Friday, February 28, 2020 - Day 56 - Nuku'alofa Tonga

I was so excited about going to Tonga.  Since internet seems reasonable I'm going to try to post the photos first and add stories later.  The short version is I got off the ship, hired a driver, went to a school then did an island tour.  Fingers crossed on the photos!

This was the view from my bed when I woke up this morning.  The window is wet because they wash the decks above every morning.

One of the small, creative flower arrangements near Guest Services.  They used yarn to cover a plain glass vase. 

On the dock they were ready for us - singers and dancers (which I missed) and decorations on the wharf.

I hired John, a local driver to show me his island.

First stop - a school.  This is principal Anna.  I gave her a small cash gift and got a hug and kiss in return.  Along with free run of the school to enjoy the annual Sports Day.

I didn't get to go in the classrooms but the staff room and rest of the school looked very much like the schools in Samoa.

Anna introduced me to the score keeper.  When kids cross the finish line, they're given a number for first, second or third.  The kids bring the number to the score keeper and she keeps track.  That was always my job in Faga.

Lots of kids, parents, teachers and music blasting.

The playground has paths made of crushed lava.  Some kids had shoes, some didn't.  

These guys wanted their picture taken.  They weren't interested in seeing it, just wanted me to take it.  Another boy helped me find the principal but was too shy to have his photo taken.

The kids yelled, cheered, raced and seemed to be having an excellent time.  The teacher clapped together two blocks of wood to start the race.  Clever.

In the parking lot, a "Chinese Store" was doing a brisk business selling snacks.

After time at the school we headed to the blow holes.  On the way, we passed this building.  John was amazed when I asked if it was a Mormon school.  They looked exactly the same in Samoa.

Lots of taro, manioc, breadfruit, papaya, and bananas and people tending their small fields.

The blow holes.  John said they weren't very good today because the sea was so calm.  Still beautiful and worth a visit. 

The cool part was that there were great waves and blow holes all the way up the coast. 

The owner of this house likes color.  I wonder what my HOA would say if I repainted my house like this.

We passed through several villages.  They each had a sign. 

This guys house was covered in signs.  He seems to have a lot of opinions.

We drove down this path to what I thought was a beach but was actually to see the monument in the next photo.  John was great but his English was basic and I don't speak Tongan.  Luckily, some Samoan and Tongan words are the same (talo, ulu, fale, atua, etc.)

A store in the main town.  As in Samoa, a lot of the stores are owned by Chinese.

An open air produce market near the wharf.

I was determined not to buy anything.  But then saw these - they are the "nose" of a marlin, carved.  So cool and unique.  I paid $25 for one.  When I brought it on board I was told I had to leave it in my cabin.  Security apparently knows I get annoyed easily and didn't want me carrying a 3 foot "sword".  

Some of the jewelry was cool but pricey and I was determined not to buy stuff I didn't really want.

People on the ship are sporting Tonga t-shirts today.

This guy was doing interesting drawings on tapa cloth.

The view from the ship.  The water in the port was so clear I could see fish from the wharf.

The day started with an amazing view from my bed.  This was the evening view as the sun set.  Notice how quiet the sea is.

February 27 - Crossing the International Date Line

I broke down and bought the ship's internet yesterday.  Partly because the price fell to a rate that didn't give me palpitations and partly because as we start visiting ports I've never been to before I don't want to spend limited port time on my computer.  So here I am, sitting in the Crow's Nest enjoying a panoramic view of the very calm sea.

Feel free to skip directly to the photos at the end.

Here are some random observations from the last couple of days.

• Yesterday I went to the Dive In for lunch.  I love their burgers and sweet potato fries more than I should.  As I waited for my food to be ready a gentleman asked if he could share my table.  We ended up spending almost two hours together, chatting over our burgers.
  
  Jim is a 90 year old widow from Las Vegas who has done five world cruises plus a LOT of other cruises and travel.  His stories were fascinating.  His dad was a career Navy officer and got Harry Truman to recommend Jim to the Naval Academy.  Wow.  He went on to tell me a story about a rowing competition.  He was on a team with Jim Lovell who went on to be Commander of Apollo 8.
  
