Wellwe finally made it to Hong Kong. Disembarked from Arcadia yesterday.
Had a fascinating visit to Borneo but gave up using ship's internet as it was costing a fortune - hence fewer blogs!!
Am now sitting in an internet cafe in Hong Kong. This city is something else.
Went out with Tim last night and all the shops were open until midnight - all
the streets lit up by bright white lights, building size TV screens and thousands
of people all shopping! We have been savouring the delights of the street cafes,
food markets etc. Having lunch with Cindy's parents tomorrow - dim sum.
Off to China on Monday by train and then Macau. Too much too take in and describe
at this stage.
Sam - hope all is well with expected baby. Will try to think of some suitable names.
Friday, 12 March 2010
Friday, 5 March 2010
CROSSING THE EQUATOR
Friday, 5th MArch 2010.
Latitude 2 degrees 7.4S
Longitude 127 degrees 5.3E
Temperature: 84 degrees
We are soon to leave the seas of the southern hemisphere and at midnight tonight
(GMT +9) we shall cross the Equator into the Maluccas Sea and on into the Celebes Sea en route to Borneo to the port of Kota Kinabolu. Every time I look at the atlas of this part of the world I come across names I have never heard of before. A true delight!
Latitude 2 degrees 7.4S
Longitude 127 degrees 5.3E
Temperature: 84 degrees
We are soon to leave the seas of the southern hemisphere and at midnight tonight
(GMT +9) we shall cross the Equator into the Maluccas Sea and on into the Celebes Sea en route to Borneo to the port of Kota Kinabolu. Every time I look at the atlas of this part of the world I come across names I have never heard of before. A true delight!
DID YOU SEE? YES I DID!
Koalas, kookaburras, kangaroos
Crocodiles, wallabies and cockatoos
Boomerangs, bush hats and didgeridoos
We saw them all at the wildlife zoo!
Crocodiles, wallabies and cockatoos
Boomerangs, bush hats and didgeridoos
We saw them all at the wildlife zoo!
WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS & GREAT BARRIER REEF
This is more like it! What a beautiful part of the world this is. The temperatures are certainly getting tropical up here off the coast of Queensland. Every morning we get up and walk out to 84 degrees on deck. There are islands dotted all over the place. It looks like a sailing paradise although somewhat treacherous for larger vessels such as ours having to manoeuvre amongst the reefs. We have a specialist Reef Pilot on board, Captain John Foley, who is guiding the bridge officers through the Great Barrier Reef which stretches from the Whitsunday Islands right up through the Torres Strait at the northernmost tip of Australia - a truly treacherous area as
everywhere you look you can literally see patches of reef within a few hundred metres of where we're sailing. All of a sudden the tales of Captain Cook and Captain Bligh spring to life as we retrace the paths of their journeys through these fascinating waters and learn how each island got its name. A true south Pacific adventure!
everywhere you look you can literally see patches of reef within a few hundred metres of where we're sailing. All of a sudden the tales of Captain Cook and Captain Bligh spring to life as we retrace the paths of their journeys through these fascinating waters and learn how each island got its name. A true south Pacific adventure!
Monday, 1 March 2010
PASSING SHIPS
Apparently we Brits are all "over here" in our thousands cruising the southern hemisphere. There's our ship, the Arcadia, its sister ship the Aurora which we passed last SAturday on our way up to the Whitsunday Islands. They were on their way to Brisbane (poor sods)! Then there's the Cunard fleet - the Queen Victoria and the Queen Mary 2 which we passed on Sunday as we sailed away from the beautiful Whitsunday Islands.
WELCOME TO BRISBANE
Oil refineries, heaps of cement and industrial waste, a skyline of cranes, cargo
ships and containers, muddy waters. Black skies rained down on us as we sailed
into port and MJ turned around to me and said "Welcome to Brisbane !" Brisbane
incidentally was miles away - a mere silhouette in the far distance. And the reason for this? Would you believe when the city planners built the new motorway bridge they didn't allow for the fact that it would block off access to the main port of Brisbane for the larger taller cruise ships. Hey ho so there we were stuck in the middle of nowhere - an hour's bus ride from "the sights". Thanks a bundle P & O!
After a badly chosen excursion to the Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise) with its tacky promenade and a marginally pleasant river trip around multi-million dollar properties built along a system of waterways running parallel to the coast, we then had another interminable bus journey back to the port with the most irritatin guide -
an American sporting an Australian bush hat, who bored us with his personal anecdotes ad nauseam. And we never did get to see downtown Brisbane as there was no time. Needless to say MJ was at the front of the complaints queue when we got back on board ship!
ships and containers, muddy waters. Black skies rained down on us as we sailed
into port and MJ turned around to me and said "Welcome to Brisbane !" Brisbane
incidentally was miles away - a mere silhouette in the far distance. And the reason for this? Would you believe when the city planners built the new motorway bridge they didn't allow for the fact that it would block off access to the main port of Brisbane for the larger taller cruise ships. Hey ho so there we were stuck in the middle of nowhere - an hour's bus ride from "the sights". Thanks a bundle P & O!
