Dearest Rachel – I’m not gonna lie, honey; I’m not a big fan of the public address system they have on the ship. You can always hear the ‘bing-bong’ of the chimes, heralding an important announcement for all the ships passengers to hear, only for the actual voice to be completely inaudible to someone likeContinue reading “Bouncing Around”
Category Archives: Adrift in the World
When Does It Become “Home”?
Dearest Rachel – I suppose I really need to do breakfast more often in the dining room. If nothing else, it helps me with portion control; eating upstairs in the Windjammer, with its buffet style layout, offers the temptation of going up for multiple helpings – and when combined with the urge to ‘get myContinue reading “When Does It Become “Home”?”
Better Than Cook’s Tour?
Dearest Rachel – Back in the day, I understand that Thomas Cook & Son was considered to be the gold standard for tourism; the “Cook’s tour” was proverbial for being given a decent understanding of a place and situation, whether a new job or an actual vacation spot. So, taking into account that the jobContinue reading “Better Than Cook’s Tour?”
Mumbai
Dearest Rachel – So this is an interesting case; one last city in which we’re staying overnight. Presumably, this is so the folks who left from Goa for the overland trip to the Taj Mahal can rejoin us. Honestly, given the complexity of this whole trip – punctuated by the fact that they had toContinue reading “Mumbai”
Goa
Dearest Rachel – I’m not sure where to begin with this location. I could start by mentioning that I’d heard about this region from Mohinder, way back in the day. It was a resort area, and unique insofar as it was primarily Christian in population, having been allegedly part of St. Thomas’ (y’know, “doubting Thomas”?)Continue reading “Goa”
As Day Wears Into Night
Dearest Rachel – It’s weird; I’ve found myself treating this morning much as I would a sea day. And for good reason; we’ve basically been at sea all morning, with literally no sign of land to speak of. To be sure, it’s been somewhat hazy outside, so even if there was land nearby, we mightContinue reading “As Day Wears Into Night”
Cochin & Alappuzha
Dearest Rachel – I’m not entirely sure which of these cities I should be telling you about. We’re docking in the former – well, eventually; we’re not expected to arrive until after noon – but I’ll be spending most of my time in the second, cruising (yes, I get off one ship to board anotherContinue reading “Cochin & Alappuzha”
Colombo Morning
Dearest Rachel – I did mention that I’d have to wake up early this morning, didn’t I? Yes, well… I hadn’t expected to be this early. I like to give myself a couple of hours before I’m to report to the theater for my shore excursions. It gives me time to shower, dry off, dress,Continue reading “Colombo Morning”
Colombo
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know what it is about this particular city, but I have trouble taking this destination seriously. Much like the criminals matching wits with this guy: Yeah, I admit it; this is what comes to mind when I think of the name of this place. And it’s not like I everContinue reading “Colombo”
For This I Risked Deportation?
Dearest Rachel – It was a little over a week ago – just as we were coming into Vietnam – when the phone in my stateroom rang. For all the time I spend here (sometimes acknowledging that I really shouldn’t; at least, not as much as I do), this isn’t a thing that happens. IfContinue reading “For This I Risked Deportation?”
