Updates on a few general items… Cruising right along… Figured out a workaround for “year ago photos”…

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The coral reef in the Isle of Pines was exquisite.

Of course, not surprisingly, being unable to post the “year ago photo” was nagging at me.  I tried numerous workarounds only to discover one I hadn’t considered earlier finally working this morning.

Tom on the beach in Isle of Pines, New Caledonia.

Me, at the beach in the Isle of Pines.

Later today, we’ll go back and add them to the posts we’d missed over the past several days since boarding the ship.  Today is Day 5 on this 24-night cruise and its flying by more quickly than we anticipated. 

View toward our tender boats waiting at the pier to return us to the ship.


Having such an exceptional time seems to contribute to time passing in a blur, although I’ve yet to have a taste of wine which has been disappointing to resist in the Diamond Club’s Star Lounge on deck 5 when drinks flow “free” and freely from 5 pm to 8:30 pm every evening. Tom, a non-drinker when not cruising is taking up the slack.

Resisting the delicious latte is also challenging but I’m staying firm on avoiding anything that could be construed as acidic for my still delicate digestive tract.  I faltered yesterday when I ate sauteed green peppers as a side to my scrambled eggs paying the price for the remainder of the day and night.   No more peppers for me, especially the less ripened green variety.  I learn as I go.

White sand beaches.

Again, at the moment we’re comfortably situated in the other Diamond Lounge on deck 14 which is packed with other experienced cruisers such as us who’ve cruised often enough to be granted this priority status.

Many Australians were wearing these handmade head wreaths in commemoration of Anzac Day.

The complimentary foods changed throughout the day with delightful looking sandwiches, snacks and desserts accompany a wide array of beverages, coffees, teas, lemonade and juices, none of which are suitable for me.  Instead, I sip on the boring plain water.  Oh well.  I stick to the plan regardless of temptations.

Writing in the sand.

The lively chatter helps distract me from potentially dangerous consumables, especially when now I’m sitting here with exquisite views of Mystery Island in Vanuatu (soon we’ll get off the ship to explore), friendly people all around us and not a care in the world.

The tropical island musicians and dancers greeted us in Noumea, New Caledonia.

A few items we’d like to share:
1.  The return of the “year ago photo” after finding a suitable workaround.  Over the next few days, I’ll be updating the previous posts with this feature.
2.  So far, we’ve had an excellent response to our invitation to the “Readers Meet & Greet” we’ll be holding in Minneapolis on June 9th close to Highways 394 and 494.  If you’d like to attend please RSVP by email, comments or Facebook. 

Noumea, New Caledonia performers entertained us at the port.

3. We’re considering a similar event in Henderson, Nevada in July (well after the 4th).  If you are interested, please email us and we’ll notify you as to a date, time and location, hoping you’ll be able to attend.
4.  Thanks to all our of new readers who stopped by to read yesterday’s tribute to our friend Glenn who passed away a few days ago.  And of course, our love and continuing prayers for Staci, Glenn’s wife who supported and greatly appreciated the posting of the story.

Another Noumea performer.
5.  Cruising activities tend to be repetitive.  We’re continuing to visit as many ports of call as possible to keep our readers engaged as we make our way across the sea.  Please hang in there with us as we continue with the remaining 19 nights aboard this ship.

6.  If you’ve posted a comment at the end of any day’s post and haven’t seen a reply from us, please bear with us.  The slow Wi-Fi has prevented us from replying to comments.  I’m hoping to discover a workaround for that feature as well.

The pier where we waited to reboard the tenders to return to the ship.

As soon as we finish up here today, we’ll be heading to Mystery Island, Vanuatu and sharing photos in days to come.  Upon return, we’ll be stopping at the Future Cruises desk to see what the future may hold for us. 

May your day be filled with ease and comfort.

______________________________________

Photo from one year ago today, April 27, 2016:

Last year at this time, we were on Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.  This is the Flowrider on that ship.  Later we’ll post a photo of the same event on this ship.  For more details, please click here.

We lost a friend, a reader, an adventurer…May he be remembered with great love…

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Glenn and Staci had the opportunity to enjoy traveling together.

In many ways, the friendships we’ve been gifted in our travels have taken on a new meaning. Fancy dinner parties are no longer at their homes or ours. Instead, it’s typical to get together for a barbecue, picnic or dinner and drinks on the town.

The relationships we’ve developed over these years of world travel have morphed into an entirely different context. Our friendships grow in short moments in time; on cruises, at public venues, in small towns, and online.

