A new future booking…A change in our itinerary…It pays to be frugal…

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It’s great that we can make itinerary changes whenever we deem it necessary, for cost-saving or befits our desires. The exception in doing so is often predicated by the fact that we may have already paid non-refundable deposits or full payments such as for flights, vacation homes with a no-refund policy, and cruises after paying the final payment 90 days prior to sail date (partial refunds may be applicable).For the remainder of our itinerary, we have the option of changing our minds, finding better deals, and instituting price reductions, particularly on cruises. So far in our travels, we haven’t made any major changes, other than for a few cruises.

As Tom continually peruses our existing booked cruises, of which we currently have seven (with more to come), he’s always hoping to find price reductions that may suit our needs. After considerable research over these past few days, he found a change for a cruise we’d considered changing at some point anyway.

We spotted these flowers in many areas of Tasmania.

We’d booked a cruise from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Santiago, Chile while aboard a prior cruise in order to lock up the offered low down payment of AU $274, US $200 (for two), including several perks and cabin credit. 

When booking onboard a ship, our cruise rep still gets “credit” for the transaction and continues to handle the booking. At any time prior to final payment, we can transfer the low down payment to any future cruise, with the same cruise line.

When we booked the above-mentioned cruise, at the time we anticipated we’d never keep the booking for two reasons; one, it was the reverse of an itinerary on which we’ll have already sailed; two, the total cost for the cruise was more expensive than we preferred. Tom watched and waited.

Wildflowers along a country road.

Finally, in the past few days, as more and more cruises became posted, Tom found a replacement for the more expensive, “reverse repeat” cruise that will be much more suited to our future plans to try to visit family in the US every two years.

The fare for the cruise we canceled yesterday was AU $10,960, US $8,005, as mentioned, way more than we prefer to pay for a 14-night cruise (the exception to this is the upcoming pricey cruise to Antarctica in less than 13 months).

Instead, after speaking with our cruise rep Shanon, aka Brooklyn, at Vacations to Go, we moved our deposit over to the following cruise in its place (see below for itinerary):

Charges

Cruise (includes port charges) 3,198.00
Price Match – 200.00
Government Taxes*    452.68
Pre-Paid Gratuities    405.00
Total Sale (US$) $ 3,855.68


*Subject to change by the cruise line.

Payments

Paid To Type Amount
Celebrity Paid Direct 200.00
Total Payments (US$) $ 200.00
Balance Due (US$) $ 3,655.68


Final payment due January 1, 2019.

The total fare for this new cruise, including prepaid gratuities and taxes, is AU $5,278.90, US $3,855.61 which based on the above other cruises, constitutes a savings of AU $5,681.16, US $4.149.39. 

We didn’t have to think twice about this, especially when this new cruise is an easy means for us to return to the US for a visit slightly less than two years from our upcoming visit in May 2017. 

Here’s the itinerary for the new cruise:

Celebrity – Celebrity Eclipse, departs 3/24/19, 15 nights

Day Date Port or Activity Arrive Depart
Sun Mar 24 Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile 9:00pm
Mon Mar 25 La Serena, Chile 10:00am 6:00pm
Tue Mar 26 At Sea
Wed Mar 27 At Sea
Thu Mar 28 Lima (Callao), Peru 7:00am 5:00pm
Fri Mar 29 At Sea
Sat Mar 30 Manta, Ecuador 10:00am 6:00pm
Sun Mar 31 At Sea
Mon Apr 1 Puntarenas, Costa Rica 7:00am 4:00pm
Tue Apr 2 At Sea
Wed Apr 3 Huatulco, Mexico 10:00am 8:00pm
Thu Apr 4 At Sea
Fri Apr 5 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 9:00am 5:00pm
Sat Apr 6 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 9:00am 5:00pm
Sun Apr 7 At Sea
Mon Apr 8 San Diego, CA 7:00am

Once we arrive in San Diego, we’ll begin the process of visiting family in San Diego and Los Angeles, California; Henderson, Nevada, and then on again to Minnesota.

We noticed these wildflowers on the roads from Hobart to Penguin.

Those of you familiar with our upcoming itinerary may ask, “Why are you going back to South America, after spending many months in Africa?” The answer is clear for us…we’ll return from Africa to head to South America since the proximity makes sense (although it’s still very far away).

This plan provides us with about a combined year to spend in Africa and South America (during the second visit to the continent) which we’ll continue to plan as we go along. While in Tasmania at this time we don’t feel any pressure to pin down specific details. 

Once we have pinned down more of the above plan, we’ll update our itinerary and post it here accordingly.  Overall the last itinerary we posted while in Bali, still is accurate except for the change of cruise and time spent in Africa and South America. Please click here for the link to our most recent itinerary which was posted on October 14, 2016.

Bushy looking plants.

In any case, we haven’t booked this new cruise a lot earlier than many other cruises we’ve booked in the past.  Using cruises for transportation has always been our objective when neither of us cares for the commotion at airports, baggage issues, and uncomfortable seating on flights.

This morning, as we reviewed the figures we’re posting today, Tom discovered price reductions on other upcoming cruises. Once our rep returns to work on Monday in the US, Tuesday here in Australia, we’ll call her and update our pricing to save even more. 

So maybe today, we aren’t out sightseeing on this cool and windy day (8.3C, 47F) but instead we’re staying indoors saving money. That’s not a bad way to spend a day!

Happy day to all!

Photo from one year ago today, December 17, 2015:

There are rows upon rows of exquisite colorful Hindu gowns in a store in a mall in Sava, Fiji, worn by Indo-Fijian women on special occasions. For more details, please click here.

An extraordinary evening with new friends in Tasmania at a special cafe in Penguin…

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Tania’s dedication to quality drinks, service and ambiance are easily evidenced in her unique  and inviting café.

We feel so fortunate. As we travel the world reveling in the experiences of visiting and living in many countries, we often find ourselves in the company of local residents who enhance our adventures and warm our hearts in ways not easy to describe.

An organ located at Renaessance for customer’s enjoyment.

One may think it’s difficult to get close to people in the short periods we stay in any given location.  There’s a commonality we share with those we embrace in our lives as they include us in theirs, which we’ve found to be universal from country to country, town to town, village to village.

Blackboards are updated frequently with menu items.

Making new friends is magical.  How is it that people come together for the very first time and the magic happens? After all, its just the two of us and, although on a day to day basis, we don’t feel lonely or displaced, we have each other and that love and companionship is a powerful and meaningful adjunct to each of our individual lives.

Cocktail price list, listed in AU dollars such as AU $15 equals US $10.95.
Breakfast and lunch menu.

