Come Along with Bill & Mary Ann Going Full Circle on the 2015 World Cruise -114 days+

[WCB]

Report # 27 Papeete, Tahiti January 25, 2015 Sunday Chance of rain & 82 degrees

 

Well, here we are with our second full day in Tahiti, an island of 651 square miles with a population of 178,173 people. The highest volcanic mass is Orohena Mt. at 6790 feet. The agricultural products of Tahiti, the largest of all Polynesian islands, are coconuts, bananas, taro, and breadfruit. Now we wonder if the big delivery of fresh pineapples we saw being off loaded yesterday were actually grown here. They suspiciously resembled pineapples grown in the Philippines.

 

Papeete is the administrative capital of Polynesia as well. And they have an international airport, where we landed back in the early 90's on our first voyage in this part of the world. We liked it so much, we have been lucky enough to return on a regular basis. Moorea, Tahiti's sister island, is located a mere 11 miles away, and can be reached by ferry quite easily. Usually, we stay overnight in Papeete, then sail over to Moorea for a day there. Unfortunately, we are not going there tomorrow. Moorea is about the most unspoiled of the islands with gorgeous jutting peaks and tranquil lagoons. It is also one of the best places to snorkel, that is, if the weather is right.

 

Speaking of weather, it was not a good one today. We woke up to rain, and it only got worse as the day wore on. This should not be a surprise, because we are visiting here during the wet season. There is a reason everything is so green and lush on the island. We did feel bad for the folks who are experiencing their first visit to Polynesia. For some, it may be the one and only time they will be here. We look at the rain like it is liquid gold, something we have not had enough of for a couple of years in California. Just think, if you never had bad weather, you would never appreciate all the nice days we have.

 

Rain did not stop us from going for a two hour walk on the waterfront and Paofai Gardens right on the harbor. With 4.6 hectares, or over 11 acres, Paofai Gardens is an oasis located in the heart of Papeete. Paved footpaths weave through 400 trees and palms planted between sport facilities, kids playgrounds, monuments, gazebos, and picnic areas. For the convenience of the walkers, runners, and bikers, there are several restrooms and changing rooms. On the water's edge, is a section that houses the racing pirogues, or canoes. Local boatmen will come daily to practice racing in these canoe-like boats.

 

By the time we got to the end of the park, the sky opened up and flooded everything. We took refuge under a large canopy, despite the fact we had our good umbrellas. Once the wind picked up, we did begin getting wet. A nice fellow happened to be riding his bike with his two young kids in tow. Spotting us, he came over and began a conversation, asking where we were from. It was obvious to us, he was practicing his English, with his native language being French. He told us his daughter was learning English in school, and encouraged her to listen to us. We informed him we were from the Amsterdam, and he assumed that was where we came from......Amsterdam, Holland. Logical assumption, but he was really intrigued when we told him our destination of going around the world. Anyway, he gave us some good info regarding cafes and restaurants that may be opened today. Unfortunately, Sunday is a closed down day here, for the most part. His daughter suggested McDonalds, then giggled. Kids are the same no matter where you go. They all like the happy meals.

 

We ventured into the side streets, only to find the town shut down tight. Hoping to find a fabric store opened, we were out of luck. The only stands that were opened were outside the Marketplace, where some ladies were still selling fresh flowers. And in Bouganville Park, the Arts Village was set up. However, the rain was coming down even harder by now, and there were no passengers shopping here today. That gave us a chance to look over their items, and, yes, we did find one nice shell necklace to match earrings we purchased yesterday.

 

Back at the ship, we downloaded pictures long enough to dry off, then went to lunch. It seems that there have been more leaks occurring on deck eight now. The back end of the Lido was closed off with crew working on the ceiling. Telltale buckets were placed on the floor to catch the leaks. Even our tablemates reported that they are experiencing a leak through the floor and wall now. This is not a good thing. Perhaps the drydocking will take care of these problems.

 

On another note, we had a medical disembark yesterday. Don't know the particulars, but it appeared to be an elderly lady, traveling alone. That makes the second or third person that had to leave due to illness. The first couple left way back in Santa Marta, Colombia. Sure hope they all had trip insurance.

 

After our second walkabout after lunch, we watched the slow sailaway from the harbor. We were delayed because of the air traffic control procedures here. The airport landing strip is right near the entrance to the harbor. From what the Captain said, we could not proceed if a plane was due to land or take off. We watched as a jet came down very low, preparing to land. Once it was down,we sailed through the narrow opening and were on our way. Because it was still sprinkling, the sailaway party had been moved to the Crows Nest. As always, we prefer being outside.

 

Dinner was good tonight. We had prime rib and shared a veggie lasagne. The beef entrees have continued to be very tasty and tender, although the meat is still arriving a bit undercooked. Perhaps the secret words may be to order it medium well?

 

We now have a short distance to get to Bora Bora, tomorrow's port of call. Hope the weather improves, but rather doubt it according to the Captain's prediction of rain.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Traveling Dot]

I am loving your descriptions of the Islands especially since we are awaiting a Blizzard here in Massachusetts. I can let my imagination take me to where you are and feel the warmth. Thanks for the great writing.:)

[WCB]

Report # 28 Vaitape, Bora Bora January 26, 2015 Monday Chance of rain & 86 degrees

 

After a slow sailing last night, the Amsterdam arrived to the island of Bora Bora early this morning. A mere 175 miles northwest of Tahiti, Bora Bora is a 50 minute flight or a 10 hour boat ride away. The good thing was that it was not raining as expected. We may get lucky today if the rain will hold off until later.

 

Around 7:30am, Gene, our CD, made an announcement that the tenderboats were in the water, and the ship had been cleared. Anyone ready to go ashore was welcomed to go down, get tender tickets, and be first over there. Sounded good, but we know that nothing is open that early on shore. Bet the independant tour operators were not there yet either. We'll never know, because we had no intention of going over that early.

 

Bora Bora is old....older than dirt at 7 million years. The main island is 5.5 miles long and 2.5 miles wide. The lagoon surrounding the island is three times larger than its land mass. You will never find anything more beautiful than the turquoise waters of this lagoon, although without the sun shining, the colors were muted today. Glad we have done the snorkeling with the sharks and rays on past trips, because today would not have been so spectacular.