After a badly chosen excursion to the Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise) with its tacky promenade and a marginally pleasant river trip around multi-million dollar properties built along a system of waterways running parallel to the coast, we then had another interminable bus journey back to the port with the most irritatin guide -
an American sporting an Australian bush hat, who bored us with his personal anecdotes ad nauseam. And we never did get to see downtown Brisbane as there was no time. Needless to say MJ was at the front of the complaints queue when we got back on board ship!
MJ HAS A NEW HOBBY
MJ has decided to take up water colour painting. He's bought all the kit and between Sydney and Hong Kong intends to become a celebrity artist with the help of George Grumshaw the new tutor on board. There appears to be fierce competition.
He has already ascertained that the guy who sits next to him is colour blind!
He has already ascertained that the guy who sits next to him is colour blind!
LAUNDERETTE ETIQUETTE
Another tale of tiffs in the launderette. A woman was waiting for her turn to load one of the three washing machines. Just as the cycle came to an end a male passenger came in to empty the machine and proceeded to place in another load.
"That's not fair" complained the woman. "You should take your turn."
"But I'm a world class passenger" retorted the man.
Question: Whose smalls preside over whose in this situation?
"That's not fair" complained the woman. "You should take your turn."
"But I'm a world class passenger" retorted the man.
Question: Whose smalls preside over whose in this situation?
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Well everyone knows about Sydney, Australia. So all I have to add is that we have
just had two fabulous days there moored up right in the main harbour. I reckon Mike
and I had the best hotel toom in Sidney - our cabin being at the back of the boat -
on our left we looked out on to The Harbour Bridge and on our right the Sydney
opera house. Took some great shots of the skyline as we sailed in just before
sunrise - a magical sight. HAd a great time doing lots of touristy things, savouring lot of Australian wine. Next stop Brisbane!
just had two fabulous days there moored up right in the main harbour. I reckon Mike
and I had the best hotel toom in Sidney - our cabin being at the back of the boat -
on our left we looked out on to The Harbour Bridge and on our right the Sydney
opera house. Took some great shots of the skyline as we sailed in just before
sunrise - a magical sight. HAd a great time doing lots of touristy things, savouring lot of Australian wine. Next stop Brisbane!
A FEW LINGUISTIC OBSERVATIONS
AS a linguist I have been trying to work out the difference between a New Zealand accent and an Astralian accent. One of my observations of NZ speak to date is
Teen past teen = 10.10
Eenywhy = Anyway (a favourite expression of one of our NZ coach drivers).
Teen past teen = 10.10
Eenywhy = Anyway (a favourite expression of one of our NZ coach drivers).
NEW ZEALAND 17-20 fEB. 2010
New Zealand proved to be a truly beautiful country and despite the inclement weather we had experienced arriving on its shores and the preceeding rain overland our visits to the three cities of Auckland, Christchurch and Dunediin were blessed with sunshine. Warmest of all was Auckland, the largest city of NZ and our first port of call beckoned us with the wonderful skkyline of modern skyscrapers overlooked by the impressive Sky Tower the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere. This "city of sails" twice host of the Americas Cup welcomed us with a truly vibrant harbourside and waterfront. Then from the Cambridge feel of Christchurch with its punts on the River Avon which flowed through the oh so British parks and gardens and streets named after English cathedral cities, to the totally Scottish flavour of Dunedin where, as part of the festival month of february, we saw more men in kilts, sporrens and playing the bagpipes converging around the closed off streets surrounding the shopping area of the Octagon, than was ever witnessed in a Robbie Burns day in Edinburgh! One felt transported into another age as everywhere you felt more that here was a country the size of Britain with a total population of only 4 million and the inhabitants like it that way. They are so happy and proud of their islands and whilst wecoming us all to come and live here with them one felt that they nevertheless wanted to keep it just as it is. And who can blame them.
On a transalpine train to Arthur's Pass, the centrer of southern Island we saw glaciers, tumbling waterfalls, lichen covered rust-looking rocks and flaming red trees which were beginning to come into bloom. In the valleys you could see the coal trains which when moving looked like a scene from a David Lean movie. And then there were the stunning sea views. As we sailed away from Auckland an exhilerating sight of tens of sailing boats racing around the harbour, spinnackers flying in the wind. Equally memorable was the stunning coastline of endless rolling hills as we sailed away from the port of Lyttleton outside Chrischurch. And finally on the long stretches of beaches aligning the harbour area of Port Chalmers, Dunedin a handful of people who had the beach to themselves on this Saturday afternoon in summer waved enthusiastically. What idid they make of us I wondered as they watched the partygoers on the sun deck all wearing Union Jack hats and flying flags singing "Rule Britannia! as we sailed away. The highlignt of my last day in NZ was that I finally got to see an albatross who came to wave us off from the albatross sanctuary on the headland.
