Settled in at last…Tomorrow’s post will include date and time for upcoming get together with our readers in Minnesota!

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Musical instrument display in the stairwell.

We’re finally feeling settled in. Wandering about the ship, we familiarized ourselves with all the many venues, bars, restaurants and shops, and theaters. My FitBit is practically smoking with all the steps we’re taking, walking throughout the ship off and on all day.

It feels terrific to be moving about as much as we have each day when in Fairlight. But, of course, there were days I wasn’t quite up to getting out, as I’ve been over these past few days since I changed my diet even further.

Staff preparing the Star Lounge for the nightly Diamond Lounge.  After collecting sufficient points to warrant access to many services provided to members, we’re Diamond Club members, including a nightly “party,” which includes complimentary food and drinks from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Last night, we left in time for an enjoyable dinner in the Sapphire Dining Room, sharing a large table with other friendly passengers.

In sheer desperation, I adopted the FODMAPS diet, including only those acceptable foods for my usual way of eating. However, the elimination process was a challenge after cutting out most dairy, cream, onions, garlic, cauliflower, avocados, and more.

Within 24 hours, I was almost pain-free, can now consume hot tea, eat a normal-sized meal, and have even managed to have a small breakfast and dinner. In addition, the bloating is reducing a little each day, and I can go almost the entire day without thinking of my gut discomfort. 

Each passenger finds a groove that enables them to participate in activities they find most pleasurable. Many sit quietly and read or play games on their iPads, tablets, and phone with little interaction with others. We’re both social butterflies. That’s our groove!

Hopefully, as time passes, I’ll be completely free of any discomfort from the annoying Helicobacter Pylori, its resulting ulcers, and its varied symptoms. The ship is doing a fine job preparing my meals, including the new exclusions I incorporated into my usual food list.

For information on the FODMAPS diet, please click here. Ironically, this scientifically-backed approach to intestinal health was developed by the Monash University in Australia. So far, so good! Our fingers are crossed.

Stairways to the Promenade Deck, where many passengers gather throughout the day and night.  (It’s also easily accessible by multiple elevators).

At the moment, we’re seated in the Diamond Club Lounge on deck 14 that has a constant flow of complimentary food and beverages. The seating is inviting and comfortable, the conversation welcomed and easy flowing with other members who’ve had many similar cruise experiences to ours.

Busily, I’m typing in an attempt to complete today’s post considering the WiFii issues that continue while we’re out to sea. We have no idea if this will improve or worsen along the way. It’s simply a part of life, “living at sea” as we have on many cruises, this as #18 since we began our travels.

Finally, I broke the awful cycle of awakening between 3:00 am, 4:00 am and staying awake. To help with this process, I’ve been listening to podcasts on my new smartphone when I go to bed instead of staring at the screen. 

These passengers were in the queue at the guest services desk for a variety of reasons. If and when we have a customer service issue, we call rather than stand in this long slow queue.

If I awaken during the night, again, I’ll listen to the podcasts and am lulled back to sleep. My phone has a timer to turn off the podcast automatically. As we all know, having a sufficient sleep is vital to feeling well during the day.

There’s a lot of truth to the fact that is staring at screens before bed harms sleep. Once I received my phone, my sleep habits worsened. Now, as of several days ago, I’m getting back on track.

Oh well, a part of the aging process may result in various health issues, including a variety of conditions, sleep problems, and generally not feeling as well as we may have felt decades ago. 

One night soon, the staff will entertain us while dancing and singing from this upper walkway.

But, making every effort to combat these “afflictions” can be highly instrumental in ensuring we build ourselves back up to optimum performance and health. It’s an ongoing process that, if ignored, can result in permanent disability and a lack of opportunity to live life to the fullest.

Need I say, we’re grateful and happy to surpass some of the issues that come our way. But, often, it requires more than just a good attitude.  In our case, it’s needed to analyze the circumstances, searching for solutions, and implementing a new and comprehensive plan. 

No, it’s not always easy or convenient. Not being able to eat many foods I like with my already limited diet is annoying. Also, giving up coffee and caffeine was hard. But, we have little time or patience for wasting even another day feeling less than ideal in this life.

We continue with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and hopefulness for the future. May you also find peace in your journey to wellbeing.

Photo from one year ago today, April 24, 2016:
Here again, we’re unable to get into our site to post the “year ago photo” due to the nature of the Wi-Fi signal aboard the ship.  This issue may continue through the remaining 22 more nights on this cruise. Once we’re settled in Vancouver, we’ll go back and make all the corrections, including line spacing and other errors we’re unable to correct at this time.  Sorry for the inconvenience. 

No WiFi all morning…Late posting…Cruising along…Immigration issues at the port…

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The Promenade deck is a favorite of ours. It’s comparable to a long street in the ship with bars, dining establishments, and shops. Great people watching!

It’s almost 5:00 pm, and the first time today, we’ve been able to get online except for a few instances on our phones. It’s been frustrating, to say the least. No doubt, it’s due to the vast number of passengers of this ship using their phones and iPads.

We’d hope to get today’s post uploaded close to our usual time but based on the 3,825 passengers on this ship, the connection is and will continue to be sketchy, to say the least.

Our standard balcony cabin is small, but we’re fine with it.

We expected a little more after paying over US $500 for the VOOM high-speed unlimited WiFi for two devices for this 24-night cruise. However, there’s no point in bringing it up to customer service since it’s clearly outlined that the ship’s service may be unavailable at times.

