Retelling our story over and over again…Our answers to frequently asked question…

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The coral reef at Mystery Island is defined by the change of color of the sea.

Often to our surprise, other travelers are curious to hear about our story. In a nutshell (for our new readers); we sold everything we owned in Minnesota; leaving everyone we love; leaving no storage behind, and now with only three checked bags and two carry-on bags, we travel the world on a joyful quest to learn more and more about our planet, it’s people, its wildlife and it’s scenery.

The tender awaits our return to the ship. Lifeboats are often used as the tenders with several in service to avoid passengers waiting for extended periods.

It was only a result of vastly improved health from an incomprehensible change of diet in 2011. In January 2012, we decided to travel the world, leaving Minnesota on October 31, 2012, a little more than nine months later.

Many small bus tours headed up and down this paved road in Mystery Island.

When asked about our travels, the most frequently asked question is, “What is your favorite place in the world so far?”

For the first four years, Tom didn’t have an answer. He always replied, “The next one.” 

Cloud-covered beach view in Vanuatu.

This always made me chuckle when I wondered if he’d ever pick a favorite, and if so, how long would it stay his favorite? For me, as all of our readers are well aware, Marloth Park in Mpumalanga, South Africa, remains my “dream spot,” to which we’ll be returning in a mere nine months in February 2018.

Tom has finally chosen a favorite place, Penguin, Tasmania, the most quaint and charming small town we’ve visited in our travels. His eyes light up when he describes this special place. If he had to pick a place to live out our days, Penguin would be on the top of the list…so far, that is.

The color of the sea is breathtaking.

But there’s so much more to see. Are we on a mission to see as much of the world as possible? Are we attempting to visit most of the world’s 196 countries, many of which we’ll avoid due to political unrest and terrorism?

What about all of the continents? By the time we visited Antarctica in January 2018, we’ll have seen all seven of the world’s continents, some only touching the surface, others in a more comprehensive manner. 

No doubt we’ll be returning to most of the continents when there are many other points of interest that we’ve yet to visit.  With our usual desire to “live” within a region/country to learn about its people, its culture, its wildlife, and its beauty, the process is slower than it may be for others who may hop, skip and jump from country to country for shorter stays.

Rows upon rows of pine trees line the beach near the coral reef.

We love sharing our stories with people we meet along the way. We equally love hearing their stories of travel, their cruises, and their land experiences but, most of all, their lives. How did they get to this point? What inspired them to travel? Why do they like cruising? What is their favorite destination? What was their favorite cruise line or ship?

We all have a story to tell whether we travel the world or enjoy quiet time at home, simply living life to the fullest within a framework that works for us. We love hearing from all of you, sharing your story with us. Would you please stay in touch?

Photo from one year ago today, May 5, 2016:

The Buddha fountain by the pool in Bali.  At high tide, the sea almost reached the end of the infinity pool at the villa in Bali.  For more photos, please click here.

Pollywogs and shellbacks, the Equator crossing…The generosity of people we meet…

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This passenger at the King Neptune Equator crossing ceremony seemed to get the brunt of the food rubbed into his beard.

Yesterday was the King Neptune celebration poolside in commemoration of crossing the Equator. This particular observance is traditional on many cruise ships as they cross the imaginary line of demarcation of the Southern and Northern Hemispheres.

Pollywog or Shellback: The Navy’s Line Crossing Ceremony Revealed

The Navy is chock full of myth and tradition, and what happens at sea even affects our language. From the Sirens and Sea Monsters of the Odyssey to the boatswain’s call, many naval traditions date back hundreds and even thousands of years.

The Line Crossing Ceremony might be the most interesting of today’s naval traditions.

A Time-Honored Tradition

Line crossing ceremonies have been a part of naval tradition for at least 400 years.
No one is sure when or how the Line Crossing Ceremony, “Order of Neptune,” came about. The ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring.
The ceremony observes a mariner’s transformation from slimy Pollywog, a seaman who hasn’t crossed the equator, to trusty Shellback, also called a Son or Daughter of Neptune. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness.
When a ship crosses the equator, King Neptune comes aboard to exercise authority over his domain and judge charges against Pollywogs that they are only posing as sailors and haven’t paid proper homage to the god of the sea.
What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew? High-ranking crew members and those who have been Shellbacks the longest, dress up in elaborate costumes, and each plays the part of King Neptune’s court. For instance, the ship’s captain might play the part of King Neptune himself.


 For more details on the above website on this celebration at sea, please click here.

Our captain Rick Sullivan and cruise director Graham prepare for the King Neptune ceremony to begin.
On the cruise to the South Pacific in May 2015, we were delighted to see the hilarious poolside activities as the crossing was made, and again on our return to the US, we were camera-ready to see it once more.
Captain Rick describes the significance of the Equator crossing celebration.

Please click here for our previous Equator crossing in 2015 and the resulting King Neptune celebration aboard Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas.

King Neptune and his court make their way to the stage poolside.

In many ways, it signified the reality of our leaving this part of the world perhaps for the last time in our world travels when we have so much more world to see in years to come.

King Neptune’s beard reminded us of fake Santa Claus beards.

Many Aussie and Kiwi friends we’ve made aboard the ship over these past two years in this part of the world have graciously offered we stay with them when and if we return someday. 

