A fun video on “silent disco” night!…The unreality of life on a cruise…Routines become all encompassing…

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 This was a “silent disco” so you won’t hear much
in the way of sound.
Living aboard a ship is comparable to living in a world far removed from day-to-day reality, not unlike that for other passengers who have left their homes to travel on a ship for weeks or more.

Having spent 198 days cruising since the onset of our travels, beginning on October 31, 2012, it served us well to roll into the comfortable routine. Moreover, doing so provides us with a sense of a home during these extended periods.

The ease with which we move from activity to activity, area to area, and a variety of dining and drinking venues become somewhat of a routine for other passengers and us as well.

Christina hung out with us on disco night along with many other new friends we’d met aboard the ship.

This becomes particularly evident when we visit areas we tend to frequent each day or evening at certain times. As a result, our daily routine looks like this:

6:30 am – One of us gets out of bed to shower and dress, with the other immediately following behind. 

7:30 am (8:00 am on sea days) – Arrive in Epernay dining room for served breakfast at a shared table from six to 10 passengers.

The lighting was not conducive to taking photos, but it’s evident that not everyone listened to the same channel.

9:00 – 9:30 am – Return to the cabin to collect laptops and head to Cafe Al Bacio to begin posting. Often, I’ll go directly to the cafe to secure a seat at one of our favorite of three tables situated along the railing overlooking the centrum while Tom dashes to the cabin to get the laptops and the camera.

12:00 – 12:30 pm – Return laptops to the cabin to recharge. If one of us didn’t eat breakfast (I’ve had smoothies most mornings), we might wander to the 14th deck to the Oceanview Cafe, a buffet, where each item offered lists the following, if applicable:  gluten free, sugar-free, vegetarian, lactose-free. This only helps me choose items to a degree since nothing is notated for “low carb” or “starches,” neither of which fit into my diet.

Sorry for the blur; I couldn’t resist including this dancing photo!

1:30 – 2:00 pm – On sea days:  Return to the cabin, collect laptops, and return to Cafe Al Bacio to work on the next day’s photos and post, respond to email and of course, chat with an endless array of friendly passengers.  Some passengers have giggled with us when labeling our seats in the cafe as our “office.” So true. On port of call days: It’s during this period, we may walk off the ship (or take a tender) to explore the port we’re visiting.

4:00 pm – Return to the cabin to relax a bit, later dressing for the upcoming evening’s activities. Most nights are “smart casual,” with no dressy clothing required. However, when “chic” is listed, people tend to wear dressier clothing, although it’s not required.

5:00 – 5:30 pm – Wander to the Sky Lounge for “Elite (or higher) members free happy hour during which we always sit with other passengers shooting the breeze while we share our collective travel experiences as lovely appetizers are servers by wait staff along with cocktails and beverages of our choice.

Our adorable new friend Christina (of Harold and Christina) also “rocked the night away.”

6:30 – 7:00 pm – Happy hour in the Sky Lounge ends at 7:00 pm, after which we wait in what is usually a short line to be seated for dinner. Since we enjoy dining at a shared table, arriving later than 7:00 may prevent the opportunity to dine with others since most passengers dine early to make one of the two shows presented at 7:00 and 9:00 pm. We rarely attend the shows when variety-type shows hold little appeal to either of us.

9:00 – 9:30 pm -Leave the dining room we make our way to one of the many bars where we’ll listen to music, chat amongst ourselves and others to relax and enjoy the remainder of our evening.

The “Ice Bar” is just that, covered in ice. I couldn’t resist making this heart shape as a remnder of our 22nd anniversary the following day.

11:00 pm to ???? – Head to our cabin for the evening hoping for a good night’s sleep, only to begin the same highly enjoyable routine all over again the next morning. 

A few nights ago, a disco event was listed on the program, referred to as a “silent disco.” This is the point when each passenger dons a lighted headset with three channels, each colored coordinated for three types of music being broadcast.

With all the party-goers wearing their headsets, those not wearing them didn’t hear a sound. This is a hoot, especially when a good song is playing and we all go nuts encouraging each other to change the channel for the better dance song via the use of a little button on the side of the headset.

