Pure joy!…Photos of two of the fledging Laysan Albatross chicks in Kauai…Vinny and Nash…The culmination to our passionate observation…

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For the purposes of illustration and the difficulty of determining which bird is Vinny and the other Nash, we’ve taken the liberty of speculating which of the two birds are shown in these photos, although each photo is one of the two. Also, due to the poor internet connection and the number of photos our line spacing may appear inaccurate.
The remaining fuzz doesn’t deter Nash from being ready to go. Only five months old, he’d yet to shed his chick fluff, but the dark lined eyes are very grown-up.
On Saturday morning as we began our day, sipping coffee and getting online Tom asked if I’d seen my email yet. I hadn’t. Instead, I was busy checking photos for the day’s post and contemplating the storyline. 
Vinny awoke this morning and decided, “Today’s the day,” and begins the long walk to the edge of the cliff.

Most days, I have no idea as to our story instead, using the most recent photos to lead the way into the day’s story. Posting with photos each day can be rather challenging at times, especially when we don’t always have enough good photos on file to share.

It’s a long walk for Vinny from the nest to the edge of the cliff.

With today’s scheduled appointment for an interview at the Cairns Tropical Zoo (see this post for details on why we’re going to a zoo) after which we’ll tour the zoo to take many photos of Australian wildlife which we’ll share here in the days to come, we thought having a story and photos to post early in the day would get us out the door on time.

Nash begins to hike from the nest to the cliff’s edge.

At times, we plan ahead by preparing a post a day or two early when we have something specific scheduled in the morning when I usually prepare the post. Luckily, we’re able to schedule the post to automatically upload at a designated time making it possible for it to upload while we’re away.

“This looks scary,” says Nash. “It’s a shame I’m having a bad hair day!”

Today’s story is such the case when Saturday morning’s email from our dear friend Richard in Kauai, sent both of us these awe-inspiring photos of Vinny and Nash as they fledge the nest and head out to sea to fen for themselves.

“So what if I don’t look very grown up! I can do this!”

These amazing photos were taken in the past few days by Bob Waid, albatross expert and photographer, who lives in the special neighborhood in Kauai (along with Richard) which we frequently visited to see the progression of the life cycle of the Laysan Albatross.

“I’m almost there.”

Somehow, from years of experience and sheer luck, Bob was able to take these photos that brought tears to my eyes. Bob Waid wrote the wonderful book on the life cycle and nesting habits of the intriguing Laysan Albatross which we read shortly after our arrival, relishing every photo included in the beautiful story. 

It’s a big commitment, worthy of contemplation.
“I can do this,” says Vinny.

While we lived in Kauai, Hawaii, USA for over four months before taking the cruise to Australia, we had the exquisite opportunity to visit the albatross, often several times each week, from the incubation stage when the many sets of parents were taking turns sitting on their solitary eggs, through the date in early February when the chicks finally hatched.

“Hey Ma, hey Pa! Look what I can do!”

From there, we had the joy of watching the chicks mature as they sat on their nests growing plumper and plumper each day as the parents took turns flying out to sea to feed. 

It’s a whole new world for Vinny and Nash

The parents were often gone for many days, leaving the chick returning to regurgitate the seafood to feed their precious chick. Watching the feeding in itself was a mind-boggling experience, one we treasured along with each step in the growth cycle. 

What a gorgeous young Laysan Albatross, minutes before fledging!
Having had the opportunity to meet both Bob Waid and later, Cathy Granholm, a docent with the Los Angeles Zoo (see this link for some photos, a video, and our story) both of whom live in the neighborhood only added to our extraordinary and memorable experience.
Vinny leaping off the cliff to a new life.

Cathy is the record keeper for the progression and growth of the Laysan Albatross chicks and families.  Tirelessly, she’s wandered through the neighborhood twice daily, spending hours recording the growth and behavior of the chicks, their parents, and yet to mature offspring many of whom return to this magical neighborhood year after year.  

A running start for Nash.
Cathy has managed this daunting task for the past 10 years, making it her way of life for seven to eight months of the year.  What dedication!

On Saturday morning when Tom suggested I immediately check my email with a huge smile on his face, I knew it was something wonderful as opposed to disturbing news of any type.

Almost over the edge!

Opening the message from Richard, my breath caught in my throat and I loudly gasped when I saw the photos as Tom spewed out the words, “It’s the chick named Vinny who is fledging.” 

“Hmm… It looks like I need to try again.”

Then again yesterday morning we found the second batch of photos of Nash fledging sent to us once again by Richard. I’d contacted Bob by email to ask him if he’d give us permission to post his photos. He was thrilled to share them with us and our worldwide readers.

Finally Nash is on his way.

After over four months, (nothing compared to Bob or Cathy’s commitment) of following the growth and progression of the chicks and taking endless photos and videos, the experience had finally come to fruition, even with us now living so very far away.

“Finally, I’m free!”

Having the opportunity to see these photos sent me over the moon in a swoon of joy. For those of our readers who followed the albatross journey with us, who perhaps tired of our constant comments, and photos, humor me one more time and check out these photos knowing they are posted with a love of wildlife and a passion for the mystery of life itself.

Vinny takes flight!

We both want to thank Bob, Cathy, and our friend Richard for introducing us to this extraordinary annual event that magically worked out perfectly during the time of our lengthy stay in Kauai. 

“Weee… This is fun!”

By the time you see this post, we’ll be on our way to see the wildlife of Australia. Although, we’d have preferred for the opportunity to see the animals in their natural habitat, as we’d watched the Laysan Albatross for months and as we experienced in both Kenya and South Africa, we’re grateful for this inside look into life in this environment.

Vinny’s off to his new life at sea.

Although the Cairns Tropical Zoo may be a controlled  environment, we have no doubt that the wildlife is nurtured with the care, compassion, and expertise of many dedicated individuals who appreciate each and every creature

Check out that wingspan on a five-month-old Laysan Albatross chick Nash as heads out to sea.

Most of all, as we wind down our story of this memorable experience, we want to express our love for the Laysan Albatross parents and chicks for giving us the glorious experience of witnessing a vital part of your life that in essence, has changed ours.

Off to the sea, perhaps to return to the neighborhood when they mature in four to five years to have their own chicks to nurture and love.

The last video we took of the albatross before we left Princeville, Kauai.

                                               Photo from one year ago today, July 7, 2014:

One year ago today, we’d booked an Australian cruise on the Celebrity Solstice, a ship on which we’ve sailed in the past on January 5, 2016, a mere six months away. How the time flies! For more details on this cruise, please click here.

Part 2…The gap is filled!…

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The house in Phuket, Thailand was built around its private pool.

With the decision and full payment made for the Viking Mekong River cruise next July our next decision was to decide on where we wanted to stay for the remaining 41 days until we return for our second leg in Bali, we perused the map and literally 100’s of vacation homes in the countries we were interested in visiting.

The dining room overlooking the pool.

Based on a 10 day gap in the itinerary prior to the cruise which we’ll fill with a hotel in Hanoi with an excellent opportunity to tour the city and the duration of the cruise, we had 41 days yet to fill after the cruise ended and before returning to Bali.

There are several areas to lounge by the pool.

When considering vacation homes, the close proximity to the location before and after is usually a huge factor along with an attempt to get the best possible property for the best possible price with the amenities that are important to us.

Most often, close proximity to the ocean when possible has been a driving force.  However, as we searched for Southeast Asia, oceanfront and ocean view properties were through the roof.

An additional seating area in the dining room.

We asked ourselves this question, “Would we be willing to forgo an ocean view for a mere 41 days to be living in a beautiful house with a pool, in brand new condition with all of our favorite amenities and with an opportunity to drive a short distance to the ocean at will?” 

Our answer was “yes” especially when it would take us to a new country we’d yet to explore together, Thailand, a country I’d visited 30 years ago BT (before Tom).

A modern kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.

