Just had a funny "welcome to the new millenium" moment. I was on Facebook and my sister and daughter started texting me simultaneously. I kept wondering why my computer kept making this popping sound. Then when I did figure it out I wasn't sure who I was chatting with. I finally got with the program.

I love the way Andi and her friend are smiling at each other!

I'm so completely enjoying your sea mails, everybody!

I love that picture, too! Andi, you hair looks beautiful as well!

Great picture Andi you look 25 :app: :app:

Hi All,

I am enjoying a self-imposed seaday while everyone enjoys Tasmania. It's nice and quite around here and I have a few minutes to check up on the rest of the world. Those of you interested in our guide out of Melbourne down the Great Ocean Road, we booked through Anna Cook at Meridian Tours http://www.meridiantours.com.au/. Our guide was Neil Allen. Nice guy, good disposition and he could take our humor level and give it back to us. He was pretty good on the history, flora and fauna. One thing I enjoyed most was when we stopped at the location where the birds were, we looked up in the trees and discovered the koalas on our own. Neil didn’t say, “Look up in those trees, ladies, and you will see koalas.” For me that was one of the most exciting parts of the day.

The two wine tastings have been fun, entertaining and informative. Yesterday, Pat Kuleto, vintner of Kuleto Estate Wineries, presented five of his wines with tales of his restaurants, history of his wines and life.

Last night another juggling comedian….. This one was better on the comedic side. Today before we depart Hobart, the Tasmanian Police Pipe Band and Highland Dancers will entertain us in the SS Lounge and tonight, Australia’s Phantom of the Opera, Donald Cant.

It’s a great day to be on the Navigator…….

I got to see a bit of the Tasmanian countryside today and get very up close with some kangaroos. We were able to feed them, and pet them. They really enjoy being scratched right in between their front legs. I could have stayed there all day! There were several mamas with joeys in their pouches. So cute!!

Now I'm off to the spa....

Beth, how I wish we were going to Melbourne on KANGAROO! I missed it last time I was there because of a storm, and that day sounded special! Even if it was LONG! It appears that visiting Australia is a lot about seeing the wildlife so different from ours.

In less than 30 minutes we sail from Hobart Harbor and after 2 glorious weeks I must say goodbye to Australia. It has definitely been a once in a lifetime time experience, never to be forgotten. I would love to return one day but the rest of the world is also calling. This country is about the wildlife, but so much more. The culture, the ocean vistas, the small amount of the interior landscape (both cultivated and wild) I was able to see, the volcanic plains, the rain forests, the Reef and best of all, the friendliness of its people.....an example of why life is good Down Under. I encourage everyone on this board to think long and hard, but come! You won't regret it for one minute. Thank you OZ for everything.

Your Australia adventure sounds like it was perfect Betty, so glad you had such a great time and thanks for taking us along with you.

Great seamail coming from all the Dingbats we are enjoying it.

Beth, Lauri, Betty, Andi and Doug, keep it coming, it is so nice to open lct and find more reports from all of you! Can't wait to hear about New Zealand!

Thanks Beth for the info.

I've now officially left OZ and entered NZ. Regent has immigration officials come on board and handle all the legal things as we sail across the Tasman. The seas aren't rough but there is a fairly significant swell so we're rockin' side to side quite a bit.
A New Zealand jewelry designer is onboard and is having a show today so I think I'll head off there and burn through some more of my onboard credits.

You go girl!!! Jewelry sounds like a nice way to use those credits.

Think Opals Lauri...our common birthstone !!

Oh, I did think opals, but they were mostly out of my price range. I picked up one boulder opal in Sydney and I've just purchased a quite pretty pair of earrings and a necklace from the New Zealand designer. I went to the cooking demonstration but it was less than exciting so now I'm off to call home and see what other interesting lectures I can find.

A few photos. Andi's are the best. Hope she posts some more.







My favorite


Finally - those Tasmanian Devils

Betty, those koala and devil pics are so much better than mine.

