We love our hotel room
We had a good visit to Hyde Park. It is magnificent.
We toured St.Mary's Cathedral. It is amazing. We could not take pictures inside but we can show you the outside.
I will blog again on Sunday is possible.
Friday, March 29, 2013
We arrived safely in Sydney and we are so impressed. It is a beautiful city. Unfortunately for me their electrical system is not compatible with this netbook so I only have battery life to work with so I will try to send you some pictures of beautiful Sydney and Hyde Park.
Here are some of our views.
We love our hotel room
We had a good visit to Hyde Park. It is magnificent.
We toured St.Mary's Cathedral. It is amazing. We could not take pictures inside but we can show you the outside.
I will blog again on Sunday is possible.
We love our hotel room
We had a good visit to Hyde Park. It is magnificent.
We toured St.Mary's Cathedral. It is amazing. We could not take pictures inside but we can show you the outside.
I will blog again on Sunday is possible.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Tauranga, New Zealand
Monday, March 25th
Today we are scheduled to visit the city of Tauranga, in New Zealand. It is situated on the eastern shore of the North Island. It is one of the main ports and it has a population of about 67,000.
This nearby area is Rotorua and it is famous for hot springs and geysers and is a lot like Yellowstone with its boiling mud pots and thermal springs, and the smell of brimstone. Because we have been to Yellowstone we decide stay in the Tauranga and to visit a scene of the Maori culture instead.
We awake to rain for the first time in all of our cruising. It is a fine rain but it is heavy. The mountain top is covered by a cloud but just beyond it we can see the blue sky. When the sun rises the passengers are treated to an amazing rainbow.
When it is time to head for the bus the rain has stopped but we take our umbrella along just in case.
We are pleasantly surprised by a big bright air conditioned modern bus.
Dave is our driver
and Michelle is our cultural guide. Michelle is a Maori and she can trace her family back 8 generations and the Paparoa Marae that we will visit is of her family.
Our first stop is changed because the driver and guide wanted us to be able to see the amazing view from the top of the Minden Lookout. I gather it sometimes closes in but we were lucky because the view was wonderful.
Here we saw what Michelle told us was a fern tree. We thought it was a new kind of palm tree. It is similar in appearance until you look closely at the fronds.
This is a photo op of about 10 minutes. We get back on the bus and Dave maneuvers the bus down the winding road. While we are travelling Michelle begins to prepare us for our forth coming visit. She tells us what we can expect and what we should do. She also tries to teach us a song that we will be expected to sing at one point during the ceremony.
Soon we arrive at the Marae village Paparoa.
As instructed we gather at the entrance of the Marae with the females or Wahines in front.
At the very front is the person we selected to be our leader.
The people of the village send out a warrior to make sure that we have come in peace.
He places a peace offering on the ground and by picking it up that offering we let them know we come in peace.
Next we hear the voice of a woman. She is welcoming us and telling us we may enter the sacred ground of the Marae.
We are all ushered to seats and the speeches begin. This time the men are in front and the ladies are in the back. These are speeches of welcome spoken in the native language. Then another elder translates and explains the significance of what was said.
Maori are very spiritual people and so their speeches acknowledge “God” and those who have passed on. Everyone is welcomed to the Marae.
Our group leader accepts the welcome and tells them that we have come in peace.
Once the speeches are over we sing the song that Michelle taught us. The Waiata is the song sung in support of the speaker.
Next we have the Hongi, which is the traditional greeting. It is the touching of noses and foreheads and shaking hands simultaneously. When you touch noses with your host your breaths mingle together and you become one. When you touch foreheads you exchange and share knowledge. There were three people in the receiving line.
The Hongi is the last part of our traditional welcome. Now we are considered one with the people and we take our seats again. This time we are allowed to sit with whomever we wish.
At this time a group of young people entertain us. Ken and I are blown away by their voices. They sing beautifully and we love every note. They perform four native songs and dances. 
Next the ladies are invited to join them and learn a dance. I volunteer and manage to be completely mixed up. But it was fun.
When it was time for the men Ken followed my example and he volunteered to do the dance with the young men.
This ended the proceedings and we are invited to take pictures and have our pictures taken with the young people.
Next we are invited to have tea and cookies. Crafters are set up here and we are able to shop.