 

Most of the population of 8930 people are in the tourism business. Some crops grown here are copra, bananas, and melons. Bora Bora has been promoted as the "romantic" island with private luxurious bungalows built right over the lagoon waters. Can you imagine watching the fish swimming under your room through the glass floor? Paradise comes with a steep price, however. On previous cruises here, a tour was offered where you stayed overnight in one of the highend hotel bungalows, then go back to the ship the following day. The least expensive overnight was $700. That did not include dinner, but did include a continental breakfast. Checkout time was 11am. New friends we just met recently said they talked to a couple who was staying in Bora Bora. They had a special dinner, and paid $500. for the evening. They must have ordered some pretty extravagent wine.

 

A most popular tour here is taking "le truck", an open-air vehicle with padded wooden seats. They take you on a circle the island drive with a couple of stops along the way. We have done it more than once, so we were on our own today.

 

We headed over to the island by 10:30am. By then, there was no wait for the tenderboat, which was a mere 10 minute ride today. The ship was a stone's throw away from the Vaitape village. We were not alone, as the Oceania's Marina was already in the lagoon when we arrived. As our boat driver got near the harbor, an Oceania boat cut us off. Seems the other guy was racing to get ahead of us. How rude. Our guy let him pass, then ended up getting reprimanded by security on shore. He told our driver to watch his speed when coming in. He just agreed and said nothing in his defense.

 

Two of our ship's tours were taking off.....one on the circle island drive, and the other, a snorkel boat ride. We wove our way through the crowd to jump on "le truck" transfer to Matira Beach. It cost $5.00 each one way, and is money well spent. Joining a group from the Marina, we found out they had missed going to Moorea yesterday due to high seas. They simply could not tender the folks to shore there. So they arrived here early and will be staying overnight we understand. Another thing we heard later, was that two passengers from the Marina had drowned a few days ago while snorkeling. How tragic. After reading the fine print on the ship's tours, we discovered that much more information has been included in tour descriptions. They go as far as saying you must know how to swim in deep water and swift currents. Nothing is assumed. They even mention how far one has to walk to board a boat and how many steps are involved. Many are wheelchair restricted too. We have to mention that watching the people that need the walkers and wheelchairs, the sailors are most helpful in getting these folks onto and off of the tenderboats. They do it with a smile.

 

Our plan was to go to Matira Beach, relax for a while on the white sands, and walk the surf for over a mile or so. Being that today was Monday, the beach was not crowded. Even though the clouds were out, the shallow waters of the lagoon reflected the turquoise color that makes this area famous. Schools of small white fish actually swim right up to the shoreline. There are feeding spots for the different stingrays that live in this lagoon, but they are located further off shore. The most wildlife we saw in the water today were the people kind. The one nice thing about this beach is that it is free. There is a huge palapa and nearby restrooms with changing areas. Right next to these facilities is the Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort and Spa. If you pay a day fee, you are allowed to use some of their lounges and restrooms. They also have a nice restaurant there.

 

Following the beach, we were able to hike halfway back to Bloody Marys, our intended stop for lunch. At one point, we reached a barbed-wire fence where we joined the road. Hugging the side of the narrow road, the restaurant was about a half mile from the end of the beach. What helped a lot today was a very nice breeze, that made walking much more pleasant. We noticed two other couples following us as we neared Bloody Marys.

 

The restaurant and bar has got to be the most touristy spot in Bora Bora, but we love it. Built in 1979, many famous people have visited here over the years. Mostly actors and actresses from the USA, but also rulers from foreign countries. Some of the food items served there are hamburgers, fresh tuna sandwiches, grilled mahi mahi, reuben sandwiches, ahi tuna sashimi, deep fried shrimp, fish and chips, and our favorite.......Mexican chicken quesadillas. Of course, the drink, Bloody Mary, is their signature beverage. We always order the ice cold Hinano beers instead.

 

There was a bit of a wait to get seated. With two cruise ships in town, this place was really busy. Most all of the tours will stop here briefly for their clients to make a bathroom stop (unusual decorations in there), and buy a quick drink. Souveniers are available at the doorway, so there is activity all day. Eventually we got a table and immediately ordered our drinks and food. We shared the delicious quesadillas, which came with cheesy refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa. People had been complaining about being over-charged in these islands, but we found the prices to be fair. Not cheap, but not out of line either. One interesting thing we learned later was that they would not take a credit card for any bill under $20. If you paid with a credit card, you got a better rate. That was true in the shops too. If you paid cash in US dollars, everything cost more. Another thing happened to a couple who got seated near us. They ordered drinks only, and were told they had to order food as well to sit there. With that news, they got up and walked out. Oh well, win some, lose some....

 

There are always many le trucks stopping and picking up folks outside the restaurant. Within minutes, we were on one of them, heading back to the pier. There still was enough time to walk the town and check out the shops. There was nothing we needed, which was a good thing, because no matter what you buy here on Bora Bora, it is more expensive. A regular size suntan lotion was close to $20. That's what happens when you live so far removed from everything.

 

One such item that costs lots are pearls.....black pearls. Several highend shops exist here to sell them. Today we passed several fruit and veggie stands selling fresh produce. Right in the middle of these tables, was a pearl dealer with very expensive pieces of jewelry for sale. One black pearl pendant was around 20,000 French Polynesian Francs. That is about $200. US dollars. And that was a very small pearl. He had strings of the pretty gems with bracelets and earrings to match. Buyer beware, because in the information center, a flyer was available describing how to buy an authentic pearl. Off the street was not recommended.

 

Rain looked really close, so we got on the next boat back to the ship. We had two kayakers join our wake, paddling as fast as they could to keep up with us. It was nice to get back to the air-conditioning. By the time all the photos got downloaded, it was time for the sailaway party. But once again, it got rained out. Not heavy rain like yesterday, but wet none the less. The party was moved to the Crows Nest.

 

As we sailed out of the lagoon, we spotted a few dolphins jumping in our wake. Besides a couple of angel terns, a pair of doves, and a few fish, we saw little wildlife today. The island of Bora Bora faded away in the distance as we headed towards the Cook Islands.

 

Other news of the day included another stern warning about frequent hand washing and Purell use. Translated, that must mean the cold bug lives on. Two of our tablemates are still not feeling up to par, even with being on antibiotics. The other news was in regards to a container shipping delay, which has led to lower inventory that supplies the wine packages. The selection has been extended to higher priced wines. Maybe that's good news for most folks. The delivery should arrive in Auckland.

 

Looking forward to a day at sea. If the Captain got it right, he said we should be out of the storm's path. We'll see.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

PS The first narciccus bloomed today, three weeks after leaving home. Our room has the aroma of spring now.

