Part 1,…Oh, What a Night!…Surprising private dinner…Who knew?…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Baby Grand player piano in the living area of the Penthouse Suite on Celebrity Solstice.
“Oh, What a Night” it was indeed! Click here for the song.” We feel so fortunate for the wide array of experiences in which we embark along the way, especially those we least expect.
Cruise Critic members lounging in the living room of the Penthouse Suite.

Yesterday at 2:00 pm, we joined a group of Cruise Critic members for an activity called a “cabin crawl.” This event is made available by Cruise Critic members who are staying in a variety of staterooms at varying prices, willing to show them off to the members.

52 inch LCD flat-screen TV and sound system with a second smaller unit in the bedroom.

We were more curious to see the higher-priced cabins than those comparable to ours (mid-range) or the inside cabins, which to date, we’ve never booked. However, we like to have access to the outdoors and are willing to pay the added fare required for balcony cabins.

Appetizer spread on the dining table in Penthouse Suite.

It’s never been on our radar or a longing desire to book a penthouse suite. Although we found yesterday’s experience of viewing the luxury cabin, not for one moment did we long for or consider doing so at any time in the future. Based on our continual world travels, such an expenditure would be highly impractical, especially when priced anywhere from US $2,000 to US $3,000, AU 2,633 to AU 3950 per night.

The kitchen/bar area in the Penthouse Suite is well equipped for the tour.

With the enjoyment of meeting passengers throughout the day and evening, we only sleep in our cabin, shower, and dress for the day and the evening. It’s a rare occasion we’ll spend more than one hour a day lounging in the cabin.  If passengers can afford such a luxury suite, one might feel obligated to spend time inside rather than exploring and meeting others throughout the day and evening. But, no doubt the experience would be outstanding.

King-sized bed with sliding doors to the veranda.

Those who are easily able to afford the expensive accommodations often choose the Penthouse Suite for a variety of reasons;  the lush comforts; inclusive butler and food service from any of the specialty restaurants; avoidance of dining and mingling in often crowded venues and also the vast number of inclusive amenities that we’re sharing here today including the following: 

“Penthouse Suite

Category PS

Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors; master bedroom features a king-size bed, 52″ LCD TV, vanity, walk-in closet, marble master bathroom with whirlpool tub, shower stall with dual shower heads, double washbasin, and 26″ LCD TV; separate living room with dining area; baby grand piano; sofa queen sleeper; full bar; lounge seating; Surround sound entertainment system with 52″ LCD TV; full guest bathroom; veranda with whirlpool and lounge seating. (Stateroom: 1,291 sq. ft.,(120 sq. meters) Veranda: 389 sq.ft (36 sq. meters).
Walk-in closet in the bedroom.

When the group of approximately 30 Cruise Critic members finally gathered to explore the various cabins, we were on our way to the 11th deck, where the first is our tour was the Penthouse Suite.

Shower stall with dual showerheads.

Of course, we were in awe as the lovely engaged couple graciously welcomed us at the door. Not only had they generously offered to show their suite, but they also had an elaborate display of appetizers, beverages, and champagne. It couldn’t have been more well planned and beautifully presented.

Jacuzzi tub for two with leather headrests in master bedroom en suite.

Mulling around the suite, we chatted with other passengers, many of whom firmly planted themselves on the comfortable furnishings with food and drink on their laps. 

The veranda is huge at 389 square feet (36 square meters), as shown in this photo and the photo below.

In taking our photos, we intended to accomplish two things: maintain the privacy of the suite occupants. Two, take as many photos as possible without other passengers impeding the view. We did our best, and with a bit of editing, we avoided most shots with the 30 plus people in the suite at one time.

Alternate view of the veranda.  I wonder why Tom was looking down.

As we were about to leave, we stopped to thank the host and hostess, and a short conversation ensued during which they invited us to a private dinner later that evening in their suite.

We were delighted by their thoughtful invitation assuming we’d be part of a larger group attending dinner in the luxury accommodations. Little did we know we were the only couple attending.

This is quite a plus…a jacuzzi tub on the veranda. This appealed to me the most of all of the amenities.

The evening was delightful and memorable. More on this story in tomorrow’s post, including photos of us with our new friends. Right now, we have to get moving while the ship is docked in Nuoma, New Caledonia. So who visits New Caledonia, and what possible treasures might it behold?

Happy day!

Photo from one year ago, March 4, 2017:

Kitty-corner crosswalks are legal in many locations in New Zealand. A year ago today, we purchased our current camera. For pricing and information, please click here.

Cruising in the Coral Sea…Photos of our cabin…Ironing out the wrinkles..Exceptional service…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Our cabin is comfortable and roomier than on some ships at 194 square feet (18 square meters). The balcony is 54 square feet (5 square meters). We have plenty of storage space for our clothing and supplies when storing our luggage under the bed, leaving ample walking space.

On day 10 of 14 days on a powerful course of antibiotics for Helicobactor Pylori, I’ve finally turned the corner. I can’t say how excited we are that the symptoms are finally abating a little each day. 

When we reviewed past posts and recalled I’d purchased “digestive enzymes” over a year ago while living in New Zealand, I realized this issue escalated over a period of 15 months shortly after I consumed the squid and octopus in Fiji 2015 with no ill effects at the time. 

Later in Bali, I was sickened by eating squid, after which the symptoms further escalated. It took us time to figure this out. Travelers are highly prone to contracting intestinal bacteria.

Adding my nightly two glasses of wine during the 33-night cruise circumventing Australia in November 2016, the symptoms exacerbated to the point where I became ill shortly after the cruise ended while we were living in Penguin, Tasmania, beginning on December 3, 2016.