  Jim went on to tell me stories about his career as an engineer in the Army Corps of Engineers and then for Boeing where he tested missile launches.  We also talked about his 57 year marriage and then chatted about child rearing and respect and the changes we've both seen over the years.
  
  It was a lovely couple of hours.  One of the things I really enjoy on this trip is talking to seniors who've lived such amazing lives and have wonderful stories to tell.  I'm going to steal one of Jim's lines - when asked what he does on such long cruises, his stock reply is "As little as possible."  He shares my view that it's nice that they have a variety of entertainment options but that doesn't mean you have to go to them.
• I hate elevators.  I've been stuck in elevators three times prior to this trip.  Once, on a Sunday morning, in a closed bank with no one else in the building (I worked there and was putting in some overtime).  Then on an elevator in San Francisco, between the 22-23 floors.  And one horrible time in Jamestown NY. 
  
  It was Superbowl Sunday and I'd met a couple guys on my flight in that morning and we met in the bar at our hotel to watch the game and drink some beer.  I left at half-time to go back to my room.  And got stuck in the elevator.  Do you know how long it takes to get an elevator repairman during the Superbowl?  It seemed very long since I'd had a couple of beers and had been heading to the bathroom.  I held it but set a land speed record getting to the bathroom once they finally had the doors open.
  
  The elevators on the Amsterdam seem to have problems.  It is not unusual to have at least one in a bank of four to be out of order.  This morning, the forward bank of elevators that I typically take had two of the four out of commission.
  
  Twice so far I've been "stuck" briefly in the elevators here.  Both times only lasted a few minutes but were scary.  The first time after I pressed the floor I wanted, the doors shut then all the floors lit up but the doors wouldn't open and we didn't move.  After a few minutes of me breathing hard and pressing the "door open" button repeatedly, the doors did open.  The second time I pressed the floor I wanted, the doors closed and we started moving but stopped at every floor but the doors wouldn't open.  The elevator finally took me back to deck 8, where I'd started and the doors finally opened.
  
  It always makes me happy to be on an elevator with someone carrying food and drinks.  At least if we get stuck we'll have sustenance. 
• Big news about breakfast in the Lido.  Seems they took the suggestion of a passenger to have a daily breakfast special.  I noticed the other day they had a plate on display with steak and eggs.  Yesterday was stuffed French toast.  I didn't pay much attention and didn't realize they were only there for that day.
  
  Today I sat next to a woman who was happily eating biscuits and gravy.  I had my standard fruit and shot of muesli.  She explained that the dish was the new daily special.  Dang.  Good for my diet but I LOVE biscuits and gravy.
• The ship celebrated Mardi Gras yesterday, in a very low key way.  They handed out bead in the Lido and MDR and had special lighting for a party in the Crow's Nest.  I didn't go so don't know what they did or how many people were there.  One of the bar servers and I were talking yesterday and she said after 8 p.m. there are typically only 10-15 people there.
• The flowers are back!  I've enjoyed all of the creative fresh flower arrangements around the ship (there were no fresh flowers on the Zuiderdam and Westerdam last year when I was on) so was very disappointed when suddenly all the large vases were empty.  Good news, new flower arrangements have appeared and they're beautiful.  A bit surprising that the theme seems Asian instead of Polynesian but who cares.
• Rumors are flying!  As the Corona Virus spreads, the speculation about the impact on our itinerary grows.  I can't imagine how challenging this is for HAL corporate.  One of the hot rumors is that we'll skip anywhere in/near Asia and instead spend more time in New Zealand and Australia.  Since we're due to arrive in New Zealand in a few days, they'll need to make the decision soon, if there's any truth to the rumor.
  
  I was at Guest Services today on my regular movie run and overheard a guest asking about what changes might be coming.  The official answer is that as soon as HAL in Seattle informs the Captain, he'll let us know.  As of now, we're continuing on our planned itinerary.
  
