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Around The World Part 2
  • JohnKim Duncan
  • JohnKim Duncan

Around The World Part 2

This is the conclusion of our trip that we started in Nov 2019 that was interrupted in March of 2020 by Covid-19. Lue lisää
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  • Matkan aloitus
    14. helmikuuta 2023
    JohnKim DuncanAround The World Part 2Matkaaja
    Leaving Toronto
    Powell Street

    Ottawa to Toronto to San Francisco

    14. helmikuuta 2023, Kanada ⋅ 🌙 -2 °C

    We left Ottawa on the 5:15 AM (Eastern Time) flight to Toronto, onwards to San Francisco. We arrived in San Francisco at around 11AM (Pacific Time). After taking a sky train, then subway, we checked in at the Chancellor Hotel in the Union Square district of downtown San Francisco. After freshening up a bit, we walked, mostly up hill, to Chinatown, where we looked around & enjoyed a delicious lunch/dinner.Lue lisää

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    AlcatrazThe Golden Gate bridge taken from the ferry to AlcatrazA cell at AlcatrazShivs & shanks taken from inmates in US prisonsAlcatraz shower room

    Escape to Alcatraz

    15. helmikuuta 2023, Yhdysvallat ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    Today, we visited Alcatraz Island which has quite a history. The island was first used as a military lookout and had as many as 100 canons protecting the San Francisco area from invasion. It was then used as a military prison for First World War refusers & deserters. It transformed into a civilian prison site in 1934 & housed some notorious prisoners, including Al Capone & Machine Gun Kelly. It closed in 1963 because it became too costly to maintain. We traveled by Streetcar to reach the waterfront, and enjoyed walking around Pier 39, as well. A fun day, with more than 17000 steps logged on our FitBits.Lue lisää

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    The Chancellor Hotel (where we're staying) built in 1914 is on the left.
    A statue commemorating the American victory in the Spanish/American War.The middle entrance was meant for the Emperor to use. Now cars use it.Our guide Victoria, originally from Britain, in front of the Fortune Cookie Factory

    Last Full Day in San Francisco

    16. helmikuuta 2023, Yhdysvallat

    Today is our last full day in San Francisco. We did a walking tour with Free Tours By Foot, a company that operates in many other cities. We did one in New Orleans a number of years ago. It was a three hour tour called “The Original San Francisco.” We walked through Chinatown, Little Italy and the Financial District. We learned how the Gold Rush of 1894 caused the city to be built in a hurry. Men from all across the US, Canada, Russia, Europe and China arrived to seek their fortune. Chinese represent approximately 23% of San Francisco’s population today. We learned how 80% of the city was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fires. The firefighters were tasked to save important structures, so some churches, saloons and taverns were saved, especially in the Italian section. Bruce Lee was born in the hospital in San Francisco’s China Town. We walked through a “factory” that makes fortune cookies, and got to sample a fresh cookie before it was folded into shape by hand around the fortune paper. The statue commemorating the American victory in the Spanish/American war is of a young woman holding a trident. A wreath was placed in her other hand to honour US president William McKinley after he was assassinated in 1901, the year it was erected.Lue lisää

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    Walking Around Papeete

    18. helmikuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia

    We had a thunderstorm overnight & some roosters who didn’t wait for sunrise to start crowing!We are right in the heart of Papeete, a city of 26,000 people. We walked a few blocks to a modern, well stocked, grocery store for some provisions, then down to the waterfront where we saw this small sailboat from Alberta, in amongst some nicer ones. Ferry boats bound for other French Polynesian islands, and freighters unload here, too. As a result, the water at the beach on the map is too polluted for swimming. There is a nice park here with monuments, koi ponds and playgrounds for the kids. Lots of locals were using the shade in the park to relax. On the way to the waterfront we stopped at an open-air market which sold local handicrafts, fruits and vegetables, jewelry, t~shirts, dresses etc. Kim enjoyed watching the local ladies create leis with the abundant fresh tropical flowers.Lue lisää

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    Our guide explaining that locals still leave fruit & flower offerings to these gods
    Sacred temple made of lava rocks. Human sacrifices were performed hereThe national flower is the gardeniaGinger growing in the botanical gardenShampoo plant that releases soapy water when squeezed100' waterfall that has a larger volume of water in the rainy season

