Day 132 At Sea

I woke up this morning to some pretty blustery weather. The sun was shining so all we had to do was find a nice spot out of the wind. We did and the day was just perfect. Tonight I will have to pack fro my New Zealand Overland Adventure which starts early tomorrow morning. I’m getting pretty excited. If you need a refresher on what I’m going to be doing, take a look at Day 126. I included the itinerary there. I may or may not bring my laptop with me. I guess you’ll find out if you see a post tomorrow night…. This should be an amazing adventure!

Day 131 At Sea

Today was a great day until the afternoon came…. Downpour! We really got lashed for a while and then it was over…. We had a really nice day! Tonight we have another formal night. I only have one more day at sea before we get to New Zealand. I’m getting pretty excited, better start packing….

Day 130 Nuku' Alofa, Kingdom of Tonga

Today was my first visit to the Kingdom of Tonga. We were supposed to dock but at the last minute the Captain pulled away due to safety considerations. I applaud him for not just sailing away but making arrangements for tender operations instead. Once the tender operations commenced Sandra, Allan, Apolonnia and I went ashore. We hooked up a taxi driver and were off. First stop was the old King’s palace which is under some renovation. We stopped for a while and watched some very large flying foxes (bats), very creepy. Next we were off to see the blow holes. We traveled around the island checking out it’s beautiful scenery. We also visited the Ha’amonga Trilithon which was built in 1200 AD. This huge archway is built from lintels, each of which weighs as much as 35 tons. According to tradition (according to HAL), the 11th Tui Tonga built it as a passageway to the Royal compound some 800 years ago. The current king lives in the palacial estate you see in the photo. I couldn’t get very close because it is in a walled compound and has guards at the gate. We really had a wonderful day at the lovely (but very flat) island. The people here are very warm and friendly and very religious which you can tell because of the high number of churches of all religions. It was a nice visit to a great island….

Day 129 Cross the International Dateline, At Sea

You never know what you are going to wake up to when you are at sea. This is especially true when you have been engulfed in some kind of nasty weather system. Today was a very pleasant surprise. We had a perfect day! Much to the dismay of Nanook of the North aka Whitey I have not lost my tan…. Still in peak form….. It takes more than a couple of rainy days to set back a professional… In a few days I go on my New Zealand adventure. Sun will be a much lower priority in New Zealand. I’ll be in Explorer mode (and photographer mode). Tomorrow we go to Nuku’ Alofa, Tonga, very exciting for me. This will be my first visit to Tonga. I think I’ll wear my shark’s teeth and Tiki from Samoa and Bora Bora…. They may think I’m a Tongan chief. That’s one way to get a better rate on a taxi for and island tour. What a fabulous day!!!!

Day 128 Apia, Samoa

Deluge! Today we were hammered with downpours… It didn’t stop us from exploring Apia and going into the interior to see the lush vegetation and waterfalls. Despite the inclement weather we had a great time. There is some type of severe weather system in the area. I only hope that by the time we get to Tonga and New Zealand the weather system has cleared. Tomorrow for most of you it will be Sunday…. Not for us! We cross the International Dateline tomorrow so we will lose Sunday the 27th forever. Tomorrow for me will be Monday the 28th…. Confused? Me too!

Day 127 At Sea

Last night’s dinner in the Pinnacle Grill was, once again, spectacular. We had a great time and just loved the food and impeccable service. After dinner I made a rare appearance in the show lounge and enjoyed some opera with a singer from London, Annette Wardell. I got up early this morning to get a head start on another beautiful day at sea. I got out to the pool before 7:00 ready to go…. There was just one problem, the weather. It looked like one of those days where you would be socked in for the entire day. Allan and Sandra joined me around 8:00 and we waited for the skies to clear. It turned out that my initial calculation was correct and the majority of the day was overcast and many showers with some quite heavy. There are some people who think that I can’t handle a day without sunshine. They think I immediately get depressed and get sulky about the whole situation. Today I proved them wrong… as you can see from the photo I was strong all day and enjoyed myself immensely…. Actually, we did have a nice day just visiting with friends….

