cruiser3775

Will post another when I get home. All my phone photos seem to be of food, not scenery.

I usually book private shore excursions, but Kangaroo island has me flummoxed. There seem to be three private companies, and I like some of their offerings, but all of them demand full payment in advance and no refund if you can't get ashore. Given that this happens a bit, I really don't want to shell out the money in advance. My travel insurance does not cover missed shore excursions because of weather. I thought about hiring a car for the day, but it is very expensive. There are no taxis. I've been there before , so i have seen many of the natural wonders and the wildlife. This time, I'd like to do one of the island tasting tours. Has anyone who has been there know if the shore excursion companies offer last minute walk ins when you go ashore?

No I take that back. I think it might be the butterfly gardens at Changi airport.

How about Gardens by the Bay? Never been there, but planning on going before my next cruise

Singapore Botanical Gardens?

I chose this card partly because it gets good reviews for users for the good currency exchange rates. Little fish, you really need to have both a credit card and a debit card that do not charge international foreign exchange fees. That way you can use one for purchases and one for withdrawing cash. I also have one that is a Mastercard and one that is a Visa, because I've found from bitter experience that in some countries one will work but not the other. It's all so complicated. Not wishing to go back to the bad old days of travellers cheques, but I wish it was simpler to organise money when travelling overseas.

Yes, putting holds on the card is a problem. However, I have a credit card that I use for purchases, and I need the debit card mainly for withdrawing actual cash from overseas ATMs.

Having done my research, I opted for an Up card. It is owned by Bendigo Bank. No problem applying online, very quick approval and set up. Once you move some money into it, it can be used straight away with your virtual card on your phone. They also post you a proper Mastercard debit card. That took ten days to arrive. I've used it once for a domestic purchase, which worked. Will have to wait and see how it works overseas for withdrawing cash with no foreign exchange fees, as advertised..

Yes, the little town in the foreground is Whitemark, the largest town on Flinders Island. Taken from a light aircraft landing at Whitemark airport. It is the most scenic island, well worth a visit. It would be a major tourist drawcard if it was easier to get to, or had a warmer climate. But the isolation and lack of crowds make it a special place to visit. Your turn.

Yes, it is Flinders Island, but it's a big island. More detail needed.

Yes, but need more detail.

I guess it depends on how many people from countries other than Australia and New Zealand are prepared to fly long distances to connect with the ships in South Pacific waters. I know Australians accept that they will have a nasty long flight to get almost anywhere in the world, but maybe that is a deal breaker for those from Europe and North America?

Hong Kong is probably safe enough if you are just a visitor. But it has some major problems now it is back as part of mainstream China. There was a long period when there were daily demonstrations, some quite violent, and the metro system was badly damaged and out of action and a lot of things were closed. That's basically past now, as dissent has been ruthlessly suppressed. I used to go there frequently but haven't been back since then. Definitely worth visiting Macau. If you only have a day, I'd go by land over the new bridge which connects the two places. Much quicker than the public ferries. Have a go at my new photo.

It's hard for me to find one that isn't so easy to work out. I keep adding places to my wish list after seeing them here, as long as they aren't dark underground places. Try this one:

I think you can bring these in if you declare them. They are on the government website as a permitted import. They have to be roasted not raw, and in the original packaging. Just tick yes on the relevant section of the incoming passenger form. You might get delayed a little while they look at them. www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/goods/plant-products/importing-plant-products-for-human-consumption#nuts You can also buy them in Australia. Maybe someone from Sydney can suggest a shop.

I've never been into them. I'm a bit claustrophobic. I waited outside while the rest of my party went in. Is it Mammoth Cave?

One of the Margaret River caves, maybe Jewel Cave?

Wow, that was quick. Lovely place, though I don't think I want to go back to Hong Kong anytime soon. Your turn.

Where is this spectacular bonsai?

I don't think you can conclude from your experience with Australian and New Zealand Customs that no-one will ever look at your prescription medications. A lot depends on which country you are coming from to Australia. Some countries are hotspots for drug smuggling, and arriving from those countries will trigger alerts. I've been questioned and checked when coming home from visits to some South American countries and South East Asian countries. I always take my medications in their original packaging.

Moscow?

I asked that question, and the Melbourne consulate said that they only start looking at the visa applications about six weeks before your date of arrival in Chile. I think that is because they are overwhelmed by the workload. There seems to be only one person who deals with visas and she works part time. That timetable makes life very difficult for the applicants. I was getting desperate three weeks out for my departure, thinking that if I didn't get the visa, I wouldn't be allowed to get on the plane (it was the first thing they checked at the airport). Then I would lose all the money I had paid out in advance and there was no way I could claim it on my travel insurance. If you go to the Trip Advisor forum for Chile and search under "E-visa for Australians" you can find a very long thread about this, which includes some good advice on how to supply the information they require for the visa.

Looks like somewhere on Blackman's Bay, maybe Marion Bay?

Here you go: https://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/topic/2986185-drinks-prices-jan-2024-pacific-adventure/

Probably means the file size is too big for CC to allow. You should make the photo into a smaller file and upload that. Right click on it, and go to "Edit photos" No idea where that photo is, but it looks a bit like southern Tasmania.