• Bruce Winters
  • Karen Winters
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  • Bruce Winters
  • Karen Winters

Around the World 2026

Around the World 2026- Leaving from San Diego and arriving back in Miami to fly back home Read more
  • Currently in
    🌊 Laccadive Sea

    KAREN'S 16th Birthday!!! (think palindrome)

    May 2, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    A day to celebrate with those onboard at sea! As you can see from the photos of crew, cruise director, hosts, chefs, waiters, restaurant manager, etc.... not only did we get to share with our passenger family but also our Oceania family! (4 videos)
    "No one deserves it more to be celebrated by so many" BIW
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  • Whitsunday - ARLIE BEACH, & DANNY "ENCORE"- 2 of 2

    April 13 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    Back at Arlie Beach, a beautiful serene day but we were tired so back to the ship. We joined our trivia team and then relaxed until dinner with Jill & Barry (Central Synagogue members... what a coincidence). Great sail away views at 7pm and Broadway music by the Panache String Quartet and then David at the piano playing some 70's hits. The night was toped off by an encore appearance of Danny Elliot and his 12+ instruments ... really a one-man orchestra. (5 videos of Danny Music).Read more

  • Whitsunday Islands - JETSKIING - 1 of 2

    April 13 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

    Whitsunday Islands are actually 74 islands and part of the Great Barrier Reef area. We began today very early with the first tenders from the ship to Shute Harbor on the Island. And then on a bus to Arlie Beach where we had a preplanned adventure on Jet skis.

    The Whitsunday region has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and some of the best snorkeling with really crystal clear waters and marine life being part of the Great Barrier Reef. There are numerous water sports here and our biggest decision was which to choose to do on our one day here. We decided on a crazy Jet Ski Tour to South Molle Island and Daydream Island based on the great reviews and voted top 1% in the world and top 10 experiences in Australia. It was considered the tour for the very adventurous traveler and a way to explore the waters, the islands and to encounter some marine life. The weather, the rough waters and the description that said “requires above average fitness level and confidence in open waters, and a sense of adventure” seemed a little daring …so we did it! As you will see from the photos we both got to drive the Jet ski … over 40 mph in rough choppy waters and had a great time (although we didn’t quite make it to the islands due to the conditions). That did not matter much because we had a great few hours and did not fall off the jet skis (which does happen as we heard from other groups that went). But it made taking photos or videos while we were in motion impossible!

    When we got back to Arlie form the water it was pretty hot, we were very tired and worn (and a little sore as we found out later) so we walked around a little, bought a t-shirt and some hats and went back to the ship. Great day!!!
    (see video of jet skiing)
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  • Sea Day- Church, Lectures & Shows

    April 12, Coral Sea ⋅ 🌬 77 °F

    Today was a day beginning with Church, exercise, singing, trivia, Motown music and baroque by the string quartet. We also heard two lectures. One was background on Townsville and Cains and the other on ancestry, specifically - where to find where your family came from, military tracking and how they got to where you were born.

    This evening was filled with two shows: Bodane Hatten- more comedy magic and an escape, and a really great evening show with Patrick Roberts “The Prince of the Violin” (2 videos- he played a range of music but Karen was partial to Sting which is why two clips are included).
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  • Mooloolaba, Australia - "unexpected sea day"

    April 11 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    As we anchored right off the coast of Mooloolaba early this morning and we had an early breakfast and were packed for a day at their famous ZOO, Karen looked out the window and said we are not going to get to that Island …so close but so far. The wind was 20 mph with 12-15 knot gusts and 6’ swells. The Captain informed us that the tender operation was ended because of the swells were so high we could not get off the ship. By 8am we back at sea, slowly making our way to Whitsunday Islands.

    Mooloolaba is a coastal town on the Sunshine Coast originally inhabited by the Gubbi Gubbi people. It was featured in the 4th season of The Amazing Race. The Steve Irwin Memorial is here because of his strong connection and his global impact on wildlife conservation and associated with Australia Zoo.