An alternative view of our cabin. The closet has plenty of hangers, an umbrella, safe and additional storage. Twice daily, our cabin steward delivers ice. In the afternoon, canapes are delivered, which Tom enjoys.

Two factors beyond the medication may have contributed to this recent improvement; eating tiny meals with no starter, no salad, and no cheese plate for dessert and; avoiding ice in my water and beverages, which can irritate the intestinal tract. For now, only warm or room temperature beverages for me. I could jump for joy.
 
In the future, when hopefully all the symptoms are gone, I may be able to eat enough to satisfy my appetite and also have a glass of iced tea from time to time. But, if this is the way I have to eat going forward, I can live with it. 

Perhaps my days of one meal a day are over since, at this time, I can’t eat enough for adequate nutrition in only one meal per day, nor can I feel I’ve had enough to eat. 

View from our balcony before leaving Sydney.

As for drinking wine in the future, it’s totally “off the table,” although my mouth watered last night at dinner when one of our table mates took the first sip of a glass of a fine Pinot Noir. So it goes. Feeling well and healthy is always more important to me than food or wine.

Speaking of cocktails, when we booked this cruise, one of the perks was the Premium Drink Package for two, which allows for upper-end beverages, specialty coffees, and bottled water. For Tom, a died-in-the-wool Courvoisier aficionado, having the opportunity to order “VSOP” was high on his radar.

Once we were situated on the cruise and Tom placed his first drink order, he was told the VSOP was not included in our “Classic Beverage Package.” We were both surprised when we recalled the documents specifically stating we were entitled to the Premium Package.

Luna Park in the Sydney Harbour.

Once back in our cabin, we verified on our computers that our drink package was indeed the Premium Package and contacted the customer service department by phone. Their records showed we had the “Classic” (basic) package. 

We had no choice but to contact Vacations To Go to see if they could help. Our rep, Shanon, contacted Celebrity directly to confirm we were correct in assuming we were entitled to the Premium package based on our documents. 

By this morning, it was resolved, and the Premium package would be honored. Thanks to Shanon for quickly resolving this. It was the first time we’d ever contacted VTG to assist us once we boarded a ship. Any other inequities were easily resolved on our own. 

View of Sydney from the ship.

Another issue that may seem petty to some was the fact there was no sugar-free vanilla syrup available in Cafe al Bacio, which I’d been able to order on all past cruises, enabling me to enjoy a coffee beverage. I’d requested a decaf with sugar-free vanilla syrup and heavy cream (instead of milk). We asked several staff members to no avail…it simply wasn’t on board, and there was nothing they could do.

As many of our loyal members recall from past posts, one of the greatest pleasures we’ve enjoyed on a ship has been the availability of these specialty coffees. Feeling better today, I was longing for a cup.

This morning I noticed the beverage manager standing in the coffee service area and decided to see what he could do. After 40 minutes, the chef made a batch of sugar-free vanilla syrup from scratch using high-quality, alcohol-free vanilla, and I was presented with the perfect Vanilla Macchiato.

Alternate view of the ship, Celebrity Solstice, one of our favorite ships.

This is why we love Celebrity. They are exceptional in satisfying every passenger’s desires and continue to provide me with small exceptional meals and, now, my favorite coffee drink. At this time, I’ll have only one cup each day, providing it doesn’t harm my digestive tract. We’ll see how it goes. How I’ve missed coffee over these past many months!

Need I say, I’m floating only inches from the ceiling. On top of it, I just spent US $129, AU 170 on four items of clothing in one of this ship’s clothing stores; two tops and two somewhat dressy zippered sweatshirts. 

They were having a sale with many items marked at 50% off. So now, I’ll have four long sleeve items to keep me warm, which I’ve been longing for the past many months. With our non-refundable cabin credit of US $375, AU 495, and the gratuities, WiFi (for two), and beverages included in our fare, we’ll lose it if we don’t use the credit at the end of the cruise.

Books with many newer titles are available at no cost in the ship’s library.

I need to convince Tom to spend the remaining US $246, AU 325, on himself. Mr. Hate-to-Shop needs to go on a little spending spree before all the good items are gone, gone, gone.

Today at 2:00 pm, we’ll attend Cruise Critic’s arranged “cabin crawl” when the members tour a number of the more upscale cabins oohing and aahing over the luxurious staterooms. Too much fun!

Have a beautiful day!

Photo from one year ago today, March 3, 2017:

Ellouise almost looked as if she was smiling as she watched her cria’s birth, going as nature intended with the front legs first. We were also relieved and excited about the experience while the owners were away on holiday as we agreed to oversee the births. Wonderful opportunity! Trish and Neal named him “Minnesota” for Tom. An earlier born cria whose birth we oversaw was a female named “Miss Jessica” for me. Each season they use the next letter in the alphabet, and that season they were on “M”‘s. For a video and the balance of these photos, please click here.

Well, it’s not far down to paradise, at least it’s not for me…Late posting unavoidable when having too much fun…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 1 Comment
The clock tower of Lands Department building in Sydney city center. (Photo taken a quite a distance..please excuse the blur).

We’re obviously not on a sailboat, but we’re on a ship that “sails the seas.” This song came to mind last night as we gushed with enthusiasm at being on yet another cruise.

Here are some of the words from the song by Christopher Cross, “Sailing,” popular in 1980 (click here for video):

“Well, it’s not far down to paradise. At least it’s not for me
And if the wind is right, you can sail away and find tranquility
Oh, the canvas can do miracles. You wait and see
Believe me”
Commuter train crossing on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
It was 10:00 when I began writing today’s post. Tom was participating in Cruise Critic’s “slot pull” in the casino while I was comfortably seated in the Cafe al Bacio in our usual spot on this particular cruise. 