The island of Phuket, Thailand suffered a tremendous loss of life when a tsunami ravaged the island in 2004, a story that was heard around the world. We recall watching the devastation on the news, hearts breaking over the horrific stories told by those who were thrust into the disaster and miraculously survived, many losing loved ones or seriously injured.

This might have been a good spot for countertop dining.  But, from what we’ve seen throughout the world, that concept is not always popular.

It’s been over 10 years since the devastating tsunami and Phuket has been rebuilt to become one of the choice islands in the world to visit. My fond memories of its wonderful people and the astounding beauty of this special place surely was instrumental in my suggesting it to Tom, as we searched for the ideal property for many hours.

Sipping a cup of coffee while lounging in these chairs in the morning will be easy to take.

Finally, we landed on this home that is more than befitting our needs and wants to give us a chance to visit yet another country on our worldwide journey. Yes, there are other countries in Southeast Asia that would have worked for us, but Phuket stood out among the rest.

Here is the link to the listing of the house we chose in Phuket, Thailand.

View of the living room with a flat-screen TV and hopefully comfortable furniture.

We’ll rent a car during our stay enabling us to explore, shop in the outdoor markets, and see the points of interest. Many who visit Thailand often visit Bangkok (on the mainland) as I did years ago. With the congestion, traffic, and noise of the big city, we’ve opted to stay away and will choose a flight directly to Phuket.

Alternate view of the living room.

During our expansive search, we attempted to find a vacation home in Vietnam but were unable to do so at a price in line with our budget. They were either very inexpensive apartments in the center of the cities or outrageously expensive massive homes in the countryside, neither of which worked for us.

Both bedrooms have king-sized beds and overlook the pool.

It was at that point we began perusing the bordering countries, any of which would be easy to navigate and with affordable flight fares. We’re confident it all will work out well.

Master bedroom alternate view.  Both bedrooms have en suite bathrooms.

Enjoy these photos today that we “borrowed” from the property owner’s listing on TravelMob, a newer vacation home rental site we’ve only recently utilized, owned under the umbrella of our favorite HomeAway site which owns many of these types of websites. The property owner, Gregory, has been wonderful to work with, and based on reviews he continues to provide excellent service throughout the rental period.

Jacuzzi tub and separate walk-in shower in master bath.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with a very special story of an event that literally brought tears to our eyes with a sense of joy and a feeling of awe that we’re excited to share.

Outdoor dining.

                                                 Photo from one year ago today, July 6, 2014:

The mountains and hills of Madeira were often shrouded in dense clouds, creating a magnificent scene, one we never failed to notice. For more details, please click here.

Part 1…The gap is filled!…

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Viking Mekong Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review | CruiseMapper
The Viking Mekong             

With the gap looming next summer for 65 days, we were anxious to find a way to fill it, especially when we noticed that a number of vacation homes were already booked during this period.  We asked ourselves, “Had we already missed the window of opportunity?”

Our location at the beginning of the gap had been of vital concern.  We’d be leaving Bali with two factors in mind; one, what flights out of Bali would be cost-effective when it’s far from many areas, and two, what flights wouldn’t require long travel days?

When reviewing a map of the South Pacific our options appeared limited based on countries and areas that we’d like to see along with being conveniently located. Hovering in my mind had been a visit to Vietnam.

When I mentioned this to Tom last year, he was adamantly opposed even cringing at the idea. His brother-in-law Ernie from his first marriage, was killed in Vietnam when he was only 19 years old. 

This had a tremendous effect on Tom and over the years he expressed considerable reverence and respect for fallen soldiers when it was “close to home.” He’s often stated that his two children had lost the opportunity to know an uncle they’d never met and cousins they never had. 

After hearing from many travelers that their own visits to Vietnam were often their favorite travel experience, I had a hard time getting it out of my head. After mentioning it a few times to Tom this past year I could tell how hard he was trying to let the negative perceptions waft away. Although I don’t nag, I gently mentioned it a few more times. 

On several occasions during this most recent cruise to Australia including at “The Shed” (guys only meetings) aboard ship, he had an opportunity to speak to veterans, both Australian and US, who emphatically stated that visiting Vietnam was a profound and memorable experience that under no circumstance should be avoided.

When I noticed his acceptance of this possibility, recently when we began searching, he mentioned we could consider the possibility of a trip to Vietnam. I was elated. The most logical way for us the see the full range of possibilities in the country was a cruise on the Mekong River.

Here are the details of the cruise:
“River Cruise Itinerary

Day 1 Hanoi, Vietnam
Fly to Hanoi, the former capital of French Indochina, then transfer to your hotel.* Check-in for a 2-night stay, then relax or take a walk to stretch your legs and get acquainted with the city.

Day 2 Hanoi, Vietnam
After breakfast, take a tour of this unique, thousand-year-old Asian capital, where old and new combine in a lush setting of parks and lakes. Visit the Museum of Ethnology, which includes a number of fascinating exhibits that bring Vietnam’s history and astonishingly diverse culture to life. Then tour the notorious “Hanoi Hilton,” the H Lò Prison, where American POWs were held captive during the Vietnam War. In the afternoon, visit Hanoi’s Temple of Literature. Founded in 1070 as Vietnam’s first university, this maze-like compound features inviting courtyards, gateways, pavilions, walkways, lakes, and a museum. Continue on to the One Pillar Pagoda, an 11th-century monument that was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954. En route, pass some colonial landmarks such as the magnificent Opera House and St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Relax this afternoon before dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)

Day 3 Hanoi, Vietnam
In the morning, take a leisurely ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter by “green” electric car. Enjoy some free time before your short afternoon flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Check in to your hotel for a 3-night stay; tonight’s dinner is accompanied by a traditional Apsara dance show. (B, D)

Day 4 Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Begin your day with a visit to one of Angkor’s largest Khmer temples, Angkor Wat, built for King Suryavarman II in the 12th century AD. With its beautiful proportions and extensive, intricate bas-relief, stone carvings, it is one of the most spectacular sights in Southeast Asia. Spend some time exploring the fortified city of Angkor Thom, which houses several of Angkor’s most popular sights such as the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King with their dramatic bas-reliefs. Today you also visit the mysterious Bayon Temple, known for its giant, stone-carved faces with their enigmatic smiles. Dine at a local restaurant and relax this evening. (B, D)

Day 5 Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Today, ride to the spectacular 10th-century Hindu temple Banteay Srei (“Citadel of Women”) to see magnificent carvings of Shiva and Vishnu. Then, journey to Ta Prohm, one of the most popular of the Temples of Angkor. Unlike many other buildings, it has been left as it was discovered, with trees and large shrubs growing over the ruins.
After lunch on your own, visit a local village supported by Viking River Cruises, observe school children at work, and find out how you can “adopt” a child to help support their education.
This evening, enjoy dinner in a local restaurant followed by a Cambodian Circus show, which uniquely blends together theater, music, dance, acrobatics, hugging, and aerial acts. (B, D)

