Exotic Bali
Bali is surrounded by many smaller Islands which reveal themselves as we approach our destination.
Bali is a land with many faces. It is a country that is steeped in its unique religious heritage, the roots of which are a blending of Balinese Hinduism, ancient Javanese ancestry and Buddhism. There are a never ending array of temples, statues and gargoyles. Gorgeous green countryside and beaches are a counterpoint to miles of urban squalor and poverty. If there is a common trait amongst the people it is happiness and gratitude. They are a happy people who live in a remarkable country.
Our first foray into Denpasar, the Balinese capital, we viewed a celebration of one of their many religious holidays. This one featured a parade of ‘floats’ carried by Balinese men. Each depicts an enactment of their religious beliefs. Like all of Denispar, it was crowded, chaotic and stunning. A great introduction to Bali.
Don Anotonio Blanco, Phlllipine born of Spanish parents who lived and developed his art in Bali. He built his studio where the Blanco Renessaince Museum is now located. The grounds are spectacular and the Museum (above) is a tribute to his artistic mastery.
The gardens have beautiful flora and several exotic birds.
The gardens are dotted with spectacular sculptures.
This is the entry way and interior of the museum, a great example of Renaissance architecture and design. Everything was gorgeous.
A few examples of his art.
Doors are an important element to the Balinese., They are the pathway into the temple and they hold every home as a temple. A few of the mony doors that we photographed.
The Tegallalang Rice fields. Rice is Bali’s chief export. These terraced rice fields go on for as far as the eye can see. Just stunning. The above photo captures only a small portion of the patties.
Above left an example of the many family rice plots. On a single hectare of land these small plots can produce from 3 tons of rice. A hectare is equal to roughly 2.5 acres.
In the center, a family dries out rice picked from their plot.
Right photo: I’d like to say this man was hard at work in his rice field. Actually he was chasing down a group of ducklings that had gotten away.
Our final stop was the Holy Springs Temple. Above we are dressed in sarongs provided by the Temple to show respect to the gods. This is our tour guide and driver for the day. Gday is a great guy, very knowledgable and a lot of fun.
The grounds are very beautiful and pristine. Gday stands next to a Jack Fruit Tree sporting three jack fruit.
The sacred pools. Pilgrims come from afar to purify themselves in the sacred pools. They don special garb and go through a series of prayers in preparation for their cleansing.
Our adventure in Bali, a land of incredible chaos and perfect peace.
Brisbane: Koalas and Kangaroos
Brisbane is a beautiful City. A days sail north of Sydney on Australia’s East Coast. We had one day in Brisbane and decided it was time to see two of Australia’s icons: Koala Bears and Kangaroos.
We spent our day at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day. We were delighted to find this fellow doing the Koala Bear version of “friskie”. They invest their waking hours eating eucalyptus leaves. It is all that they eat and there are only a handful of species of eucalyptus that suits their finicky palates. They eat slowly, chew slowly and move slowly. They need to eat over a pound of leaves each day…this becomes a full time job. The leaves have a very low sugar content and the Koalas have to expend a huge amount of energy to break down and digest these tough and toxic leaves. It all contributes to their apparent lethargy.
Cheryl was able to get up close to this little guy.
We were surprised to learn that Koalas are not bears. They are marsupials, the same genus as Kangaroos. Females give birth after a 35 day gestation period to a little Joey who then live in mom’s pouch for the next 6 months.
Amazing! A full days exercise captured on video!
Kangaroos at the sanctuary are unafraid of people. This little guy didn’t mind me getting behind him to pose for this pic..
Visiting this peaceful sanctuary reminded us so much of Donkey Dreams. This is our daughters and son-in-laws sanctuary for donkeys about a two hour drive north of us in Las Vegas. We got a nice reminder of how much we love donkeys when we came across these two minies. Donkeys have the most beautiful eyes.
The sheepdog demonstration was a highlight. The Australian sheepdogs are incredibly bright and very fast. We were happy to learn that the sheep are much less stressed by the dog than they are by any other method of rounding them up. As you’ll hear, sheepdogs of this caliber sell for up to $49,000 dollars,.
Brisbane’s skylne framed by the Brisbane River.
We’ve seen dolphins from the ship a couple of times but never able to capture them in photos. These beauties are from fellow passengers who posted them on line.