This morning we attended the Cruise Critic Meet & Greet, and then each took off for our plans for the rest of the morning. But, of course, I got sidetracked with people stopping by to chat, and by noon when Tom returned, it was time to go to lunch.

Sydney Harbour Bridge.

We do most activities together. This morning, realizing how late it was getting after breakfast in the Epernay Dining Room, engaging in interesting and diverse conversations with other passengers, and afterward attending the Cruise Critic event, I suggested that I hang out in the cafe preparing and uploading today’s post.

Please don’t think that for one moment I’m not enjoying doing the daily posts while aboard a ship which in this case happens to be the beautiful Celebrity Solstice, our 17th cruise since we began, our third time on this ship. 
The bars were all packed with passengers getting their drinks on embarkation day.

This month on March 15th, we’ll have been posting for a total of five years. Once we transitioned to posting daily on March 1, 2013, we’ve never missed a day except when we had no WiFi signal or a power outage. In most cases, we could get back online and post later in the day, the evening, or a day or two later, even posting on travel days from the airport.

Last night, the Solstice embarked from Sydney Harbour at 6:30 pm as soon as we were settled at our shared table for 10 in the dining room. We were so busy having fun. We hardly noticed we were headed out of the Sydney Harbour to the Tasman Sea. 

There are several of these unique benches on the upper decks.

It’s no wonder we love cruising. The commonalities that cruise passengers possess are astounding. At times, we meet people who’ve been traveling all of their lives, resulting in as many, if not more, experiences as we’ve had to date.

The flight from Hobart to Sydney was quick and easy, arriving in 90 minutes. The cab ride from the airport to the cruise terminal took less than 30 minutes. Our bags were whisked away (we always keep the carry-on bags with us), and we found no queue required to check-in for the cruise.

Packed ocean-front buildings on the Sydney Harbour.

From the time we arrived at the cruise terminal to be entering our cabin was only 45 minutes, one of the quicker check-ins we’ve had. We were pleasantly reminded of the value of the upgrade when we entered our cabin on the 10th deck. We purchased the upgraded Concierge category on this particular cruise since it was priced better than our usual veranda category. 

With this category, we received several perks, which we’ll share in a future post. But, for now, we love every moment. I’m eating small meals twice a day and my protein smoothie in place of breakfast.  

Visitors walking toward the Sydney Opera House.

This plan seems to help, although I’m not as free of symptoms as I’d expect after nine days of taking two types of antibiotics and the PPI. Maybe I’ll have “safari luck,” and this medical issue will be resolved by the end of the cruise. If not, more doctor appointments may be required during the 40 nights in Sydney. 

I was almost finished with the post when heading to the dining room for a light lunch. After getting wrapped up with more fabulous people, we only recently returned at 2:00 pm to our favorite spot in the cafe on this ship, and I was able to complete today’s post. Sorry for the delay. Please expect our posts to be available three or four later than usual. Once we’re on land after March 14th, we’ll return to our usual time.

Sydney Opera House. We’re thrilled to have reservations for an opera on March 18th, only weeks away.

We’ll have more to share as we cruise along, including many photos at ports of call we’d yet to visit.

Have a great day, “sailing” with us on this latest journey!

Photo from one year ago today, March 2, 2017:
It was such fun to hand feed the alpacas their special grassy feed. Unfortunately, some were too shy to participate. For more photos, please click here.

Final expenses for six weeks in the Huon Valley…Final favorite photos…This morning we’re on our way to Sydney for a cruise…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 2 Comments
This is one of our favorite photos in Tasmania, taken through the living room window glass as the sun began to set. 

By the time you see this post, we’ll be on our way to Sydney, flying from Hobart International Airport. Upon arrival and after a 25-minute cab ride to the pier, we’ll immediately board the ship, Celebrity Solstice, a boat on which we’ve sailed on two prior occasions over these past years of world travel.

Boats in the river channel on a cloudy day.

We’ve loved this particular ship on the past sailings, especially the Cafe Al Bacio, where we’d sit each morning while I prepared the day’s photos and post while we sipped on the most delicious coffee we’d had on a ship.

Church located outside of Geeveston, Tasmania.

Now that I’ve given up caffeine, coffee, and tea (due to the acidity), for the time being, it’s going to be tough to resist, but I have no choice. So instead, I’ll focus on having fabulous conversations with guests while they walk by as we lounge in the cafe.

After a significant rain, helicopter blades dry the cherry orchard across the road.

We plan to get off the ship at several ports of call in countries we’ve yet to visit. We’ll be staying aboard the boat when we arrive in two different ports in Fiji. Right now, I’m associating Fiji, which we enjoyed at the time, with having contracted this awful digestive issue while there for four months on two different islands.

A calf is nursing an almost same-sized mom.

Yesterday, by noon, we were almost wholly packed less the items we were wearing, with fresh clothing set out for today’s travel day. We weighed our bags, and each of the three bags weighed slightly less than 23 kg (about 50 pounds), the maximum allowance for the two free checked bags with Virgin Australia. So the charge for the third checked bag is AU 70, US $54.  That’s fine with us!

Also, we were able to eliminate one of our carry-on bags, the duffel bag, which we’ve hauled with us since the onset of our travels. It’s been loaded with jeans, shorts, and cargo-type pants too heavy to place in our checked bags. 

Calla lily in the garden.

On the last cruise, we purchased a new carry-on wheeling bag easier to manage than the duffel bag, which had impossible wheels to drive. Instead, Tom ended up carrying it by the strap. My new black carry-on bag can fit our “pill bag” (includes prescriptions, emergency medical supplies, Epipens, and a few over-the-counter products) plus all the jeans and pants. 

