Today is Monday, March 1. It is Sunday, Feb 28 in the USA. This is our second sea day after leaving Adelaide, Australia and we are on our way towards the port of Fremantle, Australia and its city of Perth where we will arrive tomorrow, March 2.
My last post had us arriving in Sydney on Sunday Feb 21, the last day of our first cruise segment. We left the ship with our friends, Karreen and Al, whom as you may remember, we met in Olympia before going on this cruise. They had been to Sydney before, so we relied on them to give us a heads up as to where to go and what to do. When we docked in Sydney, we were right in town. I had previously read about our beautiful ship docking right across from the famous Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge which it indeed did. Our cabin is on the starboard (right) side of the ship so we were able to watch her dock from our balcony, a fantastic vantage point…of course we took lots of pictures.
We left the ship very early ahead of all the passengers who were disembarking and we walked over to the Opera House. If you don’t know what the Sydney Opera House looks like, our photos of both the inside and outside will give you a good overview. We signed up for a one hour tour and all I can say, is that it is a phenomenal building which has, just recently, been placed on the World Heritage Site of buildings from around the world. We took photos at sunrise, daytime and evening as well as the inside.
By the time we left the Opera House it was 10:15 AM and very sunny, hot and HUMID. I don’t do well in humidity. We then walked through the Botanical Gardens where we saw unusual trees, birds and fruit bats, which are apparently are rarely seen during the daytime. We also strolled through the pyramid shaped arboretum housing an exotic collection of tropical vines, flowers and plants. Very humid but lovely.
We then took a taxi to a glass domed indoor mall in the heart of Sydney, called the Victoria Mall. Many beautiful stores and shops with high end merchandise. We had lunch there and then we left Al and Karreen and took the monorail to the harbor where we boarded a ferry that took us back to where our ship was docked. Although it was only 2:30, we were hot, sticky and tired so we went back to our cabin, showered, changed clothes, had some lunch and then went back off the ship. We then took a ferry to the far end of Sydney Bay to Manly Beach which took about a half hour. The photos we took of the Bay really don’t do it justice and it’s easy to understand why Sydney, a city of 4 million people, is such a tourist mecca for people from all over the world. By the time we re-boarded the Diamond at 6:30 PM, the next shipload of passengers had boarded and we felt like the old-timers. Sail-away was at 9:00 PM and while I stayed in our cabin, Mark went to Decks 15 and 16 to shot some night shots. Take a look at our web album for those photos.
I came back from Sydney with the beginnings of a cold which developed nicely over the next few days and unfortunately, Mark also picked it up. Neither Mark nor I could remember the last time he had a cold. However, we had brought some homeopathic drops with us and along with Vitamins C and D3 and plenty of rest, we were over the worst of it within 4 days.
After a sea day, we arrived back in Melbourne on Feb 23. We had had our first Melbourne port of call on the 19th where we had visited an animal park, a winery and Puffing Billy, the steam engine train. This time we took a tour that took us in a different direction out of the city to the You Yangs National Park and the Serendip Preserve where, for the first time, we saw koalas, kangaroos and emus in the wild. This was an extraordinary experience and quite different from seeing the animals in a Sanctuary where they are still in zoo-like enclosures. In the You Yang Park we saw a male and female koala up in different trees. In the Serendip we saw many kangaroos and father emus with their chicks. This tour lasted from 9:30 to 2:30 and was excellent. It was another absolutely gorgeous day but not humid like Sydney.
After another sea day, we visited Hobart, Tasmania for the second time on the 25th of February. The first time (Feb 17) we and our friends took a hop on-hop off double decker bus for a 3 hour drive around the city and then ate lunch at the Hogs Breath Inn. There is a restaurant of the same name in Carmel, California which was owned by Clint Eastwood so we just had to eat there. Food was ho-hum and expensive. However we were very taken with Hobart, a beautiful town that would be easy to live in!
However on this second Hobart visit, I had arranged a private tour with Judy Livingston of EyeSee Tours for a group of six of us. She had been highly recommended by previous cruisers and she was great. She drove us outside the city to the Bonorong Preserve. For the first time we were able to pet the koalas and feed the kangaroos. We were the first to arrive before the tour buses and when you see our photos, you will see how happy we were! What is it about touching and feeding these amazing creatures that is absolutely joyful?
Then we went to a park for tea which Judy provided, and after this refreshment, went to Mt. Field National Park. This was a beautiful Reserve with huge trees and ferns, waterfalls and pristine streams. It felt very much like the area where we lived in Mill Valley, California. My son and daughter will remember how that felt and the unique smells of the forest that surrounded us.