As we set sail, a gorgeous full moon lights our way.
Sydney: A Night at the Opera
Pulling into Sydney, we are treated to two icons of this City and Australia, The Sydney Bridge and the Opera House.
The Opera House is located right next to the City and its impressive skyline. We docked just the other side of the Opera House in the prime location…The cost to overnight in this slip is a cool $250,000. We stayed just one night here and split our time with a slip that was just a short ferry ride from the Opera House. Sydney is yet another gorgeous city in Australia. Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne account for nearly 90% of the total population of Australia.
The Sydney Bridge frames the City and manages a great deal of the traffic coming into the town. It was completed and built in 1932. There was a ready labor force during the depression and 1400 men participated in the construction. Over 50,000 tons of steel were used, held together by over 6 million rivets. My interest in the bridge was more than historical. There is an opportunity to climb the bridge to the very top of the arch. I’ve been training since I got on board by walking the floors on the ship. There are nine floors and I started feeling confident when I could reach the top floor without gasping for breath and feeling like my thighs were ablaze. I added up the steps…nearly 200! I thought I was ready until I read that there are nearly 1400 steps to get to the top. Mission aborted.
Our excursion for Sydney was an early morning orientation and scenic drive of the City. Our singular stop was at the famous Bondi (pronounced bond-eye) beach. Before entering the beach we decided to take a walk around the beach town of Bondi. As is often the case, the highlight was a total surprise.
The Bondi Beach weekly food market was in full swing. A great place to people watch, have a bite to eat, marvel at he abundant flowers and produce. The people of Sydney are in great shape and the residents of Bondi Beach are another cut above. Anyone with higher then 15% body fat need not apply. I smuggled myself in through the side door!
These two girls had a gluten free stand. they have mastered the art. Best I’ve ever had. The Paella was gorgeous as was the abundant dim sum.
We finished our visit with a long walk down Bondi Beach. The famous Australian Lifeguards were training.
That evening was our ‘Night at the Opera’. The Sydney Opera house is an incredible facility. It was begun in 1959 and was expected to be built in four years with an approved budget of $7 million. It took 14 years and the final cost was $102 million. The City funded the building through a state lottery. It is a Unesco World Heritage site.
Our evening started with a dinner at a beautiful restaurant, Aria. We were joined by four new friends from the ship. The dinner was superb. For an appetizer Duck Liver Pate and some kind of coconut delight. For a main course we both had a delicious duck breast. Our salad was a beautifully constrrcted greens and peas atop a gooey, cheesy something or other.
Getting ready to go into the theater featuring Mozart’s Magic Flute.
Our seats were great, the chairs were made out of beautiful teak wood with fire engine red upholstery. The actual theater was underwhelming. I believe the focus was on creating perfect acoustics (which they did!) and not on over the top ‘opera house design’. A highlight was watching the conductor. She was an absolute artist. It was easy to see that each note from both orchestra and the singers moving through her. She was in absolute command of the performance. The performance itself was just OK. The singers were very good. The set design was literally non-existent. Taking minimalism to an extreme, the stage was covered in astro turf, no art work at all, no sets, just a pull curtain that opened and closed throughout the performance. The costuming were contemporary street clothes…indistinguishable from everyday people you see on the street.
Just after exiting the opera we were treated to a 15 minute fire works display, framed by the Opera House, it was gorgeous.
From the Opera House, looking back at the Sydney Bridge, thousands of Aussies gather each night to enjoy a brew, a bite and take in the Harbor vibe. Looking down the harbor, this scene is repeated for as far as the eye can see, It is wonderful for people of all ages to go and have a relaxing evening by the bay that is wholesome and safe. Quite a scene.
The good ship Neptune docked right across from the opera house.
Arriving back at our ship, this was our view of the Harbor and Opera house,
Pulling out of Sydney Harbor, we head out to sea to continue our adventure.
Wonderful Melbourne
Melbourne is an alive urban center located on the coast with miles of white sand beaches. It is vibrant, walkable, and a great blend of new and old. It is loaded with world class museums, performing arts centers, enormous parks and green space. They have a cricket stadium that holds over 90,000 people and a tennis facility that hosts one of four Grand Slams, The Australian Open. They have a food scene that rivals the best in the US. The only regret I have is that we had just two days to take it all in. Two weeks would have been better.
