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!!

By Patricia Patrick February 15, 2026
We got up at 6:45am to get to National Park Forts Walk trail in the hope of seeing koalas . Prior walkers mark trails with tree branches pointing in the direction of their sighting and we were luck enough to see 3 markers in our first hour of hiking. It is so stinking hot and humid the success we had made it bearable. The koala population on the island started with 20 brought over in 1930, to escape fur hunters. Today, the island boast 800 to 1000, and they are so cute and drowsy. They need 20 hours of sleep a day! The early morning is when they are the most active.
By Patricia Patrick February 14, 2026
Just off the coast of Townsville, Australia is a special little island (that used to be part of mainland, hundreds of thousands years ago). The island was formed by molten granite that was pushed to the earth's surface with volcanic force.Over time the volcanic overlay weathered away leaving an extraordinary landscape of rounded domes and boulders, many as big as a house and spectcularly perched. Over Seventy Percent of the center of the Island is a National Park. There is lots of wildlife here too - koalas, rock wallabies, snakes & birds.
By Patricia Patrick February 14, 2026
This is my third time in CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA and I really enjoy how walkable, clean and charming it is. The waterfront esplanade and lagoon area is a nice walk day or night. We had 2 nights here in the waterfront Shangri La Marina Hotel while waiting for the Ship to arrive and then 2 additional days in Port.