More new friends from Australia, Corinna, and Beau, with whom we’ve had a great time.

As it turned out, at times, Tom and I were dancing together with each of us listening to a different song. This was hysterical. And proved to be more fun than we can describe. 

Tom danced for two hours non-stop, standing next to me at the “Ice Bar” while I joined him in dancing as often as I was reenergized, later sitting for a short recovery period only to begin again. (After all, I’d been sick for the past three months and hadn’t yet had quite enough time to recover after months of lounging. Now, vigorously walking through the ship each day, I’m beginning to feel a slow return to my old self).

We both had messy hair from taking the headsets on and off throughout the night. Tom’s was especially messy from sweating. His shirt was soaked by the end of the evening.

Gosh, we had so much fun. We were reminded of our “hay days” of carrying on in our younger days dancing in a variety of bars and discos. Wow! What a fun activity, especially when we were with friends we’ve made aboard during the entire evening.

Today, the ship is docked in Suva, Fiji. Having spent four months in Fiji over a year ago, plus considerings its where I contracted the infection, neither of us has any desire to get off the ship. 

Eventually, Tom had to remove his glasses. He was sweating so much!  I love this photo!

No offense intended for Fiji. We had a good experience on both the islands of Vanua Levu (Savusavu) and Viti Levu (Pacific Harbour) during the extended period. Today we’re content to stay on board in air-conditioned comfort, continuing to revel in our highly pleasing routine and visiting with the wonderful people we’ve met along the way.

Have a pleasing day, hopefully, spent in the presence of YOUR wonderful people!

Photo from one year ago today, March 8, 2017:

The sun was peeking through the clouds casting this glow at the beach in New Zealand. But, of course, the scene would have been more impressive had it not been so late in the evening. For more photos, please click here.

March 7th…Our 22nd wedding anniversary…History of New Caledonia…Two fun photos from one year ago…

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Do you see the rainbow in the background in this shot of New Caledonia?
Today is a sea day.  The Wi-Fi signal is marginal due to the number of passengers on their phones, tablets, and laptops. I attempted to speak to my sister on Skype, but I could not hear anything on this end, although she could hear me. 

Having ended the antibiotics last night while increasing the dose of the PPI, which I’ll continue to take for two months, I’ve definitely had a good result. 
I’d been suffering from Helicobactor Pylori for the past 15 months. Still a little sluggish from the meds, I’m not missing a beat of the varied activities we enjoy aboard ship, often hanging out with our new friends.

We inquired as to the cost of renting one of these little vehicles in Noumea, New Caledonia, the capital city.  At AU 132, the US $100 per hour, we decided to walk, which certainly was more beneficial.

Speaking of not “missing a beat,” last night, we danced the night away. Tom was doing his usual “dancing to the music” for a solid two hours standing by me while occasionally I had to sit down to recover. 

The boat harbor in Noumea.

After lounging for many months to get well, my energy level wasn’t my usual 100%. On the other hand, Tom never ceases to amaze me with his relentless enthusiasm and high energy when it comes to any activity.  For a guy that likes to lounge, he sure can kick it up a beat when needed.

Tomorrow, we’ll share a video on the post, including photos and stories of an exceptional night we’ll always remember, spent with many of the new friends we’ve made during this cruise.

Freighter in the port in New Caledonia.

Today is our 22nd wedding anniversary. In actuality, we’ve been together almost 26 years. What a fabulous way to celebrate…on a ship with my renewed health as I continue to build back my strength more each day.   Happy anniversary to my lively, energetic hubby, who never fails to make me laugh, smile, and feel in awe of our great relationship.

Local catamaran.

With a one-hour time change last night (loss), little sleep from staying out late, we’re glad to have a sea day. We missed breakfast in the dining room but will soon head in for a light lunch. Now that I can eat a little more, having two meals a day is appealing, especially while on the ship with someone else preparing it.

