Somewhere between Papeete and Auckland we crossed back over the dateline and lost a day in the process.
We slept off and on during the first leg of the journey, but only fitfully so were quite exhausted by the time we got home. We had the fastest trip through immigration and baggage claim we've ever experienced so were back in Manly around 10am.
It was one of those beautiful Sydney days, sunny and calm but not too hot. As the day wore on people flocked to the beach and by mid-afternoon it was packed, not just in the flagged areas but all the way from South Steyne to Queenscliffe. The harbour-side beaches were also packed and there was a huge amount of activity on the water.
It made us think how lucky we are to have all this on our doorstep.
We enjoyed our time away immensely, revisiting Hawaii and seeing French Polynesia. Just looking at Manly though, the beach is as nice as Waikiki and there's more of it, the restaurants are as good and just as plentiful although maybe the water is a trifle cooler! Oh, and you don't have to fly for nine hours (or six in the case of Tahiti) to get there.
It's always nice to get back home.
Sunday, 12 October 2014
Friday, 10 October 2014
Thursday 9th October, 2014 - Papeete, Tahiti
We arrived into Papeete around 8 last night and enjoyed sitting up on the aft deck looking out at city lights for a change. This morning we had to vacate our room by 8am, but could there were plenty of places to sit and read till it was time to leave the ship.
We were booked into a hotel about 20 minutes away and the taxi ride there was really our only look at the city but it seemed attractive enough, the bits we did see.
Once at the hotel we had to wait a bit for our room but then they upgraded us to what they described as a "cruisey suite" whatever that means, but it did have a large balcony and, in addition to the usual bathroom, a massive spa bathroom (neither of which we used). Still it was nice to have somewhere to read and sleep and have a shower before leaving.
Surprisingly, it isn't nearly as hot here as I thought it might be. It rained all afternoon (hence our lack of use of the balcony) and it was quite a pleasant 25° when we had to queue outside the airport for absolutely ages just to get to check-in.
The photos today aren't very exciting - just what I could manage to capture from the back of the ship.
Central Papeete as seen from the ship.
We were booked into a hotel about 20 minutes away and the taxi ride there was really our only look at the city but it seemed attractive enough, the bits we did see.
Once at the hotel we had to wait a bit for our room but then they upgraded us to what they described as a "cruisey suite" whatever that means, but it did have a large balcony and, in addition to the usual bathroom, a massive spa bathroom (neither of which we used). Still it was nice to have somewhere to read and sleep and have a shower before leaving.
Surprisingly, it isn't nearly as hot here as I thought it might be. It rained all afternoon (hence our lack of use of the balcony) and it was quite a pleasant 25° when we had to queue outside the airport for absolutely ages just to get to check-in.
The photos today aren't very exciting - just what I could manage to capture from the back of the ship.
Wednesday, 8 October 2014
Wednesday 8th October, 2014 - Moore'a, French Polynesia
We were up at 6 this morning, both to watch the entry through the reef to Moorea and because, on the spur of the moment last night, we had decided to book an excursion which happened to start at 7.45am.
We had been going to just go ashore and wander but were told we'd miss all the sights, so on the premise we won't be back again and should see as much as possible, we booked.
Thankfully the bus this time was air conditioned!. First we went to some lookout up a road that seriously rivalled the Amuri ski road - some very freaked-out passengers on board as we negotiated hairpin bends. Great view at the top, but sadly overcast so the colours were reduced. The bus then trundled right round the island with various stops. Amazing vistas all around, including Bali H'ai ("South Pacific" again) and some of the famous hotels with rooms over the sea.
We left Moorea at 4.30 and should be in Papeete by 8pm tonight.
Tuesday, 7 October 2014
Tuesday 7th October, 2014 - Bora Bora, French Polynesia
We woke to land this morning for the first time in six days. The scenery as we sailed in was spectacular and, as we had got up early to go for a walk, we had an early breakfast and were able to go up on deck afterwards until we were anchored.
For the first time we had a tour booked - a round the island drive by open bus.
We began to see what the tour book had been so disparaging about. Apart from the resorts which are obviously magnificent, the sea with its beautiful colours and awe-inspiring mountains rising out of the sea, the rest is pretty ordinary - reminiscent of the rundown outer suburbs of Suva or Nadi. Still it was very interesting and the guide pointed out all the things of interest including the two gas stations and the supermarket. She restrained herself from pointing out the rubbish dump but we had a good view, nonetheless.
The final stop was Bloody Mary's ( you need to have seen "South Pacific") where someone deemed it necessary to drink a Bloody Mary.
Apparently after Pearl Harbour was bombed in the war, the Yanks made Bora Bora their supply base which accounts for the road round the island and the airport.
Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
Moreea tomorrow.
Early morning approach to Bora Bora
Inside the lagoon
For the first time we had a tour booked - a round the island drive by open bus.
