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.

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The Equator

Don Reporting.

I said in the last post that if my photos of the equator came out I would publish them. Sorry we crossed the equator early this morning at 4 am. I set the alarm but it didn't seem to work. We crossed that horizontal line that bisects the two hemispheres without fanfare and without a even a bump - at least a bump big enough to wake me. Even if I was awake it would been too dark to photograph it.

At 2pm today King Neptune and his cohorts boarded the Oosterdam and took up residence around the aft pool on deck nine. Lots of tinsel, mock seaweed, a trident of course - funny how they look a lot like the singers and dancers from shows we have seeing lately. Now in compensation for no photo of the equator here is a shot of the 'Crossing the Equator' ceremony hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Neptune. If click on the photo you should be able to see them in the centre of the photo.

Sorry I, like all the people in front of me, decided not to be part of the ceremonies and watch from the deck above. Now here is a photo of the aft pool without all the people.

And while on the subject of pools the main sculpture at the end of the main pool is a huge ice block and some jolly penguins.

Finally a photo of the Southern Hemisphere Pacific from the Crows Nest bar and Cafe on deck 10. Of course, you can tell this as you can see we are going down hill.

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At sea.

Don reporting.

We have been at sea now for several days sailing between San Pedro and Hawaii. Ship board life is very relaxing although the cruise director tries to interest us in all soughts of different activities including exercise, talks, bridge, computer courses, live cooking shows, spa appointments, Bill W. meetings, mass, shows and LGBT (what ever that is) gatherings. Sometimes I feel like I am not pulling my weight and should help out by going to more of these things, but hell I am on holiday. However I do walk a mile (three times around the deck) each morning.

Watch the sunrise...

Attend an interesting series of lectures on World affairs in the Vista Lounge by Werner Salinger....

Visit the library and the computers in on deck nine next to the Crows Nest bar - the bar is a bit of an attraction.

And finally each night I return to my room to see what new animal has turned up on my bed.

Although this is about being at sea, I am writing it while the ship is anchored off Lahaina, Hawaii. I am enjoying this first contact with Hawaii from at distance and taking advantage of the ships air conditioning.

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