Tom doesn’t meet the “boys” for coffee or a beer, nor do I go to lunch or shopping with the “girls.” Our lives are full and rewarding together and by communicating online with old friends whom we plan to see when we’re in Minnesota in a mere five months.

The thoughtful décor provides a pleasing environment, whether a guest stops in for coffee, lunch or wine and cocktails.

In the interim, as we’d experienced on the recent 33-night cruise, we made new friends, building relationships we’ll always remember and treasure even if we never return to a specific location or have an opportunity to meet face-to-face in the future.

A cozy well decorated corner in Renaessance.

Upcoming in 14 months, we’ll return to Marloth Park to again be with the many friends we made in South Africa. This will be the first time we’ll be returning to a specific location, in this case, to celebrate my 70th birthday with those friends and to relive the exquisite interaction with wild animals in the game reserve close to Kruger National Park. 

Fran and Terry hosted our evening out. For the first time since the cruise ended two weeks ago, we each had two drinks, beer for Tom, white wine for me.

As much as I longed to return to the bush, to the wildlife, we may not have been returning to Marloth Park four years later, had we not made so many friends while there. Staying in touch via email and Facebook has certainly contributed to maintaining these and other special relationships we’ve developed over these past years.

Gerard, who’s fabulous B&B we highlighted a few days ago, High on Penguin.  Click here for the post and photos.

Last evening, as soon as we entered Tania’s Renaessance café, located at 95 Main Street, Penguin, Tasmania, we felt at home. We’d expected the establishment to feel small in its compact space, but upon entering we were delighted to see how comfortable and roomy the café actually is.

From the left, Kath Downie, Penguin Deputy Mayor and friends, Leah and John.  It was delightful chatting with them as well.

From the creative design and décor to the wide array of unique and befitting amenities, each corner was well planned and usable, offering the visitor a memorable experience, unlike any other found in a typical coffee shop or wine bar. 

A cat sitting on a fence behind Renaessance next to the train tracks.

The foods offered were fresh and well plated, with a focus on healthfulness and yet, those seeking more traditional options would easily be able to find items to suit their tastes and desires.

Renaessance is all about coffee, wine and art and a perfect spot for locals and tourist to mingle.

The selections of alcoholic beverages, wines and nonalcoholic drinks was extensive, suitable for the lunchtime or happy hour enthusiast or a family with children.

Christmas decorations atop a cabinet.

No more than seconds after we met Tania and I engaged in lively conversation, both finding an immediate connection. While she and I chatted, as she attended to other customers, Tom sat in the lounge area, giving us some much appreciated “girl time.”

Tiny boxes with a variety of teas.

In a short while Terry, his lovely wife Fran and other customers arrived ordering drinks, appetizers and filling up the space. The conversations flowed with ease to a high level of camaraderie. It couldn’t have been more fun.

These candies (referred to as lollies in Australia) reminded me of a time from long ago.

Finally, at almost 9 pm, we all started to wander out, hugging and saying warm goodbyes with hopes of being together again soon. What a pleasant surprise and festive means of spending quality holiday time with new friends!

Although the café is small there are numerous tables and chairs suitable for seating for about 20 customers.

Yes, we are fortunate for the friends we make and the people we meet as we continue to travel the world, never for a moment or a day taking anything for granted. It’s truly a gift, all the gifts we’ll need or want over this holiday season and always.

The backyard of Renaessance overlooks the sea.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Photo from one year ago today, December 17, 2015:

In Suva, on the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu, we visited an enormous farmers’ market.  For more photos, please click here.

Visit to a cheese factory with a lingering effect…What treats do we enjoy during the holiday season?

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It was necessary to take a detour off the main highway on our way to Penguin in order to stop at this popular cheese factory store and café, the Pyengana Dairy Company.

During the holiday season, many people enjoy a wide variety of special cakes, including biscuits, cakes, sweets and salty snacks. With our eating habits, we have few holiday options that will continue to keep our diet low in carbohydrates, sugar, cereals and starch.

However, there are a few things we can appreciate in moderation, including natural hard cheese, which usually contain the lowest amount of carbohydrates, lactose and insulin.

It is often perceived that we consume enormous amounts of protein. Our diet is called: low carb, high fat, moderate protein (no unlimited protein). For us, it maintains our weight, good health and sense of well being.

This coffee shop with its charming name is located inside the Pyengana cheese dairy in Tasmania.

That’s not to say we’re exempt from drooling over certain holiday treats or can avoid feeling as if we’re entitled to something special during this festive time of the year. Old traditions are hard to break.

I’ve been eating like this for 5 years. Tom, who didn’t get on board right away, has joined me in this type of diet for over four years, except for those times we’re on cruises and dining in restaurants when he goes “hog wild.”

Surprisingly, on this most recent 33 night cruise, he tempered his choices, making every effort to avoid bread and sweets. Consequently, he gained only a few pounds, which he will easily lose effortlessly before leaving Tasmania in two and a half months.

Charm was exuding from this delightfully decorated and appointed cheese sales and dining establishment located on a quiet country road in Pyengana, Tasmania.

Charm was exuding from this delightful decoration and named cheese selling and restaurant located on a quiet country road in Pyengana, Tasmania. Helens to Penguin, on our second leg of the road trip.

Only a short distance from the main highway A3, we veered off onto a country road C428 to easily find the Pyengana Dairy Company. Upon entering the café and shop, we were warmly greeted and offered to participate in the complimentary cheese tasting which was starting in moments.

We ordered our coffees and while it was being prepared, we tasted several excellent cheeses offered.  But, one particular flavor caught our attention, the caraway cheddar, a creamy, slightly tangy cheese infused with whole roasted caraway seeds.

We had a lot of ground to cover and didn’t sit down for coffee.  Instead, we purchased two coffees, sampled some cheese and heading back down the road.  At that point, we had no idea how “hooked” we’d become on their caraway cheddar cheese.

In general, we’ve found Australia to have some pretty amazing cheese, particularly their popular natural “Tasty” cheese, which is somewhat grainy, tangy and filled with flavor.

When grocery shopping these past two weeks, we purchased big blocks of tasty cheese, slicing it into bite sized strips which we keep handy in a plastic container. 

After finishing the one package of caraway cheddar we’d purchased in Pyengana Dairy Company a few days after arrival, we longed for more. After dinner, we often make a cheese plate with a variety of cheeses as a special dessert. With a few other cheeses we’d purchased locally, we were still thinking about the caraway cheddar.

After we’d sampled several cheeses, we couldn’t resist the caraway cheddar and purchased one package..

