Hilo and sea day 1
So we sailed into Hilo Saturday morning and got on a tour bus for the Volcano National park. We stopped at beautiful botanical garden with many bromeliads and orchids and other jungle plants. Then we stopped at a candy factory, stopped for lunch at a hotel on the water that was being rehabbed. The hotel was sort of shabby, but the food was good. Then a two hour drive to the volcano. We got lots of pictures, and saw the lava fields where it had run over the road. On the way back we stopped at the Mauna Loa macadamia nut factory. On the way leaving from the island we passed the spot where Kilauea is flowing into the sea. Very impressive!
First at sea day.
Tried to start a routine, I walked around the jogging track 14 times (one mile) we went to bingo and I won 125.00!! After lunch we sunned on the top deck for about 30 minutes, then Don took a nap and I went to a lecture about Island culture. When I got back from the lecture it was time to get dressed for the formal dinner.
Today, the second sea day, there is a bargain shopping event at 9, and South Pacific sing along at 2 and bingo again. There is also a casino and they do have penny slots, my favorite. And a book to read for the on board book club.
Sea day 5 and Thanksgiving 2010
I am sitting on the balcony watching the sun come up in the South Seas. Never in a million years did I think I would be saying that. This is our last sea day; tomorrow we will be in Bora Bora. The sea is almost flat which a nice change from the last few days . It was not terribly rough, but enough to make you notice when you walk around. This is better, back to just a gentle swaying. The days have flown by surprisingly. There are a variety of things to do and activities and I start each day with a list and then one by one cross them out as I decide reading in the sun, or napping is more fun. We have played Bingo every morning and I won 125.00! We have done some shopping, attended a few lectures, saw one show and one on- board movie, but mostly just laze around. We each have a certificate stating we officially crossed the equator. This morning there is a demonstration by the head chef, followed by a galley tour which we may attend. The food is awesome, especially the desserts, and I would like to meet the people responsible for it. Later today is the Book club I mentioned. We had five days to read the book, a Nora Roberts romance, and discussion will be today. What is there to say? Boy meets girl, they live happily ever after, the end. Oh well. We have met some really nice people on board, and one of the women is in this group, so that will be nice. We have a table for two at dinner each night, but they are arranged in a total of six; three tables of two end to end to end. Luckily the other people are wonderful and we really enjoy their company. We are considering renting a car with one couple while we are in Tahiti. He is a retired Radiologist, second generation French, from Canada, and she is from England immigrated to Canada as a child. They live in Kona. Yes, they got on a cruise in Honolulu that cruises right back to their home. But they wanted to go to the other islands and south pacific and they got a deal on the cruise, so there you are.
Don went swimming yesterday, and although the pool is sort of small he loved it. He got a little crispy though, because it doesn’t take long down here. I sat on our balcony and got my sun here. Much quieter and easier to read.
Time for breakfast. Happy Thanksgiving
Bora Bora
First island adventure was a 4x4 trip up the side of the mountain in Bora Bora we saw great vistas and gun emplacements from WWII. Back down the mountain around the island up another hill to an artist’s studio where she hand paints pareaus. There were five or six homes there, all up high where the breeze blows and with a view of the bay. Our guide said the owners are all one family, and are descendants of the island King. We continued our tour around the island and then back to the ship. The homes for the most part are basic shelter and no more. The nicest belong to the Chinese who seem to run the commerce. Sort of depressing. Not the island paradise I envisioned.
Raiatea
Now this is better. The island is bigger and seems more prosperous. The have a great docking area and lots of little shops by the wharf. The islanders greeted us with a show, and later that night came on board and put on another show. We had an island tour and saw lots of villages. There are little settlements rather than a big town, and each has a primary school, church, market and basketball court. Lots and lots of dogs wandering around that don’t seem to belong to anyone. Wild chickens are everywhere.
Morea
Another island another flavor. We liked this one best. It seems to be lusher, greener, and less poor? Our driver referred to himself in the third person, Beautiful William. He has one White grandparent, and as a result, has fair skin and blue eyes, but speaks like a native with the accented English. We saw most of the island, and Don bought me a big black pearl, at one of the shops that William’s family conveniently owned. Beautiful William, beautiful island.
Tahiti
At last we are in Tahiti. Our adventure is almost over. Downtown by the dock is busy, noisy, commercial a little dirty and very civilized. Not what Captain Cook saw! We are in a beautiful resort, and the hut over the water does not disappoint. There were flowers everywhere in the room. The water splashes underneath, the deck is over the water and the steps go right into the warm lagoon .There is a big round tub in the bath, big king bed with a small canopy. Built just like we imagine Tahitians live!
Today we will rent a car and see the island with our friends from the ship. Tomorrow we will hang out here until we leave for the airport (8:3 0 pm) to catch our 10:30 flight home. I am having a little trouble with the pfc conversion(pacific Francs) and the staff is a little pompous and hard to communicate with. They speak French and mine isn’t that good. Natalie would do great here. They seem a little supercilious that we aren’t all conversant en Francais. Margaret, didn’t you have the same impression in France years ago? Anyway, we had roomservice last night to avoid the snooty wait staff, and that was great. Very generous portions and very relaxing. We are waiting for our Petit dejuner, also room service before we start our day. A bien tot from Tahiti!
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