A decorative item they’d purchased in Africa, at the entrance to Anne and Rob’s garden.

I’d always carried the pill bag while Tom insisted we carry the heavier Costco bag, the duffel bag, and the computer bag. Now, we’re down to two carry-on bags, one each, since I don’t own or carry a handbag. This will make a massive difference for us making our way through airports. No longer do we need or use the metal cart we had in the beginning.   

View of the Huon River from the front lawn.

We were able to fit the Costco bag into one of the checked bags and the cloth Africa bag, and one small insulated bag, all of which we use in every country for grocery shopping. They add less than one-half kg (1.1 lbs) to the checked bags. So in all, we have five pieces; three checked and two carry-on bags. This is the lightest we’ve been since day one.

As mentioned, below is our chart of total expenses for the six weeks we spent in the Huon Valley of Tasmania. To see the final costs for Penguin, Australia, please click here.

Expense US Dollar Australian
Dollar
Vacation Rental  $                  3,490.99  $                        4,550.30
Airfare   $                     241.68  $                            315.02
Taxi   $                                   
Rental Car/Fuel  $                  1,979.2  $                        2,579.86
Wifi   $                        48.00  $                              62.57
Groceries  $                  1,174.96  $                        1,531.49
Dining Ou  $                                 $                                     
Cleaning  $                     191.50  $                            250.00
Medical & Pharmacy  $                     709.51  $                            924.80
Total  $                  7,835.91  $                      10,214.04
Average
Monthly Cost		  $                  5,554.21  $                        6,964.12
Avg Daily
Cost – 44 days		  $                     185.14  $                            232.14
Wood carvings with historical themes are found throughout Tasmania.

These costs fall into the mid-range for our vacation/holiday home living, comparing them to all of our past expenditures. We stayed within our budget of AU 7,807, US $6,000 per month, and thus are pleased with the result. But, of course, adding cruises to holiday home living has quite an impact on annual total costs.

Next time you “hear” from us, we’ll be posting from the ship at the usual time other daily posts are uploaded.  See you soon!

Be safe. Be happy!

Photo from one year ago today, March 1, 2016:

One year ago today, we lost our dear friend Richard, who made our four-month stay in Kauai a glorious social stay on the gorgeous island. We’ll always miss him and his lovely wife, Elaine. Please click here for details.

Tomorrow we’re off!…Have I recovered yet?…Favorite Huon Valley photos…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Could it be more beautiful in Tasmania?

Taking my time to pack, suddenly it’s time to wrap it up. Tomorrow morning, we’ll leave the house for the airport at 7:30 am for a 10:10 am flight. Unfortunately, there’s road construction on the highway to Hobart that we heard will make the otherwise 45-minute ride take as long as 90 minutes.

With Tom’s usual worrying about arriving on time, we’ll most likely be out the door even earlier. So I’d better make sure all odds and ends are packed today with only the bags to zip at the last minute before heading out the door.

Farmland, mountains, and forest in the Huon Valley.

We have great leftovers for today’s main meal. Since I’ve had a terrible time with digestion with this current condition, we’ve been eating at 1:00 pm, allowing plenty of time to digest the meal long before bedtime.

What a view!

I’ve been splitting the meal into two portions the past few days and having the second half when I feel I need to eat again. This way, I understand how eating two half portions meals will leave me feeling an hour later. So far, so good, although I seem to be hungrier than ever before.

Yesterday was the last day of the seven-day course of the huge doses of two antibiotics with a PPI (proton pump inhibitor). Unfortunately, the symptoms remain, although I’ve seen about a 40% improvement. 

Alpaca enjoying the sunshine with chubby cheeks filled with grass.

We talked it over, deciding another trip to the doctor before taking the last meds last night would be necessary. Based on the literature on these three combo drugs, many patients with this particular bacterial infection often require 14 days of dosing.

Old farm truck at the Geeveston car show.

Sure, I’m concerned over “gut bacteria” after taking antibiotics for this extended period. In any other case, I’d tough it out without them. But, this condition can contribute to developing bleeding ulcers and stomach cancer, leaving us to weigh the risks carefully. 

I opted for the second round of meds, for this reason, hoping to feel 100% better by the end of the cruise. I’m eating unsweetened yogurt and taking high-quality refrigerated probiotics. Hopefully, they’ll have the proper yogurt on the ship, but it’s improbable.  Most people only consume sweetened yogurt with fruit added.

The Huon River’s bright blue waters.

We headed to Geeveston, where I met with the doctor who agreed to prescribe another seven-day pack. I can’t imagine having this condition on a ship and hardly eating much at any given meal. However, even with my restricted eating habits, I’ve enjoyed the food on cruises when the chefs have been great at being creative.

Gorgeous white sand beaches.

But, now only able to consume about a cup of food at a time to avoid distress shortly after the meal and for several hours thereafter, we’ve decided we may actually attend meals three times per day. 

I’ll have the protein smoothie for breakfast. I purchased small ziplock bags filling 12 bags (for a 12-night cruise) with all of the powders required to make the drink. Also, I found a special mug with a spiral whisk-like gadget to place inside the mug when shaking it up. Wow! This works! No blender required! No lumps!

Tom’s first ocean fishing experience.

We’ll dine in the dining room each evening and switch between the buffet and main dining room for lunch. I’ll have tiny portions during each meal. The buffets usually have a gluten-free section, but many items contain sugar and gluten-free grains, and high carb items that I don’t consume. There’s always a cook at the gluten-free table, making it easy to determine the ingredients in the offered dishes.

