More Bits and Pieces...

Saturday, February 15. Cloudy, warm, calm seas. 

We are now sailing in The Coral Sea, part of the Great Barrier Reef, get it, coral-reef?

Another day at sea. I don't mind this as I am just getting over this damn cough. I thought it was over this morning and attended a lecture. I had to leave! I thought that the hacking would never stop. I was in the washroom and it must have sounded like I was choking to death. I have not had a cold or a cough for ages, maybe years. But, when I get one it is usually a doozy and settles in my throat. My tonsillectomy that I had when I was a kid was botched and it seems that my tonsil remains are my Achilles Heel.

I have a bit of writer's block so forgive my ramblings…

We have an interesting port in two days, Cairns. We four are scheduled to go on an all day excursion to the mountains that includes a train ride and a cable car. The last few weeks we have been on south sea islands, which is great, but maybe too many in a row. After a while they all blur together and I have trouble remembering which was which. Time for some adventure methinks.

Speaking of adventure, or lack of it possibly, we are off to New Guinea in a few days time. The ship tells us to lower our expectations while there. There are not a lot of experienced tour operators there apparently and the one they are using has had no experience with a cruise ship. The guides are high school students with little or no experience in the job.

The Place played a role in WWII when the Japanese landed in New Guinea, fresh from their successes in, China, Singapore and Hong Kong were seemingly unstoppable. They landed on the north of the island and started their journey south through the jungle and mountains. They were stopped by the  Australians 12 miles from Port Moresby on the south of the island. It was the first setback or defeat the Japanese had to date. Their goal was of course, Australia. It was a terrible time and a source of pride for Aussies. The route of the Japanese advance was over the mountains on what is known at the Kokoda Trail. The trail is used as a bit of an endurance hike and a pilgrimage by Aussies to this day.

I have had this image of New Guinea natives since a child, of the natives with a stick horizontally through their nose, dressed in straw with faces painted in frightful colours and markings. I suspect that I am in for a bit of a disappointment there, it may possibly be a bit of an adventure though. I believe that Jim was hopeful of getting up in the highlands to see some rare bird. Whatever happens there it will be interesting.

                                            

On the ship, I have a feeling of being cut off from the world somewhat, even though we are sailing around it! We get the world news, or snippets of it, and that is good. At home I am completely aware of what our kids are up to every day as I usually talk to each of them daily. I also often make a 6.30 am phone call to my friend Don at home, even though we do not see the Gray's that often. I talk to my brother and sister daily, or almost so. I also chat with good friend Ian in England once in a while. Here, not so, I go on line once a day to send the blog and hopefully get some mail. 

Don't get me wrong, I am not 'homesick' but this is what came out of my mind when I sat down to write today's blog!

Sorry for a bit of nothing today. It's just one of those days.

Pic. Fellette proof reading the blog. Pretty boring eh!