Temperature is supposed to be 19C so not too bad. It is a lovely sunny day with no clouds. We arrived in the port for Taipei….. Keelung. Our tour guide is called “Rita”…. She lived for 30 years in US. We all have to wear seatbelts. She explains we have several hammers on board the bus  if needed to break the windows to escape (in case of an accident)and where exits are. I have never had that drill on a bus before.

Stopped for a pit stop in mountains … cherry blossoms and rose azaleas. When she was a teenager Rita had to have military training here for 2 weeks in preparation in case China attacked. 

It is 400 kms but only takes 96 minutes to travel from Kaohsiung to Taipei on the fast train. Our trip by ship took over 12 hours. 

French and Spanish colonized this area….. the Dutch colonized the south around Kaohsiung. 

The mountains are maximum 1100 metres above sea level. 

The population of 23 million lives in an area the size of Maryland. 7 million population in Taipei. 

85% of the time it is wet in Keelung so there is a steel representation of a microphone on side of road to suggest on your way home that you sing to make you happy….lol!

60% of worlds semi conductors are made here and is 15% of GDP. 

Metro is underground in city but above ground outside the city. 

To buy a car here you have to prove you own a parking space. 

They have 10,000 earthquakes per year in Taiwan. Average 4-5 strength so they generally ignore them but some are higher. One (7.4) in which 54,000 homes destroyed and 2500 died. 

It is also a volcanic island although hasn’t erupted for 6000 thousand years but where hot water springs. 

We drive up the hills to where the US military had homes from the time of Korean War, also the rich and famous…. Beautiful views. 

From 1951-65 Taiwan was in a bad way with very poor economy. It was supported by Americans…billions! It was all paid back. 

On to where the heat and sulphuric gases escape the mountain. It is called the grasses area because they used to burn all the bamboo and other grasses so to not permit people to mine the sulphur for the making of firearms to possibly overthrow the government. 

We stopped for lunch at the hot springs restaurant. The food just kept coming and coming. After lunch, we went down to the hot springs that are situated in the middle of the mountains surrounded by lush vegetation. The springs had 4 different hot pools, some definitely very hot. And then into the swimming pool that was very cold water. I am real proud of myself for going in a couple of times. So nice and so relaxing the whole experience was. 

This small island nation has such lovely mountains but generally the towns, the buildings are quite shabby, not well taken care of…. Not well off at all. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of pride in their places of residences or businesses. Kind of surprises me.

Wow!  This is one of the world’s largest (3rd) container ports. 

Today is New Year’s Day. Richard Lee is our guide. 

Dream Mall… biggest mall in Asia. Kaohsiung ….expo production economic exhibitions. Semiconductor are its wealth

Population of Taiwan is 24 Million with Taohsiung having 2.6 million. It’s  the 3rd largest city in Taiwan. Semi conductors and new harbour in city, Taichung, mid way to Taipei has replaced Taohsiung as 2nd largest city. Surprisingly the traffic, is light on this 1st day of New Years. 

ROC (Republic of China)… is Taiwan. PRC is mainland China. 1945 Mao and Chaing Kai Chek butted heads so Chaing took to Taiwan. 

Solar panels and water tanks on roofs  supplied from underground river.  

Petrochemical plants in one area we drive through. 

Only 3-4 cruise ships per month in this port… not many. 

Bananas and lychee trees, eel farms (unagi means eel in Japanese).

Meilong village … paper umbrellas

Taiwanese…60%, Hakka people …(sub group of northern Han Chinese) 15%…wealthy people. Originally came from China in 1949 are called mainlanders….comprise 30% of population. Most language taught Mandarin but Taiwanese at home. 

Finland most safe country in world, Taiwan is 2nd. 

There is so much flood irrigation. The water table must be very close to the surface. At the same time they are water deprived as shown in the totally dry river beds.

2 kinds of Indigenous groups. 16 tribes.  Largest indigenous outdoor park but a big disappoint overall. 

60% of the population is Daoust…. 

We arrived at our destination absolutely exhausted. I usually don’t have any trouble sleeping (unlike a lot of people) but wasn’t very successful this time. Part of it was that the seats on the plane (a Boeing 77-300er) even though Premium Economy, were not nearly as comfortable and the noise level not as quiet as the AirBus 300, we had travelled on to Thailand last year. But we arrived without any other complications. By 6pm Hong Kong time (about 1 pm the following day from when we took off), it was off to bed.