We then had a lovely lunch which Judy had prepared with many veggies and preserves from her garden. After, we drove to the very top of Mt. Wellington which at 3000 ft. or so, is Tasmania’s highest mountain. It’s hard to describe in words what the vistas were like from this elevation but you can get an idea from our photos. We then were driven back to the ship and felt we had established a special connection with Judy who had gone out of her way for us.
It’s always nice to have a sea day after a port day because it gives us a chance to relax and get caught up with things like laundry, etc. The cruise staff always has fun and silly things for the passengers to do. That evening, there was a comedian and juggler act in the Explorer Lounge. Karreen, Al, Mark and me happened to be sitting up front and the guy asked for volunteers from the audience. So I “volunteered” Karreen. Karreen wound up on the comedian’s back while he was doing handstands! She’s in super good shape! THEN, later on he asked for another volunteer and (turn about’s fair play) and Karreen volunteered me! Not good.
At first it was easy stuff….I had to hand cuff him and he was able to get them off and he had a male volunteer do some acrobatic things with him. I figured I was ‘home free’ when he handed me his three juggler pins, smoothly hoisted me unto his shoulders (!), grabbed his unicycle and rode with me on his shoulders around the stage. He asked me to juggle the pins for a laugh and then proceeded to do so himself. Now, I’m no light weight and yes, he only rode with me for a very short time but still……….!!!!!!!! I don’t mind telling you that I was VERY anxious but I’m still in one piece!
Julian, this was MY zip line experience!!
On Saturday, Feb 27 we arrived in Adelaide where nine of us had a private tour with Paul of “Bums on Seats”. He took us through this city of 1 million people on the south coast of Australia and then out to Mt. Lofty, again the highest point of this area. We had been told it would be in the low eighties but it wasn’t. Rather it was windy and very cool and since we had just gotten over our colds and I hadn’t brought a sweater or jacket, AND it was still foggy this early in the morning, we stayed only a short time and then went on to Cleland Wildlife Park which was nearby. This was yet another animal experience for us and the highlights were more koala petting, the first up close experience with dingos (see photos) which are the wolf-like dogs of Australia AND observing for the first time, the many venomous (poisonous) reptiles of Australia in their enclosures. We had been wanting to see snakes and were excited that we were able to do so.
Then we went to two wineries- Foggo and Shingleback. Many of you may know that Australian wines are highly regarded throughout the world. At Shingleback, we met an Australian congressman who just happened to be accompanying Australia’s Prime Minister who was with the winemaker who was just outside touring the winery when we arrived. It was fun for Mark to talk to the Assistant Wine Maker because he was both familiar with and had a very high regard for McCrea Cellar wines! He had experienced them when he had been in Seattle. Small world story! Mark found the Shingleback high end Syrah to be exceptional.
After these visits, we went to Hahndorf Village, a touristy German vilage, very charming with lots of cute shops and delicious foods. After buying some bakery treats and having a German sausage, we headed off to Adelaide’s south shore which has a lot of similarity to South Beach, Miami.
We stopped at an opal jewelry shop and ogled the stones. By the way, Australia mines 85% of all the world’s opals and some of them are absolutely exquisite.
So, for now I will say adios as we continue to enjoy the second sea day between Adelaide and Fremantle/Perth. Mark and I hope that all is well with you and that you remain happy and healthy.
P.S. By the way, we are very aware of the 8.8 Chilean earthquake and watched some of the photos and the tsunami warnings in Hawaii as well. Mother Earth is very active!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thoughts to Share
It’s Saturday, Feb 20 as we head towards Sydney, Australia. It’s Friday in the United States.
Tomorrow is the last day of this 12 day cruise from Auckland, NZ to Sydney, Australia. Mark and I are two of the only 142 of 2700 Diamond Princess passengers who will not be disembarking in Sydney. Instead, we are doing another segment of 20 days which will take us to Bangkok, Thailand. This itinerary will take us back for a day each in Melbourne and Hobart and then up the southern and western coasts of Australia to Adelaide, Perth and Geraldton. After four days at sea, we will reach Singapore where we will spend a day and then one day each in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; and then Bangkok. We will stay overnight in Bangkok, fly to Tokyo, Japan and stay overnight there and then will fly from Tokyo to Los Angeles and on to Seattle on March 15.
Some thoughts in no particular order. Every single Australian and New Zealander we’ve met both on and off the ship have been unfailingly friendly, warm and open. I’ve concluded that “down under” is a great part of the world and I’m so happy to have experienced some of it.
