Journey to the Ring of Fire

[Flamin_June]

Hail Stams

In fact I returned early last week but there was no one in.

Here is a pic of everyone's favourite ship named Sojourn at anchor in Banda Harbour.

Isn't it great, this new format where one can actualy post pictures with ease?

Have several more snapshots, but all this is yesterday's news. I fear.

 

In fact we enjoyed - no - loved - this cruise so much that we are off on another in a couple of weeks. This is completely unprecedented for us, two cruises in a year, within 6 months of one another. Financially uncharted waters and likely to bring us close to penury. In fact I had to raid Mrs June's hip replacement fund in order to finance it. But it's another unusual itinerary, calling at The Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, so an opportunity not to be missed.

 

[Fletcher]

9 hours ago, Flamin_June said:

we are off on another in a couple of weeks. This is completely unprecedented for us, two cruises in a year, within 6 months of one another. Financially uncharted waters and likely to bring us close to penury. In fact I had to raid Mrs June's hip replacement fund in order to finance it. But it's another unusual itinerary, calling at The Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, so an opportunity not to be missed.

 

 

 I've done this route a couple of times, sailing up from Auckland on expedition ships.  Which ship are you on, Flamin June?

Edited October 26, 2018 by Fletcher

[Flamin_June]

Hello Fletcher

It's Sojourn again. Out of Auckland - New Caledonia (Ile des Pins; Mare) - Vanuatu (Luganville; Ureparapara) - Solomon Islands (Tavanipupu; Guadalcanal) - Papua New Guinea (Alotau) - Trobriand Islands (Kitava) - Conflict Islands - and then down the east coast of Australia (Cairns, Townsville, Fraser Island, Sydney).

Lots of reefs, snorkeling and white sand beaches, but paricularly thrilled to be visiting the Trobriands as I read quite a bit of Malinowski as a student.

Visiting some Pacific Islands has long been on our bucket list, and this itinerary is a bit special - it was a kind of 'now or never' decision. Not very difficult to make. Getting to Auckland in the first place is the daunting part though.

Edited October 26, 2018 by Flamin_June

[Fletcher]

That's a great itinerary, Flamin June, covering a vast amount of ground and ocean.  A smaller ship like the ones we went on - Orion and Caledonian Sky - would have enabled you to see much remoter communities, such as Norfolk Island and especially in the Solomons and PNG, though seeing the Trobriands is a great plus.  I adore this part of the world, so much less touristy than French Polynesia.  I rate the Isle of Pines as the most beautiful tropical island I've ever seen and I've now been there three times. There is some world class snorkelling off PNG and Solomons beaches.  When you are in Guadalcanal, I'm sure you will visit the hugely impressive and deeply moving US war memorial - the best of its kind I have ever seen anywhere.  (Photo below).  Have a fabulous trip and send us all a lot of reports.

 

[Flamin_June]

Thanks Fletcher

I expect there will be a few reports, though I'm conscious I've yet to finish this one.....

 

[Flamin_June]

so....

getting the tender ready, early morning, Palopo, Sulawesi.

 

 

The bustling jetty, later that day

our cycle=rickshaw convey sets off for town

 

 

with our motorcycle-cop escort

 

the dried fish section of the market

 

the fresh fish section

The fishing village

 

Fishing village children

 

 

[Flamin_June]

and....

 

approaching Banda harbour in the early morning

 

At Anchor: view from the Colonnade at breakfast

 

 

our neighbours

 

morning rush-hour traffic

 

 

shoreside: local industry

 

the  high street

 

our trusty cycle-rickshaw drivers

 

 

Sojourn passenger's chilling out in the foreground, Sojourn crew chilling out in the background

 

 

charming Dutch Colonial architecture

 

bye bye Banda

 

just can't get the hang of this autofocus

 

 

[Flamin_June]

also....

The welcoming ceremony at Ambon

That is the mayor giving a speech

 

There was also a gamelam band, dancing girls, and an Indonesean Country & Western band which seranaded the ship  over the length of the whole day. Spot the impatient passenger who clearly has an agenda for the morning  but can't get through the terminal while the civilities go on.... and on....

 

Captain Tim had to give a speech too..... We were the second cruise ship to have ever called there - clearly a hugely important event for the whole community

 

 

[Flamin_June]

Ambon from the ship. We arranged a local car and driver at the terminal to drive us to the museum, where we had a virtualy private tour. The gallery with ethnic/ritual objects, a short walk away from the main building, was small, but hugely interesting, and our (free-of-charge) guide proved to be charming, informative and willing to open up on a variety of cultural and social topics. She was surprised that we wanted to see the gallery - perhaps it is not that popular with the few western tourists/travellers who pitch up there. We gave a her a $15 tip and she was overwhelmed with astonishment and, I have to assume, delight. The museum is set in tranquil, shady gardens somewhere on the slopes you can see in the distance, with views down to a quiet bay; further on there is some good snorkeling, according to fellow passengers. I left my camera behind on the ship, so that's more or less all there is of Ambon.

 

Ternate: view from our veranda. That is the cone of a fairly active volcano shrouded by the clouds

 

A somewhat more appealing view towards the stern. We got another car and driver at the terminal and went to a delightful bay about 35 minutes drive away. Took the camera but left it in the rucksack most of the time as too busy taking it all in to bother with taking snaps.

 

Sailing away from the spice islands and into the Doldrums

 

[Flamin_June]

and finally.....

 

street food in Puerto Princesa - we had the spring rolls and calamari on the far right - delicious. Avoided the chicken entrails on the far left.

 

Going snorkeling , Coron

 

 

Our trusty cycle-rickshaw driver in Manila. I did not fully understand the meaning of 'white-knuckle ride' until we diced with death in the afternoon traffic there. "Don't worry," he gasped, pedalling furiously down the middle lane with two 16-wheelers thundering along either side of us, "been doing this for 15 years and still alive!".

 

The view from our veranda in Manila. In total contrast to......

 

The view from our veranda at 100 Islands. The local pilot, I believe

 

That's All, Folks

Edited October 31, 2018 by Flamin_June