Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Day 4 (19 August 2015) In Fiji


Our sea plane arriving at Mana Island (1030am). The pilot had to avoid snorkelers and swimmers before hitting the beach.


Ready to board our 20 minutes flight from Mana Island to Nadi.


Travelling at 500 feet, 92 knots, windows were opened and the pontoons were easily seen from the cockpit


Denarau harbour and an aerial view of our resort - approaching our sea landing site Nadi


The main street of Nadi - tourist shops and more tourist shops


The major scenic site in Nadi - the Hindu Temple


On the end section of Nadi - a cafe and bar. This is where we had time to spare with a couple of drinks before moving on the Nadi airport.


This is different, Neil's having a beer (that's normal) and I'm the one doing the blog, so please don't compare.  We started off from Mana Island in a sea plane, which was a little exciting with a big dose of "what are we doing " but once in the air it was great, the best view ever. Mana Island is definitely a family holiday destination,  Loads of families with lots of children but good accommodation and the locals are extremely friendly.

We arrived in Nadi some 15 minutes later and were given a complimentary ride anywhere we wished to go. We ended up in Nadi main town and we a sitting in a bar, Neil's on his 2nd beer and we are doing Fiji time.

Meng and Choon are in the air now and we have another 6 hour wait and there are shops waiting no begging to be explored. 

Until next time cheers to all our friends

Neil and Anne


Monday, August 17, 2015

Day 3 (18 August 2015)


On board the Sea Spray near Mana Island. It's free beer, wine, softies and water all day long in fact it was encouraged. David, we hope your vessel has the same catering?


Anne couldn't do the Titanic pose it was too bumpy for her to go all the way.


The Captain of the Sea Spray - also a ukulele player, including all the staff on board. They were playing and singing Fijian songs all through the cruise.


Montiki Island (also called Tom Hanks's Island). This is the island where Tom and his faithful basketball "Wilson" starred in the movie Castaway.


The Sea Spray off Montiki Island


On Montiki Island. Left over from the film Castaway


The majority of the scenes from Castaway were filmed here - Montiki Island.


Us on Montiki Island


A rare picture these days - Anne in her swimming costume. On Montiki Island


A great BBQ on board the Sea Spray


Our "bure" on Mana Island

What a great day we had today. This morning started with overcast skies, however by 10am it became clear and our journey on board the 1928 built vessel Sea Spray was memorable. We stopped at Montiki Island for snorkeling (not us) and wandering around the tropical island. We had a BBQ lunch on board the vessel and after the cruise took us to an island inhabited by traditional Fijian islanders. Here we tried "kava" (yuk) and after six hours returned to Mana Island. On board drinks were complimentary and the crew just wanted us to finish their stocked up esky in a fervour. Six Fijian beers later Neil was feeling great. Tomorrow we board a sea plane to Nadi and hope to tour around the town. Our flight to LA is at 9pm so we have a lot of time to spare at Nadi. Cheers.

Day 2 (17 August 2015)


The Bula Bus that takes "paying" passengers around the resorts on Denarau Island


View of Port Denarau


South Sea Island - the first island from Denarau. predominately a backpackers hideaway


The Fiji flag on the stern of our Denarau to Mana Island vessel


Disembarking on Mana Island


Mana Island along the south beach


Our outside shower unit in our "bure" on Mana Island


Anne on the north beach complex on Mana Island


The north beach on Mana Island


Newly renovated pool area in the Mana Island Resort, along the North Beach

It rained all day - mostly drizzling. From our Hilton Resort on Denarau we walked along the main road where all the resorts are located. We boarded our Mana Island boat at 12 noon and took one and half hours to reach Mana Island. The island is small and located among smaller backpackers isles west of mainland Fiji. Nice establishment on Mana however the Resort has a major monopoly on the entire island landscape. We walked along the south beach in between the light rain that bug us all day and sip a few cocktails at the main bar. The resort here is full of Australians with young children and babies. For dinner tonight we had an Indian buffet comprising of Lamb Josh, Vindaloo and other curry cuisines. 
Tomorrow we are off to Tom Hanks's Castaway Island and we may find "Wilson". (Wilson was the basketball that Tom Hanks relied on during his plane wrecked experience on the island.) The sailing vessel is a "all you can drink and eat experience" and hopefully the weather will be kind to us. Cheers.

Day 1 (16 August 2015)


Saying goodbye to our Lakeyn. What is that guy waving to in the background?


Fiji Airlines are okay. This is what Business Class looks like!


