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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Feb 05, 2019 10:00 PM I am in Wellington, but where is the sun?
Wellington - the capital city of New Zealand has nice location on the slopes of the hills going down to the bay. I was here some 25 years ago, but It is always nice to refresh memories after such a long time. But where is the sun. After hot, sunny days on the southern island today is cold and cloudy with a haze on the sea....
From the cruise dock in the port it is 40 min walk to the commercial
city centre and only 20 min to the parliament and government buildings. They provide free shuttle bus going from the ship to both locations.
Let's hope that the weather will be better in the afternoon.
I took a long walk along the coast to the imposing building of NZ Museum. The entry is free here ad there are interesting exhibitions about Maori culture, Galipoli battle and...a lot of gastronomy. It cleared up a little bit later so I will try to climb Mt Victoria....
Later: yes, I did it! The paths heading to the top are steep and gravel so it is better to take the serious shoes. The view from the altitude of 200 m is impressive, even if the sky isn't blue but grey... Airport in the back... Wow, I am hungry! Let's go back to the ship! New adventure tomorrow! :)
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Feb 04, 2019 10:00 PM Marlborough Sound
Hello from Picton. In the early morning we reached our last port on the Southern Island of New Zealand. Picton is a busy ferry terminal receiving ferries from North Island - I used this route years ago. But it has also picturesque location deep in the narrow fjord. Weather is great - 25 deg, sunny with the light breeze. There are green mountains around, so I will be probably climbing one of them for the the view of the Marlborough Sound.
Later: In the afternoon I was walking up the picturesque Queen Charlotte Road climbing up the mountain overlooking Picton. Great views! Also on the other side of the ridge - there is new labirynth of channels and green hills. People from the ship offer catamaran 2 hours tour on these waters for 80 dollars pp. But I am convinced that the aerial views I registered from the road are much more impressive and... free of any charge!!! :) - see my picture gallery.
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Feb 03, 2019 10:00 PM Akaroa - somewhere on the South Island
At 7 am we anchored in the Bay of Akaroa - on the South Island of New Zealand. It is sleepy and beautiful place - rolling hills, cliffs at the entrnce to the bay, deep blue color of water... Little Akaroa has no jetty so we are tendering here - little motorboats took us from the ship to the villa ge. For most of the passengers from our ship this is just a transit point to embark the bus going to the big city of Christchurch. But such an excursionn costs 150 USD and more, so I will enjoy Akaroa with its colorful houses and I plan also to limb the nearest hill for the wide view of the bay (I hane been to Christchurch before). Public library has free wifi access to the internet. That's why I can send you a message and the pictures. The sky is clear and blue and we experience strong, bright sun with a temperature around 27 deg Celsius. That will be another great day! Greetings to you from remote New Zealand!
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Feb 02, 2019 10:00 PM New Zealand - Port Chalmers
In the night we turned around the south cape of New Zealand, the ocean became more calm... In the morning our ship docked in Port Chalmers on the Southern Island. This port is visited to be a base for the excursions to the historic city of Dunedin - the first city in New Zealand lacated 13 kms away. The people for the ship offer round trip bus transfer to Dunedin for 20 USD. Let you know that for 6 NZD each way you can go to Dunedin by city bus no.14 from the main street of Port Chalmers. That's what I did - enjoying the Victorian achitecture of this nice city. Ihave been to Dunedin some 25 years ago - now the city is even nicer... There are many nice samples of the Victorian archutecture including the Courts, Railway station and few churches. I enjoyed especially windows glass in the St Joseph Catholic Cathedral. St Joseph's stands on the hill with beautiful view of the city towers and blue bay.
Imagine that on the way back to the port I was walking all over the way around 13 kms along the coast pof Otago Harbour (the bay) taking great pictures of Otago Peninsula. It took me more than 3 hours. Good exercise isn't it? :)
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Feb 01, 2019 10:00 PM Fantastic fjords of New Zealand
I was praying for the good weather for today because it is the most interesting day on this sea voyage. And the wish came true!
In the morning we entered spectacular Milford Sound. I saw it many years ago, walking thd famous Milford Trek, but the high deck of the ship gives quiet different perspective! Great views of the high mountains overlooking the fjord!
