Enjoy the "Treasures of the World" with Bill & Mary Ann on the 2014 World Cruise

[John Deere]

We are joining this cruise in Hong Kong. My question: how many formal nights will we have on this 56-day segment Hong Kong to Ft. Lauderdale?

 

March 6 Red Lantern Dinner

March 12 Classic Formal Night

March 21 The White Dinner and After Party

March 26 Dutch Dinner

March 30 Classic Formal Night

April 6 Great Gatsby Ball

April 13 King Neptune's Under the Seas Dinner

April 20 Mariner's Appreciation Night

April 26 Chef's Farewell Dinner

 

We are also joining in Hong Kong.

Also add to your schedule the meet and greet in the Crows Nest at 10:00 on both March 10 and April 10. See you then?

 

Nancy (and Art)

[WCB]

Report # 48 Sailing Towards Cairns, Australia February 15, 2014 Saturday Partly cloudy, 85 degrees

 

After such a busy day in Brisbane yesterday, it was not a surprise that many of us slept later this morning. Good thing we have a few days at sea to unwind before we reach the last port in Australia, Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Kuranda Mountain Ranges.

 

Many talks were happening today beginning with Irene and Barbara talking about the upcoming ports of Alotau, Papua New Guinea to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

 

The guest speaker series continued with Peter McGugan, a futurist, who spoke about what's hot, what's not, and what's next with big government and business.

 

There is a Celebrity guest chef onboard by the name of Terry French, who gave a presentation behind the scenes of the Extreme Chef program on the Food Network.

 

Lastly, guest speaker Frank Buzzard, a space shuttle chief engineer, lectured on the use of the first spaceplane that is re-usable.

 

We kept busy either walking and or reading at the aft pool. The weather was nearly perfect today, with a nice breeze and sun that was not too hot. With all the above activities, few folks were outside today. Too bad they missed the nice weather, because all of the above talks can be viewed on TV all day long and into the late night.

 

We are kind of behind with the entertainment critiquing. A young brother and sister dance team, The Kents, entertained the folks with their dance routine a few evenings ago. We heard several positive reports on their show, but more comments on the sister's costumes. More like the lack of costuming got the attention. Even the cruise director mentioned that fact on his good morning show the next morning.

 

A clarinetist, Daniel Mallari, wowed the folks at his performance, earning a standing ovation at the second show. That is rare to occur with the entertainers we understand. He did a tribute to Benny Goodman, so many people in the audience loved the tunes.

 

Tonight, the Beatles are on, except they are Australian. Who knew?

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[CairnsGuyCruiser]

G'day Bill & Mary Ann

 

Welcome to Cairns, hopefully I will catch up with you before you do your trip to the GBR. I am going on board for brekkie and then taking my Kiwi friends Stuart and Lorraine for a look around Cairns.

 

I have enjoyed your blog updates as usual.

 

Cheers

 

Pat

[bet410]

bet410 --- So good to know you are feeling better and recovering. I, too, had major surgery last August, so I know how difficult it is to adjust to the realities of growing old. I recall so well the 2012 WC on the ms Amsterdam with you and your brother. I can't be on the 2015 WC as I am taking the ms Maasdam 42-day voyage beginning Oct 31, 2014, from FLL to FLL across the Atlantic to the Med. Happy Trails!

 

Don, Lord Kay of Shandon.

 

Thank you, Don! Glad to know that you're also doing well after your surgery and that you are looking forward to a cruise also. Looks like a nice itinerary! I'm crossing fingers that the doctor will okay our Grand Med!

 

Bill & Mary Ann, I so thoroughly enjoy your blog, and your descriptions make me feel like I'm back on the Amsterdam for the 2014 cruise! Thanks so much!

Edited February 16, 2014 by bet410

[WCB]

Report # 49 Sailing Towards Cairns With Scenic Cruising February 16, 2014 Sunday Rain, cloudy, 85 degrees (or less)

 

As the Amsterdam sailed towards Cairns today, we veered off course enough to sail through the tropical Whitsunday region along the Queensland Coast. It is reportedly full of holiday towns, continental islands, with boating and diving as the highlights. There are 74 islands in the Whitsunday Islands National Park, referred to as "the jewels of the region". This is part of the massive Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, so large, it can be seen from outerspace. We believe that the ship, with the guide of a reef pilot, is sailing in the Whitsunday Passage this morning. This was not planned or advertised on the original itinerary, but has been recently added for our enjoyment.

 

Our location guide, Barbara, delivered a commentary as we entered the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The timing for us was not great, since it cut into our breakfast hour in the dining room. However, our ever so kind waiters made sure we had our favorite table for two by the window, so we did not miss anything. We did see dozens of small and large islands, but nothing in the way of fish life. Dotted along the hillsides and shorelines of the larger islands were some resorts and condos. You had to use binoculars to see any of them close up and personal.

 

There was an "Australian Sizzler" BBQ held on the aft deck from 11am to 2pm. Tasty steaks of kangaroo, emu, and crocodile were seared over the coals, and served outside. The only downside was that it began to rain around 1pm. Why is it that every time they plan an outside BBQ, it rains? The head chef was asking the very same question as he came out to check the BBQers.