The weather has been warm and sunny and the seas have been calm and slight for the most part.
I’ve won $24 in the casino.
Mark and I have taken more dance lessons from the very funny dance teacher on board, Tyson. In addition to the private lessons we took before leaving home, we’ve learned the meringue, rhumba, waltz, cha-cha (again) and the New York swing…all of which are ballroom dances. I’m so pleased that Mark has enthusiastically participated both before and during the cruise even when it’s been frustrating for him. We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time…or at least said we waned to and we finally did it!
One of the best parts of travelling is learning from the people you meet and this cruise has been no exception. We learn about the politics of other countries, how others see America, how they live their lives and in general, we become less insulated and more tolerant.
Mark and I love seeing the countryside of the places we visit. We so enjoy the unique animals and birds that are found only in this part of the world such as the kangaroo, koala, emu, albatross, platypus, wallaby, yellow-eyed penguin and many others. I love sending you photos of these animals.
We didn’t do any ceramics on this trip as we have done quite a bit during 2009.
Before each port, an on board lecturer gives a presentation of the city and where we can go and what to see. It’s very informative.
Although we have fixed seating at 6:00 PM with a set group of table mates, we don’t always go. Instead we will sometimes eat with friends at one of the other dining venues or go up to the Horizon Court buffet. No matter where we eat, the food is always terrific.
The shows at night in the two floor Princess Theater are excellent. The singers and dancers are all professional caliber and a joy to watch. There are also a number of other clubs and lounges where there are bands, comedians and any number of programs going on all the time. There is also a well stocked library, internet café and board games room, etc. You can do all or none of these activities as you desire.
In our cabin, there is wireless internet where I do all my blogging and uploading of photos which I have e-mailed you the link to. I hope you’ve enjoyed looking at the pictures half as much as I’ve enjoyed taking and sending them to you.
Another great part of cruising is buying gifts and souvenirs for family and friends and this time has been no exception. And the buying is not over yet!
I really look forward to hearing from you all. As you can see, I like to keep in touch and I hope you will do so with Mark and me.
Best way is to e-mail me at: jkarla@fairpoint.net
Tomorrow is the last day of this 12 day cruise from Auckland, NZ to Sydney, Australia. Mark and I are two of the only 142 of 2700 Diamond Princess passengers who will not be disembarking in Sydney. Instead, we are doing another segment of 20 days which will take us to Bangkok, Thailand. This itinerary will take us back for a day each in Melbourne and Hobart and then up the southern and western coasts of Australia to Adelaide, Perth and Geraldton. After four days at sea, we will reach Singapore where we will spend a day and then one day each in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; and then Bangkok. We will stay overnight in Bangkok, fly to Tokyo, Japan and stay overnight there and then will fly from Tokyo to Los Angeles and on to Seattle on March 15.
Some thoughts in no particular order. Every single Australian and New Zealander we’ve met both on and off the ship have been unfailingly friendly, warm and open. I’ve concluded that “down under” is a great part of the world and I’m so happy to have experienced some of it.
The weather has been warm and sunny and the seas have been calm and slight for the most part.
I’ve won $24 in the casino.
Mark and I have taken more dance lessons from the very funny dance teacher on board, Tyson. In addition to the private lessons we took before leaving home, we’ve learned the meringue, rhumba, waltz, cha-cha (again) and the New York swing…all of which are ballroom dances. I’m so pleased that Mark has enthusiastically participated both before and during the cruise even when it’s been frustrating for him. We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time…or at least said we waned to and we finally did it!
One of the best parts of travelling is learning from the people you meet and this cruise has been no exception. We learn about the politics of other countries, how others see America, how they live their lives and in general, we become less insulated and more tolerant.
Mark and I love seeing the countryside of the places we visit. We so enjoy the unique animals and birds that are found only in this part of the world such as the kangaroo, koala, emu, albatross, platypus, wallaby, yellow-eyed penguin and many others. I love sending you photos of these animals.
We didn’t do any ceramics on this trip as we have done quite a bit during 2009.
Before each port, an on board lecturer gives a presentation of the city and where we can go and what to see. It’s very informative.
Although we have fixed seating at 6:00 PM with a set group of table mates, we don’t always go. Instead we will sometimes eat with friends at one of the other dining venues or go up to the Horizon Court buffet. No matter where we eat, the food is always terrific.
The shows at night in the two floor Princess Theater are excellent. The singers and dancers are all professional caliber and a joy to watch. There are also a number of other clubs and lounges where there are bands, comedians and any number of programs going on all the time. There is also a well stocked library, internet café and board games room, etc. You can do all or none of these activities as you desire.