[seaside sally]

Good morning -- such a great read -- thank you so much! :)

[WCB]

Report # 29 Sailing Towards Avatiu, Rarotonga, Cook Islands January 27, 2015 Tuesday Partly cloudy, rain, & 82 degrees

 

Trying to email was a lesson in futility this morning. We would learn later in the day that our internet reception was tied to a satellite on the East Coast of the US, and due to the massive storm there, we were out of luck. Nothing worked. Sort of makes sense to us.

 

We lucked out with the weather for the most part of the day, however. The Captain had said we would be clear of the storm system that was in French Polynesia this last week. Although it was cloudy, the rain held off all morning. But the storm was still in the area. It was hot, but pleasant at the aft pool. Very few people were back there, many of them having gotten a pretty bad sunburn yesterday. There is no sunscreen that will prevent a burn if you stay out in the sun (clouds or not) for seven hours at a time. So a little rain was a relief today.

 

New speakers have joined the ship. Gerald McCormack gave a lecture about Pacific Islanders, and Melvyn Foster has returned to deliver a series of talks on the exploration, art, and controvery of Polynesia. He has been on most every world cruise that we can remember. Another familiar name is Miss Mitchell, who is our guest chef until Auckland. She gives an interesting talk on spices of the world, complete with photos and stories.

 

The serious rain began around our lunchtime at 3pm. Grabbing a couple of sandwiches in the Lido, we headed back to the room to catch up on the talk about Rarotonga, our port of call for tomorrow. We have been on this island on past cruises, but had trouble remembering it. After listening to the Captain's PM talk, we got the impression that tendering to shore may be a problem. There is a plan A and plan B. Plan C is probably a no-go. That has happened before also. Most of the shore excurions are sight-seeing or snorkeling. We have no particular plans, and did not book an excursion.

 

Forgot to mention our special dessert last night. Yesterday happened to be Australia Day, a holiday similar to our Fourth of July. To celebrate it, Pamela and Stuart, our Aussie tablemates, ordered a pavlova covered with kiwis, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and sweet, sweet pineapple slices. Gosh it was good. So much for trying to stick to sugar free jello for dessert. The pavlova took the place of a week's worth of desserts, we're afraid.

 

Tonight's dress code is formal. So far, we have not seen anyone dressed inappropriately coming into the dining room. On other shorter cruises, many folks do not bring the ties or jackets, and think it is OK to come into the dining room anyway. More than once, we have seen one of the head waiters approach them, and offer them a borrowed jacket, if they did not have one. We have never seen anyone take offense at the suggestion, at least not in front of everyone.

 

Everybody at our table has agreed that we miss the formal menu we used to get. Remember the scrolled sheet written in fancy cursive with extra good offerings? Now the menu looks the same everyday. Simple and plain Gone are the expected items of caviar or escargots, which were on the menu most every formal night. As good as it got were the entrees of a veal chop, or surf and turf. The food was good, don't get us wrong, just not overly-impressive.

 

The show this evening was a concert by Elliot Finkel, a piano entertainer we have enjoyed on several past cruises. Back then, he traveled with his father, Fyvish, who was an actor who starred in the TV series Picket Fences, among other shows. The plan was to attend if we got out of the dining room on time. In case we don't make it, we know our tablemates will.

 

The ship was rolling pretty good tonight as we took a short walk on the promenade after dinner. If the swells remain this deep tomorrow, we may not be able to tender into shore.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Folk Singer]

Thank you for writing this for us.

[deus]

Thank you for taking the time to post every day. I look forward to hearing about your day.

[Skorpora]

When I saw the name Melvyn Foster mentioned, I thought it sounded very familiar. My friend Google revealed that he was the same Melvyn Foster who taught Science to my son when he was at Lester B. Pearson High School here in Burlington Ontario!

[WCB]

Report # 30 Avatiu, Rarotonga, Cook Islands or not? January 28, 2015 Wednesday Chance of rain & 79 degrees

 

Expect the unexpected. That's what we said early this morning when we spotted the island of Rarotonga outside our rainy window. It became obvious to us that the Captain was sailing around the island, looking at the conditions for plan A, then plan B. Shortly before 7:30am, he announced throughtout the ship, that our call here today was a "no-go", due to deep swells. It would be too dangerous for the tenderboats to attempt the transfer to shore.

 

Was this a complete surprise? Well, not to us, because in 2013, the port of Rarotonga had been substitued for Tonga. At that time, Our call for Tonga was on a Sunday, and we could not get permission from the king to have their officials clear us. Not only that, Sunday is a closed down day in Tonga, much like in Tahiti. Well, it turned out to be a bust for Rarotonga as well, due to the high swells once again. We have been here twice since 2008, so it was not a big miss for us. For the new passengers among, we felt bad for them.

 

With that news, we went to the dining room for breakfast as usual. There would be a scramble for the front desk folks to put together a revised itinerary for today to keep folks busy. Judging from the looks of the weather, it was going to be a dreary, drizzly day.

 

Around 10:30am, we got further bad news regarding our continuing journey towards Alofi, Niue on Friday. After consulting weather and navigational charts, Captain Jonathon determined that a tropical storm was brewing the way we were heading. Winds could be 40 mph, waves up to 12 feet, and it could be raining "cats and dogs". In his opinion, the call to Niue would be utterly impossible. We trust he knows best for the safety of the crew and passengers. Besides, the head honchos in Seattle had this all worked out, we are sure.

 

So, here's the plan. We are now heading towards Tonga, but will arrive there Saturday, January 31st at 7pm. Friday, the 30th of January will not exist, due to us crossing the International Dateline. We will be docked in Tonga, and stay for two nights instead. Not sure what we will do on Sunday, because, once again, everything has always been closed. We shall see if the Tongan King will allow any tours to take place, or markets opened.

 

No need for folks to panic over cancelled tours in Rarotonga. All of them will be credited to our shipboard accounts. If you had prepaid for an independant, tour, then perhaps you may have a problem there.

