Sunday, February 26, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Discovery
Hi All, I am sending this from Darwin, I hope!
I am aboard MV Discovery, out of Sydney to Singapore, over 21 days. A great last minute bargain, it pays to keep your passport valid! The ship is only carrying 580 passengers out of a possible 650. Not a bad ship, a bit tired, it was the original LOVE BOAT! sold by princess a few years ago. It evidently goes into dry dock at the end of this cruise when it reaches the UK. I have to say it needs a bit of work done, but that besides, it is not too bad! A funny deep swimming pool, you feel like you are in a well! The food is a bit variable, but that means I don't eat too much. So far I have weighed myself in the gym and appear to have lost another kilo! so that is promising. I am glad I am the only one in the cabin, (a triple), but it is quite "compact" The beds are comfortable, and the pillows are really good! the telly doesn't move very far so I can't lie in bed and watch, but that is ok as they don't have very good tv programs! They have an enormous amount of lecturers on board, sometimes 5 a day. I have been attending the photography ones, we shall see whether I can put into practice what I am learning!
I get really peeved when I hear the so called experts bleating about australia and they aren't australian! Quite a few mistakes too!! A really great one, was by a scottish surgeon, about "mercy hospital ships" I was fascinated, and might look into doing a stint on board. They take the ship to 3rd world places and operate etc. They do a lot of cleft palates, a bit like Operation Rainbow, but on board a specially fitted out ship.
I have met an American, Marylou, a nice lady from Florida, we kick around a bit together, and as she is not a shopper, that has kept me on the straight and narrow! She has been to some amazing places, she has just been in Burma for a month and after the cruise she is going to Taiwan for a month! She is amazing, she travels with just a roll-aboard piece of luggage. wow! I could try and learn something from her!
Today I did the aussie tour guide thing. 5 of us hired a people mover vehicle and I drove us down to Litchfield National Park. We did about 380kms, called into all the waterfals, they are very much in full flood, we climbed down 135 steps to the Florence falls plunge pool, and had a lovely swim, it is the only waterfall you can swim at because of the danger from crocs! gorgeous place to swim at, a bit rocky but very pleasant. We saw lots of wildlife on the way down and around the park, so that was good. Our companion s were 2 POMs and 2 Yanks, so they were pleased to see lots of kangaroos/wallabies? a family of wild pigs, a group of brumbies, a few gorgeous birds, absolutely terrific colours , and some sort of "kite, or hunting bird".
When we stopped for lunch, about 330pm, an absolute cloudburst occurred! buckets and buckets of water drumming on the tin roof of the cafe, thunder and lightning, I was glad we were stopped and I didn't have to drive through it! It must have dropped several inches, as all the creek/river crossings were now flooded! it rained/drizzled all the way back to the ship. We took lots of photos of the termite mounds, but weren't sure whether we saw the Magnetic ones or not!
Wednesday the ship has to move from the dock, as the Queen Mary is coming in, so our second day in Darwin will be at anchor and tendering ashore! I know I am a mad patchwork fanatic, but I have met a woman, a yank, of course! , who is travelling with her sewing, machine and yards of fabric, she wants to go to the Darwin shop, Dragon Fly. I think I ought to give it a miss as I have been sooo good in the shopping department on this trip , so far!
I just have to figure out adding my photos and then this will get sent off to you. Much love to you all
vicki
I am aboard MV Discovery, out of Sydney to Singapore, over 21 days. A great last minute bargain, it pays to keep your passport valid! The ship is only carrying 580 passengers out of a possible 650. Not a bad ship, a bit tired, it was the original LOVE BOAT! sold by princess a few years ago. It evidently goes into dry dock at the end of this cruise when it reaches the UK. I have to say it needs a bit of work done, but that besides, it is not too bad! A funny deep swimming pool, you feel like you are in a well! The food is a bit variable, but that means I don't eat too much. So far I have weighed myself in the gym and appear to have lost another kilo! so that is promising. I am glad I am the only one in the cabin, (a triple), but it is quite "compact" The beds are comfortable, and the pillows are really good! the telly doesn't move very far so I can't lie in bed and watch, but that is ok as they don't have very good tv programs! They have an enormous amount of lecturers on board, sometimes 5 a day. I have been attending the photography ones, we shall see whether I can put into practice what I am learning!
I get really peeved when I hear the so called experts bleating about australia and they aren't australian! Quite a few mistakes too!! A really great one, was by a scottish surgeon, about "mercy hospital ships" I was fascinated, and might look into doing a stint on board. They take the ship to 3rd world places and operate etc. They do a lot of cleft palates, a bit like Operation Rainbow, but on board a specially fitted out ship.
I have met an American, Marylou, a nice lady from Florida, we kick around a bit together, and as she is not a shopper, that has kept me on the straight and narrow! She has been to some amazing places, she has just been in Burma for a month and after the cruise she is going to Taiwan for a month! She is amazing, she travels with just a roll-aboard piece of luggage. wow! I could try and learn something from her!
Today I did the aussie tour guide thing. 5 of us hired a people mover vehicle and I drove us down to Litchfield National Park. We did about 380kms, called into all the waterfals, they are very much in full flood, we climbed down 135 steps to the Florence falls plunge pool, and had a lovely swim, it is the only waterfall you can swim at because of the danger from crocs! gorgeous place to swim at, a bit rocky but very pleasant. We saw lots of wildlife on the way down and around the park, so that was good. Our companion s were 2 POMs and 2 Yanks, so they were pleased to see lots of kangaroos/wallabies? a family of wild pigs, a group of brumbies, a few gorgeous birds, absolutely terrific colours , and some sort of "kite, or hunting bird".