January 28/25

Victoria Peak is only 500+metres high but is the highest peak in the area. The International Finance centre with dome like top across the bay from us is 2nd highest in HK. There are 200 islands in HG. There are 3 tunnels, 1972 first one built is the Harbour tunnel which we cross over to HK Island from Kowloon. 

Taxes are high in Hong Kong on fuel (to get people take public transport), cigarettes (bad for your health)and liquor (to not drink to excess)….are higher for all the same reasons as at home but are 20-30% less taxes on most products than on mainland China so mainland Chinese like to come here to purchase stuff. 

From March to April typhoons happen so the British lived higher up the mountain. Also it has cooler temperatures than lower parts of Hong Kong. 

We are going to Victoria Peak but this time by winding road on a bus unlike the last time when we went up by funicular. 

Population is almost 7 M. Apartments run about 3-400 sq ft for family of 4 and cost @$1 million HKG (only 185,000 CAD)

Interesting that our guide Pan, if she is to travel to the mainland, has to get a visa because she was born in HK. 

Now off to Repulse Bay…there is no charge to use the beach with beautiful silky white sand beach. People go there and Deep Bay to have BBQ’s. Repulse Bay as well as Deep Bay, have netting to protect swimmers from shark attacks. 

Ocean Park (yellow)with roller coaster and other rides …up on the opposite hills, is where baby panda born.

We are now going to NW side of city through the West Harbour  Tunnel) to see the new double deck bridge… is only way to get to the new airport. It is comprised of the one we drive on plus one underneath for subway and sometime for emergency. It, when completed in ’97, was 2nd longest bridge in world…..55 kms long.  The new airport replaced one of the most dangerous airports in the world.  The old one was so dangerous because the planes would run off the runway into water after quickly dipping trying to avoid the high rises and mountain on approach to runway below. 

Even though it was a little chilly this morning at the top of the peak, it was a gloriously sunny day at 16+C … not a cloud in the sky. 

Unfortunately at this point we lost all wifi. I think that they block all signals coming and going between China and Taiwan….my guess though! That is the reason I have not been able to send updates to this blog.

This is the itinerary, a 42 day cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore on the Riviera Oceania ship…..with a couple of days tacked on at the end. We will be connecting up with a couple of friends that have been on the ship since Singapore. I am excited!

The last days at sea since we left Nuku Hiva, although it hasn’t exactly been stormy, has been quite difficult to walk.  I am not going to even try to dance today. It is probably worse today than any other day. The captain just told us that the seas are 3.5-4 metres and are low ones making it the worst. Thank God I don’t get sea sick.  They have left out in the elevator areas, “barf bags”.  There seems to be less today than originally were.  They have not taken off the netting in the pools, I guess because it is too dangerous.  I keep trying to take videos of the waves sloshing but never seem to get the good ones….timing is everything.  It seems to be an endless job on the pool decks, to squeegee the water off.  Anyway I am quite ready to be home although not exactly ready for the colder temperatures.  Presently it is 17C with force 4 winds from the north making it quite cool….quite a drop but not as cold as home. We are still 285 nautical miles SW of San Diego travelling at 15 knots….slower than we had been for a lot of of the last few days.

The ships crew have been trying to keep us all amused. Yesterday, everywhere we went (especially around the Lido pool, were towel animal…..absolutely mind blowing.

Yesterday as well, we were treated to the band and singing talents of the crew. One couple from guest services were particularly good. They sang the Andre Bocelli number “Time to say goodbye”. It produced quite a number of tears from the audience., myself included. They are missing their calling.

I am including some brilliant photos of the snorkelling and other wildlife…..none of which are mine. So thanks to Mary K Nixon, Richard Niven and Henk Ruiderkamp, amongst others.

See you all soon.

Yesterday we were at sea. Nothing much to tell you.

Port chat:-in port from8-4:30, 25 C., a 0%chance of rain, 62% humidity. GMT +9.5 

With a population 2951,it is largest of the Marquesas

Tender dock is 1.2 miles from the ship. There are tidal waters, so could be precarious because of no handrail on dock.  There is no bus, but there are e-bikes (couldn’t see any).

