Friday, February 29, 2008
Manila, Philippines
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. During World War II, much of the city was destroyed and it was not until 1975 that the Metropolitan Manila region was enacted as an independent republic.
Shortly after we docked we were welcomed by the Philippine people with music and dancing. If anybody had planned to sleep they were surprised.. We ate our breakfast on the veranda so as not to miss any of the performances. We were not cleared at the time to disembark.
We chose to visit Old Manila, beginning with the visit to Rizal Park. This is where Dr. Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero is buried. We then continued on to the old walled city of Intramuros, built during the Spanish colonial period . Our tour bus then took us to Fort Santiago which served as headquarters of the military Spanish, American and Japanese colonists until its destruction in 1945. An added bonus was a welcome Mardi Gras performance. We did not visit the cemetery, but we were told there are 17,800 U.S. buried there.
We passed by the oldest structure in the Philippines., San Augustin Church which dates back to 1571. More than 85% of the people are Catholic. We visited Casa Manila, a reconstructed 19th century mansion. Then we went on to the Bahay Tsinoy Museum which depicts the life of the Chinese population in the Philippines.
We traveled on through the streets of old Manila. Many of the poor people were selling and buying goods and food. We will post a picture taken from the bus. We were told that 40% of the people are below the poverty line. Only 67% finish elementary school which is through 6th grade and 19% finish high school.
The biggest health problems in Manila are HIV and the Bird Flu. Medical care and education are free..
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. During World War II, much of the city was destroyed and it was not until 1975 that the Metropolitan Manila region was enacted as an independent republic.
Shortly after we docked we were welcomed by the Philippine people with music and dancing. If anybody had planned to sleep they were surprised.. We ate our breakfast on the veranda so as not to miss any of the performances. We were not cleared at the time to disembark.
We chose to visit Old Manila, beginning with the visit to Rizal Park. This is where Dr. Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero is buried. We then continued on to the old walled city of Intramuros, built during the Spanish colonial period . Our tour bus then took us to Fort Santiago which served as headquarters of the military Spanish, American and Japanese colonists until its destruction in 1945. An added bonus was a welcome Mardi Gras performance. We did not visit the cemetery, but we were told there are 17,800 U.S. buried there.
We passed by the oldest structure in the Philippines., San Augustin Church which dates back to 1571. More than 85% of the people are Catholic. We visited Casa Manila, a reconstructed 19th century mansion. Then we went on to the Bahay Tsinoy Museum which depicts the life of the Chinese population in the Philippines.
We traveled on through the streets of old Manila. Many of the poor people were selling and buying goods and food. We will post a picture taken from the bus. We were told that 40% of the people are below the poverty line. Only 67% finish elementary school which is through 6th grade and 19% finish high school.
The biggest health problems in Manila are HIV and the Bird Flu. Medical care and education are free..
Monday, February 25, 2008
Muara, Brunei
Brunei is an independent Islamic sultanate on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. His Majesty Sultan Haji presides over the small kingdom. He is 29th sultan in the family dynasty which began with Sultan Muhammed in 1405 AD. Most of the kingdom is jungle terrain, and because only a fraction of the land is developed for farming, food must be imported. They are a rich nation which comes from natural gas and oil.
We were told the country is quite peaceful. No drugs are allowed and if someone is caught, the penalty is death. No alcohol is sold in Brunei. The people help to protect each other, if they see a stranger, the police are called and the stranger must show documentation. People cannot immigrate, they must be born there to be a citizen. Our tour guide was from the Philippines and has lived in Brunei for 16 years, but can never be a citizen because he is not Muslin. The citizens have free education and free medical and the Sultan gives them land and a house. They have no beggars and each family has 2-4 cars. There is no income tax.
One of the photo stops on our tour was at the Sultans’ Palace. The Palace is on 300 acres, has 1,788 rooms, the largest residence palace in the world. We could not go in the Palace but entry is allowed one time a year which will be Oct. 1, 2nd and 3rd next year. People line up to shake the Sultans’ hand and he gives people with children $10.00 per child. He shakes hands with up to 100,000 people. On his birthday the Sultan has 6,000 guests for dinner.