Besides that inconvenience, we are doing FABULOUS! Although the ship, Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas, is old and a little dated (built-in 2000, refurbished in 2015) its in good condition with all the amenities a passenger could expect for this cruise line. 

Our toilet seat had a huge crack in it.  Last night they replaced it upon our request.  The bathroom is tiny with little storage space, but we make it work.

Yesterday’s boarding process was relatively easy except for one not-so-surprising glitch…immigration. With copies of all of our bridging visa documents on hand, we still got whisked away to be “reviewed” in a separate area. 

The agent mistrusted what appeared on the computer and refused to look at our documents. Weird. However, neither of us panicked when we were certain we had the correct documentation. Instead, we waited for over 30 minutes while the agent satisfied her curiosity that her superiors in Sydney had, in fact, done the documents correctly.

I offered the name of the supervisor in Sydney suggestion she contacts her for confirmation. But, instead, she plodded along, trying to read the laws while we waited to ensure it had been done correctly. 

View of the Sydney Opera House from our balcony before sailing away.

Finally, she let us board the ship, reminding us we’d have trouble if we wanted to get back into Australia at any time in the future. But, of course, with no plans to return, we weren’t worried.

Back on track, we boarded the ship to warm welcomes from staff, glasses of champagne (we declined) and a short waiting period until our cabin was ready.

In no time at all, our bags were delivered to our door, except for Tom’s suitcase containing two power strips (referred to as “power boards” in Australia). Later in the evening, he had to go to security to retrieve his bag after the power boards were confiscated. Unfortunately, they aren’t allowed to be used on ships. So instead, we’re supplied with extension cords.

I started shooting a few photos before we made a mess unpacking our bags.

Most passengers don’t have everything they own in their cabin, like us, and don’t have power boards in their possession. Yet, for our lifestyle, we need them and our adapters in our possession everywhere we travel. So we have to way to “leave them at home.” 

Once we unpacked, neatly folding and hanging our clothes, we began to feel settled and comfortable.  As Diamond Club members, we’re provided with free drinks in the Star Lounge each evening. Usually, this runs from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm, but last night’s muster drill at 5:00 pm caused the happy hour to be from 6:15 pm until 9:00 pm.

Alas, we had so much fun, the time slipped away, and suddenly, it was almost 9:00 pm. By the time we made it to the dining room, it was closed. Immediately, we took the elevator to the buffet, the Windjammer Cafe, only to discover it was also closed. 

Most likely, this was the last of many photos we’ll have taken of the Sydney Opera House. Goodbye Sydney. Aside from a few glitches, it was grand.

Then, we headed back to our cabin to order room service only to find there wasn’t a single item on the menu that I could eat. Since I haven’t been able to digest raw vegetables these past months, salads were out of the question. The remaining options were sandwiches and wraps. Not good.

Tom refused to order anything with me being able to eat, which was entirely unnecessary as far as I was concerned. Who misses the first night’s dinner on a cruise?  Isn’t food what cruises are always about for many passengers? 

The perception that cruises have food available 24 hours a day is not necessarily true. Sure, there was food, but nothing either of us wanted to eat. We laughed. Only us! Fun over food!  We went to bed without a morsel after eating a few bites of cheese back in Fairlight before we left for the cruise terminal. 

Tonight, if we stay at the Star Lounge until happy hour ends, at least we’ll make it to the dining room well before the 9:00 pm closing.  Since we always select “My Time Dining,” we can eat anytime we want before the 9:00 pm closing.

Surprisingly, we weren’t starved this morning but, we each had a good breakfast in the main dining room. The head maitre’d met with me to review my food list and fully understood my restrictions. My usual meal consists of fish, chicken, beef or pork (no sauce), and two sides of non-starchy vegetables. It’s not filling, but the hunger abates in no time at all.

This afternoon when we couldn’t get online to post. So instead, we went to the main theatre, The Palace, to see the movie, “La La Land.” What a fabulous movie! If you haven’t seen it, we couldn’t recommend it more.

Now, we have to get ready for “formal night” with another upcoming happy hour and tonight…dinner in the main dining room.

Cruising is fun, and we’re not missing a beat. Today at noon, we experienced our first one-hour time change. After that, there will seven one-hour time changes plus one entire day. Ha!

Have a wonderful day or evening wherever you may be.

Photo from one year ago today, April 23, 2016:
The signal is too weak to post the one year ago photo.  We’ll add it tomorrow if we can.  Thanks for your patience.

Stumbled across this article,…”Why I Hated Antarctica”…Oh, oh…Unexpected “visitor” in the house!!!

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We opened the sliding glass door with the sun shining only to have a visitor come to see what I was cooking. Three Magpies visit every day to see what morsels we have for the day. Carnivorous scavengers, Magpies are always on the hunt for a tidbit of meat.
When sleep eluded me during the night I stumbled across an article on Facebook with a heading reading, “Why I Hated Antarctica,” I couldn’t resist but reading it in its entirety. 
It at this very spot that I prepare foods. He’d entered to do some “crumb patrol” without much luck since we’d vacuumed the previous day.

The moment I’d seen the title, I freaked out a little wondering what befell these travelers causing them to feel so negatively about Antarctica. Had things changed dramatically since we’d booked this cruise so long ago?

Giving up, he checked out the garbage can for surrounding crumbs and wandered back outdoors.  He waited for me while I grabbed a few bits of ground beef and sausage he shared with his partner and a noisy, fast-growing chick.