 

About the same time, Captain Jonathon came on the speakers for his usual 12:45pm talk. He had mentioned the chance of showers for today, but not quite the rain we know is coming. The skies were black as can be on the shoreline, with occassional strikes of lightening. In fact, the Captain added that we will probably have continued rain and thunder showers tomorrow in Cairns, as well as all the way towards Papua New Guinea. This is the cyclone season, so we cannot complain. We are happy that we chose not to book the Great Barrier Reef tour with shore excursions tomorrow. If the weather remains unsettled with rough seas, that tour can be really disappointing. You would expect that the expensive tour ($300) would be cancelled, but we have seen them go anyway, and have some very seasick passengers on the way there and back. With choppy waters and no sun, the snorkeling is lousy. At this point in time, if you cancel the excursion, you lose your money, as the deadline to cancel was yesterday at 3pm. The more seasoned passengers know that they can book a reef trip right from the pier tomorrow. If the weather is nasty, they will not sell you tickets. Much better deal, we think, and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. On past cruises, we have gone on similar tours, and did enjoy them, although one time, we floated away with the riptide, and had one long scary swim back to the platform. Important message for those who may do this tour someday: listen carefully to the warnings and instructions that are given as you cruise towards the reef on the high speed ferryboat. They may save your life.

 

The first lecture of the day was given by Peter McGugan, who is actually an award-winning filmmaker. His subject dealt with the power of vulnerability.

 

At 3pm, the Kent Dancers gave a dance lesson to those who wished to attend in the Queens Lounge. During their early morning chat with Gene, they said that dance lessons at home would cost about one pound per minute or 60 pounds per hour of instruction. That could really add up quickly if you have two left feet.

 

Frank Buzzard spoke about the wonders of the universe inside the Milky Way. And our reef pilot gave a talk about his role as a pilot and his knowledge of the Great Barrier Reef.

 

Today we had an invitation for another nice cocktail party in the Explorers Lounge with our travel agency hosts. Essentially, the party was held to welcome the new guests that have begun their cruise in Sydney recently. The time for us was at 7pm for the late dinner seating guests. Many of the staff members had been invited as well. This was an excellent chance to get to know the future cruise consultants better. Michael and Joanne have taken over that job for the 2014 world cruise, and are a very friendly couple with a lot of cruising knowledge. Maureen, the arts and crafts instructor, also joined our group. We are hoping she will be spending more time at our table for dinner, since she enjoyed it the last time we invited her.

 

We have a correction with the name of the clarinetist. The correct spelling of his last name is Martyn, and he is on the stage tonight with a brand new show. Preceding his performance at 7:30pm, is a game show called Majrity Rules. It is a trivia game with a twist, according to the daily newsletter.

 

If none of the above is of interest, then there is always the show in the Wajang Theater. This evening, Romeo & Juliet (the 2013 version) is shown at 6, 8, or 10pm.

 

We are keeping our fingers crossed for a pleasant, and hopefully dry day in Cairns tomorrow. Although we are not going on an organized tour, we know many folks will be. Either it be in the mountains or on the reef, good weather is necessary for the ultimate sight-seeing or excellent snorkeling.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[cruz chic]

Yikes kangaroo, I think I'd pass on that. Thx for the update.

[GanGan]

Thank you! I have not seen this listing. Makes me wonder if there is a site with which I am unfamiliar.

 

I have been unable to find any info about a Cruise Critic board for this cruise, nor about M & M. Any help that you can offer will be most welcome.

 

This is only our third cruise on HAL.

 

Sandra (and Jim)

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by GanGan View Post

We are joining this cruise in Hong Kong. My question: how many formal nights will we have on this 56-day segment Hong Kong to Ft. Lauderdale?

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

March 6 Red Lantern Dinner

March 12 Classic Formal Night

March 21 The White Dinner and After Party

March 26 Dutch Dinner

March 30 Classic Formal Night

April 6 Great Gatsby Ball

April 13 King Neptune's Under the Seas Dinner

April 20 Mariner's Appreciation Night

April 26 Chef's Farewell Dinner

 

We are also joining in Hong Kong.

Also add to your schedule the meet and greet in the Crows Nest at 10:00 on both March 10 and April 10. See you then?

 

Nancy (and Art)

[WCB]

Report # 50 Cairns, Australia February 17, 2014 Monday Chance of rain, muggy, 82 degrees

 

Well, here we are....at our final port in Australia.....Cairns, in the tropical north region of Queensland. This area has a lot going for it with world heritage rainforests, the Great Barrier Reef, mountain retreats, and the city of Cairns, the starting point for all of it. Sophisticated, yet relaxed and casual is the best way to describe the feel of this town. Although it is the capital with an international airport, Cairns is nothing like Brisbane or Sydney at all. There is no hustle and bustle of crowds on the city's streets, or huge highrises, or massive shopping malls. Everything here is on a much smaller scale, although there are many hotels to take care of the scores of tourists that arrive here daily by planes, trains, and ships.

 

First spotted by Captain James Cook in 1770, he named the inlet where we were docked today Trinity Bay, as he landed on Trinity Sunday. Gosh, this fellow really got around, didn't he? One hundred years later, gold was discovered in Palmer River, bringing miners to populate the region. Although it did not last long, the gold rush brought settlers to Cairns, where eventually, the real gold was to be found in the way of tourism.

 

Since we have been here many times, snorkeling at the reef, or taking the Kuranda Scenic Railway, and visiting the rainforest, we opted to do the town on our own. There are some well done places to hike, as well as touring the city center. The ship is docked right in the heart of town, so by walking across the street, you are literally there. With a nifty city map given to us by the friendly ladies at the information desk, we made our way up Lake Street to the Cairns Museum. Our destination was not the museum, but to see the residents of the large trees that surround this square. We are referring to the fruit bats or flying foxes as they are so aptly nicknamed. There had to be hundreds of them hanging upside down, fanning their over-size wings in an attempt to stay cool. Did we mention that the temperatures were soaring this morning, with the humidity as high as it could be? It was no wonder that the fruit bats were making such a loud noise among themselves. So loud, we could hear it a block away. Carefully, very carefully, we strolled under the trees, taking photos, trying not to disturb them too much. As we inspected the ground under the trees, we saw that this could be a dangerous thing to do. We did not linger very long. It was so darn hot, we decided to make our way towards the shoreline to walk along the beach.