Day 6 Kampong Cham, Cambodia
After breakfast, visit a local village supported by Viking River Cruises and spend time with children at one of the village schools. Check out of your Siem Reap hotel and begin your coach tour through the Cambodian countryside, which brings you to your ship in Kampong Cham, via the provincial capital of Kampong Thom. Due to its central location, this area is rapidly becoming an important hub for fishing and agriculture. It also has a rich archeological heritage, to which the 200 temples, some of which predate the Khmer Empire, attest. This afternoon, board your ship. After you get settled in, meet the ship’s officers over a welcome cocktail. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Kampong Cham, Cambodia
This morning visit the Twin Holy Mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey with their many temples and pagodas, still used during traditional Khmer festivals. After, visit a Kampong Cham orphanage where students create beautiful paintings that are available to purchase. This afternoon the ship will set sail toward a silk-weaving village. Take a walk through the village and admire the rich silk fabrics. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Phnom Penh, Cambodia
This morning’s excursion takes you through a Cambodian village.  After, take a short ride to Udon Monastery for a tour and to receive a blessing by the monks. Then continue to the next village, famous for its silversmiths. Rejoin your ship and have lunch as we cruise into Phnom Penh.
Your afternoon is free to explore Phnom Penh’s historic riverfront area with its restaurants, art galleries and silk shops, or perhaps visit the distinctive Central Market or the “Russian Market” where you can buy jewelry, curios, clothes, and souvenirs. You might prefer to visit more of the city’s wats (monastery temples): Wat Langka, Wat Botum, Wat Koh, or Wat Ounalom, each with its own special character and purpose. Late this afternoon, there will be an onboard presentation about recent Cambodian history by a local expert. Dinner is served aboard the ship. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Phnom Penh, Cambodia
After breakfast, disembark in Cambodia’s lovely waterfront capital and explore the city in style, in a cyclo. This mode of transportation provides many Cambodians with a source of income and visitors with a speedy and enjoyable way to move around. See the magnificent Royal Palace with its spectacular Silver Pagoda, built in the 19th century by the French, but inspired by the centuries-old architecture of the Khmer. Then take a tour of the National Museum of Cambodia, which houses treasures of Khmer art and craftsmanship and also displays art that predates the mighty empire. After lunch, join an excursion to the sobering memorial in the Tuol Sleng detention center, a former high school in which thousands of victims of the Khmer Rouge died, and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, or explore the city’s maze of small alleys, markets and busy streets on your own. Tonight’s dinner is accompanied by a folkloric performance. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Mekong River
Sail down the Mekong, one of the world’s great rivers, toward the Vietnamese border. The Mekong is truly the “Mother River of Southeast Asia,” sustaining civilizations through the centuries. Pass by some of the Mekong rice fields. The Khmer Empire was founded on a rice surplus, and rice is still the main staple of Vietnamese cuisine. (B, L, D)

Day 11 Tân Châu, Vietnam
Today you will have a rare glimpse of rural life as it has been lived for ages. Begin your morning with a ride on a traditional rickshaw in Tân Châu. Afterward, visit the floating fish farm by wooden sampan, then take a boat ride to Vinh Hoa, known as “Evergreen Island.” Here you can take a short walk to see various methods of traditional Vietnamese farming, craft-making, and other daily activities of local people first-hand.
Set sail in the afternoon, observing the daily life along the way. This evening, enjoy a screening of the film l’Amant (The Lover), which will prepare you for tomorrow’s visit to Sa Ðéc. (B, L, D)

Day 12 Sa Dec, Vietnam
This morning, board a sampan to explore the backwaters and canals of the Delta. Small factories line the river channels; get a glimpse of industry in the region with a visit to a brick factory. Stop in Sa Ðéc and see the house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, the protagonist in best-selling author Marguerite Duras’s autobiographical novel, l’Amant (The Lover). After lunch, visit the colorful floating market of Cái Bè; see local workers producing rice noodles, coconut candy, and a host of other handmade products. This evening, attend an onboard screening of the 2002 film The Quiet American, based on Graham Greene’s novel set in 1952 Saigon. (B, L, D)

Day 13 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Bid farewell to your ship this morning as you cruise through Cambodia and Vietnam comes to an end. Disembark in M? Tho, a busy river port not far from the capital of South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. Upon arrival, take a tour of Reunification Palace (also called ? Independence Palace”), the site of South Vietnam’s defeat. See the Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. After your tour, check in to your hotel for a 2-night stay, then spend the rest of the day at leisure, getting acquainted with this lively city at your own pace. See some of the historic French colonial architecture and soak up some of the city’s youthful energy. Tonight’s dinner is at a local restaurant. (B, D)

Day 14 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
After breakfast, check out of your Siem Reap hotel and begin your coach tour through the Cambodian countryside, which brings you to your ship in Kampong Cham, via the provincial capital of Kampong Thom. Due to its central location, this area is rapidly becoming an important hub for fishing and agriculture. It also has a rich archaeological heritage, to which the 200 temples, some of which predate the Khmer Empire, attest. This afternoon, board your ship. After you get settled in, meet the ship’s officers over a welcome cocktail. (B, L, D)

Day 15 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, continue your Southeast Asia adventure with a 3-night stay in Bangkok, Thailand’s exciting capital. (B)

Tour Map
All This Included
Explore the stunningly scenic and culturally distinctive lands that lie along the remarkable Mekong River. On this 15-day cruise tour, from Vietnam’s bustling cities to the tranquility of Cambodia, discover two countries, two cultures, and two ways of life linked by Indochina’s most important river. Encounter ancient Khmer monuments at Angkor Wat and the elegant French colonial capital of Phnom Penh in Cambodia; in Vietnam, visit the floating markets of the Mekong Delta, experience the intimate charm of Hanoi’s old quarter, and tour dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. Here you will find gracious hosts and some of the finest cuisines in the world while enjoying the natural beauty and rich history just beyond the banks of the magnificent Mekong.
  • 8-day cruise with river-view stateroom
  • 2 nights in Hanoi’s deluxe Sofitel Metropole; 3 nights in Siem Reap’s superior first-class Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra; 2 nights in Ho Chi Minh City’s superior first-class Sofitel Saigon Plaza (or similar)
  • Fully escorted: 14 guided tours with audio headset
  • Included meals: 14 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 13 dinners, featuring regional specialties
  • Complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks with onboard dinner and lunch service
  • 1 intra-itinerary flight
  • Culture Curriculum: Attend an Apsara dance show in Siem Reap; enjoy lectures on current affairs in Vietnam and Cambodia; visit a local elementary school
  • All port charges
Accommodations on this Tour
Hanoi: Sofitel Metropole
Siem Reap: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra
Cruising: Cabin onboard Viking Mekong
Ho Chi Minh City: Sofitel Saigon Plaza”

Tom spent days searching online for possible river cruise while, after posting for the day, I joined in searching for possible vacation homes in Southeast Asia either before or after a cruise.

It was challenging to say the least.  Although there were hundreds of vacation homes, most of them were apartments in the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, neither of which appealed to us for an extended period. 

As we’ve mentioned many times in past posts, we just aren’t “city people.” Plus, with the almost daily ports of call on a river cruise, we’d have had an opportunity to see many of the cities, both large and small, during the river cruise and its subsequent included tours to many points of interest.

In most cases, we don’t care to join in on ship sponsored tour groups. In this case, it makes all the sense in the world when attempting to book all of these events separately would have been a time consuming and costly task. This time, we’ll “go with the flow” knowing we’ll be able to see as much as possible in this short two week period.

After many days of searching, on June 30th, we booked the Viking Mekong for 14 nights from July 8, 2016, to July 22nd with a passenger capacity of 60 with 28 cabins. The actual cruising time is only seven days with the remaining time spent on tours throughout the area, all arranged through the cruise line. 

As it turned out the Viking Cruises was offering a “two for one” sale for a limited period of time.  As a result, the cruise was almost sold out. If we wanted to book this cruise, we’d have to choose from one of the five remaining cabins. 

Since most cabins on river cruises of this size have similar, if not identical cabins, we were happy with our choice. We booked it on the last day of the “two for one sale.” Even with the discount, it  is the most expensive cruise we’ve booked to date:
 
Charges
Package USD $6,998.00 Discount  – 400.00  (discount provided by Vacations to Go)  AUD $9309.19 Discount – $532.11

Total Sal: USD $ 6,598.00  AUD $8777.09

A condition of the “two for one” discount was the cruise had to be paid in full by June 30th, the same day we booked it. Ouch! We hadn’t budgeted for this early payment in full but, we made it work.