Then It took us 3,5 hours of sailing to the entrance of Hampton Sound, connected to Doubtful Sound- the rocky walls were not as high in Milford, but the sailing was much longer and we used different exit to the ocean from the labirynth of thd warerways. Nice views again and some dolphins...
Then after another 2,5 hours of sailing we reached entrance of the Dusky Sound where cpt Cook anchored in 1773. We have again nice views... I spent almost all day on the deck! What a fjords! What a day!
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Jan 31, 2019 10:00 PM Sailing Tasman Sea
The sea is a bit rough but I do not know what is the sea sickness. It is a big ship - 2 300 passengers on board but I found already friends -a nice couple from Poland and Russians living in Canada. As you know I am in the last expensive inside cabin, but it is not important because I am spending most of the time out, enjoying the music, theatre and meeting interesting people. This line offers unlimited ice cream all the day, can you imagine? Tomorrow we will see New Zealand...
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Jan 29, 2019 10:00 PM Walking Sydney after years
It is nice to go around this city again. More skyscrapers in the downtown! I went to Royal Botanical Gardens, then around Sydney Opera House, then to the colonial quater The Rocks. to climb Argyle St stairs and took elevator to the bridge. Uuuu.... If you want to walk the famous Harbour Bridge you will walk now in the fenced corridor. Yes, there are holes for your camera to take the pictures but....
Yesterday in the evening I was enjoying the special atmosphere of the Circular Quay - with the fast ferries go up and down and the crowd of the people is strolling the promenade - the Harbour Bridge is not illuminated but the views of opera, CBD and the bridge are still nice.
Today in the afternoon I will be boarding my ship to sail around New Zealand in two weeks. The internet on board is very expensive so do not worry if you will wait for the next message few days... Ahoy!
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Jan 28, 2019 10:00 PM Fiji to Sydney
Nadi on Fiji is important air hub for the Pacific. A lot of people is transiting here so no wonder that local mobile operator is giving to the foreigners free SIMM card and 1,5 GB data transfer plus10 min for voice. Just report withyour passport in their office in arrival hall!
It was 7 am when I was walking from my little guesthouse to the terminal - it took me only 20 min. Check-in for Sydney flight was smooth, but in the security stand they wanted me to drink all water from the bottle. Half bottle is not enough!
Before they packed us to the airbus 330 there were another manual control of the carry-on baggage. OK. finally we started at 9.10am. During 4hours flight they served hot breakfast. But also (if you asked) beers and wine. Just let you know that Fiji Bitter is much better than Fiji Gold :)
In the middle of the day we landed in Sydney. Welcome toAustralia! They did not screen my luggage - it seems I look trustworthy :) Oh, my God! The 15-min ride on the train from the airport to the city costs 18 Australian dollars. I found my hostel on Pitt St. (25 AUD per bed in the 4bed dorm). For the first time I will spend the night in the center - this will be a good occasion to see Sydney by night!
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Jan 27, 2019 10:00 PM Bye, bye charming kingdom!
I spent two weeks on Tonga, visiting different islands, sailing little boats and meeting lovely people... In the morning my host took me to thd airport. Sorry - no public buses going there so you have to pay 40 paanga per car. The flight to Nadi, Fiji was on time and I had a chance to see the coast of the island from the air.
In Nadi in the middle of the day the temperature was higher than 40 deg Celsius. I walked to the well- known Westfield App. Finally I have internet access to check my e-mails and to response letters.
Tomorrow in the morning I am flying to Sydney, Australia to board the ship... It will be the time to relax before the next adventures...
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Jan 26, 2019 10:00 PM Sunday in Nukualofa
Everything is closed here on Sunday. Streets are empty except when the people go to the church. I decided to go anyway to the royal church expectind to see the memberrs of Royal Family. But nobody appeared - the red chairs were empty. In addition the church guards did not allow me to take pictures and recordings. Uuuuu... Singings an bress band were also only so-so.
Then I went to the Catholic cathedral church of St Mary, enjoying meeting with the people and being invited after the mass to drink kava with the members of the parish council (all men). They were listening with great interest to my stories from thd other Pacific countries (catholics are everywhere - from Papua NG to the Easter Island)
Then Father Sepa (born the same month and year as me) invited me for the lunch. Ho, ho, ho... I was trying raw fish, tapioca, yam, taro and other specials...
Thank you so much Father for all!
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