We visited a magnificently-built mosque with 29 24-karat gold domes. As with everyplace that we visited we left our shoes outside. There were 29 steps up to the prayer room which contained a gold and crystal chandelier that weighted 3 ½ tons. Most mosques are just for men, but this one had a room for women. The prayer rooms had wool carpet made in New Zealand divided into individual squares, with altogether room for 5,000 worshipers.
At our next stop, we stepped aboard a water taxi–Brunei’s standard mode of transportation for a stop at the Water Village to see houses built on stilts and to learn about the way of life suspended above water. This is a village of around 30,000 people and when we found out they did not have a sewage system, we tried not to let the water splash on us when aboard the water taxi. When the people use the toilet, the waste goes directly into the water, no flushing, no pipes. The Water Village has schools, mosques, gas stations, library and hospitals all on stilts over the water.
We visited a typical home (took off our shoes, of course) in the Water Village where the children were lounging around, watching tv . The children were home from school as it was Sunday. We wondered what the parents do when they want to get the kids out of the house and how do the teachers manage without a playground for recess. I can remember my teaching days when it rained and we had to keep the kids inside.
We visited a museum to see collections of royal chariots, gold and silver ceremonial armory. His Majesty’s jewel-encrusted crown and other collections were in an area being remodeled so there was no entrance.
Brunei is an independent Islamic sultanate on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. His Majesty Sultan Haji presides over the small kingdom. He is 29th sultan in the family dynasty which began with Sultan Muhammed in 1405 AD. Most of the kingdom is jungle terrain, and because only a fraction of the land is developed for farming, food must be imported. They are a rich nation which comes from natural gas and oil.
We were told the country is quite peaceful. No drugs are allowed and if someone is caught, the penalty is death. No alcohol is sold in Brunei. The people help to protect each other, if they see a stranger, the police are called and the stranger must show documentation. People cannot immigrate, they must be born there to be a citizen. Our tour guide was from the Philippines and has lived in Brunei for 16 years, but can never be a citizen because he is not Muslin. The citizens have free education and free medical and the Sultan gives them land and a house. They have no beggars and each family has 2-4 cars. There is no income tax.
One of the photo stops on our tour was at the Sultans’ Palace. The Palace is on 300 acres, has 1,788 rooms, the largest residence palace in the world. We could not go in the Palace but entry is allowed one time a year which will be Oct. 1, 2nd and 3rd next year. People line up to shake the Sultans’ hand and he gives people with children $10.00 per child. He shakes hands with up to 100,000 people. On his birthday the Sultan has 6,000 guests for dinner.
We visited a magnificently-built mosque with 29 24-karat gold domes. As with everyplace that we visited we left our shoes outside. There were 29 steps up to the prayer room which contained a gold and crystal chandelier that weighted 3 ½ tons. Most mosques are just for men, but this one had a room for women. The prayer rooms had wool carpet made in New Zealand divided into individual squares, with altogether room for 5,000 worshipers.
At our next stop, we stepped aboard a water taxi–Brunei’s standard mode of transportation for a stop at the Water Village to see houses built on stilts and to learn about the way of life suspended above water. This is a village of around 30,000 people and when we found out they did not have a sewage system, we tried not to let the water splash on us when aboard the water taxi. When the people use the toilet, the waste goes directly into the water, no flushing, no pipes. The Water Village has schools, mosques, gas stations, library and hospitals all on stilts over the water.
We visited a typical home (took off our shoes, of course) in the Water Village where the children were lounging around, watching tv . The children were home from school as it was Sunday. We wondered what the parents do when they want to get the kids out of the house and how do the teachers manage without a playground for recess. I can remember my teaching days when it rained and we had to keep the kids inside.