Hambantota
Dearest Rachel – I’m going to save the brief bureaucratic nightmare for my recap of the day, as I think it will distract from the research I might as well do on this town (despite its size) and Columbo, given that I’ve got a sea day in which to work on this. As it happens,Continue reading “Hambantota”
Not All Sweetness and Light
Dearest Rachel – It’s been a while since I talked to you about earworms; frankly, it’s been a while since I focused much on any topic other than my travels. Let’s face it, on a trip like this, there’s rather a lot of that to talk about, to the exclusion of almost everything else. EvenContinue reading “Not All Sweetness and Light”
Ringgit Out
Dearest Rachel – I rather expected to be able to wander about the city once my (relatively brief, I have to admit) shore excursion was over with today. I had way too much ringgit in my pocket, especially considering how far those things go here in Malaysia. I certainly had plenty of time to doContinue reading “Ringgit Out”
Without Fear and Without Research
Dearest Rachel – It’s not much of an excursion, though; just transport from the port to the capital city, where we’re to be dropped off at Pavilion Shopping Mall in the Bukit Bintang area (the advertising copy adds the adjective ‘famous’ to the district, but given my familiarity with the city – which is absolutelyContinue reading “Without Fear and Without Research”
Such Small Portions
Dearest Rachel – I thought I needed to be at the theater by a quarter to nine; turns out, the call was at eight o’clock sharp. So, with neither a chance to get breakfast nor weigh myself in (since we were in port now, and the ship wasn’t being rocked by the ocean), I brushed my teethContinue reading “Such Small Portions”
Singapore
Dearest Rachel – Well, we’ll soon be in the last place on my itinerary that I’ve been to before. The funny thing is, the one moment I most vividly remember from this place has little to do with it as such, and was just an incident whose circumstances could just as easily have happened anywhereContinue reading “Singapore”
What Would “Uncle Ho” Think?
Dearest Rachel – Technically, we’re in the municipality of Phu My (and please, don’t ask me to pronounce that). It’s not all that unusual; many of the cities that we are visiting are separate from the port we actually dock at. Consider Keelung and Taipei, for instance, or even Yokohama and Tokyo, for that matterContinue reading “What Would “Uncle Ho” Think?”
Momentary Millionaire
Dearest Rachel – Since I thought I might need to get my hands on some of the local currency in case I have any significant expenditures to deal with while ashore (if nothing else, having cash to tip our tour guides with can’t be a bad thing), I figured I would look up the localContinue reading “Momentary Millionaire”
Ho Chih Minh City
Dearest Rachel – Well, at least this place, I expected to be seeing, if I were to wind up as a tourist in Vietnam. Not that I ever expected to be a tourist in Vietnam, to be sure, but on a trip like this, you get the whole buffet to taste and explore. Although, givenContinue reading “Ho Chih Minh City”
Nha Trang
Dearest Rachel – Another port city, another destination I know next to nothing about. In all honesty, when I realized we would be making two stops in Vietnam, I rather assumed that we would be going to the two former capitals – or at least, the port cities that led to them – Hanoi inContinue reading “Nha Trang”
Fade Prevention
Dearest Rachel – I would have at least started this letter earlier, but for the last couple of hours, the ship’s internet connection has been out, for reasons unknown to me – and now that it is up and running, I guess there’s really no reason to pursue the matter any further. I did killContinue reading “Fade Prevention”
I Paid For This Room
Dearest Rachel – There’s a certain irony in my telling you about how, on these sea days, I prefer to stay in my room, while at the same time I’m hanging out elsewhere on the ship. In my defense, this is partly because this is about the time when I could be expecting Marlon toContinue reading “I Paid For This Room”
When I Let Myself Go…
Dearest Rachel – For all that I’ve been able to enjoy myself in these ports of call (particularly here in my beloved Japan), I don’t mind telling you that I’m looking forward to this stretch of sea days. It’s not as if we’re deep in the middle of the Pacific, like we were during muchContinue reading “When I Let Myself Go…”