Volunteer participants, both passengers and ship staff, were led to the stage by RC staff members.

As much as we appreciate these generous offers, it’s unlikely we’d take advantage of staying with newly made friends since we’re not the easiest house guests in the world with our myriad idiosyncrasies and routines. 

The brave participants face the stage to determine their fate.

Nor would we ever want to take advantage of such kind offers when it would be impossible for us to reciprocate when we have no home of our own to extend such an invitation.

The volunteer passenger with the real beard could easily have played King Neptune.

As for yesterday’s King Neptune Equator crossing event poolside, we waited until the last minute to head to the pool. We anticipated we’d end up standing in the hot sun for lack of better spots available when it appeared most passengers aboard the ship, roughly 3200, were attending.

Oh, oh. I ordered grouper for tonight’s dinner. I hope it’s not this same fish! The first part of the ceremony included kissing the grouper.

The bright sun wouldn’t bother me, but Tom hasn’t had sun exposure lately and is prone to getting a sunburn within 10 minutes of exposure. Since the onset of our travels, he’s always been extra careful to avoid a sunburn due to his pale Irish skin.

Dr. Wesley, the ship’s young doctor, participated in the ceremonies by dumping food on the top of the heads of the brave participants.

We haven’t been out to the pool since we boarded the ship for this reason and also due to the fact we’ve been busy indoors mingling with other passengers, working on our posts, and generally having the time of our lives. 

Red pasta sauce and a white cream sauce were poured over the heads of these two participants.

Once we maneuvered our way to the right in front of the activities near the outdoor stage, we were in a good position to take photos. At the same time, we laughed and cheered over the loud and raucous litany of traditional events typical for shipboard observations of the Equator crossing.

Upon taking many photos, the festivities came to an end while we dashed to the closest elevator to return to our cabin so we could finish and upload the day’s post.

Every deck with a possible view of the festivities was packed with passengers anxious to see the show.

We packed our laptops in our smaller computer bag. We headed back to the Diamond Lounge until it was time to dress for the evening for yet another night of engaging conversation and interaction. 

We’d planned dinner with a lovely couple we’d met the prior evening during dinner, Alice and Nate, with whom we had much in common, although they’re more than 20 years younger than us.

King Neptune was pleased with the punishment bestowed upon the pollywogs and shellbacks.

After a superb dinner, we all headed to the Palace Theatre for the “hypnotist” show, a silly compilation of typical hypnotist jokes and ridiculous performances by willing passengers who didn’t seem to mind the antics presented in these types of shows.

Today at noon, we’ll attend the Diamond Club luncheon specifically offered for Crown & Anchor members with a designation of Diamond Club or higher. There are two categories above ours which include Diamond Plus and Pinnacle. We’ll eventually reach Diamond Plus, which offers a few more perks, but it’s unlikely we’ll ever reach Pinnacle, the highest perk-laden top tier. More on that later.

They all were such good sports.

We’ll be back tomorrow with more photos of this amazing return trip to North America. We’re well into the second half of this 24-night cruise, now on day 14 with 10 days remaining until we disembark in Seattle.

Happy day to all!

Photo from one year ago today, May 4, 2016:

In Bali, Gade stopped at the side of the road when he spotted this monkey and baby. We had no idea we’d see much wildlife here. Of course, we were thrilled! For more details, please click here.

Meeting with a medical researcher and presenter aboard the ship for helicobactor pylori…

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How many times a day should we poop?
Dr. Peter Dingle’s latest book.  See his website here.

Most mornings, we don’t attend any of the “enrichment lectures” aboard the ship when our primary goal is to get situated to complete and upload the day’s new post, after which we’re free to spend the day and evening as we choose.

After hearing comments from other passengers that Dr. Peter Dingle’s 9:00 am lectures on health and wellness were more than enriching and highly entertaining with his effortless style, we were intrigued.

As it turned out, we decided to prepare the post later in the day to attend Dr. Peter’s presentation on “gut health” of particular interest to me. With residual effects remaining after the two-week antibiotic treatment ending in March due to 16 months of discomfort with the helicobacter pylori infection, we were both anxious to hear what he had to say.

Keeping in mind that I’d seen three doctors in Tasmania and still suffering, I was desperate for some new advice that might set me on the right path. Oh, yes, I know…I wrote I was getting better. But on the days I posted such comments, I may have been feeling a little better and subsequently more hopeful.

Plus, after many comments on the topic, I assumed our readers might be tired of reading about it. But, alas, since we boarded the ship 16 days ago, I’ve struggled with the food, experimenting through a process of elimination which hasn’t been easy with my already restrictive diet. Layering one strict diet over another is challenging.

On several occasions, we watched the replay of Dr. Peter’s other presentations on the TV in our stateroom while getting ready to go out for the evening. In each of those presentations, we saw a pattern mimicking the way of eating and lifestyle we’ve adopted over the years. Could this fine man have a solution for me beyond what I’ve tried thus far?

After watching the informative presentation live with several mentions of the h pylori infection, I longed to meet with him face to face. Writing a short email informing him of my lingering condition, he agreed to a meeting in the cafe while he met with a few other attendees who had a similar request.

