Travel tips and cartoons

Ports of Call - Suva Fiji

2008-06-02T03:39:00.000-07:00

If your cruise vacation takes you to the South Pacific, and one of the ports of call is Suva, Fiji, then keep an eye out for the spectacular Royal Fiji military band. Resplendent in their red and white uniforms - the men wearing the native sulus - they make an impressive sight on the wharves as your ship docks at Fiji's capital. The great thing about coming into port is that you get a birds eye view of life on the docks below. This makes for excellent opportunities for photography. I took this picture on the fullest extent of my zoom lens - a tropical mix of reds and whites and gleaming instruments. Truly a sight to behold in the South seas.

Instructions for using cabin toilet on your ocean cruise - photo

2008-05-31T03:44:00.000-07:00

When you take your ocean cruise, of supreme importance to your comfort is the fact that the ship's plumbing should be working correctly. Some handy advice here - take heed of the above notice which I found in my cabin loo on a South Pacific cruise. It outlines the correct way to use the cabin toilet, to avoid inconvenience to yourself, and also your fellow passengers down the line !

More on photography at sea

2008-05-18T02:55:00.000-07:00

When I took this photograph, leaning over the side of a cruise ship in the South Pacific, a fellow passenger said to me "I can't understand why you're taking that picture - there's nothing out there except sea." I disagreed, of course. For anyone with an artistic eye, the patterns of sunlight on waves at sea can make a striking composition. Some dramatic pictures can be obtained, especially early in the morning, or towards evening, when the lighting is at its best. There is beauty to be found in the way that a bow wave rushes majestically out with sunlight and spray providing depth and texture. Indeed, it's almost hypnotic looking at the waves with their steady, unceasing and timeless rhythm. That's why to me anyway, an ocean voyage is a relaxing experience, unhurried, and far from the hassles of ordinary life. It also provides great opportunities for photography !

Why you should take a cruise vacation

2008-05-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

Today, we show a short cartoon on the subject of how to enjoy your cruise vacation. A holiday at sea is the ideal way to relax - no worries about where the next meal is to come from. You can just sit back, and enjoy the calming rhythm of the waves, proceeding at a leisurely pace across the ocean blue. Or you can live it up in the disco. The choice is yours.

Taking photographs on your cruise - some useful tips

2008-05-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

An essential part of enjoying a cruise holiday for many passengers is taking photographs while at sea. But too often, these are conventionally posed pictures with no regard as to time of day, or an original choice of subject.
With a little effort you could get some different pictures that will make your holiday snaps stand out as being original. For instance, why not get up early and take some shots on the deck in the soft morning light. Your results will be more dramatic with the sun just rising over the ocean.
At this hour, you could obtain some unusual photos such as crew members going about their daily tasks as depicted above . You can portray another side of shipboard life with such behind-the-scenes shots which others won't have thought of taking.

Shipboard Stowaway

2006-08-31T01:03:00.000-07:00

If you've ever gone on an ocean cruise, you've probably seen birds way out at sea, miles from land. These brave nautical navigators fly immense distances across the oceans of our world. Occasionally, they hitch a ride on a cruise liner. Here's an example of one such seabird stowaway in the following video.

This particular bird was quite exhausted. It landed at night, dazzled by the bright lights of the ocean liner. I took the video of it, just off Vanuatu at around 11pm one evening. A travellers tip here - if you are on board a large liner, and you find one of these stowaways, all you can do is make sure it is in a safe place away from curious passengers. When the bird has rested and recovered, it will take off again, grateful for the temporary R&R it has received on board.

Shore Excursions on your cruise

2006-08-17T04:37:00.000-07:00

Part of the excitement of travelling by sea is seeing a foreign port. Somehow, approaching an exotic location at a leisurely pace, and seeing a new coastline unfold from sea level is in my opinion, much more satisfying than landing in an aeroplane. Airports have a certain sameness about them I've found. On your cruise therefore, shore excursions are eagerly looked forward to by most passengers.

At a more remote location, for example the Yasawa Islands in the Fiji group, passengers from a cruise ship have to gain the shore by travelling in a lifeboat tender. This is an adventure in itself, and if you are a camera enthusiast, you can obtain some unusual pictures of your boat from sea level (see video).