Last Day in Japan
Dearest Rachel – It probably shouldn’t come as any surprise that I’m wearing my “America-jin” shirt yet again – it’s my last chance to do so and have it mean anything to anybody. I have to admit to being somewhat dismayed by the effect of a couple of laundries on it already; I think they use aContinue reading “Last Day in Japan”
Return To The Mountain
Dearest Rachel – It is so weird to be back in the same obscure little exurban(? I mean, it’s exurban to Tokyo, whose existence is so overwhelming that even Yokohama, the second largest city in Japan, practically ceases to exist in most people’s minds – including my own – as a separate entity) port thatContinue reading “Return To The Mountain”
Osaka
Dearest Rachel – So tomorrow is our last stop in Japan (and to think, I still have ¥10,000 in cash to get rid of – never mind the coins – I’d best find something to blow it on), and I need to do this latest destination at least a little bit of justice, seeing asContinue reading “Osaka”
But You Can’t Stay Here
Dearest Rachel – In fairness, I was not planning on staying aboard the ship for as long as I did this morning. For all the time I’d spent in Tokyo yesterday on two separate occasions, it seemed only fair to give Yokohama a little attention; after all, that’s where we are. However, between a soreContinue reading “But You Can’t Stay Here “
To Kabuki-cho At Night
Dearest Rachel – They tell me that to take a cab out from Yokohama to downtown Tokyo would run me some ten thousand yen; I say stuff that noise. I consider the public transportation system to be its own adventure (especially in a place like this, where it’s safe in a way that I can’tContinue reading “To Kabuki-cho At Night”
Tokyo By Daylight
Dearest Rachel – For all my preparations, I’m apprehensive about how this plan of mine will work. You’ve already heard my concerns about the national attitude toward otaku culture (despite being more than willing to make bank on it), but as I sit in the theater, ruminating on just the transportation plans, I’m getting moreContinue reading “Tokyo By Daylight”
Preparing To Be Overwhelmed
Dearest Rachel – I suppose you can tell from my last letter that I’m taking most of the advice from the stepsisters from Into The Woods: When going to hide… know how to get there… and how to get back… and eat first. Now, I may not be all that concerned about eating first –Continue reading “Preparing To Be Overwhelmed”
Lines of Attack
Dearest Rachel – You might remember this from the very first days of our marriage; on our honeymoon I had brought along a guide of things to do and see while at Walt Disney World. Back in those days, if you wanted to do certain things there, you needed to make reservations ahead of time,Continue reading “Lines of Attack”
No Sweat
Dearest Rachel – Unlike the night before, when we were heading in to Nagasaki, and I was literally sweating out my fever, last night was a relatively easy night, even if I was still having difficulty breathing from time to time. Often I either get too warm or too cold, but last night went prettyContinue reading “No Sweat”
Return To Where I’ve Never Been
Dearest Rachel – I’m sure that, to my tablemates, my Japanophilia may seem a little strange. It dates, as you remember, from our college days, before I was aware of terms like ‘anime’ (back then, what little there was that came to the States was referred to as ‘Japanimation,’ and even then, those who coinedContinue reading “Return To Where I’ve Never Been”
Kagoshima
Dearest Rachel – A couple months ago, I told you about a manga I’d discovered (to be sure, it’s been out for years already, so it’s only really new to me) called Oyasumi Punpun (“Goodnight, Punpun”). Among the many aspects of its overall plotline was a thread in which the title character and his loveContinue reading “Kagoshima”
Nagasaki
Dearest Rachel – I find myself hoping that I’m feeling well enough to go ashore here; of all the destinations to have to miss out on, Japan would be the worst, in my mind. However, I’m pretty sure I was battling a slight fever overnight; if they do a temperature check, I don’t know howContinue reading “Nagasaki”
天津一日游 – A Day in Tianjin
Dearest Rachel – Unlike Beijing, where I was basically skirting around the city I’d visited quite literally once upon a time, Tianjin is a city I’m not particularly familiar with. When I was in China the last time, we arrived by plane, not by ship, and as such, while this is “the port of theContinue reading “天津一日游 – A Day in Tianjin”
