• Back home

      September 14, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

      A great on land sleep and then we headed to Chichetti’s for a light breaky on the deck area. Relaxing reading until our transfer to the airport and uneventful flight home. This time Dad in row 1A 😉. A very special time and celebration of uninterrupted father and daughter time.Read more

    • Lazarus of the sea

      September 13, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 29 °C

      The day started early for me. I managed to get some sleep despite the rocking and it was calm for a short while. I checked in on Dad who was sleeping and then I planned to try and get some sleep when the Kimberley easterly hit big time. Those of us in the bow were rocked big time, loud banging and crashing. I was worried Dad would fall out of the bed so kept checking on him and I couldn’t get back to sleep. By 530am I sat in the lounge with another 2 guests who’d experienced the same. The range of sleep depended on who’d taken drugs and which part of the boat you were in. Once we were in calmer waters we had breaky and watched the video from our trip which we get to keep. Amazingly after Dad’s rough start to the night he was up, showered and ready for a cappuccino and breaky. We were relieved to get to shore via the tenders. Fond farewells and a bus trip back the Cable Beach Resort. Dad and I then backed up and went on a tour to Willie Creek Pearl farm. To avoid a 40min bumpy ride for Dad’s hips we opted for a helicopter ride, taking only 15 mins there and then back. The tour was really interesting. Lots of information about how they harvest pearls and are using the using natural marine derived organisms as a substitute for synthetic materials in orthopaedic trauma medicine. We had lunch, ironically the person that took our photo was from Houston! We also had a boat trip seeing the Pearl farm from the river, watched one being harvested and made our way back via helicopter to the hotel. Little R&R before sunset with a few of the people we met on the boat who are staying here. Had a lovely reunion and thoroughly enjoyed our sunset drinks. Delightful people. Dad and I were thinking we should have stayed for snacks with them. We had booked an Italian meal and had the best chat about Dad’s parents, family and had a lot of reminiscing. We are happy we are on land and off to bed. What an adventure.Read more

    • The sea is a hungry beast

      September 12, 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

      The seas can change on a dime and today we woke up to choppy conditions despite being in the lagoon. The early drift snorkel was cancelled and we waited to see what the crew worked out. After breakfast there was a call for a snorkel. We went to the reef, staying inside and hugged the coastline. It was definitely more choppy, however still so many fish, coral and marine life to explore. For me, I was happy to call that the last snorkel having had a magical experience under pristine conditions. A nice day relaxing on the boat playing scrabble, watching a video of the True North beginnings. A sunset drink on the deck before dinner. Unfortunately, Dad had a triple whammy with red wine, chorizo and the seas as we left the shoals and felt sick. He opted for bed and soda water as we steamed back to Broome. I played some cards with our friends and kept an ear out and an early night is being had by all. Terrific crew and guests on board and it feels like so much longer than the 5 nights on board.Read more

    • Aquarium wonderland

      September 11, 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

      A slower start this morning after our cocktail party and then the after party back on our boat of dancing. A fun night had by all. A calm water oasis today. Stunning clear water where we could see bull sharks, trevally and Red Sea bass from the boat. A divine day, I had 3 snorkels and dives from the boat. Dad read his book and chilled for the first part of the day and then we went to Bedwell beach for a swim, sunset drinks and canapés. A stunning sunset and Rachel caught the green flash as the sunset. Dad had a snorkel off the beach, short lived as he trod on some coral. We went back to the boat for yet another feast consisting of roast chicken, Brussel sprouts and feta carrots. We then had a hilarious quiz with cheese boards on the top deck. It was so much fun, laughing with the groups competing and with our dress ups and recounts of the night. Dad, Rob, Jaye and I were last people standing having a quiet drink reminiscing about the day.Read more

    • Drift snorkelling and helicopter ride

      September 10, 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

      I woke up ahead of the alarm and was ready for the 630am briefing for the drift snorkel. Dad opted to sit that one out and be ready for breaky at around 730am. We took 4 tenders out to the beginning of the channel and you literally drift through the narrow channel to the opening the other end. The current takes you quite quickly. This time we saw star fish, schools of larger parrot fish and many more species. Right at the end we saw a huge moray eel slithering along the edge and then disappearing into a crevice. We then went to the main channel for another snorkel drift. This was wider and a stronger current that really propelled you along. At the start I saw a few reef sharks and a big school of wrasse fish. At the end of the drift it was very choppy and surly. A great experience and start to the day. We then had breaky (fired egg and bacon with pesto sauce) or continental style. We relaxed reading until our 11am helicopter flight over the atoll - circular formed Clerke reef. Amazing what you can see from the sky. We saw whales, the crystal clear water, coral and the ships looked tiny from above. We also spotted a dinghy going up the channel where we drift snorkelled today. We had delicious rainbow trout salad for lunch and then I headed off with Clarice snorkelling. She is Mum’s doppelgänger while Dad opted for a snooze. We had 4 crew join us. We went to the outer reef to Cave Gulley and saw the wall of the reef. It was a different perspective of the reef. We saw reef sharks, trout, so many different types of fish and coral. We then snorkelled across the shallow reef and saw so many blue starfish, fish and again different coral formations. Each snorkelling experience different from the previous one. Back to the boat and I headed over to Bedwell beach, where they have one of two habitats in the world for the red-tailed tropic bird and we found two under their shelter. Back to the boat and we headed over for a sunset cocktail dinner party with the True North boat. A fun night meeting some new people. One when introduced to Dad said he’d saved her marriage as her husband has sleep apnea. We saw a massive manta ray and many fish from the boat’s light and a shooting star. We caught the tenders back to our boat and had a few more drinks and dancing on the sun deck. A lot of fun.Read more