I was determined that if it took hours for him to get to me, I’d wait patiently in the Cafe Promenade. So, shortly after his presentation ended, I headed to the cafe bringing along my laptop to work on the day’s post. At no time, I was seated at a booth/table with three other passengers with questions while we each shared our stories.

Ironically, many of our conditions and symptoms were similar, and collectively we learned possible solutions befitting our needs. After the group presentation, Dr. Peter focused on my dilemma, leaving me with a litany of potential answers to this ongoing issue.  I was very grateful.

Upon returning to the Diamond Club lounge where Tom was waiting for me, I made of list of his suggestions on my phone on a variety of supplements that were one step above what I’d been doing thus far. I’d already been taking some of his suggestions but in doses inadequate to have any effect upon improvement, particularly in the case of probiotics.

I won’t list his suggestions here right now to avoid attempting to offer medical advice when I’m not a medical professional. However, many of them may be found on his website and Facebook page.

No words can express how grateful we are to have received what we perceive as valuable and meaningful advice. So, once we arrive in Kona, Hawaii, tomorrow, we’ll be heading to a local health store to purchase some added products that hopefully will get me on the right path to healing.

Thank you, Dr. Peter Dingle. Surely your informative and valuable suggestions will inspire many passengers to rethink their lifestyles and adopt a cleaner and more beneficial manner of eating, exercising, reducing stress, and dealing with a wide array of physical conditions. 

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, May 6, 2016:

Sorry, this Bali photo wasn’t clear. We were too far away, and my hands were unsteady after witnessing the dog shot being shot. This guy picked up the dead dog by one hind leg and placed him in a laundry bag as he carried him away. Wild dogs are often shot for rabies control in Bali. For more details, please click here.

A bit of “this and that” aboard the ship….Group photo…

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A path to the aqua blue bay.

Today is day 12 of the 24-day cruise. It’s hard to believe that we’re halfway through this cruise.  In a few days, we’ll reach Hawaii. Then, in 15 days, we’ll board the cruise to Alaska from Vancouver, British Columbia, ending in Seattle. Then, in a mere 24 days, we’ll be in Minnesota to visit our family and friends.

Sunbathers and swimmers on the beach.

From there, in 66 days, we’ll arrive in Nevada, visiting more family and friends. Ninety days from today, we’ll be leaving the US heading for the next leg of our journey, most likely not returning to the US for two more years for another visit.

With the number of people we’re meeting, the over-the-top experiences we’re adding to our repertoire of cruising adventures, and the sheer pleasure of spending this time together, we couldn’t be having a better time.

Boats at the beach.

The anticipation of seeing our loved ones only adds another layer of joy to this busy and action-packed period. Yet, the ease with which each day flows into another is barely interrupted.

This morning we noticed an error or our account when charges for two drinks were listed US $17.00. Calling guest services for an adjustment, we reached a roadblock when they explained the only way to resolve the issue was to go to deck two during certain hours.

Passengers were walking along the beach.

That solution was unbelievable to us. Why couldn’t this be handled over the phone? But, in our usual manner of problem-solving, we addressed the issue with Jorge, our Diamond Club concierge, who spends most days in the Diamond Lounge on the 14th deck. 

Upon entering the private Diamond Club Lounge to prepare our post for the day, Jorge had the issue resolved within minutes. We expressed our gratitude for this prompt and seamless resolution.
The beach at Mystery Island, Vanuatu.

We seldom run across such an issue, but when they arise, we look for the most uncomplicated and quick solution to avoid tainting our perception of any cruise line or ship. Diplomacy and kindness seem to get us from Point A to Point B with the least amount of stress, always our top priority.

Having control over my two daily meals, breakfast and dinner, can be a challenge. We’ve had the fortunate opportunity to work with Belik, head waiter in the Sapphire Dining Room on this cruise. 

Ship passengers out for a boat ride on a tiny sailboat.

Belik makes more effort to fulfill my dietary needs than any head waiter who’s worked with us on the past 17 cruises. However, having experimented with various foods within the framework of my usual diet, I’ve found some foods that seem to exacerbate the symptoms of the past many months; mainly garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables, and dairy.

Over the past 24 hours, I’ve eliminated all dairy products, including cheese which has been a staple in my way of eating over these past five and a half years. 

View from the ship as we sailed away from the Fijian islands.

I’m hoping being dairy-free will help when yesterday was my best day since the onset of the h. pylori symptoms.  Perhaps now, I’ll see why drinking coffee with cream only seemed to make matters worse.  I blamed it on the acidity of the coffee when in fact, it may have been the cream.  We’ll see how this goes over the next few days.

Belik has been so helpful as I work my way through figuring out what I can and can’t eat.  There’s no doubt it’s added more limitations to my eating method, but he remains determined to ensure my food is satisfactory. I’ve never seen anything like this guy…except, of course, Tom, who puts up with me beyond my expectations.

View of Fiji from the ship.

We’ve settled into somewhat of a delightful groove with new friends Ulla and Ray and Julie and Terry, all from New South Wales, Australia. (See the photo below). It’s so easy to “hit it off” with others aboard the ship, whether couples or singles, of which there are many aboard this ship.

Yesterday, we watched a fantastic movie, Collateral Beauty, well worth watching. Today, we’ll head to the Palace Theatre for the 2016 movie, “Sully,” which starts at 1:30 pm. Unfortunately, it will be necessary to arrive at the theatre 45 minutes before showtime to ensure good seating as another sea day.