Adding my restrictive way of eating to yet another list of foods to avoid with the H Pylori, my meals are limited; no beef, no pork, no cruciferous or hard-to-digest vegetables, and no raw veg. Instead, I’ll have a small portion of plain chicken or salmon with a small plate of cooked veggies for most meals. 

Oceanview in Southport, Tasmania.

I revised my printed food list for the head chef, which we’ll deliver as soon as we board the ship to ensure my first meal will be prepared appropriately. Anne, our property owner, printed off several copies, placing them in a plastic sleeve. 

Thank you,  Anne and Rob, for all you’ve done to make our stay at the Anchorage Apartment so pleasant and easy. It’s been a pleasure staying in your beautiful property and meeting the two of you and your two sweet dogs.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with a short post with the final expenses for the six weeks in the Huon Valley. Please check back then!

Photo from one year ago today, February 28, 2016:

Lillies blooming in the lily pad in the huge stone pot in the yard of the second home in Fiji. It seems so long ago we were there. For more photos, please click here.

Review on Huon Valley holiday home with many photos…Two days and counting.

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
View a small portion of the Huon River from the lawn of the rental in Castle Forbes Bay.

None of today’s photos of the property we rented for six weeks in the Huon Valley are ours.  We “borrowed” them from Anne and Rob’s listing on Airbnb, found here.  We’d have taken photos, but with packing in full force, the house is somewhat cluttered.

In 48 hours, we’ll have arrived at the Hobart International Airport for the less than two-hour flight at 10:10 am to Sydney. Shortly after 12:00 pm, we’ll arrive in Sydney and take a taxi to head to the Overseas Passenger Terminal in the Sydney Harbour. Once again, we’ll embark on another cruise in the South Pacific.

View of the property from the river.

So far, including Wednesday’s cruise, we’ll have sailed on six cruises in the South Pacific in this past almost two years. With one more cruise remaining at the end of April, in 54 days, we’ll sail from Sydney to Seattle as we make our way back to the US. 

We’ll have 40 days between both cruises during which we’ll stay in a property in Manly, very similar to this house in the Huon Valley where one area is occupied by the owner and another full apartment with all facilities constitutes the rental portion.

I’ve sat on the sofa while Tom lounges in this red chair, both very comfortable. See the dining table and chairs in the background.

Oddly, when we lived in Trinity Beach, Australia, beginning on June 11, 2015, we stayed in another similar property where we lived on the fully equipped main floor while the owners occupied the second level.

Overall, we prefer to live in a single-family home for the added privacy, but with costs so high for rents in Australia, these types of situations have been our only sensible option.

That’s not to say that any of the owners intrude upon our privacy in any manner. They have not. They’ve been kind, helpful, and available when needed. Anne and Rob, our landlords for this property, have been exceptional, making many efforts to ensure we had a pleasant stay, and undoubtedly, we have.

Plenty of amenities and gadgets are available in this kitchen, making cooking a breeze. When I needed an item, Anne quickly provided it, such as a big mixing bowl, baking pans, hand blender.

The property is in perfect condition, with no obvious repairs, painting, or replacement needed. Everything works. The furniture in the living room has been comfortable, especially when we’ve spent more time staying in due to my recent illness during these past six weeks than we may have spent in other areas. 

Previously in Penguin, Tasmania, when I wasn’t as ill, we were often out and about, walking, exploring, and seeing the local sites and points of interest. However, here in the Huon Valley, we’ve only done as much exploring as our 100’s of photos indicate, not every day but at least once or twice a week.

The table by the sofa in the living room includes lots of games, books, and decor items. 

The house is well equipped with suitable dishes, flatware, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, and gadgets. Even the cupboards contained various teas, spices, oils, and other products, similar to those in Penguin.

The bed is comfortable, along with the bedding. Poor quality or flimsy sheet pillows and blankets situation can totally ruin an otherwise comfortable bed. But, here, the bedding was of the utmost quality, the pillows comfortable, the covers suitable for various weather conditions.

We’ve kept our luggage in the second bedroom, which is located on a lower level.

Anne and Rob invited Tom for his first fishing-on-the-ocean experience, which he thoroughly enjoyed leaving us with enough fish filets for a few meals. We coated the filets in beaten eggs and coconut flour, pan-frying them in coconut oil, our favorite way to eat fish.

The availability of fresh produce plucked from the abundant garden was a huge perk we’d never expected. I was particularly thrilled when I made salads using celery, cabbage, and greens from the garden. Tom, whose favorite vegetable is green beans, enjoyed them with many meals.

Seating on the veranda.

With the 400 gig allotment every 30 days at night, we could easily stream HBO’s Game of Thrones entire six seasons. On only a few rare occasions did we have to await the return of the signal when it slipped away momentarily.

Although we watch a little TV, we’ve been able to check out local and some world news from time to time. During the day when we’re in, we may have news on in the background, but neither of us pays much attention. 

It has been delightful to have fluffy robes to use while here, as shown in the second en suite bathroom. Both bathrooms have heated towel racks, but we’ve never used them.

Right now, snippets from the Academy Awards Red Carpet event is on. The awards show will be broadcast live from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm. Unfortunately, since we’ve seen none of the movies, we have little interest in the awards show itself.

The grounds and the pool are beautifully maintained by Anne and Rob, who is also retired, spending considerable time working and maintaining the property. The views of the Huon River are breathtaking, as shown in a few of today’s photos and many photos over the past weeks.

This is the master bedroom which now has a sofa by the windows. 

We’d highly recommend this property to any travelers. For information, click here, and they’ll respond quickly. Also, feel free to contact us with any specific questions that perhaps only a renter would experience. 

Thanks to Anne and Rob for an extraordinary stay at your lovely property. We’ve already written positive statements in your “guest book” and posted reviews online reviews over the next few days.