    • My cabin
      Swell outside cabinDolphins jumpingSister ship True NorthLagoon entryDinner settingLounge area

      Windy start and snorkelling

      September 9, 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

      We motored all night to arrive at the Rowley Shoals Marine Park,
      260km west of Broome. It was quite windy and the boat rocked a fair bit on the trip over and for most of the morning. I woke at 530am to the rocking and managed to get back to sleep. Breaky was served at 7am. There’s a buffet breakfast and a hot option. This morning was a poached egg and avocado salsa, delicious. We then had snorkel briefing and got fitted out with gear and ready for the day ahead. There were options of snorkelling, a helicopter ride, diving and fishing. You could do all or none. Unfortunately because of the wind and the swell, we couldn’t snorkel until we had crossed into the lagoon and we had to wait until high tide. We relaxed on the sun decks spotting dolphins, whales and took in the turquoise waters and when it was high tide crossed into the marine park. Helicopter flights were also changed to another day so as not to cram all activities into the first arvo. An Indonesian duck salad was served for lunch and then we headed off snorkelling. I was glad Dad elected not to partake as it was an early start to the day and he’d had a beer and wine at lunch so not the best prep for a snorkel. We got on tenders to the reef and then drifted over the coral reef for about an hour. It’s aptly named the aquarium. A forest of blue and other coloured corals, so many fish and we were lucky enough to see a turtle and a reef shark in the distance. Back on board for more reading and R&R. Sunset drinks were served with prawns on the sun deck before another sumptuous feast of lamp racks with a Moroccan salad for dinner. Lots of stories of snorkelling, diving and fishing were shared. An early night tonight as the first snorkel tomorrow is at 630am!Read more

    • Embarking True North II

      September 8, 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

      As we were still on Sydney time we both woke early and were at breakfast at the Sunset Bar & Grill at 7.30am. Beautiful view overlooking Cable Beach. We had a very relaxing day reading by the pool as our pick up for the boat wasn’t until 3.30pm. It’s hot and dry with a very chilled vibe.
      We got picked up and headed to the port. We got tenders to the boat. An impressive boat, with a helicopter on top. Perfect time to arrive with a spritz and watching the sunset. We even saw humpback whales in the distance breaching. After a safety briefing we had dinner. Really delicious beef, Paris mash (Paul approved) and vegetables. We enjoyed the company of guests over dinner, a nice group of people.
      Read more

    • Sydney to Broome

      September 7, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

      A smooth start to the trip. Dad and I met at Sydney airport, had breaky in the lounge and apart from Dad saying he wished I’d booked us business class… we had a seamless trip across the country to Broome. Neither of us have been here before. We are staying at Cable Beach Club and have a lovely 2 br bungalow. Service and staff really relaxed and helpful. Our room was ready so we dropped our gear, changed into cooler clothes and wandered to get a snack by the pool. Apart from Dad feeding the seagulls who persisted squawking at our table for more it was relaxing. Dad opted for a rest having travelled from Houston to Broome on numerous flights over the past 24 hours, while I explored the surrounds. Cable beach a warm 28 degrees and then a relax by the pool. Dad and I then made our way to sunset drinks and dinner at, surprisingly the Sunset Bar and Grill. A nice steak meal and chat. Enjoyed seeing all the wallabies on our walk back to the room. A great start to the trip!Read more

    • Last morning in our paradise

      July 14, 2024 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      Last morning in our paradise. Michael and Dad went to 7am Mass just out of town. Dad and the Burlingames departed at 9am. Michael, Mum, Amr and I went to 9am Mass at the Cathedral. It was a beautiful cathedral and the service was in Croatian. We then walked to St Ignatius church, beautiful architecture and paintings. We made it back for breakfast, soaking up the last of the view from the hotel. We said farewell to Michael, Lisi, Cami and James who are heading to Hvar. The rest of the crew were picked up and taken to the airport via a viewing spot, all heading to Dubai. The Farrells will stay for a few days and Rosie, Amr, the kids and I are heading on to Sydney. We have landed in Dubai and said farewell to Paul, Tallie, Jax and Sonny. Tired and waiting for our 2.15am departure for the 14 hour flight ✈️ after 2 buses, a rude man, and a train trip we are now waiting at the gate. What a special family reunion and European adventure. Amazingly no arguments and for the Farrells that’s saying something! A sensational, special and successful trip.Read more

    • Day of relaxation 😎

      July 13, 2024 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

      Today there were no fixed activities and plans and everyone took advantage of that. Mum and Amr went to Old Town to finish off exploring. The Sertoris, Tallie and the boys got front row seats at the outdoor ocean pool and read, swam, relaxed and soaked up the view. Paul had lunch with Amr and then he and Mum joined us. Michael, Lisi, Cami and James went to sushi in town, followed by some shopping for Cami and Lisi. Cami and Lisi joined us by the pool. We opted for a casual dinner at the Piano / deck bar where we met early for Rumikub and others joined by 7pm. When it cooled down a little we enjoyed the half moon setting and drinks on the terrace- celebrating and grateful for a special family holiday.Read more

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