August 28, 2025

EXPO 2025 - WORLD'S FAIR OSAKA, JAPAN

Resident Fran  from Australia, a 77 year old former novice nun, school teacher, mom, librarian, assistant director of VVR Players group and All-Around Major Ship Personality, kindly offered me her extra priority ticket as a companion to her Handicap, easy accessibility access, to the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan on August 19, 2025.  This meant we could go to the front of the lines, for the none reserved Pavilions, in front of the long cues! This was key to us accessing about 6 of the Pavilions shown below.

Singapore Pavillion was first one we went into.

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Next we went atop the massive wood structure that rings the entire EXPO 2025.I thought this was one of most impressive things in the park, as far as interesting architecture.After sweating massively on the upper ring line we made a beeline for Bulgaria purely to find some AC and seats for a bit.

Next we hit a Commons Hall - which housed several smaller countries that didn't have the opportunity or resources for their own stand alone Pavillion & in there we visit Bhutan, Palestine and Cuba. Next we sought out some lunch and a shady spot to sit in the center of the exhibit area in an area called tranquility forest. Here they created a dense tree area for shade and several countries had food trucks and little eateries with common area tables and benches. We had some shrimp, rice and veggie dishes and large waters!

After Lunch we went to Spain's Pavillion which was my favorite interior spaces.

Next was a Japanese cultural exhibit, again just to get out of the heat . And we had to go to Australia, Fran's home, where she was delighted to find properly made Lamington's,at food stall on way out of pavilion, (it's a sponge cake w strawberry jams filling, rolled in chocolate & coconut). It was very tasty.

We then made one final push to see the USA Pavilion. Full of Trump photos and highlighted our space program. By then it was 5:00 pm and we were exhausted, so we called it a day and walked out to find a subway and then an uber out of there and back to our Ship!

PORT DEARAU, FIJI - Naidiri Village

By Patricia Patrick • December 4, 2025
Today we went to see the coastal Naidiri Village that has recently won the Top Prize in global restoration, for their ocean reef project. The reef restoration was borne out of necessity to solve their dwindling food/ main protein source for the village, of fish. It was started by 2 of the villages rugby players and today is run by the local teenagers (mostly boys) in the village. It was great seeing how empowered and proud they were of their amazing efforts.

LAUTOKA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
The port agent offered several trips to areas around Lautoka . We chose the trip to Serenity Island Resort which included van and boat transfers and lunch. It was a really nice day enjoying the sun, reef, pool, turtles and amenities!

RIVER TUBING DOWN THE NAVUA, SUVA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
I organized a group tour for a fun day experience. We had a great day despite the rain that decided to join in. We started with a 45 minute van ride out through the city, into the countryside. Then we got in long boats and went up river to a waterfall, some swam or cheered on the guides to cliff dive. Then back in the boats to visit Sabata Village where 50 family members live as a community existing totally off the land, along the river. Next was a quick boat ride to our BBQ lunch spot. After lunch we got to tube down the river, through light rapids, for just about an hour. We ganged our tubes together with the guide - we had a chain of 14 in my group and the guides totally blew us away singing hymns for a good chunk of the journey. It was truly moving in that place with the rain drizzling and all of us linked together. Loved it!