Twelve Hours on the Mainland (Eight of Them on the Road)
Dearest Rachel – So, this is the day; the twelve-plus hour excursion. They don’t get any longer than this; from here on out, everything else is going to be relatively easy. Hours on a coach, passing two enormous cities, to visit a place that I’ve been to before (but admittedly, barely remember, apart from someContinue reading “Twelve Hours on the Mainland (Eight of Them on the Road)”
The City and the Wall
Dearest Rachel – I was going to make this report on the city of Beijing, but I don’t know how much time I’m actually going to be spending there, when it all comes down to it. The day we went to the Great Wall thirty-five years ago took up most of the day, as IContinue reading “The City and the Wall”
Filming One’s Seoul
Dearest Rachel – Morning in Incheon starts slowly; while I’m up an hour before the alarm I set for myself, I’m slow in getting myself put together. It’s reasonable, as I don’t need to be in the theater until a quarter after nine – and the extra hour, in particular, means I have more thanContinue reading “Filming One’s Seoul”
Seoul
Dearest Rachel – To be fair, I’m aware that, like General MacArthur, we’ll actually be coming ashore at Incheon, not Seoul. But since my excursion involves heading to the capital, rather than hanging around near the port, I might as well focus on it, don’t you think? Even history aside, it’s more important, given whatContinue reading “Seoul”
As Early As I Can
Dearest Rachel – After several stops in a row where I’ve been running late (or at least running out of time), I’m getting an early start on the day. I set my alarm for this morning, which you’d think you’d never have to do when you’re on vacation, but there you go. Sometimes you haveContinue reading “As Early As I Can”
Jeju City (Or Is It the Island?)
Dearest Rachel – After pranking myself with Okinawa, it would have to be that we get another destination where the question becomes “is it the city or the island?” This time around, I at least have a hint in the form of my excursion ticket, titled ‘Jeju City Highlights.’ So, I suppose, the city itContinue reading “Jeju City (Or Is It the Island?)”
But Why Repeat Myself?
Dearest Rachel – Ordinarily, on a day when we’re about to land in another port, I should be putting together an essay about culture and history, sights to see and things to experience… particularly with regard to local cuisine. But I have to admit that my heart’s not in it today. Some of that isContinue reading “But Why Repeat Myself?”
What Does It Matter?
Dearest Rachel – I suppose it’s appropriate to be dealing with this conundrum on April Fools’ Day. After researching about the city of Okinawa (because our latest port couldn’t be just about the prefecture by that name, since we were already here in the form of the island and city of Ishigaki), the Cruise CompassContinue reading “What Does It Matter?”
Okinawa
Dearest Rachel – Well, finally, here’s a place we’ve heard about back in the day, even if it’s only through various manga and anime. This is the place where it seems every class field trip winds up going to during their third year; the land of shiisa and sata andagi. You would likely giggle everContinue reading “Okinawa”
Lost Hours
Dearest Rachel – We lost an hour on our way here, honey; Japan, it so happens, runs an hour ahead of Taiwan. I set my alarm to go off fairly early, so that it would be a reasonable hour in terms of Japan time, only for that moment to have been part of the hour skipped asContinue reading “Lost Hours”
With Time to Spare (Barely)
Dearest Rachel – As much as I’ve been trained to try and get every place I mean to be as early as possible, sometimes that just doesn’t work out. I’d spent the entirety of yesterday evening uploading the mall footage from Hong Kong, and this morning dealing with the Kai Tak rooftop garden video. TheContinue reading “With Time to Spare (Barely)”
Taipei
Dearest Rachel – Well, we’re back underway; after more than a day and a half in Hong Kong (and welcoming aboard a whole raft of new passengers – which could be the subject of a whole other letter, I suspect), we’re on our way to another city I’ve never been to, nor have I evenContinue reading “Taipei”
Hong Kong Again… For the First Time
