Island Hopping Day 25: at sea

I woke up to chatter on the social media page about our late departure yesterday.  I remember being on the deck for sail away, and they called for two passengers to please report to guest services.  I never saw anyone arrive late and did not think anything of it because we finally left.  A passenger was saying they heard a rumor that two passengers on our ship died while snorkeling in Samoa.  Of course, if you know me you know I have a nickname of SnoopDog.  So of course, I had to hit the internet and the rumors were true.  How awful for these two to die while on an amazing trip.  The cruise ship said absolutely nothing about the horrible tragedy.  Not one single word!  Of course, I thought about that rainbow as we left the port yesterday and how it was a sign . . . if you know me you know I am a big believer in signs and even had a published article about a sign from Sean after he died.

It was a low key day and the only photo I took!

Island Hopping Day 24: Apia, Samoa

I woke up feeling so much better!  Another day; another island tour!  By this point, it is all starting to look the same and not impressed.  I really should post the cruise excursion descriptions so you can laugh at how grand it sounds but in reality it just isn’t.  Anyway, our first stop was at Finagalo Paia o Iesu (Sacred Heart of Jesus) Catholic Church (10 minutes)

Falefa Waterfall (15 minutes)

Then we were dropped off at Gina’s Tropical Garden (60 minutes).  It was a private residence (yes, I asked) where people lived.  It had beautiful gardens and we were set free to roam . . .

 

At this point of the tour, I was not impressed. I’m not sure if it’s just the tour or the culture. It wasn’t horrible but we were rushed so we could add an extra stop but then we all ended up at same place for an hour to watch a coconut demonstration and snacks!

The beach looked super nice but no way to get down since the gate was locked.

So, the tour still had an hour remaining.  The guide acted as if it was a special stop but all the groups ended up at the same local market (25 minutes) where there was a lot of local produce and goods. And this is where it changed for me. This was truly a local market with local produce and tourist stuff too, but the locals were shopping for their day to day food and supplies. 

 

I got back on the bus and noticed a young boy trying to get our attention. He was a cutie with a sweet smile and charming eyes. He sold 6 sarongs and then all the big kids started invading his territory. Did I need it? No, but I knew that $10 would go a long way for his family and man it tugged at my heart.  I should have given him $20. 

 
As we drove around earlier in the day, I found the most interesting thing was how trash is left at roadside for pick up.  Each house has an elevated platform to prevent animals from getting into the trash.  

And as we finally left port almost 2 hours late, we had a beautiful rainbow.

Island Hopping Day 23: at sea

While it said SEA DAY on the itinerary  . . . it was really skip to the next day . . . which is exactly what we did when we crossed the International Date Line.  

We went to bed on the 6^th in American Samoa and woke up on the 8^th  in Samoa . . . the locals sometimes referred to it as Western Samoa.  

Island Hopping Day 22: Pago Pago, American Samoa

I woke up feeling about the same. I was hopeful I would be better, but at least we are in an American territory so after my tour I am on a mission to find medicine. 
 
Anyway, as silly (and crazy) as it may sound this stop was one of the main reasons I picked this cruise.  It is the one stop I was most excited about . . . you know I love the National Parks and there is one on this island.  I was going to get to check it off my list!  I booked a seat with local small group tour on my own that would take us to parts of the National Park that are not right in port.  I asked where we would go and was told wherever the group wants to go.  So of course, I did my homework and had a list in case the other people did not.  They did not!  I jumped in the front seat so I could make sure I voiced where  I wanted to go . . . yes, I was that person. 
 
American Samoa is famous for their native fruit bats that locally they call flying foxes.  They are the only native mammals in American Samoa.  This specie of fruit bats can have a wing span of up to 3 feet.  They are also active during the day and night.  They were huge and easy to spot hanging in trees around the island.