After all, we’ve already paid the following for this upcoming Antarctica cruise on January 23, 2018, a mere nine months from now:

Prestige Stateroom
Charges Cruise (includes port charges)
US $34,410.00 (AU $45,498)

Government Taxes*
US $90.00 (AU $119)

Total Sale 
US $ 34,500 (AU $45,617)

  
Ponant Yacht Cruises (deposit)
MC 
8,625.00 (AU $11,404)

Ponant Yacht Cruises
MC 
US $2,000 (AU $2,644)

Ponant Yacht Cruises
MC 
US $2,000 (AU $2,644)

Ponant Yacht Cruises
MC 
US $2,000 (AU $2,644)

Ponant Yacht Cruises
MC 
US $2,000 (AU $2,644)

Ponant Yacht Cruises
MC
US $2,000 (AU $2,644)

Total Payments
US $18,625 (AU $24,626)

Balance Due 
US $15,875  (AU $20,990)

With the final payment due on October 16, 2017, we’re left with six months to continue to pay toward the balance. However, by the time the final payment is due, it will be greatly reduced to a manageable sum. This high fare was daunting when we booked the cruise but has become less worrisome as we pay down the balance.

With the fall season in full swing, the weather cools a little each day. Soon, as winter arrives, the beaches will have fewer sunbathers, swimmers, and surfers.

We’ve never spent this huge of a fare for a cruise. Most likely we never will again. But, Antarctica was on the “dream list” and if we didn’t do it sooner than later, advancing age and possible health conditions may prevent it. 

A doctor’s certificate of good health is required within 90 days of sail date. This could deter some travelers embarking on this cruise. During the upcoming three and a half months (90 days prior to the cruise) we’ll be living in Costa Rica, we’ll arrange doctor appointments for the physical exams.

Surf boards, paddle boards, chairs and umbrellas for rent.

Seeing this article title sent me into a bit of a tizzy thinking perhaps travelers experiences had changed recently causing considerable disappointment since we’d booked this cruise some time ago. But, unfortunately, I couldn’t read the article quickly enough.

A sailboat slowly motoring through the bay in low winds.

Here’s an excerpt from the article which may be found in full at this link:

“Everyone wants to experience the Drake Passage! I heard tales of how rough it can be and how everyone is sea since it sounded like a real adventure. What did we get, you ask? Something, known as the Drake Lake. Flat, calm, next to no wind and smooth sailing the entire way to and back from Antarctica. Talk about disappointing.

Sunshine, bloody sunshine everywhere while in Antarctica. I am so lucky I had sunscreen and sunnies on hand for other travels. I can tell you I would have been burnt to a crisp if I had not had these. No one wants the sunshine in Antarctica; you are supposed to be a cold continent…..shame on you.

I am sure you have heard that only 100 people can be on Antarctica at one particular point at one time. I thought beauty no crowds here plenty of space it is going to be amazing! BUT, no one mentioned the PENGUINS. You would not believe how many there are, they are literally everywhere and to make matters worse there are rules. You must give way to penguins, GIVE WAY I tell you! Sometimes when they are running down their penguin highways, yes they have highways, they decide to stop right in front of you. At this moment you must stop and wait for them to move. Talk about invading your personal space and wasting your time.”

The tongue-in-cheek article continues at this link making me laugh out loud at its humor and my mistaken perception that it may be negative after all. But, if anything, it further confirmed our enthusiasm for this upcoming adventure.

Prices are high at the fish mongers; for example, the fish Tom caught in the ocean while fishing in the Huon Valley, Flathead Fillets are selling for AU 46.90, US $35.44 for one kilo, (2.2 pounds). We prefer not to eat farmed fish this avoiding this pricey farmed salmon for AU 39.90, US $30.16 per one kilo.

It’s not that we wishing time to pass quickly. On the contrary, as we plan more and more events with our family and friends, our enthusiasm is sky high. And, of course, we’re immensely enthused about the upcoming cruise in three days, the cruise to Alaska in 28 days and arriving in Minnesota in only 37 days. How quickly the time has passed!

Sunny day at the beach.

Today’s additional mention in the post’s heading about our unexpected visitor which was pure delight reminding us of visitors we can expect in South Africa in a mere 10 months. 

Living in the moment becomes a little challenging with so much on the horizon; nevertheless, each day, we strive to find joy in the little things including our visiting Magpie with whom we’ve become even more intimate friends than the visiting Kookaburras who’ve yet to come indoors. Even a nosey Mynah hopped along the kitchen counter shortly after our arrival.

Expansive view of the bay.  Sydney Harbour is a distance to the right, around the point.

Every day is a gift, one we keep opening layer upon layer to wonderful surprises along the way.

May your day be filled with wonderful surprises!

Photo from one year ago today, April 19, 2016:

A wall hanging in the casino on Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas last year on this date. For more details, please click here.

Cozi family calendar…What a find!…Four days and counting…

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Manly Scenic Walkway weaves through the park.

We’re impressed with the online Cozi Calendar app, which may be found at this link. As the time approached us to visit our three adult children, significant others, and six grandchildren in Minnesota, we wondered how we’d possibly keep track of upcoming events.

We’ll also be getting together with Tom’s siblings, their extended families, plus the many friends we hope to see during the six-week visit.

A walkway along the side of the house to Reef Beach Bay.

