The Vava’u Island has a rustic but beautiful town, with friendly people. It’s the second largest town with just under 4,000 people. The Islands are an unspoiled tropical paradise and largely unpopulated. Clear water with abundant sea life surrounds these islands. White sandy beaches and seabirds are plentiful. Most inhabitants live off the land here, consuming fruits, vegetables, and fish from the surrounding oceans.
On the way to Tonga I sailed over the Tongan Trench. It is the second deepest trench on Earth. The depth is more than 35,000 feet, or 7 miles. The submarines on board could barely explore these depths as they are limited to only 1.400 feet. Would hate to press that limit and implode, much like the ill-fated Titan submersible did in June of 2023.A welcome dance performed by the locals. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. The locals learn their native language (Tongan) and then English as their second language. Communication was both easy and interesting.Typical dwellings on the islands. No heat necessary, but air-conditioning would be nice. Forget about that, only fans are sporadically available. What electricity is available is created by generators. The bright side of this situation is that overhead power lines are virtually non-existent.Nearby farm being cultivated. I asked whether a tractor or manual plows were used to prepare the soil and was relieved to hear it was the former. Another homestead with adjacent farm. The people grow their own food crops on the land where they live. Notice the water collection system on the right which catches all the roof’s runoff. During the months long dry season this reservoir is heavily relied upon.Another performance for the visitors. The little kid on the end of course stole the show. The head Mama. The more colorful the garb, the higher one’s status within the community. She also led the kava ritual. Kava is a drink which produces differing levels of relaxation, depending upon how much is consumed.Pictured here is a visitor getting involved in the dancing fun. This enthusiastic tourist in the dance bears a striking resemblance to my housekeeper from my trip to Sicily in 2013. It is odd how I encounter other people who closely resemble her during my various travels. Everyone seems happy, and these tourists especially so. And why not, they have been enjoying the benefits of the kava drink for over an hour.This guy is a friendly local vendor who is very proud of his wares. It is written all over his warm, yet very confident face.Today’s snorkel/kayak landing sight. Unfortunately the skies were completely overcast. Consequently, the snorkeling wasn’t great.As mentioned before, since the skies were cloudy, the colors were not nearly as pronounced as several days ago.The very rare and elusive blue starfish. Not many of these are known to exist. I was fortunate to be able to capture this image.Some of the many nearby uninhabited islands are seen as I sail away from Tonga that evening..Almost sunset.
So that’s it from Tonga. I have a few sea days before I see land again. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on the planet. It covers just about as many square miles (64 million) of earth’s surface as all the other oceans combined. No wonder it takes days to get to these islands. The next stops are in Fiji. I hope you see me there.
First stop after two days at sea Aitutaki, an island within the Cook Islands. Today’s activities are diving/snorkeling and potentially kite boarding. The main reason people are drawn to this spot is because of the lagoon. It is approximately 15km by 12km. It’s filled with colorful fish, giant clams, and sea turtles. Aitutaki is filled with uninhabited motus (islands.) While there are great restaurant and tiki bars, I saw none of that as my time was spent on or in the water.
Map of the expedition. Follow the yellow trail as I proceed westward in my journey. At the extreme left of the image is the eastern coast of Australia. I will include this in my future entries all along the way.At this point it is important to see the expedition vessel. It accommodates 240 passengers. The Seabourn Pursuit is equipped with 24 zodiac inflatable boats of varying sizes, 18 kayaks, as well as two submarines, capable of depths of 400 meters (or 1200 feet.) It also is capable of dynamic positioning. Dynamic positioning allows the vessel to remain in a specific spot without the use of anchors. It does this using its GPS and all the thrusters and propellers the ship is equipped with. This allows it to remain in place without causing damage to the ocean floor or coral reefs. Also important to note is that there is a fabulous expedition team consisting of anthropologists, marine biologists, ornithologists, dive experts, naturalists, and lecturers. Image courtesy of JD Andrews.