Don’t go swimming.  There are sharks….check with the locals before going in the water. Kuva beach is the only white sand beach.  There’s a waterfall.

Herman Melville was captured and held by cannibals here but he survived.  There is also a cathedral.

Hike turn to the right up the hill…to 12 metre Tiki (less than 20 minutes walk). Also 8 metre warrior beside her.  Sentinel Hill, plus other hikes….

Markets…food to right and handicrafts to the left.  Grand Canyon of Nuku Hiva requires vehicle to get there.

I thought it was to be cooler with less humidity but well what can I say but OMG…not!  And it did not rain though.  It actually looks like the port area is quite arid but up in the hills/mountains it is a jungle.  I did take a 3 hours drive around part of the island.  It is amazingly rugged with windy cement roads with hairpin turns.  Gorgeous!

On the drive ….

This stop in Nuku Hiva, Marquesa Islands, is our final port of call. We have 6 days at sea so I don’t expect I’ll have much to tell.

At noon the following day on the 14th we still had 2800+ miles to go to San Diego….travelling up to 20 knots to get ahead of the game cuz the swells in two-3 days time will be up to 4 metres.  We are presently still south of the equator.

From the port chat from eve before:-Atoll 37 kms long ….tendering is a 6 minute ride 8-4:30..29 C…scattered showers, 40% chance, 77% humidity

There will be a faster movement getting there…16 knots…500 km ENE direction

837 population…tap water again is not drinkable. Bug spray, sun protection, don’t waste time looking for wifi. There is a LeTruck, no taxi, no official bike rental….maybe at hotel. (We found bike and ebike rental in port but e-bikes were gone before we got ashore)

It’s beach atoll.  PK9 Beach, there is a diving Spot if you want to be bait for sharks. “Le sables roses”…pink sand beach, snorkel beach to the south. Drinks on shaded spot at Arenaki (?) bar. Local market open 7-12 & open again at 3.

November 11th is a National holiday here.

Fakarama….apparently means “beautiful, bringing the best reactions from you”.  Daniel said…”that’s what the French said when they saw the Brits tried to come ashore”…lol.  He is so funny, so quick!

At 11am on the 11th of November, on board the Zaandam, Remembrance Day was observed. It was a very nice service.

It’s amazing that we are anchored inside the lagoon….so large an area that you can barely see the little “motus” around the outside.  And as I said, it was a rough ride going and coming.

Just took the tender.  It was very choppy. Because of winds and waves going in wrong direction, we have to leave the ship by the aft port tender dock.  We walked along the road (cement for the most part) to beaches that ran along the inside of the lagoon.  Outside or other side from when we landed, is exposed to the ocean and so is harsh. There is no swimming.  At one point there was a local guy in the water feeding sharks….a nurse shark….brought it right onto the shore.  I missed it but some people were quite freaked out by it.

Did you know that there is only 13 letters in the Polynesian language unlike English that has 26. That is why so many of their words have double and triple vowels.

The population of Papeete is 27,000 but 60-80,000 extra people come in every day to work….270,000 total on island.  Sunday mornings the traffic is normal but in afternoon the city is “dead”.

Gas is about US$1.50/litre.  Only one synagogue and no mosques in Tahiti.  Biggest high school with 3000 Students. Hospital. The AC for the hospital (and other facilities) take temperatures from ocean which is at 10 C…..save millions every year (probably using heat pumps).  Polynesians because they are French citizens, can serve in both French navy and army.  Every November 1st, families go to cemetery to clean it up and put lots of flowers on the graves.

Recycle containers at a round-about were made in the shape of sea animals.  Cute!

Pointe Venus is our first stop, is the only lighthouse on Tahiti. R.L. Stevensen’s father designed it. 

In 1767, British explorer Samuel WALLIS was the first European to visit Tahiti, followed by French navigator Louis Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1768 and British explorer James COOK in 1769. 

Mangos and avocados are in season.  Avocado can be as big as one kilo.  There are lots of plumeria aka frangipani of all different colours.

Mutiny of Bounty wth Marlon Brandon was filmed here…other film on the Bounty was done on Mo’orea.

Poinciania, AKA flame or flamboyant tree are the red Christmas flowered trees. There are also yellow ones but you don’t see many.

