Auckland-day 1

Arrived early and headed out on "City of Sails" bus tour. 

This gave us an overview and a sense of how far and in what direction we should walk once we were out on our own.  As it turns out we didn't go too far from the bustling port because there was so much going on right there.  It happens that we were there on a long holiday weekend.  More on that later.

The first order of business was to go somewhere to upload and download.  We had heard from someone on the cruise that the place to go for fast free internet was down the escalator in the Sky Tower.  You see it in the city-scape above.  Ten minutes of downloading and uploading caught us up on all our podcasts, books, and Netflix that we'd been missing desperately. 

I have to interject a story here: One night as we were in the Star Theater waiting for the nightly performance, we started talking with the folks behind us.  It went something like this:

Them-Where are you from?
Us-New York.  How about you?
Them-New  York.  Where in New York?
Us-The Hudson Valley?  How about you?
Them-Margaretville.  Where in the Hudson Valley?
Us-Rhinebeck.
Ken-Oh yeah.  I went to school at Marist.
Bob-I went to Marist too.  What year did you graduate.
Ken-1970
Bob-I was supposed to graduate in 1969, but took the five-year plan and graduated in 1970.
Ken-What was your major.
Bob-Psychology.  How about you.
Ken-Psychology.  I worked for the State of New York.
Bob-I worked for the State of New York.
etc., etc.,

As it turns out, husband and wife started a travel agency after they retired.  They primarily book cruises and have been on many, thus their knowledge about ports of call.  They told us about the screaming fast WiFi in the Sky Tower.

That business out of the way, our next mission was to find some All Blacks gear for the grandkids.  The All Blacks are the New Zealand rugby team and the Kiwis are crazy for their rugby.  Our guides, so far only two, have managed to weave rugby into their narrative at every opportunity.  We've also been treated to demonstration of the "haka," the intimidating war cry that the New Zealand team performs before its matches.  So, having found out that All Blacks are licensed to Adidas, we went in search of shirts.

After shopping, back to the pier where we discovered all sorts of happenings and local and tourists enjoying the day. 

One huge building was devoted to the Maori (pronounced "Mowry" without a Kiwi accent or "Merry" with a Kiwi accent.)  In yesterday's lecture we learned that the Maori make up 14% of New Zealand's population, down from the original numbers but still a significant percentage for an indigenous people.  The people of New Zealand embrace and respect their indigenous roots, something I don't expect we'll find in Australia.

Maori people, men and women both, are heavily tattooed.  We'll be learning more about that in a future lecture.  At the heritage building there was a tattoo booth and a fake tattoo booth.

Not me

Ddn't make it through one shower

Maori dancing and music.  Sounds a bit like reggae.  Wish I could upload it for you.  Dragon boat races, swimming, yacht races, food, vendors, sidewalk cafes. 

 

Back on board after a full day in Auckland.  I like it here.  Tomorrow ferry from Auckland to a winery in Waiheke.  The next day biking in Rotorua. The next day a winery in Napier. 

Actually, I'm writing this as we sail away from Napier.  It turned out to be a plan "sea" day.  The winds were too strong to safely dock at Napier, so I've been catching up on my blogging.  I'm still behind and will try to catch up when we're cruising the Tasmin Sea on the way to Australia.

Bay of Islands, New Zealand

First stop - Bay of Islands, an area consisting of mainland and more than 150 islands at the northern tip of New Zealand's North Island.  We anchor just outside of Russell, but unfortunately didn't have time to check it out.  Tenders went two different ways, independent travelers went to Russell and those on excursions went to Waitangi. Our excursion is the glowworm caves in Kawiti, about a 45 minute drive.  I'm always anxious to go on a cave tour, so this outing appealed to me. 

Bathroom stop at KawaKawa, a cute little town with celebrated public bathrooms.

Outside public bathrooms

Inside public bathroom

In the stall

Just had enough time to check out the bathrooms, grab some pictures, and buy a new cap.

No cap

New cap

At the caves we were backed up behind another tour and had a march through the woods to kill some time while they cleared.  Many of these folks didn't sign on for a hike.

Back at the caves, we got the rules-no photos, in fact-no lights.  A few people were given lanterns and we entered in single file.  Not too far along the lantern bearers were told to turn on the lanterns.  Far above us, little clusters of fairy lights.  That's it.  Underwhelming.  It's no Howe Caverns.

