Come sail with me on a virtual cruise on Majestic Princess to Fiji!

[ellie1145]

Happy 25th Anniversary Azbirdmom! 🥂

 

Congratulations to you both. Hope you had a delicious dinner in Bistro Sur Mer.

 

We will be waiting for you in Crooner’s to have a celebratory drink!

 

But before that, we finish dinner and make our way to the theatre, and get a good seat, near the back and easy to get out of in case we don’t enjoy it. 😉

 

But the music is good and we love Motown, so we don’t do a runner.

 

We missed the Liar’s Game Show, which is usually very funny, but as we walk back from the theatre we hear Rudi playing in Crooners, and can’t resist sitting down and listening to him. Last time we were there my DH asked for a specific song to be played, and he promised to do that next time we came in. And guess what, as we walk in Rudi says, “I’ll play your song now” and promptly does. What an amazing memory he has. 

 

We feel sorry for him being in this venue. It’s not like the other Crooners, it’s too much of a thoroughfare, and so many people walk out of the theatre in noisy groups and simply walk past, ignoring him and his audience. There are so few people listening to him as well, and he is such a great entertainer. He deserves better. 

 

Of course, we enjoy toasting Azbirdmom and her husband on 25 years of marriage. It’s a great achievement these days. We have recently (July) celebrated 47 years. As my DH says, even a murderer would get time off for good behaviour! But we feel ourselves very blessed to have had those years together. 

Edited July 25, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

48 minutes ago, rmf11699 said:

I just realized something and had to go back to the beginning of your cruise pictures to double check, the ship is empty! Did you have to take pictures at 4 am to get images of empty venues, pools, bars and dining areas? Was the ship full?

 

No, there was only Azbirdmom and us, rmf11699.....🤣

 

And I set my alarm at 4.00 am every morning (not!). I think it was just luck actually.

 

Seriously, I often photographed the ship in port when everyone else had got off, or at night when the ship was quiet, but in fact, the ship seems very well designed, and people dissipate.

 

The Hollywood Pool, of course, was specially reserved for my private use by the Captain, hence the empty pool....and if you believe that....☺️

[ellie1145]

1 hour ago, rmf11699 said:

I just realized something and had to go back to the beginning of your cruise pictures to double check, the ship is empty! Did you have to take pictures at 4 am to get images of empty venues, pools, bars and dining areas? Was the ship full?

 

Just for you, rmf11699!  The Hollywood Pool with people. Obviously this is during the day, before the Captain ensures it is reserved for my own private use....

 

[ellie1145]

The Day is Nearly Over..

 

It’s time for our nighttime cup of de caffeinated tea in the Buffet, and a cookie if there is one left, before we wend our weary way back to our cabin. 

 

Tomorrow is a day I’ve been looking forward to, ever since we visited in 2018. It’s Dravuni, that tiny magical island. We wonder how it’s changed over that time. 

 

So we’re off to bed, as we hope to have a lovely day tomorrow. We just hope the wind has died down and we are able to tender. 

 

Goodnight, sleep tight, see you in the morning Cruising Adventurers! 

[ellie1145]

Dravuni 

 

                             🎶  Oh, think twice,

                            It’s just another day for you

                            You and me in paradise.🎶

 

 

 

After some pretty rough weather yesterday, with heavy rain showers and strong winds, it’s a cloudy start to the day as we approach Dravuni. The pilot is taken onboard just before 06.30 and the anchor is dropped at 07.12. Today the anchor cable was 7 shackles long, and as I now know what a shackle is, I can tell you that this is a length of 192.5m. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

 

The temperature today is going to be 27 C (81 F) and overcast at times.

 

Of all the places we have visited over nearly 53 years of cruising, Dravuni has a special place in my heart. We visited it on the same cruise in January, 2018, and it overwhelmed me with its unspoilt beaches and friendly people.

 

Situated far out in the Pacific Ocean, it is a tiny volcanic island, just 0.3sq  miles, with around 125 inhabitants, and we were greeted with warmth last time we landed. There was no electricity, and no souvenirs and people lived a really simple life. It was truly unspoilt, and we spent a wonderful day visiting the school, talking to the islanders, and swimming in the crystal clear waters.

 

We wonder what it will be like this time. Will civilisation have caught up with this little bit of paradise.

 

Anyone recognise the song?

 

[RLK33853]

3 hours ago, ellie1145 said:

 

How did you get to the island RLK33853? I presume you had to get a ferry boat of some sort? How long did it take? 

 

It sounds like a really nice place to visit. Thank you for letting us know about it. 

