Wellington, New Zealand

            Thursday, 28 Feb 2019 – We awoke to our alarm at 6:15 AM.  Since we had not visited Wellington previously, we had booked an 8:30 AM excursion, “In the Footsteps of Lord of the Rings,” for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of "The Lord of the Rings" film trilogy.  After an early breakfast, we went to the Insignia Lounge at the 8:15 AM specified meeting time.  Wellington is New Zealand’s capital and the country’s third largest city, with a population or 200,100 residents.  Wellington is also known as the culinary capital of New Zealand and is famous for its tucked-away bars, quirky cafes, award-winning restaurants and great coffee.

            The high temperature for the day was predicted to be 61 degrees Fahrenheit, so we dressed warmly.  We boarded the first of two 20-passenger buses waiting on the pier.  Our driver/tour guide was “Ray of Rivendale,” and our tour began with a picturesque drive along lovely Oriental Bay toward Mount Victoria.  Ray pointed out the numerous cable cars, many privately owned, that make the ascent to the homes built on the steep hillsides a lot easier.  Although small earthquakes of 2.5 magnitude shake Wellington every day, a recent severe earthquake buckled the harbor and damaged many of Wellington’s structures, making them uninhabitable.  Many of the damaged buildings have already been razed and many others are in the process of being razed.  All buildings are being inspected, and must be structurally upgraded to withstand 9.5 magnitude earthquakes.  This must be done at the owner’s expense; there are no insurance or government funds available to assist with the upgrades.  As a result, many companies are filing for bankruptcy.

            Ray also pointed out a few buildings from San Francisco that were disassembled and reconstructed in Wellington.  We passed the Wellington airport, where a portion of the hillside has been recently decorated in rainbow colors to show support for gay rights.

Gollum

Orc leader, Azog

            Our first stop was the Weta Workshop, co-founded by Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, Tania Rodger and Jamie Selkirk.  We first visited the souvenir shop which included photo opportunities with life-sized statues of Gandalf, Gollum, and the Orc leader, Azog.  Next, we followed a member of the talented Weta Workshop crew through the authentic-looking Middle-Earth doors for a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into the workings of Weta Workshop using props, models and weapons they have helped make for the movies.  Exclusive video clips were displayed throughout the tour, as well as descriptive boards describing the process used for different disciplines, such as Armour & Costumes, Weapons & Props, Creatures & Make-up FX, Miniatures & Models, Conceptual Art and Merchandise.   We were also given a private screening of a 25-minute behind-the-scenes film, which tells the story and history of the film industry in Wellington and features interviews with Weta Workshop co-founders.  Sadly, no photography or filming was allowed inside the workshop.

Gandalf

            After leaving the Weta Workshop, we were given a driving tour of the suburb of Mirimar, now also known as “Wellywood.”  This is the heart of the New Zealand film industry with major projects going on at the moment such as “Avatar II.”  Ray pointed out numerous sights, including a gigantic green screen and the Wellingtonian, Peter Jackson’s residence.  We found it interesting that the film industry shares the area and streets with local residential homes.

            Our next stop was on Mount Victoria.  The dense forest undergrowth covering Mount Victoria served as one of the locations for "The Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy.  We took a stroll through the picturesque forest of the “Outer Shire” where Frodo and the Hobbits began their journey.  Many scenes were filmed here including the ‘Race to the Ferry’ and the famous ‘Get off the Road’ scene.  At least one of the scenes was filmed a few weeks before the cast arrived, using stunt doubles.  Frodo’s stunt double actually broke his collar bone while performing one of the stunts (when the hobbits fell down a steep incline), which was the take that was actually used in the movie.  Another interesting note is that Sean Astin was overweight when he was cast as Sam Gamgee; however, he had been working out and was much slimmer when he showed up on the set.  Director Peter Jackson gave him a few weeks to put back on the weight; otherwise, he would have to re-cast the part.  As a result, Sean put the weight back on with a diet of KFC and ice cream, with absolutely no exercise.  However, the diet took its toll because Sean was very ill during the early filming of the Trilogy.  Of course, it’s a well know fact that Peter Jackson filmed the Trilogy at the same time, which many in the industry considered extremely risky.