Last Thursday, we called Pyengana Dairy Company, asking if they’d ship the cheese to us in Penguin.  No problem. They were happy to oblige. Although the shipping and handling fee was AU 18.50, US $13.70 we didn’t hesitate to order 10 packages, the size shown in the photo included here today. 

The total bill for the cheese, including the shipping and handling fee was a total of AU 155, US $114.80 for the 10 packages which should last us through our time in Tasmania. In our old lives, I could easily spend more than this amount to bake Christmas cookies or other holiday treats.

Any other holiday treats on the agenda for us?  Today or tomorrow, I’ll be making a double batch of low carb fudge. For Tom’s upcoming 64th birthday on December 23rd, we have a dinner reservation at a highly rated restaurant in Devonport. For Christmas Eve, most likely we’ll make our traditional surf and turf. 

Longing for more of the delicious cheese, we called Pyengana Dairy Company to order 10 packages to be shipped to us in Penguin. Our shipment arrived yesterday morning. Since we don’t eat typical holiday treats, this will definitely work for us. 

On Christmas Day, we’re trying a new recipe we’ll share if it proves to be as good as it sounds, Low Carb Chicken Pot Pie, using almond flour for the top crust. We’ll see how that goes and report back here.

That’s it in the treats department folks.

It’s not much in the way of variety, but certainly satisfying for us.

We hope each and every one of our readers who participate, have a tasty holiday season.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, December 15, 2015:

Fiji décor made from some type of small vines. For more photos, please click here.

High on Penguin…A unique B&B concept like none other…Music memorabilia enthusiasts, check this out!

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Gerard and his High on Penguin holiday home in Penguin, Tasmania, overlooking the town and the sea.

When we met Gerard last week, owner of an interesting B&B “High on Penguin,” when he and Terry stopped by to say hello, he invited us to see his unique holiday/vacation home high on a hill overlooking the town of Penguin, Tasmania.

The view couldn’t be more appealing.  Note the church, the windmill and the homes along the sea.
Ocean views from the veranda.


On Monday morning we drove the short distance up a steep hill to easily find Gerard’s rock and roll music themed B&B.  Visiting this creatively designed and meticulously maintained holiday home, equipped with the latest amenities, put a smile on our faces during our hour long tour and thereafter.

This modern day jukebox uses CDs from Gerard’s vast collection.

Gerard left no stone unturned in ensuring his guests receive an experience they’ll long remember at reasonable pricing with accommodations for one, two or more guests, up to as many as 10 or more if required.

Music buffs are enthralled with this extensive collection.

Gerard, a music enthusiast, though not a musician, had conceived of this idea of a music themed B&B several years ago, bringing the concept to fruition over four years ago after considerable expense, effort and creativity.

Music in the background, if desired and breathtaking views of the town and sea are easily available when dining in High on Penguin.

Nothing was spared in the design of this inviting and comfortable establishment that even without the rock and rock theme would be an exquisite holiday home.  Add his thought provoking theme and magic happens the moment the visitor pulls up in the driveway.

This well equipped kitchen has modern appliances and amenities.

The concept of many B&Bs have changed over the years in part due to the advent of the Internet where travelers from throughout the world can easily access an endless array of available options for their chosen destinations.

The walls throughout the property are adorned with rock and roll memorabilia.

Many perceive that B&Bs offer guests a room to rent in a multi bedroom home, sharing a bath and dining for breakfast in a communal dining area with the meal prepared by an on-site owner who fusses to ensure a good experience.  In some cases a communal living room/salon is available to provide the short term renter with a homey feel.

Each of the bedrooms have comfortable beds, bedding, storage space and views.

In many cases in today’s world, this perception had escalated to the use of an entire house or portion of a house with cooking facilities, lounge areas and total privacy from the on-site owner. 

Imagine awakening to this view!


Picturesque view from the Bob Dylan Room.

This is the case in Gerard’s High on Penguin property with pricing based on the number of renters occupying the property at any given time, making it affordable for one traveler, 10 or more.

Alternate living room/salon located in the spacious B&B.

As for the rock and roll theme, one might consider it a bonus when the property stands alone on its own merits in its many offerings and pricing, details which may be found at Gerard’s AirBnB’s listing.

It would be easy to spend hours perusing the wall décor and various memorabilia.

From the aptly named signs on each of the five bedrooms doors including the Bob Dylan Room, the Jimi Hendrix Room, the Janis Joplin Room, the Neil Young Room and the Joni Mitchell Room, each is adorned with its appropriate share of authentic memorabilia.  

Gerard left no stone unturned in ensuring an authentic rock and roll experience
for each visitor.

Whether its the modern Wurlitzer jukebox which uses CDs from a massive collection to the custom made side tables with vinyl records under glass, High on Penguin is without a doubt, over-the-top.

There are three of these glass covered “vinyl” tables in a lounge area, all
handmade by a friend of Gerard’s.
Note the guitar shaped wine rack.

During our tour, we both found our eyes flitting from corner to corner, finding one interesting and unusual amenity after another.  Whether it was the well stocked refrigerator with breakfast items for the renter to prepare at their leisure to the expansive views of Penguin and the sea, High on Penguin has it all. 

Music wafting through the air, a frosty local beer in hand and a view of the sea.  What more could a traveler require for a diverse experience?

For hours after we’d left Gerard’s fabulous property, we continued to reel over the delightful opportunity to see this special property, meet this creative local resident and, from the driveway of our own beautiful vacation home, only look up the hill to see High on Penguin.

Another amazing view from a guest room.
 
More views of Penguin.


Be well, dear readers.  Be happy! Be high on life!

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Photo from one year ago today, December 14, 2015:

The couples were in sync while dancing the traditional Bollywood performance at the Uprising Restaurant in Pacific Harbour, Fiji.  For more photos, please click here.

Annual musical event in Penguin…A night to remember…The remnants of having household assistance…

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Terry, at the band concert. He didn’t learn how to play sax until a couple weeks ago! 

It’s ironic that a year ago today while we were in Fiji, we wrote about working out at health clubs as we travel the world. I had hoped to join a club here, but for the last nine days, since we arrived in Tasmania, we’ve been so busy that it hasn’t turned out. 

Zooming in from the fourth to last row in the theatre, I was able to get this shot of Terry (without flash) during his part of the performance.

Instead, we are doing a lot of walking although we need to pick up the pace. There are too many things to see in Penguin that keep us from taking a quick stroll as we continue to stop to look, take pictures and chat with locals.

View from Marge’s living room window in Burnie.

Then, suddenly, we do laundry, shopping, cooking, making the bed and cleaning after ourselves after a long hiatus from the housekeeping help included in our rent. Is that exercise?

Have we become a little lazy? I don’t think so, nor do I beat myself up when five of the seven or more months we had household help (and didn’t cook either) while I was suffering with the injury to my spine is now totally healed and pain free. 

