Viking Cruise 2019

FEBRUARY 1, 2020 WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND Wellington is spic & span clean. No trash, no graffiti, no dirt and fresh paint on everything. A real pleasure to visit.  A bicycle trip along the harbour perimeter seemed a fine way to see some of the city and exercise at the same time. We were 19 riders. Along the way we passed the naked man statue titled "Solace of the Winds." Throughout New Zealand we have heard about "the Christmas tree" (properly named the pohutukawa tree) which flowers in late December and completely covers the tree with red bottle-brush flowers. All those that we have seen on the trip so far only bore a few wilted flower remnants. But wait! In Wellington I saw this guy: Not a bad example of the pohutukawa tree this late in the season. Incidentally, the last time we were in New Zealand about 15 years ago, I bought pohutukawa seeds and tried to grow these trees in Victoria - but failed. I had been warned that they only grow in...

JANUARY 31, 2020 NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND No, not Napier. When the Sun arrived here early this morning, the winds were blowing whitecaps at 40 knots and rising. Captain Lars (Captain Olav departed for holidays in Auckland) determined that a safe tendering was not possible, so we left for our next port which is Wellington. So, instead of a brief sojourn in a pleasant art deco town, today is a sea day with the usual diversions. LOTR - Watch a behind the scene look at the very last scene of the very last LOTR movie.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVMq7ynj_64 In case you are curious about the "then and now" of the LOTR and Hobbit actors.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmwUNTLtvdw

JANUARY 30, 2020 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND If you liked The Lord of the Ring and The Hobbit movies you will really enjoy a visit to the movie set of Hobbiton. I certainly did. There are dozens of facts that our guide mentioned, too many to repeat here, but maybe when I get home..... This is Bilbo Baggins's house, the door is about six feet high.  Behind the door it is only 4 feet deep.   For cinematographic purposes several other doorways were created smaller: The tour ends at The Green Dragon Inn where we had a beer and muffin. I took almost a hundred photos but if you want to see a video of an almost identical tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaVPCYdqE_I After lunch I toured Tauranga, a major seaside haven for holidayers.  This lovely city is held in such high regard that it has grown madly during the last decade. Will success spoil Tauranga? Its historic village was an interesting visit. The J.R.R. Tolkein stories come to and end and ...

JANUARY 29, 2020 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND A city tour confirms our original impression - much of this place is really an assemblage of tiny, snug villages that grew into a city. A comfortable sort of city, one worth a good visit. Parks and trails everywhere. Clean and tidy. The citizens have a healthy mind-set and a respect for nature. "Tramping" ( the recreational activity of going for long-distance walks in rough country) is popular.   After lunch we found ourselves at Sea Life Aquarium - penguins in a snow grotto and swimming pool, sharks, rays, ocean turtles, four-pound crayfish, sea creatures of all descriptions - a worthwhile show.   Next stop - Skytower. On a clear day, from the skydeck at the 60th level, you can almost see Australia (LOL).  Well, at least you can see the Viking Sun at dock (just to the right of the ANZ sign). The 360 degree view is stunning - Auckland is massive. Tomorrow I go to Hobbiton - wooohoooo! LOTR - Enya wrote an...

JANUARY 28, 2020 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Ah, the big city. Karen and I walked off the boat and directly into downtown where we completed our errands. This is one fine city, modern, user-friendly and growing. I couldn't resist lunch at KFC - my body needed some of that delectable grease. As evening approached we saw this from our balcony: Have you ever seen a rainbow end in water? And just a few feet away......... Dinner was a treat - frog legs and lobster ravioli in a saffron sauce. What other ship serves frog legs?  Just another day in paradise. The Lord of the Rings begins, quite naturally, in " The Shire". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meK0G3o9mPw

JANUARY 27, 2020 BAY OF ISLANDS, (WAITANGI), NEW ZEALAND Stepping onto our balcony this morning I smelled flowers. The ship is docked in the middle of Bay of Islands and the air is fragrant - wow!. Joy.  Even after arriving on land there is a distinct and pleasant scent of green foliage. Fresh, soothing. The countryside looks familiar - like Vancouver Island or rural England. Comfortable. Civilized. Waitangi has only about 2,000 inhabitants but it is just about the nicest port we have seen. Everything we see earns 5 stars. Our excursion took us to Kawakawa where the main attraction is a toilet - honest! From the outside it looks like this: Inside: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundertwasser_Toilets Some folks simply needed a rest: In Kerikeri we visited Rainbow Falls:   Later, we ferried across the bay to Russell (pop. 730) for lunch (it was massive).  Russell was even more comfy-cozy than Waitangi - just a few streets but full of restaura...

