Arundel Castle-A Walk in The Countryside

Walking To France

Worthing on the south coast of Sussex is now the place that we call home.  They have a nice beach there and although I have never been brave enough to enter the English Channel for a swim - preferring the warm waters of the Caribbean or Indian oceans - I do like to walk down along the beach.  Several times a month the tide takes all the water to France (for a picnic) and it leaves behind the most interesting things to look at whilst you amble along the shore.  You walk so far out that sometimes you think you could actually walk to France if you had just brought your waders with you and not your wellies!  :-)

Fish Hoek Family- South Africa

We were welcomed to Cape Town with one of the famous Black South Easter Winds that gave the place its name and reputation as being one fo the windiest places to visit.  The wind was so strong that we couldn't even get into the harbour for a whole day.  Fortunately a brief respite in wind strength gave us the opportunity to hurry alongside so that we could all jump off and get sightseeing.  All new comers headed out to the wine route.  Having gone to school and university here, I headed for my home turf and spend some fabulous tie with my BBF and her family in Fish Hoek which is an awesome suburb with an amazing beach near Cape Point.  

RAROTONGA – Wednesday 2 February 2011

This is a small island that is part of the Cook islands – only 32kms in diameter.  Fairly undiscovered so it’s not completely destroyed by tourism.   Because of this it still is the classic image of a South Pacific Paradise island and I hope that it can manage to stay that way.    Like all of the island atolls it is basically the top of an extinct volcano that has become inhabited.  Tall green lush peaks surrounded by aquamarine blue warm seas with great diving and white sandy beaches.  NICE!!    Raro means down and tonga means south - now you knwo what the name means!

Ed came back from the beach with a blue star fish like this.  He and his brother thought it was dead but the poor thing died on the balcony and now adorns Bobs garden in Indianna!  Smelt absolutely awful for long time though...

Yangon Myanmar Today



Today we stop in Yangon Myanmar which should be interesting - for you older folks this place was RANGOON , BURMA!! Makes me think of my granddad who was a Chindit (spelling) and got seconded to the Army from the Navy & did fascinating things here.............  I worked all day so was only able to do a tour of the Big Gold Pagoda with the rest of the crew in the evening.  Lovely full moon for us so we were able to see loads of detail.  Amazing place.  Remove shoes and then walk about the holy Buddhist site with all the faithful who are lighting candles.  We were all snapping photographs happily.  I wonder what exactly all these people think about us being here in their 'church' talking loudly and touching everything???  

After a few hours here we all went 'downtown' for a bit of shopping and then for some supper.......  This time though even I was scared of eating and getting sick so I didn't try anything.  Also, have to admit that the smell of the Dragon Fruit was not all that appetizing......

Sydney Opera House, Australia

Who could possible say that they have no comment about this iconic building?  The Syndey opera house is like one of the 7 wonders of the world.  Who would have thought that something so avant garde would be found 'down under'?   It is even impressive inside and if you make it all the way down to the bottom of the world then you should really try and go and listen to some music - or opera - there.  Quite an experience.  

Sydney itself is a nice city.  I have realtives there so when I visit on my ship they like to come onboard and spend some time in my sort of luxury.  I like to go and visit them at thome and see how normal people in Sydney live.  So I can tell you that their lives are not a whole lot different to ours, they just have more sunshine!!

Under The Waterfalls Of Milford Sound, New Zealand