Our new Aussie friends, from left to right, Julie and Terry, Ray and Ulla and Tom and I. We’re having a fabulous time with these two couples as we meet for happy hour and dinner most nights.

After the movie, we’ll mingle with other passengers throughout the ship. By 4:15 pm, we’ll return to our cabin to dress for the second formal night. As much as we dislike formal nights due to our lack of dressy clothing, we make the best of it with what we have on hand, ultimately having another memorable evening.

A sense of contentment and serenity wafts through our minds as we continue on this leg of our journey. Thanks to all of our readers for sharing it with us!

Photo from one year ago today, May 2, 2016:

The covered huts and cabana poolside at the villa in Bali, one year ago today. For more photos, please click here.

A new day…Oops, the same day!…Cannibalism in the South Pacific…

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After a bit of research, Cute found this “cooking pot” to stir us dreadful thoughts of life for many in decades past on many islands in the South Pacific.

Over the millennium, cannibalism has been prevalent in certain parts of the world. We’ve all watched it depicted in various movies over the years whereby humans were cooked in a large pot such as that in our main photo and consumed not so much but as a form of spiritual and cultural significance.

During the visit to Mystery Island, we noticed over a dozen tour booking spots such as this.

Of course, the concept of such savagery is repulsive in most cultures throughout the world but when practiced, it carried a powerful message to those who had the potential of being captured for such a barbaric end to life.

Many types of trinkets were offered for sale in a long row of shops.

Please read the following article we found interesting in our research from this site:

“Culture Facts

Where: Throughout the Pacific Islands, but only in days of yore.
What’s it about: Eating your enemy as the ultimate disgrace – the stuff of seafaring legends.
How to join in: We advise not to steer clear if you want to stay out of the cooking pot.

When the Pacific Islands were first ‘discovered’ by Europeans, they soon gained a reputation for being a fierce and hostile place where tribal warfare and cannibalism were rife. During the early 19th century, if you were a sailor who became shipwrecked in the Pacific Islands, you probably wouldn’t live to tell the tale but would end up in the cooking pot. (Continued below).
We walked the entire length of the shops perusing their wares.
The intensity and significance of cannibalism varied considerably across the islands, but it was generally believed that by eating your enemies you would absorb some of their better qualities such as bravery and strength. But, more importantly, it was also the ultimate revenge to consume the body of someone you despised; the conclusive domination of the enemy and a major humiliation for their family. 
Warriors usually kept a memento of their victim, or at least put another notch in their club. Necklaces, hairpins or ear-lobe ornaments carved of human bone were often held, or possibly the skull would be made into a drinking bowl called a ‘yaqona’. The whole affair would be celebrated with song, dance and formal sacrificial rites. Men would sing the ‘cibi’ or death dance, and women the ‘dele’ in which they would sexually humiliate the corpse. Finally, bodies were usually brought back to the village spirit house and offered to the war god before being eaten.
 
Today cannibalism has long since disappeared although it is still very much a part of the legends and history that make up the mystique of the Pacific Islands.
By Debbie Fabb”

A few days ago, we visited Mystery Island, an island in the Vanuatu chain of islands as indicated below:en.Wikipedia.org83

Vanuatu is a South Pacific archipelago made up of 83 small islands of volcanic origin and around 12000sq km. Approximately 65 of the islands are inhabited. The total population of Vanuatu is just over 200,000.
The outdoor cafe was packed with cruise passengers.

It was during the visit to Mystery Island, Vanuatu that for the first time, we saw a “cooking pot” that was both fascinating and frightening at the same time. Unfortunately, neither of us cared to enter the pot for photos when a long queue of passengers waited for their own personal photo op. 

Some passengers wandered down the path to the Kava ceremony. After our four-month stay in Fiji, we were familiar enough with Kava to pass this by.
It definitely was intriguing to see the cooking pot imagining days of yore and a time and place we were grateful we’d never experienced.  Our olives’ lives appear so safe and insignificant from that of the lives of others from centuries ago when hardship and fear motivated the actions and responses each and every day.
The pristine white sand beach was very appealing.

It’s these types of encounters that rock us to the core of how fortunate we are to live during this period in time, although in many ways, today, throughout the world that same sense of hardship and fear predicates the daily actions of billions of citizens.

The colorful scene at the beach in Mystery Island.
As much as we fear the result of natural disaster and circumstances beyond our control, our biggest fear and circumstances may center around that which us humans perpetrate in our desire for power, greed, and dominance. 
Signs posted promoting the many tourist-type activities.

No, in today’s world, we don’t have to fear the “cooking pot,” but in essence, many of the fear we face present an equally imposing demise of humanity. So may we all pray for our mutual safety and cohesiveness in protecting our people and our vast world in front of us. 

Be well.
Photo from one year ago today, May 1, 2016:
In Bali, these types of stone statues are frequently included in new construction design to maintain the integrity of the Balinese culture. For more details, please click here. (We’re unable to post the one year ago link due to the poor Wi-Fi signal aboard the ship).

It’s happening tonight!!!…We’re crossing back over the International Date Line..We’ll have two May 1sts!

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Image result for international date line map
Map of the world illustrating how the International Date Line affects each side of the line.