On the zodiac out to the first dive sight. In the distance is the sparsely populated main island of Aitutaki..The beach (sandbar) nearby to the dive/snorkel sight. This was a stunningly sparse yet beautiful island. This place brought back images of Tom Hanks in Castaway.Here is a large hermit crab. I wish I had included an object for perspective. It was the size of a kid’s baseball glove. This island has no inhabitants and it’s only about 1 foot above sea level. Not sure if I’d do an overnight here, unless I was in the trees.Deserted Beach courtesy of my friend JD Andrews.Here we go. Nope, we don’t. Not nearly enough wind. So the only option was some pretty good snorkeling.Can’t go up, so let’s go down. Excellent visibility and colors in the reefs today.Beautiful colors as well as some small fish. Black tip sharks were seen in the area but I wasn’t lucky enough this time to capture an image.Giant sea clams were all around. These creatures were about 30 inches (76cm) wide. The approximate weight was 75 pounds (34kg). Think how much chowder you could make from just one of these.A few more of these beauties.My snorkel buddy in red diving for a closer look see.Just one more for color at this location.
Short entry, but that’s it for now. The next landing will be in Tonga, approximately 1,000 miles away.
This was the perfect way to begin a multi-week exploration trip across the South Pacific. The amount of time spent here was not too long, or short. I enjoyed this very special spot for 5 days. The Four Seasons Resort is located on a long motu (a small island created by an ancient volcano crater.) The resort has a water-taxi to the island of Bora Bora for those wishing to explore all of the beautiful areas the main island has to offer. I was content here and never left the property. However, for those choosing to, it is only a short 10 minute ride across the amazingly clear turquoise waters.
Bora Bora’s iconic mountain formation. This is what many people think of when they think of Bora Bora.One of the few beach front spots with a view toward the main island.Some of the overwater bungalows at the resort. The sun is so intense that an overcast day was a welcome relief.My favorite snack before lunch. I can still smell the fresh baked baguettes, and the beer is the local lager. Interestingly, it was created as a substitute over 60 years ago for the coconut liquor which was too strong for the islanders.Sunrise from my bungalow. When I am under the equator the sunrises appear to me to be sunsets and visa-versa.Lagoon’s beach. Also great for snorkeling. I only saw one person in the water the entire time of my stay. The lagoon reminds me of the Gilligan’s Island lagoon.View from the lagoon toward the main island of Bora Bora.View through one of the many gardens.Walkway out to the overwater bungalows. So easy to confuse the bungalows, especially after a few cocktails.Overwater shot of the bungalows and the stars in the sky.
So I am now preparing for the next leg of my journey. It will take me west for roughly 4,000 miles. As I travel I will be exploring several island countries all along the way to Australia. By for now.
Charming and quaint. Two adjectives which are perfect when describing this little known destination. Its location in France is just north of the Spanish border on the Mediterranean. It is well known for its numerous fish and seafood restaurants. The local population here is only about 4,000 people.
Typical of this and most fishing villages are flowers. Plantings are almost anywhere you go.Street scene along the water-front.Rocky beach area located right in town. Not the most scenic, but extremely convenient. This Old fortress on the sea lends a certain charm to this beach area.Locals enjoying the water.Aquatic life.Seafood restaurants are plentiful.View of the village from above. The coastline to the north is France.
The beaches I found on the island of Corsica were truly amazing. The waters were warm, the snorkeling incredible, and the French food was delicious. Corsica has much more to offer than just beaches, however that’s about all I was able to experience during my brief visit to the island. Corsica was a planned destination, but we decided to cut the time short and do a drive by (sail by) to St. Tropez on the way to our next destination. So I will briefly cover that stop here as well.
The beautiful colors in the sea surrounding Corsica are unquestionably some of the best. I could float here for hours.Amazing and not well frequented beaches abound.This is about as crowded as it gets. While the rocky beaches aren’t the most comfortable, there are also plenty of sandy areas as well.View to the south where there is some development. Corsica has not been over-developed, as many places in the Mediterranean have been.Monument to Napoleon. In the sculpture he looks much taller than his actual height of 5’6″.
Less than a day’s sail from Corsica we sailed to St. Tropez. This town has quite a reputation for opulence, excess, yacht competitions, and the like. While there I tried to experience some of what this place has to offer.
This is the coastline on my approach to St. Tropez.I ended up making friends with a few of the people on this craft which was moored near our vessel. I spent a great afternoon just talking and enjoying a fabulous white French burgundy with them before going into town.In town, this was the French restaurant I chose to dine in for a very late lunch. It’s name was Le Cafe’ and the wine cellar was quite impressive.The bread in France is some of the best on the planet, no matter where you choose to dine. I stopped here at Le Cafe’ for a light snack. Escargot anybody?Here’s a great spot for a cocktail or a coffee. Since it was getting late in the afternoon, I chose a cocktail. And this place served a great “Suze & Tonic.” This is the French twist on the classic British “Gin & Tonic.”A typical street for some shopping, if that’s your thing. Personally, when I shop it’s for food and beverages. They are most times very enjoyable and delicious, while being easy to transport when you travel.
