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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Feb 04, 2015 08:00 PM Port Vila - Vanuatu
I have been here long time ago arriving by air, but the image of the bay from the sea is quite different. Dock is located some 2 kms out of the town - at the entrance to the picturesque bay. A long row of the stalls offering handicrafts will wait for you just beside the port gate. Painted clothes, shells, carved wood. But I like most these people in the stalls, and I am happy that they want to be pictured. At the gate you will also find a long row of taxis and minibuses: for the ride to the town they charge 5 $ per porson. I decided to walk despite heat and high humidity. On the upper level of the city there is Vanuatu partiament worth a picture. Museum is opposite side of the street. Central Vanuatu is just one long street, housing all offices and shops. They pay 106 vatu for 1 USD, but I do not change any money expecting that I will spend nothing. Sorry, no internet in the public library, but you will find wifi in the cafes - just buy a bottle of water :) Tomorrow we sail to the remote Santo Island, expecting to anchor in Champagne Bay. I am soure there will be no internet, but maybe there will be champagne! :)
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Feb 03, 2015 08:00 PM Hitchhiking to We, but Mu is too far...
In the morning I saw for the first time beautiful green coast of Lifou - the biggest of four Loyalty Islands. No pier here so they took us ashore by tenders /little motorboats/ and we landed just in the middle of the paradise, white beach. Hibiscus flowers and flamboyants around. Palms and araucaria trees - what a landscape...
Locals are selling crafts in the little tatched hut. Some of them offer é-hours minibus tour of the islqnd for 30 USD - not for me. With the map in my hand I started to walk to the nearest village. Conical tatched houses and the new ones are sperad in the lovely gardens. Pepole are nice... It is very calm. I was hiking to the distant cliff and later to the main village called We. More to the south there is another village Mu, but to far to hike there - I must be back on the ship on 5 pm. But what a lovely place - Lifou
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Feb 02, 2015 08:00 PM Noumea, New Caledonia
After two days at sea our ship reached Noumea - the capital of New Caledonia. They call it "Paris of the Pacific". For me it is a chance to see again its elegant boulevards fringed by palms and native people - Kanaks strolling the streets. It is very hot and humid here. I try to find best photo-spots to bring you new pictures. It is wort to know that on the main square - Place Cocotiers they offer free wifi connection. So I can send you this message... Everything goes well... Tomorrow we will be on the much smaller and more remote island unknown to me - Lifou
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Jan 30, 2015 08:00 PM Bondi Beach and jump on the ship...
Blue sky and lovely sun in Sydney, but not as hot as in Sri Lanka. In the morning we had enough time to take a little hike around famous Bondi Beach. Then I will embark the ship headind to the islands of New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Inrernet on board is extremely expensive, so dear friends do not panic if there will be no messages from me during next coming days. The Pacific is calling! Ahoy!
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Jan 30, 2015 08:00 PM Backpacker on the cruise ship
This is my ship no.1 in this voyage. Big and white, about 2000 passengers. Believe me, this is the last expensive way to see 7 scheduled ports... I checked out in the guest services that I am the only passenger with Polish passport. During the "sea day" like today there is enough time stroll around and to memorize where are the most important ship's institutions. It is not easy - it has 13 decks! In the late afternoon in the lobby our captain Carl appeared in his gala uniform for the pictures. Paparazzi work hard, then one such a picture cost only 25 $. But no obligation to buy, so I used the opportunity to introduce myself to the captain: - It is pleasure to meet you, my name is ... and I am from Gdansk, Poland! Captain Carl responsed that once he was in Gdansk. I believe. Than I said that I am on my 12th solo voyage around the globe. I have a feeling that he did not believe... Why?
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Jan 29, 2015 08:00 PM Hosted by friends in Sydney
It was almost 11am local time when I landed in Sydney. Welcome to Australia! I have been to Sydney many times, but I am coming again and again because Sydney is important transportation hub and one of the most beautiful cities of the world regarding its picturesque location.
I have a pleasure to be hosted here by a great couple of Polish travelers: Michal and Evelina, who temporary live here. Michal last year was awarded by "Kolos - achievement of the year" prize for his Unmotorized Solo South America Crossing. I am proud to have such a friends in distant Sydney.
