Melsea's 1st Half World Cruise, Arcadia 2016 Part 8

[melsea]

Day 24. Honolulu, Hawaii. 7am - 9pm

5th April 2016
Heavy downpour.

Immigration went well as it always has done when we arrive in Honolulu.

Bill got the shuttle bus into the town where the shopping mall Ala Moana and it's a place we have been to many times over the years. I however went to Pearl Harbour on the number 42 bus. Which I caught from not too far from the terminal, which incidentally was at the place we docked at when we first went to Honolulu back in 2007. When I actually found the right bus stop I waited about 10 mins and on the way I went. The journey took about 40 to 45 mins as there was quite a bit of traffic and lots of stops to pick up passengers. Not long before I got to my stop it started to rain and then it rained quite a bit. I am pleased I took my umbrella and my hat too. On arrival I noted where we were dropped off which was on the site of memorial park and not on the street so literally a few steps to go in. As I got there a park ranger type of guy was checking people's bags, not so much to look inside but the type & size of it. I had with me two bags one was over the body type and the other my small Kipling backpack which he said he was not sure if that would be allowed but go to the entrance and they will check. The couple who were in front of me had a much bigger back pack and he said it would need to go into a locker of which they have provided for people to stow away their bags while visiting. This is what I like about the American psyche train of thought whereby they can't exclude someone and upset them without providing a solution, although I am not sure this always works. So up I walk to the entrance and asked if my bags were okay. He tried my backpack first to fit into a solid rectangular block, like Cinderella it fitted, 1 down 1 to go. He did the same with my other bag and that fitted also. Yippee I was in. Once through I went in search of what I could see. I first saw there was an exhibition but decided I would look around first and come back. Most of the other attractions there was a fee to pay, they were not cheap. When I read the leaflets on one of them I saw that just beyond the Arizona Memorial, for which all tickets for the day were sold out, there is an island and on the dock side there is the USS Missouri ship. It was used for the surrender of the Japanese who signed the declaration on it. There was also another memorial of those who died on the USS Oklahoma. To get to it you needed to take the shuttle bus to it. When I asked a lady at the ticket office where it was, she showed me and added it would cost $3 round trip which seemed strange as the leaflet did say that the visit to the memorial is free but will require a shuttle ticket. So off I went. When I got there the gentleman manning the station asked if I had a ticket for the USS Missouri, I said no and then he said to pass by and wait for the bus. No money asked for. Bus came very quickly and soon departed when the bus filled. Journey was minutes and off I got. I saw the memorial of the USS Missouri, this consisted of white marble upright post of 6 feet in height, this was to signify the soldiers standing to attention in their white uniforms, impressive it looked too. Just ahead was the USS Missouri. I went through a gate which was not the ticket office and not really exploring the area well I then decided to pay the $27 to look around this mighty ship that had a powerful history attached to it. In front a little ahead of it in the sea was the Arizona Memorial, the sun was now shining and the gleaming white structure of the memorial was bright to see. I had taken the audio phone for the Missouri tour which was of a type you put the number in where things are on the ship and for this I needed to have ID as the deposit, fortunately I had my driving license but I also had my passport but didn't want to give that in as you can easily replace a driving license but not a passport as this is needed to travel anywhere. The ship was quite an insight to the living & working conditions of all on board and a real contrast of those of different ranks. Those of officers and the Chaplain had by far the most spacious room and bigger beds too. This was a bit of a shock to see. I expected Captains and deputies to have better conditions but I was wholly surprised by others. I stayed longer than I intended. I noticed when I had been on the ship that there was an area where you could get good photos of the memorial structure without having to pay to go onto the USS Missouri. I don't know if I would have not bought a ticket if I had known this as I would have had more time at the other place I was at first.
It was time to go, the ship memorial was closing at 4pm and it was now 3.20pm. The shuttle bus was full with people standing. I had a look round a bit more before I got back to the ship which was later than I intended. I quickly went back on board dumped my back pack and went into town to the mall. Did downloads at Apple. Didn't buy anything as I was a bit tired and wanted to spend more time to look before I did any shopping, I will be doing that hopefully in San Fran.

Day 25. Hilo, Hawaii the big Island. 9am - 7.30pm
Kilauea Volcano Hiking Adventure. 5 mile hike.

6th April 2016

Today I was on a tour and it is the same one I did last year when we were on Aurora. I so enjoyed it that I wanted to do it again and concentrate on things I may have missed last time. We had a really good guide again and this time on this trip our escort from the ship was one of then Photographers and he was really pleased to be on this tour. When we were all together we were taken to the mini bus type of vehicle and on we went. While traveling to our destination for our tour today our guide introduced himself, Nathan was his name. He was very enthusiastic about today which set the scene of the day. We each introduced ourselves. The weather was a lot cooler than last year but did have the sun coming through at times. This time I saw more flowers especially beautiful Orchids, everything was much more lush than last time although where we walk down towards the volcano it is a forest. Nathan was a great source of information and for those who were not as fast but were generally seasoned walkers anyway he made sure no one was left behind. The problem we had was that as a keen photographer myself and another passenger along with the ship's photographers was that we ended up lagging behind taken photos. I cannot remember the photographers name now but he was in his element and so one couldn't blame him really. Also he was doing video for the CD you can buy of the cruise. I think all of us were filmed photographed on many occasions. We had a lovely packed lunch which was not a small affair and again I could not eat it all.
We got back to the ship way after 4pm. It was a lovely day and it was equally as good as last year.
We left a cloudy Hawaii at around 7.45 and sailed on towards San Francisco which is 4 sea days away.