 

Even though we are not visiting the island of Rarotonga here's some info anyway. The town of Avarua is the capital, and Rarotonga is the largest of the 15 Cook Islands. They are spread out over an area the size of India. Because these islands are smack dab in the middle of the Pacific, they became a refuge for hermits, runaways, and pirates. It was originally populated in 1500 BC by the Maoris of New Zealand. What you find here are pristine beaches, blue lagoons, fish and fruit. The population is 19,569 people living on this 149 square mile island. Their official language is Maori and English. It is not unusual to see humpback whales on their migration to Antarctica, and green turtles heading for the sandy beaches. What do the natives eat here? Raw fish soaked in coconut milk and stuffed breadfruit. We watched breadfruit being cooked on a BBQ grill while in Nuku Hiva last fall. Once it turned totally black, the native sliced it in half, and scraped the white meat from the inside. It was pounded into a mush after the large seeds had been removed. Sure looked like mashed potatoes to us. An assortment of crops are grown here such as citrus, bananas, papaya, and taro.

 

What is the popular drink here? A beer-like beverage called tumunu. It is their equivalent of kava-kava, and is described as a lethal orange homebrew. Think we would have passed on this one. The islanders are known for their saucy dancing, Maori culture, and the production of black pearls. The tours that have been cancelled included an island drive through villages and a safari ride in a 4 x 4 vehicle. One lagoon tour was offered on a glass bottom boat where you could snorkel among the tropical fish and later enjoy a tasty BBQ seafood lunch on a tiny motu islet. Guess it was not to be. Oh well..........

 

There is something to look forward to this evening........complimentary wine or soft drinks for dinner, thus killing two birds with one stone. It's a nice gesture to celebrate our safety and well-being on board the Amsterdam.

 

Lunch was in the dining room for us today, for a change, and frankly, it was raining outside cancelling pool time. Lots of other folks had the same idea, for the room was filled with diners. We ordered a turkey burger and a portabella mushroom and cheese panini. French fries came in a small metal basket, just like regular a french fryer basket. One chocolate pudding and a bowl of mint chip ice cream finished the meal. Barb had been dining with Maureen, who left early. So Barb joined us for a while. Even though lunch ended at 1pm, the waiters never rush you out of there.

 

The weather had improved a little later in the day. At least enough to walk the promenade deck without getting wet from the rain. The rest of our afternoon was spent watching movies in our room. Around 7:30pm, we went to deck nine to watch the sunset, if there was to be one. Guess not, it had just rained, and the sky was black with clouds.

 

There were only four of us at dinner, because Stuart and Pamela had been invited to the Canaletto Restaurant. A small group is nice sometimes too. We still stayed at our table until 9:45pm. And there was free wine and sodas with dinner.

 

The show this evening was called Airborne, a comedy and juggling, danger, and visual effects. Wonder how they will manage that with the ship rolling from the constant swells?

 

Tomorrow will be another day at sea as we sail towards Tonga.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for the up dates. Hope your colds are better. Sorry you missed Cooks Island, we missed it on our trip.

[WCB]

Report # 31 Sailing Towards Nuku'alofa, Tonga January 29, 2015 Thursday Chance of rain & 81 degrees

 

Originally, the plan was to visit the port of Alofi, Niue (pronounced New-ay) tomorrow, January 30th. But because of the changes with the cancellations of two ports, tomorrow will not exist. Why? Because we will be crossing the International Dateline sometime this evening. Thus, we lose a whole day and an hour by putting our clocks ahead 23 hours.

 

But we think there is some interest with Niue, so we'll give a little history and description of it. The island of Niue is actually an upthrust coral reef, giving it the name of the Rock of Polynesia. There are few nice beaches. Instead you may find ravines, gullies, and caves. Some of these caves are underwater, giving the diving enthusiasts a haven to explore. The original decedents came from Samoa and Tonga. And having only about 161 square miles of land, Captain Cook named the coral reef Savage Island. We can only imagine why. In the late 1800's, the islanders were governed by missionaries, then eventually Great Britain took over, and finally, New Zealand took over in 1901. It became a sovereign nation in 1974, with Alofi as its capital. The declining population of 1400 consists of mostly Niueans, but also a large number of New Zealanders. They come over here as business owners, government workers, and teachers for instance. But not necessarily as permanent citizens.

 

We have been here only once, and do not remember much more than a village where we had tendered to. The locals had prepared a big welcome for us, decorating a big central square complete with singers and dancers. The most memorable thing was the fact that the islanders had free internet. Just about everybody and their brother from the ship brought their computers over on the tenderboats. They successfully shut down the entire system. That ended up closing the public buildings, including all of the schools. By the way, there were no organized shore excursions back then, and the same goes for now.

 

Two other things stand out in our minds. One was the deep swells that almost cancelled the visit back then. One of us remembers the feeling of being air-born when the tenderboat dipped in the swell, when boarding the boat. Not a good feeling falling and falling and hitting the floor of the boat with a jolt.

 

The other memory was of a local woman rooting through our beachbag, which was sitting on a picnic bench directly behind us. We had been watching the local dance show, while this lady was apparently looking for money or whatever. Taking nothing, she explained she was looking for a name, so she could return the bag to their owner. Hmmmm, don't think so. Of course that was a lesson for us to be a lot more cautious.

 

So, today turned out to be very nice. The clouds were mostly gone, and the sun was shining brightly. After a warm and sticky walk on the promenade deck, we changed and went to the aft pool, where a nice breeze made reading and sunbathing pleasant.

 

Shipboard activities included two lectures, a kitchen tour, Polynesian bracelet making, ukulele lessons, and shopping in the ship's stores. Sales range from t-shirts to Tahitian and South Pacific pearls. Another promotion advertised is for the Big Game, which will be televised on Monday in the Queens Lounge. An unlimited beverage package was offered for $34.95 per person, with drinks priced under $7. or less. Also, a 15% service charge is applied to each purchase. That should be for about a 4 hour period. Or you can reserve front row seating in the lounge including unlimited drinks for $49.95 per person, which includes food, butler service, and a HAL souvenier glass for the duration of the game. Wonder how many customers they will get, because we will be in Tonga that day, all day, and many folks should be onshore or on excursions. Bad timing, we're afraid.

 

Later in the afternoon, we got hooked on the series "American Greed" on CNBC. Since we cannot get this channel on TV at home, all of these shows are new to us. Maybe that's a good thing, otherwise all of the ship's programs would be quite repetetive. We are keeping a log of the movies shown on all four channels daily, just to see how many times certain ones are repeated. At least the movies shown in the Wajang Theater are repeated the following day on TV. And most of these are fairly new.

 

All of us were back together at dinner tonight. Pamela and Stuart had gone to the Canaletto last night, and seemed to have liked it much better than in the past. The menu has changed a lot since they began charging a fee for the dinner there. When it first was introduced, the dinner was free on the Grand Voyages. Two years ago, they began charging $10. per person, or $5. if you are a 4 star Mariner. Since few people have ever raved about the food, we have never tried it.