JANUARY 26, 2020 (Adjusted for Date Line) SEA DAY Because our ship's crossing of the Date Line has created confusion, at least in my mind, I choose to be on the same page (date) as you. Back to baggo for a second. This morning there was the normal baggo contest in the Atrium (the guests beat the senior staff........again). But wait! Today was special. This is General Manager Karl's birthday and in two days he leaves the Viking Sun for his scheduled holidays. So, of course.......... hundreds of staff and guests crammed the Atrium to celebrate and have a slice of Karl's birthday cake. Dinner with Juliette Primrose one day and watching her perform on stage the next, what a treat. She was absolutely  fabulous and that is no exaggeration.  We all recognize Ennio Morricone's musical genius from his western movies. Here is a brief story and a tune you might not be familiar with - " Malena " . Watch: https://www.youtube.com/w...

JANUARY 25, 2020 SEA DAY When I awoke and opened the curtains, what I saw immediately brought to mind a TV program that I watched every Saturday in the mid-1950s, " Victory at Sea ": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sto3p3eozg8 Oops, a day late. And m camera decided to take a day off. Lord of the Rings - what a triumph! This video is more than a song, it is a synopsis of the entire of the entire LOTR journey. Toronto-born composer Howard Shore won every imaginable music award for his LOTR efforts. Here is " Into the West ": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3wYqB3WKLM

JANUARY 26, 2020 SEA DAY There is a game on this ship called Baggo. It's just tossing bean bags through a hole on a slanted board - you probably played is as a kid. Well, it is serious business here as the senior managers, and I mean the four-stripers, compete against the guests each morning. It is also a source of pranks. Yesterday morning, while a couple of guests were playing Baggo, their room was altered. The bed was taken out, leaving the mattress on the floor and their baggage lined up against the far wall. On the bed there was an official looking note stating, "As you know, Viking strives to ensure that the safety and comfort of our guests is foremost. With this in mind, we have made a few adjustments to your room for your wellbeing which we trust you will appreciate.  The Management"   True. Speaking of safety, we are assured by senior staff that the Viking Sun's front will not fall off (unlike some other ships). See for yourself: https://www.youtube.co...

JANUARY 24, 2020 SUVA, FIJI We arrived at 7:00 this morning and are only in Suva until 2:00 PM.  Karen took the included tour which touched the outlying forest while I went snorkeling. Our game plan going forward is to get out of port whenever possible; we have grown tired of ports - they tend to be dull and similar to one another. I took my camera for snorkeling photos of our group of 30, but I had forgotten the memory card in my computer in our suite. So, no pictures. Bad news - the coral was dead (due to a 2016 cyclone, they said) but there were plenty of small, colourful fish. Unfortunately, there was a strong current that took everyone away from the moored boat; the fins the boat provided were so warped they were almost ineffective and several snorkelers need assistance returning to the boat. Getting out of the water was a struggle too, due to the ladder being so short. On this excursion, half the allotted time was spent on the bus. All things considered, this was less t...

JANUARY 23, 2020 SEA DAY Upon checking my computer's calendar I see that today is still January 22nd although on the West Coast it is approaching the 23rd. We are 4 hours west (earlier in the day) of Victoria. That's because we "lost" a day when we crossed the International Date Line. Chronologically, today is the 145th day of the trip. Gee, only 100 to go. After cocktails, accompanied by piano savant Resident Pianist Andras, we are off to ..... dinner tonight with Michael and Beverly, our bridge and knitting instructors, by special Invitation of General Manager Karl and Activities Manager Bevan in the private dining room of Manfredi's Restaurant.  Then we sauntered to the Star Theatre to hear Sharon Calabro's tribute to the music of Karen Carpenter. Excellent. Then to bed. Speaking of beautiful music, Rachel Portman won an Academy Award for her music in the movie, " Emma ". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMAkuTEOVoM

JANUARY 22, 2020 NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA During this morning's walk around the deck I spotted a flock of birds alongside the ship - but they weren't birds, they were flying fish!  We did a walking tour of the downtown area. Not much to see or do there. There is an extensive indoor market selling fruits, veggies and beautifully sculpted artisan works but we were not in the market for those things. We did find something we have been seeking for a long time - cassava chips.  I  also wanted to buy a tee shirt with the flag of Tonga emblazoned on the front, but I'm told they don't have any in Tonga. What's with that? Nice flag. After my sauna this afternoon I weighed myself - same weight as I had before leaving in August!! So.... all this great food and no weight gain. Nirvana! Although I believe some parts might have moved around somewhat. It's all good. In November you heard " Somewhere in Time " composed by John Barry. Here is a nic...