 

One of the focal points for both locals and tourists, is the Cairns Esplanade. It goes from Trinity Wharf all the way to the airport, which is a heck of a long way. This development has been created along the shores of the Coral Sea, and includes recreational facilities from exercise stations, kiddie parks, a boardwalk, and barbeques shaded by park trees planted in grass. Picnic tables and benches line the walkway all the way, with some water stations also.

 

The best part of this stroll was the chance to watch the wading birds that frequent the beach and mudflats as the tide goes out. According to the info available along the way, there are 50 species of birds here, with as many as 3500 being spotted at one time. The species of waders include plovers, spoonbills, sandpipers, godwits, and cranes. The further we walked, the more we saw. There was even a lone commorant diving in the shallows. In one grassy spot, there was a local fellow casting a net close to shore. It appeared that he was picking up three types of crabs and gobes, perhaps to be used as bait. Larger fish caught here are barramundi, mangrove jacks, and in deeper waters, the magnificent black marlin. In fact, this area is named the Marlin Coast, attracting anglers from around the world.

 

What you will not see on these beaches are swimmers or sunbathers. Why, you may ask? Box jellyfish is the answer. These creatures invade the coast this time of year, and unless you go to beaches with good netting, you cannot swim here. They can be lethal if you are stung. They do advertise sting-resistant nets, but we have heard recently that a new strain of jellies has emerged that can fit through the netting. Another problem with swimming can be saltwater crocodiles, that come down from the rivers and mangroves. Yeah, that can be a big problem.

 

But not to worry. The folks of Cairns solved the swimming dilemma by building a huge saltwater pool right off of the Esplanade. They call it the "lagoon". It is free, and most inviting with fountains, with metal angelfish sculptures that spurt streams of water. There could be hundreds of swimmers here, and it would not be crowded. If we had more time, we may have joined the locals and tourists for a dip, but since we were on our way to lunch, we opted out.

 

The restaurant we have visited on past trips was Olano's on the waterfront and small boat harbor. But for some reason, we could not find the sign. The building was still there, but the name had changed to the Marina Paradiso. Same place, same food, different name. They featrued Italian cuisine, specializing in pizza. All right......pizza and beer would work. It was not crowded, even though it was around 1:30pm. We suspect that the intense heat and humidity have kept most folks inside today. So we were not rushed as we enjoyed yet another margherita pizza and local beers. It was almost as good as the ones in Sydney, but what was heavenly, was being able to sit under a fan and take in the cross breeze in this open-air cafe. As we watched the black skies over the Great Barrier Reef, we wondered how Keith was liking his diving tour today. Margaret had chosen to stay back, not feeling up to the 3 hour round trip boat ride. We shall see who made the better decision at dinner tonight.

 

It was well after 4pm by the time we got back onboard. And it was a good time to drink gallons of ice water to cool down. We went back out around 5pm to walk to the Night Market, which was mostly opened by then. There was a lot of stuff in the way of souveniers, and much better priced than in the town's shops. Since the Asians run this market, they tend to keep their prices down. A big draw to this market are the numerous stalls for massage, which were already filled with customers. One such place we passed on the way here was called Body Clinic with a flotation sauna and a fish spa. Fish spa? Was that something you eat? No, it was actually something that "dines on" you! A long fish tank sits on the floor where the customer puts their feet in, and watches as small fish nibble away all the dead, dry, and hard skin on their feet. Must feel odd, but some of our friends swear by the treatment. The cost was $15. for 20 minutes (10 minutes with the fish, and 10 minutes with a paraffin wax). The flotation therapy was a tank of water, enfused with epsom salts. It guarantees to free you of stress, anxiety, aches and pains, with super learning and self hypnosis. Hmmmm, perhaps we need to buy one of these for home? Anyway, a one hour float cost $50.

 

We found nothing of interest in the Night Market, so we went back to Woolworths and purchased room snacks such as dips, chips, and yes, Tim Tams. This would be our last chance to buy the sweet treats, although we seem to remember buying the special cookies in Singapore. The ship was due to leave around 7:30pm, and it sure looked and felt like rain was coming soon. You can tell when you see the locals carrying umbrellas. They know. Eventually, the rain did fall, but not until after sunset. Truthfully, we would have welcomed it today.

 

Keith did indeed survive his trip to the reef. Even though he did not swim or snorkel, he did take the glass bottom boat and submarine rides twice. The food offered on the pontoon was not to his liking, but we knew that. He did admit that finally seeing part of the reef was a great learning experience, and now he can mark it off of his list of must-see things to do. The bad thing was that he found out he had one picture left on his 4 gig card, and did not realize that Margaret's camera was at the bottom of his bag. Perhaps that may be a good excuse to repeat the excursion one day in the future. By the way, Margaret went shopping, which is always fun.

 

There was a big screen movie, All Is Lost, with Robert Redford in the Queens Lounge this evening. Wonder how many folks will go at 10pm to almost 12am after such a long day in Cairns? Probably only those who love the bags of popcorn that are provided at the entrance.

 

One day at sea, and we will be in a very different part of the world......Papua New Guinea.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Eddy and the cruisers]

Your report on Cairns is well done. We were there last October and concur with your observations. Look forward to meeting you in person when we board in Hong Kong.