A drive by the StarKist tuna cannery.  It is the largest employer on the island and can be up to 80% of the local revenue.  A lot of the workers “commute” from near by Samoa as they employ 1,700-2,000 people.  They process up to 450 metric tons of tuna each day. 

Sorry Charlie but we must move along . . . a quick stop at a viewpoint!

We were back on the road to the Pola Island Trail.  Officially visited National Park number 37 (out of 64). 

It was an easy walk . . . 

. . . to get closer look at Pola Island . . . views from left, center, and right.

The Mt. Alava Aerial Tramway in American Samoa was permanently closed following a tragic aircraft accident on April 17, 1980, during Flag Day celebrations.  A U.S. Navy aircraft was flying low over Pago Pago Harbor. The plane clipped and snagged the aerial tramway's high-voltage/support cables.  After snagging the cable, the aircraft crashed at the Rainmaker Hotel, leaving it in flames.  Seven people were killed (6 Navy crew members and 1 tourist on the ground. 

I stopped in the Jean P Hatdon Museum (free) which had great displays about the island and its culture.

American Samoa receives as much as 309 inches of rain each year!  As we arrived at the tramway it started to rain but cleared up in no time.
 
Let me say that I was a bit bummed about the tour.  I booked a half-day tour which I thought would be 3-4 hours . . . the website said it would be approximately 4 hours.  We left the port around 9:15am and dropped back off at 11:30am.  If I heard it once, I heard it a dozen times that the guide had to be back for his next tour at 1130am.  Our ship arrived on time so there is no excuse why our tour was shortened.  So word to the wise make sure you ask how long a half-day or full-day tour will be.  Maybe taking the second tour would have been better because not rushed to pick up another group?  Apparently in American Samoa they don’t work long hours!  I did get to go where I wanted but also thought I should have at least had one more hour.  I had a list of places to go and could have seen more . . . at least we did hit most.  

I went back to the ship for lunch.  I felt bad staying on the ship so went back out to just walk around.  I walked to a beach but not much else that way. 

My mission to find medicine was successful.  I found a small grocery type store with ibuprofen and Nyquil!  As I walked around, I noticed so much trash on the ground . . . worse than any other island we’ve been too. Lazy Americans?  I did ask if local considered themselves to be Americans or Samoans.  He said Samoans first then Americans . . . they want the benefits of the U.S. but not too much.  Oh I had deep thoughts in my head but won't put those here.  I will say the locals gave the best welcome and departure with the singing and dancing on the dock.  They were so kind and entertaining.  The sunset did not disappoint either.

Island Hopping Day 21: at sea

I woke up feeling better! When I am outside my room, I feel good but when I’m in my room, I feel worse!  It’s a low-key day since we are at sea. I spent most of day trying to hang out in the open deck areas.  It was good people watching.  On this cruise, most of the passengers are from Australia and New Zealand with a mix of French Polynesia islanders.

I have never been on a cruise with so many coughing people!

Island Hopping Day 20: Rarotonga, Cook Islands

I woke up still feeling blah. I was up and down all night and at 1am took a sleeping pill which helped me rest better. My throat is still on fire, but I don’t see any signs that it’s more than a sore throat. I keep doing what I can and hopefully it’s better soon!

 

Today we are in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.  The Cook Islands is a self-governing island nation in free association with New Zealand. Rarotonga is just one of 15 islands that make up the Cook Islands archipelago.
 
I often found myself thinking about the show Survivor.  I just knew Jeff Probst would walk around the corner.  I had to go search and 20 years ago Survivor was in the Cook Islands filming season 13.
 
I am doing an island discovery tour. It’s a small island and the perimeter road is only about 30 kilometers and takes about an hour to circle the island.
 
It is also Sunday so nothing is open! I wish cruise lines would plan better and have sea days on Sundays and port days when places are open. I just walked around for an hour before my tour. 

The beach was full of large rocks.  Thankfully it is overcast and a nice breeze but you know I’m still hot and sweaty.