 

Our meal was good tonight with two nice soups....an Indonesian chicken, noodle, and coconut milk soup, and a bean and sausage soup. Could have made a meal with both of these. Our entrees were crispy ginger pork with rice, and rigatoni and chicken strips, that we shared. Our waiter is very good with allowing us to mix and match veggies and potatoes. Rocky road ice cream finished the meal, and got us on the subject of New Zealand ice cream. In particular, hokey-pokey ice cream. Pamela and Stuart agreed that they also love it, and recommended to us to go to Woolworths in Sydney to buy their store brand. Guess the Aussies like it too. She said they don't sell it in cones, but we could buy it half pint or pint containers. All we will need to bring with us are 2 plastic spoons, find a place to sit outside, and indulge. Perfect plan.

 

Tomorrow will be a day at sea for the most part, arriving to Tonga by 7pm. Doubt we get off of the ship that late.

 

By the way, we got gifts tonight........two leather passport covers. Very useful indeed.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[seaside sally]

Thanks so much, Bill and Mary Ann -- have followed you for a while now, hence the first names!!! :D

 

I, too, quite like "American Greed" -- I have been watching it for a year or two -- it is quite something to see what some people do for money

 

Thanks, as always, for taking us all along -- I don't know about you, but I am having a great time!!

 

Linda :)

[cruz chic]

Thx for the updates.

[WCB]

Report # 32 Nuku'alofa, Tonga January 31, 2015 Saturday Partly cloudy & 81 degrees

 

Boy, they sure got this forecast wrong, although being in this part of the world, rain showers are a given any time of year. The "partly cloudy" portion of the day did hold up until 12:45pm, when we entered a storm that could not be steered around, as the navigators sometimes do. Sometimes we just sit out the drizzle at the aft pool, because it actually feels good in this intense tropical heat. Most all of the diehard sunbathers fled the area, so we bailed down the aft staircase to deck seven, where there is an outside deck, but covered from the elements. It was obvious that the storm was not going away, although we did enjoy watching some seabirds in the distance soaring above the ship's wake.

 

Inside the ship, many activities were happening. Because our arrival to Tonga will not be until 7pm this evening, this is basically a seaday for all of us. Captain Mercer explained during his PM talk that the reason for our late arrival tonight is because the Tongan officials do not clear ships or airplanes if they arrive on Sundays. And since we missed the ports of Rarotonga and Niue, we are now going to spend Sunday on an island that is shut down. Period. If there was any chance that tours could have been arranged for Sunday, we would have had the order form on our mailslot yesterday.

 

Anyway, back to the daily schedule. The Polynesian On Location Team is still busy teaching folks how to tie a sarong today. A few days ago, we saw some ladies wearing the woven floral headpieces they made during a morning class. We have yet to pass by one of these demos, since it happens at 9am in the Lido pool area, and we are at breakfast in the dining room. The guest speakers continued their series of lectures.....one about the disappearance of Michael Rockefeller and the other about Captain Bligh and the mutiny and the rum trade.

 

Barbara H. and Irene, the shore excursion manager, gave a talk all about tours in New Zealand and Australia. That's a lot of info to cover. In the cooking department, Paulette M. demo'd sauces.......easy ones, that can turn a regular meal into a gourmet delight. That works for us.

 

While we are thinking about it, we missed mentioning the entertainer for last night. She is Rita Rudner, along with her 12 year old daughter, Molly Bergman. Rita was on the world cruise last year as well, although we did not remember her, our tablemates did. In fact, three new passengers have been seated near us at a table for six recently, and we felt that the mother and daughter looked familiar, but could not put our finger on it. That is, until we saw their photos on yesterday's show ad. We do know the Miss Rudner was on TV several years ago, but more recently has been a comedian in Las Vegas at the Venetian and Harrah's. The last time we visited Las Vegas was back in 1980, so we are not up on the new entertainers. Since the 80's, Vegas has become a whole different destination from what we remember.

 

We did receive certificates confirming that we have crossed the International Dateline that separates two consecutive calendar days. Now we are one day ahead of the date in the Western hemisphere. We have lost Friday, the 30th of January, but will get the day back one hour at a time as we continued sailing in a westerly direction. The actual time the Amsterdam crossed this line was at 10:23pm last night.

 

A good movie was on TV this afternoon, although old, The Express was very good. Anything about football is usually good. It was late in the afternoon when the Captain came on the speakers to announce we would be arriving an hour later to Tonga. We would have to wait for another ship to leave the pier before we could dock. Assuming that the ship was the Oceania Marina, we would be surprised to find Regent's Mariner leaving the area, while the Marina was docked in the Queens Pier.

 

With that announcement, we walked up to the bow to watch the sail into port. It took forever it seemed. The good thing was that the clouds had cleared up and the sun was out again. In fact, the sun would be setting by 7:26pm. It did not disappoint any of us this evening. It was spectacular.

 

Even a nicer surprise was the welcome drummer, horn blower, and the police band reception we got when we pulled alongside the pier. A group of native-clad dancers came out to the pier and did a dance for us with the band playing. We sure did not expect this, since there have been few, if any welcomes like this so far this trip. We could not stay too long, since it was nearing 8pm and dinnertime. There would be plenty of time tomorrow to check out the souvenier tent on the dock. We are not 100% sure that the vendors will accept US dollars.

 

While on the bow, we ran into friends that ate at the early dinner. They recommended the filet mignon or the mahi-mahi entrees. It was steak for us, and it was every bit as tasty and tender as our friend had said. For the first time this trip, we cleaned our plates. Barb and Maureen left the table early to go to the 9:15pm Name That Tune with Debby Bacon. We stayed visiting with Stuart and Pamela and found it nice to be able to talk with just four of us. We all decided that we were too tired to go to the singing and dancing show Hit Me With a Hot Note by the Amsterdam group. We know it will be repeated sometime later on this trip.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[DebbieJ]

suscribe. Thoroughly enjoying your postings! Glad you are having a wonderful time.

[WCB]

Report # 33 Nuku'alofa, Tonga February 1, 2015 Sunday Partly cloudy & 79 degrees

 

Some days go as expected, yet others come as a total surprise. Today was one of those.....full of firsts for us. To begin with, we were not even supposed to be here today. Especially on a Sunday, when it is against the law for most anything to be opened. It's a long story, but we'll explain.