Highest mountain on Tahiti was shrouded in clouds so cannot see it.  

“Bad kids that didn’t pay attention in school”….get 6 mo to 2 years ……..with military training.

No reef on this side of island …waves come in from ocean…used to train for surfing.  Lots of black sand beaches.

Green church built in 1914 at the place for leprosy colony

Papa’ana’ana is name of place that if you turn onto road to interior of island. You need a 4 wheel drive vehicle. It is a dangerous area.  There are waterfalls, river,  hydro power plant that provide 40% electrical needs of the island. Last year a child and  mother who was 8 months pregnant, were washed away by river …never to be found.  Deep valleys.

Tunnels, very windy road….only 40 “RAPPEL” in places.

Most properties are well taken care of but then you see places where other have lots of derelict cars

At Point Guinness (?)…in 1768, Bougainville anchored on the reef but lost 6 in 9 days. When he left he took a local man Ahuturo to France….the first Tahitian to travel the world. Ahuturo died in 1771 in Madagascar, from smallpox.  Anchor and plaque at side of road near bridge at Hitiaa

 Lots of full little rivers.  Not many grocery or other stores on this side.

“Wedding cakes” built into hillsides to prevent mudslides.

Our guide used to jump into river as her mother screamed not to. Now she won’t take her grandchildren to the river cuz they may do the same as she did.

Cemeteries are different than graveyards. Graveyards are burial places “in” churchyard.  

Each tree produces 60-80 coconuts per year. They are used mostly to make coconut oil.  Metal ring around the trunks are to prevent the rats (besides crabs that we heard about before) from climbing the trees and getting the fragile baby coconuts.

Drove through 2nd city of Faa’a …..after Papeete…. We are now on west coast. Cyclone season is from Nov to Apr so sailboats come into the bay for protection.

“Hotel” for bad boys(prison)….longterm…for drug dealers…. big problem with meth, etc.  

Gauguin museum closed ……don’t know when and will reopen..near Botanical Garden.

Noni juice good for BP, cancer …immune system, arthrytis pain relieve

In 1865 English farmer brought 1000 Chinese in to work cotton fields but went bankrupt cuz too far to seek to world markets. 

Several places where you can get spring water otherwise have to buy. 

Stopped at a fern garden.  Along the way saw a yellow poincenia.

Beaches are public but again it’s access that is the problem so the govt has mad several parks with showers and washrooms, big parking lot…white sand.  Several hotels here as well closed during Covid and have been unable reopen.  Everywhere you look there are cellphone palm tree towers.

At the Marina they have built shelves for boat storage because there is not enough room for all of the boats.

3000 students attend the French Polynesian University. 

 Fa’aa international airport is only international airport in French Polynesian but the first airport was on Bora Bora, built by Americans.

Cruise-ship terminal is due to open Nov 22/24

8am until 4:40pm following day 

Only ship in town.  29C…84, light rain….45% chance, 77% humidity, following day 35% rain, 75% humidity.

27,000 population of Papeete…same time zone as rest of country

Use bugs spray.  Wifi is available in visitor information centre ….turn left and then right.

Western shore, Place Vai’ete, is a park in the port. There are food trucks.

No tender  in Papeete but there is a dock.

Punapauia….beach…bus #5…le bus not leTruck …$1.30 for ride.  Taxis are metered..  there is tourist train (really is a bus)just outside port…..1 hour tourist route. ( never saw it)

Highlights….not as gritty as Suva…..but it’s a city!  Market is open on Saturday 5:30-1 pm , go Inland by one block.  Cheapest place to buy pearls downstairs.  Sundays it’s open 4:30- 8:30am

Tavitas bachuterie red sign …bubble tea …is above.  Turn right on left side of street is Robert Wan is high end jewelry.  

Notre Dame is yellow church.  Presidential palace.  

Not a beach city.  Plaza avia…beach.  Plage Mahana for snorkelling.

Local show at 7 and 9 on board.  Evening under the stars in the back deck.

Intercontinental Resort has live music.  Turtle rescue centre.  1 hour tour…must reserve….costs 1500francs for tour; 9:30-10:30  …get pass.  Taxi 10 minutes.

Ferry back to Mo’orea?  Some people stay over in Mo’orea the eve we leave and then another night cuz we overnight in Papeete, returning before the ship sails on the third day.