    Tour Of The Island

    19. helmikuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Today, we joined a tour of the entire island in a van with 3 others (all from San Diego). The guide was a 44 year old local who had served 20 years in the French army, but was stationed here. His daughter was attending University in France & his son will likely go next year. There are very few opportunities for young people, as the unemployment rate is around 22%, with no Welfare. The big island used to accept large cruise ships, but they are going to limit the ships to 2000 passengers on the big island, & 1000 passengers on Bora Bora. Locals complained that tourists ate all of their food, & packed their bars & stores. He led the tour himself because his other driver likes to have the weekend off. Almost everyone in Tahiti goes to church. Protestant is the most common religion followed by Catholic, Mormon & Seventh Day Adventists. Locals are free to set up fruit & vegetable stands along the roadsides. Our first stop was a sacred Mayan site that used to be a pyramid style temple made of lava rocks. When the English were in charge of the island they took many of the rocks to build their churches. We stopped at a freshwater pool, botanical garden, a blowhole, a black sand beach and a beautiful 100’ waterfall. We learned there are no snakes, reptiles or small mammals on the island. Wild boar were introduced but they aren’t a problem. We ate our dinner the last two nights at food trucks that pull up in front of the ferry docks at around 5pm daily. The fresh fish, steak & chow mien were all tasty.Lue lisää

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    Just swiming by the boat
    Lots of over the water bungalows everywhereThis itinerary is inverse order of our cruise.Tight washroomElevated bed with storage underneath

    First Day Aboard Dream Moorea

    20. helmikuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    We boarded the Dream Moorea (a 62’ catamaran) at noon & met our shipmates. With us, we have two couples, & a single man, from Germany, a single man from France & another couple from Canada (near Montreal). We motored from Papeete to a sheltered anchoring spot next to Moorea Is. where we enjoyed dinner aboard. We saw a sea turtle & some reef sharks right beside the boat.Lue lisää

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    Sharks & Manta Rays

    21. helmikuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Close to Moorea Island, we snorkelled amongst Reef sharks (up to 6’ long) & manta rays, which were at least that length, including their tails. This was a fantastic experience, as we saw many of these in very shallow, clear water! We also snorkelled over some ancient Tiki statues that were in 3-4 metres of water. In the afternoon, while some of our shipmates went on a Moorea Is. tour, we decided to walk towards a village, as the captain moored the boat on a large dock. It was very warm and we made it to within 3 kms of the nearest village. After an hour, we decided to turn around. We did see some black pearl, vegetable & fruit & clothing stalls along the route. We got our 10000 steps in this afternoon. After dinner, we set off on an overnight motor. We travelled 142 kms in 11 hours. It was very hot overnight without AC & some guests decided to sleep on deck on both levels.Lue lisää

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    Huahine Is

    22. helmikuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    After motoring overnight, we arrived at Huahine at around 8:00am. No luck trolling from 5:30 am till 8. After breakfast, we tied up to a dock & walked around a small village. We had less than an hour ashore to look in clothing stores, etc. We returned to the ship, motored for a half hour or so to a spot to snorkel before lunch & relax on the beach in the afternoon. We then motored to a safe anchoring spot for the night.Lue lisää

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    The only professional sport on the island is kayakingThe crew returning from snorkelling.

    Huhane Is - Day 2

    23. helmikuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Today was a lazy day. Captain Mata took Kim snorkelling in the morning while most of the group did a tour of the island. I stayed aboard, read & organized some photos. In the afternoon, Mata took us to shore once again to go to the Bank of Tahiti to withdraw some more local currency. We enjoyed a game of cards with our shipmates tonight!Lue lisää

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    Raiatea

    24. helmikuuta 2023, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    After breakfast, we set sail for the island of Raiatea. It was nearly a four hour full sail with the aid of the twin 110 hp Volvo Penta engines. We averaged 8 knots, & trolled the entire way. No fish again. The last half hour of the sail was breathtakingly beautiful. The water was many different shades of green & blue, & the shoreline was thoughtfully built up. No big mega resorts here. We snorkelled on a shallow reef & were dropped off at a tiny island to explore & wade around in the shallows. We motored to an anchorage just off of the small island of Taha’a where we enjoyed a delicious dinner buffet with traditional music, dancing & fire eating/juggling. We stayed at anchor off of Taha’a tonight.Lue lisää

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    Ginger flowerElephant EarsBelvedere LookoutBaguette bread box, delivered at 5 am every morning and left in this boxBird of ParadiseThe Porcelain RoseNatural tatoo from fern sporesTemple remains

    Raiatea Day 2 - Uturoa

    25. helmikuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Early this morning, we motored back to Raiatea for the others to join an AM tour of the island. One of the others wanted to stay behind, so Kim joined the tour in his place. As we had docked at the main pier, I walked off the boat & did some browsing in the local shops, & connected to the area’s free WiFi, which was a rare opportunity on the islands. On her tour, Kim visited a local cemetery, Belvedere Lookout, Faaroa Botanical Garden and Taputapuatea Temple.Lue lisää

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    DolphinsDolphinsThe "idle" fishing rod!!