  The other rumor is that Orlando Ashford, HAL President is coming on board.  His wife, son and others have been on board since Ft. Lauderdale.  I'm guessing that he's a wee bit busy since the entire fleet is being impacted by the virus and their stock prices are tanking.  But, could be a good PR move since some of the most loyal passengers are on this ship.  Who knows?  I just know I'm very happy to not be the one making the decisions.
  
  Bottom line, it's out of my control and I'll be ok with whatever they decide is most prudent.
• Well, that's disappointing.  I just got a voicemail message from a stranger.  He's mad because I called him two days ago and hung up on him.  Except I didn't.  My guess is that one of the evil robocall companies is using my phone number to make their calls.  I did the same thing last year - called back the local number that had called me.  It was a very nice lady who had no idea her number was being used.  If you know of something I can/should do about it, please let me know.
• I'm off to lunch now.  Tomorrow is Tonga and I'm looking forward to a new country and seeing how it compares to Samoa since I almost ended up in Tonga as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
  
  Here are some photos.   Just kidding.  After trying to upload photos for a couple of hours, I give up.  I'll try again later.  Currently the internet is just too slow on the ship.

 

Took a minute to wrap my brain around this one.  Today is February 29 and Google says it's March 1, just to make things more challenging.

No Wednesday for me!

Sooooooo good.  I'm going to learn to make cappuccino mouse.

The flowers are back.  Ironic that they have a Chinese theme, given the virus situation.  Also interesting that we're deep into the South Pacific but no tropical flowers.

Everyone was talking about how calm the seas were all day.  Literally, all day.  Beautiful and happy we weren't under sail.

February 24, 2020 - More From Raro

Since I still have internet for a few more hours, I figured I might as well try to post some more photos and updates.

I just came back from "sailaway" which is the party held each time we leave a port.  Usually held outdoors by the Seaview pool (deck 8 aft of the Lido restaurant).  There are drink specials, music (sometimes live) and free appetizers.  Today, it gave "Sweatin' with the oldies" a whole new connotation, given the hot, humid temperatures.

I met a woman I've seen around but never talked with.  She was sharing her experience one night in Rio and it was great to hear from a very happy, excited passenger.  We agreed that dining/dancing and hanging out with locals in impromptu events is way more fun than organized tours of museums and cathedrals. 

I also chatted with Connie, a lady I spoke with early in the cruise but haven't seen since.  She'd gone on shore to get a hair cut today.  Her take was that the $15 cut she got today was far superior to the last cut she got on the ship which cost $95.

Here are some more photos.  Be kind.

Clouds, smoke and a black sand beach.

The clouds were descending but what you're seeing near the ground is smoke.  There were a number of fires burning.  I'm guessing to burn trash.   

Some of the beaches are white, some black.

Monday, February 24, 2020 - Day 52, Avatiu, Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Here I am, sitting on the ship, gazing longingly at Rarotonga.  It is a hot day (88 and humid), with thunderstorms predicted.  There are some good sized swells so while the tendering has gone more quickly than usual today I was still too afraid of falling (and landing on a helpless crew member) to risk it.

Luckily, I spent several weeks here a few years ago so while I'm disappointed I couldn't make it to shore, it probably saved me money in pearl purchases.  I do not need any pearls.  But they're so pretty!  I will be going on shore in a few days in Tonga - a new country!

Since I have no exciting port news to report, here are just some random thoughts, experiences and photos.  Thanks for reading.

