PEMBROKE and SOMERVILLE visit the SOUTH SEAS 2014

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Pembroke and Somerville set off for 5+ weeks towards the Pacific Ocean on October 9th 2014. First stop was a top quality wine hotel just south of Barcelona Airport, then a day exploring Singapore- both on a river cruiser & on an opentop bus! - en route to Fiji , where they had a 6 day stay.
Hotel Mastinell	A great room!	Fairly calm on this ship!	The Singapore Botanical Gardens were very scenic. Good food too in ChinaTown
Quite liked Singapore Airways	Needed a coffee at the airport	In Fiji they stayed at Sea Winds Villa in Korulevu and were well pampered by Kimberley. Wondrous views from their terraza and from their bed - but it was somewhat windy!

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On the Saturday they boarded the Silver Explorer in Lautoka, Fiji. From here on life was a bit of an adventure. They spent a few days getting their sealegs and getting to know the crew aboard, testing a few of the products whilst doing so.
With friends Peter & Tua	and Peter's penguin & puffin	Yummy, yum	In their Stateroom 314	New'shipborne credit' friends
With friend Amy at reception	& those 4 newfriends	This is the life!	Often swathed in garlands	Dinner was past their bedtime

They thus missed the first few stops in Fiji, Fulanga, Neiafu and Niue
Approach to Fulanga	Hokulea	Chris in Neiafu	Silver Explorer off Niue

But then they managed to smuggle themselves ashore- not too sure of those zodiac rides! - in two of the Polynesian islands.

They first made land in the fascinating island of Palmerston; the ~50 occupants of this paradise are all called Marsters, descendants of William Marsters, who settled there in 1860 with 3 polynesian wives. In 1954 the yacht Solace, sailed by a Commander Clark with the help of a Saint Lucian teenager, Stanley Withurin, was badly damaged there, necesitating 9 months of repairs. Stanley just happened to be a passenger on our Silver Explorer: just imagine the welcome these islanders gave him after 60 years.
. . . .David with Boyzz. . . . . . . . .. . Stanley in 1954 & 2014. . . . . . . . . . . . A warm welcome . . . . . . . . . The grave of William Marsters: himself . . . . . .Pembroke,Mr Marsters & Chris

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25430383

They skipped Aitutaki and Bora Bora but managed an afternoon of leisure on the golden Tahitian islet of Iriru.

Bidding farewell to the Explorer with its wondrous crew but hopeless Expedition leader, Mick Fogg, it was ashore for two days in Villa Matarapu in Tahiti. Then they flew on via Auckland & Brisbane to an Il Palacio Appartment in Cairns

November 3rd saw them boarding the Silver Discoverer for an 18 day "Mysteries of the Coral Sea" expedition- and expedition it was with the enthusiastic Conrad in charge- what a contrast to Mick!!

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Stateroom 511	pampered by the staff	& even disguised	Robert	Carnival night around the pool	lots of friends around!
Down the Tufi fjord on own canoe- well, shared with C & D-no work needed.			What a warrior!	and more surprising locals	Safe with Chris & Claire

They were wary of venturing ashore in the zodiacs - too much of a risk of getting drenched by a wave, but, they insisted on coming ashore in Santa Ana in the Solomon Islands: to see the famous Mud Men
Water hole in Espiritu Santo. Musical water ladies, Champagne Beach. . . . . .Rom Dance of the wild men of Ambrym . . . . . . . . . Tanna - the roaring Volcano
They then needed a few quiet days to recover, so missed out on Espiritu Santo, Ambrym, Tanna and the somewhat disappointing trip in New Caledonia, but then regained the adventure bug and went ashore in Norfolk Island and then again at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands

Comfy bus this trip . and a new friend too. Then more friends in the Museum shop before Conrad & Daniil bought some icecreams- Yes Please! - & a fishfry lunch too
Thirsty work exploring! The canoes and the Maoris were overpowering at Waitangi, but whilst the parents were feasting there, the boyzz found yet more new friends

Travels 2014