June 15, 2025

HONOLULU - Day 2

I had such a relaxing day I hardly took any photo's. Patrick picked me up from the Ship and we went to the local's beach spot down near Diamond Head and the War Memorial - way less crowded than Waikiki Beach in front of the hotels. I left my phone locked in the car for peace of mind. We swam and chatted and I met some of his friends. Later we had garlic shrimp from a yummy spot, recommended by one of the food truck vendors.  Patrick surprised me with a bag of hard pretzel treats before dropping me back at the Ship and sadly it was time to say Aloha to him! I hit the gym and did a long Peloton workout, as we sailed out of Honolulu.

Dinner tonight was a 50th Birthday celebration for Aussie Rina! Two of her besties David Austin, my next door neighbor and Paul Fishman, my favorite retired chef, surprised her and dressed up to give her a proper Hawaiin celebration!! It turned out to be the one time Paulie didn't come to me for costume help - he could have borrowed my seashell bra!!

2nd YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SAILING THE WORLD

By Pat Patrick • October 1, 2026
WOW!! I can't believe it has been two years of sailing around the World already for me and my fellow shipmates on the Villa Vie Odyssey! We left Belfast, Ireland back on September 30, 2024 and it has been such a great adventure to date! We have been to 201 different ports, some more than once, during those two years, with much more to come!

APOPO, SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 29, 2026
Before coming to Cambodia , I sadly have to admit I was unaware of the landmine problems they face. On our first night in Siem Reap, where we hiked up the hill to try and see the sunset views, there was a small band of men playing instruments and our tuk tuk driver explained to me they were victims of landmine explosions who had lost limbs or their sight and were trying to make money via donations to support their families.

Ta Prohm Temple ( AKA Lara Croft: Tomb Raider), CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 28, 2026
I rallied for our last temple of the morning, because I heard this one was unique and I think it was my favorite. Ta Prohm was built starting in 1186 by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university dedicated to the king's mother. It was left mostly un-restored so that huge banyan and silk cotton trees grow directly over and through the walls. In 2001, the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie was filmed here.