Day 126 At Sea

Today was a lovely, relaxing day at sea. After 3 consecutive ports it’s always nice to have a day at sea to recharge. I had a meeting this morning regarding an Overland Adventure I booked on the spur of the moment a week or so ago. Here is a preview:
Spectacular New Zealand: Rotorua, Queenstown & Milford Sound Overland Adventure
Day 1
On arrival in Auckland you will set out by motor coach on a short orientation tour of the City of Sails. Drive along the picturesque waterfront to Mission Bay, passing by some of Auckland’s most exclusive streets, including Paratai Drive. From the summit of Mt. Eden, enjoy panoramic views of the city built on seven volcanoes, and of the harbor. Leaving the city, you will journey south to Rotorua, across the Hauraki Plains via Matamata to this remarkable city that is renowned for its geo-thermal activity and its intriguing Maori culture.
For lunch you will take the cable
car (funicular) to a restaurant that boasts spectacular views over Lake Rotorua. After lunch, visit Rainbow Springs for a guided stroll through this picturesque wildlife reserve. The river here offers some of the largest rainbow trout you will ever see in crystal-clear spring-fed pools, and you’ll be introduced to many of New Zealand’s native birds, including the
nocturnal kiwi and the rare tuatara lizard. Next, visit Te Puia—the highly acclaimed New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute where young Maori apprentices learn the ancient arts of
weaving and carving. You will then be guided through the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve renowned for its thermal activity. You’ll marvel as subterranean heat bursts through the earth’s thin crust in the form of geysers, hot springs, boiling mud pools and steaming fissures. Indeed, the sulfurous smell and fury of steam will never let you forget that the earth
has a molten core. Check in at your hotel before dinner. Tonight’s meal is a traditional Maori hangi—a feast of food that is steamed under the ground, thus retaining all the natural
flavors. This will be followed by a highly entertaining and energetic Maori cultural performance, showcasing the action songs and dances of the local Maori people.
Day 2
After a full breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Rotorua Airport for a flight to Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island. Upon arrival, you will head away from town, out to the Gibbston Valley Winery for lunch. Visit the historic gold mining township of Arrowtown—it’s like stepping into a time warp with tiny miners’ cottages marching along a beautiful tree-lined street. Enjoy a walk among the many galleries and cafés. You will head back to Queenstown along the scenic Arthur’s Point Road. Queenstown’s setting can only be described as magical, nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu with mountains soaring above on all sides. This is New Zealand’s leading alpine resort center. Although gold and sheep farmers
brought early prosperity to the region, tourism is now the major industry. Known as the “Adventure Capital of the World,” Queenstown is famous for its bungy jumping, jet boating, rafting and skiing. Dine tonight at Walter Peak Sheep Station, located on the far shore of Lake Wakatipu. You will reach the farm by sailing on the historic steamship tss Earnslaw. In the Colonel’s House enjoy a carvery-style buffet dinner overlooking the lake. Before returning to Queenstown, enjoy a brief demonstration of sheep dog skills.
Day 3
Breakfast at your hotel before your visit to Milford Sound—one of the most spectacular scenic areas of New Zealand. A chartered coach will take you along the shores of Lake
Wakatipu down to Kingston at the southern end of the lake, before crossing the North Southland Plains to Te Anau. After a short stop in the town of Te Anau, continue through
the beautiful Fiordland National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will stop for photos at the Mirror Lakes, and continue through the Eglington Valley, before descending
through the mighty Homer Tunnel to the Cleddau Valley. Stop at the Chasm before arriving in Milford Sound. At Milford, board a day boat for a luncheon cruise on Milford Sound. Sit back and enjoy the magnificent scenery of the sound. Highlights include towering Mitre
Peak and the majestic Stirling and Bowen Falls. Returning to the Milford Marina, you will reboard your coach and return to Queenstown in time for a late dinner.
Day 4
After breakfast at the hotel, you will take a cable car ride up to Bobs Peak, for a final spectacular view of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown and the Remarkables mountain range. You’ll then fly to Christchurch and take a brief orientation tour of the city. Highlights include visiting the magnificent gardens at Mona Vale, the Christchurch Arts Centre and
panoramic views from the Port Hills. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will drive through the tunnel to Lyttleton and reboard the ship. I will depart the ship to start this Overland Adventure on the 1st of February. Since we will have crossed the International Dateline by then (we skip the 27th) it will be the 31st of January back home. It should be an amazing journey. Unfortunately it became apparent at the meeting that there are a couple of people going that probably will have some physical limitations that will slow us down… too bad. All HAL can do is point out that these trips are a strenuous activity. The people who sign up sometimes would amaze you. I will enjoy it no matter how slow the pace gets (well not too slow). Tonight is a formal night and Allan, Sandra & I are eating at the Pinnacle Grill… yummy! Tomorrow is another day at sea before we get to Samoa….

Day 125 Bora Bora, French Polynesia

We arrived early this morning into the island of Bora Bora, French Polynesia. This is truly one of the most beautiful places that we will visit. I decided to go snorkeling with the sharks & stingrays out by the reef like I did last year. There is something really exciting about being eye to eye with a shark or in this case…. many sharks. I absolutely love the huts over the water… magnificent!

Shark Boy snorkels Bora Bora

Yes folks, shark boy is at it again….. I loved swimming with the sharks and rays so much when I was in Bora Bora last year I thought I’d give it another go…. It is pretty scary when they come right up to you or breeze by within a couple of feet. But then again they don’t call me shark boy for nothing…. I really am kind of like the Big Kahuna of the South Pacific… or am I just hallucinating?