October 22, 2025

WOW!!! PALAU is the tropical Paradise I have been dreaming about! This is trip just reached a new level of OMG!!

Our Ship was tendered right off the Palau Pacific Resort and we had use of their dock and lovely facilities for the 3 days we were here.

I went on the best snorkeling trip of my life, to date, with this fun group of ten. The operator was Fish n Fins and our main guide Anna, from Germany, was amazing! So knowledgeable and passionate about her job. First class tour, thank you Ben so much for organizing!

L circling R: Lori, Scott, Delia, Ben,Phil, Kim, Lynn, Bosco, Me & Christy

It was as gorgeous below the water as on top. I borrowed these photos from various freinds since I don't have an underwater camera - thanks David, Sherrie, Brent and Lyn. The CLAMS so cool and colorful, brilliant corals, Blue starfish, turtles and white and black tip SHARKS! I didn't see these jelly fish but had to include, so spectacular! There is an area called jelly fish lake.

To top it all off, the most gorgeous sunset as we headed back to the ship!

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.