Sure, Microsoft Office/Outlook has a network applicable online calendar for employees within a company. However, on my laptop, I use a Windows calendar that requires a tremendous amount of work to acquire access for other users.

But, the reality is that not everyone in our family has access to Outlook or Windows, nor would they care to install a somewhat cumbersome app, not necessarily easy to learn.

Old tree with unusual bark.

After looking online for other options, preferably at little to no cost, I discovered the Cozi app, which includes a calendar and grocery lists, shopping lists, to-do lists, meal planning, and more. 

The magic of this app is that every family member can access the calendar (the only significant feature we need for a visit) by using my email and our designated password, established upon setting up the calendar. 

A large home was bordering the park with a guest house further down this paved driveway.

It took only a few minutes to set everything up. Our adult family members can now see and edit the calendar around events we’ve already entered and see what dates and times we’ll be available for more entries.

Stop and Go light with a mailbox on a cement wall at a private home.

Wow! This is working out well, and surprisingly, bless the hearts of our kids, filling in quickly. By the time we arrive in Minnesota on May 26th, we expect the calendar may be filled with plans with our kids, grandkids, other family members, and friends.

Undoubtedly, Tom and I, as a blended family, will occasionally have to separate to engage in activities with our biological kids and grandkids. But, at other times, we’ll all hang out together.

Boat in Reef Beach Bay always creates a lovely scene.

This free app is ideal for the busy family. Each family member can access the calendar (and other features such as adding or changing grocery lists) to see what activities are planned. The app may be used on various devices, including iPads, PCs, iPhones, Android phones, and most other WiFi-enabled smartphones and devices. 

Another pretty view between houses.

Both Tom and I have it on our phones and laptops for easy reference from anywhere. However, it requires an Internet connection to view, update and edit. If you have questions, feel free to ask me for help or their very responsive customer support. 

Now, as we’re winding down to a mere four days until we sail from Sydney, the busy work has begun.  Yesterday, I re-folded most of my clothes and packed my suitcase, leaving a little space for the few items I’ll be wearing during these next few days. 

Metal roof on a local house.

Today, I’ll scan all of our receipts, tossing the paper. Tomorrow, I’ll put together the final expenses for departure day’s post. Thursday, we’re heading to Manly to meet friends for dinner. Friday, we’ll complete the packing to be well prepared for Saturday morning when we’ll head to the cruise terminal. 

Vegetation in the local park.

This morning we prepared our final three-day meal for the last cooking we’ll be doing over the next almost three months. That’s nice. That’s really nice!

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, April 18, 2016:

Walkway dining along the way to the Sydney Opera House, the East Circular Quay Sydney Opera House promenade Opera Bar. For more photos from one year ago after boarding Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas for a 14-night cruise, please click here.

Its Easter today on this side of the International Dateline…Preparing for an Easter dinner…Beautiful email from reader…

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Not as clear as we’d like, we took this photo from quite a distance to avoid scaring this rabbit off—happy Easter to all who celebrate.

This is the fifth Easter we’ve spent outside the US since our world travels began. Next to Christmas, it was always our favorite holiday, with a tremendous number of family traditions centered around this special religious celebration. 

In reality, it’s probably the tradition we’ve missed the most with so many activities centered around the grandchildren and adults in which everyone could participate in one way or another.

The huge Kookaburras are so friendly that yesterday I was able to give one a little rub.

But, as always, we’ve adapted to the changes. Although we acknowledge our family members and grandchildren on holidays and other times of the year, we’ll cram everything we can into the six weeks we’ll spend in Minnesota upcoming in 40 days. 

For today’s dinner, I’m busy preparing a meal with a little more variety than usual, hoping for some leftovers for the next few days. With only six days remaining until we sail away, we’re using all the food we have on hand, hopefully in some creative ways. 

When we spotted this rabbit, I couldn’t resist zooming in for today’s main photo.

We’ve begun to start thinking about packing and preparing to leave. It will be effortless this time when we don’t have to fly and consider luggage weight. We won’t fly again until after the Alaskan cruise ending on May 26th, when we fly from Seattle to Minneapolis. 

Busy boating in the bay.

When leaving Minnesota, we’ll fly again to Nevada for a three-week family visit and then off to Costa Rica for a three-and-a-half-month stay in a fabulous property owned by friends we made in Kauai. 

It’s amazing how our lives continue to be intertwined with people we’ve met along the way. We’re eternally grateful for the opportunities we’ve encountered in our travels adding such joy to every location in one way or another.

Speaking of people we’ve met along the way, we want to express a special thank you to our friend/reader, Vicki, whom we met along with her husband Jerry at Hanalei Beach in Kauai in January 2015. (Please click here for the post from our meeting). 

Beautiful sky at sunset.

We’re so appreciative for the thoughtful way they’ve both stayed in touch these past few years and hope to see them again someday. Vicki wrote a few days ago:

“Jessica, I just read your April 13th posting. You don’t have to thank your readers; we should thank you for all your hard work and determination that you put into this blog.

Please remember your health is the most important aspect of your life, and we appreciate it when you let us know your good days and bad. It wouldn’t be interesting if we only got good news. Stay well and do what is best for you.

Your faithful reader, Vicki.”

Fiery sky at sunset.

And a special thanks to ALL of our readers for incorporating our daily drivel into your lives as you travel along with us. Happy Easter and happy day to all!