We visited a museum to see collections of royal chariots, gold and silver ceremonial armory. His Majesty’s jewel-encrusted crown and other collections were in an area being remodeled so there was no entrance.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Bali, Indonesia
Feb. 20, 3008
Bali is an Indonesian island located east of Java and 8 degrees south of the Equator. The island is home to the vast majority of Indonesia’s small Hindu minority. It is also the largest tourist destination in the country and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking and music. The island itself is surrounded by coral reefs with beautiful beaches. The island is small about 95 miles wide and 69 miles north to south.
Before our tour we were told not to wear shorts or tank tops as our knees, upper arms and mid-riff could not be exposed. A couple of men wore shorts and had to don the traditional mens skirt before they could enter certain buildings.
We took a comprehensive tour that encompassed a little of everything and lasted 8 ½ hours. The temperature was in the 80s and very humid, but it was overcast which helped. First we traveled to see a Barong Dance which is a traditional dance depicting the timeless theme of good versus evil. This dance was put on for tourists so it was just pretend but in the real dance some of the dancers go into a trance and actually stab themselves several times and also eat raw chicken and raw eggs. They do the real dance every six months because they believe that if they don’t something bad will happen to their village. The dance was accompanied by a background of gongs and percussion instruments. We will post a picture of the shrine where the dance occurred and I will write a later paragraph about the Hindu religion.
We continued on to the village of Mas, where skilled carvers turn slabs of teak and ebony into many different forms. We also went to an artists’ colony, famous for its painters’and artists’studios and museums where we could watch painters at work.
Our lunch was in a beautiful place overlooking the slopes of Mt. Batur. Mt Batur includes an active volcano. We enjoyed stunning views of the volcano and the lake in the distance.
We then went to the Tirta Empul–the temple of holy springs. This 1,000 year old temple complex is built around a sacred spring, and Balinese journey from around the island to bathe in its protective waters. We were told we had to wear a sash which you will notice in the posted picture taken at the Temple. There was a huge market not far from the temple and we were directed to walk through it. We thought we were never going to get out of it and we were followed and hounded by the people selling things. They would surround us and follow us to the bus, then try to get our attention even after we were in the bus. When we were waiting in line on a bridge to catch the tender back to the ship little boys swam out and would dive for coins thrown in the water.
Some interesting information about the Balinese:
They have a different calendar, there are 35 days in a month.
Their main crop is rice and it is harvested by hand, cut and then hit with a stick to beat out the grains. They also grow soy beans, coffee, vanilla beans and cloves. They have many fruits and vegetables and eat a lot of fish.
They have a caste system and everyone is cremated. Their homes consist of several rooms and each room is in a separate building. There is a building for the kitchen, there is another for the children and for the grandparents etc. Each compound is 200 square feet and always includes a temple or a shrine. There will be as many as five buildings
Hindus believe in reincarnation.
They believe in God and spirits and believe we get the fruit of what we do and they believe in heaven.
Hindus pray 3 times a day and have 13,000 temples in Bali plus many, many shrines. Everywhere we looked we saw offerings to the spirits. Usually a square basket made from leaves with some kind of food enclosed.
The Hindus say they and all people have 7 enemies. If they can conquer these 7 enemies, they will go to heaven. When a child becomes an adolescent they file their 7 front teeth so they will be aware of the 7 enemies. The 7 enemies are:
1. Greed
2. Jealousy
3. Anger
4. Desire
5. Confusion
6. Selfish
7. Envy
.
Feb. 20, 3008
Bali is an Indonesian island located east of Java and 8 degrees south of the Equator. The island is home to the vast majority of Indonesia’s small Hindu minority. It is also the largest tourist destination in the country and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking and music. The island itself is surrounded by coral reefs with beautiful beaches. The island is small about 95 miles wide and 69 miles north to south.
Before our tour we were told not to wear shorts or tank tops as our knees, upper arms and mid-riff could not be exposed. A couple of men wore shorts and had to don the traditional mens skirt before they could enter certain buildings.