We spent toogether lovely afternoon visiting well- known Sydney's places, enjoying the views of the bay and botanical gardens. In the evening there was still time to talk about past and future travels and share the experience.
Sydney still has its cosmopolitan atmosphere and definitely is worth one more visit...
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Jan 28, 2015 08:00 PM Colombo - Last naked night?
It is very hot here, even in the night. So you probably understand that I sleep naked under working fan. In my cheap room mosquito net is a must to protect my sweaty body. But they will find the way through the net anyway :).
So very often in the middle of the night I get up to kill these beasts. I hope they do not transmit malaria.
At sunrise time little car is wondering through the alleys near the beach waking you with a music and offering fresh bread, rolls and other breakfast stuff. Thank you for such a nice wake-up call! It is time to pack up my backpack again! At 9.30 am I was already on the public bus crawling the traffic jams on its way to the center. I decided to go to the airport early and this was good decision, because the road congestion.
Opposite the Fort Railway Station I changed to bus 187 going to the airport (100 rs) - allow minimum 3 hours from Mount Lavinia to the airport!
Colombo airport is much nicer now then 20 years ago. I am surprised - they offer at the gates free internet stands. I am waiting for Malaysian flight to Kuala Lumpur...
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Jan 27, 2015 08:00 PM 3rd class to Colombo
A calling from the mosques is waking me up here, on the south coast of Sri Lanka. Quite a lot Muslims live here. It is easy to recognize them by the white clothes (men). The 3rd class train ticket Weligama to Mt Lavinia near Colombo cost me only 110 rs - less than a dollar for 3 hours journey. The train was full, but as usual this was a chance to see how the real life looks like: mothers were feeding babies, vendors were selling food, drinks, lottery tickets and many other things. Through the open windows of the train you can enjoy the views of the beaches and coastal villages. Co-passengers ask you where are you from and what do you think about their country. I think is is lovely!
Back in Lavinia Beach Hostel I made a general laundry. Tomorrow I am leaving beautiful and peaceful Sri Lanka. It is time to spend last rupees and prepare for the trip!
In the evening I met in the same hostel Keiko - charming young Japanese lady traveling alone around Sri Lanka. I had a pleasure to travel with her from Kandy to Ella. What a surprise! I was so happy to see her again - she is exceptional person. Welcome to Poland, dear Keiko!
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Jan 26, 2015 08:00 PM Selling the fish on the roadside :)
Do you like fish? I do! I prefere fish to any kind of meat...
Today in the morning I went to the Weligama beach. Along the coastal road I found many stalls with a fresh fish, octopus and shrimp were also present. After days on my cheap B&B (bread and bananas) diet I had a big temptation. Fish must be cheap here, just meters from the beach! - I was thinking. Nothing like that - they ask 800 rs (like 6 USD) per kilo! I started to joke with sellers. One of them said: I am going for my breakfast, if you will sell at least a kilo at that time I will give you one middle-size fish! Ok! I started to encourage people passing by. There was even one little shark on my stall... Sorry... Nothing was sold, but I had a lot of fun! Neighbours from other stalls kept eyes on me all the time. People passing by were saying (I agree with them) that 800 rs is too much. Finally they put the fish with ice into the boxes and sent them by car before 12 to Colombo.
No fish today. But I am patient traveller, I am sure I will try it on Sarurday! :)
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Jan 25, 2015 08:00 PM History in Galle, fishing boats in Weligama
Mirissa has nice beach, but I do not like it too much. It is now like a kind of Gringolandia, like Boracay in the Philippines - too much white tourists! In the morning I took a bus to Galle (62 rs) to see once again historic Galle Fort with ramparts, old churches, museums and narrow streets within the walls. It is very interesting place - no wonder that they put it on UNESCO World Heritage list... But the old fort area is also very expensive regarding accommodation - I did not find anything for less then 2500 rs (usually I pay around 1500 rs for single room),
So I decided to take the train (3rd class - 30rs - what a experience!) back to the fishing township Weligama. Here I am happy wondering around picturesque fishing boats on the wide and empty beach! I have a chance to see real life... And the single fan room in a quite Raja's GH costs only 1000 rs!
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