Dearest Rachel – For all that I may have written so long ago about being here, I would remember none of it had I not done so. I have certain impressions based on a re-reading of those entries, but given that it was thirty-five years (and a whole new national character, thanks to being ChineseContinue reading “Hong Kong Again… For the First Time”
You Only Get the One Chance
Dearest Rachel – It’s Thursday morning in Hong Kong, and it doesn’t look much better than it did yesterday, to be honest. Now, in fairness, this isn’t Hong Kong‘s fault; there’s nothing that can be done about the weather, and in any case, at least it’s not raining. So going out into this shouldn’t beContinue reading “You Only Get the One Chance”
The Great Firewall
Dearest Rachel – I think I’ve mentioned a couple of times about how, over the last couple of days, I haven’t been able to do all the work that I’d like to, or need to, because of limited Internet access. To be sure, “like” is a strong word for it, as I’m more than happyContinue reading “The Great Firewall”
Hong Kong
Dearest Rachel – I deliberately brought my old journal from 1989 (which I think I might have directed at you by using “Querida” as the name I was addressing. The more things change, eh?) so that I would have a certain amount of reference in terms of certain ports we’ll be stopping at. Unfortunately, withContinue reading “Hong Kong”
A Real Spa Day
Dearest Rachel – Considering the vast open spaces I could see from my balcony, I have to admit that I’d rather expected that we would be tendering in to Subic Bay. However, given that it was a military installation once upon a time – and a Naval one, at that – I really should haveContinue reading “A Real Spa Day”
Running Behind Time
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned at breakfast about how I still had two hours before I needed to report to the theater for Sunday’s shore excursion. Even as I was heading there, as per the scheduled time listed on the ticket, we seemed to still be moving. Not only hadn’t we been cleared to get off theContinue reading “Running Behind Time”
Subic Bay
Dearest Rachel – The way this itinerary works, one might think that, for each country we visit, we’re required to stop in at least two locations, which have to be as close together as possible. It doesn’t seem to be absolutely necessary that it be so; we can cover a reasonable distance (I was goingContinue reading “Subic Bay”
Manila
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know what it is, but no matter how many sea days I’m given, I can’t seem to do anything but wait for the last minute to put these things together. Ironically, while you wouldn’t necessarily be proud of me for that, you might well be pleased that I’m starting toContinue reading “Manila”
Declaring You
Dearest Rachel – I know I was just telling you the other day about the hoops I had to jump through whenever I got off the ship in Indonesia. Not that they were particularly inconvenient, mind you; it was just that the instructions themselves weren’t complete, as far as I could understand them. But asContinue reading “Declaring You”
A Day at the Beach
Dearest Rachel – The phrase is a literal metaphor for an easy thing, not unlike “a piece of cake” or “a walk in the park.” And given that I’m still clawing my way back to health, it’s probably just what the doctor ordered, to utilize another common phrase – I’d have to check with LarsContinue reading “A Day at the Beach”
An Important Place to Someone
Dearest Rachel – We don’t get a lot of time today in Lombok – well, in fairness, we rarely get much time in any destination that we visit; just the one day we get there and leave. It is one of the drawbacks of cruising – if you find something that particularly draws your interestContinue reading “An Important Place to Someone”
Bali
Dearest Rachel – As mentioned yesterday, our next stop will take us a short hop over from Lombok to Bali. Unlike today, which didn’t actually even start until early afternoon (the gangway wasn’t lowered until after 2pm), we’ll be arriving at Bali by seven in the morning. My excursion, however, being a literal day atContinue reading “Bali”
Instructions Unclear…
Dearest Rachel – Every new port – well, at least every new country that we come to – has its own rules regarding customs declarations, and stuff like that. You can only bring so much into the country, and you can only bring so much out, especially when it comes to certain, let’s just say,Continue reading “Instructions Unclear…”