I choose a wonderful wood carving. The sign on it says that it is a Wahaika. It is a type of weapon that is ceremonial and practical. Waha-ika means the mouth of a fish. If you look at the shape of the weapon it looks like the shape of a whales’ lower jaw. This Wahaika had a small figure carved on the side. This figure is usually the guardian of the owner and is often a venerated ancestor.
Michelle tells me that it is carved from the Kauri tree. The wood is very hard and is highly polished and very smooth. It is about 8 inches long with a maximum width of 3 inches.
I also got a wonderful little Kiwi ornament.
Soon it was time to board the bus again and head back to the city.
This was an amazing experience and we both enjoyed every minute of it.
PS
Starbucks!!
They are everywhere !!Even in Tauranga
This nearby area is Rotorua and it is famous for hot springs and geysers and is a lot like Yellowstone with its boiling mud pots and thermal springs, and the smell of brimstone. Because we have been to Yellowstone we decide stay in the Tauranga and to visit a scene of the Maori culture instead.
We awake to rain for the first time in all of our cruising. It is a fine rain but it is heavy. The mountain top is covered by a cloud but just beyond it we can see the blue sky. When the sun rises the passengers are treated to an amazing rainbow.
When it is time to head for the bus the rain has stopped but we take our umbrella along just in case.
We are pleasantly surprised by a big bright air conditioned modern bus.
Dave is our driver
and Michelle is our cultural guide. Michelle is a Maori and she can trace her family back 8 generations and the Paparoa Marae that we will visit is of her family.
Our first stop is changed because the driver and guide wanted us to be able to see the amazing view from the top of the Minden Lookout. I gather it sometimes closes in but we were lucky because the view was wonderful.
Here we saw what Michelle told us was a fern tree. We thought it was a new kind of palm tree. It is similar in appearance until you look closely at the fronds.
This is a photo op of about 10 minutes. We get back on the bus and Dave maneuvers the bus down the winding road. While we are travelling Michelle begins to prepare us for our forth coming visit. She tells us what we can expect and what we should do. She also tries to teach us a song that we will be expected to sing at one point during the ceremony.
Soon we arrive at the Marae village Paparoa.
As instructed we gather at the entrance of the Marae with the females or Wahines in front.
At the very front is the person we selected to be our leader.
The people of the village send out a warrior to make sure that we have come in peace.
He places a peace offering on the ground and by picking it up that offering we let them know we come in peace.
Next we hear the voice of a woman. She is welcoming us and telling us we may enter the sacred ground of the Marae.
We are all ushered to seats and the speeches begin. This time the men are in front and the ladies are in the back. These are speeches of welcome spoken in the native language. Then another elder translates and explains the significance of what was said.
Maori are very spiritual people and so their speeches acknowledge “God” and those who have passed on. Everyone is welcomed to the Marae.
Our group leader accepts the welcome and tells them that we have come in peace.
Once the speeches are over we sing the song that Michelle taught us. The Waiata is the song sung in support of the speaker.
Next we have the Hongi, which is the traditional greeting. It is the touching of noses and foreheads and shaking hands simultaneously. When you touch noses with your host your breaths mingle together and you become one. When you touch foreheads you exchange and share knowledge. There were three people in the receiving line.
The Hongi is the last part of our traditional welcome. Now we are considered one with the people and we take our seats again. This time we are allowed to sit with whomever we wish.
At this time a group of young people entertain us. Ken and I are blown away by their voices. They sing beautifully and we love every note. They perform four native songs and dances. 
Next the ladies are invited to join them and learn a dance. I volunteer and manage to be completely mixed up. But it was fun.
When it was time for the men Ken followed my example and he volunteered to do the dance with the young men.
This ended the proceedings and we are invited to take pictures and have our pictures taken with the young people.
Next we are invited to have tea and cookies. Crafters are set up here and we are able to shop.
I choose a wonderful wood carving. The sign on it says that it is a Wahaika. It is a type of weapon that is ceremonial and practical. Waha-ika means the mouth of a fish. If you look at the shape of the weapon it looks like the shape of a whales’ lower jaw. This Wahaika had a small figure carved on the side. This figure is usually the guardian of the owner and is often a venerated ancestor.