Our first excursion took us on a tour of the Melbourne Arboretum. Like much of Melbourne, it is green, lush and expansive. Plenty of green space gives Melbourne an expansive feel.
Below see some great example of several larger trees unique to this part of the world. you can see a giant Paul Bunyon Pine, a walking stick palm, and a favorite with very thick bark that I can’f find the name for. Anyone???
Next we visited a Memorial to those Aussies who lost their lives in WWl and WWll. As was the case in New Zealand, the deep appreciation and gratitude shown by these countries to those who fell in those wars is very moving. This Memorial is located in the center of Melbourne with major roads leading to it. This building was originally built after WW1 and reflects the architecture of the time.
The Armistice was declared on November 11, at 11am. The photo above left marks the center of a great rotunda. The plaque is lowered like a grave. On the 11th month, 11th day and the 11th hour each year the sun shines directly on this gravestone from the ceiling above.
The Food Tour
On our second day in Melbourne we signed up for a “Foodie Walking Tour of Melbourne”. Eating! Hiking! Two favorite activies. It was a marvelous tour and, thankfully involved as much walking as it did dining.
Our Tour Guide and Business Owner, Martina. She is a 7th generation Melburnian (no kidding, I looked that up) and is very proud of her cities culture, history and gourmet eating scene.
Coffee and Chocolate
Melbourne is known for its love of coffee, our first stop was to this amazing Coffee and Pastry shop, Barnett’s. The coffee was delicious and the treats a feast for the eyes. Next we visited Koko Black, a renowned chocolatier. (final picture)
As we progressed through the city, Martina regailed us with history of the area. The impressive building above is the GPO (General Post Office). It was built in 1861. If you can detect Indian influence in the architecture, you are not mistaken. It seems the architect who created the design sent the wrong set of prints to Melbourne. These were destined for New Delhi. It was built anyway…Ooops.
It is possible to walk throughout Melbourne via alleyways and halls. Here is a spectacular building that originally housed a bank. Could pass for a church.
Many alley’s are designed to be covered with grafiti. The pieces range from heavy metal to fine art. There is very little, if any, graffiti in other parts pof the city.
Below is our favorite restaurant. Located in a spot that we’d never find and, if we did, would probably not enter. The hallway looks like a red light district special, not a gourmet eatery. Once inside, pure elegance. The food was spectacular, both in presentation and flavor. If you ever get this way, its Lucy Liu’s.
Look at what we missed!!! As we boarded our van back to the ship we felt a couple of drops. By the time we got back, there was a full-fledged deluge. This picture of the storm front was taken by a fellow passenger aboard our ship.
An hour later, leaving Melbourne, the skies have cleared and we were in full Sun. It is said that Melbourne has four seasons and you can capture them all in one day.
Our next stop is Sydney and a night at the opera.
Napier, NZ: Raised from the Ashes
The town of Napier was devastated by a massive earthquake in 1931. In the picture above, the town is located at Sea Level on the far right side of the picture. The homes and communities on the bluff were built with wood and were damaged but spared. The town itself was built with concrete and was reduced to rubble. It was actually raised a full 8 feet from the ground and what once was a narrow spit of land transformed into a much larger parcel. The new land was comprised of raw earth brought up from the underlying sea bed. Below is a closer look at the town as we entered Hawkes Bay.
Napier was completely rebuilt in two short years. The City Counsel ceded power to the rapid decision making of two architects who rebuilt the city in the art deco style of the day. We were looking forward to a day of independent travel to peruse one of our favorite architectural styles.
A walking path guided our way through beautiful gardens and sculptures along the waterfront.
This flower lined walkway led us into town where we met this dapper looking fellow.
Cheryl struck up a conversation with Thomas and discovered he and his 1939 Packard convertible were available for touring. Thomas is a volunteer who supports the Art Deco Trust. The funds generated are given to the city to retain its art deco design and provide same day graffiti removal. Spending the morning with Thomas was an unexpected trip highlight.
A ‘39 Packard and Cheryl…what a match!
First stop was the costume shop where Cheryl donned furs and a 30’s chappeau for the day.
