This is followed by a mile jog around the promenade deck. Three times around makes a mile. So far we have been too busy to do any of the ship’s activities!! We have watched Iron Man and Narnia in the ships theater. In the afternoon we swim. We have a leisurely dinner in the ships dining room. This is followed with a visit to the Internet Café. (Colleen- thanks for update on Katie sitting by herself!). I have been so pleased with the friendly people we have met from all over the world on this ship The sunsets have been stunning and Wayne has filmed the beautiful sunrises.

Honolulu, HI 9/29/08

Honolulu, HI -- 9/29/2008
We arrived in Honolulu and docked by the Aloha Tower built in 1926. I had prepared a list of necessary items to purchase. We traveled by The Bus, For $1 each way to the Ala Moana Center with 260 stores. We found a two story building next door with Wal-Mart on the bottom Sam’s club on the top
.In the afternoon, we walked to the Maritime Museum The museum traces the history of exploring Polynesia. The Polynesian explorers used various forms of navigation to travel on hand hued wooden sailboats filled with food plants animals to settle the discovered islands.
We have heard lectures on board and I’m reading Blue Latitudes(Thank you Cathy) about Captain Cook. The museum traces his incredible journeys. Docked next door to the museum is the Falls of Clyde. This is the only surviving full rigged four masted sailing ship built in 1878.
We sailed away from Honolulu with a panoramic view of the lights of the island.