Enjoying all the animal pictures, but I think it's time for Ken to get out his big gun and give us some HUMAN shots of the group!

We love hearing from you guys. Thoses Tasmanian Devil types I would not want to run into in my basement. I remember their screechy "voices" from my one and only trip there (if I have the right animal in mind!

No people photos but here are 2 scenery shots from small Tasmanian village location. Looks very English too me.





From the GOR Tour. It seems Kangaroo love golf courses. This is for all those people that love to take pictures of signs.

Andi continues to make new friends:




Doug

Andi makes friends wherever she goes. Cute pictures everyone.

November 20 and 21
sea day and Hobart, Tasmania

I would like to take a moment to reflect on the cruising aspect of this journey. The Regent Navigator has been recently refurbished and is in tip top shape. Captain MacNeil is funny and warm and works beautifully with the cruise director, Ray Solaire. I look forward to their silly announcements during the day. I always get a smile out of their description of roly poly seas when we hit some rough patches. There is a real can do attitude on board, with the exception of the destination desk. I mentioned that I liked Ginger beer and they brought a case for me at Melbourne. They not only stocked my fridge, but have it waiting for me around the ship's bars. Our stewardess, Jingle, is a doll and the best we have ever had. Food has been excellent, the lectures interesting and the service excellent. Being a smaller ship, I never expect much in the entertainment arena. It has been the best I have had, though, on a Regent ship. The comedian the first night was a bit weak, but the comedian/juggler was a hoot. The baritone last night was superb and I understand the pianist, who we missed, was very good. The tours have been well conducted with no "uncles' gift store" stops. I absolutely love Murray, the computer room genius, who has helped me learn this iPad as well as my camera with incredible kindness and calm. The passengers as all as nice as LCTers with minor exceptions. I bought some Tasmanian honey, which is world reknowned. Sadly, Doug informed me that he thought NZ 's rigid importation laws would preclude me from bringing it in. We checked with immigration on board today and Doug was right. I will have to eat it all in the next week! One guy saw that we were going to ask immigration about this ( I was carrying the jars) and he said nastily, "don't show them anything. You will spoil it for everyone else. I am bringing in spices." I hope he gets a big fine for not declaring his spices!

There are some very rigid guidelines also in Australia. We always had to wear seat belts in the bus, import issues are strict here as well. Even the police bagpipe band (made up of policemen) were not allowed on the pier to see us off. Security is strong, with dogs and stringent checks of vehicles and people.

Australia, once so British, has become very American. Since WWII, when The US came to Australia's aid against Japanese attacks, we have become close allies. It is a young country, with roots similar to ours.

There have been very minor glitches all which were resolved. If you purchased anything in Australia, you must have spent $300 at one store. The ship arranged with customs to come on board to get back our VAT in our final Australian port in Hobart. However, we found out after purchasing our tour tickets that they wouldn't come on board until 2 and would leave at 5 promptly. There was no way for us to be back from our tour. The concierge said that their was nothing he would/could do, and the destination desk refused to exchange our tickets or give us back our money. The Captain, though, contacted the tour companies to ask that we get back before 5. I had left my purchases at the front desk and our cruise director saw to it that we came back to executed documents. So, there was no issue as it turned out. Yeah! I ended up with some Australian made Uggs and gloves for a good deal.

We had lots of shipboard credit and I treated myself to an abalone necklace. My other purchase was stuffed animal related--a kangaroo and a koala bear. We leave them doing interesting things each day, watching TV or drinking or hanging from the drapes and Jingle plays along and leaves them in interesting poses for us. There was a mixology class as well as an interesting galley tour and a fantastic wine tasting. Except for not winning a free cruise or necklace, everything has been great.

