Tag Archives: travel

  • Tiki Time!

    October 16, 2012

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    Vanuatu…Polynesian cultures have a rich history of intricate wood carving. The tiki or tam-tam are richly carved and have centuries of meaning. They are deeply regarded in this culture, even appearing on local currency.

    Most people associate the tiki with Hawaii, but on this trip I have seen them throughout these remote islands of the South Pacific! The most incredible tiki I have seen were in Vanuatu today. These dark almost black wood talismans lined the gorgeous waterfront at Turtle Beach!

    The tiki stand guard ominously along the breakwater in front the brilliantly blue shore. Obviously, each holds an important symbolism to the locals. These carvings stand proudly displaying sexual and virility themes; from phallic symbolism to even depicting an hermaphrodite!

    I know many cultures believe the phallus is good luck…but these tiki go beyond that! I keep thinking about the haunting statues with their intense stare. They stuck with me because they seemed to look right through to my soul. I was totally drawn to them!

    Art, superstition, craft, black magic, voodoo, and religion are all intertwined in history of Polynesia…I am so glad I got a chance to see these special tiki and witness these local mysteries!

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  • Adventure Island!

    October 16, 2012

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    Vanuatu…today turned into an adventure day! Climbing a waterfall was just the beginning of my action packed day in the South Pacific!

    I told my driver I wanted to go somewhere unique and not so overrun with tourists! He suggested we go to other side of the island of Efate to Turtle Bay and Eton…

    Vanuatu is renowned for it’s natural environment and boasts coral seas abundantly full of marine life! Snorkeling and Scuba Diving are world class and very special here. I am not a scuba diver, but I am game today for some sort of “soft adventure”!

    Turtle Bay is a marine sanctuary that is teaming with incredible sea life in a coral reef that appears like a bright blue spot of heaven from ashore. There is a community here that lives in grass huts along the shore who help care for the sea’s fragile creatures. That includes raising delicate sea turtles.

    One part of the beach has a sheltered coral swimming hole teaming with shark and large turtles! I am encouraged to dive in to swim amongst these small friendly sharks and feed and ride the large turtles! What?!?!

    I am handed some fruit and in I go…these grand turtles race toward me ready to feast! I hold the fruit slices out and the turtles go for it….I hear a scream “watch your fingers!” from one of the natives watching me! I get more comfortable until I can go actually go full on swimming amongst these magnificent creatures…the shark couldn’t be bothered, but the turtle allow me to ride their shells! What a rush!

    Afterward I head out to snorkel with bread in hand to feed the fish! I get out in the water and I am swarmed with a huge school of every imaginable color of fish! I panic, throw the bread into the sea, fish are literally jumping to grab the pieces, and I race back to shore, heart pounding! Oh my god…I practically hyperventilate! A group of locals are laughing in the sand at me…

    Well I tried but I guess I am not too brave…but I will remember this the rest of my life! What a cool experience on this remote island a world away from home!

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  • Water without Falling!

    October 16, 2012

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    Mele Cascade Waterfall, Vanuatu…instead of only beaching it today, I thought a trip to the rainforest jungle of Vanuatu would be an interesting change of pace!

    This lush jungle is rich with every kind of leaf and plant…I can hear the sound of falling water, but where is it?

    A 20 minute climb through tree root steps, pools of water, and dense vegetation…yikes! I huff and puff through the natural obstacle course in the thick humid heat…

    I realize my flip flops aren’t gonna work, so I go it as the locals do…barefoot! Up and over algae covered rocks, through water rapids, and up mini falls until I reached an oasis in the middle of the dense jungle!

    The falls are beautiful and people are diving in the deep pools at their base. I am not that daring! I just wanna get out of there without slipping and breaking a bone or being swept downhill in the current!

    What a hike with such a beautiful reward at the end! Going back down wasn’t much easier, but I admired the huge bamboos and the small pools on the way down!

    Another testament to nature’s unbelievable beauty!

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  • Not just another Tourist!

    October 16, 2012

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    Hideaway Island, Vanuatu…after arriving at this island home of season 9 of Survivor, I headed to what I was told was a “must”…Hideaway Island!

    A short ferry to this tiny island surrounded by blue waters seemed amazing and from shore it looked absolutely idyllic!

    Home to the world’s only underwater post office, I thought let’s see! Well upon arriving, it was just a series of tourist trap charges…it was all just a cheesy hokey set up to take advantage! I hate manufactured tourist spots that have no soul!

    The beach was entirely tiny pieces of coral and painful! The water definitely was clear, but I wanted a more authentic experience! No underwater letter sending for me….

    So I jumped on the next ferry and onward I went in search of the real Vanuatu!

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  • Living Life to the Max!

    October 15, 2012

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    Sailing the South Pacific…another beautiful day as we sailed towards the island of Vanuatu. The color of the sea has taken on an almost neon shade of cobalt blue and the sun is warm and intense!

    It’s hard to believe that this voyage is in its final days! When I boarded this ship over 2 weeks ago, it seemed to me that this 21 day sailing would seem like an eternity…but now with 5 days remaining, it seems like time just flew by!

    I have shared this ship with a varied group of world travelers that are my fellow passengers. Many of whom are retired but yet with such a zest for life! Neither Age nor physical limitations nor even disabilities have limited any single one of these people from seeing the world!