 

Ed and Donna

[WCB]

Report # 51 Sailing Towards Alotau, Papua New Guinea February 18, 2014 Tuesday Cloudy, showers, 85 degrees

 

As we sail north towards the Equator, the humidity and heat has increased by the mile, if that is possible. And we thought the temperatures were bad yesterday. The only saviour this morning were the occasional heavy showers that cooled the air off for a while. Now we know what the Captain was referring to when he said we will be sailing into the tropical cyclone area of the Coral Sea.

 

Our port guide presented a talk all about Alotau and Madang, the upcoming ports in Papua New Guinea this morning. Few of the people we know have been to these places, so this will be an adventure. Two years ago, we made a stop in Port Moresby, where we took a tour to see a museum of the local tribes. It was a one room museum with a couple of basic displays of costuming and weaponry. But their main claim to fame was their art of pottery-making. We attended a demonstration where the ladies of the village mixed the clay, then hand-formed the many sizes of pots. A large firepit in the ground was where the pots were "fired", then dried in the sun for a spell. Very tedious work for these women. No men were involved in the process, since it was "women's" work. Nope, the men had the most fun, because they danced. Bedecked in feathers and armed with swords and knives and whatever, they put on quite a ceremonial show. We expect to see some of the same sites in both ports, although we have not booked a tour. It appears that most everything will be within walking distance.

 

There is only one guest speaker onboard right now.....the filmmaker and funny guy, Peter McGugan. We are hearing some mixed reviews concerning his talks. Perhaps his subject about African animals is more interesting today.

 

We sort of lucked out at the aft pool today, just missing a shower that had cleared the deck of sunbathers. The rain was brief, and when the skies cleared, the sun stayed out for a few hours. It was nice to relax and read as always.

 

We finished the afternoon, cooling off inside while watching a movie in our room. It was a Robert Redford flick from last year called All Is Lost. Not sure if it was the most appropriate movie to be shown about a man stranded out at sea, especially when we are on a ship in the middle of the Coral Sea. It had to be the strangest movie we have seen. It was a one man show with about a total of 10 words spoken for 1 3/4 hours. We are still trying to decide if the ending was a good one or not.

 

Dinner was good as usual. Sweet and sour breaded shrimp and sliced tenderloin were our entrees. The menus have been slightly repeated over the last six weeks, but it seems that something different appears everyday. An unusual one was the stuffed cabbage leaves with ground beef, which two of us at the table had ordered. They were huge. The Australian trout looked like breaded and fried salmon.

 

The entertainer this evening was a fellow by the name of Phoenix. His specialty is being a real life mentalist, the wonder from down under. We don't have a clue what the show will be about, but four of our tablemates promise to let us know tomorrow. That is, if they make it through the entire performance.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[ger_77]

An unusual one was the stuffed cabbage leaves with ground beef, which two of us at the table had ordered.

 

You've just described "cabbage rolls" which we usually make using mostly rice, onion and some ground beef. The cabbage leaf is steamed soft, then the mixture is rolled up and placed in a casserole, drowned in tomato juice or soup and baked for an hour.

 

I have a question for Mary Ann; with all the walking and sunbathing you do (and I know you use sunscreen to the max), how do you deal with the changing skin tone and matching foundation for the duration of the cruise? I imagine you might change several shades from beginning to end.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Gerry

[erewhon]

Thanks for your interesting updates.

[whereintheworld]

We found nothing of interest in the Night Market, so we went back to Woolworths and purchased room snacks such as dips, chips, and yes, Tim Tams. This would be our last chance to buy the sweet treats, although we seem to remember buying the special cookies in Singapore.

 

You may be interested to know that Tim Tams have just last week celebrated their 50th birthday. They are now available in 8 varieties and are sold in 40 countries, so I would guess one of those countries is the USA. Google it when you arrive home.

[snookymom]

We found nothing of interest in the Night Market, so we went back to Woolworths and purchased room snacks such as dips, chips, and yes, Tim Tams. This would be our last chance to buy the sweet treats, although we seem to remember buying the special cookies in Singapore.

 

You may be interested to know that Tim Tams have just last week celebrated their 50th birthday. They are now available in 8 varieties and are sold in 40 countries, so I would guess one of those countries is the USA. Google it when you arrive home.

 

I buy them at our local Target or at World Market. We don't get all the flavors though.:eek:

[WCB]

Report # 52 Alotau, Papua New Guinea February 19, 2014 Wednesday Partly cloudy, 81 degrees

 

Today's port turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The main reason we say that is that the comments on the shore excursion order form really emphasized the limited tourism infrastructure on the island. It stated that the mini buses were non air-conditioned, the roads were full of potholes, and the student guides may or may not speak good English. ln addition, it was printed that the tour operator is new and has never worked with large cruise ships, so with that in mind, we should keep our expectations on the conservative side. All in all, most of these statements turned out to be incorrect, in our opinion.

 

The Amsterdam pulled into Alotau situated in Milne Bay around 7am, and was docked shortly afterwards at a small pier used for local cargo ships. We learned later on that not many cruise ships stop here, and if we heard correctly, the Amsterdam is the first HAL ship to dock here. The small town of Alotau is located on the eastern tip of Papua New Guinea, and along with seven groups of islands, is part of the Milne Bay Province. It has a population of 93,000 people. This whole area became famous during World War Two when a battle took place between the invading Japanese troops and the New Guineans and the Australians. The land victory was won over the Japanese, the first to happen in the war of the Pacific. Unfortunately, the wreckage of ships, trucks, tanks, pontoons, and planes remain on the bottom of the bay.

 

A few tours had been offered here, but since we could either walk or ride in a shuttle to town, we decided to explore on our own. Many mini vans had lined up on the pier, and drove about 10 of us at a time to the center of town. Normally, we would have walked the 25 minute hike, but since it was already hot and getting hotter, we rode instead. Dropped off at the busy memorial, we mixed in with the locals and continued up the road to the local marketplace.

