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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Dec 12, 2006 07:00 PM Cruise ship - how to avoid milking?
You paid the fare for the cruise. But it is just the beginning - they want you to give them more profit. You will be tempted many times: -Can I bring you a drink? Can I take your photo with a capitan? There are fancy shops on the ships and many "special deals". For internet you will pay 75 cents PER MINUTE plus 4 USD activation fee. Shore excursions offered by them can be twice as expensive as on the shore. So learn he words "No, thank you!" and you will survive!...
Today I am in Hilo - on Big Hawai. I have been before to the Volcano Park so I decided to take the waterfall tour: Akaka Waterfall - 150 m high was the most impressive.
In the late evening our ship approached the lava flow of the active volcano - Mt Kailuea. We were drifting more than an hour in the dark close to the shore taking pictures an enjoying the view of the lava flow and the big cloud of steam in the point where the hot lava reaches the ocean. This view you can have only from the ship - and that's why I am here... Exciting!
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Dec 11, 2006 07:00 PM Kauai - the Garden Island
On the cruise ship they will offer you many shore excursions. But they are very expensive... There is the alternative! Usually on arrival when you will exit the pier there are private tour guys waiting - they charge much less for the same tour...
Yes, I have been years ago on Kauai... But there is something worth to see once again - The Waimea Canyon. Mark Twain called it The Grand Canyon of The Pacific. Now I saw it for the second time - yes, the views from the lookout are fantastic!
In the afternoon our ship passed along famous Na Pali coast - the views of the green cliffs from the sea side are just unforgettable!l
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Dec 10, 2006 07:00 PM Backpacker on the cruiseship...
Shame on me! Backpacker walking to the cruiseship! Just thinh. Well, if you want to visit few islands of Hawai you must count before: flights island to island with taxes, transfers to/from airports, food - which is not so cheap here - in the paradise, sightseeing... Then you will understand why I decided to take a cruiseship for sailing around the archipelago. Just try to avoid any extra fees... In the internet 3 weeks before the cruise they were selling tickets for one person for 399 USD - very good deal for 7 days!
In the airport HNL they will tray to offer you transfer to the ship for 25 USD - no. no! Go to the city bus, it cost just 2 USD and will take you also to the Aloha Tower - where the ship is waiting... It was a little sensation when I was boarding PRIDE OF ALOHA with all my luggage on my back... We have nice inside cabins... We are sailing to Kauai Island... Bye-bye Honolulu!
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Dec 09, 2006 07:00 PM 9- hours flight - 1,5 sandwiches...
I took Continental Airlines flight from Houston to Honolulu. It takes almost 9 hours to move you to the Blue Hawai... Want you watch the movie? First buy your headphones for 5 USD!!
Meals on board: one big sandwich and one small - before landing. Forget about a beer - they charge like 5 USD for a can... Shame on you, Continental...
When I landed in Honolulu there were sun, heat (more then 30 deg.Celsius) and high humidity. Guest booked for big hotels received lei on arrival. (you can also buy one for yourself for 5 USD) Welcome to the tropics!
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Dec 08, 2006 07:00 PM Texas, USA - what a different world!
Houston, Texas - skycrapers in the downtown. Wide freeways full of cars. Elegant shops and huge shopping centers... After narrow, crowded and polluted streets of Quito it is quite different world. The historic quarter of Houston it is just one block. If you want to see more architecture from the past go to the coastal town of Galveston located on the island just one hour drive from Houston. There is quite different atmosphere in the historic streets around the harbor and a long boulevard along the beach. I spent there pleasant afternoon with an old friend. Galveston is worth a visit if you are in Texas. But for me it was just a stopover on my way to the Pacific. Aloha!
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Dec 07, 2006 07:00 PM Bye-bye Ecuador!
I am departing. It is time to get ready for the early morning flight. I reconfirmed my flight to the USA. Unpleasant surprise: they charge 31.60 USD departure tax - it is never included in the price of the ticket!
It was my second visit to Ecuador... I must say that Ecuador is very interesting destination for the backpackers: it has mountains, folklore, architecture and of course beautiful and unspoiled Galapagos - my dream who came true. It is cheap to travel city - to city. The accommodation is inexpensive and plentiful. Go Galapagos! Most of the people are nice to the foreign visitors. But why they do not return smiles? Yes, I know - I am still a gringo...
Bad news: There were military coup on Fiji where I am going soon. Well, we will see... Another adventure ahead!
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Dec 06, 2006 07:00 PM Quito - on World Heritage list
The old town in Quito is one of the most interesting places in South America is you like old architecture.
Colonial churches, convents, narrow streets full of the old houses with iron balconies... It is worth to spend there few hours. Come in the morning - some churches are closed in the mid-day and in the afternoon it is often cloide in December... The No 1 is Compania church - probably with the most ornate you can find in Ecuador. They charge 2 USD entry fee from foreigners - it is imposing but people do not pray there. To see the live church go to San Francisco - it is not as bright as Compania but you can see what the locals do. The entry is free of course but you must pay another 2 USD if you want to visit the monastery nearby.
It is better to be back in your hotel before the dusk. Gringolandia where most of chesp hostels are located has still bad reputation. If you want to try the nightlife - leave all valuables in the hotel... It is South America...
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Dec 05, 2006 07:00 PM End of the sail - are the tips obligatory?
It is my last day on the boat... Sunny but rough sea. In the morning we landed for only one hour on North Seymour Island famous for the nesting magnificent frigate birds. Can you imagine the big, red baloon under the neck of the male frigate - they want to attract the female on this way...
Our guide distributed two envelopes - tips for the crew and for the guide. Tips are not obligatory, but are expected... I disembarked at Baltra Island where the main airport of archipelago is located.
In the afternoon I took the flight from Baltara back to Quito.
Bye-bye wonderful islands - this will be the highlight of my RTW voyage - for sure!
In Quito I found new nice place to stay: Sunrise Hostal in Calama Street - Gringolandia. They charge only 10 USD per roomy room with bath... Have a rest, sailor!
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Dec 04, 2006 07:00 PM The best view on Galapagos?
There is little but very nice Bartolome Island close to the Santiago... The 600-m trail will take you up to the 114-m view point. And the view is just fantastic! Yes, they show this panorama very often on the postcards and in the tourist brochures. Two bays with the white beaches, emerald and blue waters of the ocean, volcanic peaks of Santiago and the Pinnacle or Sugar Loaf - the lonely rock where we will snorkel...
In the afternoon interesting walk on the fresh (one century old) lava flow on Santiago Island... One of the most interesting days on the Galapagos. Very strong sun - bring your sunscreen otherwise you will suffer!
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Dec 03, 2006 07:00 PM Dancing on the waves - Rabida Is
Is our boat safe? We had an excident... During the inter-island sail one of us - a nice guy from the USA felt down into the sea. Nobody saw this moment. Fortunately one of the crew looking into kilwater recognized the head of unknown man on the wave... Capitan stopped and turned the boat. We approech the feral fellow and took him out the water. Brrr... It is hard to imagine what can happend...
Today we had two landings: on the beach of little Rabida Island and then on Santiago Island. Snorkeling again - the crew is renting mask and snorlek for 10 USD per sail - no reason to carry your own to Galapagos. The bottle of beer on board costs 3 USD (in Quito - 0,90 USD). No comments...
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