The online aspect is most surprising to us, but then, marriages and lasting relationships are often built and grown through the magic of the Internet, which had become a common medium for incorporating new people into our lives.

In no way can we diminish the power and significance of this means of making friends. Through social media, including chat sessions, Facebook, blogs, and email, we can easily develop meaningful friendships through the written word.

Without the benefits of the inflection in one’s voice or the expressions on one’s face, somehow, many of us who are comfortable communicating online allow ourselves the privilege of becoming close and connected with those we meet along the way in cyberspace.

Such was the case with our online friends, Staci and Glenn, whom we met a few years ago via our posts. Unfortunately, from a message online and in an email, dear Staci informed us that Glenn passed away a few days ago due to a brain injury.

Ironically, Glenn had sent us a beautiful email on April 13th, which I won’t re-post in its entirety with respect for the privacy of Staci and the family. But today, we will share but a snippet that he shared with us for his love for travel. 

Glenn wrote:

“Years ago, I took off for a year and visited Africa riding hot air balloons over seven countries. I navigated some of the terrifying rapids in the world under Victoria Falls and kayaked the Zambezi River for a month all the way to the Indian Ocean.”

Glenn went on to share his myriad worldwide experiences making valuable suggestions to us for our upcoming return to Africa, which we took seriously as we read that April 13th email. We realized his thoughtful suggestions were meant to enrich our experiences in every way possible. That was who Glenn was.

Now, after he has passed, he’s left the world another legacy, the generous donation of his liver and kidneys that are now ready to be transplanted into as many as three fortunate recipients when a transplant list is often lengthy and unyielding. 

As we continue to travel, we have the “world” with us, enriching us, embracing us, and leaving us with memories that neither time nor place can strip away. Thank you, Glenn, for being a part of those memories. 

May you travel on that river of eternity with the sun on your handsome face, fearless and passionate for the treasures this exquisite planet bestowed upon you and for the treasures you bestowed upon others both in life and in death.

Staci and family, no words can ease your sorrow. But, may your hearts and minds flourish with good memories as you work your way through this sorrowful time. Our thoughts, love, and prayers are with you always.

Photo from one year ago today, April 25, 2016:

No sooner than we stepped off the shuttle bus in Darwin, Australia, we spotted this local zoo staff person promoting the venue to the ship’s passengers while holding this baby croc. Its mouth is wrapped in a rubber band, as shown. For more details, please click here.

Isle of Pines, New Caledonia…Planning a get-together with our readers while in Minnesota…Please RSVP by email…

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The beginning of the miniature golf course on deck 12.

Our ship, Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas, has reached land after two and a half days at sea since leaving Sydney on April 22nd. We plan to embark on a tender boat for a 20 minutes ride to have an opportunity to browse the island and take some photos.

Thus far, all is going well as we thoroughly enjoy every moment aboard the ship, meeting more and more wonderful people, engaging in lively conversations while sharing endless stories of travel and life.

A small uninhabited island off the coast of New Caledonia.

Many passengers aboard the ship are from other parts of the world besides Australia and are of varying ages.  We received the following information from the Diamond Club concierge, where we’re seated at this time. See this information below:

Passenger stats
Australia:  1889
US:            830
Canada:     147
UK:            103
NZ:             81
Germany:    44
Brazil:         10
Ireland:       10
Other:         92
Total passengers: 3186
Diamond Club & above: 880

Ages of Passengers
22 – 30:         75
31 – 40:         89
41-50:          151
51-65:        1162
66-75:        1311
75 and over: 305

The basketball play area on deck 12.

Last night we had another engaging evening in the Sapphire Dining room while half of our table of 12 became engrossed in a discussion about politics. Not precipitated by either of us, Tom was excited and animated to participate in discussing world affairs with a few other politically-minded individuals at our table. He was in his element.

Based on the fact that we prefer to keep our views under wraps in our posts, he was thrilled to be able to spew his opinions with other like-minded individuals.   I listened intently occasionally interjected a short blurb into the conversation. 

Another island in New Caledonia.

When the dining room was about to close, we wandered to the Palace Theatre to see a comedian performing a late-night “adult” show. Unfortunately, both of us dozed off during the show.  I awoke with a stiff neck and rattled Tom’s shoulder stating, “Let’s go to the cabin and get some sleep.” 

Off we went to our cabin for what proved to be a good night’s sleep. By 7:30 am, we were seated in the Sapphire Dining Room with two couples at a shared table for breakfast.