 

Speaking of locals, it appeared that most all of the 93,000 people had shown up in town today. Perhaps they were there to see us arrive, or they wanted a chance to wish us good day or hello, as everyone we passed said that to us. Talk about friendly. Even the kids of all ages greeted us, although they should have been in school at this time of day. Most of the jobs here involve copra and agricultural products.

 

At the marketplace, we strolled around the crowded stalls of freshly-grown veggies and fruits. Different items included bunches of peanuts and a powder of crushed lime coral. Since most everyone chews the betelnut, their gums and teeth are stained a red-orange color. You can follow their path by seeing the trail of spittle on the ground. So we are assuming the crushed coral may be a product used to brush their teeth. When we go to Madang in two days, we intend to politely ask someone if we are correct. Surely you would not use crushed coral in cooking.

 

Now the fresh fish section of the market was a bit harder to stomach, as the aroma of the drying fish was extremely strong. The ladies kept a constant wave of leaves over the fish to keep the flies away. Some woven purses and baskets called sinapopo were hanging overhead to be sold. When we inquired about buying one, we discovered they would not take US or Australians dollars. They only took kina, the currency here in Papua New Guinea. The rate was 2.50 kinas to one US dollar. One of the ladies explained to us that most of the locals did not have any ID, such as a passport. Without that, they could not change the foreign money for kina at their bank. If they had someone else do it for them, they would lose money in the exchange. So we bought nothing here.

 

In the lot near this market was a very long covered area with benches for the people to sit and wait for mini buses to go home. Not one of the locals will sit in the sun, because they are smart. If there is no shade, they use umbrellas. So we joined many of them on the bench to cool off before we continued onward. Some of the little kids stared at us like we were from Mars or something. Doubt they have seen so many pale folks at one time.

 

Across the highway, was a string of stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, hardware, and bottle shops. A bottle shop was a window where the locals could buy beer or perhaps soda. Something tells us that liquor is rationed here. There was a huge sign at the local park warning the younger crowd against drinking. Heavy fines and jail can be imposed if they are publicly intoxicated. Right next to this park was a police station. Anyway, we walked through a few of the stores, mainly to take advantage of the air-conditioning. It looked to us like none of these stores would accept foreign money too. Most all of the products in the supermarket were imported from Australia, especially the meats.

 

We were not in search of any lunch today, but some ice cold beers would be really nice. So we went through the gate at the Alotau International Hotel, which was partially hidden behind trees and palms. The guards said nothing, so we proceeded to the reception area of the small hotel. The first question we had was concerning the acceptance of US dollars. The lady behind the desk told us she could exchange our money for kinas, then purchase food and drinks at their restaurant. Perfect. We gave her $15., which was enough for three beers and one soda. Sitting inside the open-air restaurant was not cool enough for us. So we went outside near the pool, where picnic type tables and chairs were scattered under the towering palm trees on green grass facing Milne Bay. Again, this was perfect. Few people from the ship had discovered this area yet, so we had it all to ourselves with some hotel guests. It did take quite a while to get a waitress to help us, but being able to sit down and cool off was working fine. They did have a deal here. If you purchased a hotdog and a drink, you got one hour of internet for free. A hotel employee was cooking hotdogs on a large propane BBQ near us. Too bad we had eaten a hearty breakfast, or else we may have tried one. There was no menu to check over, so we did not know they served pizza here. As we were taking photos at the water's edge, we spied a table of four munching on a Hawaiian pizza. Who knew?

 

Well, it was time to get moving, so we headed towards the Memorial Park and the craft market. This was where we discovered that the battery on the camera had decided to quit. And where was the other battery? On the ship, of course. Luckily, the shuttle was there to take people back to the ship. Within minutes, we had gotten back, found the good battery, and were off again to go back. We knew not to stay onboard the cool ship too long, or it would have been over with.

 

Taking the same shuttle back, the driver took us all the way to the marketplace. So we had to walk back to the monument where we read about the battle of Milne Bay and the soldiers that fought it. Right next to the monument was a group of seated natives from the Trobriand Islands very near to Alotau by boat. They offered ebony and rosewood carvings of odd-looking fish, octopus, masks, and bowls. They incorporated mother-of-pearl in the designs along with a rock or a seashell that looked like eyeballs. We bargained for one such decorated bowl made from rosewood. The price began at $150, but ended up at $35. Some very intricate walking sticks were also for sale, but the least expensive was around $100. One of our friends had bought three of them. Another item that caught our attention was being sold by some elderly ladies sitting on the end of the men's items. It was an intricate seashell necklace, handmade by one of the local women. And the price was right.

 

Continuing on, we walked the waterfront watching little boys playing in the high surf that came crashing over their heads. The winds had picked up by now, and it looked like the small boat harbor was heaving and pitching the rowboats dangerously. All that held them was a stick hammered into the mud of the bay. Some fellows waded in the water to secure their boats as they could wash away.

 

Sailaway was scheduled for 5pm, but that was not going to happen. The Captain announced that until the winds died down, we would not be able to get out of the bay. He added that we could stay for up to 12 hours if necessary, and still make the next port of Madang in two days. Gene, the CD, announced that happy hour would be extended until 8pm, so the drinking crowd was happy with that. We did stay, talking with friends on the aft deck, until the sun set. By then, the winds subsided enough for us to pull away from the dock.

 

It had been a long, hot day, but we sure did have a good time.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[trisandfred]

 

In the USA they are sold under the name Arnott's (the company that makes them). "Tim Tams" does not appear on the packaging.