We took a comprehensive tour that encompassed a little of everything and lasted 8 ½ hours. The temperature was in the 80s and very humid, but it was overcast which helped. First we traveled to see a Barong Dance which is a traditional dance depicting the timeless theme of good versus evil. This dance was put on for tourists so it was just pretend but in the real dance some of the dancers go into a trance and actually stab themselves several times and also eat raw chicken and raw eggs. They do the real dance every six months because they believe that if they don’t something bad will happen to their village. The dance was accompanied by a background of gongs and percussion instruments. We will post a picture of the shrine where the dance occurred and I will write a later paragraph about the Hindu religion.
We continued on to the village of Mas, where skilled carvers turn slabs of teak and ebony into many different forms. We also went to an artists’ colony, famous for its painters’and artists’studios and museums where we could watch painters at work.
Our lunch was in a beautiful place overlooking the slopes of Mt. Batur. Mt Batur includes an active volcano. We enjoyed stunning views of the volcano and the lake in the distance.
We then went to the Tirta Empul–the temple of holy springs. This 1,000 year old temple complex is built around a sacred spring, and Balinese journey from around the island to bathe in its protective waters. We were told we had to wear a sash which you will notice in the posted picture taken at the Temple. There was a huge market not far from the temple and we were directed to walk through it. We thought we were never going to get out of it and we were followed and hounded by the people selling things. They would surround us and follow us to the bus, then try to get our attention even after we were in the bus. When we were waiting in line on a bridge to catch the tender back to the ship little boys swam out and would dive for coins thrown in the water.
Some interesting information about the Balinese:
They have a different calendar, there are 35 days in a month.
Their main crop is rice and it is harvested by hand, cut and then hit with a stick to beat out the grains. They also grow soy beans, coffee, vanilla beans and cloves. They have many fruits and vegetables and eat a lot of fish.
They have a caste system and everyone is cremated. Their homes consist of several rooms and each room is in a separate building. There is a building for the kitchen, there is another for the children and for the grandparents etc. Each compound is 200 square feet and always includes a temple or a shrine. There will be as many as five buildings
Hindus believe in reincarnation.
They believe in God and spirits and believe we get the fruit of what we do and they believe in heaven.
Hindus pray 3 times a day and have 13,000 temples in Bali plus many, many shrines. Everywhere we looked we saw offerings to the spirits. Usually a square basket made from leaves with some kind of food enclosed.
The Hindus say they and all people have 7 enemies. If they can conquer these 7 enemies, they will go to heaven. When a child becomes an adolescent they file their 7 front teeth so they will be aware of the 7 enemies. The 7 enemies are:
1. Greed
2. Jealousy
3. Anger
4. Desire
5. Confusion
6. Selfish
7. Envy
.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Freemantle and Perth
Perth and Fremantle
Saturday Feb. 16
We were docked at 8:00 a.m. and departed the ship at 9:00 on a tour that showcased the sights and highlights of Fremantle and Perth. We drove through historic Fremantle, past the Maritime Center of the west. We viewed the Fremantle Prison and the Round House (the oldest remaining building in Western Australia). We drove along the Esplanade to take in the interesting and historic colonial architecture of Fremantle, the suburb of Perth. When we went into Perth itself we drove by luxurious riverside homes known as Millionaires Row. We had free time at Kings Park. (See pictures). We stopped at Cottesloe Beach scenic point that looked out to the Indian Ocean before returning to Fremantle.
Today was the annual 18 K swimming race. The swimmers swam from the mainland to the island of Rottnest. The only way to get to the island is by ferry and no cars are allowed on the island.
We got off the bus in Fremantle rather than taking the bus to the ship. We walked around the busy town and did some shopping. It was a very warm afternoon so we had to stop in a pub for a cold beer. We found comfortable seats with a cool breeze on the balcony and watched a street entertainer.
The next three days are sea days and we will continue to follow the Australian coast on various Northwesterly courses. Our next port will be Bali,Indonesia.
