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February 2024

February - May 2024
An open-ended adventure by Tui Snider Read more
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  • TravelerFebruary 2024
    1
    Day 9

    The Friendly Islands

    February 15 in Tonga ⋅ 🌬 82 °F

    Captain Cook nicknamed Tonga, “the Friendly Islands,” and from our experience the moniker still holds true.

    For instance, when a Tongan man saw me admiring a pretty white flower, he walked over, picked a blossom and handed it to me. Later, a woman handed me the blossom she wore in her hair when she saw that the white flower I was attempting to shelter from the breeze was starting to wilt.

    The Kingdom of Tonga is proud to be the only Polynesian nation that was never colonized, however, Jesus Christ has certainly made the rounds. There are churches all over and a variety of denominations: Catholic, Latter Day Saints, among many others.

    The woven “apron” Tongans wear is called a “ta ovala.” These are handmade (our guide’s mother made his) They are woven from local plant fibers and worn by men and women in formal situations. It’s rather like the equivalent of a man’s tie in Western society.    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2024
    Day 9

    Tonga Food & Dance

    February 15 in Tonga ⋅ 🌬 82 °F

    We enjoyed a tasty Polynesian buffet on Tonga. I especially enjoyed the chance to try breadfruit prepared several different ways. The breadfruit chips were especially good.

    After our meal, we watched a Polynesian dance performance. Really fun day!Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2024
    11
    Day 12

    Aukland Walk

    February 18 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    After a taxi to a historic cemetery. We hoofed it all over Auckland. Definitely got our steps in and got a little taste of the city along the way.

    The “haere mai” sign brought back pleasant memories of Polynesian dance lessons I took as a kid. We did a poi ball routine in our Maori garb while singing a welcome song called “Haere Mai.”

    Everywhere you go in Auckland, the Sky Tower pops into view, making it easy to navigate.

    It was a fun day of wandering, and we enjoyed some tasty espresso along the way. I’m still scratching my head over the “tepid baths” place, though.    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2024
    1111
    Day 13

    Weta Workshop

    February 19 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    While our cemetery jaunt bolstered my ongoing research, our stop at the Wets Workshop was pure fun.

    We’re offers a behind the scenes glimpse at the filmmaking process, especially the special effects aspect. They have miniatures and big-atures and all sorts of paraphernalia for sci fi, horror, and fantasy films.

    Larry found the workshops inspiring for his mad scientist laboratory back home. It’s definitely a place that would be fun to take the grandkids. As you can see, we had fun playing around during g our visit.    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2024
    1
    Day 14

    Glow Worm Caves

    February 20 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Our second stop in New Zealand took us to the gorgeous Bay of Islands. I was eager to see native Tui birds there, but locals explained that it was too hot. The birds were staying cool in the deep forest.

    Ah, well. I don’t blame them. It was too hot in the sun for this Tui, too.

    We compensated for this ornithological disappointment while exploring the seaside village of Paihia. Larry found a pair of Tui earrings with a matching pin and sneakily bought them for me. I love them and have been wearing them ever since.

    Later, we took a bus to the Kaiwiti Caves where we saw glow worms twinkling in the darkness. Glow worms emit light in order to lure insects into the sticky threads they dangle from the walls of the cave.

    After dining on their prey, they quit glowing until they get hungry again, which can be as long as a month.

    Our guide, Hinemoana, was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions with aplomb. I regret, however, that I can’t share pics of the glow worms. Since the caves are sacred to Maori people, photography is forbidden inside.

    In addition to hundreds of glow worms, we also saw a big eel in the cave. Priscilla, as she is called, is 4 1/2 feet long and well over 80-years-old!

    You can see Hinemoana standing on a meteorite in one of my photos. It fell from the sky and landed at a nearby farm many years ago. They rolled it here so people can marvel at the heavy rock.

    Larry and I enjoyed how low key and informal the whole experience was. The cave has no electricity inside, there’s no gift shop, and the only toilet facilities were a couple porta-potties.

    The New Zealand countryside is so pretty. I’m in love with the gorgeous forests and great big fern trees.

    I definitely want to visit New Zealand again. After all, over yet to see a Tui bird!    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2024
    Day 17

    Waverly Cemetery

    February 23 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F

    Sydney’s Waverly Cemetery is a beautiful burial ground overlooking the sea. Although filled with Victorian and Edwardian monuments, it’s an active cemetery, and still receives new burials.