 

Right - there is a ferry but I'm guessing you can actually swim over if you really wanted to.  As to distance, it is pretty close, guessing 700 meters??????

 

I can't say for certain but I'm pretty sure that the ferry  was included in the price of using the beach.  Again I can't remember the price to use the island but it was pretty cheap. 

 

Ray

[rmf11699]

43 minutes ago, ellie1145 said:

Anyone recognise the song?

 

Yes, from your British pal Phil Collins

[ellie1145]

33 minutes ago, rmf11699 said:

Yes, from your British pal Phil Collins

Absolutely correct! 👍

[rmf11699]

14 minutes ago, ellie1145 said:

Absolutely correct! 👍

And not to be confused with your other British pal Phil Collen of Def Leppard!

[ellie1145]

 Our first glimpse of Dravuni

 

 

I stand on our balcony as the ship sails quietly and gently towards the island, which we can see on the horizon. 

 

 

 

 

The sun is not yet fully up so it’s a little cloudy, but we soon see the heavily wooded coastline, and sandy beaches of several islands, as we slowly approach Dravuni. You can walk from one end of the island to the other in about 20 minutes, and there is a wonderful viewpoint from the top of a the cliff if you have the energy to climb it.

 

The little tenders are already in the water and are busy manoeuvering into place to start ferrying eager guests to the island.

 

 

 

 

We have time to go to the buffet for breakfast, before collecting our beach things and making our way to the tenders via the Harmony Restaurant. Majestic Princess must anchor offshore so the tenders will be in constant use today, starting at 07.30 am. We decide to wait until the main rush is over before we head across to the island.  

 

 

 

Thanks to our Elite status (‘Clear the way, we’re Elites!’) we are soon on a tender and speeding towards the island. Actually, I’d better confess that we stayed to do the Early Morning Trivia before leaving the ship, and we didn’t have to queue at all as they were no longer giving out tender tickets.

 

Oh, and we won the trivia, too!

Edited July 25, 2020 by ellie1145

[cnd crsr]

It looks like it will be a beautiful day for Dravuni! The wind has died down and perfect temperature for exploring. I can hardly wait to get started...

 

Marlin and Dory took the East Australian current to get to Aistralia.

 

A tightrope walker is called afunambulist.

[ellie1145]

3 minutes ago, cnd crsr said:

It looks like it will be a beautiful day for Dravuni! The wind has died down and perfect temperature for exploring. I can hardly wait to get started...

 

Marlin and Dory took the East Australian current to get to Aistralia.

 

A tightrope walker is called afunambulist.

 

You're on a roll crsr! 👍

 

Two correct answers! Woo hoo!

[ellie1145]

6 minutes ago, cnd crsr said:

It looks like it will be a beautiful day for Dravuni! The wind has died down and perfect temperature for exploring. I can hardly wait to get started...

 

Marlin and Dory took the East Australian current to get to Aistralia.

 

A tightrope walker is called afunambulist.

 

You are so right, it's going to be a lovely day, the sun is peeping through the clouds, it's warming up and we are ready to go! 

[ellie1145]

Bula!

 

Since our last visit there is a restored jetty, and we tie up and disembark.

 

 

 

There is a beach to the left, and in front of us a path leads into the village where we see the school.

 

 

 

 

We have brought felt tip pens and colouring pencils for the children so we decide to visit the school first.   

[azbirdmom]

5 hours ago, ellie1145 said:

Happy 25th Anniversary, by the way. Do pop into Crooners so we can have a celebratory drink with you and the rest of the Cruising Adventurers, won’t you? 🥂🍾🎉

 

Do you have any photos of your anniversary dinner?

 

Thank you!  We were too tired for Crooners after our long but wonderful day ashore in Vanuatu and our yummy dinner so hopefully we can take a rain check on that celebratory drink.  Here are two photos that I took of my lobster bisque, the other food photos have us in them so I shall remain incognito.

 

[ellie1145]

A Warm Welcome Awaits us on Dravuni

 

 

 

 

Dravuni Primary School was established in 2002, and is accommodated in a long low building with a verandah along the front, with colourful plants and flowers in well tended beds.

 

 

 

As an Infant teacher myself, its fascinating to see how these islanders manage with so little modern equipment, and so the school is particularly interesting to us.

 

 

 

There is a big playing field outside the huts and the whole is fenced.

 

On the fence is a large notice saying ‘Bula! All welcome in School!’

 

 

There is another notice offering Wi-Fi for $10, which is a bit of a shock. civilisation has, indeed, arrived here.