    Motor to Bora Bora

    26. helmikuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia

    This morning, we made the 3+ hour trip to a beautiful shallow snorkelling area beside Bora Bora. The water is an amazing number of shades of blue/green. We motored past a school of dolphins along the way. Once again, we trolled the entire way without getting a bite. We ate a delicious Marlin steak lunch, & spent a few hours snorkelling & swimming until Kim’s nose nearly burnt off. It’s difficult to keep her out of the water.Lue lisää

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    Kim enjoying the 29C water temperature with Bora Bora in the background
    Bloody Mary bar. Many celebs have eaten/drank here

    Bora Bora

    27. helmikuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    This morning, our captain, Mata, took us to two very different snorkelling spots. We swam over some Eagle Rays in 20’ of water. We followed a female (no tail) & several smaller males who were clearly interested in her. No pics, as I didn’t bring my GoPro. Other water pics & vids were taken by shipmates. We saw some more sharks with black tipped fins. The next spot had a very beautiful, lively reef with thousands of fish of many different species. We hand fed them with a leftover baguette from breakfast. In the afternoon we went ashore, did some shopping & went to Bloody Mary’s bar for happy hour before returning to the boat. Many famous people have eaten/drank here.Lue lisää

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    Back to Taha’a

    28. helmikuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    We lazed around this morning, swam a bit and said goodbye to Bora Bora. We sailed to Taha’a, which is our captain, Mata’s home island. I learned to prepare Sashimi with Tuna. It turned out very well and everyone enjoyed it for lunch. We also made Tempura tuna, which was
    also a hit. After lunch, we went to an area called the Coral Garden, off the coast of Taha’a. It was a shallow, protected area that had many different clumps of healthy coral that hosts many different sizes & species of fish. After snorkelling, we lazed around in the shady spots of the boat. Some 6-7’ black tipped fin sharks swam around the boat, & enjoyed some leftover tuna. Even the locals are finding it hot. After dinner, we played cards again. Our hostess/cook, Hanano & Captain Mata joined us in a game. After the card game, Mata took off in the dingy to join his father to go spear fishing, after dark. Wearing a snorkel, he free dives down 10 metres, holding a flashlight in one hand & his spear gun in the other. Doesn’t sound like much fun to me. Says it was a slow night. He only got 15 by midnight.    Lue lisää

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    Flight to Tahiti, Ferry to Moorea

    2. maaliskuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    After breakfast, we said goodbye to our shipmates & made our way to the Raiatea airport to fly back to Tahiti. We flew in a surprisingly large, island hopping, Air Tahiti aircraft. The scenery on the flight was spectacular. We were transported to the Ferry terminal, on route to Moorea, where we picked up our rental car (a small standard Renault) & drove to the Hibiscus Hotel which will be home for three nights. He had dinner at the Sunset Bar which is attached to our hotel. Pizza & beer went down well tonight!Lue lisää

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    Moorea - Sights, Juice, Tiki Show

    3. maaliskuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    We drove our little Renault halfway around the island today, stopping at scenic lookout spots, including Belvedere, pineapple fields, art galleries, clothing stores, etc. Moorea is a beautiful island with a very well maintained main road. We visited a Juice Factory where we sampled wines, liquors & fruit juices. We were picked up at 6:10pm to go to Tiki Village, where we enjoyed a delicious Ma’a Tahiti dinner (traditional meal cooked in the Ahi Ma’a [traditional underground oven]). There was a terrific selection of local seafood, including poison cru (raw fish-the national dish), roast pig, and vegetables. The food was cooked underground for a minimum of 8 hours. The show afterwards told the story of how a warrior on a fishing trip in a canoe, discovered a beautiful pearl. Upon receiving this pearl the Polynesian chief sent warriors to search for a giant mother of pearl to restore the pearl to it’s natural home. The warriors discovered Hawaii, Samoa, & New Zealand. They found the mother of pearl, but when they opened it they discovered a beautiful young woman who was then married to the original young warrior. The production was very well done, with traditional music, dancing & fire eating/juggling. A much more professional show than the one we enjoyed on Taha’a Is.Lue lisää

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    Menacing skyOnly one windshield wiper!Alterations done while you watch.She's proud of her fruit & vegetable stand.