Tonight at midnight, we’ll conceptually turn our clocks back 24 hours as we cross the International Date Line.  Here in this part of the world, it’s May 1st today, May Day for many people worldwide who celebrate, and tomorrow it will be May Day, May 1st, once again. Also, we’ll experience two Mondays in a row.

As for May Day itself, it’s described as follows for those who celebrate aboard the ship.  How unusual they’ll celebrate two days in a row:

“May Day is a public holiday usually celebrated on May 1. It is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival. It is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures. Dances, singing, and cake are usually part of the celebrations that the day includes.
In the late 19th century, May Day was chosen as the date for International Workers’ Day by the Socialists and Communists of the Second International to commemorate the Haymarket affair in Chicago. Thus, international Workers’ Day may also be referred to as “May Day,” but it is a different celebration from the traditional May Day.”
As we cross the International Date Line tonight, we’re reminded of when we crossed into this part of the world so long ago.  On June 4, 2015, we went to bed on the ship one night, awakening the next morning having missed an entire day/date.  That was peculiar to us. So now we’ll do the opposite.
We officially arrived in the South Pacific on May 30, 2015, and are leaving as we enter the Pacific Ocean after crossing the equator on May 3, 2017, a few days from now. Nevertheless, we’ve spent considerable time in the South Pacific, as indicated below from the app we use to calculate between two dates:

“From and including Monday, May 25, 2015
To, but not including Monday, May 1, 2017

Result: 707 days

It is 707 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date.
Or 1 year, 11 months, 6 days excluding the end date.”

Illustration image
The International Date Line on another map.
How intriguing that we’ll finally be in the same date range and day of the week of our friends and family members in our home country, the USA.

Going forward, as we “go back,” we’ll have to redo our thinking when we communicate with family and friends when mentioning the day or date.  Not only have we had to consider the date and day of the week, but we’ll experience many times changes as this cruise continues to North America.

Wondering why and how the International Date Line came to be, after some research, we found the following at this site:

“The International Date Line, established in 1884, passes through the mid-Pacific Ocean and roughly follows a 180 degrees longitude north-south line on the Earth. It is located halfway around the world from the prime meridian—the zero degrees longitude established in Greenwich, England, in 1852.
The International Date Line functions as a “line of demarcation” separating two consecutive calendar dates. When you cross the dateline, you become a time traveler of sorts! Cross to the west, and it’s one day later; cross back, and you’ve “gone back in time.”
Despite its name, the International Date Line has no legal international status, and countries are free to choose the dates they observe. While the dateline generally runs north to south from pole to pole, it zigzags around political borders such as eastern Russia and Alaska’s, the Aleutian Islands.”
By perusing the map as shown in today’s main photo, one can better understand how this line cuts the globe in half. Thus, when we prepare tomorrow’s post about cannibalism in the South Pacific over the ages, we’ll be back on May 1st. 
Funny, eh?

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

Had we not been traveling the highway in Bali at such a clip, we’d have been able to take dozens of photos such as this of famous Balinese gods, kings, and queens. For more details, please click here.

Sailing toward Hawaii…Four days until we reach Kona, ..The Big Island…

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A fancy outhouse on a tropical island.

Today, at 12:45 pm, is the Crossing the Equator Ceremony, which we’ll attend poolside, taking photos we’ll post tomorrow. In these past four and a half years, we’ve crossed the Equator on four occasions; twice on a ship and twice while on in the air.

Crossing the Equator on a cruise ship is particularly festive when a ceremony is usually filled with hilarious activities centered around King Neptune. Tomorrow, we’ll return with our photos from the event.

The pristine beach and sea views.

In May 2015, while on our way from Hawaii to Sydney, we thoroughly enjoyed the activities surrounding “King Neptune” and hope this ship will provide an equally entertaining Equator crossing event.

Otherwise, today will be a relatively quiet day for us.  With four more sea days, until we reach Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, where we spent Christmas with 12 of our family members in 2014, we’ll be reminded of how long it’s been since we’ve seen everyone.

A school of fish swimming by the tender.

As we count down to 23 days until we reach Minnesota, the time apart becomes more apparent than ever. For example, we hadn’t seen son Richard in Henderson, Nevada since January 3, 2013 (when he couldn’t join us in Hawaii in 2014), a full four and a half years ago. Nor have we seen some of Tom’s siblings at his retirement party in October 2012 and others during Christmas in Las Vegas since 2012.

My eldest sister (four years) also lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, about a 30-minute drive from Richard’s home. I haven’t seen her since December 2012. My dear sister has been lying in bed with the same spinal condition as mine for the past 12 years. 

Care for a ride on a small boat?

Seeing my dear sweet sister is a sorrowful reminder that had I not changed my diet five and a half years ago, lying in bed, unable to walk, and in constant pain could have easily been my fate. My heart breaks for her. 

But, a life without the pleasure of many foods isn’t for everyone. For me, it was a no-brainer…be in a wheelchair or give up the foods I loved. So, I choose to give up the food.

The sun was reflecting on the sea at the end of the day.

The result of that decision has enabled us to travel the world, an impossible thought six years ago, a reality today.  There’s no doubt I’m eternally grateful, as is Tom. And although I continue to struggle with this lingering and annoying gastrointestinal thing, I remain hopeful for the future.

