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  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 88

    Taiohae, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas, French Po

    March 30 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    After a day of rest we anchored at Nuku Hiva. We visited this island in 2017 and in our memory it was not very interesting island. As we remembered, we arrived very late in the day and had less than 2 hours explore it. We could not get far from tender boat. So we were debating to go ashore or not. In addition, Boris had plugged and ringing ear. I sent him to a doctor to take care of it. They flushed his ear and by 9:00AM he was cured.

    We decided to take a tender boat and see what is there.
    After exiting tender boat, I asked a local woman what is there to see and she pointed us to a driver to take us to the mountains and valley. She said it’s the best.
    I organises a group of 6 people and we decided to take a chance.
    Our first stop was Notre Dame Cathedral.

    Notre Dame Cathedral is a 20th-century church that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese. We could not go inside because of the service.

    Then we drove to the top of the mountain to take pictures. The view was stunning.
    We drove to community’s grounds where people get together for meetings and celebrations. It is surrounded by Tiki statues. Most of them females.

    We drove to many places with fantastic views. It was very hot and humid, but I was glad we took this tour. The island is lush and beautiful. Glad we decided to go ashore. This is our last port. Six days in the sea and we will be home!    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 86

    Fakarava, Tuamotu, French Polynesian.

    March 28, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    Fakarava is an atoll in the west of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It is the second largest of the Tuamotu atolls.
    The atoll is roughly rectangular and has a wide and deep lagoon.

    We booked a private 4 hours snorkelling tour.
    As soon as we got off tender boat, we were met by our guide and directed to a boat. The boat had six seats in three rows. Each seat for two people.

    After 45min of fast and bumpy ride we arrived to an incredible blue lagoon. We were given one hour to snorkel. The water is crystal clear with lots of fish and corals.
    After swim…we were offered a snack and then another 45-50min of even rougher ride to the reef.

    Another hour snorkelling. This time the water is much deeper and full of sharks. I could see 5-6 sharks at the time under and close to me. That was probably the best snorkelling I’ve ever done. Too bad no camera.

    Back on the boat and another rough ride, we were back on the pier.
    We checked few stalls for the souvenirs, but did not find anything interesting.
    It was getting incredibly hot, so we took tender boat back to the ship.

    Luckily, our friend took tons of videos and we downloaded them to our laptop.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 86

    Papeete, Tahiti, Day 2

    March 28, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    For the second day in Papeete we booked eight hours private tour.
    This is our third time in Tahiti. In 2017 weeks had a tour to the mount Orohena on 4x4 truck. Second time in 2020 we took a tour of western part of the island. Today we will cover the whole island.
    It was a wonderful 8 hours tour with delicious lunch. The tour guide was also great.
    What a beautiful island.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 84–85

    Papeete, Tahiti, Day 1

    March 26 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    After snorkelling for four days, we decided to take it easy today. Besides, we had to go to the pharmacy. Boris had his right ear plagued. I told him to go see a ship doctor, but he wanted to cure himself without a specialist. In the morning we walked to the pharmacy, got some kind of expensive drops and then visited market where black pearls and produce were sold.
    After walking for two hours, we came back on the ship very tired. The heat is very difficult to take.

    After lunch and rest and shower, we took a taxi to the Intercontinental Resort to meet with few more friends for dinner. Resort’s setting is beautiful and we had good time.
    We came back around 9:00PM, just on time for second show of local dancers.
    Boris went to rest and I stayed for the show. We saw similar show in 2017, but I still enjoyed it very much.
    Tomorrow we have 8 hours tour of the island. Better rest.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 84

    Huahine, French Polynesia.

    March 26, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    Huahine is known as one of the most authentic islands in French Polynesia, where the ancestral culture is still very much alive in local traditions and customs.
    The population of the island is 6000.
    We took a tender boat to the island without any plans. All I knew there is a wonderful beach and a resort, but it’s required taxi or a car rental.
    We start talking to another couple, they were going to rent a car and I offer them to split the cost. The rental for a day is pretty expensive. Also, all cars are manual transmission. I do not drive manual.
    The island consist of two separate islands, connected by the bridge. First, we drove around bigger north island, stopping at view points, private shell museum, vanilla plantation and then we arrived at remains of the resort with good looking beach.
    I decided to “test the water”. The current was extremely strong. After 30 minutes, we continue driving stopping at the place where we could see blue eyed eels.

    They live near the village of Faie and are considered sacred and have been habituated to humans for hundreds of years. These are massive 1.5-2m long fish that live in small caves and holes under the bridge and come out to feed in the fresh waters of the river. Locals and tourists feed them with mackerel. The most amazing is that the eels have absolutely blue eyes, almost porcelain blue that nearly glow in the water. They live up to 80 years.
    Finally we end up in Avea Beach with very nice resort. It was close to 1:00PM and we were hangry. The lunch at the resort restaurant was very good.
    After lunch we still had few hours to enjoy beautiful beach and fantastic snorkelling.