 

Love 'em!

[Gail and Ken]

You can get them on Amazon. Pepperage Farms owns the company.

 

Sent from Gail's Galaxy S3

[califlady]

I was curious about your comment regarding ground coral sold in New Guinea as possibly being used as a toothpaste. I googled it and this is what I found. (The ground coral is "lime" which is then mixed with water to become lime paste.)

"The most common method of making a betel quid in South-East Asia is: the leaf is daubed with lime paste and topped with thin slices of an areca-nut; then the leaf is folded, like wrapping a present, to the desired shape and size finally, the wad is placed between the teeth and the cheek and pressed with the tongue to allow sucking and chewing."

[marysb]

Thanks so much for your interesting and detailed reports - just like being there.

 

I love your travel attitude and sense of adventure!!

 

 

Mary

[WCB]

Report # 53 Sailing Towards Madang, Papua New Guinea February 20, 2014 Thursday Partly cloudy, 85 degrees

 

We lucked out today, because the skies remained grey throughout the afternoon. Although that sounds strange, but the clouds kept the temperatures down enough to make it pleasant outside. There were occasional light showers, which kept the breeze cool.

 

There were two talks in the Queens Lounge. Filmmaker Peter Mcgugan spoke about the power of appreciation. A different type of talk was given by none other than a fellow guest. He told stories concerning the progression of the US space program, starting with the Sputnik program many many years ago. He did so well, that the audience hopes he returns to the stage again.

 

With three of our dinnermates gone this evening, we had company. One of our hosts, Tom M, Maureen, the arts and crafts instructor, and Cindy, a former Lead Medical Officer joined us. Cindy has come onboard officially to work at a different job, a promotion for sure. It was fun catching up on where we have all been for the last two years since we saw her. The subject also arose concerning the latest incident on an HAL ship in the Caribbean. We have yet to see this pop up on the news, but a passenger was assaulted by one of the room stewards, and may have been thrown overboard from her balcony, if it was not for one of her neighbors that heard her screaming for her life. No one on our staff has commented on this situation, and Cindy said they have been briefed about not saying anything as of yet.

 

There were few choices for us on the menu this evening, so both of us ordered the alternate sirloin strip steak with loaded baked potatoes. They were tender and tasty....even better than the porterhouse steak they served a few weeks ago.

 

Showtime featured a singer by the name of Seamas Earley, a name we are familiar with, since she has performed on the world cruise before. We heard that the singers and dancers were OK last night, but not outstanding. They joined us recently, coming from a Seabourn ship we believe.

 

Looking forward to tomorrow's port of Madang....a new one for us.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[JamesEM]

The crushed lime is used to draw out the drug in the Betel Nut.

[snookymom]

You can get them on Amazon. Pepperage Farms owns the company.

 

Sent from Gail's Galaxy S3

 

I have seen them at the Pepperidge Farm outlet under the Tim Tam name as we'll.

[WCB]

Report # 54 Madang, Papua New Guinea February 21, 2014 Friday Chance of rain, 84 degrees

 

We woke up this morning, looked out the window, and realized that we have been here before on the world cruise in 2011. For some reason, one of us thought we had been in Port Moresby that time, but that was wrong. No wonder the tour we cancelled sounded so much the same, because it was.

 

The description of Madang in the local Executive Travellers booklet is that it is a serene and majestic haven, surrounded by crystal clear waters, coral reefs, white sands and beauty. But where? According to Barbara H, Madang, the capital of the province, is not a lovely or pretty town. What it does have are lagoons and waterways, where the locals hang out.....lots of them. Seems like very few of these townfolk work. More about that later.

 

There is much World War Two history with Madang. Colonized by the Germans, this town was almost completely destroyed by the Japanese. Scores of ships, barges, tugs, and aircraft were sunk in this harbor. Oddly enough, these items helped to build a reef, creating perfect conditions for excellent snorkeling and diving. And that is what brings the tourists here today....the diving.

 

Something else put this area on the map.......minerals, gas and petroleum products. Minerals such as gold and copper are still mined here in Papua New Guinea. The production of copra, one of the world's richest crops, had been the mainstay until 1970, when mining exceeded it. Today many crops are grown in the mountainsides, including coffee, which was introduced by the German missionaries, coconuts, cocoa, and bananas.

 

Madang is situated on the northeast coast of Papua New Guinea and is very close to the Equator. So to say it was hot and humid is putting it lightly. It's the steamy humidity that is hard to take. We knew to take lots of water with us when we left the ship around 10am. Many vendors were lined up against the walls as we left the port gates. We would have plenty of time to look over their wares on our way back. Not that we were really looking for anything, but things have a way of finding us.

 

Taking the ship's rather poor map, we tried to follow the roads that led to the water's walkway. There were many stores here for basic needs of the locals. We did not go inside any of them, since we needed nothing. Even though the people seemed friendly, the atmosphere was not quite the same here as in Alotau two days ago. There were dozens of groups of men hanging around as if today was a holiday. It appeared that many of them had something to sell. In one area, there were ladies cooking fish, lobster, crabs, sweet potatoes, and bananas. All of it was put in deep vegetable oil to fry in a skillet in the charcoals. Although it smelled OK, we were a bit put off by the numerous flies that were landing on the already cooked fish. The ladies cooked with one hand, and shooed the flies away with a wispy fan with the other hand. There were a few vendors selling baskets, carvings, and paintings. They could not compare with the carvings we had to choose from in Aloutau. Those were by far superior in quality.