The National Tobacco Company Building. The cigarette company was both the largest industry in Napier and the most beautiful rebuild in the city’s new style. The interior was every bit as stunning and detailed. The building is now the home of a well known New Zealand Gin distiller.
While inside the building we happened upon a Gin tasting. Cheryl fit right in!
As our tour continued, downtown sported block after block of art deco splendor. Some grand, some modest, but all are true to this wonderful architectural style.
No grafitti just beautiful murals.
We completed our tour of Napier by driving through hills communites. The Neptune is a handsome addition to the landscape.
With our time in the convertible complete, we returned to the ship and were greeted by more vintage automobiles and their proud owners.
Sailing away with a deep appreciation of New Zealand and looking forward to Melbourne and a full two week visit to Australia.
Rotorua, New Zealand
Gorgeous sunrise greet us as we approach Rotarua.
We had a single day in Rotarua. It is a beachside vacation favorite among New Zealanders. Great resturaunts dot the beach and boardwalk. A key feature, one that we took advantage of, was Mount Monagnui.
The Mountain dominates the landscape and creates a border on the far side of the beach. We heard there was a great hike around the perimeter of the Island that became our focus of the day. White sand beach, lots of locals enjoying the sun, and a boardwalk filled with resturaunts and coffee houses dot the landscape as we head toward the Mountain.
The hike was gorgeous. Open and peek-a-boo views dot the landscape.
A great hike and a beautiful beachside.
Heading out to sea, we saw an unusual sight. On a perfectly clear day, clouds appeared over an Island. It looked like a volcano and indeed it was. This is Whakaari / White Mountain. This is the site of a horrific tragedy. In 2019 a group of tourists were on an excursion on the Island when it blew. It was featured in a Netflix Documentary that, last I checked, is still being shown.
As we sail away, we are treated to another gorgeous sunset. Looking forward to our last stop in New Zealand, Napier.
Auckland, The City of Sails
Auckland’s nickname is well earned. With a population of 1.6 million and an equal number of pleasure craft, sail boats dot the harbor from early morning to last light.
Our first view of picturesque Auckland.
We docked in the heart of downtown. Auckland is a great walking city.
Pulling into our slip, we are greeted by The Ferry Building, an historical landmark.
Our excursion took us to the Auckland Memorial Museum. It is a remarkable tribute to the New Zealanders who fought and sacrificed their lives for their country. I got to try on a jacket used during WW1. Unbelievably heavy. You can see the photographer at work in the mirror.
A highlight of the museum was this Waka War Canoe. It transported over 100 warriors. I could not get a photo of the vessel so used this from the internet.
An artists rendition of what a canoe like this might look like in action.
Our next stop was a Kiwi farm. Kiwi’s are a leading export for New Zealand. I didn’t realize the extraordinary health properties of this fruit. One of the challenges the farms have is finding labor to pick the Kiwi’s. It requires hand picking the fruit which can be accessed only by hunching down to gain access to the fruit. Back intensive work!
Over a Kiwi tasting and talk we were entertained by a Mauri family.
My “fierce” pose and posture. What happened to my little tongue??? His is like a paddle! Hmmm. Afraid I’d be white meat for the locals.
Cheryl’s fiercest look. Oh well.
Auckland is adorned by many beautiful parks and gardens.
We had three days in Aukland. Evenings were spent exploring town. We wanted to sample New Zealand lamb and went with two other couples to The Soul Bar and Bistro. Great environment, located right on the water with delicious food. So good that Cheryl and I returned for lunch the next day.
The gentleman in the yellow shirt is our bridge teacher. He is a fabulous teacher and a very good guy.
We took a ferry to Davenport Island. Davenport is a delightful beach community with many botiques and resturaunts.
As we approached Davenport we had our first look at Mt Victoria. After lunch we enjoyed some sweeping views of Auckland from the summit.
Beautiful Auckland from the top of Mt Victoria.
Stopping off for a coffee before heading back to our ship and our next ports of call Napier and Rotorua, New Zealand.
Mauri Country: The Bay of Islands. Waitangi, New Zealand
Arriving in Waitangi Bay.
Our first look at the Bay of Islands in Waitange. This is our first destination in New Zealand.