At this time, I am not quite sure where the next destination will be, except that it will be somewhere in the Mediterranean. I will keep you posted, so to speak.
Perched way above the deep blue Ionian Sea is the town of Taormina. One of Sicily’s legendary resort towns because of its twisting medieval streets, and a second-century Greek theater which only add to its romantic air.
The winding road taking me up to Taormina. In the distance, the tip of the boot of mainland Italy is visible.Main Plaza in Taormina.As in Italy, there is no shortage of churches here. And in this one in particular, no shortage of marble and granite.Extensive use of granite and marble is apparent. This church outdoes the other for not only more use of granite and marble, but better sculptures and columns.Beautiful coastline looking to the north.Some of the amazing second-century ruins above the village. If you ever visit Taormina, this is a must see. For me it was way better than the town.The ancient theater above the village.Incredible ruins and views beyond. The ruins are extensive. Mount Etna in the distance was quiet the first day I was visiting.The next day, not so quiet. All walking tours on Mount Etna cancelled. Gotta find another activity.Check out the precarious positioning of this home, especially precarious when you consider the active tectonic conditions in this area.
Off to another part of the Mediterranean soon. I’m looking forward to where ever I end up. I’m thinking France, but time will tell.
Lifestyles of the rich and famous. I didn’t have a lot of time here so I decided to check out the scene at the Nikki Beach Club. Some say this club is past its prime. However, it didn’t disappoint for people watching. The open air concept is fully embraced with outdoor everything. If you are not familiar with Nikki Beach, it’s a luxury beach club concept that combines the elements of music, dining, entertainment, fashion, film and art into one. It has several clubs in prime weather locations around the world.
Marbella coastline Local square on my walk to the club.This local shopper (who bears a slight resemblance to my housekeeper in Sicily back in 2014) seems to be locked out of her car. Maybe she should just head to the disco like her beach bag says.Oceanside at Nikki Beach Club. Of course there is full oceanside service. Many of these patrons were enjoying chilled bottles of Dom Perignon. What an entirely sybaritic scene.Poolside at Nikki Beach. No shortage of restylane and botox here. So much that in some cases it could serve as a floatation device. See if you can zoom in on this redheads lips.Poolside with more action. She won best swimsuit with this creative design. It was a swathy one-piece.Get that sunscreen on, you sure don’t want to burn.
So, Marbella has a lot more to offer than just a scene like Nikki Beach, however my time was limited here do to my own poor planning. More coming as I spend the autumn in the Mediterranean area. Hope to report soon.
Nida is a small, very low key resort town on the spit of land Neringa, on the Baltic Sea. This idyllic little place is home to only 4 thousand people. It was an old fishing village and retains much of that character today. It’s a time capsule in some ways, one is that the children you see riding their bikes, playing ball, or otherwise things kids do, are almost totally devoid of any electronic devices. The forests you walk through on the way to the beach smell so fragrant with that “woodsy” smell. No need to lock your doors as crime is non-existent.
My home for my stay here.Typical street in Nida.
Wildflowers abound everywhere.Tiny marina with the boats of current day fishermen.Hike up to the largest and highest sand dune known as the “Dead Dune.” In prior centuries, these dunes were constantly moving. Consequently, they would occasionally encroach and bury the fishing villages. In order to prevent this, the villagers constructed walls to impede the movement. This led to the dunes becoming stagnant, and thus dying.Overlooking the Curonian Lagoon from the dune’s apex.Another view of the Curonian lagoon. The land along the horizon is mainland Lithuania.Crowded beach day.View to the north just minutes before sunset.Sunset over the Baltic
In a few days I will head to the Mediterranean for warmer waters and a whole different food experience.
This town is as charming as they get. With a population of approximately 650 thousand people it feels much like a lot of other western European capitals. It abounds with museums, art, shopping, restaurants, cafes, and tavernas. There are many fabulous hotels as well. It is very walkable and in summer the daylight is abundant, not getting dark until around 11PM. The city’s renaissance began just after its liberation from Russia in 1991, and it is still underway. It is evident in the numerous architectural restorations throughout the city, as well as the condition of most of its infrastructure. The streets are almost entirely made of cobblestone.
