Exploring on the Explorer. Lautoka, Fiji to Broome, Australia

[highplanesdrifters]

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Dei Dei Hot Springs, Ferguson Island.    Papua New Guinea 

 

Fergusson is one of the three biggest and mountainous islands in the Milne Bay Province and part of the D’Entrecasteaux Islands. On Fergusson’s south side are the famous Dei Dei geysers — natural hot springs that periodically erupt with vapour steam next to mud pools and a warm stream. The hot springs are still used by locals to cook food in palm frond and pandanus leaf baskets placed into the boiling hot water. Birds in the area include Eclectus Parrots Yellow-bellied Sunbirds and the endemic Curl-crested Manucode – a bird-of-paradise.

 

[highplanesdrifters]

For my peeps.

You know who you are!

Finally getting my sea drinking legs.

 

[lincslady]

That would be a fabulous advert for the gin.  Lovely blue photo.

 

Lola

[mysty]

3 hours ago, lincslady said:

That would be a fabulous advert for the gin.  Lovely blue photo.

 

Lola

 

4 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

For my peeps.

You know who you are!

Finally getting my sea drinking legs.

 

 

Echoing Lola's brilliant suggestion!  Beautiful presentation High!  🥰

[TLCOhio]

8 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

UP NEXT  Dei Dei Hot Springs, Ferguson Island.    Papua New Guinea 

Fergusson is one of the three biggest and mountainous islands in the Milne Bay Province and part of the D’Entrecasteaux Islands. On Fergusson’s south side are the famous Dei Dei geysers — natural hot springs that periodically erupt with vapour steam next to mud pools and a warm stream. The hot springs are still used by locals to cook food in palm frond and pandanus leaf baskets placed into the boiling hot water. Birds in the area include Eclectus Parrots Yellow-bellied Sunbirds and the endemic Curl-crested Manucode – a bird-of-paradise.

 

Any pictures of the geysers, birds, etc.???   Inquiring minds are always asking for more fun and interesting visuals.  Just like you did with the Blue Turtle!!

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[highplanesdrifters]

@TLCOhio

So sorry Terry, no hot springs for us. What started out as a light drizzle as we boarded the zodiacs turned into steady rain by the time we reached shore.  The entire zodiac in front of us went back to the ship. Faced with a 2 hour muddy slog to the hot springs we opted out. A quick lap around the village and back to dry clothes.

 

 

I did a rain dance for this crowd which brought out roars of laughter. Hey, I'm easily amused.

 

The village put some effort into a lovely welcome area.

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

BIRDS

We are fortunate to have the famous Peter Harrison of Apex on board. He is the preeminent sea bird expert. Any who have traveled with him are captivated by his stories and  seduced by his enthusiasm and knowledge. It makes me want to be a birder. New Guinea is the birding hot spot these days. Some of the rarest birds can be spotted here. Some new to science, and some thought to be extinct.  Becks petrel being one of them. Imagine after 70 years it just makes an appearance and stuns the birding world. 

@TLCOhio

Photos of birds, again Terry, so sorry to disappoint. The birds are here but not in large numbers and often difficult to spot, at least for me. 😃 Many appear at a distance out at sea or a shadow at the top of the canopy. A cell phone camera and Go Pro are not enough to accomplish that mission. But I'll keep trying.

 

Peter giving a lecture and telling the story about a Becks Petrel which was found under a life boat on one of his expeditions looking for Becks Petrel.

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

UP NEXT...or is it?

 

Dobu is a small island in the D’Entrecasteaux Group next to Fergusson Island and Normanby Island. The island was formerly feared because of black magic and the local “witch” doctors cursing the healthy or treating the sick. An anthropological study was done by Reo Fortune in the 1930s which resulted in the book “The Island of Sorcerers”. The island is also part of the famous Kula ring. Participants in the exchange system pride themselves with mwali and soulava (armbands and necklaces) that are given and received still today and it is interesting to see how the traditional objects have been adorned with modern paraphernalia. A stroll through the main village on the northwestern tip will show the school and church and trails leading along the shore passing traditionally thatched houses and gardens.

 

We are meant to have a top notch snorkel this afternoon. But......

 

Stay tuned.

[highplanesdrifters]

Dobu Island, Papua New Guinea 

 

We have liftoff. A quick village visit which we now call SDS - Song, Dance, and Souvenirs.   Then off to the snorkel platform in the pouring rain.  In spite of the less than ideal light we had a great time. Lots of wild and wonderful.

 

The welcome committee. 

 

Almost looks like a posh eco resort.

 

Song and dance. This guy must be a bit of a legend. Ladies were packed in and lots of cat calls when he made his moves.

 

Important tribal pieces on display. 

 

Chef Pias competition. 

 

Into the abyss.

 

The Wild and Wonderful. 

 

 

 

Blue buddies and just 4 arms.

 

 

We counted at least 5 different types of Anemone and Clown Fish.

 The Anemone is the white cluster just below the Clown. Just like a Queen Annes Lace.

 

A hidden star

 

This slug was 3 feet long. Crazy cool.