On a transalpine train to Arthur's Pass, the centrer of southern Island we saw glaciers, tumbling waterfalls, lichen covered rust-looking rocks and flaming red trees which were beginning to come into bloom. In the valleys you could see the coal trains which when moving looked like a scene from a David Lean movie. And then there were the stunning sea views. As we sailed away from Auckland an exhilerating sight of tens of sailing boats racing around the harbour, spinnackers flying in the wind. Equally memorable was the stunning coastline of endless rolling hills as we sailed away from the port of Lyttleton outside Chrischurch. And finally on the long stretches of beaches aligning the harbour area of Port Chalmers, Dunedin a handful of people who had the beach to themselves on this Saturday afternoon in summer waved enthusiastically. What idid they make of us I wondered as they watched the partygoers on the sun deck all wearing Union Jack hats and flying flags singing "Rule Britannia! as we sailed away. The highlignt of my last day in NZ was that I finally got to see an albatross who came to wave us off from the albatross sanctuary on the headland.
Sunday, 21 February 2010
LIFE ON BOARD SHIP
After many many days at sea (7 to be precise) we finally succeeded in staying ahead of Hurrican Rene and arrived safely in beautiful New Zealand on Wednesday 17th Feb.
(More about that in my next blog).
So what is life like on board this ship? Well, there are over 2000 people on board including passengers and crew. 85% of the staff are Indian - very charming and very hardworking. 65% of the passengers are doing the full world cruise from Southampton to Southampton and all of them almost without exception have been on numerous cruises before. The majority of the passengers are from the UK and of those approximately 75% are northerners - the predominant accent being Yorkshire. I would say the average age on board is 65. There are young people on board but they are all members of staff including a large troupe of entertainers.
One can engage in all types of activities - Bridge, Gaming classes, Ballroom Dancing, Line Dancing, Gym and Exercise classes, Beauty treatments, Quoits, Shuffleboard, Short Tennis, Swimming, Photography, Spanish, IT classes, Quizzes, Bingo, Cinema. Then there is a large theatre called the Palladium which seats 800 people and in there they hold talks during the day time. There are speakers on birds, Whales and all manner of wildlie, crime, wine, jewellery, precious stones. There are talks about the history and geography and available excurisions at the different ports of call. Then there are celebrity speakers such as Murray Walker and currently we have Brian Hanrahan on board talking about his experiences as a BBC foreign correspondent. We have met up with him several times as he and Mike exchange their BBC/ITN reminiscences. Then there is loads of entertainment - singers, dancers, comedians, musical shos, sailaway parties, discos etc etc
MJ and I are to a large extent on the periphery of it all - observing a lot and dipping in and out of this cruising life when it suits us. We spend a large part of our time meeting and chatting with people in the various restaurants and bars from breakfast throught to lunch and dinner. So far we've managed to avoid afternoon tea. We go for the odd brisk walk around the promenade deck and spend the rest of our time lounging around our cabin and balcony reading, writing and sunbathying when the weather is fine and looking for albatrosses and whales. All in all a bizarre but quite pleasant way of life. Nevertheless we really relish arriving at the ports of call and I'm sure we will have had our fill of "sea days" by the time we get to Hong Kong.
(More about that in my next blog).
So what is life like on board this ship? Well, there are over 2000 people on board including passengers and crew. 85% of the staff are Indian - very charming and very hardworking. 65% of the passengers are doing the full world cruise from Southampton to Southampton and all of them almost without exception have been on numerous cruises before. The majority of the passengers are from the UK and of those approximately 75% are northerners - the predominant accent being Yorkshire. I would say the average age on board is 65. There are young people on board but they are all members of staff including a large troupe of entertainers.
One can engage in all types of activities - Bridge, Gaming classes, Ballroom Dancing, Line Dancing, Gym and Exercise classes, Beauty treatments, Quoits, Shuffleboard, Short Tennis, Swimming, Photography, Spanish, IT classes, Quizzes, Bingo, Cinema. Then there is a large theatre called the Palladium which seats 800 people and in there they hold talks during the day time. There are speakers on birds, Whales and all manner of wildlie, crime, wine, jewellery, precious stones. There are talks about the history and geography and available excurisions at the different ports of call. Then there are celebrity speakers such as Murray Walker and currently we have Brian Hanrahan on board talking about his experiences as a BBC foreign correspondent. We have met up with him several times as he and Mike exchange their BBC/ITN reminiscences. Then there is loads of entertainment - singers, dancers, comedians, musical shos, sailaway parties, discos etc etc
MJ and I are to a large extent on the periphery of it all - observing a lot and dipping in and out of this cruising life when it suits us. We spend a large part of our time meeting and chatting with people in the various restaurants and bars from breakfast throught to lunch and dinner. So far we've managed to avoid afternoon tea. We go for the odd brisk walk around the promenade deck and spend the rest of our time lounging around our cabin and balcony reading, writing and sunbathying when the weather is fine and looking for albatrosses and whales. All in all a bizarre but quite pleasant way of life. Nevertheless we really relish arriving at the ports of call and I'm sure we will have had our fill of "sea days" by the time we get to Hong Kong.