    We rethought the day with some more food, some exercise, and a newly scheduled class for 12 of us on “The Spice of Life- Exquisite Aromatics”, which was a great seminar on where spices come from and how they are utilized with kitchen demos of how to release the power of spices. The we had a lecture on the “Future of Money” (Bitcoin and digital assets)… not related to anything else but real-world and very interesting. The evening entertainments beside our live music venues was Danny Elliot – The Musical Maestro… the one man band. Danny sings while playing more that 10 instruments. I counted: sax, fiddle, guitar, banjo, clarinet, piano, flute, harmonica, whistle and digeridoo. A real fun showman!!!!
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  • Sea Day- Lectures, Captains Cocktails, Shabbat

    April 10, Coral Sea ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

    Today, was a relaxing day at sea but there were 3 lectures on Australia, a speaker on family history research, a great Captain's Cocktail party, Shabbat Services, a wonderful Italian Dinner at Toscana and Comedy Magician (we did squeeze in singing, trivia, lots of live music from David on the piano, the string quartet and the Four Corners 80's Band.Read more

  • Shabbat Shalom-on our way to Mooloolaba, Australia

    April 10, Coral Sea ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

    We are back to Challah! The ship felt bad we didn't have Challah last Shabbat (Passover...of which they had laid out a LOT of Matzo) so this week they baked us 8 full Challahs ... I gave them out all over the ship!Read more

  • LECTURE - The Australian Spirit

    April 10, Coral Sea ⋅ 🌬 77 °F

    Our visit to Australia began with a great day in Sydney and this lecture providing an overview of the additional 5 stops (Mooloolaba, Whitsunday Island, Townsville, Cairns, and Darwin) we were making before getting to Indonesia.

    Australia began as the home of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples for 65,000 years. In the 18th Century James Cook charted the coast for Great Britian, and it became a penal colony for convicts to help empty the crowded British prisons beginning in 1788 with 700 prisoners brought to Sydney (see The Rocks posting). Six colonies were established over time: New South Wales (1788), Tasmania (1803), Western Australia (1829), South Australia (1836), Victoria (1851), and Queensland (1859). The discovery of gold in New South Wales and Victoria led to a big influx of immigrants and growth. Australia was united in 1901.

    After WWII, Australia became a holiday destination, and tourism grew as the 1960-70’s. With a population of about 27 million, there remains about 4% or 1 million Aboriginal - Kabi Kabi. Its incredible economic growth in 125 years and the Summer Olympics held in Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000 (also scheduled to host the Summer Olympics in Brisbane in 2032) has put Australia on the map in a very big way.

    The people here seem to be in general very laid back and relaxed. They have some very weird and funny expressions and slang terms which makes conversations here a lot of fun (see slides). The animals here are rare and very bizarre compared to most of the animals we know and are used to seeing (for example koalas, kangaroos, wombats, are just a few). There are also many deadly animals (ie, redback spiders with some anti venoms available) which make their crocodiles “tame”.

    Of course, one of the biggest attractions here is the Great Barrier Reef which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and we spent a few days navigating. Stretching 1,430 miles long along the Queensland coast it is made up of 3,000 reefs and 900 islands and it is the world's largest living structure. It is a critical habitat for thousands of species, including 1,625 types of fish and 450 types of hard coral. The reef contributes approximately $6.4 billion annually to Australia's economy and supports 70,000 jobs. As of mid-2026, the reef is under "low to moderate" bleaching stress due to slightly elevated sea temperatures.

    The Australian HINTERLAND refers to the lush, elevated, and mountainous regions immediately inland (30–60-minute drive) from coastal cities, offering an escape for those that like to really get back to nature and visit smaller villages. In contrast, the OUTBACK represents the vast, remote interior of Australia, and is mostly red dirt, desert, and extreme isolation.

    In addition to Dr Jane Thomason’ presentations which were personal and very interesting, we heard from Captain Bruce Victor who worked in the Australian Navy for 36 years and this is his 449th trip helping guide ships through the reef as a reef pilot. He is a Master Reef Guard and spoke about the threats facing the Reef including the danger to different eco groups, biodiversity, environmental issues, climate change, invasive species, the 14,000 ships that pass through the reef annual and of course people. The good news is that there are many regulations and experiences people like Captain Bruce that watch over the reef and therefore the last major disaster was in 2010.
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  • Sydney- Back to Ship, End Passover, Music Triangle