 

 

 

[jpalbny]

Glad you could get ashore and visit - and thanks for the great snorkel pictures! Makes me want to get an anemone for our tank so the clown fish can enjoy its company.

[highplanesdrifters]

18 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Glad you could get ashore and visit - and thanks for the great snorkel pictures! Makes me want to get an anemone for our tank so the clown fish can enjoy its company.

Nemo in a tank! Very jealous. Pics?

 

A few more of the Anemone. Not the best pics. But variety 

 

This light olive green was 5 feet across.  Hope you have a big tank!

 

 

[TLCOhio]

18 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Glad you could get ashore and visit - and thanks for the great snorkel pictures! Makes me want to get an anemone for our tank so the clown fish can enjoy its company.

 

YES!!  Nice and colorful underwater visuals.  Sorry on the rain and other challenges.   Sound like a nice bird expert on-board and speaking.  Too bad that the bird wildlife has been limited.  That has kind of been our experience in many travel areas, such as the Amazon River, that you are not able to see as many of these creatures as desired.  Trees at a distance do hide many birds, etc.  

 

Keep plugging along, sharing and enjoying.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[highplanesdrifters]

 

Samurai Island, Puapa New Guinea 

 

A tiny island off PNGs southeastern peninsula.  A famous trading port destroyed in WWII. Once the Capital of the Province. In 1968 due to overcrowding the administration and most residents were moved to Alotau.  Now a bit of an eerie ghost town. 

 

We had 10 minutes before the skies opened up and began the daylong deluge. We didn't have the energy to snorkel although we heard it was quite interesting along the abandoned jetty. Even the dancers were a no show. I don't blame them.

 

It was an utterly fascinating day, albiet a short and very wet one. 

 

This summed up the day. Waiting for the zodiac. 

 

 

Vestiges of the past, empty warehouses and abandoned roads.

Blasting from somewhere in the distance was Dolly Parton singing Islands in the Stream. How very bizarre.

NO CREDIT!

 

Trinket examples. Most shells are a no no as Australia customs are very strict. Even many of the wood carvings are subject to confiscation do to the possible invasive species inhabitants. 

 

 

Lemme tell ya about that hot shower.😃

 

[highplanesdrifters]

WITCH HUNT

The things you learn when you travel.😳

 

Sorcery killings have been occurring in Papua New Guinea for centuries. For a period of time, their law even legalized the killings. In 1971, the Papua New Guinea government passed the Sorcery Act. This law made sorcery an illegal and criminalized act. It also made sorcery a legal defense when it came to murder trials. The act affirmed that magic is a real, plausible belief in their culture, which can be punishable by death.

Between 1980 and 2012, sorcery killings resulted in only 19 charges of murders or willful murders. Then in 2013, the Sorcery Act was repealed (the part about sorcery as an acceptable murder defense). Witchcraft practitioners were (and are) still imposed with the death penalty — although, there have been no executions since 1954.

 

Great article if you want to go down the rabbit hole.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/473550/sorcery-violence-and-the-struggle-for-development-in-the-pacific

 

[highplanesdrifters]

@TLCOhio

Here ya go Terry. 

We had a show all afternoon outside our window from these red footed boobies. Word is they were hunting flying fish.

 

 

 

Here's an immature taken a few years ago at Bird Island, Tikehau Tahiti

 

 

 

[lincslady]

They're gorgeous  - but do they have blue beaks and red feet?  Hard to imagine.  Or maybe two varieties, the reds and the blues?  Like Liverpool and Everton.

 

I know, I could look it up, but more fun to get an answer on here.

 

Lola

[highplanesdrifters]

13 hours ago, lincslady said:

They're gorgeous  - but do they have blue beaks and red feet?  Hard to imagine.  Or maybe two varieties, the reds and the blues?  Like Liverpool and Everton.

 

I know, I could look it up, but more fun to get an answer on here.

 

Lola

Red feet, blue beaks.  Quite the flying aerobatic squadron. 😃

[highplanesdrifters]

UP NEXT

Cairns, Australia 

 

Warmly welcoming you to the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a treasure trove of rich tropical beauty and incredible sea life. Swathes of rainforest spread out to the north, where you can soar over the canopy in a cable car, before looking down over narrow channels of water plummeting down gorges and crocodile-filled waterways. The diverse lands of the Atherton Tableland lie to the west, but it's the crystal-clear waters - and life-filled reefs - of Cairns' remarkable underwater world that draws universal adulation. Priding itself as the Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, explore Cairns' constellation of colour, as you dive into the world's largest and most spectacular underwater universe. Cairns is huddled in amongst abundant swathes of rainforests, which give way to glorious crescents of golden beach. Kuranda - with its scenic railway and heritage market stalls - waits to be discovered, cloaked within the depths of the rainforest. Learn of the indigenous people of North Queensland during cultural performances, and hear the throaty reverberations of digeridoos, as you hear eternal stories handed down through time, from generation to generation. Back in Cairns, there's always time for a coffee or a beer, or a feast on fresh oysters with glasses of Cairns' white wines - boldly flavoured with mango and banana notes.