Photo from one year ago today, April 16, 2016:

The aft of Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.  We boarded this ship on April 16, 2016, for a 14-day cruise. We’ll board Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas from this same pier in Sydney in only six days. For more details, please click here.

Tricky transportation from Seattle, Washington to Vancouver, British Columbia…Photos from a walk in the park…

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Bob donated this park bench to Ron, who passed away in 2010 after their 50 years together.

It had been nagging that it was time to book a means of transportation for May 15th when our ship arrives in Seattle.  After arriving in North America, the next cruise sails two days later to Alaska from Vancouver, British Columbia.

MSW means Manly Scenic Walk to the Spit, a local bridge.

Our choices were clear; either spend the two days in Seattle and figure out how to quickly make the 230 km, 143-mile drive to Vancouver to board the ship or figure a way to get to Vancouver as soon as the ship arrives in Seattle.

Rocky shoreline.

It made no sense to spend one night in each location, so we decided to head directly to Vancouver. This was our second sailing from this port when we sailed to Hawaii in September 2014. Last time we flew into Vancouver, and didn’t have these transportation concerns.

While walking on the Manly Scenic Walk, we enjoyed an excellent view of North Harbour Reef Bay boats.

We easily recall the long waiting period to board the ship in 2014 and hope we don’t encounter the same delays. We’re hoping this time, with the priority boarding we receive as Diamond Club members, the boarding process will be less time-consuming and cumbersome.  We shall see.

An exceptional home on North Harbour Reef Bay owned by a successful business owner.

In searching online, we found many suggestions from travelers on how to make the four-hour drive. Firstly, rental cars aren’t allowed to enter Canada from the US to be dropped off at a facility. So, that idea was out.

Historical plaque.

Our only remaining options were as follows:
1. Fly –  A flight from Seattle to Vancouver would have required the usual international flight commotion, getting to the airport two hours early, paying taxi fares on both ends, paying baggage fees, and considerable waiting time for the short flight. (Continued below).

Many homes were originally one story but later renovated to include a second level.

2. Bus – It seemed like an easy option, but it wasn’t for us when we’d read about having to get to the bus, which may or may not arrive at the port when the ship arrived, handling our luggage, and paying for taxi fares upon arriving in Vancouver. Plus, at the US and Canada border, we’d have had to remove all of our luggage from the bus’s luggage compartment and reload the luggage after inspected by customs, and unload the luggage on our own when we arrived in Vancouver. In addition, some buses charge check baggage fees—too much commotion.
3. Train – Taxi fares to and from the train station. Trains only traveled this route twice a day, with multiple stops, too early in the morning for disembarking the ship or too late in the evening.  (Continued below).

Interesting older home with character located on the bay.  Lots are small in most city and suburban areas.

4.  Group shuttle – We didn’t like the idea of having to find other people with whom we could split the fare and wait for the shuttle to pick up and drop off others at various locations on either end.
5.  Private shuttle – These options were few. A regular-sized taxi doesn’t work with our three checked bags and two carry-on bags.  Instead, we could pay a little more, have a private luxury SUV pick us up at the port on May 15th to drive us the 230 km, 143-mile ride from Seattle to Vancouver, dropping us directly to our pre-booked hotel in Vancouver.  It was a no-brainer.

Can you determine what this is?  If you carefully check the above photo, it will reveal a close-up of the tile roof.

Surprisingly, we didn’t flinch over the AU $732.92, US $550 cost knowing how stress-reducing #5 above would be. After all, we strive always to maintain our goal as stated at the top of our webpage: “Wafting Through Our Worldwide Travels with Ease, Joy, and Simplicity.”

More boats moored in the bay.

It’s this philosophy we’ve diligently maintained that has kept us treasuring the quality of our lives, inspiring us to continue for years to come. However, if one only chose the least costly option every time, it could become easy to lose interest and find the moving about tiresome and monotonous.

Buds growing on Moreton Fig Tree.

As we’ve mentioned over these past several weeks in the Sydney area, we’ve happily used low-cost and at times “free” public transportation. However, we’ve enjoyed the process of finding it easy and convenient.

Historical marker at the park.
In our travels, we’re constantly making decisions, often with a cost at the top of the list for consideration. We throw caution to the wind from time to time, sacrificing something else to accommodate the added cost of making alternate decisions. It’s all a part of the ebb and flow of this peculiar life we live.
Tom and Bob began the walkway to North Harbor Reserve park.

Having paid the deposit for the cost of the trip (after reading many positive reviews), our minds are at ease. Today, we paid the balance of the special hotel rate we negotiated for our upcoming six-week stay in Minnesota.  

For the moment, we have no large expenditures on the immediate horizon until mid-summer.  

I hope you find your mind at ease today and always!

Photo from one year ago today, April 11, 2016:

Most afternoons, many of the alpacas rested in the shade at the side of our house. So it was delightful when they’d watch me through the window while I prepared meals, pressing their noses on the glass. For more photos, please click here.

Yesterday’s trip to a big shopping mall…12 days and counting… No, we’re not staying in the US after the upcoming family visit…

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Sign on beach walkway called the Marine Parade from Manly Beach to Shelly Beach.

We had intended to visit the vast Westfield Warringah Mall today instead of yesterday, but we decided to go on Sunday when we heard it could storm today. As it turned out, it stormed last night with the first thunder and lightning we’d seen since our arrival. So today, it’s cool and windy.

Gorgeous beach scenes on a sunny day.