 

The "Kingdom of Tonga" is the only monarchy in the South Pacific, and the only island nation which was never colonized by another country. Tonga consists of 176 islands, although only 40 of them are inhabited. And yes, the people are ruled by King George the 6th, a descendant from King George Tupou the 1st in 1893. he is a new king who will be officially coronated this coming July. Bet that will be a huge celebration here.

 

Nuku'alofi, the capital, is on the island of Tongatapu. There are 70,00 natives here, while the total population is 119, 009. Tonga is considered the place where time begins, because it is one of the first countries to begin the new day.

 

We were in no rush to leave the ship this morning, because, we knew the town would be shut up tight. Sunday in Tonga is reserved for church and family feasts. So our first stop was at the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua. We were drawn by the lovely hypnotic singing drifting out the opened windows. Not wishing to intrude on the local service, we listened from across the street before continuing on. The mass had just ended, and soon the parishioners filed out in family groups from the grandparents on down to the little ones. All were dressed in their Sunday best, while most were dressed in the native costumes. That might include a tapa cloth with a decorative belt wrapped around the waist.

 

Across the street from this church was the Royal Tombs, surrounded by an expanse of fenced lawn. These tombs hold Tongan royalty datingback to 1893. The iron gates were closed to the public, but we had no problem getting photos.

 

Another church facing the tombs was the Free Church of Tonga. It appeared to be much older than any church here. Since their service was long over, we did take a peek inside.

 

Walking around the back end of the Royal Tombs, we passed the high school, and the college. This is when we heard more singing, and realized another church was up the road a piece. Turned out this was the Free Wesleyan Church or the Centenary Church, built in the 1980's to replace the older church. What attracted a bunch of people on the outside was the fact that the King of Tonga was inside with his entourage for the ceremony. Talk about luck, we had just crossed the driveway, when the police escort drove the King out of the grounds. He lowered his window, and waved, very king-like, as he passed within a few feet of us. That was a first for us, to be able to see a king close up. This must have been a more formal congregation, because many of the local men were dressed with white shirts, a tie, and a white jacket. Instead of slacks, they wore a skirt. What is incredible, is the fact that the heat and humidity are very high here, so they sure don't dress for comfort. We ran into many friends who had been waiting here for an hour to catch a glimpse of the king. We joined them in touring the grounds and also taking photos of the church once everyone had gone outside.

 

Heading towards the water, passed some very nice homes buried in tall trees. Listening under the trees, we could hear the tell-tale chattering of fruit bats. Sure enough, they were hanging upside down by the hundreds in one of the trees. As they fan their wings (which can be up to 3 feet across), they shook the leaves of the tree. A young girl, seeing what we were photographing, went under the tree and clapped her hands, making the birds fly in circles over us. By now, we had a good size crowd trying to see what we were looking at. Out popped the cameras when they saw the creepy creatures. Would you believe they are considered sacred in Tonga?

 

Right across the road from the bats, was the Royal Palace, built in 1867. This very elegant white Victorian building was brought piece by piece from New Zealand and constructed here. We have read conflicting information that the palace is only used for ceremonial purposes, although, our booklet states that the king lives here. we can say that there are two armed guards at the locked gate. It is not opened to the public.

 

Turning left along the beachfront road, we went in search of Little Italy, an Italian restaurant recommended in our booklet. On the way there, we had another "first" sighting in the low tide of the beach. Hardly believing our eyes, there were four very hefty pigs rooting in the water for shellfish, we assume. Our tablemates had fun with this one, asking how many beers did we drink before we saw the pigs? No really, it was pre-beer time. These beaches and the surf are almost all broken coral, inaccessible to people. Sure didn't bother the pigs. They simply put their heads in the water, turned over chunks of coral, and came up chewing something. Really odd behavior, but according to a restaurant owner we talked to, he said that is Sunday behavior. The owners don't feed them on Sunday, so they take to the waters on the beach. Maybe that's smart. And cool, since they plopped down and laid in the water for a while also.

 

After walking what seemed like forever, we spotted the Little Italy Restaurant. Hoping to find it would be opened tomorrow for lunch, we were told that they only opened for dinner at 5pm every day but Sunday. Here again, the ship's info should include hours. There will be one more option at Marco's Pizza, also recommended. But we could not locate that one either.

 

What we did stumble upon was another small place by the name of Seaview Restaurant. Running into friends Jim and Jessica, they had just left there and said the owner was open for sandwiches and drinks, including ice cold beer. We were sold, because it was terribly hot, and we had consummed our one shared soda an hour ago. What a welcome we got when we walked through the gate. There were only three other customers on the screened porch. We joined them after shaking hands with the owner. We ordered Pa'anga and Outrigger beers, both local and ice cold. They were life savers, literally. One couple were from the Marina, and they asked where we were from. They told us they had missed the port of Pago Pago, American Samoa, due to the bad storm that blew through there. They were really unhappy about missing Moorea, and we don't blame them. So Tonga was not a scheduled stop for them at all. They will leave late tonight, and head for Fiji. After that, we may see them again in Auckland.

 

After they left, the owner spent a half hour visiting with us. He was so proud of his restaurant, that he came out with some watermelon chips and coffee chips he made from scratch. Never had watermelon chips before. They were good. Then he described his homemade ice cream, saying it was so superior to the most expensive ice cream sold in stores. Before we knew it, he had two small bowls of rich and creamy vanilla bean ice cream with a tiny butter cookie on the side. How nice was that? He explained to us that he had permission from the king to remain open on Sunday, as long as he closed on Monday. Lucky for us. We told him we would tell everyone we knew that he was opened for dinner tonight. Before we hit the road, our waitress, who was more than likely his daughter, gave us a tour of the restaurant and bar area. We have never run into such friendly people ever.

 

Making our way back towards the ship, we scoped out the Marketplace that we will visit tomorrow. We'll continue with more Tongan facts tomorrow.

 

After a quick lunch in the Lido, we cooled off in our room, downloading millions of photos, and watching a movie, the Expendables 3. By 6:30pm, we took a walk to deck nine to check out the newly-added BBQ around the Lido pool. The theme was All American Tailgate BBQ, because as everyone knows, Superbowl Sunday is tomorrow. It appeared they were grilling hamburgers, hot dogs, and ribs. Looked good, but we just took pictures, then went to dinner in the dining room at 8pm. There were only five of us because Barb was at another affair elsewhere. The meal was excellent with entrees of braised brisket, garlic mashed potatoes, and veggies. We also shared a vegetarian entree of chow mein.....also excellent. Cleaned the plates again.