Last night, the pastry chef made me a dessert..an almond sponge cake made with eggs, almond flour, vanilla, cream, and chopped nuts. It was absolutely unbelievable.  It was the first time in over five years I had a “cake feel” in my mouth with ingredients acceptable to my way of eating. I wonder if I can get the recipe from him.

Our ship, Celebrity Solstice, after we returned from walking through the small town.

Tonight, I’ll bring the camera to dinner to take photos of our meals and my dessert. Alfredo, a restaurant manager, has gone over the top to ensure I’m happy with my meals, typically salmon or chicken, prawns, spinach, and mashed cauliflower. 

Views out to sea from Noumea.

I’ve avoided beef and salads while recovering to keep the volume of food and digestibility under control. Perhaps soon I’ll be able to add a small green salad with a steak.

Below, we’ve included some information about New Calendonia and photos we’d taken both on and off the ship for our history buffs in cyberspace. As always, thanks for stopping by, and we’ll see you again tomorrow with our fun video and photo of us on anniversary night.

New Caledonia consists of several islands in the archipelago.

Happy day to all!
New Caledonia (French: Nouvelle-Calédonie) is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, 1,210 km (750 mi) east of Australia and 16,136 km (10,026 mi) east of Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Chesterfield Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of Pines, and a few remote islets. The Chesterfield Islands are in the Coral Sea. Locals refer to Grande Terre as Le Caillou (“the pebble”).

New Caledonia has a land area of 18,576 km (7,172 sq mi). Its population of 268,767 (Aug. 2014 census) consists of a mix of Kanak people (the original inhabitants of New Caledonia), people of European descent (Caldoches and Metropolitan French), Polynesian people (mostly Wallisians), and Southeast Asian people, as well as a few people of Pied-Noir and Maghreban descent. The capital of the territory is Nouméa.

History

The earliest traces of human presence in New Caledonia date back to the Lapita period. The Lapita were highly skilled navigators and agriculturists with influence over a large area of the Pacific.

Two Kanak warriors posing with penis gourds and spears around 1880. Duh, not our photo.

British explorer Captain James Cook was the first European to sight New Caledonia, on 4 September 1774, during his second voyage. He named it “New Caledonia,” as the northeast of the island reminded him of Scotland. The west coast of Grande Terre was approached by Jean-François de Galaup, Comte de Lapérouse, in 1788, shortly before his disappearance, and the Loyalty Islands were first visited in 1796. However, from then until 1840, only a few sporadic contacts with the archipelago were recorded.[ Contacts became more frequent after 1840 because of the interest in sandalwood from New Caledonia.
 
As trade in sandalwood declined, it was replaced by a new form of trade, “blackbirding,” a euphemism for enslaving people from New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, New Hebrides, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands to work in sugarcane plantations in Fiji and Queensland. The trade ceased at the start of the 20th century. The victims of this trade were called “Kanakas,” like all the Oceanian people, after the Hawaiian word for “man.”

The first missionaries from the London Missionary Society and the Marist Brothers arrived in the 1840s. In 1849, the crew of the American ship Cutter was killed and eaten by the Pouma clan. After that, cannibalism was widespread throughout New Caledonia.”

For more historical information, please click here.

Photo from one year ago today, March 7, 2016:

Tom was holding a gold Oscar statue look-alike at Everybody’s Theatre in Opunake, New Zealand. Click here for the story and more photos of this quaint movie theatre.
Sitting in the “photo booth” on our first visit.  Shortly after our first visit, we returned for a second visit on a special movie night with photos we’ll share shortly as the one-year-ago post approaches.

Swoon worthy photo from friends…Yesterday’s stop at Lifou, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia….

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Two newly born bush babies peering out at the world awaiting them In Marloth Park, South Africa. This photo was taken by friend Mick Dryden (wife, Lynne), both extraordinary photographers and birders. We hope to see them next February when we return to Marloth Park.

Yesterday on Facebook, Lynne and Mick, friends from South Africa, posted today’s main photo and the photo below, both of which sent us swooning.  I couldn’t take my eyes off these exceptional sightings and subsequent photos taken in the yard of their home in the bush in Marloth Park, where we’ll be living next February for my birthday and for months to come. 