 

Written in our guidebook, the locals are reportedly friendly and will happily share their knowledge of their culture with us. However, when we asked a few fellows directions showing them our maps, they could not help us. They did not speak any English beyond hello, and they could not read a map. We were trying to locate the museum and cultural center, but no one knew where they were. It was just as well we did not take the long hike there anyway, because we heard later that the dancers were not there this time. That was our only reason for going to that park.

 

Finding that we were close to the Madang Resort and Kalibobo Village, we continued following the pathway to the gates of the property. Now this is the most civilized spot in the town, called the Jewel of the Pacific. The resort and village is built on the shores of the Madang Harbor and Yamilon Lagoon, and encompasses 10 acres of of landscaped gardens with waterfront suites, cottages, and deluxe rooms. There was a big sign posted near the waterfronts suites stating not to hang your wet clothing on the veranda, because the clothes would be gone, stolen. Hmm, that tells you a lot.

 

We located the main reception area where we found excellent brochures and maps of Madang. The restaurant/bar located in this complex is called Haus Win, and was opening for early lunch. We were in desperate need of something wet and cold, so SP beers were our choice. We did not know that they had a pizza menu, since we were a little too early. And once again, we had eaten a good breakfast on the ship, not expecting a suitable place for lunch, let alone pizza. Oh well. Several shoreline tables were available to relax and watch the harbor traffic go by.

 

When we left, we wandered around the grounds to see a freshwater pond full of very large fish by the name of pacu. The sign said they are fed at sunset, and eat coconut meat and bananas, odd for a fish. Vegetarian fish? Also on the grounds were cages containing native birds. Some unusual ones were the pigeons, dark blue in color with top notches. Like every type of exotic bird in Papua New Guinea, they are on the endangered list. They had one hornbill and a cockatoo. But the biggest number of flying creatures were in the trees overhead.....yes, the fruit bats. If you did not look up, you never would have seen them. One of the grounds keepers came over and shook a bamboo stalk, sending the sleeping birds into the sky by the dozens, just so we could get a good photo. One of us took the pictures on rapid speed, while the other covered their head. We cannot imagine these rat-looking mammals can be a delectable food item for the locals. Unless we were on the brink of starvation, then maybe. But as a conscience choice, we could not bring ourselves to sample it.

 

After we checked out the pricey souveniers at the nearby park on the hotel property, we took a different road on the way back to the ship. Whether this was a wise move was debatable. Suddenly, we were surrounded completely by scores of men just hovering around. Not that they were not friendly, it made one of us uncomfortable. It's not a good idea to separate yourself from the crowd of tourists. But sometimes, if you want to see like the fish market and the real local fresh veggie and fruitmarket, you have to leave the beaten path. Along the shore of the lagoon, were numerous boats where the men had brought their catch of the day, or judging from the aroma, yesterday's catch. Phew. Nothing a lot of hot oil could not hide for sure. Across the road from the lagoon was a huge park, Sir Donald Cleland Park. There were hundreds of vendors and local picnickers as well set up in this park. What disturbed us were the six foot high pyramids of garbage stacked every 20 feet around this entire park. Heaven knows what was in it besides the plastic bottles, diapers, discarded food, and betelnut spit. This was a bit more than we really needed to see. On one corner, was a growing group of men who were gathering around a rabble-rouser obviously creating a scene over government policies. That could be a bad place to be if the group got out of hand. Time to head back to the ship.

 

By the way, later on we did hear of a passenger that had gotten mugged. Apparently, Gene had warned the folks after the show last night not to wear flashy jewelry here. Perhaps not everyone heard that. Cameras are also targeted, so going in groups was the wise thing to do. Come to think of it, that was why we took that tour three years ago.

 

There were a few things we found to bargain for near the pier gate. A really neat woven basket and a multi-color mask went back with us on the ship. When you show interest in something, you seem to draw a crowd of the locals, who try to help with the negotiation. There were four interpreters for every one vendor. They were very happy with our final offer, so we did OK.

 

Dive In hamburgers were our lunch while we cooled off in our room. Sailaway was at 4:30 to 5:30am under sprinkling skies. Actually, it felt so good as we slowly salied out of the harbor. People in huge numbers came out to wave goodbye. Right before we left, a number of kids rowed alongside the ship in their makeshift kayaks, begging for mostly money. People were tossing ship candies in baggies, fruit, and everything else but money. When the kids picked up the bags, they let loose with a few F-bombs to the passengers who meant well. Oh well, kids are kids, and may reflect the real attitude of the parents.

 

The rest of the waving and cheering crowd made up for the few bad apples. The rain began to get heavier, so we sought refuge on deck seven below the aft deck. This is a great spot with a few teak lounges and thick pads. But no breeze to speak of. It was time to check out the entrees in the Lido anyway. Dinnertime found us ordering soup and entree salads since the hamburgers were very filling at lunchtime. Sometimes it is nice to keep the dining light.

 

It was told to us that the singer last night was excellent. We knew that from previous world cruises.

 

We are on our way to a place called Yap, definitely a new port for us, if we really make it there.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 55 Sailing Towards Yap Island, Micronesia February 22, 2014 Saturday Partly cloudy, rainy, 85 degrees

 

Today and tomorrow will be lay low days, or two days at sea. Not a whole lot was happening, especially outside, since the weather was not looking great for sunbathing. The winds had picked up and the skies had clouded up obviously with rain on the way. Sometime today, we should be crossing the Equator, so that explains the high humidity and sticky warm temperatures.

 

Barbara H was giving a talk at 10am about what to see and do in Yap, Micronesia. In all of her travels over many years, she herself has never landed at Yap. No one we know has ever been there. Something has always deterred the ships, whether it be a storm or pier damage. We've heard that the passage to enter the bay and the dock is narrow, so the tides must be in our favor. Since there are no organized shore excursions at Yap, we figure the ship would have no problem passing the island up if necessary. What intrigues us about this island is that they still use rock money carved from limestone as their currency. It is larger than they are. Anyway, we should know more about our arrival by tomorrow.