    Moorea - Last Full Day

    4. maaliskuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    We slept in this morning. I walked up to buy our fresh baguette, a staple on our Yacht Charter. We ate & decided to drive around the entire perimeter of the island to see what there is to see. It immediately started raining, & continued off & on, heavily at times, throughout the morning. Our single windshield wiper could barely keep up! The 7 day forecast here is for rain everyday. We enjoyed the drive anyway, mostly window shopping. We relaxed in the afternoon & ate at the Sunset Bar again tonight. An early bedtime as tomorrow will be a “never ending day.” The flower is a hibiscus. The photo was taken on our hotel property, the Hotel Hibiscus, as were the sunset pics (Sunset Bar).Lue lisää

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    Goodbye French Polynesia

    5. maaliskuuta 2023, Ranskan Polynesia ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    We’re in the midst of an entire day of travel. We returned our car at the Ferry terminal on Moorea Is, took the ferry back to Papeete, walked to Tea Tahiti, where we’ll spend the next 8 hrs. We have a transfer to the airport
    booked for 11pm. Our flight to New Zealand leaves at 02:45 tomorrow morning. It’s approximately a 5 hour flight to Auckland, then an hour & a half flight to Christchurch NZ. We’ll arrive there at 10:30am, if everything goes to plan.    Lue lisää

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    Safe Arrival in Christchurch New Zealand

    7. maaliskuuta 2023, Uusi Seelanti ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We’ve arrived safely at our hotel in Christchurch New Zealand. Because of the magic of the International Date Line, we’ve lost a day. We left Papeete at 02:45 on Mon March 6th, & arrived in Auckland at 07:10 (23 hours ahead) on Tues March 7th, after just a 5 and a half hour flight. We had a reclaim our bags, race to the Domestic Terminal & go through security again & just made last boarding call on our connecting flight to Christchurch. Before we checked into our hotel, we visited the Antarctica Exploration Centre, a place we didn’t get to see on our last visit here, which was just a short walk from the airport. We dropped our backpacks in a secure area of the Centre & enjoyed the exhibits. They set up one room to simulate an Antarctic storm. We put on a parka, & “suffered through” it. It felt like home, as it only went down to -8C with a -18C windchill. We learned about the different species of animals & fish that survive in Antarctica, including penguins, krill, & whales, as well as some previous past Antarctic expeditions. We enjoyed a 3-D movie made specifically for the Centre, which had stadium seats that rocked & rolled. We were misted and blown with fans, to simulate what it was like to be on an Antarctic ship. The Centre housed some tiny penguins that were born in captivity or were injured in the wild, so they couldn’t survive without intervention. We missed feeding time so they were huddled up in their small boxes. We also had a fun ride in an authentic all terrain vehicle that was used in extreme cold & rough terrain. Our driver drove us through a 10 minute obstacle course designed to simulate Antarctic terrain. Christchurch is where most countrys’ scientists fly from to get to Antarctica, including the US. After our ride, we summoned an Uber & were whisked away to our hotel for the next two nights. Quite a refreshing change in the weather. Sunny & 18C.Lue lisää

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    Christchurch, New Zealand

    8. maaliskuuta 2023, Uusi Seelanti ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Do you remember where you were exactly 3 yrs ago, to the day? Thanks to Find Penguins, we do. We were in Christchurch, New Zealand! We walked nearly 20000 steps that day. Today, we started with a delicious buffet breakfast at our hotel. We then took an Uber to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, which is dedicated to protecting native & non native species of wildlife. The park has an easy walking trail laid out to protect & display the many different species of fish, reptiles, birds & animals. Kim & I finally got to see a kiwi. They were in a dark enclosure, making photos impossible, unfortunately. We really enjoyed the park, which clearly is a favourite for young families, as we saw lots of preschoolers enjoying feeding the wildlife. We walked a bit downtown and recognized the neighbourhood we stayed in last time. Victoria Park is beautiful. We walked just short of 15000 steps today.Lue lisää

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    Train to Blenheim

    9. maaliskuuta 2023, Uusi Seelanti ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    We woke up early today, took an Uber to the Christchurch Train Station & boarded the 5 hour Coastal Pacific Railway Train to Blenheim. This region is well known for its vineyards. The scenery from the train was spectacular but difficult to capture in photographs. We did our best. The first couple of hours were inland, with lots of sheep & cattle farms, & rolling hills. The next couple of hours were along the Pacific coast. We kept a look out for pods of dolphins, seals, & sea lions, which our commentator said are often spotted from the train. We didn’t see any, or any whales, which are usually further out. Towards the end of our journey, we travelled through a huge area of salt flats. Salt water is pumped into huge pools & the sun & wind evaporate the water leaving huge amounts of salt that is shipped throughout New Zealand & abroad. The train was comfortable and we enjoyed it very much.Lue lisää

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