As will be the case in many of our stops, we have one full day to explore this beautiful part of New Zealand. After a total of 15 days at sea, we were excited to continue visiting lands we’ve yet to see.
Just a few of the many Islands that dot this Bay. The weather could not have been better.
We decided to take two excursions. One in the morning and one after lunch. The early adventure was highlighted by a trip through beautiful KerriKerri Park. New Zealand has many extraordinary green belts and parks. KerriKerri was no exception.
We hiked up to a beautiful lake and a lovely Tea House.
Rainbow Falls is one of KerriKerri Park’s highlights.
After the falls we headed back to our bus. A quick lunch on the ship, followed by a drive to our second excursion of the day…A paddle on a traditional Mauri Waka canoe.
We were greeted by a family Mauri tribe and a rousing traditional Haka. The Haka is a Mauri chant that is loud, aggressive and intimidating. The facial expressions and gestures had this crowd of 70-something seniors in shock and awe. You could almost hear the collective gasps when it was revealed that the Haka is the Mauri way to “welcome" honored guests. The tribe’s Chief stepped up to introduced himself…an imposing figure.
The Wakas were large, holding 40 paddlers, the chief and two assistants. For the next 45 minutes the Chief set the pace with his gentle and soothing voice. No one dared stop paddling! He was amazing. He kept this up the whole trip along with regaling us with his people’s fascinating history and Mauri Myths and Fables.
The river couldn’t have been more beautiful.
The Mauri traditional dress is spectacular. The chief’s second in command points the way.
The stunning Mauri Falls.
A trip highlight was the spontaneous cheers that erupted when the Chief announced we were running a bit late and asked if it was OK to motor home.
Note the gentleman behind us. I think he’s alive…hoping its just a quick nap. Perhaps that’s why the chief turned on the engine.
It was a weary but happy crew that made our way back to shore and a final ride to The Neptune.
This adventure is everything we hoped it would be.
Tomorrow we are off to Auckland.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Papeete, Tahiti
We awoke in the Capital City of French Polynesia, Papeete. We decided to enjoy the day engaging in a self-guided walking tour and explore the city.
After a week at Sea, followed by visits to the nearby Islands of Moorea and Bora Bora, our first impression of Papeete was overwhelming. It’s not a village or an out of the way tourist destination, it’s a full-blown city, replete with urban sprawl, traffic, hustle and bustle.
Our first stop was the City Market. The market has everything tourists and locals could want. Plenty of food, endless stalls of fabric, crafts and artwork.
Once again, a flower lady stole the show. Her creations were unique, colorful and beautiful. Compared to the endless stalls of fabrics, trinkets and jewelry, her offerings were a feast for the eyes.
Polynesia has strict laws against bringing flowers or plants from the ship and we weren’t certain we could board with the bouquets. We opted for a small bunch of gardenias. Even if they were confiscated “at the border”, we would enjoy their sweet scent for the day.
Our next stop: The Assembly. The meeting place for Polynesia’s version of Congress. The building was impressive and the grounds beautiful.
After negotiating maps, dodging traffic and doing plenty of window shopping, it was time for a tranquil walk along the waterfront.
I love double hulled canoes. I find the woodwork, craftsmanship and capabilities of these vessels intriguing and a source of wonder. This beauty was the finest I’ve ever seen. Brought back memories of Hawaii and the voyage of the Hokulea.
We didn’t venture far when we came upon a gathering of locals. We discovered this is a daily lunch ritual and a vigorous workout. Not a bad way to spend workday afternoons.
Our wildlife photo of the day.
The waterfront park has lovely art installations. Our walk completed it was time to return to the Neptune.
On this, our last evening in Tahiti, Viking brought in an excellent local dance ‘halou’ to provide a final farewell to French Polynesia.
All made it back to our cabin safe and sound, ready to set sail for a bucket list country, New Zealand.
Moorea…Singin’ In the Rain
We are greeted by beautiful Opuohu Bay and, in the distance, the two sentinals Mt Roa and Mt. Rotui. These gorgeous peaks dominate the landscape as we arrive in Moorea. Moorea is lush. Not a square inch that is not covered with verdant green. A far cry from our desert scape in Las Vegas. Both humidity and temperature hover in the 80’s. It’s gorgeous on the water.
We are excited for our day in Moorea. It includes a small boat sail around a portion of the island followed by a walk around town. What awaited us was totally unexpected.