            Our final stop was a lookout point at the peak of Mount Victoria, where we had excellent photo opportunities and a view of Wellington and the bay below.  After returning to the ship, we had lunch, and then Sally napped.  Jesse also napped while trying to watch TV and ended up with a crook in his neck, for which he had to take Ibuprofen.  We went to dinner very late and conversed with Al and Amelia, seated at a table adjacent to ours.  Afterwards, we danced in the Insignia Lounge.  As with the previous night, we were only dancers on the dance floor!  Before retiring, we sat our clocks back by one hour.

Day at Sea

            Wednesday, 27 Feb 2019 – Sally didn’t sleep well again, so Jesse didn’t wake her for breakfast until 9:20 AM; then after breakfast, she slept until lunch.  Although the pool was a little rough, we swam for 30 minutes in the afternoon. After dinner, we danced in the Insignia Lounge for a half hour.  We were the only couple on the floor.  Although the ship was a little rocky so that we had a little trouble with balance, we still received lots of compliments on our dancing.  Before sleep, we watched the new “Overboard” movie on TV.  It’s very similar to the original with Goldie Hawn, except it was a rich bachelor that fell overboard in the new movie.

Auckland, New Zealand

Walking Along the Pier

Tuesday, 26 Feb 2019 – Sally didn’t sleep well again, so Jesse let her sleep until 9:30 AM.  We had toured Auckland previously in 2012, so we did not sign u- for an excursion.   Auckland is New Zealand's most populous city with nearly 1.3 million residents.  Also called the “City of Sails,” it has more sailboats per capita than any other place in the world.  It has a unique blend of modern cosmopolitan influences and Polynesian traditions.  In the heart of the city is the Auckland Domain, which consists of nearly 200 acres of parkland.  Auckland has a reputation of being old-fashioned and traditional, which visitors find refreshing.  The polite manner of the local people and the cleanliness of the streets are what help to keep visitors returning year after year.

After breakfast, she went back to sleep, while Jesse went off the ship for a few photos.  Sally slept until lunchtime; then worked on her genealogy book the remainder of the afternoon.  The pool was covered for maintenance all day, so there was no swimming today.  We were a little late getting to the Horizons, so we danced for only 30 minutes before dinner.  There was no pre-show dancing tonight.

Bay of Islands, New Zealand

            Monday, 25 Feb 2019 – Sally hadn’t slept well, so she was still tired when we hurried to breakfast at 9:25 AM.  After returning to our cabin, she napped for a little over an hour which helped.  Since we had visited New Zealand in 2012 but not the Bay of Islands, we booked an excursion, “Relaxing Lunch Cruise to Historic Russell.”

            We boarded the tender at 12:15 PM for a 25-minute ride to the pier.  Most passengers were at lunch or had gone ashore earlier, so there were only six passengers in our tender.  Since we made the mistake of sitting near the door, we endured a constant sea spray through the entire ride.  We thought about trying to change seats, but the ride was much too rough for that.  While waiting for our cruise boat, we sat in shade in chairs provided by Oceania.  It was only 70 degrees, so Sally was very comfortable, although Jesse was cold, even with his jogging jacket.

            Our cruise began in Waitangi, where in 1840 New Zealand's founding document between the British Crown and the Maori chieftains was signed.  As we cruised along the bay’s coastline, we sailed past a vineyard, an oyster farm and several historical sites that have influenced the country's history.  Omata, once a favored destination for European immigrants, has now established itself as one of New Zealand's premier wine-growing regions.  In the early 19th-century, Kororareka was the largest whaling port in the southern hemisphere and notoriously inhabited by hard-living seamen, deserters and escaped convicts.   As we sailed along, one of the crew took our lunch orders.  We had a choice of veal, lamb, fish, or vegetable lasagna.  Jesse also ordered us Ginger beers, which were very tasty.  Although brewed and bottled in Australia, we were told that the beer is available in the USA.