The next leg of our journey awaits us; our family, our friends, and the memories of the hot summers and wintertime tundra of Minnesota, which in itself I do not miss at all. But, we adapt, we change, and our priorities change along with us.

We sail on…

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, May 3, 2016:

“Pinch me,” I gasped, “Is this real?”  We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw two buffalo walking on the beach with their owner.  He’d brought them for a swim in the river next to our house. The black spot in the ocean is a small buoy. Our first photo in our upcoming series of photos of “Sightings on the Beach in Bali” one year ago. For more photos, please click here.

Leaving Suva, Fiji today for the vast open sea… A peek at early cruise ship history…

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Despite their increasing success, these early cruises, called “excursions,” were challenging to plan with existing ships. Constructed as ocean liners, they did not meet the requirements of the pleasure-seeking market. In addition, they offered few amenities aboard. 

Note:  Due to the poor signal, formatting has been challenging for today’s post, especially when copying information from another site. We apologize for the spacing and font differential throughout the post.

With the ship refueled and provisions in the final stages of the loading process, Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas will be departing Fiji around 5 pm. However, as mentioned in yesterday’s post, we have thousands of sea miles ahead of us.

We can only imagine what it must have been like generations ago for travelers to make their way a much longer and more hazardous journey across the season.

In perusing online, I stumbled across this site with the fascinating story of the world’s first cruise line. For those who prefer not to click on links, here are a few morsels directly from that article with photos.
“SS Albert Ballin was an ocean liner of the Hamburg-America Line launched in 1923 and named after Albert Ballin, visionary director of the line who had killed himself in despair several years earlier after the Kaiser’s abdication and Germany’s defeat in WW 2.  In 1935 the new Nazi government ordered the ship renamed Hansa (Ballin having been Jewish).

The German shipping magnate Albert Ballin was responsible for turning Germany into a world leader in ocean travel before World War I. It was Ballin who also invented the pleasure cruise in 1891.

Born in Hamburg on 15 August 1857, Albert Ballin was destined to become a pioneer in making ocean travel a more pleasant, even luxurious experience. 

As a Jew, for most of his life, he would walk a fine line between social acceptance and scorn. But the “Kaiser’s Jew” long enjoyed financial and political prominence before falling out of favor and being branded a traitor to Germany as the First World War and his own life drew to their bitter end in 1918. Born in a poor section of Hamburg, Ballin (pronounced BALL-EEN) had achieved greatness and strongly influenced the passenger ship industry by taking his own life at age 61. A decade before Albert Ballin’s birth, the company he would later head, the Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft (Hapag), had been founded on 27 May 1847, to operate a faster, more reliable liner service between Hamburg and North America, using the finest sailing ships. At that time, a “fast” east-to-west Atlantic crossing took about 40 sailing days. The return voyage, with favorable west winds, required “only” 28 days.
Nevertheless, there was stiff competition for passengers on the North Atlantic route. Internationally, shipping lines in Britain and Prussia (after 1871) fought to attract passengers, but there was also competition within Germany between the port cities of Bremen (Bremerhaven) and Hamburg. In 1856 Hapag, under its first director, Adolph Godeffroy, put its first steamship, the Borussia, into service, becoming the first German shipping firm. As time went by, coal-powered steamships would cut the travel time between Hamburg and New York down to just six or seven days.”
 
For our “history buff” readers and the remainder of the story, please click here.  We found the story interesting causes us to appreciate further the quality of the experiences we’ve had during this period in our lives with advanced design, amenities, convenience, and technology.
 
During many conversations with passengers on this cruise and others, a common topic of discussion has been how modern conveniences and technology have greatly enhanced travelers’ desire to see the world in part by cruise ship.
For us, it’s added considerably to our ability to visit more countries in shorter periods.  Although ports of call stops are often for only one day, it allows the traveler to sample the flavor and persona of the city and a country.
 
However, our opportunities to stay in many countries for more extended periods have provided us with a perspective that often proves to be very different than one might experience in a single day or two (such as these two days in port in Fiji).  
If anything, our longer stays while immersing ourselves in the culture and lifestyle of the locals leave us appreciating and feeling more inspired than when we may spend a mere day in any location while on a cruise. 
 
Over these past two days, we’ve had an opportunity to share some of our Fiji lifestyle stories after spending four months on two islands, Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, both very different while having similar friendly Fijian nature of its fine people.
Photos of the ship and her public rooms – as seen in Scientific American.
Fiji consist of 332 islands (of which 106 are inhabited) and 522 smaller islets. The two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, which account for about three-quarters of the country’s total land area.”

So off we go, to the Pacific Ocean, finally after almost two years departing the South Pacific. We’ve had quite an adventure and yet look forward to the next leg of our journey.

Tomorrow, when we return here to post, we’ll be on our way, hoping to share the excitement as we head toward Hawaii for three days visiting three ports of call. But, funnily, it will feel like going home after spending eight months in the islands.

Back at you soon.

Photo from one year ago today, April 30, 2016:
One year ago, no photos were posted when the Wi-Fi signal on the ship, Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.

Limited number of ports of call on this cruise…Long way yet to sail…9368 km, 5817 miles (5055 nautical miles)…

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Isle of Pines coral reef is stunning.

