The Explorer in the Pacific.

We started this trip with 9 days in Japan staying 5 nights in Sendai which was our first time there and 4 nights in Shin Sapporo which we have enjoyed before.The trip however began with a very long journey in time and involved planes,trains and automobiles.

First was a pick up from home and driven to Brisbane airport,flying to Sydney,spending 8 hours in the Qantas first class lounge(by choice) the a 9 hour flight to Narita.

At Narita we collected our Japan Rail pass and caught the Nex express to Tokyo changing to a Hayabusa shinkansen to Sendai.Although this trip is 352 km (220 miles) it only takes 90 minutes.Then a taxi to the Westin.

Two weeks out from our departure we were worried.An image of the Silver Explorer stuck in ice appeared on the internet.It was in this blog-

Northwest Passage 2014: M/V SILVER EXPLORER stuck in Northwest Passage ice escorted by Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker

Mrsdrron emailed the director of Expedition cruising for Silverseas and after a few hours of nervousness we were reassured when he replied that the blog had just one fact wrong-the icebreaker was not stuck and has guided the Explorer through 4 days of thick sea ice and it is now in ice free waters.

So from Otaru we will have visits to Hakodate then a succession of small Japanese islands renowned for volcanoes,birds or both.

Miyake-jima.

Hachijo.

Torishima.

Chichijima.

Haha-jima.

Then we set course for the Mariana Islands visiting-

Pagan.

Saipan.

Tinian.

Before we reach Guam.This is the end of one sector.We will only have about 6 hours though so probably just go to the shops and have some ribs for lunch.

Then it is the Yap islands.We visit Gaferut and Ifalik.

Another sea day and we reach PNG.Stops there are-

Vanimo.

Ali Island.

Murik Lakes and Kopar village.

Tuam

Tufi.

Fergusson and Dobu Islands.

Then through the Marovo lagoon to Honiara n the Solomons.

Then Santa Anna and Santa cruz.

Finally before reaching Fiji we cruise through the islands of Vanuatu.

Loh.

Rano Island.

Tanna.

Finally reach Lautoka and transfer to the Sheraton Denaru.

drron29, glad to see you're starting this... :D

Looking forward to hearing about RachelG's and your adventures!

Seconded!

Disaster.Either this board or Picassa have made changes and the way I posted pictures before and my back up method no longer work.Going to try and figure it out but probably will just have to give a link to a Picassa album.

Ron, It's Picasa, not cruise critic. They now redirect you to the "new and improved" Google+ picture site, instead of the old Picasaweb site we know and love. If you hover your mouse near the top of the page, it usually gives you a link to return to the "old" Picasaweb page, and then you can get the links to your pictures, as per the way you're used to doing.

If you can't do that, you can still post the pictures from the Google+ website. Just open the album, find the picture you want, right click on the picture, and copy it. That will copy the link to the picture, not the picture itself, and you can paste the link in your CC posts just as you did before. You just can't adjust the size like you could (and still can) using the Picasaweb site.

Thank you drron. Will be very interested to read your posts. Have fun.

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I still can not post pictures even using the mehods for posting in the picture posting thread here on CC.I have used a method before that is unique and according to the experts on another forum shouldn't work.

So here is a link to my report on an Aussie site.Japan starts at Post 41,the cruise from post 105.

There is however a pictorial of Armidale NSW and Townsville QLD at the beginning of the report if anyone is interested.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/trip-reports-and-trip-photos/fiji-long-way-our-last-62529.html

Hi Dr. Ron, thanks so much for the Explorer (Fiji the long way) link--truly outstanding pictures. Appreciate y'all going above & beyond to share pictorially your fascinating Pacific voyage.

The report is very amusing drron. Especially like the booby eyeballing you and those innuendos. You don't improve, do you?[emoji2]

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Love the pics! You will have to carry on the trip reporting now that I have disembarked.

The first day out of Guam and we have been affected by another typhoon which passed north of Guam.The seas are the roughest they have been since Otaru.So we missed snorkelling at Gaferut island,Yap today.