The first Tender leaves the ship as the cloud cover clears.
As we disembarked in Moorea we were greeted by a beautiful woman we dubbed “The Flower Lady.” She earns her living making exquisite flower head pieces, common in Polynesia.
She spoke no English, but as is often the case gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice were enough to get the essence of each other. She is a beautiful soul.
Cheryl sporting the flower lady’s gear.
Embarking on our tour boat with the Neptune in the distance.
As the tour began, we were treated to beautiful views of the Island. Click to enlarge images.
Turning to head around a small jetty, the next part of our adventure unfolded before us…
No minor squall, we faced a full bore tropical front. Rather than hightail it back to land, the captain decided to ride into the storm (Yikes!), racing to get around an outcropping (OMG) and continue our tour.
Wrong choice.
The front quickly moved in, devouring our little boat and we were left bobbing like a cork in a hot tub. Between prayers (I do get religious at times like these!) our fellow passengers remained in good spirits as we were deluged by rain and pounded by wind. Checking his radar (or talking directly to God) the Captain announced that another major squall was behind this one and asked if we were OK going back to port. As cheers erupted, we turned to sail back home.
Cheryl’s head gear fully appreciated a good soaking (my glasses not so much) as we recounted our moment of drama on the high seas.
There was little opportunity for a leisurely stroll through town. The streets were flooded but did provide an opportunity to take a few reflection photos.
Showered, warm and ready for dinner. It was quite a day on the Island of Moorea. Next stop Papeete, the Capital of Tahiti.
Beautiful Bora Bora
Arriving in Bora Bora, we were greeted by Mount Otemanu, dominating the landscape at 2379 feet. Bora Bora is the first of three French Polynesian Islands we’ll be visiting in the coming days. After five days at sea, land is a welcome sight. I had no idea how vast is the Pacific Ocean. I was aware that the Atlantic and Pacific were the two largest oceans, but I did not appreciate how much larger the Pacific is. The Pacific is 63 milliton square miles, the Atlantic just over 40. By volume it is even more impressive…Well over half of all the water on earth is in the Pacific alone. We are 10 full sea days in and still have five days of sailing to New Zealand. Hard to imagine the ancient Polynesians traversing this vast ocean, able to locate tiny dots like Hawaii.
A pristine view of the verdant landscape of Bora Bora.
Beautiful four masted Windstar is the only other cruise ship in port as we arrive.
Unlike the relaxed (but busy) sea days, our day begins after a leisurely breakfast boarding one of four tenders that shuttle passengers to shore.
Small when compared to The Neptune, the tenders are very efficient and with a fleet of four there is no wait to go ashore.
Today we are taking a cruise around the Island in a small boat. Cheryl is greeted by our tour guide, Robert.
As is evident, Robert is a character. Funny, happy, a very good ukuelel player, he exudes Island charm. Here he shows his true colors by photo bombing my snapshot.
The French Polynesian Islands are known for their pristine blue waters. Water temperature is cooshey 84 degrees.
Known for their over the water bungalows, Bora Bora houses guests in these beautiful “shacks” that rent for over $1200 a day….in the off season. This is a Hilton property.
Robert reported that this waters edge suite rents for $10,000 and up during the ‘season’. Their high tourist season is their winter, our summer. We are visiting during summer. Less people traffic with very similar temperatures. March and April are cyclone seasons. I didn’t know that a hurricane and cyclone are the same weather event. The difference is that hurricanes happen north of the equator while cyclones are in the South.
I was thrilled to see our first Frigate Bird. These were my favorite seabirds when we lived in Hawaii. The Hawaiians call them Manu Eva, King of the Sky. They have six foot wing spans and are amazing aerialists. Their oddly shaped beaks make it difficult for them to fish on their own. They earn their living by hassling sea birds who have just filled their gullet. I’ve seen frigates nipping at seabirds tail feathers, causing the panicked bird to upchuck their catch. The Frigates are able grab their breakfast out of the air before it hits water.
Leaning over the side, I spotted a black tip shark. By the time I reported, “Shark”, school was in session.
As the sharks swarmed the boat, our Frigate scooped up his share.