Lombok
Dearest Rachel – Every port we visit these days, I find myself having to apologize for not having done my homework weeks in advance, like I’m used to having done. Considering the changes that happen in some cases (such as the fact that we weren’t ever pulling into Cairns at all, nor did I manageContinue reading “Lombok”
This, Too, Will Pass
Dearest Rachel – At a top speed of twenty-five knots, you might be able to guess that, as the Serenade of the Seas moves through the water, it generates a fair amount of wind against my balcony door. And for whatever reason, the door doesn’t seal tightly, causing a bit of a rattling noise whenContinue reading “This, Too, Will Pass”
Bounded In A Nutshell
Dearest Rachel – Shakespeare had Hamlet claim that he “could be bounded in a nutshell, and count [himself] a king of infinite space”; the implication being that he had no ambitions beyond that which he was at that moment straitened within, and therefore no threat to his uncle the king. A day like today hasContinue reading “Bounded In A Nutshell”
Getting Back to “Work”
Dearest Rachel – In the movie Heathers, the protagonist Veronica Sawyer describes her relationship with the titular Heathers (the queen bees of the social hierarchy at Westerberg High School) thusly: “they’re just, like, people I work with, and our job is being popular and [stuff].” Fortunately, I’m under no such onus to get out thereContinue reading “Getting Back to “Work””
Reef Madness
Dearest Rachel – It took a good half hour (at least) to get from the fifth deck to the second, where the catamaran was waiting for us. It was more like the ferries shuttling us between the ship and shore at Shute Harbor; for a brief moment, I had rather expected something along the linesContinue reading “Reef Madness”
Too Early And Too Late
Dearest Rachel – Morning in Airlie Beach, and I’m not sure what to do with myself. My excursion doesn’t start until almost half past ten, although they were starting to call off those with tender tickets shortly after seven. On the other hand, I’m still trying to juggle breakfast and a phone call from Lars,Continue reading “Too Early And Too Late”
Yorkeys Knob
Dearest Rachel – When I got my excursion tickets for this leg of the journey after getting back from wandering around Brisbane, I was missing the one I thought I’d signed up for in Cairns, and proceeded to head to Guest Services to inquire about it. There was a notice posted there about tours fromContinue reading “Yorkeys Knob”
Brisbane
Dearest Rachel – Once again, I’m waiting until virtually the last minute in order to put this report together, because so much else is going on for me to both write about and video. Something’s got to give, and these reports sort of wind up being that something. At least Brisbane has a bit ofContinue reading “Brisbane”
How the Honeyeaters Found Their Song: A Non-Legend
Dearest Rachel – I’m no more going to be able to write to you about my experience driving a quad than I could film it; at least, I could tell you about it immediately after the fact: After our adventure with the quad bikes, we had a snack and a go through of the MurrookContinue reading “How the Honeyeaters Found Their Song: A Non-Legend”
No Yellow Brick Road
Dearest Rachel – I didn’t mention it the other day in my research, but you’re probably familiar with the fact that the nation of Australia is referred to as “Oz,” and not in connection to L. Frank Baum’s beloved book series (of which I forget if you had the entire collection, but I’m pretty sureContinue reading “No Yellow Brick Road”
Newcastle
Dearest Rachel – If Australia as a whole could be considered an afterthought in terms of my own opinions of this entire itinerary, then Newcastle would be the afterthought OF the afterthought. At least I’m familiar with Sydney and Brisbane, if only vaguely. Newcastle? Not so much. I suppose it’s excusable; if Greater Sydney makesContinue reading “Newcastle”
Does it Count When You’re Already There?
Dearest Rachel – Mom and Dad would often talk about our first family cruise that we took back in 1999. Dad and his cousin Dennis had helped organize a trip with the entire extended family, a few years prior, and for arranging that much business, when we got to Vancouver, we were upgraded to roomsContinue reading “Does it Count When You’re Already There?”