JANUARY 21, 2020 NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonga Today is Tuesday - but I'm not permitted to tell you what happens. Having missed out on Rarotonga, Captain Olav (what an angel!) put his foot to the metal is steaming us to Tonga so we can enjoy one and a half two days on this island. But wait! Arriving here could be a disappointment according to news reports. https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/407732/cyclone-tino-3000-without-power-in-tonga-s-ha-apai-group No way. The weather was perfect, the storm dumped a lot of rain a couple of days ago but only did modest damage. So this afternoon all shipmates were invited to bus over to the beach at Liku'Alofa Beach Resort. Not the best of beaches and not the best of snorkeling spots. We only stayed about an hour. Later though, we were entertained by the Tonga Falaovi Group performing local dances by male and female dance troupes: The dancing, coupled with a banana daiquiri, was...

JANUARY 20, 202 0 SEA DAY Today the Viking Sun crossed the International Date Line so for us Monday, January 20th doesn't exist. But here is some relaxing music anyways: Eugenia Khomenko  " Open Your Heart " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNVgC9K8Eww

JANUARY 19, 2020 SEA DAY Although Captain Olav skirted the Sun around the worst of what is officially named Tropical Cyclone Tino, the seas are still running 12 to 16 feet. As they say, this ship rocks! (and rolls). There are plenty of queasy passengers not leaving their rooms for meals, or for any other reason. Fortunately, there are two NFL playoff games to view at the Star Theatre or on their TVs today.  Go Chiefs! Laura Sullivan " Chaco Canyon " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4qjjhgv0vo So, are you curious about Chaco Canyon? Take a look ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzmLnsljAKo

JANUARY 18, 2020 SEA DAY (BYPASSING RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS) Typhoon Tino has formed near Fiji creating large swells in this area of the Pacific. Captain Olav has determined that the high seas will not allow us to tender safely into Rarotonga. As a consequence, Viking Sun is sailing around the typhoon which is moving southeast, thus bypassing today's intended stop and continuing on to Tonga on January 20th when seas should be favourable.  Beverly Walker, our knitting expert and trainer, has had her knitting class producing joey pouches for the Australian kangaroo babes that became orphaned during the fires. In fact, the world response to this disaster has been so vigorous that Beverly's ladies have switched their efforts and are now knitting much needed bird nests. Karen's latest pouch and nest:  There are many websites with photos of the Australian fires. This is just one: https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-50971879 HOW'S IT MADE? - Bananas. I missed ...

JANUARY 17, 2020 SEA DAY Just another sea day. First thing,  Karen and I were on a private 6-person Viking tour that  sauntered down the "I-95". That's the name given to the major corridor on the A Deck where the crew move cargo and all goods destined elsewhere. There are huge rooms that store all types of food, booze and all other materials, whether frozen or fresh. Huge rooms, massive freezers, impressive. Because it has special significance to us, Karen pointed out a bottle of Amarula cream liquor to the Provisions Manager - unannounced, a bottle was waiting for us in our suite after lunch. Is that Class, or what? Oh, by the way we ran into these chefs taking a moon fish up to the World Cafe for tonight's Polynesian feast. We also visited the crew's quarters, their cafeteria, their entertainment area and met several off-duty crew members. Several of the crew mentioned that they are far better treated by Viking than on competitors' ships This photo ...

JANUARY 16, 2020 BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA James Michener, who served in the US army during World War 2, called Bora Bora "the most beautiful island in the world". It's lovely all right. There is no actual downtown. The port has only very high-priced souvenir shops and that applies not only to black pearls, so a visitor has no alternative but to take an excursion or find a suitable beach for the day.  Karen took a water tour of the surrounding lagoons and took some photos. The multi-storey units on the right are available for US$5,000 per night. She also saw stingrays; the guide  went into the 4-foot water and fed them by hand. I wasn't as lucky. My open 4X4 jeep tour took six of us along several of the roughest rock strewn roads in the Pacific, we were fortunate not to be jostled out of the back of the truck.  I took pictures too. As you can see, a Windstar Cruises ship was also anchored in the...

JANUARY 15, 2020 PAPEETE, TAHITI, FRENCH POLYNESIA As you might already know, Tahiti is part of the Marquesas Islands (I didn't know that).  Tahiti is mostly composed of volcanic rock and overgrown with bamboo and other fast growing and impenetrable greenery. Few areas are habitable. The city of Papeete is clean, safe, prosperous, welcoming and vibrant - the kind of place where I would like to revisit for a longer stay. With a population of around 200,000 it is busy but easy to get around. Our guide says it is very expensive, for example a US gallon of gasoline costs USD $7.20 (that's $9.60 Canuck oooo!). Our excursion took us into the mountains in an open 8-seater 4X4 along pot-holed and ..... river crossing roads. Yes, we were out into the wilds where few travelers venture. The trip was quite bouncy but a healthy, though unexpected, body workout. We heard bird sounds but, as usual, we saw no exotic birds. Where are all these guys?  Thi...