Here is the detailed information about the ship, the Viking Mekong:

Detailed Information

Viking Mekong Deck Plans
Deck Plans
Dining Info
 Ship Statistics 
Year Built 2012
Refurbished 2013
Registry Vietnam
Length 180 feet
Beam 34 feet
Passenger Capacity 60
Crew Size 28
Total Inside Cabins 0
Total Outside Cabins 28
Cabins & Suites w/ verandas 0
Suites 0
Maximum Occupancy per room 2
Age Restrictions All must be 18-20 or one must be 21 or older
Dinner Seatings 1
Seating Assignments Open
Dining Hours 7PM
Dining Room Dress Code 1 Formal Night
Tipping Recommended? No
Tipping Guidelines Europe Sailings: €12-15 per person, per day; Sailings to Russia/Ukraine, China, Egypt and Southeast Asia: $15-28 per person, per day.
Onboard Currency US Dollar
 Services & Amenities 
 Bars/Lounges  Yes
 Beauty Salon/Barber Shop  No
 Casino  No
 Chapel  No
 Disco/Dancing  No
 Elevators  No
 Hot Tub  No
 Cell Phone Service  No
 Internet Access  No
 Internet Center  No
 Wireless Internet Access  Yes
 Laundry/Dry Cleaning  Yes
 Library  Yes
 Movie Theatre  No
 Outdoor Movie Screen  No
 Onboard Weddings  No
 Self Serve Laundromats  No
 Shops  Yes
 Showroom  No
 Spa  No
 Video Arcade  No
 Fitness & Sports Facilities 
 Basketball Court  No
 Fitness Center  No
 Golf Driving Net  No
 Golf Simulator  No
 Ice Skating Rink  No
 Jogging Track  No
 Mini-Golf Course  No
 Rock Climbing Wall  No
 Swimming Pool  No
 Tennis Court  No
 Water Slide  No
 Water Sports Platform  No
 Cabin Features & Amenities 
 24-Hour Room Service  No
 Hair Dryer  No
 Safe  Yes
 Telephone  No
 Television  No
 Kids Facilities 
 Babysitting  No
 Children’s Playroom  No
 Kiddie Pool  No
 Supervised Youth Program  No
 Teen Center  No
 Special Needs & Requests 
 Adjoining Cabins
(private connecting doors)		  No
 Kosher Meals  No
 Single Occupancy Cabins  No
 Single Share Program  No
 Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins  No

At this point, we had no idea what we’d do between July 22 and September 1, 2016, still a gap in the schedule.  With sheer will and determination along with a willingness to use a substantial amount of data for our search, we went to work with a great result we’ll share tomorrow in Part 2.  

We couldn’t be more thrilled in selecting this cruise and also, a fabulous vacation home in an entirely new country located in Southeast Asia which we’ll be posting tomorrow with photos.

Today, in the US is the national holiday, the 4th of July. We wish all of our family, friends, and readers in the US a safe and enjoyable holiday as the fireworks fly!

                                                  Photo from one year ago today, July 5, 2014:

As we drove to the small village of Sao Vincente we spotted this church while I took this lopsided photo while standing on a hill, my lame justification for not straightening the camera!.  For more details, please click here.

Breathtaking Cattana Wetlands…Exciting news on the horizon…Stepping outside the box on Tuesday…

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The Cattana Wetlands offered excellent expansive views.
Vegetation growing in the lake at the Cattana Wetlands created this view.

Our sense of relief is totally wrapped around a high degree of excitement. We’ve filled the gap in our schedule for next June, July and August and couldn’t be more thrilled with the bookings we’ve finalized as of late last night.

There were numerous signs warning of the possibility of crocodiles as we entered the Cattana Wetlands, none of which we’ve seen as yet.

In tomorrow’s post, we share the first half of the details with the balance the next day, each warranting their own post with the amount of information and photos we have to share.

As it turns out, we have an upcoming appointment on Tuesday morning at the Cairns Tropical Zoo to interview the Mammal Department Supervisor to learn about the zoo, the care, and preservation of the wildlife, and to take photos of the wildlife indigenous to Australia. 

Who knows what creatures may lurk beyond the vegetation?

OK, I get it. We’re hypocrites. We said that we “don’t do zoos” and normally we don’t. The reason we haven’t done so in the past is due to our love and respect for the preservation of animals in the wild. After all, we did go on many photo safaris in Africa in both Kenya and South Africa. 

The sun reflected in the wetlands creating this orange glow in the water.

However, we feel we could justify, rationalize or in less severe terms, simply explain, why we’re visiting a zoo on Tuesday to write a story about the facility, its operation, and the care for its vast array of Australian wildlife.

The Cattana Wetlands are well arranged with paved walking paths and clearly marked areas.

Many moons ago, we spent days researching possible “safari-type” adventures in Australia, contacting many potential resources to get the same answer each time, “We don’t do safaris in Australia. You can drive to the Outback to possibly see some wildlife on your own.” 

The various ponds and lakes were clearly marked.

Frustrated that such a safari wasn’t realistic we gave up searching only to begin again once we arrived in Trinity Beach. After using no less than two gig of data searching online, again I came to the realization that its is not going to happen unless we rent an RV to make the trip on our own. 

Peeking through the trees to the main lake in the Cattana Wetlands.

Now, don’t get me wrong, we seriously considered touring the Outback on our own without fear or apprehension. We’d considered using the gap in our itinerary that we’ve since otherwise booked that we’ll present tomorrow and the following day. 

Areas were clearly marked with maps and descriptions.

The problem in touring the Outback on our own is the cost of the rental of an appropriate vehicle, preferably an RV with four-wheel drive (although not necessarily required) when hotels and RV parks, although available, aren’t as readily available as one may think. 

We expected a beaver to pop up at any moment. 

The bottom line for us is the cost. A moderately sized and priced RV with toilet, shower, kitchen, etc. would cost in the range of US $15,000, AUD $19,954 a month when adding RV rental fees, fuel, groceries and RV park fees. The price of fuel alone would be outrageous when the cost here in Australia is twice as much, if not more, than the cost in the US.

This small island was located in the middle of the lake.

In addition to the cost, we wouldn’t be able to get online and, most importantly, we may seldom find wildlife.  The Outback is a vast desolate desert. One can drive for hours and hours to never see another vehicle. 

 A close up of lily pads on which some creature enjoyed lunch.

Here’s an interesting article regarding some of the potential challenges of driving through the Outback.

The lakes were covered in parts in lily pads.

Believe me, this has been a tempting prospect. But, reality prevails, and incurring this type of expense for that which may prove to be a very long drive in a vehicle with little to see, we decided against the possibility. 

One of many paths we’ll explore when we return in the future.

Instead, in this almost month we’ve been in Australia, we’ve wandered through many rainforest areas looking for wildlife including the Cattana Wetlands for over an hour (we’ll return again with insect repellent and proper clothing) we only saw a few birds, none of which we were able to get a photo.

It was especially appealing on a sunny day. 

As a result of this long and convoluted situation, we decided that the only way we’d see a large amount of indigenous wildlife would be to visit a zoo, one of which, The Cairns Tropical Zoo, is located near the Palm Cove area we visited a week or so ago.

Leave that have changed color.

Contacting the Manager of Wildlife and Operations, we’ve been able to secure an appointment to interview a zoo supervisor to learn what we can about Australian wildlife which we’ll share here with photos and descriptions over a period of several days.

From a distance, we thought these were flowers when in fact, they were colorful leaves.

Sure, we hesitated at this prospect based on our passion for animals in the wild. But, we both feel a tremendous desire to learn more about the exquisite and unusual inhabitants in the wild in this amazingly diverse continent.  The only logical means of doing so with the least amount of expense and time is to take the path we’ve chosen, albeit with a bit of trepidation. Hypocrites? Perhaps. Wildlife enthusiasts? To a high degree!

As we entered the wetlands, this was the first path we took toward the lake.