We arrived at Historic Russell just as we finished our lunch.  Okiato, also known as Old Russell, was New Zealand's seat of government before it moved to Auckland and then Wellington.  Once known as the “Hell Hole of the Pacific,” by whalers, traders, and sealers, Russell was the original port in the North Island. Today, Russell is a picturesque waterfront village full of old homesteads, historic churches, and wooden cottages.   The historical town is filled with meticulously restored buildings from the mid-19th century.

On the Historic Russell Pier

            During our hour of free time, we walked past an ice cream parlor and several restaurants, and browsed several souvenir shops before finding comfortable seats in the shade.  While we waited for “Darryl’s Dinner Cruise” boat to re-dock, we conversed with a couple of other passengers.  We found out that they are on the world cruise and staying in the “owner’s suite,” which means they paid a lot more for the cruise than we did!

            It was 4:30 PM when we returned to the ship and Sally was too tired to swim or dance.  So after dinner, we retired to our cabin for the night.

2 Days at Sea

Saturday, 23 Feb 2019 – We awoke at about 7:00 AM and went to breakfast at about 8:45 AM.  Jesse did laundry after breakfast, the heavy items in the self-service laundry room and the lighter items by hand.  The “Insignia’s Country Fair” was held on the pool deck from 10:30 – 11: 30 AM.  The officers and staff had various booths set up for games and prizes, while the Insignia Orchestra played music in the background.  We didn’t participate, but Jesse did make a short visit to snap a few photos.  After the crew had finished rearranging the deck, we swam for a half hour before lunch.  Although the water was quite rough, we endured.   We enjoyed lunch as usual and Sally napped in the afternoon.  After dinner, we danced for a half hour in the Insignia Lounge.  Our friend Al was in the audience.  He had come to watch us dance and cheer us on.  He thought the other couple that dances regularly, Nancy and Paul, knows a lot more routines than us, and Al encouraged us to practice more because he wants us to be the best!  He kept us laughing as we sat between songs.  We moved our clocks ahead by one hour before retiring.

Sunday, 24 Feb 2019 – Sally awoke at 9:00 AM.  Sally rushed us to breakfast, which Jesse didn’t understand until he realized it was already 9:30 AM.  There were several other late participants, all using the excuse that we had lost an hour of sleep!  We swam for half hour, starting at 12:05 PM and went to lunch immediately afterwards.  Sally took her usual nap in the afternoon, while Jesse watched a new version of “Robin Hood” on TV, with Jamie Fox.  It was an amusing alternative to the traditional “Robin Hood.”  After dinner, we danced for a half hour in the Insignia Lounge.  The band played one waltz this time!

Suva, Fiji

            Friday, 22 Feb 2019 – We went to breakfast at about 9:00 AM, and watched out of the window as the ship docked at Suva, Fuji.  Since we had not visited this island before, we had signed up for an excursion, “Pacific Harbor Cultural Extravaganza.”  After breakfast, we met in the Insignia Lounge at our designated 10:45 AM meeting time.

Fiji is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,130 miles northeast of New Zealand's North Island.  The British established the Colony of Fiji in 1874, and it operated as a Crown colony until 1970, when it gained independence.  Fiji remains a member of Britain’s Commonwealth of Nations.  The indigenous people look African to us, but they are not; their ancestors are believed to have migrated from Southeast Asia.,

Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands, only 110 of which are permanently inhabited, amounting to a total land area of about 7,100 square miles. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the total population of 898,760.  Fiji’s major industries are tourism and sugar cane.  Suva is Fiji’s capital and is located on Viti Levu.