 
Our excursion had a Chinese tour group of 15 people and all they did was talk so loud and couldn’t hear the guide; I was super annoyed.  I should have complained.
 

Muri Beach and Muri Lagoon . . . this seemed to be the place to be!  The southeast side of the island had amazing beaches.  

A quick stop at a sacred ground where the chief would meet and only family is allowed on this ground.

A stop at a beach overlook.  We had very little time so couldn't walk down.

 

Probably the biggest waste of a tour. Since it was Sunday, we didn’t stop at the museum. Our only stops were a beach, sacred ground, beach overlook, and a lovely family hosted a stop with a snack of local fruits and cakes.  I chatted with the people about the foods they were serving and then walked the beach which was super rocky.  I was amazed at how different the beaches were at each side of the island.

It’s always a gamble with ship excursions.  I could see returning to the Cook Islands, but these places are so isolated and hard to get to with limited flight schedules.  I am not a sit around for a long time and relax kind of person.  But will say the Cook Islands were surprisingly beautiful!  

At least the sunset from the ship was amazing!

Island Hopping Day 19: at sea

You know the seas will be rough when you see these out and about the ship.

I woke up still feeling not great.

Seas were rough and I was in bed most of the day. 

Island Hopping Day 18: Raiatea, French Polynesia

My fever broke during the night.  As long as I was on medicine, I felt okay; not great but well enough to get out. During the night, I looked at the cruise social media page and there is a flu outbreak!  Of course some people are like me and continuing with their plans and some are saying we are being selfish and exposing others.  Oh well! 

I knew there was a pharmacy near the dock so I was off early to go see what I could get.  I tried to buy some more cold & flu medicine but you needed a prescription which meant I needed to see a doctor so that wasn’t going to happen.  We as Americans are used to being able to buy most medicines easily.  Most countries in the world, do not have over the counter medicines just out and easy to buy like in a grocery store.  I had to talk to a pharmacist and tell her my symptoms and she suggested what she could let me buy.  

This is what $16 gets you.  I wasn’t thrilled that all I could get was ibuprofen and cough drops but knew I would have to rest and hydrate as much as possible.  I also would make me hot water with honey and lemon through out the day and at night would get hot water with salt to take to my room to gargle . . . should have seen the looks I got when I prepared this in the buffet restaurant.

 

I knew being outside would do me good.  At the last minute, I booked an excursion for the Taha’a Cultural Experience.  Our first stop was known as Vanilla Island.  The smell of vanilla as we walked up was amazing!  I found it resourceful that they use coconut husk at the base of the vanilla when planted to keep in the moisture.

The island of Taha'a produces about 80% of all vanilla in French Polynesia.  We were given a introduction to the farm and the process of how vanilla beans are grown and harvested.  I think I heard him say they plants are hand pollinated due to lack of bees.  The pods take at least 9 months to mature followed by 3 months to sun-dry.  I had no idea they looked like green beans until they dry in the sun.

There are 2 types of vanilla in world:  Tahitian Vanilla and Madagascar Vanilla

Next stop was to a pearl farm.  I thought it was just going to be another one of those shopping grabs but it was educational only!

Takes 2 years for the first pearl to form.  I did not take notes and just listened so not much to share on the process.

I never really understood the difference from a cultured pearl and an uncultured (natural) pearl.  I never knew that cultured used human intervention . . . and there was a thing called pearl farms.  It was a very informative talk on the process.  We had a local lunch; I have no idea what it was except for the fresh fruit . . . yes, I was one of the first people in line and it was very good.

With time at the beach.

Our final stop was a motu.  I didn't even bring a swimsuit but enjoyed walking the island and wading in the water.

There were rays that would swim right by you and reef sharks too . . . that's my shadow.

 

It was a good excursion.  Sometimes those last minute decisions turn out to be a good thing.  When I arrived back to my cabin, I had my first (and only) towel animal.

And ended the night still sick . . . so looking forward to a day at sea tomorrow!