Saturday Feb. 16
We were docked at 8:00 a.m. and departed the ship at 9:00 on a tour that showcased the sights and highlights of Fremantle and Perth. We drove through historic Fremantle, past the Maritime Center of the west. We viewed the Fremantle Prison and the Round House (the oldest remaining building in Western Australia). We drove along the Esplanade to take in the interesting and historic colonial architecture of Fremantle, the suburb of Perth. When we went into Perth itself we drove by luxurious riverside homes known as Millionaires Row. We had free time at Kings Park. (See pictures). We stopped at Cottesloe Beach scenic point that looked out to the Indian Ocean before returning to Fremantle.
Today was the annual 18 K swimming race. The swimmers swam from the mainland to the island of Rottnest. The only way to get to the island is by ferry and no cars are allowed on the island.
We got off the bus in Fremantle rather than taking the bus to the ship. We walked around the busy town and did some shopping. It was a very warm afternoon so we had to stop in a pub for a cold beer. We found comfortable seats with a cool breeze on the balcony and watched a street entertainer.
The next three days are sea days and we will continue to follow the Australian coast on various Northwesterly courses. Our next port will be Bali,Indonesia.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia
Feb. 12, 2001
Melbourne is the 2nd largest city in Australia and is the capital of Victoria. Melbourne was formally established in 1835 by John Batman who struck a bargain with local tribal leaders and was granted rights to develop more than 500,000 acres in exchange for a meager collection of blankets, mirrors and other Western goods. We heard today that the Prime Minister of Australia is offering an apology to the Aborigines.
Our tour today was a panoramic look at Melbourne via a tour bus. We saw magnificent parks and some well-preserved Victorian residential neighborhoods. Central Melbourne displays ornamental Victorian structures. We stopped at the Shrine of Remembrance modeled after the Athens’ Parthenon. It is dedicated to the soldiers who served and died in WWI. The monument is in front of the Botanical Gardens where we also spent some time. The mid-19th century gold rush provided the wealth that built so many distinctive structures and established an extensive network of wealth and beautiful public green spaces.
Our entertainment tonight was a fantastic couple called the Soul Mystique who danced and performed magical costume transformations. We remembered seeing them on the America’s Got Talent.
We continue sailing along the Australian coast on a west-northwesterly course towards Perth. We will have two days at sea before we reach Perth.
Feb. 12, 2001
Melbourne is the 2nd largest city in Australia and is the capital of Victoria. Melbourne was formally established in 1835 by John Batman who struck a bargain with local tribal leaders and was granted rights to develop more than 500,000 acres in exchange for a meager collection of blankets, mirrors and other Western goods. We heard today that the Prime Minister of Australia is offering an apology to the Aborigines.
Our tour today was a panoramic look at Melbourne via a tour bus. We saw magnificent parks and some well-preserved Victorian residential neighborhoods. Central Melbourne displays ornamental Victorian structures. We stopped at the Shrine of Remembrance modeled after the Athens’ Parthenon. It is dedicated to the soldiers who served and died in WWI. The monument is in front of the Botanical Gardens where we also spent some time. The mid-19th century gold rush provided the wealth that built so many distinctive structures and established an extensive network of wealth and beautiful public green spaces.
Our entertainment tonight was a fantastic couple called the Soul Mystique who danced and performed magical costume transformations. We remembered seeing them on the America’s Got Talent.
We continue sailing along the Australian coast on a west-northwesterly course towards Perth. We will have two days at sea before we reach Perth.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Sydney, Australia
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
FEB. 9TH AND 10TH
Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and has over 4.2 million people, the most populous city in Australia. Port Jackson, better known as Sydney Harbor, is the largest natural harbor in the world. The first fleet that arrived from Britain contained mostly convicts. We heard from the historians that the trip took around six months and the conditions were deplorable, many died before reaching the new land. At the time of the arrival of the first fleet, 1788, Aboriginal people lived in the region. Urbanization has destroyed most evidence of these early settlements.