Too cute!  Marge and Terry pose for the camera.

Even today, the penguin house will be cleaned for us. I ran around last night and this morning cleaning up clutter to ensure nothing is in the way. I stripped the bedding, started a load of laundry hanging it outside when done, emptied the dishwasher and showered and dressed.

This lemon tree, next door to Terry’s mother-in-law Marge’s home had the biggest lemons we’d ever seen.

With the thought in mind that we have an 11:00 am appointment to visit a local B & B belonging to Terry’s next door neighbor Gerard, whom we met a few days ago when he and Terry stopped by for a hello, I felt a need to get moving very early this morning. 

Our intention on the road is to promote local businesses wherever possible. Some of our worldwide readers may choose a holiday/vacation, in locales in which we’ve lived considering some of the recommendations we may have rendered along the way.

Burnie Regional Museum.

Over these past four plus years, our philosophy has been to only highlight those businesses and events that we’ve found pleasing. We’re not here to bash a single visit to a restaurant, barber shop, market, shop or other venue. 

If we don’t care for the quality of an experience, we don’t say much, if anything at all. Maybe it was an off-day. Who are we to criticize the owner and staff of a hard-working establishment that may have trouble running a business? 

Terry has owned this sax with case for the past 50 years and only a few weeks ago learned to play for the Burnie Civic Center 30th Celebration Concert.

We do not post negative comments on TripAdvisor or other travel-related websites. Didn’t enjoy the experience? Mums, the word from us. We realize that other travelers desire to read honest negative reviews about traveler’s experiences and we appreciate that. There are others who gladly write their negative opinions on any experience they may have had, on any of the reviewing-type web sites.

 There are varying levels of experience in the wide array of groups, including the above adult learners (as shown in this phot0), junior band, junior learners band and senior band.

If we have a bad experience, we don’t ignore it. Instead of writing a review, we contact the owner by email to explain our experience. We avoid asking for any compensation which we’ve found enhances the validity of our opinions. It’s not a perfect system, but it works for us.

As we busily attend one Penguin event after another we’ve found ourselves thoroughly and genuinely enjoying each experience. The charming demeanor of the locals and their businesses readily presenting the “small town” feel has left us reeling with a pure sense of belonging while in awe of its special people.

Musicians were highlighted by special performances.

Yesterday, we attended the weekly Sunday Penguin Market, open from 9 am to 3:00 pm each week. Although only a few farmers were in attendance, offering produce for sale, overall the market revolves around handmade merchandise, antiques and unique items. Soon, we’ll share those photos.

After the market, we visited a local park only walking distance from our vacation home for more beautiful photos. In time, we’ll share those as well. We’d considered taking another drive to the countryside, but decided to spend the rest of the day at “home” which we haven’t done since our arrival with the exception of one rainy day.

The Segway singers performed a few times.

Gosh, dear readers, we’re trying to stay on top of events verses posted photos but it’s just not possible. Each day presents one, two or more photo worthy experiences which we attempt to share as quickly as possible. 

We’re still behind on posting photos of the countryside from our drive from Hobart to Penguin over a period of two days.

They come to you in time, along with amazing countryside photos we took in the area only a few days ago. Please bear with us. 

David Turner is the musical director and is very talented.

On Saturday night, we attended the Burnie Civic Centers 30th Celebration Concert as we mentioned in a prior post. Terry, our landlord, an experienced musician (among his many other talents) had learned to play a saxophone only weeks ago for this special presentation. He, among, many other musicians, from grade school aged kids to seniors put on quite a performance. 

Georgia, a talented young lady performed a solo.

It started at 7:30 pm, ending three hours later. It was a long time for us to sit still but we managed and had a great time. We drove with Terry in his well maintained 33-year old car. On the way we picked up his lovely mother-in-law, Marge and we all attended the event together.

After the event ended, Terry showed us a few houses elaborately decorated for Christmas each year that he thought we’d enjoy. As we drove up to the first of three houses, my energy level increased at the prospect of taking photos of these colorful displays. Here again, photos will follow.

David, the musical director and his son Nick performed the Cat Stevens song, Father Son.  Well done!

As I hurry along to complete today’s post in plenty of time for our 11:00 am meeting at Gerard’s B & B, Tom’s watching the Minnesota Vikings Game. It’s in the 4th quarter and at the moment the Vikings are ahead.  \We’ll see how that goes by the time, we’re done here today.

Have a fabulous day! Thanks for traveling along with us!  (BTW, the Vikings won!

Photo from one year ago today, December 12, 2015:

Wherever we may travel water views always present a photo op and scenes we love including this pond at the Pacific Harbour, Fiji Arts Centre. For more photos, please click here.

Another busy day in Tasmania…This region keeps giving and giving…

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Upside down Christmas tree exhibited at the Makers Workshop.

Yesterday morning, after uploading the post, we took advantage of a beautiful sunny day and headed on foot to the local IGA market down the road, a pleasant 15 minutes leisurely walk.

Papermaking display area. What’s that Christmas tree on the right doing upside down? Check today’s main photo for details.

I say “leisurely walk” since it’s impossible for us to walk down the cheerful and interesting Main Road in Penguin without stopping to window shop, talking to passing locals and gazing out at the crystal blue sea.

Beach view on the way to Burnie, Tasmania on the cloudy day we visited Makers Workshop.

Along the way, we stopped at the Madsen Hotel, a popular spot for tourists to stay in the center of town and met the owner, a former prince of Laos, to arrange a future get together for a tour of his charming boutique hotel after the busy holidays have ended.

Upon entering the Makers Workshop, a tractor, and hand carved figures above.

From there, we meandered down the road to the five (or six) aisle market for a few items we needed before embarking on our next weekly shopping trip to Ulverstone. We needed baking soda to use when brushing our teeth, but after checking two markets in town we weren’t able to find any in Penguin. Most likely we’ll find it at Woolies in the next few days.

Custom made paper rolls at least two meters tall.

We took a few photos, we checked out the baked goods at the bakery (Tom didn’t buy anything) and we stopped at the pharmacy for a few toiletries. Each stop we made, left us walking out the door, smiling over the friendly and kind shopkeepers and other shoppers, always quick with a genuine hello and words of welcome.

Paper Mache displays.

Once back “home,” realizing that Tom does like some downtime, I hesitated to ask if we could jump in the car and drive around the Penguin area to explore  neighborhoods we’d yet to see. I gingerly mentioned the prospect anyway and he was thrilled to do so. 

Woodworking… Making musical instruments.