In our cabin, there is wireless internet where I do all my blogging and uploading of photos which I have e-mailed you the link to. I hope you’ve enjoyed looking at the pictures half as much as I’ve enjoyed taking and sending them to you.
Another great part of cruising is buying gifts and souvenirs for family and friends and this time has been no exception. And the buying is not over yet!
I really look forward to hearing from you all. As you can see, I like to keep in touch and I hope you will do so with Mark and me.
Best way is to e-mail me at: jkarla@fairpoint.net
Monday, February 15, 2010
Boarding the ship and New Zealand Ports
Today is Monday, Feb 15, 2010 and here on the Diamond Princess it is 1:30 PM. On the west coast of the U.S. it is Sunday, Feb 14 (Lori Noelle’s 41st birthday) and it is 5:30 PM in Seattle and 8:30 PM in Florida. These time differences give new meaning to the term “all time is relative”.
I sent a lengthy e-mail to family and friends recounting our trip from when we left Seattle on Feb 2 to arriving in Auckland, NZ on Feb 4 until we boarded our ship, the Diamond Princess on Feb 9. It was also posted on my blog which, for those of you who may not know about my blog, can be found at www.markandjofanniestripdownunder.blogspot.com. If you are reading this on the blog then obviously you have found it!
It is always exciting for us when we come on board a cruise ship. The many months of anticipation are over and the reality is now being experienced. The Diamond is the sister ship and exact duplicate of the Sapphire Princess which we were on in 2006 so she was familiar to us. This time we boarded with another couple, Karreen and Al from Lacey, WA which was a first for us. The Diamond holds 2600 passengers and is considered a premium class ship. She is very lovely.
After getting something to eat (it was lunchtime when we boarded), we went up on the 15th deck and saw another ship berthed right along side of us. She was Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Rhapsody of the Seas”. What made this rather extraordinary was that of the hundreds of cruise ships in existence, the Rhapsody was the one we took two of our grandchildren (Julian and Claire Dayton) on to Alaska this past September! And here she was right next to the Diamond! When you get a chance to see my photos, you will see pictures of the two ships together…the Diamond is one third again as big.
After unpacking our luggage, which took some time, we got reacquainted with the ship and then had dinner. For the first time, we had been assigned “traditional” or fixed seating which means we were given a particular table in one of the several dining rooms with 3 other couples. Of the five dining rooms ours is the Vivaldi. The other couples at our table are quite congenial. This would be the time to comment about the food. We’ve sailed on Princess ships before and the food has been very good but this time it is excellent! As a matter of fact, Mark commented to the maitre’d one evening as we were leaving the Vivaldi that the only criticism he had was that the food was too good! There is also a buffet type of dining area on the 14th deck, the Horizon Court, where you can get equally good food in a more informal atmosphere. (Note to Julian and Claire- the food on the Diamond is way better than on the Rhapsody of the Seas).
We embarked from Auckland on Tuesday, Feb 9 and our first port on the 10th was Tauranga, a lovely town on New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty. It is NZ’s busiest port and a productive agricultural and timber center. More than 1.5 billion kiwi fruits are exported from here each year. Tauranga is also the gateway to one of the South Pacific’s finest attractions, Rotorua which is located in the middle of the most intense thermal activity as the region sits atop underground water, which, superheated by lava, bubbles up all around in geysers, mud pools and steam boors.
We did not see this unique attraction but rather had chosen to book a trip on the South Sea Vagabond, a large catamaran which took ten of us out into the Bay of Plenty to find and swim with dolphins. We did indeed find loads of dolphins but they were not in a playing mood and just surrounded the boat and went off on their own. However we did shoot lots of pictures of them. The day was very sunny but breezy and the water a bit cold. So Karreen and I kayaked instead and had loads of fun. Although I’ve kayaked many times before, this was the first open ocean kayaking I’d done. Mark did swim in the ocean but didn’t stay in for very long due to the water temperature. It was a great day but if I had to do it again and knew more about the cold water and lack of dolphin swimming, I would have gone to the bubbling lava of Rotorua and seen a Maori tribal village instead.
The next day, Thursday the 11th, was an “at sea” day. There are always many many activities you can do on the ship on an at sea day. For instance, Mark and I took a “meringue” dance lesson. We listened to a destination lecture about Christchurch and Dunedin, our two next ports and we also went to a Broadway production number in the Princess theatre. It was also a “formal night” where everybody gets dressed up and looks elegant.