Michelle tells me that it is carved from the Kauri tree. The wood is very hard and is highly polished and very smooth. It is about 8 inches long with a maximum width of 3 inches.
I also got a wonderful little Kiwi ornament.
Soon it was time to board the bus again and head back to the city.
This was an amazing experience and we both enjoyed every minute of it.
PS
Starbucks!!
They are everywhere !!Even in Tauranga
Monday, March 25, 2013
Auckland,NZ
Auckland New Zealand, March 24
With more boats per capita than any other city in the world, Auckland is appropriately known as the city of sails. It is also known as the cleanest and most peaceful.
Located on the northeast side of the North Island, Auckland stretches across 60 extinct volcanoes. It spans a narrow isthmus that separates the Pacific Ocean from the Tasman Sea.
This is a beautiful modern city of approximately one million people. Because it has so much to offer and because we have so little time here we decided to take the Hop On Hop Off bus and spend the day getting an overview of what the city has to offer. The schedule includes 14 points of interest where we could Hop On and Off . Some of the interest points were The Auckland Zoo, Eden Park, Sky City, Bastion Point, Parnell Rose Garden, shopping centers and the Auckland Museum.
This was a gloriously cool day with low humidity, exactly the way we like it.
We bought our tickets and spent the next five hours enjoying the sight and sounds of Auckland.
The city is beautiful with stately old buildings restored to their Victorian elegance, plenty of parks and open spaces, as well as modern sky scrapers. Auckland boasts the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere.
I would have loved to visit the aquarium, and the Glow Worm Grotto but time did now allow.
We managed to spend some time at the Maori exhibit in the Auckland Museum. We were completely overwhelmed but the skills of these ancient peoples. They were unbelievably skilled in so many areas, especially carving. It defies description so I will include some photos and let it speak for itself.
Auckland is a beautiful city; the cost of living appears to be very high with a bottle of water costing three dollars and a single ice cream costing 3.50. We would come back again because we only got a very small taste of what it has to offer.
With more boats per capita than any other city in the world, Auckland is appropriately known as the city of sails. It is also known as the cleanest and most peaceful.
Located on the northeast side of the North Island, Auckland stretches across 60 extinct volcanoes. It spans a narrow isthmus that separates the Pacific Ocean from the Tasman Sea.
This is a beautiful modern city of approximately one million people. Because it has so much to offer and because we have so little time here we decided to take the Hop On Hop Off bus and spend the day getting an overview of what the city has to offer. The schedule includes 14 points of interest where we could Hop On and Off . Some of the interest points were The Auckland Zoo, Eden Park, Sky City, Bastion Point, Parnell Rose Garden, shopping centers and the Auckland Museum.
This was a gloriously cool day with low humidity, exactly the way we like it.
We bought our tickets and spent the next five hours enjoying the sight and sounds of Auckland.
The city is beautiful with stately old buildings restored to their Victorian elegance, plenty of parks and open spaces, as well as modern sky scrapers. Auckland boasts the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere.
I would have loved to visit the aquarium, and the Glow Worm Grotto but time did now allow.
We managed to spend some time at the Maori exhibit in the Auckland Museum. We were completely overwhelmed but the skills of these ancient peoples. They were unbelievably skilled in so many areas, especially carving. It defies description so I will include some photos and let it speak for itself.
Auckland is a beautiful city; the cost of living appears to be very high with a bottle of water costing three dollars and a single ice cream costing 3.50. We would come back again because we only got a very small taste of what it has to offer.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
The Kingdom of Tonga
This is the last of our South Pacific Islands…. The Kingdom of Tonga. We will be in the city of Nuku’alofa. Actually it is not much more than a small town. The population of the country is only 151,000.
Tonga is the only nation in the South Pacific with its own royal family. The original royal heritage goes back at least 1000 years.
We had a tour booked here and so we met in the lounge and then when called away we went.
We expected the bus to be one of the wooden seat specials but to our pleasant surprise the seats had lots of foam and the windows opened, providing natural air conditioning.
To my supreme pleasure everyone one of the seats had a real live flower lei. My seat had a lovely one made of yellow plunaria .
Our guide was a very nice middle aged lady. Her voice was soft and we had to concentrate to hear what she was saying.