Today, we’re sharing the photos we took a few days ago at the Cattana Wetlands. Here’s a blurb of the story of the wetlands from this site:

“Originally a sugarcane farm owned by Franco Cattana, the site was used as a sand mining quarry resulting in several fresh and saltwater man-made lakes. The land was purchased by the then Mulgrave Shire Council in 1993, primarily to protect the 30 hectares of lowland rainforest on the western end of the site. This forest, described as the Feather Palm Forest, is a remnant of a once extensive forest type that is now confined to only a few remnant patches in the Cairns region. Council has planted over 70,000 native plants and undertaken extensive weed removal enabling existing water bird populations to flourish. As part of the 150th anniversary of Queensland celebrations, Council and the Queensland State Government each committed $1.5 million to the rehabilitation of the site. The works program included the construction of boardwalks, walking tracks, bird hides, and viewing platforms, picnic areas, interpretative signs, car parks, access roads, and toilet facilities. In addition to the amazing wetland habitat, Cattana Wetlands also harbours an impressive range of north Queensland wildlife and significant plant communities.”

Tomorrow, as stated above, we’ll be sharing our new bookings. Please stay tuned for much more to come!

Again, to our family and friends in the US, have a safe and memorable Fourth of July celebration.

                                                Photo from one year ago today, July 4, 2014:

There are many tunnels on the island of Madeira, Portugal, located off the coast of Morocco in Africa. We enjoyed every day of the two and a half months we spent in a gorgeous house overlooking the hills and the sea. Also, on this date, one year ago, we posted our upcoming itinerary available at that time.  Soon, we’ll be posting an updated itinerary, including the booking we’ll be sharing in the next few days. For more details, please click here.

Further explorations of this amazing area…Holloways Beach…An exciting sighting…

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Finally, we were able to take photos of Cockatoos.

Yesterday, we took off after I worked out at the local fitness center. From now on, I’ll leave a pair of shorts in the car when my spandex workout pants are too hot to wear while walking outdoors.

Strait on the Beach, a café and store on the beach.

We started our tour for the day at Holloways Beach which is very close to Cairns, the big city where the airport is located. Having heard there was a cute café on the beach, it was worth checking out. 

The quaint outdoor setting at the café.

Perhaps, we’d stop for a beverage while overlooking the ocean or return at another time for a meal. We’d had breakfast before we left the house in the morning and wouldn’t be hungry again until dinnertime.

The interior of the café in Holloways Beach.

Unfortunately, the quaint café didn’t have anything on the menu that would work for me so we continued on, knowing that we had our iced tea in the car and a home-cooked meal ahead of us in the evening.

Few visitors were on the beach.

The restaurant required visitors to stand in line, place their orders, and then pay. With as seldom as we dine out, we prefer to have a server take our food orders deliver the food, and subsequently the bill. 

We checked out the neighborhood, the beach, and the rainforested areas and didn’t spot a thing until Tom immediately pulled to the curb when he spotted something exciting in a park and playground area as we drove through a quiet neighborhood.

There were no less than a dozen what is referred to as Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. Here’s some information on these popular local birds, at times known to be pests:

“In Australia, sulfur-crested cockatoos can be found widely in the north and east, ranging as far south as Tasmania, but avoiding arid inland areas with few trees. They are numerous in suburban habitats in cities such as Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, and Brisbane. Except for highland areas, they occur throughout most of New Guinea and on nearby smaller islands such as Waigeo, Misool, and Aru, and various islands in the Cenderawasih Bay and Milne Bay.

Within Australia, sulfur-crested cockatoos of the nominate race have also been introduced to Perth, which is far outside the natural range. Outside Australia, they have been introduced to Singapore, where their numbers have been estimated to be between 500 and 2000. They have also been introduced to Palau and New Zealand.

In New Zealand, the introduced populations may number less than 1000. This species has also been recorded as established in Hawaii and from various islands in Wallacea (e.g. Kai Islands and Ambon), but it is unclear if it has managed to become established there.

Holloways Beach in Cairns.

Their distinctive raucous call can be very loud; it is adapted to travel through the forest environments in which they live, including tropical and subtropical rainforests. These birds are naturally curious, as well as very intelligent. They have adapted very well to European settlement in Australia and live in many urban areas.

The flock of Cockatoos was busy foraging for food.

These birds are very long-lived and can live upwards of 70 years in captivity, although they only live to about 20–40 years in the wild. They have been known to engage in geophagy, the process of eating clay to detoxify their food. These birds produce a very fine powder to waterproof themselves instead of oil as many other birds do.

The sulfur-crested cockatoo is a seasonal breeder in Australia, little is known about its breeding behaviour in New Guinea. In southern Australia, the breeding season is from August to January, whereas in northern Australia the season is from May to September. The nest is a bed of wood chips in a hollow in a tree. Like many other parrots it competes with others of its species and with other species for nesting sites. Two to three eggs are laid and incubation lasts between 25–27 days. Both parents incubate the eggs and raise the nestlings. The nestling period is between 9 to 12 weeks, and the young fledglings remain with their parents for a number of months after fledging.

It was interesting to see how adept Cockatoos are with their claws.

A 2009 study involving an Eleonora cockatoo (the subspecies Cacatua galerita Eleonora) named Snowball found that sulfur-crested cockatoos are capable of synchronizing movements to a musical beat.

Species that feed on the ground are very vulnerable to predator attack. The cockatoo has evolved a behavioural adaptation to protect against this: whenever there is a flock on the ground, there is at least one high up in a tree (usually a dead tree), keeping guard. This is so well known that it has even entered Australian slang: a person keeping guard for sudden police raids on illegal gambling gatherings is referred to as a cockatoo or cocky for short.”

Stopping again to check the surroundings.

On numerous occasions, we’ve spotted cockatoos flying in the yard. By the time I’d grab the camera, they would be long gone. Cockatoos seem to alight in the trees for only seconds, but yesterday’s flock was busy foraging for food on the ground although they were well aware of us watching them at a distance. We never got out of the car to avoid disturbing them. As a result, our photos aren’t ideal, all taken from quite a distance.

This one stopped looking for food to look at us wondering if we were a threat.

After leaving Holloways Beach we headed to the Cattana Wetlands, a location we’ll soon visit again. Wearing those spandex pants on the hot sunny day, I felt as if I was encased in a plastic bag, sweating like a fool as we walked. However, we walked for about an hour, taking a number of exquisite photos which we’re excited to share tomorrow. 

Holloways Beach wasn’t quite as scenic as some of the other beaches we’ve visited in Cairns.

Upon leaving the Cattana Wetlands we returned to the fish market near Yorkeys Knob. We’d already run out of the fabulous smoked fish we’d purchased several days ago which had been a perfect accompaniment to cheesy scrambled eggs and bacon.

There were no less than 18 Cockatoos in the flock.

Today, we’re heading back to the travel agency to pick up the paperwork for the airline tickets we purchased on Monday and grab a few items from the market. Who knows what the remainder of the day holds for us? 

For our friends and family in the US…have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend!

                                               Photo from one year ago today, July 3, 2014:

One year ago today, we booked our upcoming stay in January in New Zealand, living on an Alpaca Farm while we tour the country by car. Of course, we won’t have to do any work on the farm with the owners living in another house on the property. For more details, please click here.

Confusing flight arrangements…Needed help…More Yorkeys Knob photos…

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There was a wide array of ocean going boats at the marina in Yorkeys Knob.

With the relatively slow wifi in our area and the cost of using the SIM card’s data, we decided that we’d visit Flight Centre, a full-service travel agency at the Smithfield Mall which we’d spotted on our many walks through the large indoor mall.

Also, with the small airports in Fiji, we needed an experienced agent to handle our best way to travel between islands for our two separate vacation homes over a period of four months.

We walked along this pier at the Yorkeýs Knob Boating Club.

Staying in Fiji over this extended period was planned as another opportunity to keep costs down, staying put in a reasonably priced location with reasonably priced vacation rental prices. 

The only other agency, we’ve used since the onset of our travels, almost 33 months ago, has been Vacationstogo.com which has handled all of our cruises thus far. 

Many of the beach parks we’ve seen thus far as uninhabited and unspoiled.

