Carl & Judy's Ultimate Adventure

Having passed on Lombok, we are embarked on an excursion this morning that starts with a visit to the Uluwatu Temple.   One of Bali’s six key temples, Uluwatu Temple, locally known as Pura Luhur Uluwatu (with Luhur meaning ‘something of divine origin’) is one of the most popular spots if you’re embarking on a cultural journey of the region and provides a true slice of Balinese culture. It’s renowned for its magnificent location. Perched atop a steep cliff approximately 70 metres above the crashing ocean below, it makes for the most beautiful backdrop at sunset. Balinese Hindus believe that the powers of the Hindu Trinity — Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva — merge here. That belief results in making Uluwatu Temple a place of worship of Siva Rudra, the Balinese Hindu deity of all elements and aspects of life in the universe. One small glitch - Today, apparently, is a Hindu festival; a holy holiday.   The result is that while we can walk the gardens and the outer grounds, we are not perm...

Conflicted about this port.   Indonesia ... an exotic land.   Conjures up visions of the King and I, doesn’t it?!?   We have not scheduled an excursion.   Nothing looks very attractive from the write-ups.   Maybe go off on our own? We asked Leo, our stateroom attendant who is from Indonesia, where he might recommend we go see.   He hems and haws and tries to give a very politically correct answer all the while telling us about how we need to be very careful about this and that.   Basically, telling us that it’s not a very safe place to go wondering around.   Not for him, and especially not for us. For once, we’re going to heed his warning.   We pass on Lombok, stay on ship and enjoy a quiet day aboard sitting by the pool. Later at dinner, those that did go on excursions commented we did not miss anything.   Sometimes, it pays to do the obvious.

Never really got into Cairns.   Today was all about one thing ... the Great Barrier Reef!   If you are a diver ... new or old ... this has been on your bucket list forever !   Today, we get that checkmark! We tender today ... apparently the ship is too big for Cairns.   Our transfer to the platform picks us up right at the ship ... now it’s an hour’s transit out to the reef.   Not super impressed with the Aussie’s today ... and I say that as a true Aussie fan.   At least this crew didn’t seem to care if we were there or not. Apparently, the cost of the excursion covers just the transportation out to the platform.   The GBR is quite a ways away from shore.   You’re not swimming there.   So, they have these platforms, like large floating dive decks anchored out on the reef.   A tender boat takes you out there ... now you have to pay for whatever services you want ... in our case, scuba diving. The normal admin stuff taken care of during tr...

Today began with massive disappointment.   This was the first day of diving the Great Barrier Reef.   However, we were informed that the weather at the platform was too rough and that the trip was to be cancelled.   The only alternative was the snorkel cruise - except that the snorkel cruise was full and sold out and there was no opportunity to get additional boats.   Their response, unfortunately, was very Royal Caribbean-like for this cruise.   “Just the way it is, deal with it!” Disappointed ... and with no alternative excursion available ... we determined to just get off the ship and blow off steam by walking through the town.   We were rewarded by perhaps the most enjoyable town we have been in this entire cruise! For those that go back as far as I do, if you recall Myrtle Beach or Key West back in the late 70’s ... that is Airlie Beach!   It is on a crescent-shaped beach, with spotless sand outlining the barrier between sea and land.   Not a...

After a day at sea, we pull in Brisbane.   There are many things listed to see and do in Brisbane.   Located on the Brisbane river, one favorite activity is a scenic river cruise.   If you enjoyed the Sydney bridge, Story bridge is there waiting for you to ascend.   There are many unique eateries and shops at Eat Street, a market area made of recycled shipping containers. But we have a special trip planned today ... one that Judy and I have been looking forward to with anticipation.   Today, we are visiting the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary!  G’day, Mate!   Yep, we are going to spend the better part of the day walking through the Sanctuary and meeting these super-cute little fellows! Although it is a Koala Sanctuary, there are a lot of other animals making the sanctuary a home.   Though each in their own enclosures, the enclosures are designed to provide as close as practical to the animals natural habitat.   This, in some cases, proved to be qui...

Day 90.   We have started our trek up the east coast of Australia.   The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is the Great Barrier Reef.   We have two dive excursions scheduled ... a life bucket list item about to be accomplished.   But first, Newcastle and Brisbane. In researching Newcastle, it is renown for its beautiful golden sand beaches.   Also, it is the largest coal exporting harbor in the world!   It is a short drive to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest coastal sand dunes.   So what is in store today?!?!   A wine tasting tour!   (Happy wife, happy life I guess ...). Quite pretty entrance to the harbour ... along two long breakwaters with a nice lighthouse at the point of the southern breakwater. We are actually traveling up a river, as the harbor is at the confluence of three rivers.   It is a commercial port, but unlike much of South America, we are docked at a pier away from all the commercial ships (and containers!).   ...

Sydney, Australia.   I’ll get what everyone wants to see/talk about right off ... There you go, Sydney Opera House.   Yes ... it’s everything you’ve heard .... and more.   OK; now for the day. We arrive in Sydney bay after 4 days at sea.   The Tasman Sea, between NZ and Australia, was rougher than we expected.   Even from the bay entrance you can tell Sydney is a special place.   We drop anchor in the middle of the bay.   There is only one pier large enough to accommodate us and the Virgin ship has not yet left.   We will tender and be off and then be returned to the pier to reboard.   Our excursion today is a bus tour of the city, a visit to Bondi Beach, a guided tour through the Opera House, and then return to the ship early afternoon.   Given the late departure this evening ... midnight ... we should also have plenty of time to explore by foot. We depart our tender boat right below the Sydney bridge and are met by our tour guide. ...

“Our second and final stop in New Zealand is Bay of Islands, part of the area known as the ‘birthplace of New Zealand’ and one rich in Maori history.”   I had not previously realized just how important and integrated the Maori culture is to New Zealand.   Not just as historical predecessor, but as an integral partner on what it is to be a ‘kiwi’.   We are going to get a rocket lesson on that today. “The bay is home to 144 islands.”   Admittedly, many are little more than a spit of rocks with a tree or two growing out of them.   Some are larger islands, with many private farms.   There are beautiful beaches everywhere.   There is the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, which includes not only the home of the original Governor-General of Queen Victoria, but is the site of the signing of the treaty recognizing the sovereignty of the indigenous tribes that is the genesis of the commonwealth of New Zealand. (Apparently, you must be a sovereign people to volun...