Our return trip took us through a public golf course with a view of the bay.  Bob was impressed with the $750 NZ (approx $550 US) annual fee, which entitles a member to unlimited golf.

No time to tender over to Russell, which I hear later was a charming place.  Despite the disappointing day, I'm already captivated by the look and the vibe of New Zealand.

V.J. Singh is from Fiji. Look it up.

The antibiotics have done their job and I’m ready for a hike and a plunge into crystal cool pools of Fiji Water at Colo-i-Suva Forest Park. 

The weather forecast is 90 F with 79% humidity and a high probability of rain.  Doesn’t sound good for a walk a rain forest.

A look out the veranda door reveals another unsightly cruise port.  We know by now not to judge by that first impression.   

Once we board the bus, we discover that the bustling city of Suva is just beyond the warehouses.  

The ride to the park took about 25 minutes, with the two guides tag-teaming the microphone and pointing out sights along the way.  As we  quickly rose in elevation above the city, we could see distant peaks, including Joske's Thumb which was conquered by Sir Edmund Hillary, a Kiwi, all shrouded in clouds.

At the park we wasted a good twenty minutes while many of the three busloads of people stood in line to use the single bathroom.  Finally, off we go down the trail.   

Bob is thinking about shaving.  Should he?

I should explain how Viking uses the Quiet Vox to keep groups corralled and together.  You'll see these things in pictures, hanging around our necks.  Before we step onto a bus or head out on a walking tour, the guide synchronizes the frequency of his or her headset with each member's Quiet Vox.  Since we're in three separate groups, our Quiet Vox allows us to hear our guide even if we've strayed to the back of the group and the different frequencies keep us from merging together with another group.

The path is slippery because of an overnight rain.  In our earphones we heard a lot of "Be careful" and "Take your time."  Down, down, down we went, passing small pools and streams, already dripping with sweat, thinking "When do we get to swim" and "We're going to have to climb back up to get out of here."

The guide keeps us moving forward by promising us "refreshment" is just around the next corner.  Finally, we spot the pool, just being vacated by the group ahead of us.  

Oh, I forgot to mention-  The guides had told us that on a typical day there are about 500 locals swimming in the various pools in this park.  Today the park was closed to locals and restricted to use by cruise passengers.

Cool and refreshing, we didn't want to leave.  Spent some time watching demonstrations of male stupidity as one after another some knuckleheads swung from a rope swing into the pool.  One such knucklehead changed his mind in mid-swing and let loose over the rocks surrounding the pool.  A single gasp went out from the onlookers.  Fortunately, this was a crew member and not one of us very delicate passengers.  We were surprised to see him get up and grab the rope for another go.  I saw him around the ship today and he appears to be intact.  

I had brought along the whatchamacallit that I bought at Bora Bora.  I wet it and wrapped it around me so I was cool for the uphill return climb.

On the return bus ride our guide explained that his ancestors were cannibals, not too many generations back.  In fact, the left shoe of the last victim of cannibalism is on display in the local museum.  Wasn't that a movie?  My left foot?  

Back to port just before all aboard.  Unfortunately, this was a short day in Fiji, only until 2:30.  We didn't get a chance to explore the town.

We sailed away and watched the clouds gather for a coming storm.  We got lucky and had a glorious day of hiking and swimming in Fiji.

 

Bob goes to the Kingdom of Tonga

It was surprising when I looked out the veranda window in the morning to see the topography of Tonga.  Unlike all the previous ports that had majestic volcanic evidence, Tongatapu is totally flat, the highest elevation being 213 feet above sea level.  Tongatapu is the largest of the 169 islands that make up Tonga.  

Tonga is the only monarchy in the South Pacific.  This is the palace of King Toupo VI.

China has been inserting itself in Tonga, evidenced by their rebuilding the port to accommodate ships of our size.

Also, under construction are new government buildings that are a gift from The People's Republic of China.

My throat not improving, I finally decided to use one of the Mexican Z-pacs that I’ve been storing in the frig and carrying back and forth from New York to Arizona for a few years.  I stayed on board to recuperate.

Bob went on a walking tour but quickly peeled off to do his own thing.  Some of the sights he saw:

Making ngatu (bark cloth)

Woman wearing ngatu skirt

House draped in mourning colors

Public market

Meanwhile, back at the ship, Viking was entertaining some Tongan dignitaries, including the Prime Minister.  The port officers were dining at the World Cafe (the buffet.)   I watched them going back and forth to refill their plates.  They must have thought they had died and gone to heaven.  These guys were huge.  No wonder rugby is the national sport.