Watching the landing of Emirates at Sydney Airport with the CBD in the background


Our last look at mainland Ozzie - Palm beach and surrounds

An uneventful flight from Sydney to Nadi, Fiji. Took 3 and a half hours - landed in nightime and in drizzling rain. Our accommodation is in Denarau at the Hilton Resort. Nice quarters and everybody greeting us with "bula".

Friday, August 7, 2015

One Week To Go


Only one week to go our bags are out of storage and ready to be filled. Above is an excellent pictorial flag of the United States. Our next post will be from Fiji. Cheers to all our readers.

Friday, July 31, 2015

Our Fiji, USA & Golden Princess Itinerary


Sun  16 August 2015   DENARAU (FIJI)     

  • Flight from Sydney to Nadi, Fiji (Neil & Anne)      

Mon 17 August 2015   MANA ISLAND (FIJI)     

  • Boat from Denarau to Mana Island, Fiji (Neil & Anne)

Tue 18 August 2015   MANA ISLAND (FIJI)      

  • Seaspray boat cruise around Western Fiji islands (Neil & Anne)

Wed 19 August 2015   LOS ANGELES (CALIFORNIA)     

  • Seaplane flight from Mana Island to Nadi, Fiji (Neil & Anne)
  • Rental car a drive around Nadi, Fiji (Neil & Anne)
  • Overnight flight from Nadi, Fiji to Los Angeles (Neil & Anne)
  • Overnight flight from Sydney to Los Angeles (Meng & Choon)

Thu 20 August 2015   LOS ANGELES (CALIFORNIA)

  • Pick-up vehicle (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)
  • Excursion: Sony Picture Studio in Los Angeles (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Fri 21 August 2015   YOSEMITE NP (CALIFORNIA)

  • Road journey to Yosemite National Park CA (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Sat 22 August 2015   YOSEMITE NP (CALIFORNIA)

  • Road and walking tour inside Yosemite National Park CA (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Sun 23 August 2015   SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (CALIFORNIA)

  • Road journey to South Lake Tahoe CA (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Mon 24 August 2015   SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (CALIFORNIA)

  • Early morning balloon flight over Lake Tahoe & shoreline (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Tue 25 August 2015   WINNEMUCCA (NEVADA)

  • Road journey to Winnemucca NV (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Wed 26 August 2015   TWIN FALLS (IDAHO)

  • Road journey to Twin Falls ID via Boise (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Thu 27 August 2015   WEST YELLOWSTONE (MONTANA)

  • Road journey to West Yellowstone MT (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Fri 28 August 2015   WEST YELLOWSTONE (MONTANA)

  • Road journey inside Yellowstone National Park - east side (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Sat 29 August 2015   WEST YELLOWSTONE (MONTANA)

  • Road journey inside Yellowstone National Park - west side (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Sun 30 August 2015   SALT LAKE CITY (UTAH) 

  • Road journey to Salt lake City UT via Teton (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Mon 31 August 2015   MOAB (UTAH)

  • Road journey to Moab UT (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)
  • Excursion: 4x4 tour of Canyonlands National Park (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Tue 01 September 2015   MONUMENT VALLEY (ARIZONA)

  • Road journey to Monument Valley AZ (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Wed 02 September 2015   GRAND CANYON NORTH RIM (ARIZONA)

  • Road journey to Grand Canyon North Rim AZ (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Thu 03 September 2015  GRAND CANYON NORTH RIM (ARIZONA) 

  • Road journey to Grand Canyon South Rim AZ (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Fri 04 September 2015   GRAND CANYON NORTH RIM (ARIZONA)

  • Walking tour inside Grand Canyon National Park South Rim (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Sat 05 September 2015   LAS VEGAS (NEVADA)

  • Road journey to Las Vegas NV (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Sun 06 September 2015   LAS VEGAS (NEVADA) 

  • Helicopter flight over Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon West & Skywalk (Meng & Choon)
  • Shopping excursion along The Strip (Neil & Anne)

Mon 07 September 2015    LAS VEGAS (NEVADA) 

  • Excursion: LinQ ride - in Las Vegas (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)
  • Excursion: Las Vegas Light Tour along The Strip (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Tue 08 September 2015   FURNACE CREEK (CALIFORNIA)

  • Road journey to Death Valley CA (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Wed 09 September 2015   FURNACE CREEK (CALIFORNIA)

  • Road tour inside Death Valley National Park (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Thu 10 September 2015    SAN DIEGO (CALIFORNIA)

  • Road journey to San Diego CA (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Fri 11 September 2015    SAN DIEGO (CALIFORNIA)

  • Excursion: Sightseeing Tour of Tijuana Mexico (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Sat 12 September 2015   SAN DIEGO (CALIFORNIA) 