 

A talk about maps was the subject for artist in residence, Mr. Sack. We never heard that the history of maps involved scandal, intrigue, and deception.

 

The guest "guest" speaker Dr. Stein spoke about the race to the moon at the afternoon lecture. Specifically, he spoke about the Gemini Space Program.

 

There were two photography classes on how to take more precise pictures. Tablemate Bill said he attended, but found it to be a repeat, which tends to happen.

 

We have had to put our name on a waitlist for The Hunger Games DVD through Shipflicks. You would think there would be multiple copies of a popular movie, not just one, that someone has chosen to keep since day one. Like the library, they should have a time limit to turn them back. We shall see how long it takes for them to return it.

 

We took the time to go up to deck nine and watch the sun go down, about the same time we were crossing the Equator. Hopefully we got a good photo of the "line". Just kidding..........That brings to mind an amusing story about the first time we flew to Tahiti many years ago. We had a seasoned pilot who told everyone to be watching for the sighting of small coral atolls as we approached the Society Islands. In addition, he said to look for the red line, which would be the Equator. With that, everyone leaned over to look for that line, including us. He said that if we did in fact see that line, we had helped ourselves to way too many cocktails, as they were complimentary on those international flights back then.

 

An announcement came across the ship after the first dinnertime. It was Gene, who announced that the entertainer scheduled for this evening was seasick, we assume, and would be unable to perform. His name is Michael Montgomery, and we are sure that he has been on stage before on a previous cruise. Guess this is an indication that the seas have become rougher, as the ship has been rolling and rocking most of the day.

 

Medieval Night was the theme for formal dinner tonight. Advertised as stepping back in time of epic battles, jousting tournaments, royal feasts with knights and maidens, we were encouraged to re-live the era of chivalry and rivalry. The revely were the waiters who were decked out in Medieval costumes with chainmail vests, helmets, and black and red capes. Bet those were plenty warm, but they continued to serve dinner with a smile.

 

Our choice of entrees was the veal parmigana with a particularly delicious chunky tomato sauce over the spaghetti. Our waiter, Firman, knows we love the sauce, so without asking, he always brings a gravyboat full for us to share between us and our tablemates.

 

We thought there may be a gift waiting for us this evening, in keeping with the world cruise established pattern of gift-giving. We were disappointed to find nothing. In the old days, not too long ago, we had a gift every formal night. We assume some folks complained about the frequency and quality of the presents, so eventually, the gifts became fewer and fewer. It's not nice to spoil us, then slowly back off. Nothing ever stays the same does it?

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

PS Regarding the question about suntanning and foundation, I do not use foundation....only some eye makeup. Could never stand the feel of it.

Thanks for the info about the crushed lime coral for curing the betelnut. Never would have guessed that one.

[WCB]

Report # 56 Sailing Towards Yap Island, Micronesia February 23, 2014 Sunday Partly cloudy, rain, 85 degrees

 

Day number two at laying low was much the same as yesterday. The big difference was that the blustery winds had died down, and we had a pleasant breeze most of the day. We forgot to mention that at the aft pool yesterday, the wind had come up so suddenly, it sent one of the lounges flying over deck nine down to deck eight, right where the tables and chairs are located. Had this been during lunchtime, people would have been sitting there, and someone would have been injured badly. When the winds get severe, the lounges are stacked a dozen deep, and usually secured with ropes and tied off to the railings. Obviously, they had not been secured. During the two hours we were back there, we did see the staff tie down the two stacks, but it took quite a long time before they did it.

 

The new program of Dancing With the Stars at Sea was launched today. The first encounter we had with this activity was while on a cruise in the South Pacific last fall while on the Statendam. Every ship in HAL fleet offers the chance for every passenger to compete for a free cruise and the mirror ball trophy. Well, almost everyone except those who reside in Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Vermont. Why those states are excluded, we do not know. They are encouraged to learn the dances, but will not be able to win. Today the Amsterdam dancers will be teaching guests the waltz at 3pm.

 

Another highlight of the afternoon was a special Indonesian tea in the dining room. The entrance to the dining room was decorated in an Indonesian theme, and the waiters were proud of it. It doesn't seem fair to the Indonesians that we are not visiting one island in the archipelago on this trip. Most times we hit both Indonesia and the Philippines. On this trip, we will have a two day stay in Manila, where the Filipino crew will be able to visit family members. Lucky group this time.

 

We were able to squeeze in some dry time at the back pool, until the rain started. Good time to have room service salads and split a club sandwich. And watch a movie, The Ledge, for a couple of hours. Although not new, it was very intense. Sometimes the choices of movies on TV go from idiotic to bizarre. By the time 5pm rolled around, the sun had peeked out. Time for a walk. Forty-five minutes does it on the lower promenade, then we ride up to deck eight and check out the entrees in the Lido. We were hoping to follow up with the sunset on deck nine, but since the ship had traveled north all day, the sunset was at 6:54pm. And the clouds on the horizon were so black, we knew rain was coming. By the time a couple of the bar staff came up to close the retractable roof, the rain began pouring down.

 

Dinner was fun this evening. Three were gone, but we gained two guests with Margaret inviting hosts, Henk and Lucia. Our entrees tonight were the chicken cordon bleu with extra BBQ sauce from the Shanghai rib appetizer. Desserts of a chocolate cake and Dutch apple cake with ice cream finished the meal.

 

Tomorrow should bring a new port for many of us.

 

Bill & Mary Ann