Black Tip sharks are not the most aggressive of the species, but even so, hopping in the water and feeding them chicken bones seemed a little crazy. All in a days work for Robert.
Whenever the Sharks got too close, Robert would splash with a healthy spray of water. This works well for insects in our pool at home, but never occurred to me as a defense against sharks. Move over Jacques Cousteau.
After a short and uneventful walk through town, we returned to The Neptune, reflecting on a wonderful first day in Polynesia. Our ship already feels like home.
As we make sail to the Island of Moorea, a full moon lights our way.
Honolulu…A Trip Down Memory Lane
To create the ideal mood for today’s blog, open your music app and locate a tune called “Honolulu City Lights” by Cecilio and Kapono. Consider playing it as you enjoy today’s missive. This song has a special place in our hearts. It was an anthem in the ‘70’s reflecting the beauty and music of the time.
It is on Oahu that Cheryl and I met and began our adventure together. It was an exquisite time on the Islands and the cruise was a chance to relive some golden memories. The photo above was our view as we sailed toward the Port of Honolulu. Diamond Head, as regal as we remembered, is surrounded by the bright lights of Honolulu (to the left) and homes dotting the hillsides behind her. It was a thrilling way to begin our two day stay on this land where so many of our memories were made.
From our veranda, morning Sunrise Honolulu
Our dear friends, Anne and Lee Davis, picked us up at the dock. Generous and thoughtful as always, they presented us with exquisite orchid leis.
Anne and Lee Davis
Friends for decades, two of the most generous and wonderful people we’ve known. So fortunate to call them friends. First stop was a hearty breakfast on Waikiki beach.
The Duke
After a leisurely repast, we drove through Waikiki on our way to the windward side of the island. The iconic statue of ‘The Duke’ greets all.
Duke Kahanamoku was the father of modern surfing, an Olympic Champion, Sheriff of Honolulu, ambassador, and actor,
“The Pink Lady”.
As Honolulu has grown up around her, The Royal Hawaiian Hotel remains the quintessential Old Hawaiiana landmark.
The view of the windward side on the Island of Oahu. This side of the island is where Cheryl and I met, lived, worked and played.
If you look closely you’ll notice a shiny silver building. That’s Sea LIfe Park where I worked as the Park’s narrator for three years.
Yours truly over 40 years ago. I was privileged to help train these magnificent animals.
Rabbit Island.
My view from ‘work’ at Sea LIfe Park. It is called Rabbit Island because it used to be inhabited by thousands of our furry friends. They have since been replaced by colonies of Albatross and Red Footed Boobie birds.
Kailua Beach Park
The longest white sand beach in the State. Our backyard and playground, it is serene, quiet and nearly deserted just beyond the Beach Park. The Davis’ home is at the far end of Kailua Beach.
After a long day of touring, we had dinner at a Hawaii landmark, Buzzs’ Steak House. It is located just off Kailua Beach Park.
The Davis’ home is the finest we know of in Hawaii. Whether day or night, from the backyard or the balcony, the views are spectacular. Click on an image to enlarge and scroll through the photos.
A farewell breakfast at the Davis Estate.
Shortly after boarding our ship we pulled up the anchor and headed out to sea.
As our visit began, so it ends with an Aloha to Diamond Head and a nod to this Island Paradise that holds so many memories.
Next destination…
We are cruising from Hawaii to French Polynesia and stops in Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti. As it did from Santa Barbara, it will take five days on the high seas. And so the adventure continues…
Sea Daze
Finding our rhythm after four glorious days at sea
It was one of the unknowns of this trip…
How would it be spending so much time at sea? Is there much to do? Would I spend my time with my head in a bucket?
Viking doesn’t tout their daily activities. They do a masterful job of under-promising and over-delivering. I am delighted by the flow of days and the rhythm at sea we have found.
Published daily, this bulletin is a listing of the activites on the ship.
My day begins, as it always does, at about 5am. I enjoy a fresh brewed Americano and take a seat in the ‘Explorers Lounge’ reading the paper and waiting for the sun and Cheryl to rise. We typically rondevous for breakfast at around 8am. The food is very good and the ambience is fabulous. Viking does a superb job of creating large spaces that still feel intimate. Lines are at an absolute minimum because they have so many dining options and the buffet (where we enjoy breakfast and lunch) is spread out over a third of deck seven.
