Those Canadians, again.

Don reporting.

Second to last night of the cruise I went down to happy hour with a group of Canadians from BC. I had met up with them several times at happy hour, which on the Oosterdam is from 4 to 5 pm each night in the Ocean Bar. Tonight the Canadians had spent the afternoon at a wine tasting - I don't know how I missed it. Everyone was very happy and it was interesting as we were sitting in the LGBT area of the bar. We came to a happy compromise with them and they were happy to let us sit in there area.

Eventually I caught up with the others, drink wise, and then everything went smoothly. Alas, it soon came to about 5.40 pm and a couple of the group had to go up to the Crows Nest for a trivia contest - they were currently in fourth place. While the last member of the group thought he had stayed long enough as to not to have caused a precedent of leaving early went back to his cabin and checked everything was OK with his wife. I headed for my cabin and took a couple of photos then started writing. My daughter is always saying on my trips I hardly ever have photos of myself so tonight I tried to remedied this. Gary and Jane might remember the round-a-about incident, well this was another.

Tonight is a formal night and everyone going to the main dinning room was expected to dress for the occasion. I'm still trying to decide wether this will be me or whether I will slum it and go up to the Lido deck and have a meal there.

Well I finally decided, I went up to the Lido deck for dinner and sat opposite Werner Salinger who had given us a very interesting series of lectures on World Affairs. After I finished my cheese and coffee I went over and thanked him for his series and how he had brought some sanity to Hi De Hi approach of the other entertainment and especially the Entertainment Directory.

I am sure you would like to see my photos ....

 

 

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Sunset over the Coral Sea.

Don reporting.

Last night after leaveing the Iles des Pins we headed west into the Coral sea and here is the sunset.

 

 

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Kuto, Ile des Pins

Don Reporting.

This morning I was up early to capture the scenic entry to Iles des Pins, The Island of Pines, described in last nights handout as an island of captivating beauty with powdery white beaches and water so clear that it is hard to tell where the sand ends and the water starts. With Araucaria pines, for which the island is named, towering above the palms giving a almost superimposed image of tropical and temperate landscape on one fantastic canvas.

After a writeup like that I just had to get some photos of our arrival. Out of bed at 5.30 am, up in the lift to deck ten, out through the doors and onto the deck for those photos....

I did get a few other photos then I went for an early breakfast to take my mind off all those sun and beach worshipers wondering if they should take a rain coat on their trip ashore.

Later in the day the rain did stop, but the low cloud cover persisted.

I caught up on some reading and writing and didn't really worry about not getting sunburnt and sand everywhere.

 

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Looking out my window

Don reporting.

I booked a cabin with an obstructed view since being at see most of the time what was there to see (or should that be sea).

My normal outlook from my cabin window with my lifboat number 8.

Then a few days ago the I came back to my cabin during the day and this is what I saw.

Where is my lifeboat - someone pinched it. So I went to the window and looked down.

Everything was OK, they were just having lifboat drill for the crew. Late the day the nice gentlemen returned lifeboat 8 to my window after they had finished playing with it.

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Suva, Fiji

Don reporting.

19 October we are in Suva, Fiji. Overnight we sailed from the beack at Dravuni to the docks in Suva.

Unfortuantely I wasn't up early getting so there are no photos of comiming in Suva. Once we were tied up and all the formalities attended to passengers started disembark. However at the bottom of ther gangway they had to have their phot taken between two large Fijian warriors.

 

Once the got passed them the they found their tour buses waiting for them.

Some boarded the buses while others walked into town and had a look around the shops and markets.

The temperature was a bit cooler and the day was overcast - I am sure that most people appreciated it.

Life is still good here on the Ooisterdam with relaxing, eating, sleeping, and meeting lots of interesting people from many countries and lots of different backgrounds.

Stoping now - can't waste time - lots to do.

 

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Animals

Don reporting.

Here are some of the animals that appear in my room each night.

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Dravuni Island, Fiji.

Don reporting.

Today we anchored off Dravuni Island, Fiji. They lowered some lifboats and ferried people ashore or in nautical parlance tendered. I have learnt something while away at sea.

This island was basically a beach stop for those who liked swimming, walking on the sand, and genarlly getting hot and sunburnt. You guessed it I did not go ashore. However I did brave the sun and went out on deck and took a few photographs.

The beach with one of the lifboats tendering people ashore.

The landing wharf.

How I took the photos - this could be me - imagine a little (maybe a lot) heavier and gray hair.

Then after too long in the sun, trying desprately to provide you with some photos, I retired to The Cowsnest a bar and airconditioned lounge on deck nine. Here it is possible to get a panoramic view without sand and sunburn.

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Apia, Somoa

Don reporting. 

The morning of Wednesday, 16 October, we arrived in Apia, Somoa. The ship entered the port sailing between two tug boats and stopped. Then amazingly did a complete 360 degree stationary turn - not moving forward or backwards. To complete its bag a tricks the Oosterdam moved sideways into the wharf. All this to Samoan music and dances on the wharf. 

Once tied up to the pier I went ashore and boarded a minivan and headed out to Robert Louis Stevenson's house and museum.

We looked through the house and saw the first and second fireplaces built in Samoa - neither had ever been used - for show only - no chimneys!

Following the tour of the house we had kava ceremony including song and dance routines.

From here we drove back into town visited a local 'flea market' got a photo of the Oosterdam and the headed back.

What a relief to get back on board and to feel that air conditioning - lunch and couple of ice cold beers and I was nearly back to normal.

Posted with Blogsy

Through Palm Springs to Anaheim

Jane Reporting for 16th October

Another day (16th October) with a short distance to travel so a late (later than usual) check out from the motel.  I was able to catch up on some blog posts so it might be worth checking back a few days or so to see if there's anything new.

After leaving Blythe

We pulled off the road at the General Patton Memorial Museum, more to stretch our legs and (in the case of Gary and Jane, take a few photos for Dad of what we drove right by on the last trip):

At the General Patton Memorial Museum

And no dusty, outdoor museum in this part of the world is complete without warnings about the wildlife:

More interesting warning signs

Our stop in Palm Springs this year (in mid-October) was rather more pleasant than our stop there last year (early September) as the temperature had dropped nrealy 20 degrees F from 100 degrees (38 C) to 81 (30 C).  Last year we slunk to an air-conditioned restaurant; this year we sat outside in the shade.

Gary at lunch

We decided to eat at an Italian restaurant and Gary and had very nice pasta dishes:

Jane's lunch

Gary's lunch

As we left Palm Springs we passed the very, very large wind farm.  Here's a photo of what Gary saw:

The wind farm

This rather puts our 200+ turbines on the hills behind Palmerston North to shame.  It was interesting to note that some sections of turbines appear to have fallen into disuse and at least one other appeared to have burnt out.

The wind farm

State Quarters
I'm now having a bit of trouble remembering which I have included and which I haven't.  The muddle in my brain is made worse by having poured over them all as Lyn has added them to the collection, so sometimes I can remember seeing the coin, rather than adding it to a post.

Iowa (which I think we did visit this trip) celebrated education on their state quarter, and includes a picture of a one-room school:

State Quarters: Iowa

South Carolina (which I don't think we've visited) is the Palmetto State, and apprently the palmetto is the palm-y looking tree depicted on the coin:

State Quarters: South Carolina