When we stopped for lunch, about 330pm, an absolute cloudburst occurred! buckets and buckets of water drumming on the tin roof of the cafe, thunder and lightning, I was glad we were stopped and I didn't have to drive through it! It must have dropped several inches, as all the creek/river crossings were now flooded! it rained/drizzled all the way back to the ship. We took lots of photos of the termite mounds, but weren't sure whether we saw the Magnetic ones or not!
Wednesday the ship has to move from the dock, as the Queen Mary is coming in, so our second day in Darwin will be at anchor and tendering ashore! I know I am a mad patchwork fanatic, but I have met a woman, a yank, of course! , who is travelling with her sewing, machine and yards of fabric, she wants to go to the Darwin shop, Dragon Fly. I think I ought to give it a miss as I have been sooo good in the shopping department on this trip , so far!
I just have to figure out adding my photos and then this will get sent off to you. Much love to you all
vicki
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Discovery Cruise
Hi I have surprised myself with my spontaneity!,
When I arrived back in SA after my Christmas visit back to West Australia, I visited my friends in Elizabeth, and Geoff took me to the cricket to see Australia and India play the final test. It was a wonderful experience! We sat in the members grand stand, under cover thank God, as it was pretty hot that day! I was thrilled to see Ponting and Clarke hit into the 200 runs each and set Australia up for another great win! Needless to say, I declined to go again the next days, it was way too hot! However I can say I have been to the TEST Cricket! Next experience is the Tennis!
I went fromn there up to Clare again, to findmy friends there involved with the Tour down Under, cycle race. So the first country leg finished in Clare. All those lycra clad bodies! I picked up an article from the newspaper about a wonderful bargain of a cruise! I called Kath to see if she wanted to do it, but it wasn't quite suitable for her at that time, so I continued over to Loxton , where my cousin lives, and I have already had 3 visits to! Ioffered the trip to my cousin, but again no go! So I booked myself on , as even with single supplement, it was still dirt cheap!
So here I am, currently just docked in Townsville, having left Sydney on the 10th heading for Darwin, Komodo, Indonesia, Bali and Semarang, also Indonesia, and then to Singapore! 3 weeks of lovely tropical cruising. So far, you may all be surprised to know, I have been able to keep my hands firmly in my pockets having only spent a seniors ticket on Brisbane's city cat, and 2 bottles of water!
The ship is in British pounds currency, so that is a bit of a bummer, but I am watching my drinking habits, and I think I could make it quite an economical trip! (No more jewellry shopping for me!) Some lovely people on board, the ship evidently captures many loyal return passengers, mostly english, but quite a lot of Americans also. Only 650 passengers, but we are only carrying 580. No grand shows in the evenings, but very good singers and musicians, a lot of lectures about what we are travelling through, no casino!, and only a small shop. The ship looks like a ship, it is apparently the original "Love Boat", a little tired around the edges, but perfectly adequate - for the price I paid!
I have linked up with a nice american woman, very widely travelled, just carries one rollaboard piece of luggage, and has been travelling for 3 months! I hop to learn something from her about packing!
I am attending the photography lectures, and feel as if I have already picked up somne clues and tips, the trouble will be that I will next want a new camera!
I have finally been able to get internet service now we have arrived in Townsville, so I am dealing with all that! I still have to add the photos
So take care and I will send you all more news soon.
Love Vicki
When I arrived back in SA after my Christmas visit back to West Australia, I visited my friends in Elizabeth, and Geoff took me to the cricket to see Australia and India play the final test. It was a wonderful experience! We sat in the members grand stand, under cover thank God, as it was pretty hot that day! I was thrilled to see Ponting and Clarke hit into the 200 runs each and set Australia up for another great win! Needless to say, I declined to go again the next days, it was way too hot! However I can say I have been to the TEST Cricket! Next experience is the Tennis!
I went fromn there up to Clare again, to findmy friends there involved with the Tour down Under, cycle race. So the first country leg finished in Clare. All those lycra clad bodies! I picked up an article from the newspaper about a wonderful bargain of a cruise! I called Kath to see if she wanted to do it, but it wasn't quite suitable for her at that time, so I continued over to Loxton , where my cousin lives, and I have already had 3 visits to! Ioffered the trip to my cousin, but again no go! So I booked myself on , as even with single supplement, it was still dirt cheap!
So here I am, currently just docked in Townsville, having left Sydney on the 10th heading for Darwin, Komodo, Indonesia, Bali and Semarang, also Indonesia, and then to Singapore! 3 weeks of lovely tropical cruising. So far, you may all be surprised to know, I have been able to keep my hands firmly in my pockets having only spent a seniors ticket on Brisbane's city cat, and 2 bottles of water!
The ship is in British pounds currency, so that is a bit of a bummer, but I am watching my drinking habits, and I think I could make it quite an economical trip! (No more jewellry shopping for me!) Some lovely people on board, the ship evidently captures many loyal return passengers, mostly english, but quite a lot of Americans also. Only 650 passengers, but we are only carrying 580. No grand shows in the evenings, but very good singers and musicians, a lot of lectures about what we are travelling through, no casino!, and only a small shop. The ship looks like a ship, it is apparently the original "Love Boat", a little tired around the edges, but perfectly adequate - for the price I paid!
I have linked up with a nice american woman, very widely travelled, just carries one rollaboard piece of luggage, and has been travelling for 3 months! I hop to learn something from her about packing!
I am attending the photography lectures, and feel as if I have already picked up somne clues and tips, the trouble will be that I will next want a new camera!
I have finally been able to get internet service now we have arrived in Townsville, so I am dealing with all that! I still have to add the photos
So take care and I will send you all more news soon.
Love Vicki
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