After breakfast, we are off to exercise. We do not take the elevators and committed to becoming stair masters. By the end of the trip, I hope to go from deck one to deck 8 without breaking a sweat. Deck two features a quarter mile promenade. We get in anywhere from one to three miles walking the ship, breathing fresh sea air, and marveling at the views.
A prominade is a rarity on today’s newer ships. It’s a throwback feature that we love.
Cheryl on a morning jaunt
At 11am its off to a daily bridge lesson. Our teacher is excellent and the views from deck one of the seas rushing by are fantastic. After bridge, its lunch followed by a duplicate bridge game at 1:45.
While our daily focus is on bridge, the Neptune offers lectures in the theatre. I thought there was a naturalist with each voyage. Turns out there are 14 enrichment lecturers and teachers. Scientists include the naturalist, a marine biologist, historian, astronomer, and more, along with art and craft instructors and our bridge teacher.
All of the lectures are taped and available on our room TV for viewing at a convenient time. They have been outstanding.
The evenings consist of a dinner in one of the three restaurants followed by a live show. The highlight of the featured show to date is with Travis Cloer. Travis lives in Las Vegas and we met him waiting for the ship’s bus to take us to the Neptune. Travis has quite a resume. He played the lead role in Jersey Boys for three years in New York and was the lead for eight years in Las Vegas. As Frankie Vali said, “Travis is more Frankie Vali than I am.” He is a spectacular entertainer. HIs first show was tremendous and we are looking forward to seeing him perform tonight. We had dinner with him the night before last and had a great time getting to know him.
Music is everywhere. Every evening musicians are featured in each of the many ships bars and a wonderful classical duo at the foot of the grand stairway.
And most imortantly, a couple of rough weather evenings at sea and the bucket lays dormant!
We reach Honolulu on Tuesday and will be visiting our dear friends Anne and Lee Davis.
The Journey Begins…Santa Barbara
Greetings from the open ocean. As I write this the Sun is about to rise over the Pacific and our third full day aboard the Viking Neptune will be under way.
We were in Santa Barbara two days ago and enjoyed a lovely and quiet start to an extraordinary journey. Santa Barbara is a lovely city with beautiful Spanish and Moorish architecture. While I took advantage of an excursion to view highlights of the city, Cheryl enjoyed a restorative and relaxing day on the Neptune. The ship is nothing short of amazing and we are still getting to know all of her hidden alcoves and intimate lounging areas. More on the ship in a future post.
My tour began with an initial visit to the Courthouse which used to serve as the City’s historic city jail. It features classic Spanish architecture and is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. The El Mirador clock tower shown above, retains the same mechanics as when it was built and must be wound manually. The grounds are gorgeous.
After a lengthy walk down State Street home, to fine dining and upscale boutiques we toured The Queen of the missions, the Santa Barbara Mission. It was built in 1786 by the Spanish using local Indian labor. The Mission's style influenced the architectural landscape of Santa Barbara and Southern California, inspiring the Spanish Colonial Revival. It is a joy to behold
An overview of the famous Santa Barbara Mission
One of the many beautiful porticos that surround the mission.
I left the tour and continued on my own taking a lengthy hike through old Santa Barbara back to the ship. The neighborhoods are stunning. Consistently using the theme of Spanish Architecture and is the ‘look’ of old California. The median home price in Santa Barbara is a whopping $1.7 million.
The Sun is showing and my day is about to begin. Another day at Sea. Sea days are wonderful. Today I’ll go for a walk with he morning walking group, bridge lesson after breakfast, an afternoon massage and dinner at the gourmet restaurant the Chef’s Table.
I’ll be posting from Honolulu. Trust all is well with you.
The Ship: Neptune
See where Cheryl and I are spending the next four months.
Here are photos of our home for the next four months.
The Neptune:: our home away from home. All rooms have a veranda. 930 passengers on board. She is just one year old.
23 Countries. 121 days. You can find the details of the trip and a movie about it here. Click here
Our home away from home.
The Spa.
One of many inviting areas to relax.
This is one of the specialty resturaunts.
Plenty of dining outdoors as well.
Main pool and hot tub with retractable roof.
Infinity pool off the bow.
And most importantly…Bocce Ball!