Bob was visiting a friend at a nursing home, suggesting he drop us off at the mall since it was on his way. So we left at about 11:30 am after I’d finished and uploaded the post for the day. It was a warm sunny day perfect for yet another outing.

 Although we haven’t had a rental car during this period, with Bob’s generous assistance and generosity and the ease of using local transportation, it’s worked out quite well.

Shelly Beach at a distance.

Having loaded plenty of money on two Opal cards (prepaid public transportation cards which we swipe when getting on and off buses and once upon boarding the ferry), using public transportation has been a breeze.  

It was a warm sunny day.  Sunbathers and swimmers lounged on the pristine beach.

Only on a few occasions, a long walk was required to get to and from a bus stop, but we haven’t minded. We’ve seldom had to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes for the next bus or ferry. It a relatively flawless system.

 The vast mall was a combination of outdoor and indoor shops, one of which was the first large Target store we had seen since Hawaii in 2014. We wandered through the aisles in awe of all the merchandise.  

Succulents grow prolifically in many parts of Australia.

Will we experience culture shock when we return to Minnesota in 46 days, where an “abundance of everything” is rampant in stores, restaurants, and other public points of interest?  By the time we arrive, we’ll have been gone 1668 days. We anticipate it will be different than we recall.

Australians waste no time taking advantage of sunny days at the beach.

Why did we go to a mall? We both needed some shirts for the upcoming 33 nights of cruising (with a two-day gap between our arrival in Seattle and boarding the cruise to Alaska when we’ll stay in a hotel in Vancouver).

We recently checked out several shops in Manly but were unable to find a single item under AU 125, US $93.79. It made no sense for us to spend that kind of money on shirts when we’ve found that more expensive items don’t seem to last any longer than the less costly items after repeated washings.

Havana, a restaurant in Manly Beach.

After wandering through many shops, I was able to find several tops while Tom only purchased three short-sleeved shirts. He’s not keen on the new style of men’s shirts with roll-up sleeves. Why? I don’t know. But, he wears what he likes, not what I want. But he looks great when we go out to dinner and on cruises.

Great people watch and stroll along the outdoor mall, the Corso in Manly, a walk we’ve enjoyed several times.  However, we’d never been able to find any clothes at reasonable prices in this popular tourist area.

While in the US, we’ll review all of our clothing and decide what we’ll need to add before leaving, shopping at our former favorite stores. (If they’re still there).

Speaking of the US visit, we’ve been asked many times if we plan to stay after the nine-week family visit. No, we do not. We’re booked well into 2019, with plans to secure well beyond that year. 

A P&O ship, a famous British cruise line, leaving Sydney.

It’s not possible to book holiday homes, flights, and cruises further than two years out.  As a result, we continue to add to our itinerary as opportunities become available, coupled with our desires regarding what countries we’d like to visit in years to come. 

Lots of activity near one of the Manly ferry boats that head back and forth to Circular Quay in Sydney many times per day.

The world’s a prominent place.  We’ll never run out of ideas. We’ll only run out of good health and the required “oomph” to continue at some point. But, in the interim, the love of this life and enthusiasm has yet to wane in any manner. Even with the health setbacks I’ve had this past year, we’re still confident and excited for the future.

Be well and take care of yourself!

Photo from one year ago today, April 10, 2016:

One year ago, while living in New Zealand, we encountered these cattle crossing the road. The farmer offered to stop the flow to let us drive by, but we insisted they carry on, enjoying the view. For more photos, please click here.

Final Cruise Expenses – See totals here…Off we go to Sydney/Manly…Favorite cruise photos…

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View of Sydney from the ship on embarkation day.

Let’s start with our expenses for the 12-night cruise on Celebrity Solstice from March 1, 2017 to March 13, 2017 as follows:

Expense US Dollar Australian
Dollar
Cruise Fare-Concierge Class  $            4,505.36  $         5,992.52
Airfare   $                241.68  $             321.46
Taxi   $                  45.11  $               60.00
Cabin Credit  $              (375.00)  $           (498.78)
Wi-Fi          included            included 
Gratuities          included            included 
Premium Beverage Pkg          included            included 
Additional Gratuities  $              100.00  $           133.01
Cruise Bill for Purchases  $                   8.94  $             11.89
Total  $            4,526.09  $        6,020.10
Avg Daily
Cost – 12 days		  $               377.17  $           501.68

This life seldom leaves us feeling sad when one adventure ends, knowing another begins the same or the next day. We never experience that slump that we recall from our old life when we traveled on a rare occasion many years ago.

The dreaded pile of unopened mail and unread newspapers, the phone messages on the home answering machine, the unpacking, the mountains of dirty laundry, the immediate need for grocery shopping, and the rotting food in the refrigerator all left the returning traveler in a tizzy upon returning home.

The pastry chef prepared this suitable dessert for me each night.  It was amazing!

The lawn’s desperate need of mowing and trimming or the piles of snow on the steps, walkways, and driveway requiring immediate attention only added to the stress of returning home after a time away.

Another view of Sydney.

In this life, we only need to unpack, wash one load of laundry (as Elite members, we’re entitled to 30 free laundry items on the ship), and grocery shop upon arrival. That’s it. Oh yes…get the WiFi working and familiarize ourselves with our new home for weeks or perhaps months yet to come. Easy.

It was such fun to spend time with new friends Christine and Harold and to be able to enjoy dinner in their Penthouse Suite.