• Rode in the elevator yesterday with a gentleman, in his 80's, wearing a speedo and "muscle" shirt.  I've run into him before.  He's friendly, outgoing and a bit eccentric.  Later, while I was chatting with the person in charge of Guest Services she got a horrified look on her face.  I turned around and Speedo guy was strolling by.  I would not want the job of having to assist people in their fashion choices.  I give the guy props for wearing what makes him happy.  I just wish he would limit that attire to the pool area.  Or use a robe. 
• Speaking of elevators, this morning I was on an elevator with several people.  One man had his back to the woman behind him.  They appeared to be 80'ish.  She wrapped her arms around him and started nuzzling his neck.  So sweet.  I asked if they'd just met in the Lido.  Lots of laughs when he turned around and introduced himself to the nuzzler. 
• As usual yesterday, not all the elevators were working.  I spend most of my time moving from deck one to deck five to decks eight and nine so I see a lot of elevators.  Don't even start about how I should use the stairs.  Have you not noticed all the photos of desserts?  Or the size of my butt?
  
  Anyway, as a few of us were waiting for the elevator we had a discussion of things we want HAL to change on the ship.  First was elevators.  Second, one woman said she wanted sharper forks.  Too hard to spear lettuce leaves.  Another said the lettuce leaves were too big.  Yup, we are seriously spoiled when we focus on tine sharpness.  We all had a good laugh and agreed that while there is always room for improvement, we're having a great time.
• One more elevator story.  Yesterday only 2 of the four elevators in one bank were working so things were slow.  Partly because of passengers.  I was in the elevator going from deck 9 to deck 1.  At 5, a couple started to get on, discussing where they were going.  They held the door for a couple of minutes.  He pressed floors 4 and 3.  Then they stepped off, still discussing where they were going.  BTW, I don't believe they ever noticed there were already two people in the elevator.  When the doors closed and we headed to unwanted stops we just shrugged and sighed.  On the other hand, I am still loving the majority of men who insist on "ladies first". 
• Rumors are flying about our itinerary.  You may have heard about the Westerdam.  They were quarantined and are still not able to carry passengers.  They recently cancelled the next four voyages on that ship.  Crew and passengers on this ship are assuming that HAL doesn't want to risk anyone getting sick.  Or going to a port that precludes us from subsequent ports.  Some crew are speculating that we'll skip our ports in Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Maldives and maybe more.  Can't wait to hear the revised schedule.  I'd HATE to be working at HAL in Seattle as they work through this.
• We're pregnant!  No, not me, although a guy did rub my shoulders for a minute yesterday.  Nope, one of my cabin stewards called his wife from Tahiti.  She told him she's pregnant with their first baby.  He's very excited and showed me the photo of the sonogram she sent him.
  
  The next day I told him I had a dream about him and his baby.  In my dream I asked him the word for "father" in Indonesian.  In the dream he said "Yeah".  Silly but that's how dreams are.  But Fathur, the other cabin steward said "That's the word.  In Indonesian, "aye-yeah" is the word for Father and we just say "yeah".  Seriously?    Asep, the dad-to-be said his baby will call him "papi" which is the word introduced by the Dutch to Indonesia.
• Have I mentioned how many retired teachers I've met on board?  Lots!  I had a very nice conversation about the Canadian education system and pensions the other day.  Imagine a pension with a COLA each year.
• So many people coming back on the ship complaining about the horrible heat and humidity.  I guess they've never been to Florida in July.
• And now, some photos.  Crappy photos but they're what I have.  Sorry!

Breakfast. Cantaloupe, watermelon, iced tea and a shot of muesli.

Lunch.  Brownie cheesecake.  In my defense look at the size of the raspberry.  It was a very small slice.

The following photos are views of Avatiu, the capital city of the Cook Islands.

You're looking at the view from my cabin window.  They're hoisting up one of the tenders (not sure why since we still have a couple of hours of tendering to go) up past my window.  You're seeing the bottom of the tender at the top of the window and the island in the bottom half.  And my bed.

Tides out!

The next few photos are of a piece of art in the Explorers Cafe.  It's a mixed media collage - kind of a fantasy 3-D construction.  I find them fascinating and some day want to learn to make them.  I think I'll start with 2 D.

The items in this collage are smaller than doll house sized furniture.  The attention to detail is remarkable.

I believe the red patches are Flame Tree flowers.  Aptly named, eh?