Rabaul, on the Island of East New Britain , 600 km East of the Island of New Guinea.

Tuesday, February 3. Overcast, hot. 28 C.

It went a bit slow this morning, that's the way things happen here but things do get done.

It was a long and interesting day, endless it seemed. It was very hard to really get my mind into where we were and where we were going. Our guide was a young Native woman with a heavy but understandable accent, very polite and pleasant. The vehicle was a very beat up but serviceable little 10 passenger mini bus. The roads were absolutely atrocious, there were four mini-buses that travelled together in a sort of convoy with flashing lights. Like a police escort through New York City, [for us!]

Everybody waves and I mean everyone, it got to be contagious and soon seemed to become inappropropriate NOT to wave, and smile as we bounced around for over five hours. We had  several stops where we were addressed by a well spoken middle agent gent and we had a couple of younger men in an accompanying van. I suspect they were there to help if anything went awry during the day. There was ample warnings about security, theft etc., ample indeed.

We had a long stop at a Commonwealth War Graves site. At these, people generally do not speak. The gravity of the situation and the vastness of the simple headstones, row on row, seems to stifle my vocal cords, as  many, many others. Interestingly, there are no Japanese War Cemeteries on the Island, only monuments. I was also told that there are no Japanese who live on the island. 

The day was a rather sobering day, not only because of the War aspects but because of the immense feeling of respect that I have acquired for the patience and humility that these simple folks have, without showing any anger or resentment to us who have so much and they, who have so little, spread out there wares for us to look at then and walk on by. I feel like a darn Cad!

It Was However, a Great Day!

Here comes the Pilot and other authorities.

They only have had four Cruise Ships this year, usually six to eight.

The list of these sellers lines the street on the road outside the port gates, for a couple of hundred yards, sad. They were there when we came back five hours later!

More.

I got Fellette in the Big Gun picture this time. This was a site of a collection of Japanese relics that they stored at a civic museum. 

Apparently that is a Jap Zero.

Machine Gun.

A Tunnel for storage by the Japs, dug by their prisoners of war, the diggings were used for to make the airstrip.

Hmmm. Lots of Jap helmets but no war graves!

Anything to make a buck I guess. I just felt sorry for him.

These vendors set up this massive field full of their wares just for the mini-buses from our ship today.

More.

Mainly Aussies here.

Australians seem to have been dying here for over 100 years.

Papua New Guinea Tomorrow...

Monday, February 2. Rain early. Cloudy. 29 C.

A relaxing day at sea today, heading northish to the equator quite a bit. We also had some good news as well, the the next two ports that were to be Tender ports, we will be docking! Tendering can be a bit of a bother particularly, when coming back to the ship, the waiting conditions can be a bit iffy regarding the time and weather. Also the mobility of most of us is sometimes not the best for crowded and rocking and rolling about.

We took in two interesting talks this morning, one on The War in The Pacific, right in the middle of where we are and have just been. The second one was a very, very well done 3/4 hour presentation of the History of 150 years of Holland America Lines and its role in our lives since the days of Sail. Slickly done with live and recorded pieces seamlessly stitched together.

A Good Day.

Guadalcanal, in The Flesh...

Sunday, February 1. Boiling hot. 29 C.

Well today was one of the things that I/we have been looking forward to for several months. To get out and see what it was like in the epic battles that took place in this great big ocean called the Pacific. I have read about it in books since I was a kid, I have likely seen every Hollywood Movie ever made about it and other movies on the War in the Pacific.

Well it regrets me to tell you that the books and movies were better than what we experienced today. Us and many many mini busses full of ageing expectant and interested North Americans were sadly let down by our guides. Ours was  a native Solomon Islander, so soft spoken it seemed as if he was whispering. I gave up trying to hear him.

I wouldn't say that they are looking after the specific sites with the attention they deserve, but I recognize that this is a second or third world country, or is in my opinion. It was only by the fact that there was a very knowledgeable gentleman on our bus that picked up the slack and was able to point out some significant facts that our native guide was so silent on. He happened to be a Canadian!

Having now just humiliated the Guide, I will now apologize for the lousy photos I took today. This location is not the best for good lighting in photos, too much directly overhead lighting. It is what it is.

All In All, It Was a Good day!

A Local bunch of Natives gave us a hearty welcome and send off later. Compliments of Holland America.

This our little 10 or 12 passenger bus, quite adequate.

A gun, slowly rusting away at a site.

In the famous Henderson Field Airport where the wall is plastered with plaques.

In the field by the Airport, rows of trees with plaques with names of fallen  allied forces names, not all American.

A plaque at the beach where the Americans first landed. Not a vocal presentation the whole tour.

Use your imagination, you had to.

Wander around and look, and think.

Like what could this be?

This is the most up to date and impressive Monument on the Island.

This sums it up.

A nice send off!

Busy, Busy Days Ahead...

Saturday January 31. Some cloud, some light rain. 29 C.

We are flying along like a rocket at 20 knots heading for the Solomon Islands. Our destination is Guadalcanal tomorrow morning, Sunday, February 1 where we will be docked. We booked an excursion that visits and explores the WW II aspects of this island. I have a keen interest in Military History. I know it was an American battle but it was such a horrific situation nationalities do not matter.

