Bali,(Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi (Malaysia)

After leaving Australia we had three sunny days at sea before mooring outside Bali
on a slightly rainy day. I spent a couple of hours at Sanur Beach, which had changed
again a lot since my last visit four years ago.
We also made just a few hours visit two days later to KL, where I spend my time walking on the streets, which I did not know. And of course I found a nice place with magnificent view over the city in the "Sky Bar" at 33rd floor of "Traders Hotel".
Next days short visit at Langkawi was pleasant with a couple of cold beers at a beach bar.
Now we have seven days at sea, before Mauritius.
Most probably I continue my blog first when back at home. I've spent until now over 300 English pounds into this very slow machine. And it's enough.
I'll be back in Helsinki on April 28.

Adelaide and Freemantle, Australia

On March 13. I spent 3 hours in Adelaide . First with the train from the Outer Harbor
to the center, a couple of glases vine, some walking and back to the ship.
Two days later we arrived to Freemantle, which was a charming town.
There I was much more active, visiting beautiful Maritime Museum. There I saw "Australia II", which after heavy fight did win "Americas Cup" 1983, and some other famous sailing boats.Later I found The "Shipwreck Museum" where a part of Dutch merchant ship "Batavia" from 17th century with a lot of silver coins and other found articles were on show. A lot of walking and a absolutely sunny day.

Melbourne, Australia

After Sydney one day at sea, and then a typical day in Melbourne. I took a tram ride to city center from quite near to the ship, and jumped out somewhere at Collins street and took correctly my way to the South. I arrived to Melbourne Aquarium and decided to get in. It was partly as The Great Barrier Reef added with some sharks and stingrays around and above you. I then crossed river Yarra. It did not take long before I was sitting at a nice river bank bar looking at people strolling by.
Later in the evening I had a wonderful evening with my new friends from Adelaide.

Sydney , Australia

Last Friday morning we were passing very early in the morning Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge at sun rise to get our place at the center of everything, at the quay of the Rocks. I started my own tour on the streets of Rocks to find the Billich Gallery, where I did buy 1998 some beautiful graphics of women bodies with personal greetings of the artist Mr. Billich himself. I found their new much bigger gallery of three storeys, the whole old house. Mr. Billich was in China, where he is very succesful being the official artist of Beijing 2008 Olympics. His exhibition was marvellous but so were the prices too. He is at moment one of the most famous painters of contemporary art in Australia.
I then enjoyed a pint of beer at a local German restaurant, walked to the other side of the bay to visit the Opera house. I took some pictures before stopping in a nearby
harbourview restaurant for excellent oysters and vine.
Later I decided to take a ferry to Darling Harbour. When waiting for the ferry and later at the ferry I was talking with two very beautiful young girls from Sweden, Lisa and Mimmi, whose roots were in Porvoo, Finland.
When strolling in Darling I was invited to join in a bunch of young people in their thirties, and one lady said "yksi, kaksi, kolme" 1,2,3 in Finnish and I did ansver "ett, tva, tre" in Swedish the same. And she really was orginally from Sweden but living 14 years in Sydney.
Later on board at the Globe bar ( my favourit ) I got company of two younger Australian couples from Adelaide, who wanted me to celebrate with them the birthday of one of the ladies. We had a happy dancing night, the best on the trip until now.

Brisbane, Australia

After one day at sea we today arrived to Brisbane. I left the ship when I could, and took a free shuttle to the city. It took 45 minutes to the commercial center. The day was sunny 26C, ideal to stroll on the streets and to stop for some drinks at the street bars. I liked the city very much, and the time (5 hours)went very quickly before I had to be back on board again,

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Day before yesterday I finally could realize my dream for over 40 years. I was snorkeling at Great Barrier Reef. Corals, fishes and one Green Turtle even it's colour was brown. Parrot fishes, bright blue, about 70cm and fat, were most beautiful even ugly. All different shapes and colours were to see in fishes, but not so much in corals. But anyhow a wonderful experience.

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea

We passed five days at sea before arriving this morning to this beautiful natural harbour. After Japan we first had a couple of cool days, but then over night we were in soft tropical climat around the time we passed Guam Islands. Yesterday we crossed eqvator with some festivities.
Today we drove here around with small busses of 10 passengers for four hours and did visit some war memorial places of WWII. Ship's guide named Papua New Guinea "not to be a third world but a fourth world country". Rabaul was last time destroyed year 1994 by the neighbouring vulcan but has been partly rebuilt. Friendly smiling and laughing people, who live in most simple huts and eat bananas in different forms.