Bali, inhabited by Austronesians around 2000 BC, saw Dutch colonization in the 20th century and Japanese occupation during WWII. Gaining Indonesian independence in 1949, Bali embraced tourism in the 1960s. Today’s excursion featured traditional wood carving, the Barong Dance, a visit to a sacred water temple, and galleries in Ubud.
Yesterday, Nana and I enjoyed an exquisite 11-course Chef’s dinner on the ship, paired with wines. Today, we explored Komodo Island, meeting villagers and visiting a local school. We marveled at the stunning Pink Beach and encountered a Komodo dragon. Tomorrow, we dock in Bali, allowing crew to reunite with families.
The post reflects on habits formed during elevator rides, highlighting a shift from the dim to the bright side. It also recounts enjoyable activities like listening to a string trio, playing duplicate bridge, and exploring Darwin’s rich history. The day ended with local sightseeing, shopping, and a beautiful sunset.
Nana and Papa explore Cairns, Australia, and its surrounding wonders like the 135 million-year-old Daintree Rainforest and Barron Gorge. They experienced the Skyrail Rain Forest Cableway and the Kuranda Scenic Railway, marveling at breathtaking views and its history. Their journey continues with three days at the Great Barrier Reef before heading to Darwin.
Today we stopped at Arlie Beach. Airlie Beach, located in Queensland, is a vibrant coastal town known for its laid-back atmosphere and stunning natural beauty. Here are some interesting facts about Airlie Beach: 1. Gateway to the Whitsundays: Airlie Beach is the main gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, a group of 74 tropical islands famous…
The group arrived at Moreton Island, famous for its WWII history and Tangalooma Wrecks, amidst unfavorable weather. They faced challenges with tender docking and rain during their kayak tour. Despite the difficulties, they enjoyed snorkeling around the wrecks. Their Valentine’s night concluded with a formal dance, preparing for their next destination.
We arrived into Sydney early yesterday morning. We are here for two days and staying overnight. The night before were a lot of goodbyes for people leaving. So far on the first leg the passengers were 1400 of about 2,000 at full capacity. 500 people were leaving and 400 were arriving. I think a lot…
On a previous blog I asked my grandchildren 6 questions about crossing the international date line. Here are the questions: I have had two answer so far. I thought I would share their answers with you. The first is from my 14 year old grandaughter Joanna. Hi, Papa and Nana! This is Joanna, answering the…
Our stop yesterday was on one of the islands of New Caledonia. New Caledonia was first settled by the Austronesian-speaking Lapita people around 1,500 BCE. Their descendants, the Kanak people, developed a distinct Melanesian culture based on clan-based societies, agriculture, and extensive trade networks. In 1853 France annexed New Caledonia under Emperor Napoleon III, making…
Today our port stop is on Tonga. Yesterday was a the great Gasby party on board the ship. It was a formal night and most people dressed up. The ship had a detective game which happened all day long: A necklace was stolen, there were 9 suspects and clues were given out. The guests had…
papa carney 