Moments later, we were perusing neighborhoods, admiring the variety of styles of homes, rarely two looking alike. As charming as Penguin is, there’s nothing “cookie cutter” about it, not its buildings in the center of town, not its homes, and most of all, not in its people.

Custom made costume jewelry display.

The only commonalities they share is their pleasing Aussie accents, their inborn friendly personas and their mutual love of their state and town, qualities that couldn’t be more appealing. 

Exquisite handmade violins.

Ah, would that all citizens of the world felt such innate passion for their homeland and one another.  What a world this would be! No doubt, living in Tasmania is far removed from the education we’ve gleaned living in undeveloped countries with a plethora of cultural differences.

This appeared to be a giant roll of toilet paper when in fact, it was a thick paper.

However, these resourceful, practical and earth friendly people can teach us so much about their gentle ways. And, its this varied knowledge and experience that rounds out the vast opportunities in ways we never imagined for our continuing personal growth as we carry on in our world travels.

Potatoes made of wood on display.

In no time at all, we found ourselves driving into the countryside where one farm after another dotted the landscape of rolling hills, mountain and sea views. We even stopped to take a video of tall grass “rolling” in the wind. We’d never done this in the past. Soon, we’ll post that video.

A bell, the lower half of a clock.

Moving grass? Video worthy? Yes! It’s all a part of the adventure of embracing Mother Nature in every way possible. She has so much to offer and we only need stop, take a deep breath, tune our ears to the sounds, our sense of smell to the wafting aromas of the countryside and the never ending sights so pleasing to the eye.

Attire from another era made in Paper Mache.

Back later in the afternoon, armed with loads of photos and stories piling up that we’re anxious to share, we attempt to complete where we left off in yesterday’s post with the final photos of our visit to Makers Workshop.

Gingerbread houses and supplies for sale.

In the evening, Terry picked us up to take us to Burnie where we collected his sweet mother-in-law Marge and the four of us headed to the Burnie Civic Center where Terry was playing saxophone with the Burnie Concert Band. 

We aren’t sure what these are.  Any comments?

It was a delightful day and evening for which we look forward to sharing many photos of the details along the way; beautiful horses, buying walnuts from a nut farm, sheep munching on trees, homes decorated for Christmas and a concert we’ll always remember.

Lumber mill on the return drive from Burnie to Penguin.

A special thank you to all of our new readers from the recent cruise and, all of our new readers from Australia, Tasmania, and Penguin as we see our numbers grow to record breaking heights.

We appreciate each and every one of YOU!

Photo from one year ago today, December 11, 2015:

The market in the Arts Village in Pacific Harbour, Fiji had only a few items suitable for our diet, but could be ideal for others with lots of “western” snacks, chips, soda and other processed and packaged items. They didn’t sell real butter, only tub margarine, which we don’t eat. For more details, please click here.

Makers Workshop…Burnie, Tasmania…Another wonder in this special area…

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Locally crafted dress made of paper.

We’d planned to lay low for a few days to recover from the early mornings and late nights on the 33 night cruise which ended a week ago today. It hasn’t been possible. We’re entranced by Penguin and its nearby towns.

We’d considered buying cheese at the Makers Workshop but instead, yesterday we placed an order to be shipped to us in Penguin from the cheese factory, Pyengana Dairy, that we visited on our way from St. Helens to Penguin last Sunday. We’d purchased a block of caraway cheddar and were hooked. It was the most delicious cheese we’d ever had.  We ordered three kilos which should arrive in a week, especially now that I won’t be baking a sugary treat for Tom.

This amazing small town and surroundings has kept us heading out the door as often as possible to see yet another interesting aspect of this quaint community and its nearby towns each with their own personality. 

Dairy farming is prevalent in this region.

The only day we stayed in it was pouring rain, cold and windy. As we acclimate to cooler weather after spending the past several years in tropical climates, this 18C, 64F, requires a bit of adjustment. We don’t wear our jackets when going out in an attempt to toughen up a bit. But, we do wear our newly purchased flannel shirts with layers.

We’d hoped to find caraway cheddar here, but none was available, resulting in the order we placed from the above mentioned dairy.

A few days ago, we headed to the neighboring town of Burnie, a pleasant 20 minute drive from Penguin on the oceanfront road which has proven to be a worthwhile scenic means of traveling from town to town along the ocean as opposed to taking the quicker inland highway. Who’s in a hurry?  Certainly, not us.

Locally made wines, olive oils, jams, jelly and condiments are offered for sale at Makers Workshop.

Burnie has a population of 25,000 as opposed to Penguin’s less than 4,000. As we made our way to Burnie as mentioned in a post of a few days ago to head to the Harvey Norman store for a computer power cord, we were amazed by the highway complex in the relatively small town.

Many possible holiday gifts are available at the Makers Workshop.

The downtown area was impressive in size with multiple shopping options, although parking was at a premium and we had little interest in walking in the rain and wind with neither of us wearing coats.  Instead, after purchasing the replacement power cord, we headed to Makers Workshop as planned and suggested by Terry, described below from this website:
 
Burnie’s newest visitor attraction Makers’ Workshop is a place that honors Burnie’s history, makers, innovators and artists. Opened in November 2009 this contemporary structure is a new concept for Burnie, part contemporary museum, part arts center and visitor information center. The building won the Tasmanian Architectural Award in May 2010.

Locally made wines and waters.

Volunteers at the information counter will help you find your way around Burnie and beyond.You can shop for some interesting locally made gifts and mementoes in the gift shop or check out the latest Tasmanian exhibition in the gallery.

You are invited to try your hand at making paper under the guidance of experienced and informative paper makers. Depending on the day, there may be one or several makers working on site, producing any number of interesting things.

Handcrafted cutting boards and cooking planks.  These were hard for me to resist. But there’s no room in our luggage for wood.

You are encouraged to meet the makers and have a chat about what they’re making or see their objects for sale in the gift shop. Discover what makes Burnie tick from the interpretive displays or simply appreciate the stunning giant sepia images taken by Wolfgang Seivers, still recognized as one of the world’s finest industrial and architectural photographers.

Grab a coffee, a plate of fresh local fare or enjoy an all day breakfast and reflect while enjoying the view. ”

More expertly crafted wood products, some for the kitchen, some as decorator items and some toys.

The moment we entered the architecturally interesting building, our eyes widened in wonder of the impressive décor, design and wide array of options to peruse. Our plan was to take photos, which we’d done enthusiastically while wandering through the massive building to investigate the purpose and intent of this well planned venue for both locals and tourists alike.

Another woodworking display, including this necklace, coasters and candle holders.

Although there are many items one could purchase, all but a few were geared toward those “with a home” to adorn with the creative and artfully made and manufactured products, many handmade on the premises. 