Rock climbing wall.

As for the upcoming date for our get-together in Minnesota, we’re shooting for Friday, June 9, 2017, from 6 to 9 pm.  We’ll get back to our readers with a location once we know how many people may be able to come. 

The location will be near Highways 394 and 494, located close to Minnetonka/Plymouth. The exact location will be posted over several days as the time approaches. 

Please email me if you’d like to attend at the link on our web page on the right side of each day’s homepage or by clicking here.

Today is ANZAC Day, a day of remembrance for lives lost in wars in Australia and New Zealand.  A presentation was conducted on the ship’s pool deck at 5:45 am.  We didn’t attend but later watched the event on TV. 

We’ll be back tomorrow with photos from our visit to Isle of Pines, New Caledonia.  Have a blissful day!

Based on the poor WiFi signal aboard the ship, it appears we won’t be able to post any “one year ago” photos until after we arrive in Vancouver on May 15th.   Thank you for your patience.

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.

Final expenses for Fairlight/Manly Australia…40 days gone…On to cruising…Favorite photos…

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Beautiful sky at sunset, taken from our veranda.
Tom’s shot of a stunning sunset.

It’s about 10:00 am Saturday, April 22nd, on this side of the International Dateline. We’ll cross back to the opposite side of the International Dateline during our upcoming cruise, gaining a day. We’ll post this peculiar phenomenon when it occurs on May 1st during the upcoming cruise.

The Sydney Opera House at night, taken from the Manly Ferry.
Luna Park in Sydney Harbour at night, taken from the Manly Ferry.
Saying we’re excited is to minimize the extent of our raging enthusiasm. It’s not that we’re anxious to leave the South Pacific after almost two years. It’s simply that we’re excited about what is yet to come.
A Cockatoo visitor in the yard.
Our friend, Mr. Magpie, visited us inside the house.

 

In reviewing how much time we spent since arriving on land in Australia on June 11, 2015, is shown below using the online “date to date” app at this link: “From and including Thursday, June 11, 2015

To, but not including Saturday, April 22, 2017

Result: 681 days

It is 681 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date or 1 year, 10 months, 11 days excluding the end date.”

Hand-feeding Kookaburra in the yard.
The interior of the Sydney Opera House as we waited for the performance to begin. In a short time, almost every seat was occupied. We had excellent center seats four rows from the stage.

Wow! We’ve been in this part of the world for a very long time, although the diversity of our experiences have been vast. We won’t take the time to list them all here today but feel free to review our archives during these above dates. 

The cafe where we had a beverage the morning of our final appointment at the immigration department.

Now, packed and ready to leave for the port at noon today, our hearts are filled with joy and satisfaction for the time we spent in this part of the world. Even with the fact that I’d been “under the weather” since a spine injury on June 1, 2016, which followed the exacerbation of the Helicobacter Pylori infection I acquired in Fiji in 2015, we still had a great time.

The scene in Manly near the ferry.
These two difficult scenarios confirmed how resilient and dedicated we are in continuing our journey, even with stumbles along the way. Never once during this extended period of less-than-stellar health did either of us lose hope and faith that we’d be able to continue.
Offseason bloom on the grounds of Fairlight Gardens.

Nor did we ever get on one another’s nerves, not for a day, not for an hour. Mr. Overly Grumpy never reared his ugly head. Then again, Ms. Overly Bubbly made fewer appearances than usual. So now, we’re both in the Overly Bubbly mode with plans to stay that way in the future.

Ken and Tom drinking beer.
Me and Linda toasting at lunch.
We met friends Linda and Ken from South Africa in Sydney for lunch. It was a perfect day among friends!
Our experiences in Fairlight, although limited as I was slowly improving, were delightful with opportunities to meet with old friends, as shown in today “favorite photos.”
St. Patrick’s Estate in Manly, a popular event venue.

Of course, no experience compares to the daily sense of comfort and companionship we spent with our kindly landlord, Bob Reed. This morning, Bob sent us the following email as posted below. It warmed our hearts to develop such a fine relationship with this kindly man, now a lifelong friend. There’s no doubt we’ll stay in touch.

The grounds at St. Patrick’s Estate were prepared for a wedding.

Bob wrote the following:

“Good morning Tom and Jessica, welcome to your new adventure upon the high seas and continuing adventure that most of us only dream about. 

