Tomorrow we are on our way to the Kimberley's in Australia. This is one cruise that is brand new to me and I have always wanted to do the Kimberley's, Mary Ellen asked and i thought "yes it time" and so away we go. Nice group of people only a few couples i have not met before. Cruise starts in Darwin. Takes four flights. DFW to LAX -SYD (overnight in Sydney) Then Sydney to Brisbane to Darwin. Over night in Darwin then finally boarding the ship on the 19th. The cruise is called ROOS - Really Outstanding Outback Sailing.

After the cruise we fly from Broome to Perth and have a couple of nights there and then fly to Johannesburg via Singapore. There is now a direct flight from Perth to Johannesburg but we decided to stay with our original plans along with others who are also coming to the safari from the cruise.

Then we start our safari at a brand new lodge, Tanda Tula. We saw this lodge under construction about a month before it opened. Absolutely stunning and the owners have been in the safari business for many years and you can tell they exactly how to handle a safari lodge. This is an area called Timbavati that does have good game. Their Boma is so unique and we seldom do Bomas but we may try it here.

Then off to Makanyi a lodge we have used many time and then of course finishing up at Mala Mala Rattrays, which is like a second home to us we have been there SO MANY times.

Will be gone a month and of course will post here during the cruise.

We are sitting at airport in Tulsa waiting for our direct flight to LAX. Then onward to Sydney where we will spend a night. Anxious to see everyone soon.

Sitting in the Flagship Lounge in LAX and who should walk in but Ngaire and Ken. On the flight from LAX to Sydney with us.

We are on the ship and the first day was a sea day. Nice time to relax after traveling to Darwin. Fortunately we arrived the day before the technical world problems. The people who debarked are still in Darwin due to flight cancellations.

We had a welcome aboard party. I was so impressed with the food offerings. Trays passed with several canapés including caviar and large cocoanut shrimp Sorry it was a half empty plate!



Our first stop was in Wyndham where we docked. There a variety of tours offered ranging from 4 hours to 10 hours.
We did a 4 hour tour of the town, two overviews of the area from a hilltop, a bird refuge and a visit to a campground with morning tea.
Guide was a local and was very good.

In the town there was a large replica of a large crocodile caught in this area. Four times the original size of the crocodile. Ken took a shot. This is usually one of the hottest towns in Australia but today it was actually chilly in the morning. . Average daily temperature is around 98 degrees. That’s average do not know the extreme temperatures.



75% of the population is aborigine it was a very small town with a dwindling population. We visited a bird sanctuary that was really nice and once Ken downloads his bird pictures I will post some. We were on this tour with Ken and Sheila from Australia.



Last stop was a campground where we were served scones with jam and cream and cake. There I was a crocodile on the bank of the river in the campground and Ken took a shot. Not the best shot but could not go any closer.

So today we had a long three hour zodiac ride to the two waterfalls at the end of a stunningly beautiful area with massive high rocks on both sides of an ocean inlet. The colors of the rocks and the erosion patterns were remarkable. At the end of the inlet there were two waterfalls. The tough people laid back on the zodiac under the waterfall and got VERY wet. Of course Alice and George were two who participated.












Alice and George get ready to go under the waterfall


Clay and Jennifer.


John coming up from his time under the waterfall.

Yesterday we went to see ancient aboriginal art. There were two caves but the pictures of the art did not photograph well. But being there with the explanations of the art it was very interesting. We landed at a really nice white sand beach.


George in the cave.

Today we had a fairly long zodiac to an island with tons of birds. Ken had trouble with his camera and we went to the zodiac where the ships photographer was shooting. The photographer solved the problem right before we left. These birds flew over the zodiacs so fast it was hard to take photos. It was a really great and beautifully colored water, reminded me of Tahiti.


Our group today


Alice is holding a shell that was found floating in the water.



This shot shows the water color and some of the birds flying.

This was my favorite bird.

This morning it was a very rocky landing to see more aboriginal art.
The rocks were slippery so they covered the path with wet towels.



The aboriginal art was under hanging rocks like this one below

Second day of ABORIGINAL ART. There were some really good images this day.






The small faces are children.

Today we had a crocodile hunt. Beautiful day no wind and great scenery. We saw five crocodiles. It got pretty hot at the end of the tour when we were not moving. So far we have been blessed with lower than normal temperatures. Really hard to take pictures of the crocs. This was the best one.




Ngaire, Derek and Kay (friends from NZ)


Alice took this picture of our zodiac we were with friends from New Zealand and Australia.

Today we were at the final stop in Talbot Bay where the horizontal water falls are located. Sunny calm day and not too hot. The conditions could not have been better.





Rapids at the horizontal falls.

Another Ngaire and Kay picture.


Ken

Basically the water falls are like rapids. All to do with the tides. Of course we were there at a prime time. We got off the ship last and there was just Derek, Kay, with us. Just four to a zodiac. At the last minute the photographer jumped on the zodiac. He was very nice company.

Kim and Alice took a longer trip and saw this huge crocodile.

Some group pictures from Mary Ellen

We are now in Perth. We are staying at the Westin Hotel and it is a great hotel. We had booked a bigger room as I like a bathtub. Checking in we paid $200 to upgrade the Silversea room to the same category we had booked. However when we got to the room it was HUGE. A large living area with big TV and a six person table. Then a large bathroom and two toilets in different rooms. About 1000 sq ft.


The entrance to our suite.


The living area on a corner with large windows.

The first day I had a lot of work to do in the morning. Then we took a bus around town. All buses are free for everyone. Second day I got my hair cut and then we went walking a huge mall area with tons of shops. I bought a coat and a new smaller brush hairdryer for my shorter hair. Ken purchased some new shoes.

Some went to Fremantle by train, some visited the Botanical Gardens
Eight of us leave tomorrow for JNB to go on Safari.

Below some pictures of the shopping mall buildings and a lovely church we visited.


The church we visited taken from our room.

We had that same hotel room for 5 days when the 2020 World Cruise abruptly ended in Perth. We booked with Marriott points and were upgraded to that suite. Perth was great.