David's Cruise

Seemingly, I have deleted some pictures. Here they are again plus some more…

From top to bottom ( not quite in the correct order!)

1 Madeira 2 Southampton 3 Walvis Bay Namibia 4 Tenerife 5 Garden Route Safari 6 Walvis Bay again! 7 and 8 Garden Route Safari….again! 9 10 11 La Reunion.

We approach midnight on the third of seven sea days between Mauritius and Fremantle. I did allow for stomach sickness during this long voyage, but certainly not during this leg of the trip. And I did not bargain for a filthy head cold the same time. I have been “isolated” and ordered to stay in my cabin until 24 hours after the sickness has subsided. I have no problem with that, and I have been looked after extremely well. However, I do wish I had now booked a balcony or ocean view cabin! With luck, I should be let out Friday at the latest!

More news soon

David

With the promise of more warm weather, we docked at Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, at a much more civilised 8 O’clock this morning. I had chosen an all day shore excursion leaving the harbour at 10.30. I was surprised how attractive and dramatic the background was with distinctive mountains silhouetted sharply against the sky. Rain clouds swirled menacingly amongst the hills. Perhaps a spectacular thunderstorm was on the cards. Apparently, there was one, but I didn’t see it. There were occasional spots of rain later on in the tour, which was listed unimaginably as “Southern Delights”. In fact, the tour title was most appropriate. We would be taken to see several interesting places, worthy of a photograph or two, and “delights” was something of an understatement.

The tour guide gave a lengthy account of what we would be seeing, as well as details of what we were passing on both sides of the minibus. First of all, we were taken out of Port Louis along the motorway and then past a mixture of residential and commercial properties. We were driven past the homes of government ministers and other VIPs. Eventually, we came to a vantage point overlooking the Trou aux Certs crater, formed from a long since dormant volcano. Lush vegetation throughout the entire crater bore testament to how long the volcano had been dormant.

We continued to an important sacred lake where a huge Hindu festival was about to occur. The GRAND BASSIN, nestling in another volcanic crater is looked on as Mauritius’s “Ganges” and is a place of pilgrimage for “thousands”. There were several temples; we stopped briefly at one which was massive, full of brightly dressed native people, and families, and much noisy prayer. I felt very conspicuous, in my western attire and orange Cunard tour dayglo sticker attached to my shirt….along with many others on the same tour. We had a look around; I declined the opportunity to paddle in the lake.

More further fabulous views were afforded at Black River Gorges, including the biggest in Mauritius.

Buffet lunch followed in a near by restaurant, again, with fabulous views.

After lunch, and a brief walk through lovely gardens, we continued to the Charamel Waterfall and then the 7 coloured earth area, another regular site for cruise ship tourists. But, there’s also, alongside the mulicoloured soil, the loveliest of tropical gardens and a pen housing several turtles.

On the way back, we stopped one final time to photograph a panoramic vista of the Indian Ocean.

The tour guide was excellent, proud to impart as much local knowledge as she was able to. Much of her commentary, I missed, but I do feel I saw much and learned a lot in the almost six hour excursion.

One annoying thing, I left my camera phone on the ship; thus I have no pictures to illustrate today’s journey. My photographs taken on my main camera are “average to not bad”.

Shortly after 18.30hrs local time, QM2 set sail for Fremantle, a journey of over a week. Tomorrow is the first of seven days on the Indian Ocean.

I shall write again shortly.

David.

Reunion 3/2/18

QM2 arrived at Reunion at around 06.00hrs. I was awake shortly afterwards, ready for the all too brief Scenes of Reunion shore excursion. We were taken 7,000ft to the crater of THE CIRCLE OF MAFATE, totally surrounded by steep dramatic mountains, with minimal cloud below to obscure the dramatic view, just partially. Unfortunately, I took those pictures on my main camera, the one bought in Tenerife at the beginning of this voyage. However, we went on to visit a most attractive Geranium Oil Distillery where I did take a few pictures on my phone.

Even at that level, the temperature was nudging into the 30s Centigrade. We arrived back of the ship 4.5 hours later, not quite in time to join the afternoon excursion, an afterthought which might have been quite nice.

Tomorrow, we spend the day at our 7th port of call, Mauritius.

More news later.

David

Today is the last of 4 sea days before our arrival at Reunion. Our course is north east from Port Elizabeth & thus towards the Equator. It was decidedly warm leaving a very blustery Port Elizabeth and the sea was “lively”. Madagascar was to our north as we steamed towards Reunion and Mauritius, but by yesterday it had become unbelievably calm and (I think) the hottest day so far. Flying fish were aplenty, but I missed out on a spectacular dolphin display.

I was saddened by the u expected sight of several “slicks” of a horrible brown stuff we passed through yesterday. There was other debris, bits of paper and a tin can glistening in the sun. No such disappointment today. The clocks advanced a fourth hour as we crossed another time zone. Still, for the distance travelled to date, that is unremarkable. I have done little today; after a disturbed night (I must have woken up around 6 times) I overslept and even missed breakfast. I shall do little today; tomorrow, 08.30hrs is the start time for a “Best of Reunion” shore excursion. I am told thunderstorms are forecast!

Watch this space.