    I am inspired everyday seeing this group’s desire to live every moment…making every second of the gift of life count…

    A retired couple told me emphatically: “don’t plan for tomorrow what you can do now!” They said so many of their friends say “next year” but that date never seems to arrive!

    I also met a marine lecturer on board who told me how her she loves her time on cruises and how it’s has given her new insight into old age…she has seen the vibrancy and incredible living that one’s golden years can be…it’s not the convalescence she once thought it was!

    I know each and every experience I am having is really just a lesson in disguise!

  • Skirting the Issue!

    October 14, 2012

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    Suva, Fiji…it’s Sunday and that means it’s church day for Fijians allover the island! Most of the town is shuttered and the locals spend the day traveling to and attending services.

    That means it’s Sunday’s best dress…men everywhere are wearing their skirts or “sulus” with their best shirts, jackets, and ties!

    Old & young all don this easy wrap and I think they look great and it makes sense for this hot tropical climate! I also love how men take the kids off mommy’s hand for the day! The site of men carrying their tiny child is so heartwarming…even lined up to watch a soccer game, the men are cradling their infant children!

    Police have their own version of a sulu! It may resemble a court jester, but it’s a major statement!

    So interesting to see this style statement in the South Pacific! I love unique style and I am loving this male fashion statement!20121014-150324.jpg

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  • Stargazing!

    October 13, 2012

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    At Sea in the South Pacific…tonight’s viewing wasn’t a Hollywood movie nor some big Broadway like musical…rather the galaxies above providing us with the most magical show!

    The captain allowed us the best viewing conditions for stargazing by turning off all the exterior lights of the ship as we sailed late in the night! The ship’s resident authority on astronomy then hosted us on the pitch black top deck to acquaint us with the stars and planets above. She explained how our vantage point in the South Pacific was ideal.

    The constellations were there laid out in front of us…she pointed out Aquarius, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and many others twinkling down on us! A few shooting stars fell and had everyone gasping with childlike excitement!

    It was as if we were in some high tech Planetarium…the dark sky appeared like a dome around us illuminated by a confetti of tiny lights! As I stood there looking up at this magnificent sight, I could feel a collective awe at the show we all were craning our necks to watch! I wish I could photograph this spectacular display…

    Once again, nature provides the best special effects that any show can dazzle us with! This is another one of those special moments that this trip will have me cherishing!

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  • A Day Lost!

    October 13, 2012

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    International Dateline, South Pacific…how can a day just vanish?

    After a picture perfect sail away under cotton candy clouds from Samoa, the m/s Volendam made its way further south into South Pacific waters on our way to our next Polynesian port of call, Fiji!

    The captain announced that at midnight we would be crossing the International Dateline and our clocks would advance forward exactly 24 hours…meaning Friday October 12, 2013 would not exist for us. We would go from Thursday directly to Saturday! This seems so weird!

    I have traveled to Asia many times via plane and have experienced the loss of a day, but this seemed so very different! It’s confusing trying to keep time compared to the rest of the world…presently we are suddenly 17 hours ahead of my home of New York City!

    We still have one more line to cross this voyage…the 180 degree longitude line which will transport us into the Eastern Hemisphere! That last right of passage will occur in 2 more days.

    The best part of traveling in this old school style of sea travel is jet lag is not a problem to contend with as we change time zones, dates, and hemispheres!

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  • Off the Beaten Path to Inspiration!

    October 12, 2012

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    Pago Pago, American Samoa…I met a Samoan artist today who paints tropically inspired geometric prints on tree bark similar to Mud Cloth.

    I loved the spirit of this elderly artist who has been creating her art for decades in this traditional Samoan technique!

    I thought these were chic and modern looking prints with gorgeous bronzed color that would be just as gorgeous hanging on the wall as it would make of-the-moment fashion!

    The world’s cultures are full of inspiration! Today I got a dose of some tropical chic, South Pacific style!

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  • Island Explorer!

    October 12, 2012

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    Pago Pago, American Samoa…we arrived this morning to the lush green island of Tutuila in the remote archipelago of the Samoan Islands! It’s great to be on land again, but this island that is seemingly off the map makes me feel like Giligan after being shipwrecked during that famous “three hour tour”…

    Not too many ships stop here, so the entire town seemed to show up for our arrival!

    I headed to Tisa’s Beach for a day on the sand. Nothing prepared me for the surreal beauty of this location; a barefoot bar hut built on a crescent of unspoiled beach! I truly feel like an explorer who just discovered a place all my own! Samoa means “sacred Earth” and this beach delivers that in spades..

    The water is bathtub warm filled with glorious fish and coral and the sands have wreaths of fauna that have washed ashore! I took some time for arts and crafts on the beach, spelling out the name of this sacred place in leaves, fauna, nuts, and flowers that I found on the sand…

    Back on Tisa’s, lunch is served! The Samoan people are so kind and extremely welcoming and they were anxious to share their Samoan delicacies prepared beneath coconut leaves and hot rocks. Tarot, coconut, and bananas cooked with turkey, lamb, and pork for hours until all is falling apart tender!

    Even though I may feel like a rare explorer, my days at sea have brought me to this island that many hearty travelers before me have visited and gone on to tell tales of for years…like James Michener who came here to write his 1946 classic “Tales of the South Pacific”.

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