    April 9 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    After an exhilarating and exhausting day, we retraced our way back to the shuttle and made our way back to the ship. We placed our order for our appetizer and pizza, took a Jacuzzi, a quick shower, enjoyed our delicious meal (after a pizza mishap...they made another), watched the production show (Music Triangle - see 2 videos) and then still enjoyed the sail away (one more foot print to follow).Read more

  • Sydney - The Rocks walking tour

    April 9 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    The history of The Rocks is a story of survival, evolving from the home for the Gadigal people (60,000 years ago they called it Tallawoladah, The Rocks) to the birthplace of colonial Sydney. I took a history tour on the ground under the Bridge while Karen climbed to the top. The Rocks is Australia’s most historic precinct and a hotspot. For shopping and partying at night (no time since we are only here for the day). The first colonial fleet arrived in 1788 and built a European settlement, where convicts literally carved out dwellings and warehouses and the first hospital directly into the sandstone cliffs. The area's rugged sandstone bluffs became a natural site for the first convict encampments. Convicts literally carved the city out of the sandstone rock, building the first hospital, goal (jail), and storehouses. Houses densely populated the area with a reputation as a rough area.

    By the early 19th century, The Rocks was a big international port with many warehouses and bond stores like the Argyle Stores (1826) to manage the maritime goods. I walked through the The Argyle Cut (hand-carved into sandstone by convict chain gangs between 1843 and 1859 to connect the harbor and the homes) three times as I came/left the housing parts of neighborhood and the area with merchants. In 1900 everything changed after there was an outbreak of the bubonic plague here and up to 80% of their population was wiped out by introduced diseases. Then the government took control of the area, resulting in the demolition of many "unhealthy" older buildings. In the period 1900-1960 the area became rundown and dangerous with a few big gangs. In the 1960s, the government planned to demolish the historic sandstone buildings to build high-rise office towers but the union imposed a "green ban," refusing to work on any demolition projects in the area, which successfully saved the area from destruction. There are still many original markets and pubs there (like the Fortune of War from 1828). We saw Cadmans Cottage (1816) constructed to house the Government Coxswain (they operate and manage small boats and where the term coxman from rowing races term is from) and his crew. John Cadman, a former convict who served as the 4th Government Coxswain lived there from 1827 to 1845. Susannah Place from 1844 is a terrace of 4 houses that remained unchanged and is a museum of working-class life. The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel was another example, Sydney's oldest continuously licensed hotel, constructed from local sandstone.

    The guide lead us through the Nurses Walk, once the site of the colony's first hospital, and the narrow Suez Lane. We visited the The Big Dig, an active excavation site where over 75,000 artifacts from early settlers have been unearthed. We also visited the site of many previous homes that have been excavated and have revealed what life was like for the early settlers. I also learned about the rum rebellion of 1808.

    One very interesting story we heard was of the Suez Canal (OR nicknamed "Sewer's Canal"). This narrow alley's name was in used from the late 1800s and survived the cleanup of 1901. Originally Reynold's Lane, its nickname dates from the opening of the Suez Canal in Egypt in 1869; the laneway being a thoroughfare between two separate sections of The Rocks. Notorious as one of the most unsavory places in Sydney in its time known for cock-fights, dog fights and prostitution. This was also used as an escape route of the 19th century gangs.

    Like all of Australia, the area has come a long way in 100 years. After the tour, the guide and I had a very interesting discussion as I compared/contrasted this area to NY Lower East Side and the tenements my parents grew up in. She had been to the Tenement Museum in NY and did not realize some of the conditions and daily life was very similar to that of The Rocks. Great way to spend the afternoon.

    We had a very full day after starting out our day with the Opera House tour together and a quick lunch, and then the adventures we both had on land and in the air. Unfortunately we didn't make it this trip to see the Sydney Jewish Museum or the Great Synagogue or to pay our respects at Bondi. But we will definitely come back and stay a lot longer the next time.
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  • SYDNEY - Climbing the "COAT HANGER" Bridge

    April 9 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    For many people, reaching the top of the 1932 Sydney Harbor Bridge (affectionately known as the Coat Hanger) is a life-long goal. YES, Karen took the journey of a lifetime. She climbed the 2,664 steps up the famous iconic Sydney Bridge made with 58,202 tons of steel, a span of 3,770 and to the 440' Summit (while I stayed on terra firma). She went with good friends Tim and Kevin). We all met at the starting point and they took off for their 3 hour journey. I met them at the end, finding them wearing their hats that simply said "I Climbed It". Their smiles and chatter sounded like they had gone to the moon and back or at least were at the top of the world and had reached the prize.

