Our last day of the cruise we took a tour of the island of Lombok,  which is 87% Muslim. 

We visited a museum,  a temple,  and a traditional village.

Rice is a staple of their diet and on our drive we saw Rice fields, at all stages of growth,  as well as drying Rice

The traffic was crowded with scooters everywhere.  our driver had an assistant driver and toy van see his job was to waves his arm out the window to stop traffic

The small traditional village we visited has still houses as old as 200 years,  roofed with grass thatch.   they greeted us with music and a ‘stick fight’ demonstration.  

A highlight of this cruise,  for sure,  was a visit to the Komodo National Park on Rinca Island in Indonesia,  one of 5 islands where these animals are found.   This is a unique port of Call,  where we moored in the larger bay and tenders brought us into the 1 dock on the island.  

A raised platform,  walkway,  allow you to observe the wildlife below.  We saw the pretty of the komodos first,  deer and monkey, before we saw any of the giant lizards 🦎

There are about 50 Komodos on this small island,  and the number is stable since there is adequate pretty for them.   they eat only every 2-4 weeks and 1 large kill like a water buffalo, can feed several animals.   Their bite dispenses an anticoagulant, so the would causes the animal to bleed to death.   they simply follow the scent and go eat the prey after it is weakened.

tracks in the muddy landscape.  The white spot is actually Komodo feces,  white from the bones of its pretty that it can digest easily.

There were actually 5, 3 males and 2 smaller females resting in this grassy area

Since the day had cooled a bit after a short rain,  they actually got a bit of energy and walked around for us!

There are wonderful venues for dining on Viking Ocean vessels.   The most used is the World Cafe on Deck 7.  It is casual so shorts are ok!  They even have a delicious sushi bar every dinner time!

The World Cafe also hosts special cooking/eating events,  like Pavlova desserts we had today!

There is a grill by the pool on that deck for hamburgers,  hot dogs,  grilled Ahi, etc and salads. 

There is a small venue,  tucked away in the Explorers Lounge on Deck 7 also,  Mamsen’s with Norwegian specialities, berries, heart shaped waffles, sweet rolls,  cookies, open face sandwiches. 

The Restaurant on Deck 2, where no reservation is needed,  open for breakfast,  lunch on seas days, as well as dinner every night.

There are 2 specialty restaurants, with 1 reservation guaranteed in each for every cruiser on each cruise,  Manfredi’s Italian and Chef’s Table with set menus changed every 3 days.

Chef’s Table is usually an adventure in eating and less adventuresome folks often miss this gem!  After every cruiser has chosen their favorite time and date,  these 2 venues are open for repeated reservations so we have taken advantage and have 3 reservations in Chef’s Table and 2 in Manfredi’s this trip!

Tonight we enjoyed the XIANG menu

The Menu and what each item looked like

We have had high seas and low visibility as we were to moor in the Torres Strait at Thursday Island,  which prohibited the tenders from making the landing, so our stop there was canceled.   I thought I might take this opportunity to show you a typical Sea day on Viking Ocean voyages, and a bit about our stateroom.  It comes equipped with robes and slippers,  a blanket for naps, Freya products for the bath and body, a Nespresso machine with daily coffee and a fridge,  restocked daily with drinks,  nuts and chocolate!

This is our stateroom,  A deluxe Veranda

You can walk all around the ship on decks 8 and 2.  As you walk around the 8th deck you can look down into the pool, which can close it’s ceiling on bad days

There is another pool,  the infinity pool on the back of deck 7.  

The third pool is the spa thermo therapy pool in the Spa, where there are stream rooms (the picture is just stream), hot tubs,  a cold water bucket, and even a snow grotto!

There is also facilities for facials and massages,  hair salon,  and gymnasium!

There are computers to use and a small museum of Nordic Heritage.  In some stairwell there are also Norwegian artifacts

There are many nooks and crannies where you can sit and read,  play games of cards, dice, dominos, bridge, or majong.  There are tables for large jigsaw puzzles too!

The largest is the Living room, the 3 story Atrium, with the majestic stairway,  large screen,  grand piano for evening music.