    Back to the tender pier by 4:00PM. Very nice day.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 82

    Moorea, French Polynesia. Day 2

    March 24 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Today we scheduled a full day snorkeling tour departing from the tender pier at 9:00PM.
    Since we stayed overnight, I thought we can take tender boat at 8:00AM and be on time for the tour.
    Coming back to our cabin from breakfast at 6:55AM, I met another passenger who told me we have to be on tender boat at 7:00AM. After that only cruise ship tour passengers will get tender tickets.
    We had 5 minutes together ready. Luckily we were packed, but I had to change to a swim suit and get to the tender boat. We made it!

    At 9:00AM we got on the tour boat. We had two snorkeling stops and then the most delicious lunch on the Motu.

    Again, some music, coconut breaking, cooking presentation, hat making lessons, plant medicine presentation and other useful stuff. Lots of fun. It was a fantastic day.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 81–82

    Moorea, French Polynesia. Day 1.

    March 23 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    No plans for today.
    Our two friends from 2023 world cruise who are staying in Moorea suggested to visit Temae beach near Sofitel Hotel.
    So another couple from Canada and us hired a taxi and in 30 min we were on the beach. It’s a long strip beach. The taxi dropped us at the north side of the beach.
    Right away we went snorkeling. Not good. The coral reef was very far and there was some current.
    We decided to walk south toward resort.
    Much better…corals were very close to the shore and in good shape. Lots of colorful fish. No camera and no pictures.
    We spent the rest of the time snorkeling. At 1:00PM the taxi picked us up and we were back on the ship in one hour.
    We were too tired to go anywhere in the evening, so we rested before tomorrow’s whole day tour.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 80

    Bora Bora, French Polynesia

    March 22 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    We arrived at our not planned port at 8:00AM. Likely I managed to get a tour two days prior to the stop at this port. As this is a tender port, we had to get up early to be inline for tender tickets.
    Got ticket for the first tender and by 8:20 we were on the shore. The tour started at 9:00AM. Our little boat had 12 people.
    Our first stop was at the shallow location to basically pet stingrays and small sharks. That was fun. The water is blue and very clear.
    The second location was normal snorkeling with corals and fish. No pictures since Boris lost his camera in Tonga and we did not want to pay $300 for the new one. That is what is available on the ship.
    After that-delicious lunch on the Motu and music, dancing and performance.
    We got back on the ship around 3:00PM.
    After shower and a little rest, I met with another lady to go for a dinner ashore. Boris decided to stay on the ship.
    Sarah and I walked 10 min to the restaurant and had a wonderful dinner in a beautiful setting.
    We took last tender boat at 8:00PM. We were the only two on the tender boat and last ones to board the ship.
    It was a great day in Bora Bora.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 78

    Rarotonga, Cooks Island

    March 20 in Cook Islands ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    After two March 19 days, we were looking forward to a great day of snorkelling. The weather is perfect. We got up at 6:00AM and by 7:00 I was in line for tender tickets.
    Got ticket for the first tender boat. All looked good. It felt a little suspicious that the ship was changing orientations and then at 7:30 the captain announced the swell is too big and it’s not safe for tender operation. Bummer!
    Two days at sea instead of one before Bora Bora.    Read more

  • Sonia GelmanAustralia and NZ 2024
    Day 76

    Kingdom of Tonga

    March 18 in Tonga ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    This is our second time in Tonga. First time was in 2020 during Covid just before we were kicked off the ship in southern Australia.

    Tonga is located in South Pacific. It is the only country that was never colonized. Consisting of 176 islands, Tonga has a history dating back over 3000 years and the monarchy was in place around 1000 years. Tonga was given the nickname " the Friendly Islands" after Captain James Cook arrived here in 1776.
    In the 19th century missionaries arrived, converting local population to Christianity. Country's capital Nuku'alofa translates to "Abode of Love"

    In 2020 we visited a stunning beach where Boris went for a short snorkeling swim. The waves were pretty big and did not feel safe. He saw corals, colorful fish and we hoped for some good snorkeling this time.

    Today we decided to go on the beach again and try our luck in snorkelling. We found a taxi and upon arriving on the beach were surprised….no palms, no shade. The beach looked pretty ugly. We were told - in 2022 there was an offshore volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami. The effect of it still evident.
    There was nothing in the water: no corals, very few fish.
    We asked our driver to take us somewhere else and after checking another beach with what looked like a remains of the resort, we decided to see something else.
    Our nice driver took us to see blowhole, then burial place of royalty, then three brunches coconut tree (usually only one brunch). Then we stop at the wood carving store and had an ice cream next to it. Finally we saw remaining of the church.

    It was getting very hot so we went back on the ship.    Read more

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