 

It was raining when we took a walk on the promenade deck. Sure helped cool the air off. The forecast for tomorrow is chance of rain, so guess we got lucky today, despite the intense heat and humidity.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[cruz chic]

Sounds like a great day. Thx for the update.

[WCB]

Report # 34 Nuku'alofa, Tonga February 2, 2015 Monday Partly cloudy, chance of rain & 82 degrees

 

Our second full day in Tonga brought with it many clouds, rain threatening, but never happening. It would be a good day for a long walk. We are still laughing about the pig sighting yesterday. Most folks coming to Tonga arrive here during the whale breeding season, from June through November. They actually have tours where you can swim among the humpbacks, which sounds thrilling. Another activity is deepsea fishing. You can catch tuna, marlin, wahoo, and mahimahi. Other sealife to see is whale sharks, sea turtles, and manta rays. The most fish we saw were alongside the ship last night, swimming in the lights from the ship. There were millions of them.

 

What do people like to eat here? A Sunday feast, for instance, might include a suckling pig, cooked in an "umu", or underground oven. Along with the pork, they will add sweet potatoes, taro root, and assorted vegetables. Chicken, corned beef, and fish are also staples of their diet. A traditional drink is Kava, a murky squeezing from roots of a peppermint tree, if we recall right. It can make your tongue, mouth,and throat numb, a "forget your cares and stare into the sunset" experience. We went to a Kava ceremony once while in Fiji, where the drink was passed from one person to the next. "Passed" is what we did at the time. Whiskey is more our poison, possessing the identical qualities consumed in small amounts. Of course, the locally-made beer was excellent. Actually the correct name of the beer was Popao, not Pa anga. The brewery is located right in downtown.

 

Many crafts are created here. One is tapa cloth, made from the bark of the mulberry tree. It is pounded flat, then painted with decorative designs. Mats are woven and highly prized family items. The Tongans are famous for their dance, which is graceful and dignified. The performers will tell a story of history and legends with their dance movements.

 

Our destination was the Talamahu Central Market, located a short distance from the pier. Yesterday this place was closed up tight, while today it was bustling with locals and tourists buying souveniers and produce. This building is a two story structure filled with everyday items for sale, along with Tongan handicrafts and food products. It was so hot and airless inside, we did not last long. With few windows and just a skylight upstairs, it was also dark. Nothing was marked with prices, so you had to inquire, then bargain. We found absolutely no deals in there.

 

What was different today was the constant offers of island tours we got from passing locals. Yesterday, an unauthorized taxi picked up some people on the pier, and immediately got pulled over by the police. Guess they need special permission to give tours on a Sunday, and this fellow did not have it. The rumor was he got fined on the spot and ordered to bring the folks back to the pier.

 

Finally locating Marco's Pizza up Hala Unga Road, we found a rather underwhelming cafe that would not open until 11am. So we decided to walk up the road to see the lagoon, Fanga 'Uta Lagoon, located in the central section of the island. While standing in a roundabout looking at the map, a local fellow stopped to ask if we needed directions. When we asked how far the lagoon was, he asked why would we want to go there? Apparently it is off the beaten path and not too much there to see. He suggested that we take the bus for 50 cents each, because in his mind, it was way too far to walk. Honestly, we needed the exercise, so thanked him for the info, and continued onward.

 

Well, he was right about not much there. We did see another church, The Constitutional Church of Tonga, on the shoreline. Across the lagoon was a golf course and little else. Consulting the map, we found that three of the four Royal Residences are located on this huge lagoon. No wonder the king and his family had to be driven by police escort to church services yesterday. Many folks assumed he was coming from the Palace across the street, but he was not.

 

Working our way back towards town, we passed through the residential area and also past the many schools here. We saw cats, dogs, chickens, and goats in the front yards. Hmmm, almost looked and sounded like home to us. Eventually we ended up back at Marco's Pizza, which according to the ship's booklet, offers the best pizza in the South Pacific. Remember we said the place looked underwhelming from the outside? Well, we were right. However, we did run into some of the ship's staff, including Tom G., the dining room manager, and also the Captain's wife and her friends. It appeared they were all waiting for food to be served, which came from a fast food-like toaster oven and/or a microwave. It must have been 100 degrees inside the tiny cafe with no windows or fans to help cool it off. It was also dark inside, which always concerns us, as we like to be able to see what we are eating. We made a decision to leave, and go back to the ship.

 

On the way back, we passed through the series of tents on the pier, checking out the same souveniers that the marketplace offered. We ended up with nothing this time. The costume jewelry was the same we always see while in Hong Kong or Vietnam. Perhaps the only items of interest were carved bone trinkets, more suitable for the fellows.

 

This afternoon was Superbowl Sunday, with kickoff time at 12:30pm. We had not planned on watching it, but the timing was perfect. Enjoying room service burgers, we kept cool while downloading photos and taking in the game, which was entertaining to say the least. The game was also shown in the Queens Lounge with drink specials and plenty of delicious snacks.

 

Sailaway was at 3:30 to 4:30pm. Going to the aft deck, we were already pushing away from the pier. The wind was very strong the further out we got. Despite what the Captain said about the weather at his talk, the opposite seemed to be happening. He did add that rain showers are always a possibility. That way he is covered whether it does rain or not. We can say that we really enjoyed our two days in Tonga, getting to know some of the locals for a change. The last time we were here, we went on a tour to Fafa Island, a private 17 acre islet with 13 private bungalows. Although we had access to the beach, it was mostly coral-laden and the waters were full of seaweed. There was no beach front to speak of, except the little strip by each bungalow. When our buddy Martha came along the surf with a dead sea snake hanging from a stick, we realized that these critters could be hanging out in the seaweed. Needless to say, we never did go swimming after that. So we leave Tonga with a good feeling and hope to come back again someday.

 

Dinner was good with two great soups and prime rib. The show was a show......A big screen movie, Gone Girl, was shown at 7:30 and 10pm. It was a long one, two hours and 11 minutes. We all chose to wait for it to be on our TV's.

 

We are now heading in a southwesterly direction towards Auckland, New Zealand. It will take two sea days to get there.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Folk Singer]

Thank you so much for the updates and hope you are feeling better soon.

[WCB]

Extra........... 100 things not to leave home without for a long cruise February 3, 2015 Tuesday

 

In response to your request about a "don't leave home without" list, we put a little thought into it, and decided to post this. You may think some of the items are unnecessary, but if anyone cares to add more to the list, please feel free to do so. Obviously, it is a very personalized collection.