Friday, the 12th, we docked at the port of Lyttelton which is the port for Christchurch. Christchurch is in New Zealand’s South Island. You don’t have to go to England to punt down the Avon River, see colorful cottage gardens, bowling lawns or tour past stately Gothic cathedrals on a red double-decker bus. It’s all in Christchurch, affectionately known as New Zealand’s most English city.
Christchurch faces inland to the Canterbury Plains, which is a very fertile agricultural area and also to the snowy Southern Alps. In the morning we took a shuttle into town and explored the city on our own and bought gifts and souvenirs. Then in the afternoon we took a tour where we went punting on the Avon River which is like a gondola in Venice, Italy. The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful (after all, this is summer in the southern hemisphere). The Avon gently meanders through lush gardens and gracefully arching trees. We also got the chance to stroll among the Botanical Gardens which are the third largest such gardens in the world behind Central Park and the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada.
We then had a true English tea on board a tram which took us along the Christchurch streets as we ate tea sandwiches, scones and pastries and drank Earl Grey and Darjeeling tea. Ah…. All in all, Christchurch appears to be a wonderful place to live.
On Saturday, Feb 13th, we docked in Dunedin (pronounced Do-‘knee-dun). I had organized this private tour for a group of 8 of us with a company called Arthur’s Tours. We started at 8 in the morning and didn’t arrive back to the ship until 5:15 so it was a very long day but we saw and did so much! First, we were taken up and down the world’s steepest street- Baldwin Street. We even got certificates attesting to this feat! Then we stopped at the University of Dunedin that has students attending from all over the world. It is especially well known for its programs in medicine, dentistry, business administration and physical education. We then went to the Railway Station because of its architecture. It was indeed special. Next, we visited the first church built in Dunedin..very impressive.
After a half hour drive, we visited the long awaited Penguin Colony. By this time, it was gusting and blowing and after we left our van we had to hike up this peninsula to get to where the penguin colony was. We then walked through camouflaged covered blinds (viewing areas) to see the yellow-eyed penguins. These special penguins are only found on the south coast of NZ’s South Island and only two other places in the world. (Make sure you check out the photos I took).
Next, we went to the Albatross Centre about 10 minutes away. After hearing a lecture at the colony about these birds we went and saw them. These are the largest albatrosses in the world with a wingspan of 10 feet. We were lucky in that there were three adult pairs sitting on three week old chicks to keep them warm. There are only 2,000 Royal Albatrosses in the world, mostly on Chatham Island near Antarctica. The adult pairs swap places with one another as one goes to sea to find food and the other sits on the chick who needs the warmth of its parent’s body at this vulnerable stage. We also were fortunate to see two adolescents flying in the air after being gone for five years. Albatrosses leave the colony as juveniles and do not land for five years except on the water to get food. After five years, they come back to the colony for courting and mating purposes. There is only a 40-50% survival rate for these birds outside the colony and a 70% rate inside the colony. The colonies change location after 1,000 years or so!
By this time we were all ravenously hungry and were happy to get to Lanarch Castle where we had a late lunch. Lanarch Castle is the only castle in all of New Zealand. It is perched in one of the most beautiful locations in the world with 270 degree vistas overlooking the Bay of Dunedin. It had been built over a period of 10 years in the 1880’s and there were plenty of family feuds as well as the occasional murder to keep things interesting! After exploring the castle grounds (the sun having come out again), our driver took us back into Dunedin and drove us by some beautiful homes with spectacular views. We also stopped at a supermarket where we bought two bottles of wine and the others also did some shopping. It was a very full day but well worth every minute!
The next day was Valentines Day and Mark had a gorgeous bouquet delivered to our cabin. I was thrilled and touched. This day was spent cruising the Fiordland National Park which is the largest national park in NZ. It has been recognized as one of the world’s foremost natural landscapes. Since we are fortunate to have a balcony cabin we were able to take many photos from the comfort of our balcony. Fiordland National Park stands apart as a region of distinct character made up mainly of hard crystalline rocks formed 500 million years ago. Today, hundreds of lakes dot the landscape- among them the deepest in NZ, Lake Hauroko, at 462 metres (1300 feet). This was a very special opportunity that reminded us of the fiords in Norway and Glacier Bay in Alaska.
Today, Monday the 15th, we are sailing towards Hobart, Tasmania which is an Australian state but its own separate island. More to come!
I sent a lengthy e-mail to family and friends recounting our trip from when we left Seattle on Feb 2 to arriving in Auckland, NZ on Feb 4 until we boarded our ship, the Diamond Princess on Feb 9. It was also posted on my blog which, for those of you who may not know about my blog, can be found at www.markandjofanniestripdownunder.blogspot.com. If you are reading this on the blog then obviously you have found it!