Day 26. At Sea on way to San Francisco
Clocks went forward at midday.

7 April 2016.

Went to a talk by John Lyons who played George Tooley in the police drama 'A Touch of Frost' with David Jason. It was a very entertaining talk. He spoke about how he got started in show business and his life and family leading up to that point.
Evening show was the Entertainment Team & a Variety show.

Day 27 At Sea. Towards SF

8th April 2016. Clocks forward to make it GMT -8

Second talk by John Lyons about his work and laughter of filming/making of A Touch of Frost.
Benjamin Makisi sings in the evening, seen him before and he was really good.


Day 28. At Sea.
9th April
Clocks forward -7 GMT

Third talk of John Lyons.
Killer Queen show by Headliners, an updated version which was just as good as he has always been.

Day 29 At Sea

10th April.

Christian meeting which Bill went to afterwards I met up with him at the theatre for Church service, Bill read a prayer poem at the service.
Camera photography competition winners were announced. On this cruise there didn't seem to be as many people taking part as they did on Aurora last year, also they didn't have a good venue to show the photos that were entered either. It was a tucked away little corner at one end of the photographers gallery. Not ideal at all. To be fair these photographers have not had the best of time with what they were suppose to work with and did not too bad a job considering.

This evening the entertainment was a Variety Show, Analiza Ching, Violinist & Benjamin Makisi. Both very good.

Day 30. San Francisco 1st Day 8am - overnight.

11th April 2016

Got up early to see us going under the Golden Gate Bridge along with lots of other people also.
I did get some photos but the one thing that spoils the experience is that the top deck where you should get a good view is marred by the dark grey glass and being short it was difficult to get a good sighting. I guess I have been spoiled by sailing on Aurora which has by far the better viewing areas IMO. So having gone under it was time to warm up and go and get breakfast.
When finally docked we were at Pier 27 which was a brand new renovated area, lots of space, this is not where we normally dock, a couple of piers further up usually. Last year another ship was here which is why I didn't recognise it.
So with breakfast over it was time to get. Having been here a number of times we know exactly where to and how to get there. We crossed the road to where we can catch the F-Market to take us to Market Street which is very close to Union Square and where you can catch the famous trams, there are two turnaround stops to choose from in this street and they are generally very busy. Bill went off towards Union Square and I went to find the bus stop that will take me towards the Golden Gate Park. I went here last year and so wanted to visit another part of it. Once located I din't have to wait long before I was on my way. The park itself is huge and spans a lot of blocks a whopping 53 x 9. I took the bus all the way to the end of the 53 blocks where it meets the Pacific Ocean. There is a beautiful sandy beach that goes as far as the eye can see. I walked along the front and came to a building called the Cliff House that is a restaurant and a cafe. Very nice it looked too. I went inside and checked the menu and it was mighty expensive. Just before it I notice an obscure looking building that said Giant Camera, it turns out it was a Camera Obscura, I though uh ha, I know what that is. But I didn't think it was a functioning one until I went around it and found a gentleman who was the carer of the place. The Camera Obscura is the last remaining structure of the World Famous Playland at the beach. A piece of literature I picked up said it was built by a Floyd Jennings in 1946 with the permission of the owner of the Cliff House, Sutro Baths and Playland. I have been to a few of these now and so for 3$ I went in and it was really good. Further on there is a woodland park called 'The Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Here you can walk along the coast, which incidentally we came by when we sailed into SF. I was aiming to see if I could see the Golden Gate Bridge from this point. The views along were pretty spectacular and I finally came to a spot where you can see the whole bridge in the beautiful surroundings. There were lots of people enjoying the view and taking photos from different viewpoints. It was not crowded which made it even more enjoyable. I noticed the time was pushing on and so started to make my way back towards where I got off the bus. Before then when walking along the top overlooking the beach, there was all sorts of activities going on, a man fishing, dogs being walked and chasing things on the beach, children playing. There's plenty of beach without it being crowded. I would imagine during the summer it gets busy but the braising winds probably keeps it cool though. When I arrived back at where the tourist office was, I saw a strange sight in the car park. A red pick up truck with a piano on the back of it and on top of the piano a dog! His masters voice comes to mind. The sign on the side of the truck gave you a clue as to why there was a piano on the back of this truck. It said 'TravellingPiano.com' Bring the Beat to the Street. It had obvious been there a while as there was thing young kid no more that 10 years old playing beautifully. A small gathering of us onlookers were admiring the young man playing, he was good. The man whose truck it is was a bald head guy in his 50's or 60's looking more like a tramp the way he was dressed. But oh no do not be fooled, when he got up and played well it blew me away, he was amazing. Before I headed back I went into the GG Park where there was a Dutch Windmill, I kid you not, took some photos looked around and finally I get to the bus stop and make the journey back towards Union Square where i went into a couple of stores before heading back to ship for our overnight stay.

Evening show from San Francisco. The Tom Leps Jazz Band. They were very good.