Postcard from 'Around the World' - February-March 2014

A dreadful start to the holiday – we were diverted to Iceland with a medical emergency but after the brilliant Captain worked hard on our behalf we were able to progress to Los Angeles [instead of spending the night in Reykjavik] arriving about 5 hours late.  Eventually got to my room at the Hyatt Long Beach about half past midnight – an unimpressive Hyatt with problems, which took me a while to sort!

I had a quiet five days in LA.  Spent a lot of time by the pool as it was sunny if not hot!  I met up with an old De La Rue girlfriend and her daughter on the Saturday and we had a lovely lunch at Parkers Lighthouse on the Harbour at Long Beach. Just before midnight on Tuesday 25^th February I took off for Tahiti, arriving at 5.30am the next morning.

I had a lovely room at the Intercontinental overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Moorea Island.  Spent the day on the beach in between the squally showers!  Lovely to be in the warmth at last!  On my first full day I did a very nice circular tour of the main island in the morning, which was most enjoyable. Returned to my room to find that my London friend at the InterCon had sent me a bottle of champers and some cookies, so things are looking up.  Then down to the beach for the afternoon.  The following day I took the shuttle into Papeete and met up with my friends Jenny and Rob Durrant who had just cruised into Tahiti on the Black Watch.  We spent a happy day wandering around the pearl shops and having a fun lunch.

On Saturday 1 March I spent the morning on the beach and in the afternoon embarked on M/S Paul Gauguin in Papeete Harbour.  I had a very comfortable cabin at the back of the ship with a balcony, although sadly I have a shower instead of a bath!  It seems to be a very well run ship, and very different to Minerva.  All drinks on board are free, so after a couple of glasses in the bar, I went into a quiet dinner and then to the Welcome Aboard party to watch us sail.

On Sunday 2^nd we dropped anchor at Huahine.  After tendering ashore I took the local shuttle to the little town of Fare for a walk around and then back to the ship for an afternoon on the sun deck.  Went to the Captain’s Welcome reception and met the young man – a very nice Croatian Captain!  The only time I saw him in 11 days!

After a day at sea, we arrived at Raratonga at 8am and I went on an island tour – a beautiful little island, but sadly we had rather cloudy skies so not at its best!  Thankfully it was warm.  Once back on the ship the locals performed a Maori dance on board.  The next morning, 5^th March, we woke to heavy seas, and we could not get the tenders over the reef into Aitutaki, so the Captain decided to take us straight on to Bora Bora. Thankfully that meant an extra night in port.  Have a particularly noisy cabin when at sea, so not getting that much sleep.

Having arrived at Bora Bora at 6pm on 6^th March, I went ashore the next morning on an island tour in Le Truck – an open bus!  Quite a good tour, but sadly it was all in thick cloud and often heavy rain too!  Not quite what the island should look like.  In the afternoon I visited the local internet café to try and update my computer/iPad/iPhone!  On board WiFi is very expensive!  The next morning was still very overcast and rainy but I went on a canoe ride to see stingray and sharks.  We all got very wet!  Most swam with the stingray and sharks, but I only had a brief swim in a coral bay.  All rather depressing in such wet conditions. 

On Sunday 9^th we arrived in Taha’a at 8am and at around 11am I took the tender for a wet landing at Paul Gauguin island where there was swimming, snorkeling and a picnic lunch on this beautiful island.  I returned to the ship early as I had booked a Bridge Visit at 2pm.  Together with three Indian ladies I had a fascinating hour and a half with the Second Officer.   On Monday we arrived at Moorea – a really beautiful island.  Spent the morning relaxing on the ship and went on an island tour in the afternoon. Next day I spent quietly on the ship and we sailed for Tahiti at 5pm, arriving at 7pm.

Very early on Wednesday 12 March I disembarked and flew to Auckland, arriving at 1pm on Thursday 13^th March having crossed the international dateline en route.  I had a lovely room in the Crowne Plaza Hotel and relaxed in the hotel that afternoon. Tropical Cyclone Lusi  had chased me around the Polynesian islands, and was now threatening to arrive in Auckland on the Friday evening, I had a quick walk around Town on Friday morning and in the afternoon went on a ‘safari’ to try and find whales and dolphins, but we only saw a handful of dolphins – they were hiding from ‘Lusi’!  Needless to say it was quite choppy on the catamaran!  The next morning – with the storm in full force – I took a City Tour!  There were only three of us on the tour, which was good, but we saw very little thanks to Lusi!  I was given a free pass to the top of the Sky Tower so took myself to the top for a view with a wine and quiche lunch.