As the time nears for the upcoming Antarctica cruise in a mere 10 months with the return to Africa thereafter, our enthusiasm is over the moon. However, we easily find ourselves living in the moment, embracing that which surrounds us at any given time.

Two more little bush babies were photographed by friend Mick in Marloth Park, South Africa. Thanks to wife Lynne for sharing these on Facebook and allowing us to post them.

As we continue to build our repertoire of worldwide experiences, we’ve learned to pick and choose what appeals to us the most. Since our site here is less of a “tourist travel log” and more of a “world travel journal,” we feel confident that our preferred experiences enrich us and hopefully for our readers.

Church on the Hill in Lifou.

The social aspect of cruising is the most appealing to us since we’re often isolated from many social interactions in some locations we’ve visited. For example, most recently in Tasmania, the little oceanfront town of Penguin met all of our needs for socialization.

Thanks to our landlord and new friend Terry, who diligently orchestrated many social events on our behalf, the experience proved to be rich in local culture and people, one we’ll never forget. 

Pier in Lifou where the ship’s tenders docked to unload passengers anxious to get to the beach.

During the second half of our three-month stint in Tasmania, in the lovely holiday home on the Huon River in the Huon Valley, we were a little more isolated during that period, especially since I wasn’t quite up to par during the six weeks in this gorgeous area of Tasmania. 

Aboard the Celebrity Solstice, and on other ships, we become entrenched in socialization well beyond our expectations. If it quiet for longer than we’d prefer, all we need to do is to head to a meal in the buffet, main dining, or one of several busy bars or lounges. 

Lifou is a popular island for snorkeling and swimming with its crystal blue waters and white sand beaches.

There, we discover other passengers anxious to interact, and lively and animated conversation ensues from the first moment we all introduce ourselves. There’s been few, if any, exceptions to this scenario as night after night, we’re thoroughly entertained and delighted by the people we meet.

Usually, when dinner ends, and we finally go our separate ways, Tom and I head to the Ensemble Lounge, where there’s live music, a long friendly bar, an easy spot to meet even more people. 

Beautiful scenery along the shoreline.

Often, we become equally engrossed in chatting with one another, possessing a degree of pleasure comparable to our early dating days when we couldn’t get enough of each other. 

That magical element has remained with us as we’ve traveled the world, although we’re together 24/7, year after year. There’s no pool table on this ship, but we’re easily able to experience exceptional evenings, dancing, chatting with one another and other passengers, and; wandering throughout the ship.

Native Church Lifou, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia.

Tonight, if we can manage a short nap today, we’ll head to the “silent disco,” an event we’ll share in our next post.  We stayed up late last night, and both of us had trouble falling asleep. As a result, we’re both a bit sluggish.

Currently, on the last day of two full weeks of antibiotics and PPIs, I’m feeling better with a few modifications; small meals and consuming liquids slowly over a period of time. However, in a month, I’ll have to be retested for the bacteria we’ll arrange while in Sydney.

Small boats owned by locals.

As for the remainder of today’s photos, they’re from yesterday’s port of call in Lifou, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. Here’s a little information on Lifou, but more may be found online at this site and others;

“Ten thousand people live on Lifou, and the island is divided into three customary districts: Wetr, Lösi, and Gaïça. Traditions and customs are very much alive here. Celebrations and daily tasks (such as hut construction or agriculture) are permeated by tradition. Wé is the administrative center of the Loyalty Islands as it is the biggest tribal village. Located by gorgeous Chateaubriand Bay, Wé counts the island’s main commercial and administrative facilities. 
 
Lifou was officially discovered (and mapped out) by Dumont d’Urville in 1827. Rapidly, Catholic and Protestant missionaries flocked to the island. They fought to convert local populations, thereby echoing the more prosaic competition between the British Empire and France.”

The town is quiet and peaceful, with locals dedicated to providing positive tourist experiences.

As for the remainder of today, we’re content to “see what transpires” when each day, planned or not, proves to be filled with wonderful surprises.