    What it entailed: a detailed safety briefing, pre-climb ladder simulator (insane?), questions about their health and when they last ate (many people, including Tim & Kevin had to eat a protein bar since it had been too long since breakfast. Karen had just had lunch with me), and a breathalyzer test with a blood-alcohol reading below 0.05 (the same as if you are driving). Then came gearing up (taking off all your clothes and putting on their jumpsuit) and getting ready (they even had their own hair ties she had to use and their glasses straps). No jewelry or accessories allowed, No phones, No medicines (guide carried someone EpiPen just in case), No nothing. Acrophobia? They are told to breathe, what to think about, distract them, practice, talk about trust, taking one step at a time and not looking down but out.

    As they walked along the bottom of the bridge getting to their first step UP they are getting mentally ready for the ladders leading to the start of the upper arch. Their journey continued along the upper arch on the Opera House side to see the Opera House in a way most do not and the Blue Mountains, with the best unobstructed views (of course they were, unless you count the airplanes that pass over that high) all the way to the top. They experienced the 360-degree views of Sydney as they slowly ascended the UPPER arch (an option vs the LOWER arch, too easy) to the peak of this Australian landmark (there both an Australian & Aboriginal flag on top). On the way up, their guide told stories about the Bridge and the harbor skyline (probably to distract them). They heard about the 1,400 workers who built the bridge, the 6 million hand-driven rivets used, and the 16 men who lost their lives during its construction. They heard about the boy who followed the construction and his lifelong dream to climb it and his monthlong horseback ride to get their and back and the people cheering on along the way and his success to the top.

    They celebrated at the top (no champagne) and then they crossed over to the west side of the bridge and began the descent. Yes, there were stops to rest, take in the view and for the guide to take photos with his camera.
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  • Sydney Opera House TOUR

    April 9 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    The Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO world heritage site exists because a few brave people dared to think differently and persevered. The building tested the limits of engineering, construction and design. It was designed by the Danish architect Jørn Utzon, and the famous sails have become a symbol of Sydney and modern Australia. The venue is used for many arts forms. The building takes up all of Bennelong Point and is next to the Sydney business district and Harbor Bridge.

    The Sydney Opera House regularly hosts world-famous artists such as the Cure, Kraftwerk, Björk, the National, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, and Massive Attack. In 1990, Nelson Mandela, after being released from prison, chose the Sydney Opera House as a location for his first major speech and addressed 40,000 people at the Monumental Steps outside the opera house.

    Planning began in the late 1940s, and it took until 1954 when they first asked for design submissions. With 233 entries, from 32 countries the winner in 1957 was Danish architect Jørn Utzon. Utzon won an international design competition in 1957, and construction began soon after, but delays and cost overruns led to Utzon's forced resignation in 1966. An Australian team led by Peter Hall completed the project.

    The original Fort Macquarie was demolished in 1958 and construction began in 1959. The Opera House was built in four stages: Stage I (1957–1959) was planning out the building; Stage II (1959–1963) consisted of building the upper podium; Stage III (1963–1967) the construction of the outer shells, based upon the image of whales breaching the water; Stage IV (1967–1973) interior design and construction.

    A change of government in 1965, declared the project under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Works led to Utzon's resignation in 1966. Taken over by Peter Hall, who became largely responsible for the interior design.

    The Opera House was formally completed in 1973, having cost $102 million (originally $7 million budget) and completion date of January 1963. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the legendary building on October 20th, 1973, marking 16 years since Utzon's initial design was selected.

    The Opera houses use of interlocking precast concrete shells covers the two main performance halls. Utzon’s design was inspired by natural elements, such as shells and sails, which reflect Sydney's coastal setting. He wanted the white roof to contrast against the deep blue of the Australian harbor and the clear sky. The shells were originally of undefined geometry, but, early in the design process, the "shells" were perceived as a series or parabolas supported by precast concrete ribs. From 1957 to 1963, the design team went through at least 12 iterations of the form of the shells trying to find an economically acceptable form before a workable solution was completed. In 1961, the design team found a solution to the problem: the shells all being created as sections from a sphere. This solution allows arches of varying length to be cast in a common mold, and several arch segments of common length to be placed adjacent to one another, to form a spherical section. They manufactured the 2400 precast ribs and 4000 roof panels in an on-site factory and developed the construction processes.