One of the larger lounges is the Explorer Lounge, on 2 decks,  7 and 8 forward.

Near the main pool area is the Wintergarden and along the edges of the pool

Of course there are laundry facilities,  free on the main resident decks the ocean ships,  and they are busy often!  On this sea day, we are washing everything we have worn, just in case we can’t get any facilities on our last day,  before disembarking in Bali

 

 Besides all the entertainment on our stateroom TVs, there is a cinema and a theater where our lecturers, port talks,  and entertainment happens, The Star Theater

Evening entertainment and small talks are in TorsHavn

Even the stairwells are filled with art!  There is a one of a kind photograph of the Bayeaux Tapestry, which is explained on a ship walk around by the resident historian.  

As you can see,  we are traveling on a beautiful Nordic designed cruise ship!  Even Sea days are enjoyable!

One of the bucket list items on everyone list!  I had the great adventure once before,  in a previous lifetime it seems,  but this was Emmett’s first opportunity!  We were so excited to finally get to this excursion on our cruise! Out of Cairns. we boarded a nice big catamaran with 150 others,  to cruise an hour and a half off the coast before reaching Hastings Reef.

We were able to get into the water and view the underwater life at least 2 or 3 times over the next 3.5 hours,  in between,  enjoying lunch on board.  Unfortunately,  all the photos and video of that gorgeous reef will have to wait!  The SD card in my GoPro decided to crash!  Hopefully our wonderful computer whiz Craig Muranaka can rescue them when we get home and I will make a video show for you all then!  In the meantime,  here is a preview from above water.

our return to Cairns

We passed this wonderful tree house playground created our of a huge Banyon tree!  I think we would enjoy seeing more of this city

sailing out, the city views from the ship

On our stop in Townsville we visited their museum and traveled along the strand, along the beach.  A small section is netted to keep swimmers safe from stinging jellies, and predators like crocodiles.

Museum

We moored in the sound outside Shule Harbor and Airlie Beach for a day in the Whitsunday Islands.   Most of the excursions were very expensive here so we saved our money for one Barrier Reef experience in Cairns.  watch for that in a couple days.  

Today we did the town walk on our own and then a cruise of the islands close by the ship.   I would love to have seen more,  but every excursion was over $250, up to a couple thousand.  

Our was a lovely small village with a stunning beach!  But dispute the temperature in the mid 80s, no on was on the beach or in the water!  it is Stinging Jellies season!  Apparently they are very painful!  so much so,  the town built a nice lagoon swimming pool very close to the beach instead!

After lunch on the ship,  we had our included excursion along with 600 to 800 fellow passengers,  on one of the ferries around the islands.  The most famous probably of the 4 or 5 resort communities is Hamilton Island, playground for the rich and famous.   The only 6 star resort in Queensland is there. where the looks of Oprah hang out, leaving her private plane on the tarmac of the airport for a week or so.

At one time George Harrison built a house here.  Some scenes of Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed here and Johnny Depp had been seen around then.  

We had a beautiful day here,  and,  of I were a bit more affluent,  I might just come back someday! 

just a cool sighting for you car buffs

Brisbane has much to offer. the great Australia Zoo and the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.   We had a great visit today with my friend Grace!  We had a fun time visiting the Koala Sanctuary

We stopped down by the performance center and museums.  The waterfront of the city is beautiful and well planned for the citizens to enjoy,  much of our at no cost! 

Our first port, an old coal mining town,  on the Hunter River.  It is the home of the oldest vineyards in Australia in Hunter Valley.   It is also our first option to see some of Australia’s animals,  at Black butt Reserve

Sadly,  the only koala in the reserve was getting a physical at the vet today.  😪

We have boarded our Viking ship,  Venus and have settled into our stateroom.   Our wonderful TA, Caroline Swift,  has again ordered chocolate covered strawberries to get us in our room!  Thank you,  Caroline!

our stateroom and view

Around the ship

The good news… after a month in Hawaii,  and weighing in fully dressed And after lunch, We both weigh within 3 lbs of our weight before traveling!   We have done quite well staying on our pre-trip diet! 

We sail away at 11 PM, so the view under the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and by the Opera House is breathtaking