Our first stop was to see the three headed palm tree
. It was not all that spectacular but getting there was the adventure. It had been raining for the previous five days and the dirt road was a real quagmire. For a moment or two I wondered if the men were going to have to push.
We toured along the country side viewing the homes and government buildings etc. Generally speaking the population seems to not be at all wealthy. What struck us was the fact that there are bananas and coconuts and breadfruit growing everywhere. A person certainly would not go hungry here. It is lush and green everywhere you look.
Our next stop was to the blow holes. They are locally called Chiefs Whistles because of the whistling sounds they make when the water shoots up into the air. These are coral formation along the sea shore. They sprout water high into the air when the waves crash. It is something that is hard to describe but it is quite am amazing spectacle.
There were about a dozen crafters there and I was able to browse the jewelry crafts. I found a very nice fresh water pearl necklace.
There was a day care class and they allowed us to take pictures of the children. They were so cute.
We were scheduled to see what the locals referred to as “Flying Foxes”. Actually they are fruit bats. These bats are fruit eaters and not insect eaters.
The bus pulled up to this yard and these two trees. The guide points out the bats hanging in the trees. Since I am not a fan of bats I do not leave the bus. I could see the bats so I used the zoom to try to get a close up.
I keep trying to focus on the hanging bats but these raven sized black birds kept getting into my shot. There is a lot of noise from the birds and about half of the passengers are outside the bus snapping pictures. I finally discover much to my horror that the raven sized birds are actually the fruit bats…..YUCK.
I am relieved when the bus reloads and pulls away and no bats have decided to check out the bus.
Look at the size of the things!!!
Next we headed for Liku’alofa resort and here we expected to basically have a potty break and a snack of fresh fruit. What a surprise we got!! There was a dance ensemble and they performed for us for almost a half hour. The resort was very beautiful with loads of native art all around. The costumes were beautiful and we were treated like royalty.
The setting was wonderful and all too soon we had to go.
We climbed on the bus and enjoyed the fragrant drive back to the ship.
Our wonderful day in the kingdom of Tonga had come to a too soon end.
To my supreme pleasure everyone one of the seats had a real live flower lei. My seat had a lovely one made of yellow plunaria .
Our guide was a very nice middle aged lady. Her voice was soft and we had to concentrate to hear what she was saying.
Our first stop was to see the three headed palm tree
. It was not all that spectacular but getting there was the adventure. It had been raining for the previous five days and the dirt road was a real quagmire. For a moment or two I wondered if the men were going to have to push.
We toured along the country side viewing the homes and government buildings etc. Generally speaking the population seems to not be at all wealthy. What struck us was the fact that there are bananas and coconuts and breadfruit growing everywhere. A person certainly would not go hungry here. It is lush and green everywhere you look.
Our next stop was to the blow holes. They are locally called Chiefs Whistles because of the whistling sounds they make when the water shoots up into the air. These are coral formation along the sea shore. They sprout water high into the air when the waves crash. It is something that is hard to describe but it is quite am amazing spectacle.
There were about a dozen crafters there and I was able to browse the jewelry crafts. I found a very nice fresh water pearl necklace.
There was a day care class and they allowed us to take pictures of the children. They were so cute.
We were scheduled to see what the locals referred to as “Flying Foxes”. Actually they are fruit bats. These bats are fruit eaters and not insect eaters.
The bus pulled up to this yard and these two trees. The guide points out the bats hanging in the trees. Since I am not a fan of bats I do not leave the bus. I could see the bats so I used the zoom to try to get a close up.
I keep trying to focus on the hanging bats but these raven sized black birds kept getting into my shot. There is a lot of noise from the birds and about half of the passengers are outside the bus snapping pictures. I finally discover much to my horror that the raven sized birds are actually the fruit bats…..YUCK.
I am relieved when the bus reloads and pulls away and no bats have decided to check out the bus.
Look at the size of the things!!!
Next we headed for Liku’alofa resort and here we expected to basically have a potty break and a snack of fresh fruit. What a surprise we got!! There was a dance ensemble and they performed for us for almost a half hour. The resort was very beautiful with loads of native art all around. The costumes were beautiful and we were treated like royalty.
The setting was wonderful and all too soon we had to go.
We climbed on the bus and enjoyed the fragrant drive back to the ship.
Our wonderful day in the kingdom of Tonga had come to a too soon end.