No news from New Zealand
Looked up the Arcadia's position today and see that you're at sea and heading for beautiful Sydney, well, that's what it said!
Hope you managed to get some feel for NZ from your three ports of call.
We do hope that you are enjoying everything, despite the interesting weather conditions.
With all good wishes
June and Derek
Hope you managed to get some feel for NZ from your three ports of call.
We do hope that you are enjoying everything, despite the interesting weather conditions.
With all good wishes
June and Derek
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Saturday, 13 February 2010
WEATHER UPDATE
We are approximately 150 miles ahead of Hurricane Rene. Present position
Lat: 21 degrees 7.0S Long: 176 degrees 50W Winds only Gale Force 7 at
present. Nobody said it was going to be easy!!!
Lat: 21 degrees 7.0S Long: 176 degrees 50W Winds only Gale Force 7 at
present. Nobody said it was going to be easy!!!
CROSSING THE DATE LINE
last night we crossed the international date line from Friday 12th Feb to Sunday 14th Feb so we are now into Valentine's Day one day ahead of you all. MJ and I will be celebrating attending a cocktail party to meet the Captain and then dinner in the Orchid Restaurant savouring the delights of Thai/Chines fusion food.
THE PERILS OF BEING AN ENTERTAINER
So I mentioned about Sally James singing to a comatose audience the other night, well, yesterday Claire Sweeney joined the ship in Samoa and had a full house for the evening show in the Palladium Theatre. One of the highlights of her show is to sing "All that Jazz" from the musical Chicago. So there she is doing her Roxy routine getting down and dirty with the men in the audience. As she approached one guy singing "All .... that .... placing the microphone in front of him expecting him to sing JAZZ - there was no response at all. The audience and Claire broke out into fits of laughter assuming that he was asleep but we learned the following day that he and his two companions either side of him were all blind! You couldn't make it up could you ....
Friday, 12 February 2010
NEW WORRIES FOR MJ
We had another Code Alpha alert yesterday. MJ instantly thought it might be another death. It turned out to be an electrical fire in once of the cabins whereupon he began deliberating about what to take on the life boat.
Having survived Christmas Island without any nuclear contamination MJ became anxious to learn that Samoa, our next port of call, is just recovering from a recent Tsunami.
However, after three days at sea the Captain has just announced that we wont be going ashore in Samoa after all due to the fact that we are trying to outrun a series of converging typhoons now named by the Americans as Hurricane Rene. So 5 more days at sea. Let's hope we make it to Auckland!
Having survived Christmas Island without any nuclear contamination MJ became anxious to learn that Samoa, our next port of call, is just recovering from a recent Tsunami.
However, after three days at sea the Captain has just announced that we wont be going ashore in Samoa after all due to the fact that we are trying to outrun a series of converging typhoons now named by the Americans as Hurricane Rene. So 5 more days at sea. Let's hope we make it to Auckland!
DID YOU SEE? NO I BLOODY DIDN'T!
For my literary brethren - a poem.
I didn't see the dolphins
Off the starboard deck today
I didn't see the turtles
As they swam along the bay
From the boat to Christmas Island
I missed the giant ray
Why am I always never there
When they come out to play?
ALighting on the island
I began to feel the heat
I dipped my toes in water
Near the palm trees on the beach
The angelfish and coconut crabs
All lurked beneath my feet
But no I didn't see them
Til one bit me for a treat!
I didn't see the albatross
Floating in the sky
I never saw the whale
When she surfaced to say "hi"
Now I think about it
Only one thing's caught my eye
That irritating buzzard
The common or garden fly!
I didn't see the dolphins
Off the starboard deck today
I didn't see the turtles
As they swam along the bay
From the boat to Christmas Island
I missed the giant ray
Why am I always never there
When they come out to play?
ALighting on the island
I began to feel the heat
I dipped my toes in water
Near the palm trees on the beach
The angelfish and coconut crabs
All lurked beneath my feet
But no I didn't see them
Til one bit me for a treat!
I didn't see the albatross
Floating in the sky
I never saw the whale
When she surfaced to say "hi"
Now I think about it
Only one thing's caught my eye
That irritating buzzard
The common or garden fly!
AFTER DINNER SNOOZE
Oh my God listen to this. We decided to go to the evening variety show after dinner. Entertainment was a comedienne/singer. Quite a sparse audience as it had been a long hot day on Christmas Island. Around 11.30 p.m. towards the end of her spot she jokes "If this were a SAGA cruise I'd be lucky if anyone was still awake"
I turned to Mike who, I'm ashamed to say, was fast asleep!!
I turned to Mike who, I'm ashamed to say, was fast asleep!!
Thank You for a Great Read
Hi Avril
New to blogging, so hope this reaches you on your fabulous trip - just had to tell you how much I'm enjoying your news - far better than any books I've read lately... I've only ever spent 2 days in Hong Kong, but loved every minute - it was sort of organised chaos, but everything worked and even on my own I felt safer than anywhere else in the West! Have fun...