    I never found out what type of lizards the street sign refers to, but apparently they cross the road by Waverly’s front gate.

    We spent several hours wandering up and down and all around. It was hard to choose which photos to share here.

    One of my favorite monuments depicts an angel with butterfly wings. I was quite intrigued by a monument to a young man who, as the epitaph explained, died during a circus stunt in which he dove into a bucket from a great height.

    Afterwards, we found a cafe nearby and enjoyed some delicious iced espresso. Hailing a cab turned into quite a challenge, however, so we lingered longer than planned.

    My Uber app wouldn’t work, and when I called for a cab, I got an automated menu that wanted me to input an Australian phone number. We tried waving down a few passing cabs, but none of them stopped.

    I finally managed to get a human on the end of the phone (which was an international call) and book a cab. Phew! We enjoy walking, but that would have been a bit too much.    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2024
    Day 17

    Cold Front Clouds

    February 23, Tasman Sea ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    The night before we reached Sydney, a big cold front blew through and cooled the city down from triple digits to a very pleasant seventy-something.

    Our dining table is located at the ship’s transom, so we had a great view.

    Sunsets at sea are a wonderful sight to behold.    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2024
    11
    Day 18

    Sydney Walkabout

    February 24 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Sydney’s port swarmed with people, but we had a good time exploring the area just the same.

    Friendly volunteers handed out maps at the pier. The lady I spoke to told us how to enter the opera house for free, adding that, “Be sure to visit the bathrooms, too, they are quite picturesque.” I’ll let you be the judge from my photos!

    Along the way, we saw some Aborigines busking. I’m a sucker for the didgeridoo, so I walked up to take a photo of the guy playing it while the other guy danced.

    I didn’t expect the dancer to pose for pics with me, but he was very exuberant. After our first pose, which was rather sedate, he goes, “Let’s do another shot, but make it a bit crazy!” Sounded good to me, so that’s the shot I’ve shared here.

    Sydney’s historic neighborhood, aka The Rocks, was especially busy, with an open air market full of goodies.

    I chuckled at the sight of a Berliner booth because of JFK’s famous gaff. When visiting the city of Berlin, he grandly stated, “Ich bin ein Berliner.”

    He meant to say that he was a citizen of Berlin, when he was actually proclaiming that he was a jelly filled donut.

    Seeing Vegemite for sail put the Men at Work’s “Land Down Under” song in my head. We also saw a variety of kangaroo products for sale.

    The little phone booth I show here would’ve come in handy when Larry and I were trying to book a cab earlier in the day. You can use it to make free calls in Australia. It also says that it has free WiFi, but I’m not sure how it all works.

    Ozzies drive on the same side of the road as Brits do, so the “look” sign on the pavement was a good reminder. We travel so much that I look both ways before I cross the street no matter where we are.

    Larry has a special way with birds, and was able to feed some wild Lorikeets we saw loitering on some cafe umbrellas.

    Seeing “pet shop birds” in the wild is such a delight. During our cab ride, for instance, I saw a dozen lorikeets standing on an apartment railing. The cabbie explained that the birds had “adopted” the people living there. I like the idea of people being pets to animals.    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2024
    1
    1
    Day 18

    Sydney Sail Away

    February 24 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Our tablemates, Clive and Thelma, invited us to watch the Sydney sailaway from their suite, and it was sweet, indeed.

    As we pulled away from the dock, I had a great view of a tugboat at our bow, and was surprised to see that there was a line attached to our stern.

    Must say that Sydney’s opera house is just as striking in person as it is in all the posters and movies I’ve seen it in.

    At one point, Clive asked, “What sort of bird is that?” Moments later, we realized it wasn’t a bird at all, but was in fact, a large bat! It was the size of a raven. Truly special way to end our day in Sydney.    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2024
    132
    Day 20

    Melbourne Friends

    February 26 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    We met Carol and Steve on our world cruise last year, and they met up with us today at the port!

    Our other Melbourne pals couldn’t make it, but we spent a fun filled day with Carol and Steve, catching up, eating fish ‘n’ chips, exploring a cemetery, walking some more, and capping it all off with decadent pastries and espresso.

    We barely scratched the surface of all that Melbourne has to offer, but it was the perfect way to spend a day here.    Read more

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