It is always exciting for us when we come on board a cruise ship. The many months of anticipation are over and the reality is now being experienced. The Diamond is the sister ship and exact duplicate of the Sapphire Princess which we were on in 2006 so she was familiar to us. This time we boarded with another couple, Karreen and Al from Lacey, WA which was a first for us. The Diamond holds 2600 passengers and is considered a premium class ship. She is very lovely.
After getting something to eat (it was lunchtime when we boarded), we went up on the 15th deck and saw another ship berthed right along side of us. She was Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Rhapsody of the Seas”. What made this rather extraordinary was that of the hundreds of cruise ships in existence, the Rhapsody was the one we took two of our grandchildren (Julian and Claire Dayton) on to Alaska this past September! And here she was right next to the Diamond! When you get a chance to see my photos, you will see pictures of the two ships together…the Diamond is one third again as big.
After unpacking our luggage, which took some time, we got reacquainted with the ship and then had dinner. For the first time, we had been assigned “traditional” or fixed seating which means we were given a particular table in one of the several dining rooms with 3 other couples. Of the five dining rooms ours is the Vivaldi. The other couples at our table are quite congenial. This would be the time to comment about the food. We’ve sailed on Princess ships before and the food has been very good but this time it is excellent! As a matter of fact, Mark commented to the maitre’d one evening as we were leaving the Vivaldi that the only criticism he had was that the food was too good! There is also a buffet type of dining area on the 14th deck, the Horizon Court, where you can get equally good food in a more informal atmosphere. (Note to Julian and Claire- the food on the Diamond is way better than on the Rhapsody of the Seas).
We embarked from Auckland on Tuesday, Feb 9 and our first port on the 10th was Tauranga, a lovely town on New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty. It is NZ’s busiest port and a productive agricultural and timber center. More than 1.5 billion kiwi fruits are exported from here each year. Tauranga is also the gateway to one of the South Pacific’s finest attractions, Rotorua which is located in the middle of the most intense thermal activity as the region sits atop underground water, which, superheated by lava, bubbles up all around in geysers, mud pools and steam boors.
We did not see this unique attraction but rather had chosen to book a trip on the South Sea Vagabond, a large catamaran which took ten of us out into the Bay of Plenty to find and swim with dolphins. We did indeed find loads of dolphins but they were not in a playing mood and just surrounded the boat and went off on their own. However we did shoot lots of pictures of them. The day was very sunny but breezy and the water a bit cold. So Karreen and I kayaked instead and had loads of fun. Although I’ve kayaked many times before, this was the first open ocean kayaking I’d done. Mark did swim in the ocean but didn’t stay in for very long due to the water temperature. It was a great day but if I had to do it again and knew more about the cold water and lack of dolphin swimming, I would have gone to the bubbling lava of Rotorua and seen a Maori tribal village instead.
The next day, Thursday the 11th, was an “at sea” day. There are always many many activities you can do on the ship on an at sea day. For instance, Mark and I took a “meringue” dance lesson. We listened to a destination lecture about Christchurch and Dunedin, our two next ports and we also went to a Broadway production number in the Princess theatre. It was also a “formal night” where everybody gets dressed up and looks elegant.
Friday, the 12th, we docked at the port of Lyttelton which is the port for Christchurch. Christchurch is in New Zealand’s South Island. You don’t have to go to England to punt down the Avon River, see colorful cottage gardens, bowling lawns or tour past stately Gothic cathedrals on a red double-decker bus. It’s all in Christchurch, affectionately known as New Zealand’s most English city.
Christchurch faces inland to the Canterbury Plains, which is a very fertile agricultural area and also to the snowy Southern Alps. In the morning we took a shuttle into town and explored the city on our own and bought gifts and souvenirs. Then in the afternoon we took a tour where we went punting on the Avon River which is like a gondola in Venice, Italy. The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful (after all, this is summer in the southern hemisphere). The Avon gently meanders through lush gardens and gracefully arching trees. We also got the chance to stroll among the Botanical Gardens which are the third largest such gardens in the world behind Central Park and the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada.
We then had a true English tea on board a tram which took us along the Christchurch streets as we ate tea sandwiches, scones and pastries and drank Earl Grey and Darjeeling tea. Ah…. All in all, Christchurch appears to be a wonderful place to live.
