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!

Island Hopping Day 17: Bora Bora, French Polynesia

I woke up feeling not so great.  I wasn’t so sick I couldn’t go about my plans but just felt off.  I am not sure if it is the result of getting too hot on my hike yesterday or an illness starting.   

It is day two in Bora Bora.  A few days ago, I explored the island and today I am hitting up the beach and taking a boat to a motu.  A motu is a small, low-lying reef islet or coral sand island that surrounds the main volcanic island and lagoon of Bora Bora in French Polynesia.  I wasn’t thrilled that the excursion left so early as it was cool and windy but you go when they say you go.  

It was so nice.  I pulled a chair to the edge of the water and just stared at this for hours.

Then this guy showed up and went from person to person in hopes of getting some attention . . . what a great place to live.  He was covered in fleas and felt so bad for him.

Our time on the private motu was over so back to the boat.  I swear every time I look at the water it just looks so fake!  Again, this place lives up to what is see on the internet . . . it is really that pretty in person . . . these photos were taken with my phone and a small camera; no filters needed. 

By the time the excursion ended, I was feeling awful.  So awful I went back to my room, took a shower, and crawled in bed at 2pm!  I had a fever, chills, body aches, sweats . . . classic flu symptoms.  I usually always travel with self-test but this trip decided to leave them home.  My thought was if I have what the test are for, there is nothing I can do except rest and hydrate.  I did go to the medicine vending machine and it had nothing that was of use to me.  The duty-free store had allergy meds and Tylenol (10 pills for $18) so I just went back to my room and crawled in bed.  I did bring some cold & flu meds so started those and rationed so would be good for a few days.  

Island Hopping Day 16: Moorea, French Polynesia

So, I am back in Moorea!  I am excited the next three ports are repeats because I get to spend more time enjoying a different activity. 

I debated on getting a day pass to a fancy resort hotel or doing a hike to the top of Magic Mountain.  I ended up doing the hike.  From the port, it was about a mile walk to the starting point.  I paid my 200XPF or about $2 and headed up.  I got an early start and was there by 720am.  It is already hot and was concerned this would work against me.  All the research I have done says it is an easy to moderate hike . . . there are two ways to get to the top with going left being “easier” but longer with a path going up and down or going right being “harder” as this route was super steep all the way up.   

If the chickens could do it; I could too, right?  

As I started walking, I think sometimes I have a good idea? I quickly realized that today was not that day!  I went left as it was supposed to be easier but longer.  It was not!  So many times I thought just turn around and be done but I pushed on.  I checked my phone often and it was as if I wasn’t even moving as it would tell me only 800 ft then 0.4 miles and when it said 0.6 miles to the top; I almost lost it.  Right about now that resort pass was sounding pretty good.  I am dying!  The views are nice.

Anyway . . . I had also read that around the mid-point there were 3 benches to rest.  I was like no there isn’t and when I finally saw them, they were like heaven!  

I took a break and of course I debated going back down or continue to the top.  I also knew if I quit; I would regret it later so I pushed onward towards the top. The ATV and 4x4 tours started arriving and you could tell the people were so glad they booked a tour.  But I pushed on, but I’m still dying!  I made it!  It was nice being up there alone . . . sometimes I just have to pinch myself . . . I do take some pretty amazing trips and while it might seem my life is perfect and great; it isn’t.  I too have struggles and lately life has been very stressful for my heart and soul.  BUT I made it to the top . . . look how red I am!  It is not a sunburn just how hot I was.

The 360° views were really amazing!  I wish there was a bench at the top to sit and soak it in.

It is time to start back down . . .

. . . after I caught my breath, I decided to take the “harder” route down and let me tell you it was super steep all the way but seemed super quick going down.   

On my way down, people were starting to arrive . . . the young couple with the about 3 year old girl, the tourist wearing flip flops, the people way older than me . . . they were going up the hard way and probably did way better than me.

I took a rest when I arrived at the bottom.  Fare Tutava was so lovely . . . they gave me a fresh plate of fruit for free (the bananas were so good) and ordered a smoothie ($6).  I went with the Magic Smoothie.  The purple flowers are the clitoria flower and edible.  

 

The smoothie must have had magic powers because I was back at the ship in no time!  Yes, I did eat the purple flower and nothing memorable . . . maybe it had a little something something that gave me a boost.  
 
And here’s my final thought on my little hike at Magic Mountain:  the left route was way longer than what internet people said as far as length and a moderate level hike . . . the right hike is definitely a difficult hike going up and down!  I’m glad I survived but man it was hard . . . sometimes it is good to do hard things!