Our day was again, very relaxing. It was quite invigorating to be outside early this morning and the ship going a zillion miles and hour. That is a horrendous amount of energy being expended just to get us somewhere on time for a bunch of tourists going on shore excursions.

This is the fastest that we have been going on a ship since 1999 when we went on our first World Cruise on a P & O Ship Oriana, when it was on a quick Medical Emergency run back to Cape Town, South Africa where we had just departed. It was quite invigorating out on deck there. this morning, just like Das Boot! [The story of the German U-Boat in WW II.]

Fellette went for a dip in the pool before breakfast today, I found that encouraging, It was a bit rocky and wishy washy but she says it felt good and was in no way painful. Good news.

In this neck of the woods there does not seem to be much difference in the temperature, day or night, rain or shine, it is always the same, very warm/hot!

A Good Day.

The pool is amazing, in spite of lots of movement in the pool one does not easily get bumped into the pool sides. Something to do with Design methinks. 

It is a relatively dinky pool and people can become very territorial about sharing. Just keep smiling! These three were in there paddling a wee bit when Fellette got in. I think they likely go early every day they can. God Bless them for that, they are old!

We were kindly invited to a table at the Food and Beverage  Officer's Table tonight with two other other couples. A delightful evening all round.

       

The Road to Hell is Paved With Good Intentions...

Friday, January 30. Not a breath of wind. 29 C.

We were up, bright eyed and bushy tailed and had coffee on the deck while we slowly sailed in and stopped, hovering for the day several hundred yards off of the town of Port Vila in Vanuatu. Vanuatu is an Independent Melanesian Archipelago Nation in the South Pacific consisting of 83 islands with a population of approximately 300,000 people. Now you know: Melanesia! [Formerly New Hebrides.]

We were determined to go ashore even though we did not want a shore excursion just for the sake of going on one. After breakfast we went up top to survey the situation prepared to go through the process of getting a Tender Ticket. The heat  was  like being in a oven, we headed for shade, sat down, looked at each other and said: WHY?

So, after we got back to our Air Conditioned Suite we appraised the scene and agreed, this is a good place to spend the day!

At home, we have lived our entire lives with Four Seasons every year. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Here they have one Season: Summer. That is why they are Black Skinned. This weather is all they know! Today, at home, this would be amongst the hottest day of the year. We just don't go for a walk on a day like this at home, why would we today? 

A Relaxing Day, Exactly Why We Are Here!

Early am and the Pilot is dropped off on the ship and we 'hover' for the day.

The early morning is kind of neat as we go through a bunch of papers and dates etc, to get ourselves organized for the day and days ahead. There is no similarity to being at home at all. I think I am getting it all in order, not sure on that.

Three Tenders waiting for the ship to be cleared around 7:30 am.

Our view for the day. You can see a Tender heading for a jetty on the far shore.

See that neat little clean white linen cloth? That is laid out each night for our little tootsies while getting in and out of bed. Cool eh? 

Like Watching Paint Dry...

Thursday, January 29. Cloudy. 28 C. 

At sea, somewhere in this immense ocean. Creeping along at seven knots an hour.  I am not going to try and describe where in the world we are except to say that we are approaching Papua New Guinea and will be in Australia in 11 days.      

There is really nothing to write about. Life is really great if you like doing nothing. One needs to keep ones body in shape so that takes some doing. It is also a good chance to catch up on reading but I can have too much of that in a hurry, Fellette is quite content to quietly read for hours on end. 

I dislike to keep referring to our age as a reason for not being interested in activities aboard the ship but that is God's Honest Truth. Over the years I /we have done almost everything possible onboard ships from Dancing Lessons, Tai Chi, Trivia, Horse Racing, Knocking Golf Balls into the Ocean, even shooting Clay Pigeons off the deck but declined on that, and Lectures galore. We are not interested in Wine Tasting or Cooking Lessons and Spa Sessions are of no interest. I think that everyone undergoes many moments and hours of boredom [relaxation] but unlike me they do not write about it, daily. I see the same people/couples on sea days playing crib or other games together, endlessly. Watching their iPhones seems to be big time time waster! Some just read, some sleep on deck chairs. Some just bake in the sun, believe it or not! There is never ever everybody doing the same thing all at the same time. There is a heck of a lot on napping going on I will tell you! 

Felette and I had another appointment with the Ship's Doctor this afternoon. It was at my request. Fellette still has a very swollen bosom from the car incident 29 days ago. The bruises have gone away and she can sleep normally I would say but her entire chest is still swollen to the point of restriction. We had a deep and thorough examination and talk with the doctor today. Believe it or not there is still more time to go before things should be getting back to normal. There is always the possibility of us pursuing further tests in Australia which they would be happy to arrange. Right now we think the plan may be to look for a larger brasserie whilst in Cairns in 11 days. How about that being the highlight of the day and Too Much Information!

An Easy Day, Somewhere in This Massive Pacifice Ocean