My single suitcase is already packed, except for the items I’ve been wearing the past few days. Tomorrow, Tom will pack his clothing while I pack the third bag with miscellaneous items we’ll collect from around the house.

Tomorrow, I’ll briefly report on my condition after today’s final contact with Dr. Angela Retchford in Geeveston. Then, on departure day in two days, we’ll include the total expenses for the six weeks we spent in the Huon Valley.

Have a pleasant day!

Photo from one year ago today, February 26, 2016:

Tom was excited to see this Minnesota State Trooper vehicle when we toured AmeriCarna in New Zealand last year on this date. How ironic! For more photos from the car show, please click here.

Which did we prefer in Tasmania, Penguin or Huon Valley?…Three days and counting…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 2 Comments
Young woman riding a horse in the country in the Huon Valley.

As far as scenic beauty is concerned, both Penguin and the Huon Valley are stunningly beautiful. Although a common theme of the exquisite countryside is prevalent in both areas, the towns and local communities vary greatly.

If a traveler asked us which of the two would be most appealing for a holiday/vacation of one or two weeks, their personal tastes and preferred activities and expectations would be of first consideration.

Beyond that, there’s an obvious difference of scenery; Penguin has breathtaking ocean views and nearby beaches; in the Huon Valley, one only needs to drive about 40 minutes to arrive in beach towns with some of the whitest sand we’ve seen anywhere. 

The dirt road we traveled in the countryside.

Penguin has the opportunity for sea fishing and boating while in the Huon Valley fishing may be experienced on both the Huon River and out to sea as Tom experienced a week ago. It was his first time fishing on the ocean.

Regarding day-to-day easy activities such as walking, shopping, and perusing local business on a boulevard, Penguin has a lot more to offer. The center of Penguin is enchanting with its quaint shops, cafes, and beach town feel. 

However, there are a number of charming towns within a half hour drive from here in Castle Forbes Bay, such as Huonville, Franklin and Geeveston, all of which we’ve often visited for shopping, events and photo taking. 

There are many horses in Tasmania.

Huonville is the largest of the three towns where we’ve shopped during this past six wee, although there are some shopping options in Franklin and Geeveston.

If a tourist is interested in purchasing souvenirs in the area, the best spot would be at the Visitor’s Centre as we described in this post on February 5th when we stopped to check it out. We weren’t disappointed with their wide array of interesting items and of course, their Honey Pot which was over-the-top. This is a must-see spot when in the area.

In the Huon Valley, based on where we’re living in Castle Forbes Bay, it’s not as easy as heading out for a walk when our house is located close to main Highway A6. Walking on the winding narrow road is risky with many blind spotsHills and mountains to surround this part of Tasmania

ns with a massive river at its core, thus the Huon River and the Huon Valley.

There are many country roads and paths one may choose to walk, but since this is a “valley,” most of the walking  requires up and down steep hills that may not be suitable for all travelers.

We won’t get into all the various tourist attractions in either area. However, it’s easy to check out TripAdvisor for information on activities in Huonville and surrounding areas here. For options for Penguin, please click here.

Had we arrived a month or two earlier, the hilly countryside would have been a lush velvety green.

Many other tourist websites have endless options for exploring and experiencing scenery and indoor and outdoor activities in either of these two lovely areas.

As for friendliness, they both are some of the most friendly areas we’ve visited in our travels, comparable to Kauai, Hawaii, and Marloth Park, South Africa, our previously two favorites “friendly people” places.

Clear blue sky days are at a premium in the Huon Valley during the summer months making locals are giddy with enthusiasm on warm sunny days.

Tomorrow, we’ll share details of this lovely property with photos, links and the comfortable experience we’ve had staying in this well equipped and maintained property.

Have a lovely day!

Photo from one year ago today, February 26, 2016:

The pair of alpacas were placed in a smaller paddock for the purpose of mating. Notice the others looking on with considerable curiosity. For more about photos and a video of mating alpacas, please click here.

Piecing it all together…Four days and counting…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
A boat anchored on the Huon River with a hazy mountain backdrop.

We’ve begun to think about packing, particularly me. Yesterday, for the first time in many moons, I ironed two of my shirts and one of Tom’s. Why did we ever buy anything requiring ironing? We thought they were “wash and wear” based on the washing instructions at the time of purchase.

I’m getting low on clothing, with many items having worn out, so I’ve resorted to ironing my two items to add to my limited wardrobe for the upcoming cruise in four days.

Vineyard in Tasmania.

Tom is down to six shirts, plus the one white dress shirt I ironed yesterday, suitable to wear to dinner in the ship’s main dining room. During the day, he wears tee shirts. His wardrobe is also shrinking along with mine.

In three months, we’ll be back in the US with a plan to purchase a few new clothing items to replace those we’re ready to toss. But, unfortunately, there are no clothing stores in Huonville other than two second-hand shops, and it makes no sense to replace our old clothing with someone else’s old clothing.

Over these past six weeks, I haven’t felt well enough to go shopping in Hobart, which has a few malls and many shops. For me, it’s been tricky buying clothing in Australia when sizing is entirely different, pants are too short, and styles suitable for travel aren’t necessarily available. 

A typical country road.

We prefer solid colors since they may be worn with any of our pants, dressy or casual. In most of the stores here, shirts are more colorfully patterned or flowery, which has never been quite my style. Nor does Tom care to wear brightly colored or patterned shirts.

I’ve begun packing a little earlier than usual with this illness and during the heavy antibiotic dosing period, which has made me feel a bit lethargic. So a little packing each day seems to make more sense right now.