    The shell roof is covered in more than a million tiles to create a chevron pattern, enhancing the appearance of curves and movement in the arched roof. Utzon’s vision for the opera house’s dynamic roof was a major factor in the project's delays. Architects and engineers had to devise a way to construct the arched roof while ensuring structural stability. The building covers 4.4 acres of land and is 600’ long and 394’ wide at its widest point. It is supported on 588 concrete piers sunk as much as 82’ below sea level. The highest roof point is the same height as that of a 22-story building. The roof is made of 2,194 pre-cast concrete sections, which weigh up to 15 tons each. Although the roof structures are commonly referred to as "shells", they are precast concrete panels supported by precast concrete ribs, and although the shells appear uniformly white from a distance, they are in a chevron pattern composed of 1,056,006 tiles in two colors: glossy white and matte cream.

    Apart from the tile of the shells and the glass curtain walls of the foyer spaces, the building's exterior is mostly covered with aggregate panels composed of pink granite.

    The building comprises multiple performance venues, which together host over 1,800 performances annually, attended by more than 1.4 million people and visited by more than 10 million a year. Performances are presented by numerous performing artists, with many resident companies such as Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, the Sydney Theater Company and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The Concert Hall with 2,679 seats contains the Grand Organ, the largest mechanical tracker action organ in the world, with over 10,000 pipes. The Joan Sutherland Theatre has 1,507 seats There is also a theatre with 544 seats, a theatre with 398 seats, a studio with 280 seats, the Utzon Room and Yallamundi for parties and chamber music performances.

    In the late 1990s, they resumed communication with Utzon to effect a reconciliation and to secure his involvement in future changes to the building. In 1999, he was appointed by the trust as a design consultant for future work. In April 2007, he proposed a major reconstruction of the Opera Theatre, Utzon died on 29 November 2008, having never returned to Australia to see the completed Opera House.
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  • Sydney, Australia - BEST EARLY MORNING!

    April 9 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    Under the Bridge!!!
    See 1 Video

  • SYDNEY- Barrier Reef Treasures / SUNRISE

    April 9 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Today we arrived in Sydney and began a new segment of our Around the World Journey ... Barrier Reef Treasurers. Our last segment ended after traveling 4.171 miles. It was a wonderful segment in Melanesia. We arrived in Sydney at 5:30am and watched from the uppermost decks in order to get the best views of the Bridge.

    We started the day with a tour of the Sydney Opera House, then Karen did the Bridge Climb and I stayed on the ground and did a tour of The Rocks.

    We "broke Passover" (it ended at Sunset) with pizza and saw the production show, The Magic Triangle, then we sailed away, again under the Bridge - until next time....

    LOTS of posts to cover a VERY full and fantastic day!
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  • LECTURE - Burke & Wills Across Australia

    April 8, Coral Sea ⋅ 🌙 73 °F

    The 1860 Burke & Wills Expedition was the first Europeans to attempt to cross Australia from the North (Melbourne) to the South, a very large country with very poor maps at the time. These 2 men had incredible spirit, and were the Lewis & Clarke of Australia with a goal of learning all about the natives during their adventure from one end to the other of this large country. The coast was known but not the inside of Australia (commonly known as The Outback). It is challenging land with infertile soil and little water. Because of this, about 85% of Australians live within 30 miles of the coast. The 1850’s gold rush and the success of the telegraph helped bring people to Australia and offered promise for being a “connected” country (and a continent) to Europe. They were not prepared, without indigenous guides, adequate supplies or even planning the correct time of year (left in the winter). They left with 19 men, 23 horses, and 26 camels.

    The made their first stop after 57 days, a few turned back and the group split up with Birke & Willis and 8 men going ahead along with some supplies. The rest manned one of the stopover sites. When they got to Cooper Creek, 4 of them went with the others creating a depot to come back to with supplies (they were told to wait 4 months before giving up). With so few men, they left behind a lot of scientific instruments … so they often didn’t know where they were going. Ironically they got within 12 miles of the Gulf of Carpentaria but sadly didn’t know it, when they decided to turn back. So close yet so far.

