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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 18, 2006 07:00 PM Hurrah!! I have my visa!
I was tired after all-night flight when we landed on Fiji. But I had very important task to solve: to get visa to the insular country of Kiribati. I tried to contact them since 3 months with bad luck. Now it is the important day. On 7.30 am I departed by bus from Nadi to the capital city - Suva. It took 5 hours to get there. I found Kiribati High Commission - 36 Mc Gregor Road. They apologized that they did not responsed my faxes and e-mails... I got my important visa in 40 minutes!!! I have my visa to the Chistmas Island!
Then I took again 5-hours bus ride to Nadi.
Before midnight deadly tired I boarded once-a-week flight to Christmas Island. Yes, my dream is coming true!
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Dec 17, 2006 07:00 PM How to loose one full day...
I lost this day - during the nigth we crossed international date line. When we landed on Fiji in was 6 am - but already on Tuesday, 19th December.
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Dec 16, 2006 07:00 PM Around Oahu Island...
Welcome back to Honolulu! It was 9.30 am when I was walking with my backpack on my back from the ship ashore. My onward flight was at midnight...
I have been to Honolulu already 3 times so I decided to go around the island of Oahu. There are Dole pineapple plantations to see on the way to the North Shore. The Horth Shore of Oahu is rarely visited, so you feel like in countryside. There are famous surf beaches with waves 3-4 m high - great views to see and to photograph...
Before midnight I boarded Air Pacific flight to Nadi - Fiji. Nice service and I got long-leg seat at emergency exit. I recommend Fiji Gold beer - served free. Long life Air Pacific! Seven hours flight ahead!
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Dec 15, 2006 07:00 PM Blue Hawai - Go Lahaina!
Today we are docking the full day on Maui Island. I took the bus to Lahaina - cozy township with plenty of historic monuments from 19th century. On the way to Lahaina public bus stops at the aquarium - they say it is very interesting, but the entry fee is so high (42 USD) that I decided not to go there - I saw a lot of color fish and corals snorkeling in the warm ocean... There are nice mountains to photograph on the way to Lahaina - take the seat on the right side of the bus! In the centre of Lahaina there is the famous multi-trunk banyan tree - giving the shade to 200 people - this is unusual... There is a lot of tropical flowers in blossom along the streets. I took a photos of all old buildings and the picturesque waterfront with the sailboats from all over the world. An then there were a time to go to the Ka'anapali Baach 3 miles north of Lahaina!
Tomorrow we will reach Honolulu and this will be the end of the backpacker's ride on the cruise ship!
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Dec 14, 2006 07:00 PM Hawai - windy Maui Island
This is my first time on Maui... In the morning we approached the port of Kahului - there were nice view of the green mountains, but the wind was so strong that the capitan decided not to enter the harbor. We were drifting additional hour in front of Kahului - I had wonderful view of the coast eating my breakfast.
On the ship you can eat as much as you want - no limits! So they eat! Can you imagine all this overweighted ladies and gentelmen from America still eating - many times a day? They paid, so now they eat...
Kahului is nothing special - no monuments, just shopping centers - they offer free transfer to the shops from the port which is surrounded by industrial zone.
Old town of Lahaina - on the other side of the island is the place to go. They offer expensive transfer from the ship there, but I'll tel you the secret: go with free bus to the shopping center and there is Maui Bus stop. This hourly bus will take you to Lahaina (one hour drive) for just 1 USD. The total cost of the excursion will be 2 USD - what a deal!
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Dec 13, 2006 07:00 PM Kona Coast - where cpt Cook was killed...
There is no pier in Kona - Big Hawai. We were tendering from the ship to the coast on the small boats...
Kona or Kailua is a nice town with a nice promenade along the cost i some historical places to visit on a walk including king Kamehameha retreat just close to the landing.
Well, I tried to use my usual trick - to go to the public library and to use there free internet. Yes I found it - bus they ask me to get a libryary card first for 10 USD - smart isn' it?
The other solution is internet cafe charging 2,30 USD per 15 minutes - still less then on the ship!
I took with other people a tour by taxi (27 USD pp) along the picturesque coast to the place where famous Capitan James Cook died. This is form one of those significant places like Ujiji or Stait of Magellan... Taxi took us to the nice bay and then - unpleasant surprise!
-Can you see the white obelisque on the other side of the bay? -This is the place where they killed Cpt Cook! - No, there is no road access to this place - you must use the kayak to go there! There were kayaks available, but sorry - the taxi will not wait... So I took only the picture of he monument from the distance...
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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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