SYDNEY views from the Manly Ferry

Into Sydney

Well we are back on dry land after an amazing journey.

The photos show our last sunset at sea along with the harbour bridge with sunrise behind and wow wasn't that something.  Also a photo of the skyline as we approached our berth.

Now we have found out where to vote as we wont be home in time and we have visits with friends and rellies to coordinate for our days down here.

Life is wonderful and the cruise has been a great finale to the go go of the previous 3 months.

Now what could be next??

As they say in the classics 'watch this space'.

AUCKLAND

Only 1 more port of call before Sydney and the end of this adventure.
Auckland is showers and 15deg today so a touch of winter after all the sunshine of our trip and certainly during our Pacific Islands leg.

Our choir performance went great and there were tears in the eyes of the audience when we sang the Maorie farewll last night for our departing guests.  Our night before Sydney we sing I still call Australia home for evveryone before the two dinner sittings so that should put the ship awash!

Thanks to all who have emailed about the blog, glad to know you have enjoyed our journey with us,  so till next time take care and get our there and see a part of this wonderful world we live in,    even if it is just another street away from where you live

FIJI getting close to home

We are ashore in Fiji today and taking advantage of a cafe with wifi.

Our time is drawing to a close and you wonder where the time has gone.  We crossed the Equator and received a certificate and yesterday we crossed the International Date Line and have officially lost the 25th Aug as we went from the 24th to today the 26th so we have another certificate to celebrate that.

As we were here in Fiji just in March we are just strolling around trying to avoid the folk on the streets trying to entice you into their stores.  With the ship in they are out in force so we are being kept busy.

Our choir performs tomorrow enroute to Auckland so rehearsals are in earnest now.  I had to round up a white t shirt in Pago Pago to complete my uniform so now I am all ready.  They took the official choir photo the day before Pago Pago so I had to wear a t shirt back to front so I had a plain white top!!!  More than one way to achieve the desired result, but it was uncomfortable and not the way to go.

I have included a photo of our latest towel fella courtesy of our steward.  They are so clever and must practice for ages to create all the different animals they can make.

Also a photo of the Police band playing at the quay when we arrived.
We have 2 days at sea to Auckland then 2 days ashore there and at Bay of Islands before 2 sea days back to Sydney and the end of the line so hopefully I will be able to keep the blog going till then.

AMERICAN SAMOA

Have arrived here today (Friday) and trying for internet here in Maccas but not sure of success as email doesn't want to work.
Travelled 5 days at sea after leaving our third port in Hawaii and the seas were fairly calm but you could feel the swell.
We have had a full moon the last couple of nights and what magic that was.
Western Samoa is a lot like Fiji and the folk are very friendly.
We went for a bus ride to the east $5 for the 2 of us return and then we went to the west which was along the coast and was so lovely for only $6 return so we gave him 10.  The water is so clear and clean and the colours like jewels.

KAUAI Last port of call in Hawaii

What a great place, friendly people with big smiles and warm welcomes.  Reminds us of our visit earlier this year to Fiji.

Our departure last night at 10pm from Honolulu was rather special with the island just a mass of lights.  The land is rather flat other than the mts to the west and north.  You could see how homes were built up along ridges of the mts as the lights went up in a curve, like looking at the curl of a wave so rather different.

This island is much less populated so not as busy as Oahu was.  There are chickens roaming everywhere as in 1992 there was a hurricane that destroyed much of the village fencing etc and especially the hen houses.  The roosters and chickens escaped into the bush and now under Hawaiian law they are protected just like all the birdlife on the islands.  However, if a chicken lands in your yard it is then a chook again and available for capture.  Lawrie has counted 10 he can see from where we are sitting in front of WalMart.  They are bright coloured and small like game chickens not as big as our chooks at home.

HAWAII - Honolulu

Well here we are in Hawaii after 4 days at sea after leaving San Pedro, the port area of LA. The seas have been calm and the weather fine so no complaints from us about conditions.

Along with lots of desserts and a craft group we are two happy sailors.  There is no reason to be bored as there are lots of activities always happening and you can be as involved as you like.  We have both borrowed books from the library and I have also joined the choir for a performance before arriving back into Sydney so plenty of time for me to learn the songs.

We have an inside cabin so no windows but you only want to sleep and shower there as the many lounges and outside seating areas are inviting.

The photos show us leaving San Pedro and then about to exit the harbour to the open ocean.  We also received a 'friend' to share our cabin with us courtesy of our steward.  On our Alaskan cruise there had been a different one each night but only one has surfaced this time.

The floral display was a bon voyage gift from my sister and a lovely surprise when it was delivered.  Thanks Julie it was a lovely thought especially after your surprise phone call the evening before!!

On our way to the pier in the shuttle bus we called and picked up two women from Auckland who had flown in the night before (from Auckland) just to take the cruise home.  Not sure how awake they were after their long flight and the big time change but guess they are all rested up now and enjoying the cruise.


Whilst we were away we were always drawn when hearing an Aussie accent however onboard the majority of passengers are 
Aussie so now it is unusial to hear another tongue.  The crew are mainly 
Asian and they speak their own tongue to each other but speak fairly good english but have trouble with some of our sayings and side comments.