On Saturday, Feb 13th, we docked in Dunedin (pronounced Do-‘knee-dun). I had organized this private tour for a group of 8 of us with a company called Arthur’s Tours. We started at 8 in the morning and didn’t arrive back to the ship until 5:15 so it was a very long day but we saw and did so much! First, we were taken up and down the world’s steepest street- Baldwin Street. We even got certificates attesting to this feat! Then we stopped at the University of Dunedin that has students attending from all over the world. It is especially well known for its programs in medicine, dentistry, business administration and physical education. We then went to the Railway Station because of its architecture. It was indeed special. Next, we visited the first church built in Dunedin..very impressive.
After a half hour drive, we visited the long awaited Penguin Colony. By this time, it was gusting and blowing and after we left our van we had to hike up this peninsula to get to where the penguin colony was. We then walked through camouflaged covered blinds (viewing areas) to see the yellow-eyed penguins. These special penguins are only found on the south coast of NZ’s South Island and only two other places in the world. (Make sure you check out the photos I took).
Next, we went to the Albatross Centre about 10 minutes away. After hearing a lecture at the colony about these birds we went and saw them. These are the largest albatrosses in the world with a wingspan of 10 feet. We were lucky in that there were three adult pairs sitting on three week old chicks to keep them warm. There are only 2,000 Royal Albatrosses in the world, mostly on Chatham Island near Antarctica. The adult pairs swap places with one another as one goes to sea to find food and the other sits on the chick who needs the warmth of its parent’s body at this vulnerable stage. We also were fortunate to see two adolescents flying in the air after being gone for five years. Albatrosses leave the colony as juveniles and do not land for five years except on the water to get food. After five years, they come back to the colony for courting and mating purposes. There is only a 40-50% survival rate for these birds outside the colony and a 70% rate inside the colony. The colonies change location after 1,000 years or so!
By this time we were all ravenously hungry and were happy to get to Lanarch Castle where we had a late lunch. Lanarch Castle is the only castle in all of New Zealand. It is perched in one of the most beautiful locations in the world with 270 degree vistas overlooking the Bay of Dunedin. It had been built over a period of 10 years in the 1880’s and there were plenty of family feuds as well as the occasional murder to keep things interesting! After exploring the castle grounds (the sun having come out again), our driver took us back into Dunedin and drove us by some beautiful homes with spectacular views. We also stopped at a supermarket where we bought two bottles of wine and the others also did some shopping. It was a very full day but well worth every minute!
The next day was Valentines Day and Mark had a gorgeous bouquet delivered to our cabin. I was thrilled and touched. This day was spent cruising the Fiordland National Park which is the largest national park in NZ. It has been recognized as one of the world’s foremost natural landscapes. Since we are fortunate to have a balcony cabin we were able to take many photos from the comfort of our balcony. Fiordland National Park stands apart as a region of distinct character made up mainly of hard crystalline rocks formed 500 million years ago. Today, hundreds of lakes dot the landscape- among them the deepest in NZ, Lake Hauroko, at 462 metres (1300 feet). This was a very special opportunity that reminded us of the fiords in Norway and Glacier Bay in Alaska.
Today, Monday the 15th, we are sailing towards Hobart, Tasmania which is an Australian state but its own separate island. More to come!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Our trip has begun! We left Seattle on Tuesday Feb 2, 2010 at 3:35 PM and arrived in Auckland at 9:15 AM on Thursday Feb 4. We lost Wednesday. Flying to New Zealand from the west coast of the U.S. is a lot easier on the body than flying from the east coast or the Midwest. The flight from LAX (Los Angeles) was 13.5 hours. I was fortunate in having an empty seat next to me which was really Mark’s seat but he had gotten an exit row seat. We both took sleeping pills which helped a lot.
Auckland is a beautiful city. We took a bus tour of the city on Thursday afternoon which was a good way to get a sense of how things were laid out. We went to the Auckland museum and saw some wonderful Maori artifacts and were taken to some great vantage spots where we could see 360 degrees around the city. We stayed at the Quadrant hotel.
On Friday, Feb 5, we rented a car. Now that sounds easy…you just rent a car. Well, Kiwis (New Zealanders) as well as Aussies (Australians) drive on the left side of the road. It takes some getting used to especially for a young 70 year old like Mark. But he was terrific. He and I just kept saying to one another “stay to the left, stay to the left, look to the right, look to the right”. Once we were on the road we just followed the other drivers but the tricky part was when Mark had to make a turn or merge into a travel circle. We had relatively few close calls(!) and Mark did great.