Extensive display of more appealing wood products.

Of course, we don’t qualify to make such purchases, but over these past four plus years we’ve learned to become avid window shoppers, inspecting each item with enthusiasm and appreciation for quality workmanship and the dedication exercised by each craftsperson. How we admire such skills!

Adorable handmade dolls in felt-like pockets.

We wandered from area to area occasionally chatting with a vendor while they worked and yet remained sensitive to the fact that many were engrossed in their particular area of expertise.

Poppy/opium is farmed in Tasmania for medicinal purposes accounting for 50% of the world’s product.

Over the next few days, we’ll continue to share photos from the Makers Workshop. We can’t help but encourage tourists and locals who’ve yet to visit this unique space to head to Burnie for an interesting (no entrance fee required) look at this impressive concept. Ample free parking is available.

Decorative waterfall at office building in Burnie.

Speaking of Burnie, tonight we’re headed to a concert in Burnie with Terry, our new friend and landlord and his mother-in-law.  He’s playing in the concert and we couldn’t resist the opportunity to watch him and many others perform. Photos will follow! Please check back!

Ferry in Burnie, Tasmania. Many ferries are available in Tasmania for passengers, cars and shipping purposes.

Be well.  Be happy.

Photo from one year ago today, December 9, 2015:

A resort in the Pacific Harbour area in Fiji was in the process of renovation. For more photos and details, please click here.

A local annual holiday event in Penguin…Penguin Surf Club…Locally owned business…

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This health and wellbeing exhibit by Belinda at Natural Intuition caught my attention.
To contact Belinda, email her at:  naturalintuitionwellness@gmail.com The little case in the center of the display was filled with therapeutic grade essential oils. If I had space in my luggage, I would have wanted one. Again, practicality prevails. We had a chance to chat with Belinda. She was warm and welcoming and we enjoyed every moment. Had she not be going to Queensland for the holiday, we have no doubt we’d have been getting together. 
Another view of Belinda’s health and wellness display.

When Terry, our new friend and landlord, dropped off a flyer for the Penguin Surf Club Christmas Market occurring on Thursday evening from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, we were excited at the prospect of attending.

Upon entering the Penguin Surf Club we knew we were in for a treat.

Although we had no intention of making any purchases at this local annual holiday gift and arts and crafts sales event, we thought it would be fun to mingle with the locals and take photos.

Handmade aprons, pot holders and more filled this area.
We chatted with Leone, the local rep for Tupperware.  She was delightful and welcoming us to her town. There was an item here, I’d have loved to purchase, that red pull chopper. Again, no room in the luggage for kitchen gadgets. To reach Leone for Tupperware, call her at 040-921-7730. 

We’d already purchased all the Christmas gifts for our six grandchildren in the US. Long ago, we’d decided to forgo gifts between us and our adult children due to the inconvenience of receiving, shipping and purchasing items from around the world.

Adorable flannel its including baby blankets and bibs.
A variety of locally made olive oil and products filled this pretty table.

For the grandchildren, we always purchase items and gift cards from US vendors making returns simple and uncomplicated. Within 24 hours of our arrival in Penguin, I sat down and got to work and within a few hours our online shopping was completed.

Cute stocking stuffer items.

Yesterday, we made a late lunch of cheesy scrambled eggs, bacon (the best bacon we’ve found anywhere!) and a favorite; low carb, grain, starch and sugar free coconut pancakes. We’d found maple syrup sweetened with Stevia at Woolies to which we added to the glob of delicious grass fed Tasmanian butter.

There was a wide array of adorable handmade items on this table.
Several tables offer spa and bath products.

Each time we make this meal I always say I could have this meal every day and love it. But, in an attempt for variety we only make it every so often, especially since in many countries we can’t find coconut flour although, coconuts are commonly found in many warm climates.

Hand carved wooden toys and games filled this display.

Satisfied after the great meal, at 5:30 we headed out the door for the 10 minute drive to the edge of town to the Penguin Surf Club where Terry has been an active member for many years. 

I hadn’t seen a Mary Kay display in years.
As we perused the facility beyond the multitude of booths with holiday offerings, we noticed his name over and over again on many plaques and awards. Having lived in Penguin all of his life, he’s been actively involved in community activities and events.
Tom really got a kick out of these lighted glass blocks. Clever idea!
I flipped over these “map of the world” shoes.  But, practicality always prevails in our lives.  They weren’t meant for lots of walking and each of my five pairs of shoes are practical except one pair of dress shoes which I’m considering giving the heave ho.

At the entrance to the building, we paid a “gold coin” each for an entrance fee equivalent to one AU dollar (US $.75). The place was packed, the energy, uplifting and holiday-like and we couldn’t have been more thrilled to be a part of this small town’s special seasonal event.

Tie dye baby clothing.  Too cute!
This chair and cover were made to look like a toy stove.  Cute!
We began wandering from display to display, some containing homemade gifts, foods and holiday décor and others packed with more traditional commercial items. Many were unique as we both giggled over spotting the same items simultaneously.
I always loved these handmade dolls.
Wall décor made with rocks and wood found in nature.

If, we had a home or were living near family, there were many items we would have been tempted to purchase. But with the high cost of shipping items to the US none of it made sense, especially when our grandkids have no interest in craft items nor do their parents want their homes filled with more “stuff.”

Colorful scented Play Dough.  Fun!

Being able to chat with a few of the vendors was the highlight of the event. We took photos of their wares, offering to post photos on our site today. Had it not been so busy, we’d have had a greater opportunity to talk to more vendors to later share their products and information.

Scents and hand and body sets, perfect for holiday gifts.

Today, cool, windy and cloudy we plan to stay in, work on future travel related tasks. At long last, we’re making our low carb gluten, starch and sugar free pizza after finally being able to find all the ingredients needed for our recipe. We haven’t been able to make the pizza since we were in New Zealand almost a year ago. 

An oar we spotted in the food area where Terry was one of the crew for an event. 
The bar wasn’t busy yet, but give it a few hours and it would have been packed. Food was offered for sale in this area, including burgers, brats and hot dogs.
Watch a movie? Eat pizza? Yep! That’s fun too! Enjoy your upcoming weekend!

Photo from one year ago today, December 9, 2015:

Walkway from one area of the Arts Village to another while in Pacific Harbour, Fiji.For more photos, please click here.

Adaptation to life in Tasmania…Easier than many…More photos of downtown Penguin…Poppy Seed Strudel recipe…

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Could it be tourists at the top of those rocks at the beach?