How lucky I have been to have met you both and have had the pleasure of your company for the past 40 days.
Those happy memories will stay with me forever.
Even though I cannot be with you as you travel the world, your wonderful website will be my companion to where you are and what exciting places you are visiting.
May good health be your constant companion during your world travels.
Jessica, I will also miss the wonderful dinners you cooked for Tom and me and our daily conversations solving all the world’s problems.  Well trying anyways.
Hopefully, one day our paths will cross again, and we can spend time together reminiscing about the happy times we spent together.
You both left a little bit of your hearts here at Fairlight Gardens.
Lots of love as you travel the world.
Bob Reed”
Tom in a pub with me for dinner in Circular Quay.
Reading Bob’s thoughtful message brought tears to our eyes. How did we get so lucky to become friends with yet another extraordinary person? We truly are blessed.
Giant surf at Manly Beach on a gorgeous day.
Rather than write back to Bob in an email, we decided to write back here:
Dear Bob,
No words can express how much we’ve appreciated your kindness and love and for your constant and thoughtful attention to our needs. But, above all, your efforts at building a lasting friendship among the three of us will always be treasured as one of our favorite memories of the time we spent in Australia, here in beautiful Fairlight, a gem amongst towns throughout this fine nation.
Thank you for your lovely property, your attention to detail in every aspect, driving us about town, and spending time with us.  You truly optimize the essence of friendship and generosity.
We hope that someday our paths will cross again, but if they do not, no worries, we’ll always carry you in our hearts wherever we may be.
Much love and good health always,
Jess & Tom
Bob and Tom at Dobroyd Head.
Should any of our readers decide to visit Sydney, we assure you an excellent experience if you book Bob’s lovely property, either Fairlight Gardens private apartment, as we did with this link here. For Bob’s Fairlight Gardens Bed and Breakfast, please click here.
Bob and I a Dobroyd Head.

There’s no doubt in our minds that Bob will ensure an equally exceptional stay for our readers as well. If you have any questions, you can be assured he’ll reply promptly.

Bob, Bev, and Colin (a popular name in AU and UK) when they joined us for dinner at our apartment.

As for our final expenses, current to the last expenditures of two days ago, are listed below. Again, we’ve found Australia to be more expensive than many parts of the world but have found staying in holiday homes is much less costly than staying in a hotel. 

Christine, Tom, and I at dinner two nights ago.

With the excellent public transportation services in Sydney and surrounding areas, including buses, trains, and ferries, it’s unnecessary to rent a car. We managed very well, taking advantage of the affordable public transportation and, of course, Bob’s frequent insistence on driving us on many occasions.

Expense US Dollar Australian Dollar
Vacation Rental  $ 4,564.08  $ 6,053.92
Airfare   $    217.00  $    287.83
Taxi   $    105.01  $    139.29
Ferry (OPAL Card)  $   140.00  $    185.70
Shipping  $   460.00  $    610.16
Groceries  $ 1,014.25  $ 1,345.33
Dining Out  $    361.43  $    480.24
Entertainment  $    102.06  $    135.38
Medical & Pharmacy  $ 1,230.26  $ 1,534.68
Total  $ 8,197.09  $10,891.59
Average Monthly Cost  $ 6,233.20  $ 8,282.22
Avg Daily Cost – 40 days  $    204.93  $    272.30

In less than two hours, we’ll be out the door and on our way by taxi to the Sydney Cruise Terminal, arriving in about 45 minutes. Our next post will be uploaded aboard the ship tomorrow, with photos for the next 24 nights. 

Out to dinner with Christine and Colin, who we met on our last cruise, which ended 40 nights ago.

We hope our readers will continue to travel along with us during these upcoming 33 nights at sea, plus an additional two-night gap while staying in a hotel in Vancouver. We plan to share many new stories and exciting photos along the way.

Cruise ship in the Sydney Harbour.
While still dark at 5:45 am this morning, we could see our ship, Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas, entering Sydney Harbour. What a sight! We can hardly wait to board!
A bunny we posted on Easter Sunday, spotted on a walk with Bob.

Happy day to all!