We cruised into the harbor in early morning on a cloudy and rainy day, but we were still able to get a view of the bridge and the opera house. We needed our umbrellas for the first excursion which was an orientation tour, so we were on the bus for a drive through The Rocks–Sydney’s oldest area. Among the Victorian-era buildings, we saw dazzling examples of modern architecture. We visited the Sydney Opera House which is perhaps the most recognizable building in the world. (A picture is posted) The construction of the roofline is designed to replicate the sails on the adjacent harbor.
Our second day excursion was a visit to Australia’s unique wildlife. We said hello to a dingo and a wombat (see picture of Jack petting the wombat) We also got close to the Koalas (see picture of Shirley petting the Koala) The kangaroos were running around freely and were very approachable for petting. After enjoying all the animals, we stepped aboard a Rivercat and cruised back to Sydney along the Parramatta River. We disembarked at Circular Quay and walked to our ship.
We set sail at 11:00 p.m. for Melbourne, Australia.
FEB. 9TH AND 10TH
Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and has over 4.2 million people, the most populous city in Australia. Port Jackson, better known as Sydney Harbor, is the largest natural harbor in the world. The first fleet that arrived from Britain contained mostly convicts. We heard from the historians that the trip took around six months and the conditions were deplorable, many died before reaching the new land. At the time of the arrival of the first fleet, 1788, Aboriginal people lived in the region. Urbanization has destroyed most evidence of these early settlements.
We cruised into the harbor in early morning on a cloudy and rainy day, but we were still able to get a view of the bridge and the opera house. We needed our umbrellas for the first excursion which was an orientation tour, so we were on the bus for a drive through The Rocks–Sydney’s oldest area. Among the Victorian-era buildings, we saw dazzling examples of modern architecture. We visited the Sydney Opera House which is perhaps the most recognizable building in the world. (A picture is posted) The construction of the roofline is designed to replicate the sails on the adjacent harbor.
Our second day excursion was a visit to Australia’s unique wildlife. We said hello to a dingo and a wombat (see picture of Jack petting the wombat) We also got close to the Koalas (see picture of Shirley petting the Koala) The kangaroos were running around freely and were very approachable for petting. After enjoying all the animals, we stepped aboard a Rivercat and cruised back to Sydney along the Parramatta River. We disembarked at Circular Quay and walked to our ship.
We set sail at 11:00 p.m. for Melbourne, Australia.
Milford Sound
Milford Sound, New Zealand
Feb. 6, 2008
Milford Sound is located in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. The flora and fauna of the area is some of the most spectacular in the world as the sound runs 9.3 miles inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise almost 4,000 feet on either side with lush rain forests clinging to the cliffs. Seals, penguins and dolphins frequent the waters. Over 200 inches of rain fall here a year and create temporary and permanent waterfalls cascading down the cliff faces, some reaching over 3,000 feet. Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s most visited tourist spots, even with its remote location and the long journey from the nearest population centers.
Feb. 6, 2008
Milford Sound is located in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. The flora and fauna of the area is some of the most spectacular in the world as the sound runs 9.3 miles inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise almost 4,000 feet on either side with lush rain forests clinging to the cliffs. Seals, penguins and dolphins frequent the waters. Over 200 inches of rain fall here a year and create temporary and permanent waterfalls cascading down the cliff faces, some reaching over 3,000 feet. Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s most visited tourist spots, even with its remote location and the long journey from the nearest population centers.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Typical Days at Sea
Sea Day, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008
Today is a typical sea day.
6:00 Exercise workout
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Relax on the veranda (read the newspaper), Tai Chi class or dance class
10:00 Lecture on bridge or digital photography
11:00 Lecture on Life in a Sunburned Country–Australia, or a seminar on Detox for Weight Loss or Culinary Arts demonstration
12:15 Texas Hold’em Tournament
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Party bridge
2:00 If we don’t play bridge, we could go to arts and crafts, go to an art auction, or today an Scavenger Hunt
3:00 Dance Class
3:30 Afternoon tea
4:00 Aerobics or bingo
5:45 Dinner
8:00 Entertainment
9:00 Dance all night, live music in three different lounges (all the old people go to bed!)
