Moorea, French Polynesia

Video of Opunohu Bay and Cook's Bay, Mt. Rotui,
surrounding peaks and the valleys below as seen from Belvedere

Moorea, French Polynesia

January 29, 2011
Daytime

Greeted by French speaking Polynesians in native dance costume

Chill out in Moorea

Opunohu Bay (Tahiti in background)

 

Overwater bungalows at Intercontinental Moorea

You can go anywhere from here...

Two Tahitian Woman, 1899

Paul Gauguin

Tahitian black pearls

Mt. Tohiea, Moorea's tallest peak, reaching 3,960 feet

Overwater bungalows at Sofitel Moorea

South Seas island charm with a relatively slow-paced life (view of Tahiti)

For less photo/more text see Alan's blog at:  http://firstworldcruise.blogspot.com/

Pacific Ocean ~ 1800 miles from Moorea, French Polynesia

January 27, 2011
Midnight

Out at Sea

Using the words from a friend in which to begin the entry:

Without moorings for which to refresh the
imagination of my spirit, I am free to dream.

Today I find myself, figuratively and literally, out to sea,
for months sailing on my ship guided only by the stars into my unknown turquoise kingdom under the waves.  

Like early explorers, I don't know what stormy ride and adventures lay ahead but I navigate and stay the course 

through any mist of fear and confusion, 

as a necessity of revealing the mystical realm
of this Queen of the Sea.

Free to be me, I am self-born.  Outwardly,
like the vast sea, nothing appears to change
but inwardly everything is in a state of flux,
cleansing my heart, spirit and soul.  So I
continue on this grand voyage called life
and plunge deeper and deeper
into my world to be all I can be.

The sea, a catalyst for my continued search for truth,
beckons.  Without moorings for which to refresh the
imagination of my spirit, I am free to dream.

~ B

Pacific Ocean ~ 2300 miles from Moorea, French Polynesia

January 25, 2011
5:30 AM

Moon rise steers our way toward French Polynesia 

Hawaiian Islands

January 19 - 22, 2011
9:00 AM

After so long a journey from San Francisco to Hawaii,

I was greeted by these faces of purity.   

Long live the aloha spirit.

 

Lunch with shipmates at the 'Iolani Palace, the official residence of King Kalākaua and Queen Lili'uokalani, who were the last in a long line of ruling Hawaiian royalty.   

 

 Hanauma Bay a Marine Life Conservation Area

Plumeria

Catching up on old times and creating new.....lunch with dear "island girl" Sande.

Whale Watching

Pacific Ocean ~ 500 miles from Hawaii

January 18, 2011
Sunset

Pier 35.  San Francisco, California

January 14, 2011

Noon.

Seasoned travelers ascended the raised rail gangway of the Seven Seas Voyager.  I leaped at the opportunity for another adventure,  a world cruise.  Seeking ports so exotic that they are rarely visited and attracted by the fiercely social crowd, this self-proclaimed "baby on board" didn't want to wait to see the world until I got old.  I wanted to see it now while I was still young.

As I had anticipated, a red carpet was rolled out, guiding the way on board.  The luxury hotel floated.  Not far off, the ship's horn sounds and a gala band plays.  I take notice of the steady pace of passengers; no need to rush on this first day of a 145-night odyssey.  I crossed over the ship's threshold and scanned the luxurious space where I will wake up to the voyage of new sights and sounds everyday and the world will revolve around me and six hundred and ninety nine other passengers.

A voice spoke, full with wonder.  "World cruiser.  Pleased to meet you."  Of the nearly 700 passengers a mere 120 embark on the full trip, others disembark during various segments.  Within a handshake away, inside the glassed atrium, the woman smiled at me.  She was slight and petite with wavy short hair.  Her eyes were that of my grandmother, knowing and true.  She drew out her hand to mine and smiled warmly.  "This is my second world cruise."  Her voice strong and with accent not easy to place.  "I wanted to travel the world again before I get old; I just turned ninety years old." 

"This is my first," I said excitedly.  "Meeting you is a good sign that this may not be my last!"  

"You will find many second timers here."  The lady spoke directly at me with a sparkle in her eyes.  "You will find a rekindled spirit of adventure and you will not want to leave after 5 months."  I felt a surge of excitement.  How did she know my thoughts precisely?

"Tonight the motivation to indulge will be restored.  Following a cocktail party, dine at Signatures, the French restaurant inspired by Le Cordon Bleu of Paris and applaud the sophisticated fun of an intimate cabaret-style performance."  The woman tilted her head in an elegant yet friendly manor.  "What's not to love for us global wanders?"

I found myself breathless with anticipation.

The woman held up her hand agreeably.  "Wait," she said eagerly.  "I will tell you that the staff is highly trained and thoroughly dedicated to attend to your every need and desire.  The Canyon Ranch Spa will nourish, calm and rejuvenate you like never before.  World-renowned experts and award winning luminaries will provide you a fresh perspective and insight into our destinations."  The woman spoke her next words nearly in a whisper.  "There is truly nothing on earth quite like this legendary journey across the hemispheres and around the globe."

When the woman had finished speaking, I smiled.  "Yes.  This is exactly what I wanted to hear."  "Others will tell you the same", she said.  "I look forward to our getting to know each another, starting here in San Francisco, across the sun-drenched tropics, through the exotic orient and mystical India, the Holy Land and Middle East, dazzling Mediterranean and ending in London."  

The Golden Gate Bridge appeared slowly.  Orange vermilion became more visible as the fog rolled and lifted.  A familiar sight, as I recall sailing under "the most photographed bridge in the world" and one of the Wonders of the World built in 1937.  Holding my coat close and tight against the cold wind I saw the spectacular and graceful structure, hand-painted steel, and sturdy rivets and cables.  This modern wonder.

Tears well in my eyes.  

Sailing into the setting sun and open ocean I trust that I will be enlightened and thrilled in ways that I've never imagined during my cruise, my first world cruise.