Our tour guide was Joveci (Joe) and our driver was Arvin.  The bus left the pier at about 11:12 AM for our 4-hour excursion.  During the 1-hour drive to the Pacific Harbor, Joe taught us how to say “Bulah” for “hello” in his native language.  He also talked about cannibalism, which is part of the island’s history.  When a tribe conquered one of their neighboring tribes, the chief would take the most beautiful maidens as his wives, and the tribe would cook and eat the others.  Joe pointed out 3 or 4 of the nation’s prisons.  Many of the cells are now empty, because the crime rate in Fiji is on the decline.  During their incarceration, the prisoners are trained in various trades and paid for their work, with many becoming highly educated.  So the majority of the released prisoners become productive citizens.  Joe pointed out the “Devil’s Thumb,” which is a famous mountain that is very difficult to climb, more difficult than even Mt. Everest.  Wild boars roam the mountains and are the only animals native to Fiji.  Several movies have been filmed in Fiji, including “Cast Away.”

Upon arrival at Pacific Harbor, we were greeted by the reverberating sound of a hollow drum beaten by a Fijian warrior, the blowing of a conch shell and the welcoming song of the villagers.  White shell necklaces were placed around the passengers’ necks and we were given bottled water.

Pacific Harbor

We were allowed 45 minutes to browse the local shops before being escorted to the amphitheater, while being serenaded by the village singers.  From our shaded seats, we saw Fiji's storied past come alive.  We first watched the Fijian Firewalkers demonstrating their mysterious power over flame.  As an elder chanted, young men removed burning logs from a smoking pit to reveal the white-hot stones signaling the beginning of this ancient ceremony.  Eventually, we watched as the elder, followed by the young men, walked slowly over the hot stones.  Next, the group was joined by a group of young women.  We were entertained with traditional dancing, as the group re-enacted their legends and history.  During our 1-hour return drive to the pier, Joe continued telling us more about Fiji and answering questions.  Education through 18 years of age is free in Fiji, except for “exclusive” private schools.  Even the Christian schools are free.  Those wishing to attend college are given free tuition, but it is gradually repaid by students once they graduate and start their careers.

The temperature and humidity were very high for our Fiji visit.  Although we were warned that local buses might not be air-conditioned, luckily our bus was.  However, even though we sat in the shade while watching the performances, it was still miserably hot.

About 12 passengers were dropped off downtown for additional shopping opportunities.  The remainder of us returned to the ship at about 3:30 PM.  Only the Wave’s Grill was still open by then, so that we could enjoy salads, finger sandwiches, lemonade, and ice cream for lunch.  At our late dinner, we sat at a table adjacent to our neighbors, Maurice and Liz.  We learned that Maurice and Jesse are the same age!   Maurice is a retired physician, and Liz helped manage his practice.  There was no swimming or dancing today.

At Sea

            Thursday, 21 Feb 2019 – We crossed the International Date Line and lost Wednesday, 20 Feb 2019.  This was very confusing!  Luckily, we’ll get the day back when we return home.  We’ll be leaving Tokyo on March 31st and returning home 4.5 hours later on the same day, even though our total travel time will be about 16 hours.

Terrace Cafe with Camellia & Mike

            We were up early, but still didn’t get around to going to breakfast until 9:00 AM.  The dining room was crowded but we found a table for two; a little later, we were joined by Camellia & Mike at the next table.  We talked a lot about politics.  So far, we have not met anyone from any other country in the world that likes our current president!  However, we haven’t spoken with anyone from North Korea on the subject.  One of our Russian waitresses told us that she thought Trump is a businessman and only interested in making more money for himself, and is not concerned about other people.  Camellia and Mike also shared their complaints about the Canadian medical system, which could use many improvements.  They said the Canadian system is not as good as European medical care.

Hot Tub with Sally's New Hat

            After breakfast, we went for a swim.  Three people were already “standing” in the pool, but Jesse asked if they would mind standing on one side so we could swim laps and they politely agreed.  The water was dangerously choppy, so we only swam for 20 minutes.  After lunch, Sally continued to work on her genealogy book.  We danced for 45 minutes in the Horizons.  Except for one Cha Cha, Sally was not very happy with the music.