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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Feb 07, 2015 08:00 PM Island of Mystery
Mystery Island is flat and very small. During the WW2 Americans built here grassy airstrip. The only solid building on the island is small house with the funny sign "Mystery Island Airport". Everybody is taking a picture in front of that house. In some 45 minutes you can take a walk around the island. White beaches are narrow but great and the turquoise waters around has a beauty of the best postcards. Normally nobody lives here. But when the cruise ship is arriving local people from the next, big island Anatom are coming with their handworks, lovely children and fruits. They have glass bottom boat to see the underwater life (20 $ for45 minutes) and snorkeling stuff for rent.
They said that canibalism was practiced here and that is the reason to install under the palms the big pot, to invite tourists to get into and to take the funny pictures (5 $ each). But Mystery is a lovely spot - when the sun is shining like today.
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Feb 06, 2015 08:00 PM The island of Holy Ghost - Espiritu Santo...
I am in Luganville - the capital of the Santo island - the biggest of the 83 islands of the insular Republic of Vanuatu. It is tiny place. People from the ship go snorkeling here on the WW2 wrecks but for me it is more important to see the local people in their habitat. So as the only passe ger I took the long walk to the cultural village. Exiting the port just turn right on the asphalt road and after 1,5 km there will be a fork - take left, gravel arm climbing up. It took me 1 hour in the high humidity and heat to get there but it is worth - taxi driver ask for 15 $! You pay 10 $ entry.
It is lovely place - they dance for you without any routine, they make a water music, they will show thow to make the fire... Lovely families with the funny kids... This is the highlite of Luganville! In the "city" there is not much to photoghaph, but the tourist office offers free wifi - that's why I am able to send you this message. Tomorrow uninhabited Mystery Island!
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Feb 05, 2015 08:00 PM Champagne Bay... champagne in the evening!
In the early morning we found ouself in the picturesque bay of the Santo island (Vanuatu). Tenders took us to the pristine beach. It is in the middle of nowhere - no jetty of settlement here but locals built along the beach a row of stalls where, if the ship is here for one day you cam
n buy local fruits, artifacts, painted clothes.
Poople of Santo are a little shy, but if you try to talk with them - they are happy to answer your questions, explain their behaviors and... offer you to have the picture with theis sea turtle or gree lizard for just 2 dollars! Pickups and little taxis are waiting to take you for 10 $ pp to the view point on the cliff and blue lagoon (entry extra 7 $) I found my wY walking to the view point it is like 1 h each way - take exit road and go left, left, left to the asphalt road. Left again climbing the asphalt. The view is from the top of the road - look back...
I was sweaty and tired due to the humidity and heat when I returned. But what a place! Champagne Bay.
In the evening captain invited me and other frequent travellers for a glass of champagne (in fact I had four :) and the music... So I had champagne in the idillic Champagne Bay. Thank you captain!
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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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