The ship docked at the Port of Suva, Fiji, early this morning for an overnight stay. Why they chose this port for the extended stay baffled us until yesterday when the captain explained in a seminar held midday in the Palace Theatre.

Passengers seemed to enjoy the white sand beach and crystal clear sea.

The ship needed to refuel and gather provisions for the upcoming journey consisting of 9368 km, 5817 miles, 5055 nautical miles to sail to Seattle by May 15. We boarded the ship one week ago today, and the time is flying by more quickly than we’d expected.

These types of garments are not for me, but it’s fun to check them out.

The ease of life aboard a ship, along with a pleasant routine we tend to embrace within the first few days, days almost pass in a blur. We probably don’t spend more than nine hours a day in our cabin, sleeping, showering, dressing for the day, and then for the evening.

There were lots of trinkets for sale in New Caledonia.

Tom and I have managed the small space in the cabin of 164 square feet down to a science. We maneuver around one another with a flow comparable to a well-practiced dance where we seldom bump into one another.

After 18 cruises in similarly sized cabins (this is the smallest to date), we’ve managed to make the most of it in keeping the space tidy, organized, and free of clutter. In addition, we have a phenomenal cabin steward on this particular cruise whose efforts include consistency and organizational skills similar to our own. 

Green-themed sarongs.

Each morning as soon as we depart for breakfast, she cleans our cabin to perfection. Then, when we return to get our laptops to head to the Diamond Lounge to prepare the day’s post, every last item is completed with nary a wrinkle or item out of order.

Tourists typically purchase tee-shirts and beach towels.

Today, we arrived a little later than usual when we lingered at the breakfast table chatting with other passengers, all of whom were about to explore Suva for the day. We didn’t arrive in the Diamond Lounge until 10 am, when in most cases, we’ll be done preparing the post by 11. This accounts for today’s slightly later posting.

A tiny rowboat at the ready.

As we’ve recounted the details of our four-month stay in Fiji on two islands, from September 8, 2015, to January 4, 2016, we giggled over our varied experiences during that period.

Ship passengers peruse the many shops in Isle of Pines, New Caledonia.

Whether it was the ants that filled the mattress and pillows on the bed on our first night in Savusavu; buying Kava for the chief when we visited the Vuodomo waterfall; the nightly visits by our neighbor Sewak’s adorable dog Badal who happened to arrive while we were dining, hoping for morsels of meat which we always provided; or the trips to the outdoor markets for food and supplies, we continue to relish the experiences, good and not-so-good yet today.

Two sleeping dogs seemed unfazed about the stream of visitors.

Unfortunately, on the second island in Fiji, I contracted this lingering intestinal bacteria I’m continuing to purge from my system with carefully selected foods, supplements, and portion control. 

A rusted outboard motor fashioned into a work of art?

Regardless of the ups and downs, we continue to feel a powerful sense of joy wash over us every day.  From the couples with who we’ve become friends aboard this ship; to the many email messages we continue to receive from readers and friends we’ve made along the way; to the anticipation of the upcoming Alaskan cruise and, of course, seeing family and friends in less than a month.

Clouds above the pretty beach in the Isle of Pines.

Today, at 1:30 pm, the newer movie, Lion, filmed in Tasmania, is playing at the Palace Theatre. We’re certainly looking forward to this movie when our recent stay in Tasmania left us with an appreciation and gratefulness for the three months we spent on the exquisite island.

I haven’t owned a muumuu since I was pregnant in 1966.  (That certainly “dates” me!)

Every day as time marches on, we’re reminded of our growing past experiences in one way or another. And yet, there’s so much we’ve yet to see. The future looks bright and filled with wonder.  May good health keep us on track for that which is yet to come.

We offer the same wishes for all of you; good health and well-being.

Photo from one year ago today, April 29, 2016:
Sunset on the last night of our cruise to Singapore one year ago today. For more details, please click here.

Visiting Isle of Pines, New Caledonia…”New’ places to visit…The fun continues with flourish…

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View of the shore as our tender pulled into the dock at Isle of Pines, New Caledonia.

This itinerary’s ports of call are a little repetitive for us. Having been to most of these ports, we tend to hesitate when considering if it’s of interest to get off the ship. In many cases, since we don’t shop, visiting ports we’ve seen in the past holds little appeal.

As soon as we disembarked the tender, we walked toward the rows of shops.

We’d hadn’t visited these two ports of call on this ship’s itinerary in the past: Isle of Pines, New Caledonia, and Mystery Island, Vanuatu, both of which we visited over the past several days, each of which we thoroughly enjoyed seeing and now sharing.

Now on our way to Fiji, we have little interest in getting off the ship after spending a total of four months on two of its hundreds of islands, and thus, we’ll be content to stay on board and enjoy the quiet while other passengers check it out.

An old structure at the beach.

We realized this 24-night cruise would consist of many repeated ports, including the arrival in Hawaii in nine days (including crossing the International Dateline). After spending eight months in Hawaii, we may only disembark in Lahaina, Maui, which we’d visited during our six weeks in Maui in 2014. It’s a fun little town, and we’ll surely enjoy seeing it again.

A roundhouse at the beach in the Isle of Pines.