    Now they needed to get back to the Cooper Creek depot within the 4 month timeframe and before their food runs out and the monsoons come. With only 3 men left at this point, they get to Cooper Creek but no one is there. They had left that morning! They found markings on a tree indicating DIG, that food was buried for them which they found. They attempt to get back with Burke, Wills and King followed the Cooper downstream heading towards South Australia. Burke dies and with few supplies Wills decides to return to return to the Dig Tree to bury his notebooks in for safe-keeping before he dies too. John King, the only survivor was found and the notebooks were recovered, providing an entire account of the trip.

    As National heros, a state funeral was held for Burke & Wills back in Melbourne. Their journey served as providing maps for the first telegraph and other scientific info, helping to connect to Indonesia and the rest of the world, proving the success of using single hump camels to the land. It also proved that even failures are important for paving roads to make the impossible possible. Altogether, 7 men died, and only one man, John King, crossed the continent with the expedition and returned alive to Melbourne. The "Dig Tree" at Cooper Creek, still commemorates their journey! Four movies and a stage show were made to tell their story.
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  • Another Sea Day - Australia bound

    April 8, Coral Sea ⋅ 🌙 72 °F

    Today was filled with "The Morning Show LIVE!" (usually on TV each morning, but recorded) with the featured act being the Sing-Out-Loud choir, (see VIDEO), in our end of segment concert. Later in the day, we watched the sea trials of the "Ship Building Competition" (see photos). We also heard an interesting lecture on the Burke & Wills Expedition- the first to attempt to cross Australia (see posting). The evening entertainment was Clara Helms Show, "Think of Me" (see video). and the Farewell Strings from the Panache Strings.Read more

  • LECTURE - Birth of Modern Australia

    April 7, Coral Sea ⋅ 🌬 73 °F

    Australia is merely 126 years old and has come from 6 separate colonies to a place where the Olympics were held (in Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000) and the 2021 trilateral US and UK and Australia defense, free trade, and submarine nuclear agreement and therefore became a Real World Player overnight (due to concerns over China’s involvement and heavy investment in the Pacific).

    Although humans already lived in Australia for 65,000 years with the indigenous people, they did not sail and explore like others in the Pacific since they stayed in one place, sea level was lower and they could walk across shallow lands from Asia and move around. This kept them relatively isolated and they were a very separate study of humans and evolution.

    In 1570, the coastline of Australia before ever considering going into the outback, which remained very difficult due to the terrain and dangerous animals. In spite of this, there were over 500+ tribes and 250+ languages and they lived all over the land with animals from 200,000 years ago. Many of these very large “megafauna” animals are now extinct that with few that remain like the red kangaroo, Kodomo dragons and saltwater crocodiles which is where they came from. Before this time, there were never human exploration of Australia from New Zealand or elsewhere.

    In early 1642 Europeans begin to show up, Dutchman Abel Tasman arrived and discovered Tasmania and New Zealand. About 130 yrs later Captain Cook arrives here and colonizes it in 1770, he declared it and owns it by Great Britian and stated that no one ever lived there. Of course, many natives were there, and this is the core of the issues today between the UK and Australia about ownership. Over time the Europeans and other people adopted many of the aboriginal traditions, art and instruments (i.e., the digeridoo and boomerang).

    The UK had sent convicts to various places in the World including the US (until Independence) and then when “acquiring” Australia in 1788, focused on sending all their convicts, no matter how severe the crime, to Australia. It was far enough away to forget about them, and they never brought them back after sentences were served, thereby populating much of the penal colonies in Sydney Australia with Europeans that were convicts and ex-convicts. This has led to Australians still calling Brits, POM (Prisoners of Mother England or her Majesty) or Pomegranates (due to the color that Brits became in the Australian sun).

    The first immigration, bringing other Europeans to Australia began in 1803. The first-person mapped Australia and went all the way around, and in 1850 when gold was found and now non-convicts arrive.