Compared to many places we’ve lived in over the past four years anymore, it’s easy here at Penguin, Tasmania. Sure, today it’s raining in buckets and we’ll stay indoors most of the day until 5:30 pm when we’ll head to a local social event which we’ll share in tomorrow’s post.

The Penguin Food & Veg stop.

We haven’t found a single insect in the house yet. The cool weather must be a factor which is typical year round. Now, as it approaches summer, we’re a bit surprised to find it as cold as it is. Here’s a chart of average weather in this immediate area, from this site:

Tabular view for temperature and precipitation per month in Penguin, Tasmania
Temperature*
Months Normal Warmest Coldest
January – 21.1°C 13.2°C
February – 22.1°C 13.6°C
March – 20.8°C 12.6°C
April – 18.2°C 10.8°C
May – 15.3°C 8.7°C
June – 12.9°C 6.7°C
July – 12.3°C 5.9°C
August – 13.0°C 6.4°C
September – 14.2°C 7.6°C
October – 15.8°C 8.8°C
November – 17.7°C 10.4°C
December – 19.2°C 11.8°C

*Temperatures are listed for Celsius. For example, the December’s high of 19.2°C is equal to 66°F and the low of 11.8°C is equal to 53°F.

Penguin Memorial Library. At the back of the library, there is an open-air reading area overlooking the ocean.

By examining this map of Tasmania its easy to see why its cold here based on the proximity of Tasmania to the Antarctic as shown on this map below:

Image result for map australia antarctica
Map of the southern part of Australia, in Tasmania, as indicated for Hobart and the Antarctic.

In 13 months we’ll be in Antarctica where, of course, it will be much colder than it is here requiring much heavier clothing than we have available. We’ll be renting outerwear through the cruise line which we’ll be wearing on frequent visits to ice floes via Zodiac boats. 

Another penguin statue.

New Zealand, where we lived from January 19, 2016 to April 15, 2016, was nowhere nearly as cool as here in Tasmania.  However, as shown in the above temperature chart, January will become warmer as it moves further into summer in this part of the world.

  However, as the temperature chart above shows, January will warm up over the summer in that part of the world.

Are we uncomfortable? No, not at all. Thank goodness for the warm shirts we purchased a few days ago, the heavy socks we have in our bags and the blankets we’re using as needed to stay warm indoors.

These items aren’t for sale. They were donated by locals for display purposes only.

The house has a multipurpose air con/heater in the lounge (living room), but we make every effort to avoid using extra electricity unless it’s an absolute necessity. So far, so good.

Next door to the Penguin Post Office is a café, the Letterbox. Notice Tom on the right wearing his new flannel shirt.

As an island, a sunny day in Tas (as the locals describe) can easily turn into a rainy day, which we experienced yesterday when we hung three loads of laundry on the outdoor clothesline. 

More penguin items donated by locals which also are “not for sale.”

Before we headed out for the afternoon when it had begun to drizzle, we took everything off the clothesline bringing all the wet clothing indoors to hang on a tiny free standing clothes rack. It’s still wet today on this humid day and may not dry until tomorrow. 

We’d seen this type of pine tree in Madeira, Portugal in 2014.

Yesterday, we headed to the neighboring town of Burnie with a population of 25,000 to stop at the Harvey Normal store to purchase a new power cord for one of our laptops. During the recent cruise the power cord died. We could either order one online or find one locally

Penguin statue.

Based on the fact these cords are in two parts, we could purchase an Australian plug in the power adapter and use only the part with the black box, continuing to use the same US plugin with our universal adapter. Once we leave Australia at the end of April, we’ll only be using US plugins for a while. 

The device was only slightly higher than it would have been ordering it at Amazon in the US. Priced at US $74, AU 99 at Harvey Norman in Burnie we avoided tax and shipping costs. With multiple plugin tips as a universal device this will work for us for these laptops and, as a backup for future laptops we’ll purchase when in the US.

The Madsen Hotel is owned by an exiled Prince of Laos.  More on this later.

After shopping at the Harvey Norman store, we headed to the Makers Mart, an architecturally interesting center in Burnie where artisans and contractors display their unique wares. Photos will be presented in a future post. It proved to be a unique environment we’re excited to share.

As for adaptation, we have experienced the lack of a baking product always readily available in the US. Since Tom had only gained a few pounds on the cruise and with his birthday and Christmas on the horizon, I offered to bake a special treat for him, one of his favorite Christmas baked goods, Polish Poppy Seed Bread.  (See the recipe below).

Penguin themed seesaw the local playground.

After visiting the largest Woolie’s store in the area and talking to the store manager, he explained he’d never heard of nor carried “canned poppy seed filling” and it it’s unlikely we’d find it anywhere. As a result, I had to forgo making this for Tom. 

Penguin outside the Penguin Barber Shop owned by Linda, Terry’s sister.

I asked Tom what he’d like as an alternative and to my surprise, he said, “Nothing. I’ll just have our usual food (meaning low carb, gluten free, grain, sugar and starch free foods). I don’t need sweets.” Of course, I’m thrilled with his response, always concerned for his health and well being.

Christmas wreath decorations in Penguin.

Today, as you can see we’ve posted the remainder of our photos from our walk through downtown Penguin. We’ll be back with more new photos tomorrow after tonight’s social event.

Beef marrow bone for sale in local grocery story. 

Here’s our recipe:

Polish Poppy Seed Bread (Strudel) Recipe
An Eastern European dessert table would invariably include something sweet made with poppy seeds, either ground or whole. This poppy seed strudel is made with a yeast dough and is known as makowiec (mah-KOH-vyets) in Polish. Canned poppy seed paste is available in the ethnic or baking aisle of most supermarkets. 

Makes 2 Sweet Polish Poppy Seed Breads
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours
 
Ingredients

       1 package active dry yeast
 
       2 cups warm milk
     8 cups all-purpose flour
     3/4 cup sugar
     1 teaspoon salt
       5 eggs
     4 ounces (1 stick) butter, melted
     3 (11-ounce) cans poppy seed filling
Frosting
    4 cups powdered sugar
    1/4 cup 2% milk, starting with 1/4 cup milk until you have an easy to spread frosting
    1 tablespoon real vanilla

Preparation:

1.   In a small heatproof bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup of the warm milk.
2.  In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt and eggs. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups warm milk, butter and yeast mixture. With the paddle attachment, or by hand, beat until smooth. Dough will be sticky at this point.
3.  Scrape dough into a clean, greased bowl. Sprinkle the top with a little flour and cover. Let stand in a warm place for 1 hour or until double in size.
4.  Punch down dough and turn out onto a floured surface. Divide dough in half and shape each half into a rectangle.
5.  Spread 1 can or half of the filling you made on each rectangle of dough and roll up like a jelly roll. Turn ends under so filling will not leak out.
6.  Place on a parchment-lined or greased pan, cover and let rise again until double in size.