Today is a typical sea day.
6:00 Exercise workout
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Relax on the veranda (read the newspaper), Tai Chi class or dance class
10:00 Lecture on bridge or digital photography
11:00 Lecture on Life in a Sunburned Country–Australia, or a seminar on Detox for Weight Loss or Culinary Arts demonstration
12:15 Texas Hold’em Tournament
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Party bridge
2:00 If we don’t play bridge, we could go to arts and crafts, go to an art auction, or today an Scavenger Hunt
3:00 Dance Class
3:30 Afternoon tea
4:00 Aerobics or bingo
5:45 Dinner
8:00 Entertainment
9:00 Dance all night, live music in three different lounges (all the old people go to bed!)
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Feb. 5, 2008
Day 32
Dunedin, New Zealand
Our day began with a workout, then breakfast. We did not have a planned excursion but took the shuttle from Port Chalmers into Dunedin.
We stepped off the bus into Denedin’s central district which is a neat, eight-sided Octagon. The district is a charming place of antique volcanic stone buildings. We will post some pictures of the central landmarks such as the twin spires of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Municipal Chambers and the City Art Gallery. The Taieri Gorge Railway also has a beautiful building and lovely gardens
We enjoyed touring the Cadbury chocolate factory and added to our cache of chocolate candy. We enjoyed looking through the shops and the craft tents located around the Octagon.
We returned to the ship to see it decorated for the Mardi Gras. We remembered to take our camera to dinner as the servers are always costumed for every occasion. We were not disappointed and took some pictures which I will post. Before dessert, the servers marched to New Orleans jazz music while clanging their kitchen tools (banging cookie sheets together etc.) .
Our entertainer was an impressionist who presented tributes to Sammy Davis, Stevie Wonder and others.
Day 32
Dunedin, New Zealand
Our day began with a workout, then breakfast. We did not have a planned excursion but took the shuttle from Port Chalmers into Dunedin.
We stepped off the bus into Denedin’s central district which is a neat, eight-sided Octagon. The district is a charming place of antique volcanic stone buildings. We will post some pictures of the central landmarks such as the twin spires of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Municipal Chambers and the City Art Gallery. The Taieri Gorge Railway also has a beautiful building and lovely gardens
We enjoyed touring the Cadbury chocolate factory and added to our cache of chocolate candy. We enjoyed looking through the shops and the craft tents located around the Octagon.
We returned to the ship to see it decorated for the Mardi Gras. We remembered to take our camera to dinner as the servers are always costumed for every occasion. We were not disappointed and took some pictures which I will post. Before dessert, the servers marched to New Orleans jazz music while clanging their kitchen tools (banging cookie sheets together etc.) .
Our entertainer was an impressionist who presented tributes to Sammy Davis, Stevie Wonder and others.
Feb. 4, 2008
Christchurch, New Zealand
Those who settled Christchurch had aspirations of building the city around a cathedral and on the model of Christ Church in Oxford.
Our tour was an exploration around the countryside. We started in Lyttleton where the ship was docked and drove around the harbor past scenic Governors Bay and across Gebbies Pass to Little River, where a hearty morning tea awaited us at Manderley Farm. The farm is owned by Ross and Mary Millar. During our visit, Ross provided a dog demonstration showing the important role dogs play in the operation of a successful sheep farm.
From Manderley Farm, we made our way to Christchurch, traveling past the shoreline of Lake Ellesmere and a village of Tai Tapu. We made our way to the Arts Center and the museum in Christchurch. We did not ride the bus back to the ship but chose to stay down town for some shopping, then caught the shuttle back.
We returned to the ship and went into the Queens Lounge to attend the Super Bowl party and watch the game and an exciting game it was. We will set sail tonight for Dunedin at 7:00 p.m.
After dinner, we enjoyed the entertainment of Frank King a comedian. His comedy is more like a comedy conversation or a giant cocktail party in which he has the floor. He has a hilarious take on life and its challenges.