[TLCOhio]

On 5/12/2023 at 3:30 AM, highplanesdrifters said:

@TLCOhio

Here ya go Terry. We had a show all afternoon outside our window from these red footed boobies. Word is they were hunting flying fish.

 

Appreciate your "Eagle Eyes" and sending this bird visuals and the video.  Fun and interesting.  Just the name of "red footed boobies" sounds very exotic!!

 

Now that you are in Cairns and Australia, your mention of the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, the Kuranda Rail adventure, their scenic beaches, etc., brings back excellent memories from when we visited there in early 2014.

 

Keep up the great sharing, visuals, etc.  Good luck with the weather.   

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights.  On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings.  Now at 243,080 views.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

[MrsWaldo]

Hope the wind has dropped a bit.  

 

Lots of outer reef things on hold a few days ago, or just very unpleasant.  Water was far from crystal clear.

 

Personally, I think the blurb has really oversold the area...

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Cairns, Australia

 

Lovely little tourist town. Jumping off point for the Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest.  Having seen a lot of rainforest lately we took a pass on the excursion and explored the town.  

 

The day started out quite soggy but we donned our brellys and headed out to explore. The ship is docked in town and you spill out on to a well designed esplanade. 

 

It is lined with art, restaurants,  shopping mall, and synthetic beach. 

 

 

I want to take these home!

 

Ducking out of the rain we hit the Cairns museum.  Great history lesson. getting hungry.

 

Tha Fish - DENIED😬

The ships internet blocked their web site so we could not make a rez. Arrived when it opened only to find it booked.  Very popular with large groups.

 

Don't worry, our stop loss next door was delicious pizza.

 

The ship was undergoing a massive inspection and hull scraping.  Silversea set up a way station at a nearby hotel and we grabbed a nap by the pool.  Refreshed off we went again.  The rain had cleared, humidity gone.  Just Heavenly!

 

 

 

Silversea also offered dinner off the ship as kitchens were not set up yet.  After our big lunch we chose something simpler.  A massive brew pub next to the ship called Hemingways. A hip and groovy place. They let us in anyway.😃

 

 

Edited May 13, 2023 by highplanesdrifters

[highplanesdrifters]

28 minutes ago, MrsWaldo said:

Hope the wind has dropped a bit.  

 

Lots of outer reef things on hold a few days ago, or just very unpleasant.  Water was far from crystal clear.

 

Personally, I think the blurb has really oversold the area...

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your kind wishes! We had a nice day in Cairns. But I can see how one could run out of things to do if not focused on the reef.  We did think of going on the jet ski crocodile tour but ran out of time. 😃

 

Thinks were still rocking and rolling last night. Cabin contents flying around, including us. 🫨 Except for being docked at Cairns its been this way for the past few days. Lots of sea sick passengers.  Things have calmed a bit this a.m., we have a following sea. Our briefing for this afternoons Ribbon Reef snorkel starts shortly. Stay tuned!😃

[highplanesdrifters]

8 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights.  On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings.  Now at 243,080 views.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

For those that haven't read Terry's post, do so!  He does a much better job than I do!

[MrsWaldo]

35 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Thanks for your kind wishes! We had a nice day in Cairns. But I can see how one could run out of things to do if not focused on the reef.  We did think of going on the jet ski crocodile tour but ran out of time. 😃

 

Thinks were still rocking and rolling last night. Cabin contents flying around, including us. 🫨 Except for being docked at Cairns it’s been this way for the past few days. Lots of sea sick passengers.  Things have calmed a bit this a.m., we have a following sea. Our briefing for this afternoons Ribbon Reef snorkel starts shortly. Stay tuned!😃

I do wonder how many takers they get for the crocodile jet ski tours.  More to the point, how anyone hasn’t been taken.

 

it will be interesting to hear how the reef is.  The area you are in was wiped by a cyclone a few years back then coral bleaching slowed recovery.  I didn’t get out there last November due to a huge storm wiping out the day cruise boat the day before I arrived.  The fringing reef on the nearby island has recovered spectacularly.

 

No name reef and dynamite have always been my favourites 

 

Large groups may have been because it is Mothers Day Weekend here.

 

 

Edited May 13, 2023 by MrsWaldo

[highplanesdrifters]

1 hour ago, MrsWaldo said:

I do wonder how many takers they get for the crocodile jet ski tours.  More to the point, how anyone hasn’t been taken.

 

it will be interesting to hear how the reef is.  The area you are in was wiped by a cyclone a few years back then coral bleaching slowed recovery.  I didn’t get out there last November due to a huge storm wiping out the day cruise boat the day before I arrived.  The fringing reef on the nearby island has recovered spectacularly.

 

No name reef and dynamite have always been my favourites 

 

Large groups may have been because it is Mothers Day Weekend here.

 

 

I envy your familiarity with these spectacular reefs.  If you have any pics feel free to post.  I'm sure everyone would love to see them.

 

We are now circling Ribbons Reef in hope that the winds die down.  Chances of that happening are slim and none.  So...Sea Day it is.🫤