I gather Sylvia read your blogs to Nadine - who I have to say is amazingly bright and cheerful when any of us visit her - it is her birthday tomorrow and she still is enjoying the thought of celebrating it with her family by her bedside -
Hope the seasickness worn off - nothing worse, but after a few days it is wonderful - longing to read more about the passengers, what fantastic characters you will be gathering for your prose and poetry - looking forward to hearing them on your return!
love Rosemary
New to blogging, so hope this reaches you on your fabulous trip - just had to tell you how much I'm enjoying your news - far better than any books I've read lately... I've only ever spent 2 days in Hong Kong, but loved every minute - it was sort of organised chaos, but everything worked and even on my own I felt safer than anywhere else in the West! Have fun...
I gather Sylvia read your blogs to Nadine - who I have to say is amazingly bright and cheerful when any of us visit her - it is her birthday tomorrow and she still is enjoying the thought of celebrating it with her family by her bedside -
Hope the seasickness worn off - nothing worse, but after a few days it is wonderful - longing to read more about the passengers, what fantastic characters you will be gathering for your prose and poetry - looking forward to hearing them on your return!
love Rosemary
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
VISIT TO CHRISTMAS ISLAND - 9 FEBRUARY 2010
Christmas Island (also known as Kirimati) situated 65 km from the Equator, is the largest coral atoll in the Pacific. Discovered by Captain James Cook in 1777, occupied by the Allies during WW2, it was the site of the first British H-Bomb in 1957. Today it has 4 villages and a population of 1800. On approaching the island by tender boat you see coral beaches, fishing boats and palm trees. Once landed at the port of London cargo jetty the passengers look for a high street and shops. They find a few pre-fabricated buildings, a road with no traffic apart from the odd motorbike and a smattering of curious locals who have come to sing and dance for us and to sell a few shell trinkets and fresh coconut drinks. Disused refrigeration units house sacks of flour. We find a library with a few shelves of English books apparently donated by passing ships. There's a Church, a school and a bar. The highlight of our visit was to sit and chat to some local teenage boys who spoke little or no English but who delighted us by fetching us a coconut straight from the tree, chopping it in half with a machete type knife and presenting us with fresh coconut juice.
SO WHO DIED? I HEAR YOU ASK
- One guy travelling to San Francisco to help organise his daughter's wedding.
Apparently divorced three times - used to keep the ladies on the singles table
entertained. Life and soul of the party. After two consecutive nights they started to wonder why he hadn't shown up.
- Another guy overdid it in the gym and had a heart attack
- Then there was the wife who didn't want to fly home arranged for herself and
her husband's coffin to be transferred on to the homeward bound Oriana as it
crossed paths with the Arcadia in the Panama Canal.
(To answer your comment Simon - these are stories which have been related to us by
the world cruise passengers who have been on the ship since Southampton)
PS To add a more current story. We hope the death count doesn't increase. We
awoke this morning to an announcement from the Captain urgently requesting blood donors with Type O positive blood to report immediately to the Medical Centre where a patient was critically ill. Mike's being cured of his fear of flying. Watch this space .....
Apparently divorced three times - used to keep the ladies on the singles table
entertained. Life and soul of the party. After two consecutive nights they started to wonder why he hadn't shown up.
- Another guy overdid it in the gym and had a heart attack
- Then there was the wife who didn't want to fly home arranged for herself and
her husband's coffin to be transferred on to the homeward bound Oriana as it
crossed paths with the Arcadia in the Panama Canal.
(To answer your comment Simon - these are stories which have been related to us by
the world cruise passengers who have been on the ship since Southampton)
PS To add a more current story. We hope the death count doesn't increase. We
awoke this morning to an announcement from the Captain urgently requesting blood donors with Type O positive blood to report immediately to the Medical Centre where a patient was critically ill. Mike's being cured of his fear of flying. Watch this space .....
Monday, 8 February 2010
HIGH NOON AT THE LAUNDERETTE
A fight broke out in the launderette the other day over whose turn it was to use the dryer. Apparently it continued later that night in the bar. The guilty parties were duly thrown off the ship in Barbados. Moral of the story: Don't air your dirty wasing in public!
NEEDLE TALK
I attended a talk on Acupuncture for Arthritis the other day. Dr Manu Pradeesh offered me a private consultation and said he could cure my arthritic hip in 8 sessions at £88 each. I found that a bit needling and decided I'd rather get legless on Champagne!!
NEW ISSUES FOR MJ
Having survivied the plane journey MJ has just learned through the grapevine that there are an average of 17 deaths on each world cruise. Apparently 5 down already on this one since Southampton. MJ is now having sleepless nights. Will he ever wake up again or become the next Code Alpha?
Sunday, 7 February 2010
FIRST STOP - HONOLULU
After 5 long seasick days at sea {hence delay in my blogs) we finally awoke to a beautiful sunrise over Honolulu. It was so GOOD to see land again. This is a very beautiful place - warm, sunny and welcoming. We had a good excursion trip to many parts of the island of Oahu and continued on to a very moving visit to Pearl Harbour.