Haze and humidity in the hills of the Huon Valley.

I’ve had some improvement (day four of seven on the medication), but I’m definitely not 100%. However, much to our enthusiasm, yesterday I was able to eat a normal-sized portion of our entree and a small salad which I hadn’t been able to do since early December. So maybe it is improving.

Tom never packs until the day before we depart when it becomes necessary to weigh our luggage to ensure we don’t exceed the 23 kg (51lbs) the airlines allow on the first checked bag (each) with a premium paid for our third bag containing necessary supplies. 

We’re flying to Sydney on Virgin Australia, which only charges AU 35, US $26.85 for the third bag, an amount we’re thrilled to pay instead of considerably more on other airlines.

The wild vegetation is growing along the river bank.

Tonight, we’ll watch the final episode of season 6, Game of Thrones, having loved every single episode. It’s been a nice respite from thinking about my condition when we’ve watched a few episodes each evening. We can now cancel our month-to-month HBO subscription (ending on the 26th) and re-join to watch season 7 once we get to Costa Rica next August.

While in the US, with six weeks spent in Minnesota and three weeks in Henderson, Nevada, we won’t have time or interest in watching any shows or movies other than perhaps a movie or two with the grandchildren in MN.

Single lane bridge in the countryside.

It’s hard to believe we’ll arrive in the US mainland on May 15th, less than three months from now. Two days later, on May 17th, we’ll board the Alaskan cruise, which ends on May 26th in Seattle. From there, we’ll fly to Minneapolis. We’ll be arriving in MN on Friday evening of Memorial weekend, a busy travel period.

Once I upload this post, Tom will do the proofreading while I get ready to go out. This will be the first time we’ve been out since Monday, very unusual for us. We’re heading to Huonville for a few grocery items and a new batch of probiotics to avoid running out on the cruise. 

Pasture on a sunny day.

But for now, we’re anticipating the less than two-hour flight from Hobart to Syndey in a mere four days. So my prepping and packing will continue at a snail’s pace over the next few days, which this time, I don’t mind a bit.

Have a lovely weekend, wherever you may be!

Photo from one year ago today, February 25, 2016:

This “piece of art” in New Plymouth is playfully typical of Kiwi’s great sense of humor. For more interesting New Plymouth, New Zealand photos, please click here.

Interesting and appreciated comment from a reader…Worries of risks when traveling…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Hillside scenery.

Over these past several years, we’ve received many excellent comments on various of our past posts. As a result, some readers may read our posts out of chronological order or start from the beginning on March 15, 2012, when we first began to write about our lives of world travel.

Now, 1674 daily posts later, we’re often amazed by how readers from all over the world continue to read our old posts, often commenting on any given post or sending us a thoughtful email.

Many of our readers write into the easy-to-use “comments” section at the bottom of each post and may stay anonymous if chosen.  However, we find many readers don’t hesitate to leave a first name (and occasionally their full name) when they post a comment.

If you’ve never commented, please feel free to do so. We reply within 24 hours (at the latest). And, your comment remains on that post for all of our readers to see for years to come.

Caravans parking in Franklin for Australia Day festivities which we attended last month.

For many, with more personal comments in mind, they prefer to email us at the links provided on our home page, on the right, above the photo of us in Petra, Jordan. Clicking either of these links takes you directly to the email app on your device, and you can write as you would in writing any email message. But, of course, we won’t post your email message without your specific approval.

Most often, your email will reach us promptly, providing we have a good Internet connection. We check our email throughout each day, but a response may be delayed, if it arrives while we’re sleeping.

Before posting each day, I take a peek at my email but seldom respond until after completing the day’s post. I awake on a mission to get the “ball rolling” as soon as I’m showered and dressed for the day.

During this past almost three months since we arrived in Penguin, Tasmania, on December 3, 2016, I’ve maintained my usual posting schedule regardless of how I may have been feeling during this period. 

Houses are scattered throughout the countryside in the Huon Valley.

Of course, as mentioned in a post a few days ago, the exception to our posting and/or replying to comments and email may occur on specific travel days, especially when we don’t have access to Wi-Fi while awaiting a particular means of transportation.

Yesterday, we received this lovely comment from one of our readers who’s apparently begun reading our posts from the beginning. 

Laura wrote:

“Ah, Jess…I know I am reading them years after the fact, but your posts and photos are breathtaking!! I love them! I’ve been trying for years to convince Ernie to agree to an African safari – he’s too concerned with our safety to try it, but I’m still working on him!!”

Upon reading this short comment at the end of this post, I could hardly wait to write back to Laura to thank her for her kindness in complimenting our posts and photos. 
But, the comment Laura expressed over her husband’s hesitation to go on an African safari reminded us of five years ago when Tom was equally concerned over the safety of a safari and, even more so, living in Africa for almost nine months.
Our family was even more worried that we were getting in over our heads when they’d read and heard of countless stories about horrific events occurring in many parts of Africa, some as a result of animal encounters and other incidents. But, they were more concerned as to our vulnerability of becoming victims of crime.
A neighborhood in the Huon Valley.

We’ve never taken these facts lightly, but, as has been the case for most travelers, there are always precautions and concerns over traveling beyond the comfort zone of their home environment. 

Nowadays, there is no place in the entirely safe world;  from the elements, terrorism, crime, accidents, illness, and wildlife. Back then, before we began traveling, we’d discussed these concerns in depth. 

Mainly, I was trying to assure Tom that although the risks were higher in some parts of the world, such as Africa and the Middle East, we’d exercise the utmost caution. For example, in Kenya, where carjackings are common, we used a local driver to take us wherever we desired, thus reducing the risks.
Kayaker on Huon River near a moored sailboat.