The weather has been nice but brisk. Yesterday, we had a wonderful day at Hobart. I think this has been my favorite port so far. It began with a visit to the Bonorong Wildlife Park, which only houses Tasmanian animals. Many of these animals are extinct everywhere except Tasmania. It has been the site of a successful captive breeding ground for Tasmanian Devils for 30 years. We wandered by ourselves for an hour, but there are 45 minute tours at 11:30 and 2 pm. They say that you can do the rest of the park on your own for about another 45 minutes and I believe an animal lover would really benefit from a full 2 hours. This is an animal sanctuary that differs from a zoo in that it gives you an up close and personal experience with the animals. We got to pat a very active koala and there were dozens of friendly and sweet kangaroos to feed and pat. Many had joeys in their pouches. Some joeys had their little heads sticking out and others had their feet sticking out because they were nursing. We had to be dragged kicking and screaming from this place and reboarded our bus for a tour of this beautiful place. I wished I had time to stop at some of the picturesque towns we drove through. We passed another sanctuary for non Tasmanian and Tasmanian animals (Zoodoo) and another strictly for Tasmanian devils. We then drove off to Port Arthur for lunch and an afternoon tour. Lunch at the Fox and Hound was yummy...wiener schnitzel, veggies, sticky date pudding....and then we were of to the historic site. Port Arthur was a prison. It was also a complete community. The convicts worked at farming and whaling or boating industries. There are over 30 historic homes, ruins, gardens, and a ferry ride. It was established about 1830 a a timber camp, using convict labor. It was a punishment area for repeat male offenders within Australia. There the British government instituted a system built on religious and moral instruction, separation, and education. The objective was to break the spirit. Nevertheless, some survived the system and went on to regain freedom. In the mid 1800s, Port Arthur become home to the aging, physically and mentally ill convicts. By the end of the 1800s, Port Arthur was closed. By the 1920s, it had become a museum. Once freed, convicts were given 30 acres of land and a service and went on to become industrious citizens. Only 5% ever returned back to Great Britain. Once free, the citizens as well as military families lived in stark contrast.

We all had a fantastic time and wished we had more days in this piece of Australia. Now we have three sea days and will just relax, read, eat, have fun with friends and listen to lectures and entertainment.

Doug

a wonderful commentary. thank you.

Posting these for Andi:

seems like ages ago that we were in Sydney....




Doug

I'm just going to let Andi post from now on

OK
Trivia for the day:
What is the largest cash crop for Tasmania?

Bonus:
What color?

Let us not forget the birds of Australia.....





Doug

No Doug, it's not birds.

Deleted

Gosh, could it be medicinal opium?

I was on a similar tour as Lauri.... :app:

Poppies - yes !

Some DINGO Photos:


Mark & Sandra


Fred & Carolyn


Ngaire & Captain McNeill after picking this years FREE CRUISE winner, Paul & Susan Byrne. Congratulations!!

Dingo Ditty
Cheron and I would like to send this initial report
on our mid-cruise Dingo floating resort.
From Chicago to Sydney off we went
our good byes to children previously sent.
We knew Doug and Andi, Ken and the Princess too
and looked forward to meeting at least a new friend or two.
We've met several including a guy named Bud
who is affectionately known as Priscilla the Stud
On the NILE we met Ralph,Susan, Carla and Frank
and lots of others with whom we drank.
But since none are with us on this memorable trip
we wanted to meet new LCT'ers at a rapid clip.
We met Betty, Beth,Crystal and Lauri to name just a few
Who have kept our days from being boring or blue.
Then there's the trivia geniuses- Carolyn and Fred
who have regularly the B&K team professionally led.
And while their efforts have yet a victory to bring,
their leadership has been quite a beautiful thing.
As each of you know, the Regent food is the best and the wine and drinks are not to be missed.
My weight loss program has become a virtual joke; those pounds are mounting and hard to cloak.
But sitting here watching the sun set in the west,
and listening to Jimmy Buffett we know we've have been blessed.
So all you LCT folks check out Regent's travel news
because Cheron and I want to meet you all on some future cruise.
Mark
Mark

Love this Mark!

No one has the correct color yet.....

Andi. Great write ups. What are your shopping plans??

OK so poppies is the answer? I'm guessing purple.

Terrific poem Mark!

Andi - I am really enjoying your reports. It's almost like being there (but not quite) ;)

Susan