The highlight of our day was to meet up with my nephew Robin who I have not seen for nine years, and his new wife Wendy who greeted us with two exquisite "lei" of fresh orchids. We spent a wonderful afternoon with them on Waikiki Beach in the hotel where they had been married drinking "Maitai" delicious rum cocktails whilst being serenaded by Hawaiian musicians with the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Heaven!
A very special day.
The highlight of our day was to meet up with my nephew Robin who I have not seen for nine years, and his new wife Wendy who greeted us with two exquisite "lei" of fresh orchids. We spent a wonderful afternoon with them on Waikiki Beach in the hotel where they had been married drinking "Maitai" delicious rum cocktails whilst being serenaded by Hawaiian musicians with the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Heaven!
A very special day.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
I couldn't resist
Hi Avril and Mike,
So glad to hear you're having a great time and are now safely aboard your ship. Loved reading about your 'adventures' so far. Al sounds like a great character for a story.
I was intrigued by Moral Turptiude (couldn't bear to think of you committing something you didn't even know about!) so I looked it up in the dictionary. Turpitude is baseness, depravity, wickedness (presumably moral or otherwise). So now you know!! Steer clear of it whilst on board the ship.
I visited Nadine last week. She is still in hospital, still very weak but still cheerful and chatty. I hope to visit again next week and will update her on your news - she will love hearing it.
Looking forward to your next installment.
love,
Sylvia
So glad to hear you're having a great time and are now safely aboard your ship. Loved reading about your 'adventures' so far. Al sounds like a great character for a story.
I was intrigued by Moral Turptiude (couldn't bear to think of you committing something you didn't even know about!) so I looked it up in the dictionary. Turpitude is baseness, depravity, wickedness (presumably moral or otherwise). So now you know!! Steer clear of it whilst on board the ship.
I visited Nadine last week. She is still in hospital, still very weak but still cheerful and chatty. I hope to visit again next week and will update her on your news - she will love hearing it.
Looking forward to your next installment.
love,
Sylvia
Has Mike toured the engine room yet?
Great to read about your trip. So pleased all is going well and why wouldn't it?
And the knife. What about that? So easily done, but proof that the scanners do work.
You may or may not, knowing how many people are on the ship, come across Philip Bean. Do say 'hello' if you meet up. He's a lovely, charming gentleman. He's Professor of Criminology and is giving 14 lectures during the cruise.
So pleased you've managed to get time to write about your experiences so quickly.
Look forward to hearing the latest.
Love
June
And the knife. What about that? So easily done, but proof that the scanners do work.
You may or may not, knowing how many people are on the ship, come across Philip Bean. Do say 'hello' if you meet up. He's a lovely, charming gentleman. He's Professor of Criminology and is giving 14 lectures during the cruise.
So pleased you've managed to get time to write about your experiences so quickly.
Look forward to hearing the latest.
Love
June
Better than a bedtime novel.....!
Hi A & M,
How lovely to read all your exciting stories and its just like reading a good book! It is bringing back memories of my trip all those years ago.
I had a little bit of a fall on the slopes as I couldn't see in a white out and managed to tear my medial ligament again, so possibly no more skiing for me this season, but I can still join in with the fun and lunches up in the mountains.
So glad Michael managed the flight without too much trouble, hopefully this will prevent him dreading the return.
Where is the next leg of the trip?
lots of love to you both, enjoy.
Wendi & Robert xxx
Friday, 5 February 2010
Boarding Arcadia - 1.2.10
Having largely avoided the sin of moral turpitude during the few days we spent in San Francisco we then went on to board Arcadia on 1st Feb. First thing we are handed in the queue is a form to proclaim that we have no infectious diseases and if we have any feverish symptoms PLUS a runny nose we were to report ourselves immediately for medical inspection. I was not feverish but I did have a cold and runny nose no doubt caused by going across the Golden Gate bridge on top of that double-decker sight-seeing bus, or was it one of the open top ferry trips to Alcatraz or
Sausalito? Anyway Mike made me put my tissues away and willed me not to sneeze until we were safely on board. Having successfully made it to our cabin the phone goes. Mike is summoned to Reception. Security had impounded our luggage under suspicion of containing a lethal weapon. Unbeknown to MJ I had packed a Waterford crystal handled paper knife that my Mum had asked me to give to my nephew Robin and his wife when we met up with then in Honolulu. This has shown up in the X-ray and there was Mike swearing blind there were no knives! He was almost arrested! ANyway it was duly confiscated until we reach Honolulu.
Hopefully we can now continue our trip free of suspicion of criminal intent, innocent of infectious disease and of course clear of the sin of moral turpitude!
Sausalito? Anyway Mike made me put my tissues away and willed me not to sneeze until we were safely on board. Having successfully made it to our cabin the phone goes. Mike is summoned to Reception. Security had impounded our luggage under suspicion of containing a lethal weapon. Unbeknown to MJ I had packed a Waterford crystal handled paper knife that my Mum had asked me to give to my nephew Robin and his wife when we met up with then in Honolulu. This has shown up in the X-ray and there was Mike swearing blind there were no knives! He was almost arrested! ANyway it was duly confiscated until we reach Honolulu.