We began to see what the tour book had been so disparaging about. Apart from the resorts which are obviously magnificent, the sea with its beautiful colours and awe-inspiring mountains rising out of the sea, the rest is pretty ordinary - reminiscent of the rundown outer suburbs of Suva or Nadi. Still it was very interesting and the guide pointed out all the things of interest including the two gas stations and the supermarket. She restrained herself from pointing out the rubbish dump but we had a good view, nonetheless.
The final stop was Bloody Mary's ( you need to have seen "South Pacific") where someone deemed it necessary to drink a Bloody Mary.
Apparently after Pearl Harbour was bombed in the war, the Yanks made Bora Bora their supply base which accounts for the road round the island and the airport.
Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
Moreea tomorrow.
Monday, 6 October 2014
Monday 6th October 2014 - at sea
Nothing much of excitement the past couple of days. Yesterday's highlight probably being the compulsory facial recognition French Polynesia immigration process.
Other than that the day, as today, was simply a repetition of those before.
In the evening there was another cabaret show based on songs and dances from popular movies. Given where we are, I thought an item from "Titanic" followed by one from " Ghost" a curious choice. Still, no sign of any icebergs!
Tomorrow we will be in Bora Bora which we are looking forward to despite the negative comments in a travel guide we found in the library.
We have open minds.
Other than that the day, as today, was simply a repetition of those before.
In the evening there was another cabaret show based on songs and dances from popular movies. Given where we are, I thought an item from "Titanic" followed by one from " Ghost" a curious choice. Still, no sign of any icebergs!
Tomorrow we will be in Bora Bora which we are looking forward to despite the negative comments in a travel guide we found in the library.
We have open minds.
Saturday, 4 October 2014
Saturday, 4th October, 2014 - at sea
We are now halfway between Hawaii and Tahiti and in a couple of hours we will cross the equator and head back into the Southern Hemisphere. Consequently the mandatory Crossing the Line ceremony was held after lunch out on the top deck.
I have vague memories of the last time I attended one of these, aged about six years old and en route from the UK to NZ. Everyone then dressed up and from memory it involved King Neptune and people being chucked in the pool.
We weren't particularly keen on that happening so went up on a higher deck to watch. It must be a fairly set formula - King Neptune arriving with his entourage to hold a mock court and sentence a number of selected miscreants. There was someone charged with gluttony for attending every sitting of every meal, a couple charged with PDAs in the spa pool and various other equally ridiculous things.
The punishments were made to fit the crimes, the glutton for example, being operated on and his innards removed (we'd wondered what the mounds of spaghetti and chains of sausages were being taken from the kitchen for). The "captain" was chucked fully clothed into the pool and other transgressors were smeared with jelly and cream and some good old English slapstick ensued. Finally everything was declared correct and we were free to cross the line.
Apart from that it's been more of the same - swimming, reading, trivia, a few crosswords and things in the library and more reading. Luckily the weather is fine and sunny if a little hot and windy.
King Neptune and his retinue
I have vague memories of the last time I attended one of these, aged about six years old and en route from the UK to NZ. Everyone then dressed up and from memory it involved King Neptune and people being chucked in the pool.
We weren't particularly keen on that happening so went up on a higher deck to watch. It must be a fairly set formula - King Neptune arriving with his entourage to hold a mock court and sentence a number of selected miscreants. There was someone charged with gluttony for attending every sitting of every meal, a couple charged with PDAs in the spa pool and various other equally ridiculous things.
The punishments were made to fit the crimes, the glutton for example, being operated on and his innards removed (we'd wondered what the mounds of spaghetti and chains of sausages were being taken from the kitchen for). The "captain" was chucked fully clothed into the pool and other transgressors were smeared with jelly and cream and some good old English slapstick ensued. Finally everything was declared correct and we were free to cross the line.
Apart from that it's been more of the same - swimming, reading, trivia, a few crosswords and things in the library and more reading. Luckily the weather is fine and sunny if a little hot and windy.
A bird's eye view
The "captain" seemed to enjoy his involuntary swim, maybe because it is so hot.
Photos taking an age to load tonight so not as many as I had intended to post. Probably enough!
Friday, 3 October 2014
Friday 3rd October 2014 - at sea
Very little to report today - just endless sea and weather that vacillates from bright and sunny to torrential rain (maybe we are in the tropics). Spent most of the day reading and attending the trivia.
This morning we were invited to join four other people. Did quite well but Geoff was peeved that his answer to the question "Who wrote Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" (RLStevenson - he was right, of course) was rejected by others on the team and I was the only one in the room that knew Descartes was responsible for "I think therefore I am" ( I knew an Arts degree would come in handy one day). So this afternoon we hid in a corner and were our own team. We got second, so need to try a little harder.