I didn’t do much the first day, just went into the market and had dinner on the aft pool deck watching the sun go down. Every other evening dinner held on. The aft pool deck when the ship overnighted in port, it poured rain. Not this night!

 

Port talk the night before:-In port from7-4:30, bugs spray needed and sun protection. Partly cloudy, 15% chance of rain, 74% humidity and temperature around 28C. 17,000 population, drive on the right. It is tender port….15-20 minute ride in…in Opunohu Bay. There is a craft market, food stands at pier…..not much else. Too long walk to get anywhere.  Public bus only 5/day, taxis are expensive.  Scooters for rent nearby (Coco rider.com). Mo’orea is like Bora Bora but better.  More hotels here than other Polynesian islands ….lots of beaches. Ring road…60 kms around. Timae Beach near airport on east side.  Eco museum…aquarium, golf course in timae., zip line (3600 francs)..tiki park, hikes…3 Coconut Tree Pass, Mt Mou’aputa…extremely difficult , plus another….take 6-9 hours to complete, horseback riding.

Excursion Highlights of Mo’orea is a counterclockwise circle island tour.

In 1700s Christians came to Mo’orea. The octagon church in the port was the first Christian church. Locals had worshipped three gods previously.  When they decided to have no more wine in ceremonies at the octagon church, the locals built their own church elsewhere.  There are lots of churches on the island.

Mo’orea became a protectorate in 1842.   Mo’orea mean Yellow lizard 

The reef is only 1-2 metre deep. Intercontinental hotel closed since Covid.  We passed where you park your car then catch boat to private island to lunch and feed the rays, sharks and turtles.

Some very nice hotels.  Houses on beach for rent 100/month

Club med closed …sold part to country for park and beach.  Beach is free to public now.

There are 10 kinds of mango grown here. 

Discotheque on Saturdays. 15 dollar for men, nothing for women.

Flower over right ear means looking, left is married, both is married but looking for more, 2 on right gay….so said the guide.

Aluminum bands on the coconut trees are to prevent red crab from climbing the tree to attack fragile young coconuts.

Green leaves for weaving….. walls, roofs and handbags toys like rays

On the left side are free elevated homes provided for poor.    

Mo’orea electric wires, etc are all underground so no overhead lines.

Only French, after 5 years can own property or if you are Tahitian or ……if you build hotel or other business that employee many people. 

Ferry to Tahiti for school is free for student or regular workers get better rate.  It starts at 6 am and is a 45 minute ride.

Surfing very dangerous cuz there is only 60 cms to coral

Lots of Protestant churches but only one Jehovah’s.

School is free but it costs 50$ for lunch/month ….5 days a week.

60 “Rappel” means remember the max speed is 60 kmh.

70 of 110 islands of French Polynesia have mountains. The rest are flat.

Everyon used to have large familys of 8-18 but now only have 2-3.

Very nice roads..all are paved.

It is now coming into summer…humid and very hot.

One hospital with 2 doctors and heli pad.  Pharmacy with one private doctor too.

Beaches are public but problem is to get access to them.

In 1897, the Chinese here brought to work.

Everyone gets 35 day paid holiday for men and 35 for women with up to 5 children plus 2 more day per baby 

They pay 50% tax on Chinese cars but 30% if bought from France. 

60% population is mixed race.

Costco Travel is cheaper  …$250-350/night on land or $800/night on ones over water at Sofitel….OMG it’s breathtaking.  Sofitel ,Hilton and another are owned by a Chinese man than owns the major grocery store, the hardware store, etc, etc.….  He sold one of the hotels to Chinese outfit but they went bankrupt. He then bought it back for a song. There are  2-5 flights per day out of Mo’orea .

Pineapple distillery is now owned by Coca Cola. When owned by govt only made juice but they have too many pineapples produced so make jam, juice, alcohol, etc. we had 7-8 tastes of different alcohol contents from 8%- 30%

Solar panels are becoming popular.  Our guide paid $16,000 for 12 solar panels on his roof. 

This island’s mountains are like no others. The Canadian Rockies are something else but not like the ruggedness of these.

This was a reminder to look up “tompi fish” or also called “skippy” cuz they skip atop the water.  A  girl had her leg impaled by one while on a floaty….in Tonga.  My search could not find it.