 

A. Personal grooming items

 

1. Shampoo

2. Conditioner Yes, the ship supplies these in pumper bottles in the shower, but the quality may not be the utmost best

3. Deep conditioners for long hair

4. Hair color kits

5. Deodorants

6. Hairspray or gel Hard to find in foreign countries

7. Toothpaste/toothbrushes

8. Mouthwash

9. Travel-size toiletries for overlands

10. Make-up

11. Shaving stuff - razors, blades, shave cream

12. Nailpolish, remover, files, clippers, scissors

13. Q-tips & cotton balls - Neither are supplied in inside or outside rooms

 

 

B. Medications

 

1. Over-the-counter meds - cold meds, cough drops, sore throat tablets, pain pills, vitamins and supplements

2. Prescription drugs and all pharmacy forms, antibiotics such as cipro, pillboxes - You can buy these overseas, but you cannot guarantee quality

3. Meds for stomach ailments - antacids, laxatives, anti-diarreha, and probiotics

4. Knee, ankle, and back braces just in case

5. Bandaids, antiseptic salve

6. Small bottle of rubbing alcohol

7. Vaseline

8. Cortizone cream

 

C. Soap Products

 

1. Bars of soap for the bath/shower Yes, there is shower gel, but not the same as a bar of creamy soap

2. Dishwashing liquid Used for cleaning our drink bottles

3. Laundry detergent Good for personal items not sent to the laundry

4. Fabric softener Same as above

5. Dryer sheets Good for closets and drawers, as well as using in the dryers

6. Spotting spray

7. Germ-killing hand soap

8. Purell one large and several small bottles to take in your pockets

9. Eye glass cleaner

10. Bug spray with DEET

11. Small jar of silver polish Good for cleaning silver jewelry which tarnishes in humid weather

12. Small scrub brush for shoes

 

D. Lotions

 

1. Body lotion They do give you small bottles of lotion.......we use lots

2. Suntan lotion and facial sun block

3. Aloe vera for the possible sunburn

4. Lipbalm with sunscreen

 

E. Assorted stuff

 

1. Beachbag and sun visors or baseball caps

2. Binoculars

3. Extra batteries

4. Clothes pins Used to hang clothes off of line in bathroom or pin the room curtains to keep out AM light

5. Chip clips

6. Sticky lint roller Two uses: for lint on clothes and getting tiny bugs that come with flowers in your room

7. Calculator

8. Clamps for towels on the pool lounges

9. Large wall clock (battery-powered)

10. Sticky wall hooks to hang things on the walls - Use an alcohol-soaked cottonball on wall first

11. Over-the-door hooks - 3 of them

12. Plug strips & extension cords for the desk

13. Ear plugs - useful when your next door neighbors cough throughout the night

14. Small flashlights

15. Nite light for bathroom The plug in the hairdryer in the bathroom remains on after the light is off

16. Fly swatter Yes, they can come in when the hatch is opened on deck A while in port

17. Two hanging shoe bags No, not used for shoes, but one for jewelry and one for a "drug store" holding all small items

18. Pens, pencils, white-out, etc.

19. Ice bucket and ice scoop Yes, they give you a tiny one with a small ice tool.....useless

20. Jewelry holder for earrings.....hung on over-the-door hooks

21. Laundry bag or foldable laundry basket

22. Plastic multi-hangar - one that holds a dozen blouses...hangs on wall near the bed

23. Sewing kit

24. Travel tools & a few nuts and bolts - in case a suitcase breaks

25. Tie wraps and clippers

26. Small alarm clocks - one for the bathroom, one projection clock for the desk

27. Umbrellas

28. Water bottles (thermoses) - filled with room ice, used for sugar-free lemonade & ice tea

29. Wine opener

30. Lemon/lime squeezer

31. Small yarn ball to hang things or fix something

32. Ziplock bags large and small

33. Small shoe horn

34. If you are gone long enough for a window garden........large bag of sterilized soil, plastic pots, bulbs and hardy seeds, fertilizer, plastic waterer

35. Small foldable grocery bags to pack purchases in ports

 

F. Reference Book and Supplies

 

1. Reference books related to travel & a cruise ship book

2. Dictionary & thesaurus

3. Newer books to read at pool The library may have older books

4. A wall map of the world ours is 2 x 4 feet and is self-stick

5. Address book, assorted cards (birthday, thank you, anniversary)

6. Small sticky notes Most useful to leave messages for your room stewards

7. Calendar to mark ports, times, and tour times, dinner dates, etc.

8. Paper scissors, scotch tape, duct tape, paper clips, and rubber bands

9. Small crazy glue

10. Eye glass fix-it kit

11. Journal One large and one small for overland diary/ envelopes to hold receipts (be sure to save receipts for large items for customs)

12. Deck of cards or dominoes if you have time to play

13. Paper towels and small napkins

 

 

G. Food and Drink

 

1. Favorite snacks - We like almonds, peanuts, pub mix, and wrapped snack bars to take on bus trips. Most ship food is not allowed off the ship, but wrapped snack bars or energy bars are usually OK. Check with front desk first.

 

2. Small packets of sugar-free lemonade, punch, and ice tea Yes, on warm cruises, ice water will be offered at both pools during the day

 

3. Small cans of juices to keep in room refrigerator. Nice to have any time of day without leaving your room or bothering room service.

 

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[lovesandiego]

Wow! What a wonderful list, some things that I would never think about. Thank you for posting it.

[JamesEM]

Thanks for sharing.

[Lizzie68]

What a great list. I'm just curious about the alarm clock for the bathroom....:confused:

[newfarmers]

We visited Tonga this year on The World. Luckily not a Sunday! We kayaked across to Pangaimotu Island for lunch and then wandered the streets of Nukualofa. My parents visited a few years back and all they could comment on was how poor it was. We saw a beautiful tropical island populated by amazingly friendly people.

 

The best part of the day was our farewell (that sounds odd). The police band was/is amazing. SO amazing that our friendly ship's security had to tell us it was time to get on the ship so that we could leave!

 

We even managed to get to Raro and Norfolk Island as well!

 

There's a clip of the band at the end of this page from our blog http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/aussiepanda/13/1396000784/tpod.html

Edited February 3, 2015 by newfarmers

[brainyblonde]

Thanks for the great list! May I add Neosporin? I could not get it in Australia or New Zealand without a prescription. First Aid creme is not as effective.

 

bainyblonde