Cathedral Square. (Katedros aikste). Located at the end of Pilies Gatve, a charming little street lined with shops, restaurants, taverns, other outdoor attractions.Fountain in the square located at the other end of Pilies Gatve.Side streets with cafes, bars, and restaurants are abundant. While the Lithuanian language is predominant, English is very widely spoken and understood, especially with people under the age of 45.In July the daylight is plentiful. This image was taken at 10 PM.Hotel Pacai was my home for 5 nights. It is fabulous. Restored to preserve and expose its architectural significance. The building was originally a baroque manor house dating back to 1677. A child’s drawing of the 1991 revolution where Lithuania fought and won its independence from Russia. In this depiction you can see the Russian tanks driving over people to attack the television tower. Made even more sad, considering too that its artist was only 10 years old.The river running through on your walk to Uzupis. Uzupis is a neighborhood in Vilnius’ old town. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This district mainly attracts the large art community that thrives here. It has been compared to Freetown in Copenhagen, due to its laissez-faire and bohemian atmosphere. In 1997 the district declared itself an independent republic, with its own constitution.View to the other side of the bridge on the walk to Uzupis..Outdoor sculptures abound in Uzupis.The angel of UzupisAbout a 40 minute drive from Vilius you can find Trakai Castle. This was built in the 14th century. It is considered a masterpiece in defensive medieval architecture. Many films have been partially filmed on location here.The castle’s draw bridge is as medieval as it gets here.View from inside the castle.
After a 5 night visit to Vilnius, I will head west across the country to the little resort town of Nida, located on the UNESCO designated island of Neringa, on the Baltic Sea. See you there.
Instead of flying back to the States this time, and since I had the time, I decided to sail back on the Seabourn Pursuit. The Newly built Pursuit is specifically designed as an expedition ship. It was coming to Lisbon from its construction shipyard in Genoa, Italy and being re-positioned to Antarctica. I decided to check it out for a possible future expedition. It has only 120 guest suites, 24 Zodiacs for exploration, two small submarines, and amazing high-tech capabilities. So, with only a one day stop in Madeira, then non-stop to Florida the entire voyage would take only 12 days. As a not so incidental benefit of this choice of transportation, not only would I gain an hour of sleep every other night going across the Atlantic, but I would suffer no jet lag when I got to my final destination in the States.
This is the vessel, The Seabourn Pursuit, before its maiden voyage across the Atlantic. I was not at all worried that it would end like the Titanic’s maiden voyage across the Atlantic. Just completed in Genoa, Italy in July, it is a Class 4 icebreaker expedition ship. These are the two dozen Zodiacs on board for deployment in most of the destinations to be explored and observed.The Captain’s bridge is high-tech and state of the art. The ship is equipped with stabilizers, amongst many other features.Another bridge perspectiveLooking out the side from the bridge. Along with all the exterior cameras, this allows a live actual view all the way down the starboard side from the bridge.One of the two on board submarines. A bit like Jules Verne.Another pic of the sub. Each sub holds three passengers in the front globe area and three in the rear globe area. The pilot’s seat is in the middle. The entry point is the opened hatch on top.View from inside the sub deployed in the water. These three passenger seats all swivel 360 degrees. With all the viewing polymer-like glass it doesn’t feel as claustrophobic as you might think. By next year the Titan’s implosion in 2023 will be a distant memory for some people. However, that event was not a positive for tiny submarines anywhere. The beautiful Madeira coastline. Here’s another place I could spend a ton of time. The population is a very manageable 250,000. The climate is temperate all year long as a result of being located in the Gulf Stream. Leaving the Island of Madeira bound for the States. From here it’s 10 days until we see any land.Chef’s market dinner after shopping in Madeira today. Great seafood and ahi, along with many island fruits and vegetables.Infinity pool at the rear of the ship. Not pictured is the adjacent and always necessary pool bar and grill. My view from in the pool looking forward at the ship. My view off the back from the pool. Nothing but water for a couple of thousand miles. It’s a very good feeling for me. My location somewhere in the Atlantic between Africa and The Americas on our way to the states.Beautiful sunset during cocktail time. What’s not to like here? So much prettier than flying back at 36,000 feet. And again, if you have the time, there’s nothing better than the “old-world” of traveling by ship. It puts my life into slow motion, which is a nice departure from what has become normal.