Sydney
Dearest Rachel – For all that I’m looking forward to visiting (and revisiting) certain places along this particular cruise, there are others that I’ve given rather short shift to. I clearly didn’t know anything about French Polynesia, and I really haven’t done my homework on anywhere in Australia either. Which is pretty unfortunate, as AustraliaContinue reading “Sydney”
The Sea You Always Wanted
Dearest Rachel – Maybe this was due to us having to charge out, hell bent for leather, from the Bay of Islands in order to make up for lost time in our attempts to stick to the original schedule. Maybe it was a cell of bad weather than the captain simply couldn’t navigate around (atContinue reading “The Sea You Always Wanted”
Facts and Stories
Dearest Rachel – The sun eventually rises, and we find ourselves looking at a much calmer day than yesterday. Even the tender over to Waitanga is fairly smooth; although we do hit a brief stretch of wake that I can’t help but comment upon in that instant (because I know you would be exulting inContinue reading “Facts and Stories”
Early
Dearest Rachel – For all the times I’ve thus far on this journey ‘complained’ (if that’s really the right word; to be honest, I find it more useful than the alternative) that I keep waking up hours earlier than I really need to, as if I hadn’t adjusted to the current time zone. But withContinue reading “Early”
Not What I Expected
Dearest Rachel – After nearly a week at sea, I wake up this morning and grab my phones, only to realize that they don’t agree anymore. The old, shattered one is still working on Hawaii time, while my actual phone has just now updated itself to be presumably in line with the local time. WhyContinue reading “Not What I Expected”
Bay of Islands
Dearest Rachel – Located in a part of New Zealand referred to as the Winterless North (which is a strange pair of words for anyone from the Northern Hemisphere to utter in tandem), the Bay of Islands is about a 150 mile drive up Route 1 from Auckland. While not a long distance – andContinue reading “Bay of Islands”
Auckland
Dearest Rachel – I really need to start getting these reports prepared beforehand a little more; best to use the sea days while I have them, as they’ll be much fewer and farther between once we arrive in New Zealand. Sure, the trip from there to Australia will take a day or two of sailing,Continue reading “Auckland”
A Place to Focus
Dearest Rachel – After so many days at sea from L.A. to Hawaii, from Hawaii to Polynesia, and now from Polynesia to New Zealand, I’m starting to become aware of just how much of that time I’m spending in my stateroom, rather than getting out and wandering amongst the crowds, such as they are (thisContinue reading “A Place to Focus”
How Time Flows
Dearest Rachel – You’ve heard it from me before, but as long as I can’t get a definitive answer (from you or anyone else), I ’m going to keep asking it; how is it that time flows on your side of eternity? Paul talks about the day when we all will be raised, the deadContinue reading “How Time Flows”
Burning Daylight
Dearest Rachel – Well, honey, it’s official: we are clearly in summer. Not just because it’s so warm out (that could just as easily be attributed to the fact that we’re not that far from the equator, although we’re moving further away from it by the minute), but because it’s light out even at theContinue reading “Burning Daylight”
Time to Waste
Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. Attributed to Bertrand Russell, Lawrence Peter, and John Lennon, among others Dearest Rachel – The above quotation, whoever is said to have coined it, is a phrase that you and I lived by as much as possible. Given our schedules, idle hours were a few and farContinue reading “Time to Waste”
Attempting to Drift
Dearest Rachel – Even though I’m still feeling like I’m on Central Time to a certain extent, just because I managed to wake up early enough to watch the ship come in doesn’t mean that I’m actually productive at such an hour. Or rather, it’s not a complete form of productivity; I managed to compile and uploadContinue reading “Attempting to Drift”
What Happens Next
Dearest Rachel – After that long wait to get myself on a tender, several of the crew came up from the gangway deck to let us know that tender #15 had space for just ten more people. I was among the ones who volunteered, and literally was the last person on. It was either thatContinue reading “What Happens Next”
Pape‘etē (Tahiti)
Dearest Rachel – Well, this destination is more familiar than that of Mo‘orea, but not by all that much, to be honest. I know of it as the island of temptation that caused the mutineers of the Bounty to revolt against Captain Bligh (and that, based on historical record, he was actually too lax withContinue reading “Pape‘etē (Tahiti)”
Hurrying Nowhere
Dearest Rachel – You know me, honey. You know that when I travel, I tend to prefer being in the middle of a city; there’s so many things there to see and do. A stop like this, much like anywhere in the Caribbean, feels like being in the middle of nowhere, with the few peopleContinue reading “Hurrying Nowhere”
Mo‘orea
Dearest Rachel – This particular port is likely going to be the most difficult for me to write about. Not only do I know next to nothing about it, there’s nothing for me to anchor onto, in terms of a city located on the island or anything. It’s just… the island of Mo‘orea, and untilContinue reading “Mo‘orea”
Tanning Bed
Dearest Rachel – I hardly need to tell you that I’m nobody’s sun worshiper. Ra, Aton, Helios… they’re all utterly foreign to me. That being said, I understand the need to get oneself the proper amount of vitamin D even if I don’t always remember the proper dosage; when I went to restock my pillsContinue reading “Tanning Bed”
Three Different Stories Every Day
Dearest Rachel – Unlike some of our travels in the past – Israel comes to mind in particular, with our guides often making it explicitly clear that “this is a tour, not a vacation,” as it’s a spiritual learning experience as opposed to one for relaxation – this trip is supposed to be a vacation,Continue reading “Three Different Stories Every Day”
Red Skies, Rough Seas?