Hopefully we can now continue our trip free of suspicion of criminal intent, innocent of infectious disease and of course clear of the sin of moral turpitude!
Moral Turpitude
So to MJ's relief we survived the 10 hour flight with relatively little turbulence, no engine failure
and no terrorists on board. We also survived US immigration having assured officials that amongst many possible misdemeanours we were neither guilty of importing snails nor of "moral turpitude". Does anyone actually know what moral turpitude means we found ourselves asking a random selection of locals congregated around the Boudin Bakery bar at Fisherman's Wharf.
"Are you able to tell us Al?" we asked of a guy who was the image of Al Pacino. After he had
adjusted his baseball cap so that the peak faced backwards, donned a pair of very dark sunglasses just as the lights of the bar dimmed, and drawing on a dead cigar butt that he'd fished out of his bag "I have no idea" he muttered. "But d'ya know what? I get that all the time -
Al Pacino - Yeah all the time."
Maybe the very gay bartender could enlighten us then? "I think it's to do with good behaviour" he answered cagily. "Immigration gave me a tough time getting back in when I returned from
New Zealand to San Francisco." "So could it be something to do with "men behaving badly"
As we ordered our third large glass of Californian Chardonnay we found ourselves caring less and less about moral turpitude and became more interested in devouring the delicious deep-fried calamari with french fries that he served us. Soon it was way past 4 in the morning to us so we finally gave in to our jet lag. On the cable car back to the hotel we passed a theatre advertising "nude male review". We thought that sounded interesting but decided to give it a miss as we didn't want to be found guilty of moral turpitude on our first night!
So to MJ's relief we survived the 10 hour flight with relatively little turbulence, no engine failure
and no terrorists on board. We also survived US immigration having assured officials that amongst many possible misdemeanours we were neither guilty of importing snails nor of "moral turpitude". Does anyone actually know what moral turpitude means we found ourselves asking a random selection of locals congregated around the Boudin Bakery bar at Fisherman's Wharf.
"Are you able to tell us Al?" we asked of a guy who was the image of Al Pacino. After he had
adjusted his baseball cap so that the peak faced backwards, donned a pair of very dark sunglasses just as the lights of the bar dimmed, and drawing on a dead cigar butt that he'd fished out of his bag "I have no idea" he muttered. "But d'ya know what? I get that all the time -
Al Pacino - Yeah all the time."
Maybe the very gay bartender could enlighten us then? "I think it's to do with good behaviour" he answered cagily. "Immigration gave me a tough time getting back in when I returned from
New Zealand to San Francisco." "So could it be something to do with "men behaving badly"
As we ordered our third large glass of Californian Chardonnay we found ourselves caring less and less about moral turpitude and became more interested in devouring the delicious deep-fried calamari with french fries that he served us. Soon it was way past 4 in the morning to us so we finally gave in to our jet lag. On the cable car back to the hotel we passed a theatre advertising "nude male review". We thought that sounded interesting but decided to give it a miss as we didn't want to be found guilty of moral turpitude on our first night!
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Hi Avril and Mike
I expect you are sailing on the high seas now sunning yourself...or are you sitting wrapped in a rug on a steamer chair???
anyway, you are NOT MISSING ANYTHING here, its dark, cold and wet..yuk!
Cant wait to hear all the news, just a few questions...
Have you played Bingo yet?
Have you done any ballroom dancing?
Have you played quoits????
loads of love
FrancesXXXX
I expect you are sailing on the high seas now sunning yourself...or are you sitting wrapped in a rug on a steamer chair???
anyway, you are NOT MISSING ANYTHING here, its dark, cold and wet..yuk!
Cant wait to hear all the news, just a few questions...
Have you played Bingo yet?
Have you done any ballroom dancing?
Have you played quoits????
loads of love
FrancesXXXX
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Hope you're warmer than we are!
Hi Avril and Mike,
Hope you're enjoying San Francisco. It's really cold here today and I'm thinking of you in that fantastic city.
I'm just writing this to try it out really - to see if I've set up the account correctly. Looking forward to hearing all about the cruise when you board the ship.
We'll all be thinking of you, Avril, on Monday at the writers' meeting.
love, Sylvia
Hope you're enjoying San Francisco. It's really cold here today and I'm thinking of you in that fantastic city.
I'm just writing this to try it out really - to see if I've set up the account correctly. Looking forward to hearing all about the cruise when you board the ship.
We'll all be thinking of you, Avril, on Monday at the writers' meeting.
love, Sylvia
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Greetings from Paris to the Streets of San Francisco!
Bonjour Les aventurers!
By the time you read this you should be on stable land with Mike feeling (I imagine!) alot happier! Looking forward to reading your adventures, will make up for my missing Corrie and The Jungle etc
We have a bit of European travelling to do for work whilst you're away so will take this opportunity to wish you the best of times on your voyages!