.
Christchurch, New Zealand
Those who settled Christchurch had aspirations of building the city around a cathedral and on the model of Christ Church in Oxford.
Our tour was an exploration around the countryside. We started in Lyttleton where the ship was docked and drove around the harbor past scenic Governors Bay and across Gebbies Pass to Little River, where a hearty morning tea awaited us at Manderley Farm. The farm is owned by Ross and Mary Millar. During our visit, Ross provided a dog demonstration showing the important role dogs play in the operation of a successful sheep farm.
From Manderley Farm, we made our way to Christchurch, traveling past the shoreline of Lake Ellesmere and a village of Tai Tapu. We made our way to the Arts Center and the museum in Christchurch. We did not ride the bus back to the ship but chose to stay down town for some shopping, then caught the shuttle back.
We returned to the ship and went into the Queens Lounge to attend the Super Bowl party and watch the game and an exciting game it was. We will set sail tonight for Dunedin at 7:00 p.m.
After dinner, we enjoyed the entertainment of Frank King a comedian. His comedy is more like a comedy conversation or a giant cocktail party in which he has the floor. He has a hilarious take on life and its challenges.
.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Auckland, New Zealand
January 30th and 31st we were at sea. We did not attend the speaker on Exotic Fabrics of the World, but did enjoy the anthropologist on Traditional and Changing Life of the Maori of New Zealand. Jack and I played bridge one afternoon, had some good cards and were the winners!! The evening entertainment was a violinist from the United Kingdom and the brother and sister dancers.
February 1
Today we docked in Auckland, New Zealand known as the largest and most modern city in New Zealand. Auckland is home to 1/4 of the New Zealand’s people. Within an hour drive from Auckland there are 102 beaches. There are over 70,000 powerboats and sailing craft, or one per every four households.
Our excursion was an Antarctic encounter and the Sky Tower. On the Antarctic encounter we viewed a life-size recreation of Captain Scott’s Antarctic Hut. Then we boarded a Snow Cat and plunged into simulated Antarctic whiteout. We emerged from the whiteout into a live penguin colony where we could watch them swim and play. Next we traveled through a clear, acrylic tunnel on a moving walkway as schools of fish and sharks were swimming above and around us. Another highlight was the Stingray Bay where we saw some with six-foot wingspans and long barbed tails.
The Sky Tower was completed in 1996 and is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. We had a panoramic view of the city and the gulf. People book sky jumps from the tower. The jumpers wear a harness and there are overhead safety lines to keep them safe. We caught one of the jumpers with our camera and we will post it if it is good.
In the late afternoon, some of the Maori came aboard for a cultural display through songs and dances.
The evening entertainment was Australia’s number one ventriloquist. He is talented and was extremely popular with the audience.
February 1
Today we docked in Auckland, New Zealand known as the largest and most modern city in New Zealand. Auckland is home to 1/4 of the New Zealand’s people. Within an hour drive from Auckland there are 102 beaches. There are over 70,000 powerboats and sailing craft, or one per every four households.
Our excursion was an Antarctic encounter and the Sky Tower. On the Antarctic encounter we viewed a life-size recreation of Captain Scott’s Antarctic Hut. Then we boarded a Snow Cat and plunged into simulated Antarctic whiteout. We emerged from the whiteout into a live penguin colony where we could watch them swim and play. Next we traveled through a clear, acrylic tunnel on a moving walkway as schools of fish and sharks were swimming above and around us. Another highlight was the Stingray Bay where we saw some with six-foot wingspans and long barbed tails.
The Sky Tower was completed in 1996 and is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. We had a panoramic view of the city and the gulf. People book sky jumps from the tower. The jumpers wear a harness and there are overhead safety lines to keep them safe. We caught one of the jumpers with our camera and we will post it if it is good.
In the late afternoon, some of the Maori came aboard for a cultural display through songs and dances.
The evening entertainment was Australia’s number one ventriloquist. He is talented and was extremely popular with the audience.
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