Today, we’ll arrive in Sydney/Manly Beach, where we hadn’t arranged for a rental car. So instead, we’ll use the Manly ferry and public transportation (both walking distance to the vacation property) to take us anywhere we’d like to go. 

Our favorite sea and city photo of Noumea, New Caledonia, from the ship with a rainbow in the background.

Once we’re settled, we’ll head out on foot for the local bus to take us to the closest Woolie’s market.  Most likely, by 4:00 pm, we’ll be back with roasted chickens, fresh veggies, and salad fixings for our first night’s meal in our new home for the next 40 days.

We love this face at Luna Park, located in Sydney Harbour.

Each time we make our way through this exploratory process, we do so with the wonder of a wide-eyed child, eager to know more and more. So, instead of having angst about the vacation/holiday period ending, we’re excited as the new leg of our journey begins.

This sugar-free vanilla latte has been a delicious treat for me.

No doubt, as we mentioned many times in our posts, we love cruising and the outrageous amount of socialization we readily embrace. However, when it ends with a degree of commotion required to disembark the cruise, it’s a bit cumbersome and, at times, annoying.

We can’t wait for the “night at the opera” for which we have tickets on March 18th.

Once we’re on our way in the taxi or rental car, our hearts flutter with enthusiasm. Hopefully, today won’t be an exception. Over time, Tom has experienced less and less “overly grumpy” periods while I’ve maintained my usual “overly bubbly” demeanor, making the end of yet another travel day relatively painless.

We are never tired of the view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with photos of our new location, hopefully at ease and content in all that it has to offer. See you soon!

Photo from one year ago today, March 13, 2016:
Upon arriving “home” after a drive to the countryside in New Plymouth, NZ, we laughed over this photo of Belted Galloway cattle that appears to be what??? A six-legged bull? No. The photo was a fluke with one bull standing behind the other. Unfortunately, we didn’t stay longer for better photos when they began showing signs of aggression. For more details, please click here.

Last full day aboard Celebrity Solstice…Packing day…Saying goodbye to new friends…

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At the end of the day on Mystery Island, Vanuatu, the workers return to their homes at neighboring islands. Unfortunately, there are no homes or overnight accommodations on this island.

Today is the last full day aboard the ship. It’s been a delightful cruise, one in which we’ve been socializing with other passengers day and night. As soon as we mosey off from one venue to another, whether its to dine, buy a drink at a bar or lounge in the cafe, we’ve often and quickly found ourselves engaged in lively conversation.

Close the islands, scenes from the ship are stunning

It continues to fascinate us how often passengers express such a degree of curiosity over our lifestyle. Many are shocked and surprised by the length of time since we left Minnesota (almost 53 months) and others applaud us for our commitment and bravery.

Then there’s everyone in between, asking many questions that we answer with the utmost honesty and sincerity regardless of their nature. It’s not always easy explaining how and why we’re emotionally able to live “in the world” as opposed to the comforts and security of living near family and friends, rooted in one or even two locations.

A tower on a hill in New Caledonia.

We’d spent the first 60 plus years of our lives doing just that, and with my improved health due to a massive dietary change five and a half years ago, we happily continue in our journey, feeling confident this has been the right choice for us, although not for everyone.

During this cruise, we’ve handed out no less than 200 business cards. We don’t push them on anyone, but we are often asked for our web address which is too lengthy to spell. We both keep plenty of cards in our pockets, wherever we may be at any given time.

These ship cabanas are for rent at AU $265, US $200 per day on sea days, less on port days. Unfortunately, very few of these were rented during the cruise.

Making friends aboard a ship is the true highlight of our cruising experiences. Hearing about their lives and travel stories continues to inspire and enlighten us to new opportunities, often providing an entirely different perspective than our own. 

These same differences tend to interest us the most, including never-considered locations for future travel and new insight into areas we’ve previously visited.

Mystery Island, a tourists-only, uninhabited island staffed by sellers and servers when cruise ships arrive in the area.

Ironically, we discover over and over again, that in essence we are all alike in many ways. We revel in quiet unexciting times almost as much as our adventures. We embrace people we meet along the way; we consider good health of the utmost concern as we age.

Many can’t imagine how we can travel the world with my restricted diet nor how Tom has resisted eating bread, toast, cookies, and cakes during the cruise. When we explain that we’ve come to accept “eating to live” not “living to eat” they often shrug at how much a sacrifice such a philosophy entails.

Sun glare on the sea at the day’s end.

In reality, for us, it’s just the opposite…without this year’s long philosophy, I may be like my dear elder sister spending 24/7 for the past 12 years suffering from the same painful spinal condition I’ve had for the past over 25 years.  

Now pain free (except for last June’s injury, since healed) since 2011 when I adopted this way of eating, I’ve been given the opportunity to travel the world with my love, companion, husband and best friend. So who’s to argue with this way of life?

Cruising passed islands on a cloudy day.

When we often read the blogs or articles by other world travelers including many comments from “haters” on their social media, we are in awe of how we don’t hear such negative comments.

On a few occasions in the long-ago past, few readers wrote negative comments or sent us negative email messages. In both cases, we chose not to respond. But, as we always say, this is not a place for us to be “right,” “to prove a point,” or “espouse controversial views.” 

An old building in Noumea, New Calendonia.

For us, this place continues to one of sharing love, joy, and wonder. After each cruise, we’ve added another layer to our continuing awe of this world when so many beautiful people embrace us. They seem to accept our personal choices, and then, when back home, begin to “travel along with us” on the day-to-day journal of our lives on the move. 