At least we'll have the time this summer to enjoy the memories you are going to make and the photos you are going to take!
Kisses
Lynn & Jacky
By the time you read this you should be on stable land with Mike feeling (I imagine!) alot happier! Looking forward to reading your adventures, will make up for my missing Corrie and The Jungle etc
We have a bit of European travelling to do for work whilst you're away so will take this opportunity to wish you the best of times on your voyages!
At least we'll have the time this summer to enjoy the memories you are going to make and the photos you are going to take!
Kisses
Lynn & Jacky
Monday, 25 January 2010
One More Day
After a slight hiccup with making my blog "accessible to others" I assume I have
finally cracked it as I now appear to have a few followers. Thank you for your
comments so far.
By the way if you don't want your comments to appear on my actual blog page I think
all you need to do is just scroll down to the end of each post and click on "comments".
That's about as technical as I am going to get!
Well, I shan't be writing anymore until I am actually on the boat sailing to Hawaii -
i.e. early February.
Meanwhile San Francisco here we come.....
Bye for now.
finally cracked it as I now appear to have a few followers. Thank you for your
comments so far.
By the way if you don't want your comments to appear on my actual blog page I think
all you need to do is just scroll down to the end of each post and click on "comments".
That's about as technical as I am going to get!
Well, I shan't be writing anymore until I am actually on the boat sailing to Hawaii -
i.e. early February.
Meanwhile San Francisco here we come.....
Bye for now.
HAPPY TRAVELS
Hello Avril,
You lucky people. It should be a wonderful trip. I'm very envious.
Look forward to receiving the reports.
Best wishes,
Love
June
You lucky people. It should be a wonderful trip. I'm very envious.
Look forward to receiving the reports.
Best wishes,
Love
June
Bon Voyage
Hi Avril,
I think I'm all set to follow your adventures! Looked at your itinerary and wished I could come along with you and Mike. It looks absolutely fantastic....and warm and sunny and tropical and exotic! Have a blast and we look forward to hearing from you. Wishing you smooth seas! Karenxx
I think I'm all set to follow your adventures! Looked at your itinerary and wished I could come along with you and Mike. It looks absolutely fantastic....and warm and sunny and tropical and exotic! Have a blast and we look forward to hearing from you. Wishing you smooth seas! Karenxx
Bonne Voyage !
This is a test Avril. Congratulations on setting this up. Probably the most difficult task of your entire trip ! You will have an incredible time- enjoy every minute.
I do hope this works -it is all so complicated and full of ' computer jargon' !
Bonnes Voyages both of you. xxxx
I do hope this works -it is all so complicated and full of ' computer jargon' !
Bonnes Voyages both of you. xxxx
Friday, 22 January 2010
Almost Packed and Ready to Go!
Well, here goes.....
I have never written a blog before and don't really know how they work but hopefully I will have a few followers over the coming weeks and I shall endeavour to be as entertaining as possible.
Just five days to go now before Mike and I fly off to San Francisco to board the cruise ship
Arcadia for the trip of a lifetime. Here is our itinerary from San Francisco to Honk Kong.
27.1.10 Fly to San Francisco
1.2.10 Board Arcadia, San Francisco
6.2.10 Honolulu, Hawaii
9.2.10 Christmas Island
12.2.10 Apia, Samoa
17.2.10 Auckland, New Zealand
19.2.10 Christchurch, New Zealand
20.2.10 Dunedin, New Zealand
23.2.10 Sydney, Australia
24.2.10 Sydney, Australia
26.2.10 Brisbane, Australia
28.2.10 Whitsunday, Australia
1.3.10 Yorkey's Knob, Australia
8.3.10 Kotta Kinabalu, Borneo
11.3.10 Hong Kong
12.3.10 Disembark Arcadia
12-21.3.10 Hong Kong, Macau, China
21.3.10 Fly Hong Kong - London
I have never written a blog before and don't really know how they work but hopefully I will have a few followers over the coming weeks and I shall endeavour to be as entertaining as possible.
Just five days to go now before Mike and I fly off to San Francisco to board the cruise ship
Arcadia for the trip of a lifetime. Here is our itinerary from San Francisco to Honk Kong.
27.1.10 Fly to San Francisco
1.2.10 Board Arcadia, San Francisco
6.2.10 Honolulu, Hawaii
9.2.10 Christmas Island
12.2.10 Apia, Samoa
17.2.10 Auckland, New Zealand
19.2.10 Christchurch, New Zealand
20.2.10 Dunedin, New Zealand
23.2.10 Sydney, Australia
24.2.10 Sydney, Australia
26.2.10 Brisbane, Australia
28.2.10 Whitsunday, Australia
1.3.10 Yorkey's Knob, Australia
8.3.10 Kotta Kinabalu, Borneo
11.3.10 Hong Kong
12.3.10 Disembark Arcadia
12-21.3.10 Hong Kong, Macau, China
21.3.10 Fly Hong Kong - London
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