AT SEA AGAIN.

On our way to JAPAN. 

Leaving Honolulu was pretty impressive.  The ship left the dock at 8pm, so it was dark, except for all the port lights.  A little tug boat was alongside, nudging us away from the dock, until it was safe for the ship’s engines to take over.  We watched the land slowly recede, losing the outline of the individual buildings, till all we could see was just the line of lights, with the dull outline of the higher land behind them, where in places the lights crept up the hills.  We stayed watching for over an hour.  It was a beautiful night, warm and clear, with a huge moon shining overhead!  We were with couple of our new shipboard friends and we all remarked how very moving it was to watch the horizon of lights recede into the distance.  So different from leaving a place with the roar of a jet-engine.

On our last day on the island of Oahu, we left Honolulu the tourist area and went on a bus tour all around the island.  We went up to the mountains, where it was raining!  But once again I was overwhelmed by the lush tropical vegetation.  Then back down to the north-shore beaches, famous for their HUGE waves.  My was it ever impressive – miles of these huge waves thundering on the beach – a surfer’s paradise.

So I left the islands of Hawaii with so many different impressions.  I was so impressed by the natural beauty of the place.  At the same time I felt over-impressed by the incredible commercialism and showy wealth of areas like Waikiki. The theme of this trip is “sustainability”.  We sit in on lectures where the over consumerism of one half of the world is shown to be threatening our species’ very survival.  And then we embark into areas where it is displayed to the full.  Ah well, It has been ever thus!   But perhaps the best impression of all is the wonderful cheerfulness and kindness of the people.

So where are the pictures you may well be asking.  Coming soon I hope.  They are in the camera – all safe and sound, I Hope.  I am having a bit of difficulty in getting them onto this computer!  My lack of know-how rearing it’s ugly head.  But soon I will find a window of time in our ever-hectic schedule and will get the help necessary from the computer lab.  Then the pictures will start coming!

Till then, we sail ever onward.  I often think of you – wish I could chat in person, but am grateful to be able to share thought with you here on my little lap-top.  Thank you Jamie!!

Lots of love Liz and Audrey.

HILO, BIG ISLAND, HAWAII

our first port of call – wow.  we arrived very early this morning and went through immigration.  it was a huge job, 700 students and then all the faculty and we life-long-learners.  Audrey and I were among the last to be cleared, as they did all the American citizens of all categories first.  but eventually we were free to step onto dry land – Hawaii.  And what was the first thing we did?  i blush to confess, we took the shuttle bus to Walmart.  Imagine, the Walmart busses were waiting right there at the port entrance. Well, of course we had a list of things we knew we wanted, and with the bus right there it seemed a perfect opportunity to get such essentials out of the way. But we did feel embarassed.  As Audrey said it’s a long way to go to Walmart!

The fun part came later.  We went on a basic tour of Hilo. We went on a coach, with many stops to get off.  We saw fabulous HUGE Banyan trees, HUGE Monkey trees and other species; all huge and exotic.  Apparently Hawaii is one of the wettest places in the world, although there has been a shortage of rain recently. So much so that the famed waterfall was little more than a trickle. But it was in a beautiful setting.  We were never out of sight of the sea, and caught glimpses of whales.  Hilo has beaches,  but not the famous surfing beaches of Honolulu, another of the Hawaii’n ( just can’t get that spelling right!) islands.  We are sailing over there tomorrow night, and have booked into another tour which will take us all around that area. And I promise myself some beach time.

Then it is back to sea again. We then go back to sitting in on some of the classes.  It is all very interesting, but it can be quite a challenge keeping up with everything.  And I don’t mean just mentally Of course, as I said in my last blog we were struggling with rough seas, and getting from a to b was quite a challenge. But the last day at sea was much calmer so we are keeping our fingers crossed. The people we have been meeting are a nice bunch.  If I ever get all their names sorted out it will be a miracle, but as we wear name tags most of the time, I get by.

I seem to be making progress with all the technical stuff, ie computers, cameras etc.  I am going to send this written blurb off ( I hope) and then TRY to get my photos onto the computer and then get some of them onto my blog.  Oh the everlasting challenges of this modern world!! Wish me luck.

The only thing I could wish to improve life at the moment would be being able to have the odd chat you –  that would be nice.  But at least I have this.

Love to you all  Granny, Mum, Liz

STILL AT SEA

Apparently we are skirting a big pacific storm. It has been dumping a vast amount of rain on Orange County. I hope Alastair and family that you are all AOK.

On board we are rocking and rolling with a vengeance!  Thank god, neither Audrey nor I suffer from sea-sickness, but walking has become a major challenge.  As you all know, balance has been quite a challenge for me for the last little while.  Now I lurch from pillar to post, quite literally. Mind you I am not alone! Even a lot of the young and fit students are staggering. Luckily this is seen as humourous, and we all smile and laugh as we weave our ways past each other.

Audrey and I have been ‘adopted’ byu two of the waiters in the dining room. As soon as we hove into sight they appear, offering their arms and escort us to the food, and then to our places. Then they sort of hover, keeping us in sight, ready to bring us anything we should want.  They are delightful young men, Alan and Darwin, both from the Phillipines. They certainly add to the fun of dining!!

technical stuff!!

For those of you who care to email me on this trip, and I hope you do, my email address for this trip is: eminman@semesteratsea.net

This address is FREE!

I will send you more interesting stuff as it happens.

AT SEA

Wow – Where to begin?  I suppose at 5am at Alastair`s.  We loaded ourselves and our baggage into the car and we were off.  Thank god for Alastair. He drove us to San Diego, found the Sheraton Hotel, unloaded the luggage, helped us find the right desk, handed over the big cases to those who were loading it into the bus, hugged us and saw us climb onto the bus.

WE WERE NOW OFFICIALLY WITH SEMESTER AT SEA.

     The bus took us to the boat. Maggie was one of the officlal greeters!  good to see a friend.  We were shown our cabin – we had lunch – we waited – we sailed.

WE ARE NOW AT SEA.

CALIFORNIA HERE I AM!!

Here we are having breakfast in Fullerton with Alastair, Lisa, Ben and Ruby.

Yesterday was incredibly stressful, getting from Hamilton to John Wayne Airport.  We had to pick up our passports at the travel shop in Toronto Airport before we could even get on a plane.  Security measures were awesome.  We were searched by members of the RCMP, all fully armed!  But, we finally made it.

It is wonderful to be here.

 

GOODBYE TO FRIENDS

  Tonight we met Nora, Jo,and Jean for supper at East Side Marios. We had a happy evening together