However, we didn’t choose this cruise for its ports of call. Instead, we’re using this cruise as a pleasurable means of getting from Point A to Point B; Sydney, Australia to Seattle, Washington, bringing us close to our upcoming Alaskan cruise from Vancouver, British Columbia, ending in Seattle, Washington and then on to family visits in both Minnesota and Nevada.

In our old lives, the prospect of an Alaskan cruise would have sent us to the moon with delight. Although enthusiastic over this cruise, it’s a normal part of our daily lives of world travel, another exciting stop along the way.

An old structure on the narrow beach road.

Don’t get me wrong. We don’t take any of these opportunities lightly. But after four and a half years of travel, we’ve settled into an easy acceptance of new spaces, new places, and new adventures, which seem to continue in our path as we navigate from one part of the world to another.

We walked this path with other passengers to arrive at the central area of the port of call.

The highlight of our lives indeed is in the “new.” New locations, new people, new cultures, new scenery, and new wildlife certainly seem to set our hearts and minds whirring with excitement. 

Of course, our upcoming return to Africa may be the exception. Most likely, it will seem new to us after being away for almost four years, having left South Africa in February 2014 and Morocco in May 2014. (We won’t be returning to Morocco on this upcoming visit, instead of visiting several other countries on the vast continent).

Helicopter at the local police facility.

As for the Isle of Pines, New Caledonia, here’s a little information from this site:

“The Isle of Pines (French: Île des Pins; name in Kanak language Kwênyii: Kunyié) is an island located in the Pacific Ocean, in the archipelago of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France. The island is part of the commune (municipality) of L’Île-des-Pins, in the South Province of New Caledonia. The Isle of Pines is nicknamed l’île la plus proche du paradis (“the closest island to Paradise”). It has snorkeling and scuba diving in and around its lagoon. Species of tropical fish and corals can be seen in the transparent water.
The island is around 22°37′S 167°29′E and measures 15 km (9.3 mi) by 13 km (8.1 mi). It lies southeast of Grande Terre, New Caledonia’s main island, and is 100 kilometres (62 mi) southeast of the capital Nouméa. There is one airport (code ILP) with a 1,097 m (3,599 ft) runway. The New Caledonia Barrier Reef surrounds the Isle of Pines.
The island inhabitants are mainly native Melanesian Kanaks, and the population is 2,000 (estimated 2006) (1989 population 1,465).
The island is rich with animal life and is home to unusual creatures such as the Crested Gecko Rhacodactylus ciliatus and the world’s most giant gecko, Rhacodactylus leachianus.
The pic Nga is the island’s highest point, at 262 metres (860 ft) elevation. River Ouro is the longest river.

History

Melanesian people lived on the island for over 2000 years before Europeans first visited the island. Captain James Cook in 1774 saw the island and renamed it on his second voyage to New Zealand. Cook gave the island its name after seeing the tall native pines (Araucaria columnaris). He never disembarked onto the island, but he assumed it was inhabited as he saw signs of inhabitance (smoke). In the 1840s Protestant and Catholic missionaries arrived, along with merchants seeking sandalwood.
The French took possession of the island in 1853, at which time the native Kunies opted for the Catholic religion. In 1872 the island became a French penal colony, home to 3,000 political deportees from the Paris Commune.

Sights

The ruins of a penal colony can be seen in the village of Ouro in the west of the island. The water tower of Ouro, which was built by prisoners in 1874/75 and renovated in 2005, is still used today.

On the cemetery, Cimetière des Déportés near Ouro, a pyramid-shaped memorial and the graves of 300 deportees who died here between 1872 and 1880 can be seen.”

A church or public building?

As illustrated above, there weren’t a lot of possible sightseeing venues in the small village. However, the scenery, gorgeous beaches, and the shopping certainly bring cruise ships to the area aiding in providing income for the locals as they present their various wares.

Unlike our usual mission to check out the scenery and culture, we found ourselves wandering through the lean-to shops in the popular boutique area, which required a bit of a walk on an uneven path.

Hibiscus-type flowers were growing along the path to the boutique area.

Cruise passengers generally gravitate to shopping areas to discover that perfect item to bring home to family and friends. But, instead, we’re more interested in observing local crafts and craftspeople. 

In many ports of call, as was the case in both Isle of Pines and Mystery Island (photos coming soon on this island), many of the items offered for sale are trinkets made in China that we’ve seen in other ports of call throughout the world. 

Regardless, we enjoy taking many photos, chatting with passengers on the tenders on the round trip back and forth to the ship, and later discussing our varied opinions on what the area had to offer. 

The scene down a private road.


As is the case for most passengers on cruises, they’re optimistic and upbeat in describing various ports of call rather than expressing any disdain over any potential lack of appeal.

Last night we had a fabulous evening with two couples we met, one of which we’ve spent the past two nights.  All from Australia, the conversation was spiked with typical and appealing Aussie speak and good humor, which we’ll miss as we make our way out of the South Pacific in weeks to come.

We are both doing well, enjoying ourselves while feeling settled and familiar with this cruising way of life while over this extended period.  Once again, it’s become “home” to us.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, April 28, 2017:
The workaround for grabbing last year’s photo is not working around again due to the poor signal on the ship.  Today’s a sea day when everyone is online. We’ll post the missing photos once we move to a new location.  Thanks for your patience.