Dearest Rachel – I still haven’t gotten the point where I’m quite accustomed to the time zone. It’s probably not helped by the fact that I don’t see myself as having much to do after dinner, since I’m not the club type. Last night, after wrapping up, assembling a couple of videos from the day,Continue reading “Red Skies, Rough Seas?”
Another One Rides the Bus
Dearest Rachel – I will freely admit, honey, that, since we were going to be staying in Honolulu overnight, I was hoping to do what I could to get out and see the nightlife. Even though dancing and clubbing aren’t generally ‘my thing,’ how often do I get the chance to do this? Those plansContinue reading “Another One Rides the Bus”
Mall Walking
Dearest Rachel – It’s something I’d never think of doing at home – at least, barring extreme circumstances, such as losing a tire outside of one and having to walk home in a light snowstorm (yes, I remember that trip, even to the point of one of us observing that Chompers would be getting franticContinue reading “Mall Walking”
Trying to Keep Up in Oahu
Dearest Rachel – I promise this will be my last reference to Peppo’s Pidgin To Da Max, but this morning has me remembering a cartoon of a bright and cheery bus driver addressing his load of tired tourists with a clearly booming “Aloha, keiki! Get da kine makapiapia outta you eyes! We get plenny fo’Continue reading “Trying to Keep Up in Oahu”
I Didn’t Forget… Quite
Dearest Rachel – There’s something about being on vacation that… I won’t say “upsets one schedule,” because that’s kind of the whole point. Not all travel is meant to be relaxing – and, as I’ve discussed before about the word’s origins, it wasn’t considered to be at all back in the day – but leisureContinue reading “I Didn’t Forget… Quite”
Honolulu
Dearest Rachel – For all that this trip is meant for me to visit a whole, erm, boatload of places that I’ve never been to before (and most likely, never will again – it’s nothing personal, after all, as the opportunity doesn’t arise that often. I’m still kind of surprised to find myself on myContinue reading “Honolulu”
A Record, However I Can
Dearest Rachel – So this morning, just before I set out to wander around the port (as of 7:30, the call went out that anyone could hop on the tenders, regardless of what number their ticket said – or, in my case, the scheduled meeting time of my shore excursion – because there were soContinue reading “A Record, However I Can”
Back On Dry(?) Land
Dearest Rachel – After five whole (and two partial, if you count Sunday afternoon and the wee hours of this morning) days at sea, I’m looking forward to getting back onto dry land. I realize that the term ‘dry’ is a relative term, given that the morning is expected to be rainy –maybe it couldContinue reading “Back On Dry(?) Land”
Hilo
Dearest Rachel – Between the events – or perhaps more accurately, the lack thereof – of my first trip on my own, combined with the fact that our first port of call was scratched due to the fire last summer (you’d think that Lahaina could use tourism money that much more these days, in orderContinue reading “Hilo”
Letters to Rachel 