As we look back at our old posts, we can’t help but experience the most profound emotions over the fact that we took those risks to see parts of the world previously only in our dreams.

When a year from now when we’ll return to South Africa (with more other African countries on the horizon during our extended stay), our hearts thump with enthusiasm.
This will be the first time we’ve returned to a country for an extended stay hiatus to explore Southeast Asia. As it turned out, we really enjoyed the second two months in Bali at the fabulous villa on the ocean.
Franks, a small cider restaurant and shop.

We had returned to Bali due to its proximity and easy flights to Sydney, Australia, where we’d booked several cruises. However, our return to Africa next February is for an entirely different reason…we wanted to return while we’re still able, young enough, and hopefully healthy enough to embrace the many exciting opportunities awaiting us. 

So, today, I thank Laura for writing and inspiring today’s post, which included our own past concerns, which ultimately ending with the gift of great memories that we gleaned from the extraordinary experiences.

Have a memorable day and be safe.

Photo from one year ago today, February 24, 2016:

Tom standing outside the shopping mall in New Plymouth, New Zealand, last year. For more photos, please click here.

Six days and counting…Posting during departure periods…Delicious low carb smoothie recipe…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Throughout Tasmania and Australian states, there are many wood carvings
in honor of Australians throughout history.

Today, it’s Thursday in this part of the world. Early next Wednesday morning, we’ll depart for the airport in Hobart, an approximate 45-minute drive depending on the morning traffic.

This is one of two plaques posted on the above memorial wood carving.

We’ll be flying domestically from Hobart to Sydney, which requires less advance arrival time at the airport than for international flights. However, Tom always feels more comfortable leaving early to ensure we arrive with plenty of time to spare.

Recognition for the soldier of the Boer War.

An arrival one hour before the flight is plenty of time to check our bags, get our boarding passes, and head to the appropriate gate. Yet, invariably, we end up sitting in chairs for two hours before the flight.

Over the past almost 26 years, our goal is to compromise when we disagree. If one of us compromises to put the other at ease, the other doesn’t argue or complain. Ultimately, ensuring each of us is comfortable is of our utmost concern.

In the town of Franklin we walked along the riverbank enjoying the beautiful scenery.

We can sit at the airport as easily as at our home-of-the-moment while awaiting the upcoming flight. In addition, many airports offer free WiFi and relatively comfortable seating in various cafes where we can order bottled water and entertain ourselves online while waiting.

At times, when departing on an early morning flight, I’ll post a short message that the day’s post may be a little late, which I’ll upload from the airport while we wait. Likewise, on some occasions, I’ll prepare and upload the day’s post once we get settled upon boarding a cruise.

There are houses across a narrow road along the Huon River in Franklin, many of which have lovely flower gardens.

At other times, I’ll prepare the post the prior day and that day’s post. Preparing two posts in one day is time-consuming when it’s completed, in addition to wrapping up the packing. Also, we always include our total expenses separately for each location. These figures must be prepared well in advance since this process is also time consuming.

I continue to strive to take care of myself as I make my way through the one-week antibiotic regime prescribed by the local doctor. Although the drug’s side effects prevent me from feeling up to going out or doing anything of significance, I’m making every effort to get well.

When we left the house, the sun was shining, but it was cloudy again by the time we reached Franklin.

It’s a combination of rest with some mobility, avoiding spending time lying down or in bed, and eating healthfully while attempting each day to consume sufficient nutrients. I’ve continued to prepare most of our meals during this period of time, more with the intent of moving about, although Tom happily helps when I ask. 

During this illness I’ve been using a free app to calculate the day’s nutritional components. Here’s the link to the free app. (Make sure to download the free edition, which is easy to determine).

I’ve been feeling ravenous lately, eating such small amounts.  But, over these past months, I’ve only been able to eat small amounts in any six-hour period. So today, at the beginning of day three on meds, I’ll try adding a small salad to my midday meal. 

Flowers in a tree with the cloud sky backdrop.

We’ve been eating our main meal around 1:00 pm, giving me ample time to digest the meal eventually. I concocted a healthy and delicious low-carb smoothie that’s easily digestible for both mornings and evenings, preventing me from having to eat again to deal with the consequence.

If any of our readers have digestive problems, a smoothie may be a good adjunct to light meals while recovering. Here’s my smoothie recipe that seems to abate my hunger for a few hours:

Jess’s Low Carb Digestive Smoothie

1 ½  cups water or  unsweetened coconut milk or water
2 scoops unsweetened vanilla low carb protein powder (or appropriate servings size based listed serving size)
½ cup unsweetened, unflavored organic Greek yogurt
1 T. organic unsweetened cocoa powder
1 T. organic ground flaxseed (Don’t use if diarrhea is an issue.  his natural product may be helpful for constipation and is non-habit forming)
½ tsp. powdered unsweetened Vitamin C with sodium ascorbic (See here for benefits of Vitamin C)
½ tsp. organic powdered cinnamon
Low carb sweetener to taste (a must in some form that works for you)

Blend all of these ingredients into a blender until lump-free. Pour over a large glass of ice and serve. This makes more than one serving, but it tastes so good, I usually add the balance to my mug. If you have a powerful blender, add ice to the blender after thoroughly blending ingredients.  Urgent: Please check with your doctor should any of these ingredients be an issue for you.

Many varieties of roses are found in Tasmania with suitable climates.

With six days remaining until we depart, I continue with optimism and enthusiasm for what is yet to come over these next months.

Happy day!

Photo from one year ago today, February 23, 2016:

The unique, architecturally interesting Te Kewa Kewa Bridge in New Plymouth, New Zealand, was quite a sight to see. For more photos, please click here.