In western Australia we traveled north to Geraldton and Exmuth where the dreaded flies started finding me. Mosquito net to the rescue. Flies, snakes, spider, and sweltering heat. We went to a 100 yr old farm in Geraldton. I can just imagine the new bride settlers getting off the boat and wondering what they got themselves into. No thank you! Days at sea and at port during this period were filled with first shock then gratefulness followed by awe as Paul and I closely mon

Our transport to Luli Island King Neptune Ceremony (Actual Mer-man) One of those Pirates somehow boarded us. Fooling around Big Mama, see little one below 60 Square miles here of open protected rain forest. Orangutan Rope a dope It's not easy doing this! Luli Island Outrigger ship is a little tight for Sir Bill Nuts for Coco You Only Need One! Sandakan, Malaysia was both more sophisticated than I expected and worse in ways at the same time. Organized government buildings but

February 25, 2017 11:25 am Another set of firsts,, the Three Musketeers (as Cruise Director Fernando calls us) entered the Tazman Sea, then the Indian Ocean, followed by the Java Sea. So far, as we have meandered first west and then North up the coast of Australia to Malaysia. The Ocean water started cold for swimming, hovering around 70 degrees F, finally settling in the perfect eighties. The land at first gradually getting browner in Western Australia despite an unusua

Four Seasons Resort Bali Day one. 7:47 AM Saturday February 25, 2017 En Route to Malaysia. We are located North 01 Degrees 04.266' and East 119 Degrees 12.512' Travelling at 10 degrees True North at 16 Knots with a 28 Knot wind off our bow plus the 16 knot speed making a 44 knot wind on deck this morning earlier that made for a challenging walk. Bali Day One: No shore excursion so we checked with the local desk on ship and decided to brave the Bali traffic and head to the Fo

Black Dog Magic held 60 cans of Coke Black Dog Magic Silver Sushi, she held 100 cans of Coke in her cargo net below Calm Sea Day Yesterday En Route to Bali now at S13 degrees 51.723' E114 degrees 47.210' heading 3 degrees North at 14 Knots. 6:39 am local and the sun just came over the horizon and the temperature is about 80 degrees with no wind. Our last stop in OZ was a small town of about 2,000 people called Exmouth. This town could also be called Timbucktoo or the midd

Quokka Perth in background at 12X Zoom from Rottnest Island Pinkie Beach Welcome Home! Good to be "Home" after four days away. South 25 Degrees 49.381' E 112 Degrees 54.911' The seas are fine with a rolling swell off our port bow. We are heading at 336 degrees at 14 knots and it was about 75 degrees as the sun came up while walking on deck. It will be a warm one today in the low 90's and pool volleyball at sea will be a hit today at three. Fremantle: For our overnight stay

We have been in OZ for so long now we know the worth of all the coins at a glance, and the bills with a look. The two dollar coins are the smallest and the one dollar larger with the 50 cent really big and aluminum. The smallest bill in OZ is a fiver. The state of Western Australia is by far the largest of seven states in the country. Think Texas size and then you could put several of Texas inside the WA. Western Australia and Perth are first and foremost mining oriented

February 13, 2017 Ten hours and one Day ahead of Central Time. We are NOT supposed to be here but we decided to JUMP SHIP in Adelaide! With the prospect of three more days bouncing around at sea in the Great Australian bight with cold water and rough seas we scheduled a night in Adelaide followed by a Qantas flight to Perth and three nights in Perth before joining the ship again in Fremantle, the port of Perth. A leisurely morning in Adelaide with cool air we got a lot of w

We caught a bus in the morning for a tour of the most famous Barossa Valley Wine region. We first stopped at a small unknown winery for some tasting and then at the well know Jacobs Creek winery at their fancy tasting room. Found the pigs at an Arcade/Mall open shopping street with no cars. Had another platter and actually got a picture of a grey OZ parrot.

Melbourne is pronounced "Mell Bun" in Aussie. We didn't stop in Burnie Tasmania as planned due to large swells that would have snapped our lines, instead we had a bonus day at sea slowly rolling in high winds and swells that rocked us from the side of the ship. Melbourne, a city that rivals Sydney in size and population and exceeds in the arts, food and hip categories. she has a wonderful tracked public tram system called Myki and we rode the 109 into the city center with yo