Photo from one year ago today, April 22, 2016:
Due to poor signal aboard the ship one year ago today, we didn’t include a photo. Instead, we posted a list of some on the freebie on the ship, Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.  Here they are:
Some of the “freebies” included on this particular cruise are:

  • Fitness center to include a few free classes and activities
  • Trivia games
  • Daily Mass
  • Men’s Shed
  • Water aerobics
  • Mensa challenge
  • Movies are shown daily inside the large theatre and outdoors on a giant screen by the pool.
  • Dance lessons
  • Mini-golf tournament
  • Lectures and seminars
  • Singles gatherings
  • Bridge lessons and tournaments
  • Shuffleboard, ping pong, video games
  • Napkin art workshop
  • GLBT meetings
  • Ice Skating and skating shows
  • Rock climbing
  • Paper airplane making
  • Drama class
  • DreamWorks characters on display in Promenade Deck
  • Voyager Scavenger Hunt
  • Karaoke auditions and eventual show in the theatre
  • Shows in the main theatre in the evenings at 6:45 pm and 8:45 pm, different each evening
  • Live music at various bars both during the day and in the evenings

Wonderful night with friends…Fabulous restaurant…One day and counting…

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Christine, Tom, and I huddled together for a photo.

When Bob dropped us off in Manly, parking in a local ramp, we walked out to the Corso outdoor mall. We had a bit of shopping in mind. We parted ways with Bob while Tom and I headed to the pharmacy for a few last-minute toiletries.

I was on a mission to purchase a suitable black skirt. Since I don’t own a single dress and recently tossed my raggedy worn black skirt, I was determined to find something a little dressy that I could wear on the many formal nights on both upcoming cruises.

Tom with Christine and Colin, the fabulous friends we met on the last cruise.  We were thrilled to see them again.

Although I don’t own any dressy “tops,” a dressy skirt could help me feel slightly more appropriate on formal nights. Once we got everything we needed at the pharmacy, we wandered along the lengthy boulevard in the Corso while I visited a few women’s shops.

Prices are high on clothing, shoes, and many items in Australia. As I perused a few things, I winced over how expensive everything was but remained determined to find what I wanted. 

Finally, at the popular Sussan store, I found the perfect skirt but again cringed over the price of AU 89.95, but when converting it to US dollars at $67.70 (tax included), it didn’t seem so bad after all. So I handed over my credit card and made the purchase.

As a big slab of bacon oozed out of Colin’s burger, he couldn’t resist taking a photo.

Then, of course, in typical enthusiastic shopper style, I longed for an appropriate pair of shoes that would work well with the knee-length “pencil” skirt. Stopping at a few shoe stores as we continued the walk on the Corso, my mission appeared hopeless. 

There was no time to go to a mall. My only hope was to wait until our ship docks at a port of call on the upcoming cruise, maybe in Hawaii on May 9th. In the interim, I’ll live with what I have on hand, one pair of high wedge sandals I purchased in Hawaii in 2015, the last pair of shoes I’d bought (except for one pair of Keds white leather slip-on shoes I seem to wear more often than not). 

Tom and Colin ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

Once we approached the Manly Wharf, we found a comfortable place to wait until Christine and Colin’s ferry arrived from Circular Quay in Sydney. Based on the schedule and our early arrival, we had a 30-minute wait.

Both the people and bird watching entertained us sufficiently for the time to pass quickly, and before we knew it, we spotted Christine and Colin searching for us by the entrance to the Wharf.

 Hugging affectionately, we were all happy to see one another. We’d said our goodbyes the day the ship disembarked in Sydney on March 13th. At that time, we were preoccupied as we were faced with dreadful concerns about our “illegal immigration” status after we’d received a worrisome call from the Australian Department of Immigration while aboard the ship.

Tom, Christine, and Colin enjoyed their burgers.  Christine had ordered a similar burger with Halloumi cheese.

We walked across the road to the Italian restaurant Crinitis where we spent the next almost four hours engaged in lively conversation, laughter, and memorable good times. None of us ordered wine or cocktails. Instead, I drank mineral water while the three of them ordered sodas.

We shared the story of our immigration issues with Christine and Colin, who were shocked by our peculiar experience. After all these years of travel, none of us had ever experienced such a scenario and hopefully never will again in the future.

The grilled Barramundi and vegetables sauteed in olive oil and butter were delicious. A red pepper, aka capsicum in Australia, was particularly delightful.

The time passed so quickly. We were all surprised when we finally realized how late it was getting. With limited bus service for bus and ferry service, we decided to say goodbye and head back to our respective “homes.”

It was a beautiful day in Manly.  We arrived at 2 pm and were scheduled to meet Christine and Colin around 3:45 pm.

Our bus arrived nine minutes after we approached the stop, and minutes later, we arrive at our rental and embarked on the steep path to the house. With his usual thoughtfulness, Bob had turned on all the lights for us. 