Since my last blog, I have spent time in South Africa, opting to partake in an overland tour along the entire Garden Route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. This entailed an early start, meeting in the ship’s Golden Lion Pub at 06.20. That meant an early wake up call at 05.15. This tour provided a rare opportunity to see much more of the country than is usually possible on a cruise holiday. Much was “crammed” into that first day and the early start was necessary. A light breakfast was brought to my room at 05.15. I had done most of my packing the night before, dining early also, rather than at the usual 8.30pm.

15 took part in this journey and before 7am, our luggage had been stowed in the hold of the 36 seater coach. The seats were comfortable with plenty of legroom. We left on time. Table Mountain was covered heavily by an unforgiving grey-ish cloud, while Cape Town itself was basking in warm morning sunshine.

The first leg of our journey was to Botlierskop situated between the Outeniqua Mountains and the beaches of the Indian Ocean. Here, is situated, the Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. Our overnight accommodation there consisted of luxury tented suites complete with balcony and plenty of comfortable garden furniture. The proximity of the reserve and the sounds of the wildlife created an exciting ambience, the like of which I had not experienced previously. We stopped for something to eat after almost three hours’ travelling. High winds and roadworks caused around an hour’s delay; lunch wasn’t hurried, but most of us didn’t get our accommodation until after the early evening safari trip.

Fifteen of us boarded “canopied” 4WD vehicles each with three rows of three seats. Although having been up since 5am, I was ready, as everyone else was to go exploring. I have taken some photographs, but although told at the time, I cannot yet identify everything.

Dinner later that evening rounded off a long but thoroughly enjoyable day. I couldn’t see myself making for the 5.45am safari the next day; I surprised myself and was ready with the rest of the party for another even greater adventure of stunning spectacular scenery and a large variety (over 26 species) of wildlife allowed to roam the 3,500 hectare game reserve.

By 11.00 that morning, we were saying a reluctant goodbye to what I felt was a remarkable experience. The coach was continuing towards our second destination, Plettenberg Bay. On the way, we would spend time at Knysna where there was time for shopping and lunch. Eventually, we arrived at the 5 star Plettenberg Hotel with fabulous views over the sands, the bay and the Indian Ocean beyond, with the continuous roar of the incoming waves and white foam.

I was exhausted by the end of that day and after a superb dinner, it was time for bed. Again, we were all reluctant to leave. I would have been happy to have stayed at both places for at least a week. All that was just yesterday. I was, however, excited to be boarding QM2 for the next stage of its World Voyage 2018. Today, in rather heavy seas, we are steaming towards the isle of Reunion, just West of Mauritius. There are a further three days at sea before many of us will be climbing aboard tourist buses to take us around this spectacular island. The trip I have chosen takes me 7,000 feet above sea level, and it promises to be cool up there.

When QM2 docked at Cape Town, around 1,400 passengers, I gather, disembarked, and a similar number came on board, mostly, I am led to believe, having flown out from Australia for the return sailing home. There is certainly a joyful atmosphere on board…not that it wasn’t before, but it’s certainly different. Things will continue to change as the voyage progresses.

Now, for 2 pictures

I hope you enjoyed this.

All the best, David.

This epic journey continues well as we steam south towards Namibia and into the first really hot weather. Of course, this is just the beginning. There is little to write about right now. It goes without saying that the ship is magnificent, food and service tremendous. A couple of substantial delays have been negated by ample recovery time during the sea days. I have just received my documentation for an African Safari trip along the Garden route. I am going to have to put aside my dislike of early mornings. Day 1 entails meeting on deck 2 at 06.20hrs…04.20 BST. The rare opportunity to make this trip and see so much makes this three day excursion very well worth any early morning inconvenience.

I am slightly annoyed about one thing, however. The passengers are listed with their nationality at the front of the booklet. Apparently, I am American!

More news later on.

All the best, David.

Staying overnight in Southampton turned out to be an unexpected bonus and pleasure. Rather than dine in Britannia Restaurant on this first night, I ventured back to the Ibis Hotel for a final meal with my neighbour who drove me to Southampton the previous day. I was able to capture some unusual “after dark” photographs of QM2 in her former home port. Not too long ago, Cunard re-registered the fleet in Hamilton. Hamilton emblazoned accross the stern, just doesn’t look “right”. I “kid” myself that Hamilton is the one in Scotland, not Bermuda!

But, now, it is day 2. QM2 departed eventually at slightly before 09.00hrs from a rather cool merky Southampton. Judging by the occasional “bump” we are now well out to sea, the pilot having left us around 10.30hrs. Few people turned out to bid farewell to England. The Captain announced details of our future progress along the English Channel, and an almighty discordant blast on the ship’s horn confirmed we were now underway.

There are three days at sea before we tie up at Madeira. There’s an atmosphere of reserved excitement on board…my excitement is far less reserved, all my misgivings having evaporated long before setting off! I don’t suffer from mal de mer normally. However, I am taking no chances as we venture South. One good thing about such a late departure is that on this voyage, we shall sail through the Bay of Biscay while hopefully, I am fast asleep. And the seasick tablets will aid this slumber.

I have settled in nicely. So far, the seas have been rough, but nothing more than I have seen before. Today is the third of three sea days before docking at Funchal, Madeira tomorrow. The panoramic sea and skyscapes from the Commodore Club on deck 9 are reassuringly tranquil, gentle baroque music plays softly, adding to the already relaxing ambience of what I would describe as the Observation Lounge. Any conversation is muted, a bit like a library.

Entertainment on board has so far been excellent and, in general well received.

I shall write again in the not too distant future.