The pictorial on the AFF site has now been updated to leaving Chichijima-

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/trip-reports-and-trip-photos/fiji-long-way-our-last-62529.html

But be warned there are more boobies!

The roughest night last night by a long way.Everything put into the drawers.

Now just sailing away from Ifalik as way to rough to use zodiacs so the Yap islands have been missed completely.Means 3 sea days to commence this voyage.

But at least the dining room is nearly empty.

Strange sounds from the next suite.I guess they wont be at breakfast.

Sorry to hear this. 3 sea days in a row is no fun, plus the Yap islands sounded interesting. Hope things improve soon.

At least as we left the island we had a dolphin escort.Some sea birds as well.The sky is less overcast and the swell is slightly less.Hoping for a better day tomorrow although it is a scheduled sea day.

Pictures of Pagan have now been posted on the AFF site.

The pictures for Saipan and Tinian now posted.This should give page 5 of the report-

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/trip-reports-and-trip-photos/fiji-long-way-our-last-62529-5.html#post1124804

Finally got ashore at Vanimo,PNG.Hot humid day,sea flat and the whole town came out to welcome us.A thoroughly enjoyable day.

Hot rocks last night was great with no swell and a lovely breeze.The surf and turf is great.

Spectacular, especially your shorts.

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Great report, drron29. Too bad you can't get it to work here, but enjoying your adventures so far!

Amazing photo's Dr Ron, and love the travel reports too. Thanks so much for your photo's of Tinian and Airfield North. We were on a WWII Pacific Theatre cruise in 2005 on the Pacific Princess and the closest we got to Tinian was on the southern coast of Saipan, looking across the small stretch of water.

Its still on the bucket list, but your photo's have made it all that much more real for us.

Glad you finally got ashore and that it was a nice day.

Another beautiful day at Ali island,PNG.What friendly people and what stories.First person I introduced myself to turned out to be the Mayor of the closest mainland town.The second was PNG's Tourism minister.

Several dance performances then I set off to explore.A fellow,Phillip,came up and acted as my personal guide.He had good English as he had finished high school.Got a job in Wewak but after 5 years decided he wanted the island lifestyle.Laughed at my attempts at pidgin-"English Pidgin".

Met an old man with no right hand.He didn't have any English but through my interpreter he had it cut off in WW2 as a teenager.

So hot.I had intended to go back after lunch to swim but laid down on the bed and woke 3 hours later.

Internet is very flaky and picture uploads/downloads impossible.

Another day of firsts with the Explorer being the first cruise ship to enter and anchor in the Sepik river today.Very interesting offshore with a definite meeting of the waters.

In the morning visited a village on the tidal Murik lakes and the afternoon was Kopar village on the Sepik.Ceremonies are different in every place.Friendly people and I think everyone is happy they picked this cruise.

Hopefully can start posting some more pictures soon.

One of the more memorable afternoons of my life today.The Explorer reached the island of Tuam,PNG just after lunch.There was the welcome,dancing and singing and things to buy.

After that most went snorkelling or swimming but I and another medico joined the ship's doctor in providing a clinic for the islanders.I was helped by my good wife as nurse.

The villagers were amazing in triaging themselves.My colleague who was a proceduralist got more than 20 skin lesions to excise whilst I had none.But being a General physician/internist I saw mostly people with blood pressure,asthma,diabetes and heart disease.Though virtually all those older than 50 had significant cataracts.

We started off slowly but obviously gained the trust of the villagers as the lines just got longer.The tourism official from the mainland also ended up having a check up even though he would have access to a doctor.

We ended up having to call it a day before everyone was seen.

Tonight I will sleep well.

Dr Ron:

Wonderful give back to the community. Wonder why so many islanders had cataracts?

Enjoying your posts, thanks.

Wow, the medical clinic was a great idea! Had you planned this ahead of time? How did you get it set up? Wish I would have been there to help (I actually do know a lot of stuff besides robotic surgery).

The cataracts are probably a result of chronic UV exposure. People are exposed to sunlight a lot and never wear sunglasses.