For this, we thank every one of our readers and every one of the new friends we’ve made along the way. And, dear folks, hang on, much more excitement is yet to come..an upcoming 40-nights in Sydney/Manly; a 24-night cruise to Seattle (via Hawaii); an Alaskan cruise; a nine-week USA visit including Minnesota and Nevada; holiday home in Costa Rica; Antarctica cruise; a month in Buenos Aires; several South American cruises; and a much-awaited return to Africa and so much more.

Grafitti on the side of a building in New Caledonia.

Thanks to new friends Sam and Phil for inviting us to “High Tea” in their Penthouse Suite yesterday afternoon. It was a beautifully presented and hosted special event for us and seven others, adding to our diverse cruise experiences. 

Whether it’s a special event such as this or dinner in the included Epernay Dining Room with a couple from a small farm in Wollongong, AU, we’ve loved meeting all of YOU! 

Tomorrow’s final cruise post will include all of the expenses we incurred on the 12-night cruise including cruise fare and extras as we make our way off the ship to our next destination. Please check back!

Photo from one year ago today, March 12, 2016:

Trish and Neil named this cria after Minnesota on behalf of Tom since we”d watched over his birth while they were on holiday during our three months stay on the alpaca farm in New Plymouth, New Zealand.  For more photos, please click here. In February, they named a girl Miss Jessica after me, a female birth we’d also observed, as shown in prior posts.  What a glorious experience!

Two days until cruise ends in Sydney…Wrapping up the good times…

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While visiting New Caledonia, we stopped in a fabulous French patisserie taking photos of their fine offerings.

After many nights of staying up rather late dancing and carrying on, last night we wrapped it up before 9:00 pm and headed to our cabin. By 9:45, I was sound asleep, not awakening until my usual 3:00 pm, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Luckily, I was able to fall back to sleep after reading the news on Tom’s phone, which I keep tucked under the pillow for exactly such circumstances.  “They,” say checking digital equipment during the night impedes the ability to return to sleep, but I, like many others, find it does just the opposite. It lulls us back to sleep.

There was nothing, in this case, I wouldn’t have loved in my old life. But, now, they’re only for viewing and drooling.

I’ve been without my own phone for the past few months when mine died, after which we purchased a new phone yet to arrive in the package of supplies we’d sent from our mailing service in Nevada to Tasmania on February 11th.

Of course, we’re tracking the package, but it sits in limbo, not seeming to move along since it cleared customs a month ago. So today, I contacted our mailing service to see if they could somehow track it further.

The visual is breathtaking.

Once the package arrives in Tasmania, Anne, the owner of the last property in Huon Valley, will ship it to us in Sydney/Manly after we’d left her plenty of cash and the address to forward the package. It’s a shame we had to incur additional costs plus the inconvenience for Anne, but there wasn’t another option.

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, the ship is out to sea on the final leg of the cruise heading back to Sydney. Every venue is hopping with activity with plenty of passengers milling about, ordering coffees, teas, and cocktails, while loud chatter permeates the air. But, as always, we’re firmly implanted in our usual spot in Cafe Al Bacio, as we have every morning over these past many days.

Oh, my!  Check out these caramel pies!

Several passengers we’ve met have referred to our familiar spot at one of three tables and chairs for two along the railing as our “office” as we sit here every morning busily preparing the days’ post.

Often, during this period, people stop by to chat. We never mind being interrupted and welcome passersby to grab a chair and join us. Unfortunately, as a result, on a few occasions, we’ve been late in uploading the post by an hour or two.

By the time we approached these cream puffs, I was drooling.

The atmosphere in the cafe is comparable to that which one may find in any fine coffee establishment with the constant hum of conversation, considerable comings, and goings, along with the luscious smells of coffees and sweets wafting through the air.

The bakery case is filled with delectable sugary confections, none of which either of us partakes, me for obvious reasons, and Tom; well, he’s picky when it comes to his choice of sweet treats. 

Even these less decorative sandwich cookies looked excellent.

Nothing in that bakery case ever appeals to him, and yet, there’s no charge for any of the items, all of which are included in the fare. Good thing I can’t eat them. In my old days, I’d have had a heck of a time resisting a few of those each day.

As for today’s activities, we’ll continue to socialize once we’ve uploaded today’s post. At 4:00 pm, by coincidence, we’re invited to the “other” of the two Penthouse Suites by a charming British couple we met in the Elite Club at happy hour a few evenings ago. 

There were numerous savory items in the case, but I easily walked by these without a notable response.

The lovely British couple is hosting “high tea” in their suite at 4:00 pm today, graciously inviting us to attend. We have no doubt this will prove to be one more delightful experience aboard the Celebrity Solstice with more gracious, lovely people we’ve been fortunate to meet along the way.

Tonight’s dress-up night, and again we’ll do our best to dress as well as we can with the clothing we have on hand. Tom will wear his usual white dress shirt and pants while I’ll wear my fast deteriorating black skirt, now becoming somewhat misshapen after too many washings. 

Oh well, the days of dressing “to the nines” are long past, and we make do with what we have on hand. But, then, isn’t that the same for all of us, “making do with what we have?” That’s life. Be happy.

Photo from one year ago today, March 10, 2016:

We often stopped at this favorite spot for photos of Mount Taranaki while living in New Plymouth, New Zealand, one year ago.  For more photos, please click here.