The cabaret show last night surprised us with its professionalism. We don' t usually go to things like that but will see what's on tonight. Last night's was a very "Lee" type show featuring lots of songs she used to sing all the time.
The highlight of the day, of course, was finally getting an email from Phillip saying the house sale in Newtown had gone well. Hurray!
Must be approaching the equator soon.
This morning we were invited to join four other people. Did quite well but Geoff was peeved that his answer to the question "Who wrote Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" (RLStevenson - he was right, of course) was rejected by others on the team and I was the only one in the room that knew Descartes was responsible for "I think therefore I am" ( I knew an Arts degree would come in handy one day). So this afternoon we hid in a corner and were our own team. We got second, so need to try a little harder.
The cabaret show last night surprised us with its professionalism. We don' t usually go to things like that but will see what's on tonight. Last night's was a very "Lee" type show featuring lots of songs she used to sing all the time.
The highlight of the day, of course, was finally getting an email from Phillip saying the house sale in Newtown had gone well. Hurray!
Must be approaching the equator soon.
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Thursday, 2nd October 2014 - at sea
Water, water everywhere ....
Hot and very humid, so thank goodness for air conditioning. Nothing much to see, so there are activities happening everywhere to keep people amused. We're busy not participating in a particularly vigorous aerobics/dance class led by someone young and fit. Trivia may be more our thing, we'll see.
As it happened trivia was reasonably entertaining and filled in an hour in the morning and afternoon. We needed William on our team as one of the questions we got wrong was the name of the elements that changed Bruce Banner into the Hulk.
Tonight there is a Captain's cocktail party which we'll be happy to miss and the first of the formal dinners which is a pain but we can get there late and leave early.
No photographs of interest today.
Hot and very humid, so thank goodness for air conditioning. Nothing much to see, so there are activities happening everywhere to keep people amused. We're busy not participating in a particularly vigorous aerobics/dance class led by someone young and fit. Trivia may be more our thing, we'll see.
As it happened trivia was reasonably entertaining and filled in an hour in the morning and afternoon. We needed William on our team as one of the questions we got wrong was the name of the elements that changed Bruce Banner into the Hulk.
Tonight there is a Captain's cocktail party which we'll be happy to miss and the first of the formal dinners which is a pain but we can get there late and leave early.
No photographs of interest today.
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Wednesday 1st October, 2014 - Hilo, Hawaii
Today we are in Hilo on Hawaii, the big island. We are actually docked alongside the longest breakwater wall I have ever seen. Fascinating watching it as we came in.
Not having to get tenders to shore is always good and we wandered downstairs around 9.30 and made it onto the dock as the Celebrity Solstice arrived dwarfing our little ship.
We hadn't booked any tours but found quite close by a little "Hoppa Onna Hoppa Offa" bus that promised to show us all we wanted to see over the course of about an hour and a half.
It proved a good choice and we enjoyed a leisurely tour of the town (why did thoughts of Ashburton and Timaru come to mind???), gardens, beaches markets and waterfalls all accompanied by a solidly upbeat description and potted history.
This being one of the wettest cities in America we were lucky to have a fine and sunny day.
We are starting to get to know some of the other passengers around us (not to talk to - but to talk about). There is the mother and daughter in the cabin beside us, for example. Geoffrey refers to the daughter as the cockatoo because she has a habit of squawking, loudly, at length, about a load of rubbish. Then there is the middle European woman who has a stuffed animal green frog she takes pictures of in front of all kinds of tourist attractions. We have our own theories about that.
Today is our last in Hawaii. We leave in an hour or so then comes the bit we are not particularly looking forward to - five days at sea an route to Bora Bora. We may miss a day or so of posts if there is nothing to write about.
Hilo, Hawaii
Not having to get tenders to shore is always good and we wandered downstairs around 9.30 and made it onto the dock as the Celebrity Solstice arrived dwarfing our little ship.
We hadn't booked any tours but found quite close by a little "Hoppa Onna Hoppa Offa" bus that promised to show us all we wanted to see over the course of about an hour and a half.
It proved a good choice and we enjoyed a leisurely tour of the town (why did thoughts of Ashburton and Timaru come to mind???), gardens, beaches markets and waterfalls all accompanied by a solidly upbeat description and potted history.
This being one of the wettest cities in America we were lucky to have a fine and sunny day.
We are starting to get to know some of the other passengers around us (not to talk to - but to talk about). There is the mother and daughter in the cabin beside us, for example. Geoffrey refers to the daughter as the cockatoo because she has a habit of squawking, loudly, at length, about a load of rubbish. Then there is the middle European woman who has a stuffed animal green frog she takes pictures of in front of all kinds of tourist attractions. We have our own theories about that.
Today is our last in Hawaii. We leave in an hour or so then comes the bit we are not particularly looking forward to - five days at sea an route to Bora Bora. We may miss a day or so of posts if there is nothing to write about.
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