In no time at all, we were hunkered down on the sofa in time to watch yet another fantastic David Attenborough wildlife story. It was impossible to wipe the smiles off our faces over the enjoyable evening of good friends and good food. But, of course, watching wildlife in Africa didn’t hurt either. Hmm…

This swing activity for kids looked fun with an attendant on site who strapped the kids into a harness.

This morning, we did a little more packing comfortable that we’ll be set to go by noon tomorrow when our taxi arrives. So instead of preparing tomorrow’s post today, which I usually do on the final day, I’ll have plenty of time to do it in the morning. Easy peasy. Life is good.

May life also be good for YOU!

Photo from one year ago today, April 21, 2016:

One year ago, Tom’s dinner aboard the ship including tender steak, broccoli, and fried potatoes. In addition, he ordered a starter and a dessert. For more details, please click here.

Busy organizing, packing and socializing day!…Baggage fees for Delta…Two days and counting..

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St. James Train Station in downtown (known as the CBD, Central Business District) in Sydney.

This morning I began packing the third and smaller of our three checked bags. With no concerns with over-weight restrictions, since we’re boarding a ship, not a plane, I still felt committed to lightening the load and reorganizing the contents. 

A night view of a few of the buildings in Circular Quay, Sydney, taken from the Manly Ferry.

We won’t have to be concerned about the weight until the end of the upcoming Alaska cruise when we fly from Seattle to Minneapolis on May 26th. Somehow, I can’t wrap my brain around the fact that we’ll be preparing for that flight in only 36 days.

Sydney Opera House at night taken from the Manly Ferry.

During that 36 days, we’ll be packing and unpacking a total of eight times which includes:
1.  Packing for the cruise – now
2.  Unpacking in our cabin for the cruise to Seattle – April 22nd
3.  Packing to disembark the ship in Seattle – May 15th
4.  Unpacking at hotel in Vancouver for two-night stay – May 15th
5.  Packing to depart hotel – May 17th
6.  Unpacking in our cabin for the Alaskan cruise – May 17th
7.  Packing to disembark the ship in Seattle – May 26th
8.  Unpacking at the hotel in Minneapolis where we’ll stay for six weeks – May 26th

A night skyline view of a small portion of downtown Sydney.

It’s this tight schedule that prompted me to be diligent in organizing our stuff and packing neatly. As a result, upon repacking and unpacking, we’ll do so with the same diligence as on each prior occasion. 

Luckily, as stated above, we’ll only be concerned with the weight of our bags on one occasion…when we fly to Minnesota. In the interim, I’ll certainly consider what items we can toss along the way to lighten that load.

Historic building in Circular Quay area. 

After checking Delta Airlines baggage fees, it appears it will be AU 33.35, US $25 for the first bag for each traveler, and an additional AU 46.69, US $35 for any other bag as shown below:

DELTA COMMON BAGGAGE FEES

The most common fees for traveling in a domestic, Main Cabin seat are:

The maximum weight, as shown above, is 23 kg, 50 lbs.  In the past, we’ve had no problem keeping the three bags within this weight range. But recently, we each added some new clothing and supplies.  

Office buildings along the Sydney Opera House Walkway including many shops, offices, restaurants, and condos.
This added weight will leave us committed to lightening our load of older items along the way before May 26th. However, one can never become complacent when it comes to baggage weight.
A portion of the Sydney skyline on a cloudy day.

As for today at 2:00 pm, Bob will drive us to the Manly Wharf, where we’ll walk across the road to walk the Corso to a pharmacy for a few more items we’ll need for the upcoming 36 days. 

Clock Tower in Sydney.

At 3:30 pm, we’ll return to the wharf where we’ll meet Christine and Colin, who’ll be arriving from Sydney on the Manly Ferry. We’ll head to a restaurant and relax for what indeed will be a pleasant get-together with the lovely couple, originally from the UK, having lived in Australia for the past 23 years.

One of our favorite Kookaburras.

In the evening we’ll return by bus to our holiday home as we spend one of the last two nights in Fairlight. It has been a great location, but we’re excited to be moving on.

Have a lovely day and evening!

Photo from one year ago today, April 20, 2016:

There was no photo posted one year ago. We were sailing on Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas and the WiFi.

It was so slow we couldn’t post any photos. Ironically, last night when we happened to look outdoors, we saw Voyager of the Seas heading out to sea from Sydney Harbour. Here’s that photo!

Last night’s photo of Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas leaving Sydney Harbour. Here’s the link to the post (without images). 

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.