Bora Bora

Of all the places we've been so far, this is where I'd return for some further exploration. 

Bob and I went separate ways, he on a snorkeling boat ride and me on a bus trip around the circumference of the island. The island measures 4 miles by 2 1/2 miles.  There is a road around but no roads through.   The first stop on my tour was at a family business that makes pareos, hand painted sarongs.  First step is to fold and twist the piece of cotton. 

Each craft person has their particular signature twist.  Next, dip in vats of natural dyes followed by an alcohol fixative, unfold, lay out to dry applying linoleum stencils in a random pattern, dry for 15 minutes, done.

On a side note. When Polynesian families have a large number of male children, they may choose to raise one of them as a female.  Our cruise director explained this to us so we wouldn't be shocked.

Continuing on my tour, we stopped at the famous Bloody Mary's.  A tourist trap, but it did have a sand floor and a cool bathroom sink. 

Along the tour route the guide pointed out some resorts, the thatched roof huts built over water that you imagine when you think of Tahiti or Bora Bora. 

Oddly, a few of these had gone out of  business and have been vacant for a few years.  Club Med was one of the defunct properties. 

Next stop-the beach.  Crap, they didn't tell me to wear my bathing suit.  So, I waded in.  Saw lots of familiar faces there.  It turns out that the crew knows all the best places to go at port.  I remember that from our Norway cruise.  When we figured out that the crew knew all the best WiFi hot spots, we would follow them.

Meanwhile Bob was having a wonderful time petting stingrays and swimming with sharks.  No petting the sharks or you get thrown out of the water.

Reporting from the HMS Petri Dish

Despite hand sanitizer and washing stations galore, I've succumbed to the ailment that has left everyone hacking and sneezing.  This has been spreading through the passengers almost since the beginning (we're a month in.)  Background accompaniment for all lectures and shows has been said hacking.  I thought I was dodging the bullet.  Bob had a mild form and I nursed him along with enforced gargling with stolen salt.  Well, I've been stricken. 

We had a day at Bora Bora and a day at sea while heading for Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.  I had been doing some research on Rarotonga, in hopes of diverging from the planned excursion and heading out on our own via public transportation in search of beach and snorkeling.  TripAdvisor mentioned that the waters are often too rough for visitors to tender in from cruise ship.  Well, that's what happened.  We were scheduled to anchor on the north side, sent crew members in to meet with port officials, determined that it was too rough, sailed around to the west side for calmer waters, also too rough, back to the north to pick up crew and away.  I was just beginning to feel poorly and wasn't disappointed to have the free sea day to recover, followed by another sea day tomorrow and either another sea day or crossing the International Date Line (I haven't quite figured that out yet) then Tonga.  By then, I should be recovered. 

Internet has been very bad.  Maybe it's the cloud cover.  So, combined with my being under the weather, I haven't had the patience to chronicle or upload.  Instead, I stayed in bed and binge-watched Narcos episodes that I had downloaded.  I owe you some posts. 

Papeete Tahiti

Imagine us swimming in a pacific blue lagoon surrounded by palms blowing in the breeze.

We opted for the included walking tour of the city.  Sights along the way included the Town Hall, the Catholic cathedral, the public market, Bougainville Park and numerous and colorful murals on sides of buildings.

The French Polynesian islands are famous for black pearls.  The pearls are cultured by implanting a nucleus in a live oyster. The oyster coats the nucleus in the same substance that makes up the inside of the oyster shell, what we know as mother of pearl.  The harvested pearls differ in size, color, and density of the nucleus.  The colors range from gray to black to a  gorgeous peacock green.

Just a reminder

If you signed up to get email notifications whenever I post, you may not know that you can go directly to the blog and click on the various “photos” tabs for additional photos of the ports.  I haven’t included all photos in the posts and have been trying to upload others for those who like seeing more.

https://bobandjanetsexcellentadventure.blogspot.com/

Also, if you weren’t an early subscriber, you can also catch up with old posts at the bottom of the “Home” page.

Please let me know if something doesn’t function the way you think it should or if something doesn’t make sense.  I’ve tried to check everything to make sure it’s operational and user friendly, but I can never be sure because of the slow connection.