    This evolved to 6 Colonies which are all independent, with no coordination even to the point that in 1900 there were railroads across Australia that were incompatible and could not connect. Finally, in 1901 Queen Victoria allows the Colonies to elect representatives and draw up a constitution to somewhat self-govern. The emblem symbolically even shows a kangaroo and emu, the only animals that can’t walk backwards, only forwards. Their flag includes all 6 Colonies but also includes the Union Jack. The parliament was established in Melbourne. Of course, this has created a rivalry that still exists between Melbourne and Sydney as to which I s the main city (sports teams are still rivals) and where would the Capital be located. In a “King Solomon type” decision, neither were determined to be the Capital and it became Canberra (between the two). Canberra (Australian Capital Territory) was a manmade city since there was nothing there before making it the capital. Within a few miles is all the government buildings and museums, etc. The Northern Territory has less than .5 % of the population with almost everyone 22 million people living in the coastal communities of the Southern Territory. After the failed war campaign in the Gallipoli (see posting on Australian Pearl Harbor) and success in WWII with Australians with European as well as indigenous (5,000 soldiers) backgrounds Australia has an armed forces they are proud of and are willing to assist the World in democracy.

    One of the problems was that after WWII Australia was under populated and poor and needed to attract people. Campaigns like “10 Pound POMS” and a very open-door policy to immigrants (not true these days) brought many Europeans and others to Australia. In 1986, the Queen signed an agreement to finally break ties with the UK and Australia and not have any legislation or governing over the country to break from the monarchy although there is still a connection in Elected Parties that seems to have less control over the years. Unfortunately, the Aboriginal people are till marginalized there and the problem has not been resolved with the being highest population of homeless, criminals, and drug problems. One of the reasons this and other governing issues is such a challenge is due to its size (see overlays with Europe and US).
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  • Sea Day - Australia bound

    April 7, Coral Sea ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

    (2 videos)
    A fun day at sea: Began with watching Artemis II in space, then making Matzo Brei, then we spent some time watching the NCAA basketball finals with Michigan vs UCONN (lots of Michigan fans here but we are from CT), lecture on The Birth of Australia (see separate posting), trivia/choir practice/country fair with the various departments on the ship, Chefs Market dinner again with South Pacific favorites, some star gazing and then TWO shows. We saw OUR WORLD music from around the globe transcending borders and "Broadway Dreams" by CD Carson Turner and a wonderful Salute to the Crew! WHEW!!!Read more

  • Noumea, New Caledonia - 2 of 2 Relaxing Onboard

    April 6 in New Caledonia ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    Getting back to the ship earlier than expected due to the holiday, closures, a big Carnival ship in town and on/off rain, there was plenty to do onboard with golf, shuffleboard, trivia, classes, music everywhere, etc. The evening started with a great Chef's Market Dinner of South Pacific Foods and then a performance by Vov Dylan an incredibly talented violinist.Read more

  • Noumea, New Caledonia - 1 of 2 PRIVATE TOUR

    April 6 in New Caledonia ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    We went to Normea, New Caledonia, the capital of this French overseas country founded in 1854 as Port-de-France.

    In 1774 British explorer James Cook discovered New Caledonia but not many settled here until the French took possession in 1853 and soon made it a penal colony and relocating many of the various Kanak tribes, their culture, weaving, engraving of natural materials, music and dance (Kaneka) and 28 languages. There was not peace among those here until 1988, after civil unrest in the 1980s. Noumea with 2/3 of the population being very different with its French sophistication and flair than the cowboy like lands and life of the West Coast here. New Caledonia has a mix of Asian and other Oceanian origins making the Country an incredible melting pot of people today.

    The “challenge” we had today was that it was Easter Monday and almost everything was closed. In addition, we hired a private tour, as sometimes happens, this one was more of a local driver rather than a tour guide and spoke very little English. The good news was that it was still Passover so all the great looking French restaurants that we passed were closed. She did find one French bakery open … I walked in, smelled and walked out.

    First, we drove up the hill “Ouen-Toro” and along the park which took us the top of a 420’ summit over the lagoon to see the view and observe the Amedee lighthouse in the distance. We saw 2 cannons at the top (see photos) installed by the Australian army in 1940. There was also a memorial honoring the allied troops that protected New Caledonia during WWII.

