Add in. Sorry it has taken so long to write. Today is March 1st and we are on our second day in Manila. I think many of your know that I have been developing a lecture series for cruise ships. Well, there was a problem with a scheduled lecturer and I knew the cruise director from previous cruises. I was asked to fill in and have been giving my lecture series on seas days. They have been well received and we hope this will be the start of another career. I can’t commit to anything without the approval of my manager, Miss Noreen. So a lot of my time has been taken up in finalizing the presentations and rehearsals. Plus we’re having a great time and not a lot of time for blogging.
We arrived in Lautoka, Fiji on February 5th. Lautoka is located in the Northwest in an area known as the Sunshine Coast. We decided on a quiet day with a quick run into town for some Noreen sightseeing (read shopping) and back to the ship. No little boxes this time, she was after cannibal forks…….and she found them. It is a very modern and busy city; very clean.
No cell phone problems here.
Greeter in front of Jack’s; where Noreen found the forks.
Where you go when back from a hunt in the jungle.
Back at the ship we had a welcoming committee.
If you are wondering, Fiji has some of the best diving in the world. We docked on the wrong side of the island for the dive shops. With our limited time in port I didn’t have time to get in a dive. Double darn, maybe next time we stop by.
New Caledonia is located in the South Pacific abut halfway between Fiji and Australia. It’s a cluster of islands in the Coral Sea half French and half local native. Noumea, the country’s capital, was our first stop. Like Fiji, our port was located in the heart of the city.
You can’t get any closer to downtown for docking.
Noreen meeting the locals and discussing current events.
The humidity and temperature were so high my lens kept fogging up. As you can see in this picture. It kept doing this until the camera warmed up from the A/C on the ship.
Most of these islands have a China Town
with parking…
Main park in city, Place De Cocotiers.
I was really amazed at the supermarket they had near the dock.
French need their bread; even in the South Pacific.
This is the cheese counter.
A view of the local island chain. We are at the red dot.
A view of the harbor entrance. You can see how protected it is. In the lower left the crew is practicing lowering a life raft.
We stopped at Kuto, IIe des Pins, New Caledonia on February 8th. Captain Cook arrived before we did in 1774. It is a VERY quiet little island where the main pastimes are ocean activities and local walks.
An overview of the island.
Upon arrival we immediately head for a historic landmark.
Perhaps not what you imaged from the sign.
The dog is not dead…..he has just gone native.
Some interesting local flora.
The local Gendarmerie station.
This ship has been shadowing us for the last few weeks. It is a German line on a five month world cruise. And we thought we were going long at 113 days.
And off to Australia. On this visit to Sydney we decided to concentrate on Sydney Harbor the first day and the Opera House on day two. If you are interested in our 2011 visit to Sydney it is at http://thegreatadventure01.blogspot.com/2011/03/sydney-au.html
The approach from the ocean in the harbor.
We set off around the Harbor. View of the Opera House as we pass on our Harbor tour.
We pass a naval yard.
Any question these are Australian? There is a kangaroo on the funnel.
i know you think we rowed in a canoe around the harbor but no, we traveled a little differently.
Homes around the harbor
They really have to walk up and down those steps to get to their boats…..carrying stuff.
Back on land, we that spent the afternoon walking around Sydney. They take care of tourists with warning at each street corner painted on the pavement.
Fresh produce in the middle of the city.
I couldn’t find Noreen but then if you look real close through the window…
People walking over the Sydney Bridge. I did the climb on our last visit.
On to the Opera House. Approaching from land.
A view from inside.
The outside is covered with millions of these little tiles. They are different shades in different areas to prevent too bright a reflection of the sun.
Not everything in the opera house is old school.
Inside you can see the ribbed construction that makes the shape possible.
Exterior side view.
Time to go, Bye Sydney. We’ll be back in October. On our departure Noreen going under the Sydney Bridge and Ken with the Opera House passing by.
Welcome to Brisbane, our first visit. We decided to spend the day with the locals. How else to visit then to take the …
We spent the day at…
Noreen didn’t hesitate to get up close and friendly with the residents. Her name is Eola.
Koala’s have distinct white markings on their back. This enables them to be identified without waking and seeing their face.
we also visited with some “roos”
My attempt at a selfie. I couldn’t aim and the kangaroo didn’t care.
a little ”Joey” in the pouch.
One of the Sheep dogs we saw in action. See video at http://youtu.be/uu4fsrLmgew see sheep shearing at http://youtu.be/nC89kC49wWI
When the sheep dogs pen the sheep there is no room for them so they stand on top of the sheep.
Noreen consoling the sheared sheep.
One day at sea and we ended up in Cairns. Noreen and I took a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and spent the day enjoying glass bottom boats and the water from a central platform.
An interesting store in town.
That’s all for this entry. Send any questions or comments. Let us know how things are going. Stay well.