It hasn’t made sense to use an agency when we stay in vacation homes, which travel agencies generally don’t handle. However, yesterday’s positive experience may inspire us to consider it again in the future when booking tricky flights such as these.

As soon as we walked into the digitally and visually contemporary agency, Flight Centre, we met Helen, who proved to be a highly competent rep. She did it in 30 minutes what could have taken us days with the slow wifi.  Plus, she was so fast typing on her keyboard, it made my head swim.

The Yorkeys Knob Boating Club.

Her keen ability to piece the dates, times and necessary flights were uncanny as her fingers flew across the keys. She totally got what we needed to accomplish. Of course, we brought along our passports and a copy (on my phone) of our itinerary with dates and locations and a photo of a map designating our vacation rentals on the two separate islands in the Fiji.

Sharing this map below again provides a clearer perspective of the reason for the number of necessary flights.  It’s a little confusing about Suva, on the main island, and Savusavu on the smaller island of Vanua Levu.

1.  September 7 – Cairns to Sydney – departing at 5:30 pm, arriving at 8:15 pm – overnight at hotel in Sydney
2.  September 8 – Sydney to Nadi – departing at 6:30 am, arriving at 12:20 pm
3.  September 8 – Nadi to Savusavu (separate island) – departing at 2:30 pm, arriving at 3:40 pm
4.  December 6 – Savusavu to Nadi – departing at 9:20 am, arriving at 10:20 am
5.  January 4, 2016 – Nadi to Sydney – departing 11:15 am, arriving at 2:10 pm – overnight stay in Sydney

The next day, January 5, 2016, we’ll board a 14-day cruise at Sydney Harbour to sail the continent and ultimately end in Auckland, New Zealand where we’ll rent a car and drive to our vacation home where we’ll live for 89 days. Whew!

At the time we booked the two islands, flight schedules were different and we wouldn’t have necessarily had to stay overnight in Sydney. However, staying over at the beginning and end of this list of flights ultimately is stress relieving. 

According to local weather reports, this June has been the rainiest on record. Hopefully, now that July is here, we’ll see fewer clouds and more sunshine.

We’ll book the first hotel at the airport and the second hotel near the pier further reducing rushing, taxis, and stress. That’s always the plan, especially when we have multiple flights such as indicated here.

Another issue we must face for these five flights is our overweight luggage, based on each airline’s baggage policy. Qantas, handling three of the above flights doesn’t charge for one checked bag each.  We have a third overweight bag. There’s no way to avoid this. 

Mountains surrounding the area create eye catching scenery.

Rather than break down the cost for each flight, we’re providing a total for both of us for all five flights which are AUD $3448.96, USD $2632.97 plus the estimated excess baggage fees of AUD $1049, USD $800.82. 

Although we chose our seats on the flights that we could, we haven’t paid for the excess baggage as yet. Over the next 60 days, we’ll continue to unload what we can from our bags, and a few days before we depart, we’ll weigh everything and go back to see Helen, paying for our bags with her help, which she’s offered to do. 

This is a park at one entrances to Yorkeys Knob Beach.

Based on the combined costs of  all of these flights and the estimated baggage fees, the average cost per person, per flight is AUD $449.80, USD $343.38. In this context it doesn’t seem like quite as costly. 

We’re glad this part is done and paid for. Now, we can return to the planning of the gaps in our schedule. At this point, we have good news to report…we know where we’re going, an exciting new location, and a portion of it is already booked and prepaid. The second leg of the journey is yet to be booked.

A typical street in the Yorkeys Knob area.

Over the next few days, amid trips to the fitness center and more exploration in the area, we’ll be working on the second leg in our 65 day gap. Once that is resolved, we’ll be posting all the news with photos, pricing, and details. Please check back. 

Have a great Wednesday or, Thursday depending on your side of the International Dateline!

                                                Photo from one year ago today, July 2, 2014:

Campanario is a quaint little village in the mountains of Madeira. Although little English is spoken in the area or in much on the island in general we had a wonderful time during our stay.For more details, please click here.

Barramundi…Tom bit the bullet…

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We stumbled upon the Preston Fresh Seafood Wholesaler on our drive to Yorkeys Knob which is a quick five-minute drive from our home in Trinity Beach.  With many more items I like to try, we’ll surely be returning soon.

While making dinner last night I was apprehensive for two reasons; one, Tom doesn’t like fish and two, it was the first time I was making Barramundi, a locally caught fish, popular in Australian restaurants which we mentioned on the day we visited the pier in Palm Cove.

Their colorful signs in the somewhat remote location made it easier to spot from the highway.

With my forgiving taste buds, I had no fear that I’d like the fish. Tom, on the other hand, is picky and normally won’t eat fish let alone a wide array of other foods and vegetables making cooking for him challenging at times. 

As a result, it’s not unusual for me to make two separate meals to allow myself variety and to try new foods befitting my way of eating. Yesterday, I’d offered to make Tom a steak and give him a small piece of fish to try, but he insisted he’d give the fish a try.

When we arrived at the wholesale fish market, we were intrigued by what could possibly be “cooked bugs.” Could this possibly be some type of sea “insect?”  Check out the photo below of “cooked bugs.”

Usually, for myself, I’ll grill fish instead of sautéing it with garlic, spices, butter, and olive oil. I knew Tom wouldn’t like it grilled. Last night I prepared a bowl of beaten egg with cream and a plate of seasoned almond flour, dipping the fish into the creamy egg mixture and then into the almond flour. 

I preheated the only skillet in this house with an equal mix of coconut oil and olive oil in a medium-sized non-stick type which I wouldn’t normally use if stainless steel was available, keeping it from getting too hot due to the pan’s coating.

Gee, we’ve never seen scallops in the shell. We can imagine a plate of six of these covered in almond flour and Parmesan-crusted buttery topping. Tom likes scallops so this will be a no-brainer.

The fish was so thick, it took a good 12 minutes, turning it once to ensure it was cooked thoroughly but not overcooked. Without a lid for the pan, it had to cook longer than usual while I kept a watchful eye.

Finally, I plated our meals and we sat down to dinner at the dining room table. I tried not to watch Tom’s face as he took the first bite, instead focusing on my own delicious plate of food. The fish was mild, cooked perfectly without a single bone to be found.

These are “large cooked bugs” which are similar to crab but according to the salesperson, they taste similar to prawns. Next time we visit, we’ll try a few of these.

After his plate was clean, he turned to me and said, “It was OK.” Oh. What an enthusiastic response. Then again, that’s a typical response for Tom or, shall I say for many men who a less inclined to “jump for joy” than us more enthusiastic women. Sorry, women, for the stereotyping but men are different than us in some ways, aren’t they?

Will I make this for him again while we’re in Australia?  Most likely not. I was grateful he tried it once. And, if I make it for me, most likely I’d grill it to avoid making such a mess on the stovetop especially when the oil spattered when I turned the fish with a less than ideal spatula and hot grease hit the stovetop and a few spots on my hand. No big deal.

We selected a filet from this batch.  Keep in mind, for those of you reading from countries not using the metric system, AUD $32.50 per kilo translates to 2.2 pounds which would be USD $14.77 per pound, not too bad for fresh (never frozen) wild-caught fish. We purchased about one pound of which Tom had 9 ounces and I had approximately 7 ounces.

As for the smoked fish shown in the photo, this morning we had scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, and smoked fish on the side. What a perfect way to start the day! 

Recently, Tom has been having two meals a day, with me having one meal plus and an occasional light breakfast or afternoon snack. Due to my strict way of eating, a ketogenic diet, I have little appetite until dinnertime.

At AUD $64, USD $49.26, all of these items includes a huge Barramundi filet, two pieces of made-without-sugar smoked fish, and two containers of crab meat which we’ll use to make low carb crab cakes this weekend (lasting for two meals) will result in four meals for the two of us. As a result, the cost per entre results in a cost per day of AUD $16, USD $12.31, not bad for such delicious fish and seafood. We struggle to be motivated to go out to dine when we do so well at home and have just as good a time.