[ellie1145]

28 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

Thank you!  We were too tired for Crooners after our long but wonderful day ashore in Vanuatu and our yummy dinner so hopefully we can take a rain check on that celebratory drink.  Here are two photos that I took of my lobster bisque, the other food photos have us in them so I shall remain incognito.

 

No worries, Azbirdmom. Tomorrow is another day. 

 

Glad you had a lovely celebratory meal. 

[ellie1145]

Inside the School

 

 

 

 

Inside, there is one large room which accommodates two classes, and which can be partitioned off. 

 

 

 

There are several visitors there already and we make our way to some chairs which have been set up for us to watch the children singing and dancing.

 

 

 

 

Some wear grass skirts, all are barefoot, and there are a couple of teachers overseeing the performance.

 

 

The children are smiling and friendly and sing exuberantly to us.

[ellie1145]

What the Children Learn

 

 

 

It is fascinating to see how much of the teaching is in English. There are displays all around the room and we spend time reading everything, and absorbing the atmosphere of this most isolated school.

 

 

We are able to look around and I note the display of Weekly Virtues on the wall - kindness and caring, good honest hard work, honesty, forgiveness and gratitude, tolerance and responsibility. What wonderful values to instil in these young people.

 

The Book Corner - I think about the book corners in my school, where there are dozens of books, a carpet to sit on, and bean bags to relax on while they read. These children have so little in comparison.

 

 

There is children’s work on the walls and I love to read the school’s Mission Statement, and Occupational Health and Safety Tips.

 

 

 

I particularly like ‘Keep away from breadfruit trees’ and ‘Obey your teachers and observe school rules at all times!’ The latter seems very relevant to all children everywhere today! It’s interesting that even here, Health and Safety is important.

 

 

On one wall is a notice which catches my eye, and is particularly inspiring, as  it’s about being a special teacher:

 

‘If you are convinced that lessons are appealing

And do your best to help each student learn

If you can give and give and keep on feeling

That their success rewards you in return

If you believe there is no greater pleasure than doing just exactly what you do

Then you are a student’s lifelong treasure

A teacher who is special through and through.’

 

What a wonderful description of what a teacher should be.

 

A Phonics Display.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 25, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

Time for bed, said Zebedee....

 

Now I wonder if any UK Cruising Adventurers recognise where that quote comes from?

 

But I’m afraid you will have to wait to visit the Kindergarten and to see the beautiful beach. There will be time to swim, and time to explore and time to relax, I promise.

 

So goodnight, sleep tight, see you in the morning (or in the evening if you are in Oz). 

[ellie1145]

9 hours ago, ellie1145 said:

3.  What is the name of Quint’s boat in ‘Jaws?’

4.  What is the chemical symbol for tungsten?

 

PS. There are still 2 questions for you to answer......🤔

[TeaBag]

2 hours ago, ellie1145 said:

 

PS. There are still 2 questions for you to answer......🤔

Orca and W (chemistry was a fav subject of mine)

Your tour of the school was wonderful Ellie.  How kind of you to bring art supplies for them.  I'm sure they were thrilled.  I loved the printed signs.  Whoever did those has a gift for printing.

 

[ellie1145]

8 hours ago, TeaBag said:

Orca and W (chemistry was a fav subject of mine)

Your tour of the school was wonderful Ellie.  How kind of you to bring art supplies for them.  I'm sure they were thrilled.  I loved the printed signs.  Whoever did those has a gift for printing.

 

 

Well done, Teabag! 👏

 

It was an honour to share even part of the day with these beautiful children. So glad you enjoyed the tour. Today we will visit the Kindergarten.

 

Those posters really resonated with me, particularly because they would have been hand drawn and written, no photocopiers or printers , just good old fashioned signs, made by the teachers. Reminded me so much of how teaching used to be, when teachers had to be truly creative - and we were! 

 

Now there are so many resources available to download and print from the internet that all schools look the same, they have the same posters and labels, all done for them. It has crippled individual creativity and replaced it with copying.

Edited July 26, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

Well done to all the trivia buffs who got the answers correct!

 

As usual, your prizes will be speeding their way to you via Amazon (the river, of course!).

 

You really cannot have too many super powered, mini, collapsible, Vortex vacuum cleaners, small enough to fit in your handbag or pocket, now can you?

 

[winifred]

ellie,  “ Time for bed “is from the Magic roundabout with the springing zebedeee! What an amazing day and what an amazing school.  I love the teacher  posters, this one is so very true!  

Edited July 26, 2020 by winifred