So on Friday we drove 3.5 hours north of Auckland to Russell in the Bay of Islands. New Zealand is a truly beautiful country but the Bay of Islands is spectacular. We stayed at a bed and breakfast called Papiroa Homestay hosted by Gary and Paula. They couldn’t have been nicer and the views from their place were as gorgeous as any place we have ever been to! On Saturday we took a boat tour out into the Bay. We were very lucky because it happened to be a national holiday and out on the Bay were “wakas”, Maori long boats. Close to the boat was the largest waka in NZ with 100 rowers. The Maoris were the original settlers of NZ descended from Polynesia. When the Englishman, James Cook, first came to NZ in the 1760’s he mapped the islands and brought trinkets to the Maoris. Then the first English settlers came in the 1830’s and there was conflict between the Maoris and the settlers. There have been five treaties since then and a lot of intermarriage.
We explored the lovely town of Russell and on Sunday, Feb 7 we drove back to Auckland. There we met up with our friends, Al and Karreen from Lacey, WA and had dinner with them. By the way, the weather this whole time has been glorious-sunny with temps in the high 70’s, low 80’s. This is summertime in the southern hemisphere and February is their August.
On Monday, Feb 8, we made a lifetime dream of Al’s come true and we drove 3 hours south out of Auckland to the Waitomo Glow Worm caves. We visited two of them. They are unique to this part of the world. In one of them we took a boat as well as walked and were amazed by the thousands of glowworms sparkling above and beside us. We were mesmerized by the spectacular ornate cave decorations and sculptures developed over thousands of years. In the second cave, distinctly different from the first, we entered through a spiral entrance and walked down 185 feet to the bottom, our way lit only by dim lights set into the walls of the cave. This cave was huge and we experienced the sheer majesty and intimacy of its corridors. Its crystal tapestries are truly other worldly.
We returned to Auckland feeling distinctly grateful for having been a part of this aspect of nature’s magnificence. More to come……
Auckland is a beautiful city. We took a bus tour of the city on Thursday afternoon which was a good way to get a sense of how things were laid out. We went to the Auckland museum and saw some wonderful Maori artifacts and were taken to some great vantage spots where we could see 360 degrees around the city. We stayed at the Quadrant hotel.
On Friday, Feb 5, we rented a car. Now that sounds easy…you just rent a car. Well, Kiwis (New Zealanders) as well as Aussies (Australians) drive on the left side of the road. It takes some getting used to especially for a young 70 year old like Mark. But he was terrific. He and I just kept saying to one another “stay to the left, stay to the left, look to the right, look to the right”. Once we were on the road we just followed the other drivers but the tricky part was when Mark had to make a turn or merge into a travel circle. We had relatively few close calls(!) and Mark did great.
So on Friday we drove 3.5 hours north of Auckland to Russell in the Bay of Islands. New Zealand is a truly beautiful country but the Bay of Islands is spectacular. We stayed at a bed and breakfast called Papiroa Homestay hosted by Gary and Paula. They couldn’t have been nicer and the views from their place were as gorgeous as any place we have ever been to! On Saturday we took a boat tour out into the Bay. We were very lucky because it happened to be a national holiday and out on the Bay were “wakas”, Maori long boats. Close to the boat was the largest waka in NZ with 100 rowers. The Maoris were the original settlers of NZ descended from Polynesia. When the Englishman, James Cook, first came to NZ in the 1760’s he mapped the islands and brought trinkets to the Maoris. Then the first English settlers came in the 1830’s and there was conflict between the Maoris and the settlers. There have been five treaties since then and a lot of intermarriage.
We explored the lovely town of Russell and on Sunday, Feb 7 we drove back to Auckland. There we met up with our friends, Al and Karreen from Lacey, WA and had dinner with them. By the way, the weather this whole time has been glorious-sunny with temps in the high 70’s, low 80’s. This is summertime in the southern hemisphere and February is their August.
On Monday, Feb 8, we made a lifetime dream of Al’s come true and we drove 3 hours south out of Auckland to the Waitomo Glow Worm caves. We visited two of them. They are unique to this part of the world. In one of them we took a boat as well as walked and were amazed by the thousands of glowworms sparkling above and beside us. We were mesmerized by the spectacular ornate cave decorations and sculptures developed over thousands of years. In the second cave, distinctly different from the first, we entered through a spiral entrance and walked down 185 feet to the bottom, our way lit only by dim lights set into the walls of the cave. This cave was huge and we experienced the sheer majesty and intimacy of its corridors. Its crystal tapestries are truly other worldly.
We returned to Auckland feeling distinctly grateful for having been a part of this aspect of nature’s magnificence. More to come……
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