Early on Sunday 16 March I took off from rainy Auckland for Sydney.  Landed in glorious sunshine which turned to rain and cloud for the afternoon!  Seems to be following me.  Staying at the Old Sydney Holiday Inn in the Rocks area – adequate and not up to my usual standards but close to the action with a roof pool, which is good!   Spent Monday by the pool before venturing to the shops late afternoon, and bought two dresses at my favourite shop!  Tuesday was another lovely day, so by the pool all day and then a wander around the Opera House area in the late afternoon.  On Wednesday I met up with Gerry Norman’s two daughters [De La Rue], Chris and Judy, and we had a fun lunch at the ‘Bar at the end of the Wharf’.  The next morning I took a trip up the Parrametta River and back for 3 hours, and spent final afternoon in Sydney by the pool.  In the evening met up with my old friends the Yaffas for a delicious dinner at Catalinas in Rose Bay.

On Friday morning I flew to Melbourne arriving at Hyatt around 2.30pm, where I had been given a very comfortable Grand Hyatt Suite on the 32^nd floor.  I spent the afternoon settling in and after drinks in the Club Lounge had an early night.  On Saturday I took a City Tour and a Yarra cruise just to jog the memory, but sadly it was cool and cloudy.  On Sunday my old friend James Evans came and picked me up and we went out to see his new venture – running a pub in Castlemaine.  Interesting to see the ‘outback’ side of Australia – and an excellent pub lunch! On Monday I met up with a lovely lady from the Hyatt for a drink and some lunch and did some retail therapy in the afternoon.  In the evening met up with my friend James again for a fun dinner.  On my last day the sun came out so I walked to Government House, and back via the Melbourne Cricket Ground – a good 2 hour walk.  Then I relaxed in the sunshine in the afternoon and packed up in the evening.

On Wednesday morning I flew from Melbourne to Adelaide and had a lovely room in the InterCon Adelaide overlooking the new Adelaide Oval Ground.  After unpacking I spent the afternoon by the pool.  The next morning I walked around Adelaide for a couple of hours and then spent another afternoon by the pool.  On Friday morning I set off at 6am for Kangaroo Island – an incredible day of sixteen and a half hours!  The wildlife was amazing, seeing seal lions, fur seals, Kangaroos, Koalas, Wallaby [just one!] and visiting some fascinating locations.  However I did not appreciate being in a bus with 52 others!  A good day with some rough edges!  On Saturday I was invited to lunch with some new Danish/Aussie friends at their “beach house” – a lovely apartment at Glenelg near to the beach.  I was meant to go to their vineyard, but it was changed at the last minute, which was rather a shame.  Nonetheless a lovely lunch, Danish style.  My final day in Adelaide was beautiful and I spent it by the pool relaxing.

And so on to Perth, my last stop in Oz, on Monday 31^st, where I arrived on a fairly cool afternoon!  Next morning was cool so I walked the City and in the afternoon relaxed by their huge pool.  On Wednesday 2^nd April I took a day-long wine cruise on the Swan River.  Glorious day without a cloud to be seen and quite a good cruise – wine tasting for the two hour journey up the river, lunch at the Sandalford winery with more wine tasting, a very good shop there with 25% discount, and then a two hour cruise back.  Did not particularly enjoy the singing entertainment on the return journey so stayed out front and enjoyed the sunshine and the river!  My last day in Oz was spent quietly by the pool in slightly hazy sunshine.

I left Perth very early on Friday 4^th April and arrived in Singapore at lunchtime.  Once installed in the Hyatt I met up with my Hyatt contact and then had a lovely tapas dinner with nephew Simon and his wife Seetha.  Saturday was very wet and thundery but Simon and I with great niece Natasha took the cable car to Sentosa and on to Mount Faber where we had some lunch, then shopped in Arab Street in the afternoon.  In the evening I dined with the family at their home where we were joined by Seetha’s sister and family.  


On Sunday we all went for a wonderful coastal walk at Changi Village, and then found a lovely little Italian for some lunch.  In the evening we went to watch the great Night Light Show at the Gardens on the Bay and finished up with a Mezze supper in Holland Street.  So a great weekend to finish up with.  Monday was glorious so relaxed by the Hyatt pool before taking the flight home that evening.