    After strolling around the area and taking some scenic photos, we drove down the hill and by Anse Vata Beach. There were many nice-looking hotels, bars, stores and restaurants here but they were mostly closed today. Next, we drove by Lemon Bay and then Orphelinat Bay. After that, we drove around Coconut Tree Square, a large esplanade with a pedestrian walk that is very popular in the middle of the city. Then we passed Peace Square-anti-independence leader Jacques Lafleur and leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou at the signing of the Matignon Accords on June 26, 1988, bringing peace to the region after civil unrest in the 1980s. We also drove past the statue, made of nickel to represent New Caledonia’s being a major producer of nickel, with up to 30% of the world's known reserves (accounting for roughly 90% of its exports and employing about a quarter of the workforce). That was the end of our tour of this city and island worth coming back to in the future.

    It did look like a very quaint capital with a mix of businesses and quiet beautiful beaches and lagoons. Maybe someday we will be back …. you never know. After our “tour” we decided to go to the WWII bunker built in 1943 and now a museum which looked very interesting and we were told was open today … we walked there and it wasn’t. Oh well, next time.

    Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my favorite TV programs that is supposed to take place here and the reason, I knew of New Caledonia at all. McHale’s Navy (1962-66) with Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway, Joe Flynn, Bob Hastings, Gavin MacLeod and lots of famous guest stars whose plot revolves around the crazy exploits of the misfit crew of PT-73 stationed in New Caledonia.
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  • Mystery Island, Vanuatu - 2 of 2 FIRE WALKING!

    April 5 in Vanuatu ⋅ 🌬 82 °F

    The highlight was the Fire Walking. where they walk barefoot across hot stones that have been heated over a large fire we watched them build until they are "hot enough". This is a rite of passage for young men and is considered a profound test of faith and courage. The ability to walk on fire during the ceremony is a combination of an amazing physical and deep-seated cultural practice. While the “walkers” attribute their safety to ancestral protection and spiritual "magic", science helps describe its due to: the stones that are often porous volcanic rock used that don’t hold or transfer heat long, the ashes are a little protective, and their quick movements not lingering in one place. BUT its their significant mental discipline and their kastom rituals (prayers and meditations to focus and connect them to their environment). Not every man develops this “power”. The ones that have received these powers from the Chief of their tribe, show how they did three “relatively slow” walks to prove they can do it not just running thru. It is amazing to watch and words are difficult to describe what you see. MUST SEE VIDEOS (2 videos).

    This evening we were treated to a performance by soprano Clara Helms show, "The Voice of an Angel" (see 2 videos).
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  • Mystery Island, Vanuatu - 1 of 2 COCONUTS

    April 5 in Vanuatu ⋅ 🌬 82 °F

    Mystery Island (local name is Inyeug or small island) is an uninhabited island in Vanuatu (yes, of Survivor fame) in the Pacific Ocean and is known by many as “The Happiest Place on Earth” since it is so serene. It is less than a mile long and 200 yards wide, no one lives here but it is beautiful, it has a great beach with snorkeling and is an enjoyable place to visit. It is a paradise, kept pristine because no one lives there, with no electric, no running water, no roads, or telephones. So where does everyone live ... on the close-by islands.

    Why “Mystery”? There are a few explanations, but the major reason is that in the 1940’s, the US built a strategic airstrip here for WWII allied forces. It was virtually impossible to see from the sea so the Japanese forces couldn’t tell where planes were coming from … the “mystery”.

    After we took a tender from the ship to Mystery Island, we continued our adventure with a half-mile dinghy ride and a "wet landing" at the larger island of Aneityum (where people did live, see photos). The tour began with a glimpse into local “kastom” (tradition), which is central to Melanesian life and which is passed down through the generations.

    Then we had a lesson on the “magic” of coconut, which they call their “The Tree of Life!” It is sometimes called that by locals since ALL of the coconut is useful. The trunk for lumber, leaves for thatch and weaving, fruit for food, husk fiber for mattresses/mats/rope, fans, hats, brooms, coconut water, milk, oil, sunscreen, creams, fuel, and roots for medicine. The fruit provide nutrients in the coconut water and the meat is healthy food. The demonstration even showed us how to use the leaves to create a stretcher they used to carry a boy that was there. The fact that the coconut tree also thrives in poor conditions where few other species survive and that it has high significance in their cultures, used in religious ceremonies and daily rituals, clearly makes it their Tree of Life. The palm can take 7 years to produce fruit but then continues to provide a sustainable resource (see the 6 videos).
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