Yesterday, we headed out for our weekly trip to the grocery store which now entails a trip to Woolworth, the meat market, and the indoor vegetable stand (they call it “veg” here in Australia). Tom waited in the car while I shopped, reading a book on the Kindle app on his phone. I wasn’t gone more than 40 minutes, now that I’ve become familiar with the market.

There were a few types of fish that had been frozen but it was clearly marked.  We don’t purchase defrosted fish preferring to buy only fresh when available.

Luckily, the other shops are outside the door of Woolworth in the mall making accessing the other stops easy and convenient as I wheeled around the “trolley” that had an annoying wheel with a mind of its own. Making my way to the car was challenging when I had a hard time with the crazy cart while attempting to maneuver the speed bumps (sleeping policemen).

Last night’s dinner of lightly battered with egg and almond flour, sautéed in coconut and olive oil Barramundi, fresh organic green beans, homemade LC muffin, and salad on the side was a perfect meal we both enjoyed.

Today, we’re off to a local travel agency, again in the Smithfield Mall, to arrange a few upcoming flights.  Normally, we don’t use travel agencies but with the high cost of data using the SIM card why not let someone else do the looking when it won’t cost us any more using a travel agent?

Many more fabulous scenery photos are stacking up which we look forward to sharing each day. 

Have a lovely day!

                                               Photo from one year ago today, June 30, 2014:

With the summer season in Madeira, roses were blooming in almost every yard in the neighborhood. For details from that date, please click here.

Yorkeys Knob…An interesting visit provided a wide array of experiences…A few new favorite photos…

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After leaving the beach we drove to a high point in the area with this expansive view.

The Cairns area of Queensland has so much to offer. It’s highly unlikely we’ll ever run out of places to explore during our remaining few months in Trinity Beach. Sure, at some point we’ll drive further away. For now, we’re soaking in everything we can in the wide-area surrounding us that is jammed packed with interesting spots to visit.

We walked past a grove of palm trees and evergreens as we made our way to the beach.

Yesterday’s outing after my workout was no exception. Having heard about Yorkeys Knob as a community rich in history and diversity, we decided to check it out and by no means were we disappointed.

As we walked toward this crest which after crossing dipped down to the beach, wondering if any cross may be lying in wait. 

We found an enormous stretch of beach that was pure paradise. We met people along the beach with whom we talked for some time, we drove along the many streets and beach boulevard enjoying the differences of other beach roads we’d seen thus far. We gathered shells on the beach which we’ll share in photos soon. 

Yorkeys Beach was serene and pristine.

And, much to our delight, we purchased fish and seafood at a fabulous wholesale fish warehouse on the remote drive back to Trinity Beach. We timed the return drive from the fish market to our house to discover it’s a mere five minutes away. Of course, we’ll return in the future.

At certain points, it felt more like the desert than the beach with various vegetation shooting up through the sand.

That five-minute drive confirmed how close we actually are to getting away from the more populated, somewhat traffic-congested areas in the popular Trinity Beach. 

This view was to our left as we faced the ocean.

It’s the unexpected experiences that we stumble upon that make our travels all the more exciting, those we’d never know about had we not driven to an area that may not particularly be on “tourist’s radar.” Visiting many of the typical tourist venues may not appeal to us due to the commercialism, impatient crowds, excess fees for entry, and of course, the long lines. 

To our right, this was the view we stumbled upon.

Nothing about yesterday’s outing reminded us of the above. Quiet, uncrowded, vast expanses of unspoiled beaches brought us the kind of joy that makes our travels meaningful and memorable.

We spoke with this woman who is from Sydney and travels throughout the continent with her husband in their “caravan.” She, like us, was enthralled with the number of shells on the beach, not often found on many beaches that we’ve walked throughout the world.

Today, we’re quoting from a book on Yorkeys Know written by Mary T. Williams which was published in 1960 entitled, “The Know, A History of Yorkeys Knob” as follows:

“Behind the naming of any village, township, city, state or country lies a story. Some names are bland, negating any curiosity to pursue the derivation. Conversely, names can be provocative instantly stirring the imagination.
 
Yorkeys Knob on the eastern coast of Australia in the northern part of the State of Queensland is such a name. Westing from the Coral Sea – approaching land from the east, Yorkeys Knob sits very prettily on the hem of the Great Barrier Reef. To further enhance a natural beauty it edges into rich coastal flatland running from the foot of a marvelous range straight into the illimitable sea.

The Knob itself is the first headland north of the Harbour of Cairns, a cheeky headland layered in rock with a fuzz of timber. Its boulders tumble into the sea in arrow fashion forming a calm bay on its northern side and giving the surf full play to the south. The bay is called Half Moon Bay because of its crescent-shaped white beach and cradles a tidal river running up to and fed by the massive range. On earth level at any angle or off-shore, the lumpy and picturesque Knob invites an explanation why a man nicknamed Yorkey gave to this Knob a meaning.

It might be assumed that amongst the cosmopolitan insurgence of gold-diggers into Northern Australia during the mid-1800’s was a Yorkshireman called George Lawson. There is no factual information to support this assumption. It was only in the 1880’s that an adventurous hard-living beche-de-mer fisherman nicknamed `Yorkie’ was, by a series of incidents emerging as an identity in the northern waters off the harbour of Cairns.

On 10th May 1883 issued the first copy of a newspaper “The Cairns Post”. Thereafter this newspaper was published weekly until 1888 then bi-weekly until 1893. Despite disruptions, changes and upheavals to this date, the newspaper flourishes on a daily circulation. But it is to its romantic and uncertain first decade that we owe a faithful recording of time, date and incident relevant to the man George Lawson nicknamed Yorkie.

In early records Yorkey is referred to as `Yorkie’ or ‘Yorky’ and in one instance as being a Norwegian fisherman who lived on the ‘hill’ called the Knob. However, in all traceable registers the man Yorkey and the headland Yorkeys Knob rise unmistakably and territorially rock-like from misty legends of an extensive region strongly linked to the sea. The same registers disclose the man Yorkey’s great respect for life in a time of lust and survival, more impressive when human life weighed little in value.”

Today, we’re sharing some of our photos from yesterday’s visit to Yorkeys Knob and more will follow in days to come.  And tomorrow, we’ll be back with photos and the “steal” we got on the seafood we purchased. 

Another view of the barren beach.

A few days ago, when we posted photos of the pier in Palm Cove and the limitations on fishing for the popular local fish, Barramundi, we were intrigued by this fish. 

We drove up the hills toward this resort, a distance from which we shot today’s main photo, looking back down at the beach.

As it turned out, we were able to purchase a fresh-caught over .5 kilo, 1.1 pounds, Barramundi filet which we’re having for tonight’s dinner, dipped in egg and dusted in almond flour to be sautéed in grass-fed butter and locally made extra virgin olive oil. 

We met this sweet puppy , Abby, on the beach as her parents took her for a walk without a leash. She playfully jumped up and down in the sand.

Of course, we’ll take photos of tonight’s dinner and share them tomorrow with our opinion on the firm fleshy fish. Even Tom, who doesn’t usually eat fish, agreed to give it a try.

Tiny wildflower growing on the beach.

Thanks for stopping by! We always appreciate your readership.

                                                Photo from one year ago today, June 30, 2014:

Unsure of why the village of Campanario was decorated and with the language barrier we could only guess at the purpose of the hoopla that many residents were busy preparing. As it turned out, it was a church festival that lit up the village that night. For more details from that date, please click here.

The Australian people…What’s the diversity? History to share of the growth of this nation…More photos of Palm Cove Beach…

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A pretty restaurant on a corner.

Today, we include more of our photos from the Palm Cove Beach area as we explain a little information about the Australian continent.

The sidewalk along the beach in Palm Cove.

As we read more and more about Australia, we discover that it is one of the most ethnically diverse societies in the world. Not unlike many countries, many of its people were born outside the country. 