 7.  Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brush tops with additional melted butter. Bake   
     45 to 60 minutes or until strudels are golden brown.  Don’t overcook.

8.  Remove from oven and cool. When totally cooled, neatly frost with above frosting recipe or use canned white frosting if preferred.
We tripled the Poppy Seed Bread recipe three times, making five loaves extra large.  See here in this original post on Tom’s birthday in December, 2012.
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Photo from one year ago today, December 8, 2015:

View of the pool and patio from the veranda at our vacation rental in Pacific Harbour, Fiji on the main island of Viti Levu where we stayed for one month over the holiday season. For more photos of this property, please click here.

A walk into town like none other…Penguin…A Norman Rockwell painting come to life…Tom’s Irish Cream recipe..

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Penguin statue on the beach made of penguin dressed with Christmas clothes and various locally inspired pins and decorations.

Moving temporarily to Penguin, Tasmania confirmed that we like small cities. Feeling at home with some of the most friendly people on the planet with a culture all their own has provided us with a powerful sense of being welcomed within only a few days of our arrival.

Penguin information signs posted at the beach next to the above Penguin statue.

Yesterday morning, a long walk through the whimsical main street, a few blocks from our six-week holiday home, left us shocked with a profound sense of belonging.    The theme of the penguin was everywhere as our pictures show.

Monument to WWI, the Great War in downtown Penguin.

As we entered the small eccentric shops, buying a few grocery and pharmacy items along the way, we were greeted as if we had been here our whole life. While walking on the sidewalk, each passerby made a kindly comment, “How’s it goin’ mates?, “Ga day to you both.” We couldn’t stop smiling.

We stopped in the Penguin Visitors Information Centre to take photos to be shared in another post.  Notice the penguin statue and the penguins on the trash bins.

The influence and population of Fairy Penguins in the area (we’ve yet to see any but surely will soon) are the influence of the name of this special oceanfront town with its own population of around 4000 residents, many who’ve lived here all their lives, including our wonderful and helpful landlord Terry.

Terry’s sister Linda owns the Gents Hairdresser where Tom will eventually get a haircut while we’ll visit with Linda.

Within a 30 minute drive, we can reach many larger communities where there’s ample shopping, dining and entertainment venues within easy reach by driving along the scenic ocean view route. 

A memorial  for Troopers Thomas William Barker and Geoffrey Hugh Brownm who died in South Africa in 1900.

About Penguin from this site:

“History of Penguin

Penguin first settled in 1861 as a timber town, and proclaimed on 25 October 1875. The area’s dense bushland and easy access to the sea led to Penguin becoming a significant port town, with large quantities of timber shipped across Bass Strait to Victoria, where the 1850s gold rushes were taking place. The town was named by the botanist Ronald Campbell Gunn for the little penguin rookeries that are common along the less populated areas of the coast.

Sulfur Creek Post Office opened on 1 January 1867 and was replaced by the Penguin Creek office in 1868. The latter office was renamed Penguin in 1895.

Penguin was one of the last districts settled along the North West coast of Tasmania, possibly because of an absence of a river, for safe anchorage. Nearly all travel in those days was by boat as bush made the land almost impenetrable. Many of the settlers probably emigrated from Liverpool via landing in Launceston then sailing west along the coast.

White sand beach in the center of town.

Trade began when the wharf was built in 1870, allowing timber and potatoes to be exported. Penguin Silver Mine, along the foreshore slightly to the east of the town opened in 1870 but failed a year later. Neptune Mine, a tad further along, likewise failed. The rail from Ulverstone arrived in 1901, after which trade by sea declined. Passing of the Local Government Act in 1906 saw Tasmania divided into 48 Municipalities. Penguin’s first Council was elected in 1907.”

Penguin’s rich history is evident in every aspect of its pleasing center of town, homes along the coast and inland and, its people, all seemingly happy and grateful to live in this charming coastal town.

Zen House Studio which includes Buddhist Arts & Crafts.

With the intent of a walk along the boulevard, one side of the street each way, we found ourselves engaged in conversation with shop owners and employees being asked where we’re from and why we’ve come to Penguin. Two hours quickly passed as we reveled in each interaction.

The pink building is the candy shop where Tom bought the fudge. The yellow building is Penguin Fruit & Veg, an organic produce and health food shop.

When hearing morsels of our world travel and how long we’d be in Penguin, consistently they smiled, offering a warm, “Good on you!” often followed with…”If you need help with anything at all, please stop by.” Wow! Could we have felt more welcomed?

Local bar with outdoor seating.

We purchased mushrooms at the Fruit and Veg shop, hydrogen peroxide at the pharmacy, double thickened fresh cream, shampoo and conditioner at the IGA market while Tom couldn’t resist a small package of homemade fudge at the candy shop.

Fairy Penguin shaped cakes in the bakery on Main.

Enjoy today’s and tomorrow photos and of course, many more photos we’ll continue to share during our remaining 40 days in this special location. Had we known how much we would have loved it here, we may have chosen to spend the entire three months right here at Penguin.

Penguin Fire Department.

Then again, we need to spread our wings and experience as much as we can as we continue on in our world travels. It’s easy to settle in, embracing a sense of “home” as we meander from location to location.

Christmas penguins are for sale in many of the shops.

With the holiday season upon us, Tom had promised many of our newly made recent cruise friends that we post his “Lyman’s Irish Cream” recipe (compared to Bailey’s Irish Cream). 

Beach in downtown Penguin.

It’s easy to make and is excellent for serving as well as bottled gifts. We don’t imbibe, but know many of our readers may enjoy making this easy recipe.  Here his recipe:

Tom Lyman’s Irish Cream (Comparable to Bailey’s Irish Cream)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 pint ½ and ½ or real whipping cream

3 pasteurized eggs (important for safety)

1/8 teaspoon coconut extract

1 tablespoon chocolate syrup

1 cup Irish Whiskey or other bourbon or whisky

Blend all ingredients in blender for 2 minutes, then add 1 cup whiskey, measuring into the empty can of sweetened condensed milk in order to remove every last drop of the creamy sweetened condensed milk.

Blend for another 30 seconds. Pour in a glass bottle with tight fitting cork.

Keeps refrigerated for 30 days.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions regarding the preparation of this recipe. We’re happy to assist! Enjoy!

Photo from one year ago today, December 7, 2015:

It was one year ago today we moved from Vanua Levu, Fiji to Viti Levu, Fiji the main island in Fiji, flying in a small plane to from the tiny airport. For more details and vacation home photos, please click here.