  • Excursion: San Diego City Tour (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)
  • Excursion: USS Midway visit (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Sun 13 September 2015    LOS ANGELES (CALIFORNIA)

  • Road journey to Los Angeles CA (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Mon 14 September 2015   LOS ANGELES (CALIFORNIA)

  • Excursion: Warner Bros Tour in Los Angeles (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Tue 15 September 2015   LOS ANGELES (CALIFORNIA)

  • Excursion: Santa Monica tour by Segway vehicles (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Wed 16 September 2015    BIG SUR (CALIFORNIA)

  • Road journey to Big Sur CA (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Thu 17 September 2015    SAN FRANCISCO (CALIFORNIA)

  • Road journey to San Francisco CA (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)
  • Santa Cruz Roaring Mountain train ride CA (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)
  • Return vehicle in San Francisco CA

Fri 18 September 2015    SAN FRANCISCO (CALIFORNIA)

  • Excursion: Alcatraz tour, City Tour and Bay Cruise (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)

Sat 19 September 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • Morning Duck ride in San Francisco (Neil, Anne, Meng & Choon)
  • Embark on Golden Princess 1300 hrs in San Francisco (Neil & Anne)
  • Visit friends in San Francisco and return to Australia (Meng & Choon)
  • Golden Princess departs San Francisco 1600 hrs (Neil & Anne)

Sun 20 September 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between San Francisco and Hawaii (Neil & Anne)

Mon 21 September 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between San Francisco and Hawaii (Neil & Anne)

Tue 22 September 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between San Francisco and Hawaii (Neil & Anne)

Wed 23 September 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between San Francisco and Hawaii (Neil & Anne)

Thu 24 September 2015   OAHU, HAWAII (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • In Honolulu HI - visit Ala Moana Shopping and Dukes Bar on Waikiki (Neil & Anne)

Fri 25 September 2015   LAIHAINA, MAUI (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • Excursion: Haleakala Crater on Maui (Neil & Anne)

Sat 26 September 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between Hawaii and Tahiti (Neil & Anne)

Sun 27 September 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS) 

  • At sea between Hawaii and Tahiti (Neil & Anne)

Mon 28 September 2015    AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between Hawaii and Tahiti (Neil & Anne)

Tue 29 September 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between Hawaii and Tahiti (Neil & Anne)
  • Our 43rd Wedding Anniversary (Neil & Anne)

Wed 30 September 2015  AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS) 

  • At sea between Hawaii and Tahiti (Neil & Anne)

Thu 01 October 2015   PAPEETE, TAHITI (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • Excursion: Papenoo Valley, Tahiti - am hours (Neil & Anne)
  • Excursion: Undiscovered Trail on Tahiti - pm hours (Neil & Anne)

Fri 02 October 2015  BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS) 

  • Excursion: Island Drive around Bora Bora, French Polynesia (Neil & Anne)

Sat 03 October 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between Bora Bora & American Samoa (Neil & Anne)

Sun 04 October 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between Bora Bora & American Samoa (Neil & Anne)

Mon 05 October 2015    PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • Excursion: Essence of Tutuila, Pago Pago, American Samoa (Neil & Anne)

Tue 06 October 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between American Samoa and International Date Line (Neil & Anne)

Wed/Thu 07/08 October 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea crossing the International Date Line between 1200 to 1300 hrs (Neil & Anne)

Fri 09 October 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between International Date Line and New Zealand (Neil & Anne)

Sat 10 October 2015    AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • Excursion: City Drive & Maori Museum, Auckland, New Zealand (Neil & Anne)

Sun 11 October 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea along North and South islands east New Zealand (Neil & Anne)

Mon 12 October 2015   WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • Excursion: Lord of the Rings Tour, Wellington, New Zealand - am hours (Neil & Anne)
  • Excursion: City Drive, Wellington, New Zealand - pm hours (Neil & Anne)

Tue 13 October 2015   AKAROA, NEW ZEALAND (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • Excursion: Tranz Alpine & Arthur's Pass train ride from Akaroa, New Zealand (Neil & Anne)

Wed 14 October 2015   DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • Excursion: Taieri George train ride from Dunedin, New Zealand (Neil & Anne)

Thu 15 October 2015    FIORDLAND, NEW ZEALAND (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • Excursion along Fiordland west side of New Zealand (Neil & Anne)

Fri 16 October 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)

  • At sea between New Zealand & Sydney (Neil & Anne)

Sat 17 October 2015   AT SEA (ON GOLDEN PRINCESS)  

  • At sea between New Zealand & Sydney (Neil & Anne)

Sun 18 October 2015    SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA)

  • Arrive Sydney at 0700 hours - end of holiday for Neil & Anne.

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