Many of the restaurants offer Italian cuisine.

According to recent records, one in four Australian residents were born outside the continent with many more being first or second generation many of which are the children and grandchildren of immigrants who arrived in the past several decades.

Prices at many of these resorts are surprisingly reasonable, such as at Mantra Amphora, as low as AUD $179, USD $136.47 for each of a three-night stay.

With diverse backgrounds and culture of indigenous Australians who have lived on the continent for more than 50,000 years have been highly instrumental in developing a unique Australian spirit.

There were diners enjoying an early lunch as we explored the area.

In 1778, before the arrival and onset of the British colonies, Australia was inhabited by its indigenous people, the Aboriginal people. The Torres Strait Islanders inhabited the island between Australia and Papua New Guinea, now named the Torres Strait.

Casual, affordable dining establishments line the boulevard.

At one time there were over 500 varying clans or nations throughout the continent encompassing many unique and distinct cultures, languages, and beliefs. Indigenous people make up 2.4% of the total of Australia which is approximately 460,000 out of a total of 22 million people.

Another exquisite resort in Palm Cove Beach, Oasis. If we were coming to this area for a typical two-week vacation, this particular area would be an excellent place to stay especially at any of these resorts.

The state of New South Wales was originally settled as a penal colony where Britain sent convicted criminals with their own prisons overpopulated. Many were sent to the faraway prison for minor offenses but the conditions in the new colony were improved over that in Britain although disease and malnutrition were widespread during the first decades of the settlement.

Pizza restaurants are never at a shortage in most countries we visit. 

The first migrants to choose to settle in Australia included men of certain financial status who were interested in the colony’s agricultural opportunities with the availability of convict labor. 

There are apartments and condos atop some of the shops and restaurants.

Also, the mid 19th century brought the gold rush which eventually changed the boundaries of new settlements by the end of the 1850s. At that point, there were six separate Australian colonies which remain today:

  1. New South Wales
  2. Tasmania (originally settled in 1803 but later separated from New South Wales in 1825)
  3. Western Australia (1829)
  4. South Australia, including the Northern Territory (1834)
  5. Victoria (separated from New South Wales in 1851)
  6. Queensland (separated from New South Wales in 1859)
Alamanda at Palm Cove, a resort along Williams Esplanade.

Those settlers in Australia in the 19th century lived at the forefront of a new society in their new land.

There’s never a shortage of pharmacies wherever we may travel. They are often referred to as “chemists” in many countries.

Our experiences on the recent cruise with 1400 Australians who excitedly share their history and their opinions on the politics, growth, and diversity of their country gave us an inside perspective of the general views of many of the people of Australia. 

A small grocer and “take away” food in this strip of shops.

Also, each day, during our quiet time, we have an opportunity to watch Australian news from many parts of the continent. One aspect rings true for us in our experience, however short and limited, that the Australian people have a commitment and love of their country and a willingness to share their thoughts and opinions on the future growth and development of their country in a manner we’ve found to be both dedicated and far-reaching into the future.

Palm Cove Holiday Park is across the street from the beach.

We’ll be sharing more on the history and diversity of Australia and its people in future posts. It’s easy for us to enter an entirely new country with our preconceived notions as to its history and its people. It’s especially meaningful to discover otherwise.

Today, we’re off to the fitness center and then exploring more of this fabulous area in Queensland.

Have a fabulous new day of your life!

                                                Photo from one year ago today, June 29, 2014:

Ironically, it was one year ago today that we booked our current location in Trinity Beach, Australia, and posted the photos and information. We couldn’t be more pleased with this property, the views, and the thoughtful owners. For more details, please click here.

Finding vacation homes…Not so easy…Holes to fill in our itinerary…

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This was one of our favorite spots located on William Esplanade in Palm Cove Beach due to the colors reminding us of the village in Placencia, Belize from so long ago.

With a 65 day gap to fill one year from today, we’re chomping at the bit to fill this spot with somewhere we’d love to visit. It isn’t as simple as it may seem.

Our proximity at the time is a huge factor. We’ll be at the fabulous house in Bali located in a lovely area for 59 days (visa restrictions) to be returning two months later for two more months. We were provided an excellent price for our two separate stays and loved the property so much, we couldn’t resist the two separate visits.

The Palm Cove Beach Club. In Australia, many accommodations and parking spots are made available for disabled visitors as shown in this parking spot.

At the time when we checked flights and vacation rentals in and out of Bali, we didn’t think we’d have trouble finding a place to stay. Per our previous philosophy of advance planning as much as two years out, we now realize that waiting may have been to our detriment.

With the slow wifi here in the house, which Tom uses, and the cost of the SIM card I’m using, searching is costly and time-consuming. My connection is excellent with the SIM card but I can easily use one gigabyte a day at a cost of AUD $8.74, USD $6.69 per day. 

Spas and beauty shops also were readily available in the area.

This amount is less than our monthly cable bill in our old lives, less than a flavored coffee at Starbucks or a single cocktail in a bar compared to the daily use of one gig. In this context, it doesn’t seem like so much after all, especially when we have so few other expenses; car, fuel, rent, food, health club, and occasional entertainment.

Today, we’ll continue the search which now over the past year will have changed in a very important manner; locations we may have considered in the past are now less safe to visit for obvious reasons we see daily in the world news. Of course, we all know that there is no country or island in the world that is exempt from these horrific possibilities. 

The Palm Cove area wasn’t developed until 1986, making most of these venues less than 30 years old.

Caution will always prevail in our lives, but our sense of adventure and desire to see many parts of the world will also play a big role in where we decide to go. After all, we’ve already been to many of the areas that we wouldn’t visit now as war and strife have escalated in the past few years. We continue to review warnings from the US Department of State Travel information that we take seriously.

There were some apartments and permanent residences along the esplanade.

Let’s face it.  We’ll always make mistakes in our planning. In essence, we probably shouldn’t have booked the second stay in Bali. But, now we’re committed after paying a substantial deposit which we’d forfeit if we canceled. 

There were a number of resorts and hotels interspersed among the row of restaurants along the beach boulevard.

Did we learn a lesson? Of course, we did. It’s the same lesson we learned in staying in Kauai for over four months. Did we have a great time? Yes! Better than ever expected. 

But, without a doubt, it was too long. Ironically, we booked Bali for this extended period over a year ago. We’ve learned a lot in this past year and we continue to discover more and more as to what works for us as we continue on. 

The restaurants were varied in their ethnicity and styles of food.

At no point will we ever say we have it all figured out. With the world changing around us, we continually adapt and change accordingly. Also, with more and more experience we discover circumstances that appeal to our wants and needs.

These two side-by-side restaurants have thick vinyl windows to protect the diners on windy and rainy days and nights.

We aren’t putting ourselves in a position of urgency in selecting how we’ll choose to fill this gap. In looking at a map, the options are plentiful. In considering our budget, the options dramatically change.  We accept the possibility that filling this gap may ultimately cost more than we’d hoped.

Once we fill this spot, we’ll certainly share the details and costs here, not hesitating for a moment to share the reality of having to spend more than we intended. It’s all a part of the reality of our lives. 

The Williams Esplanade in Palm Cove has one restaurant after another.

We have certain criteria and expectations which include a quality place to live, in a good neighborhood, a living room with a good sofa, with interesting views, wifi (if possible), a full kitchen, and on-site laundry facilities. We don’t like typical apartments in a big city which if we can avoid we will. Don’t hold us to this. We may have to change our minds as time marches on.

A number of shops occupied this small shopping center along the boulevard.

It’s Sunday here in sunny Australia. We plan to stay “home” today, spend time on the veranda, make a nice Sunday dinner, and get back to work on the search to fill the gap. 

We hope your day is filled with sunshine!

                                            Photo from one year ago today, June 28, 2014:

Veranda view from our upcoming home in Fiji where we’ll be living in a little over two months. We’d booked Fiji a year ago today. For more details, please click here.