May your day bring you many happy surprises! Thanks for “visiting” us!

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

A few roses remained in Trish and Neil’s garden a year ago as summer comes to an end in New Zealand. For more photos with subjects we consider beautiful, please click here.

Part 2,…Oh, What a Night!…The fun continues…Photo of us and our new friends…

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Our new friends, Christina and Harold, enjoyed dinner in their Penthouse Suite, which is the size of a typical one-bedroom condo.

Cruising is so far removed from most people’s reality that many are disappointed to return to everyday life by the time it ends. However, for us, as constant world travelers, it becomes a part of our daily lives.

We do all the same things when staying in a location; posting each day, searching for photo ops, relaxing, walking, and dining on great food. The bonus for us is fewer ports of call, many of which are too “touristy” for us, and more about the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world.

We have a US $375, AU $494 cabin credit that we’ve had to “use it or lose it” resulting in a bit of shopping. 

Many we’ve met are not a lot different than us, except they have a home to which they return now and then to regroup, repack and recharge for the next adventure. So, for example, last night, we met a lovely couple who are on the move for most of the year, often for six consecutive months in their caravan/motor home.

This common theme among many passengers creates considerable chatter and enthusiasm for where we’ve all visited in the past and anticipate for the future. Many are well into their 80’s which we hope will work for us as well. One never knows.

We never gamble although we could use the cabin credit. However, once one starts, it’s hard to stop.

Yesterday and this morning, we spent more time with new friends Christina and Harold as shown in the above photo sharing travel stories and discussing possibilities of meeting on a cruise or on land sometime in the next year or so.

Yesterday, we disembarked the ship taking a shuttle to the small town of Nuoma on the island of New Caledonia in the South Pacific. Walking up and down the city’s streets for a few hours we took many photos we’ll share tomorrow.

I purchased a few casual items on sale as did Tom.

Today, we’re docked in the island of Lifou, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. However, we may decide to stay onboard based on several reviews we read on Trip Advisor such as the following:
“Great if you like snorkelling”

2 of 5 bubblesReviewed one week ago

If you are a swimmer or snorkeler this island would be fantastic. However, if not, then there is little or nothing at all to do at this location. We had to tender to the island from the ship, then walked in each direction for 1/2 hour or so only to be drenched in sweat. There were no open toilets available.”

For those who enjoy lying on a towel on a beach or snorkeling this may be an ideal location. Unfortunately, Tom has no tan base whatsoever, and my tan was brought about via a self-tanner which does not protect me from UV rays making the idea of baking in the sun unappealing.
Jewelry is a popular purchase among passenger. As a result, there’s now a Tiffany store (not shown here).

Some has asked why we don’t snorkel and for us the answer is simple; we’re worried about my lousy spine if somehow I was startled or jerked in a certain way. Besides, Tom has no interest in snorkeling.

I was seriously injured in the pool in Bali last June taking five months to recover. We don’t want to have to end our journey due to an injury that could quickly have transpired over this past year along with the recent gastrointestinal illness from which I’m now recovering a little more each day.

This was my first cup of coffee in month; a sugar free vanilla decaf latte with lactose free whole cream.  Amazing! 

How can we travel the world and not swim in the ocean, snorkel, scuba dive, zip line, climb mountains, bungee jump or jump out of airplanes? We can. We do. And yet, we’re supremely content meeting people, learning a wide array of cultures, seeing some of the gorgeous scenery on earth, and immersing ourselves in wildlife, vegetation, and nature.

Then, of course, there’s the infinite joy of sharing the most infinitesimal details of our day to day lives. Wow! That in itself is a huge privilege.  Thank you to all of our readers for sharing this life with us!

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

Trish and Neil had acquired these two pink cockatoos, a mating pair, from a elderly couple who’s health is failing. This pair was living in a chain-link cage on the grounds of the alpaca farms with lots of space and plenty of food. To get this photo, I placed the camera,between and touching the closely woven chain-link cage. For mo0re images, please click here.

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

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.

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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.