Lifeboat drill on your cruise

2006-08-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

One of the first things that you'll do on your ocean cruise is to carry out a lifeboat drill. This involves meeting some of your fellow passengers at a designated Muster Station. You can get directions to your particular station by asking your cabin steward, or by following the signs. The ship will sound the following signal to indicate the drill is being carried out. This is usually six short blasts, then one long on the siren. The risk of the ship sinking is minimal of course, but by law, they have to put the emergency procedures in place. It's a great chance to meet a new acquaintance too. Here's some suitable lines that may help you to get started on both lifeboat drill, and a possible shipboard romance. "Do you come here often ?" or..."Can I help you with those straps ?" are a couple of suggestions. It's just a matter of 'mustering' up the courage ! Your lifejacket comes in a jazzy colour to attract attention when you get dunked in the drink. It also has a small light, and a whistle you can blow. Lifeboat drills are fun !

Daily walk around the decks

2006-08-10T03:46:00.000-07:00

Here's a tip for a successful cruise experience. Take time out to join the enthusiastic band of 'deck-walkers' on board ship. Every morning, these happy groups stroll the decks, doing a circuit several times around. It's an excellent way to start the day (leaves more room for your on-board breakfast) and you can meet new friends and acquaintances on your walk. While we're on the subject of doing circuits around decks, I recall that years ago, a friend of mine decided to go to Taiwan on a cruise. When he was in port there, he purchased a motor-scooter. They were very cheap at that time. The only problem was, being a new machine, there were no kilometres on the odometer, and he knew that when he returned Down Under, he would have to pay import duty due on a new scooter. So under an arrangement with the captain, he was allowed to 'scoot' around the deck every morning (carefully avoiding fellow passengers) and by the end of the cruise, he had accumulated quite a few km. This effectively meant his machine was now second-hand, and he thus avoided the import duty !

Shop for bargains on your cruise

2006-08-03T03:24:00.000-07:00

You're enjoying your long-awaited ocean cruise. In between lazing around the pool, trying to keep in shape in the gym, or taking in the on-board entertainment, you probably will take some time out for shopping.
Nowadays, large cruise boats have mini-shopping malls on board. Although duty-free shopping doesn't offer quite the same bargains that it used to, you can still browse for anything from fine crystal or china, gemstones, perfume, or electronics. A tip to remember here. Save some of your shopping dollars until the end of the cruise. Frequently, designer clothing shops on board will have end-of-season sales, and you can often pick up some excellent bargains afloat !

Some tips for a successful cruise

2006-08-02T01:05:00.000-07:00

Most of us accept that tipping on board a cruise liner is part and parcel of the cruise holiday experience. But how much should you tip, and when ? Sometimes, the cruise company gives a few tips about tipping in their brochure to give you an idea. For example, it really depends on how long your cruise is for, obviously the longer the voyage, the larger the overall tip should be given. The timing is optional, although I've been on cruises where an initial tip was given at the start to the cabin steward, and then, if performance was satisfactory throughout the cruise, another tip would be given at the end. I once went on a Caribbean cruise in which gratuities were pre-paid in the cost of the actual fare. Nevertheless, once on board it was apparent that tips over and above this 'down payment' were expected. When it came to getting my suitcase put on board the ship at Miami, I found that it wouldn't be loaded unless I gave the porter five dollars to take it out of my hands, and then put it on the conveyor leading to the ship ! He was on to a fairly lucrative income, because there were literally thousands of passengers lining up to embark. Maybe I should stop being a cartoonist, and get a job on the Miami wharves, loading suitcases !

Getting settled in your cabin on your ocean cruise

2006-07-26T03:25:00.000-07:00

OK, you've got your sea-legs, and your ocean cruise is underway. Lets have a look at a typical cabin and see what you can expect. Unless you can afford a deluxe suite on the boat deck, you will find that most cabins are perhaps a bit on the small side. They certainly don't look as big as the tourist brochures, but this is understandable given the publicity pictures are usually taken with a wide-angle lens. When I did a cruise around the South Pacific for fourteen days, there was a notice in my cabin - The water in your cabin sink is not potable. This doesn't mean that you can't put the water in a pot, as someone suggested to me. Potable means drinkable, although I guess many of you will know this already. Look at this video to see what came out !

Anyway, there was plenty of water available from the cabin steward that was fully potable. And he supplied lots of free cuppas too, plus a morning wake-up call and biscuit. Tips were necessary, and I'll cover these in the next post.

Enjoy cruising - use the ship's gym

2006-07-23T22:04:00.000-07:00

If there is one tip I can give to making your cruise vacation more enjoyable, it is to do a daily workout in the gym. Imagine you have just joined a luxury liner for a seven day cruise. All your meals are prepared and served for you, and there is usually a very tempting array to chose from. In no time at all, you over-indulge and become 'bloated afloat'. You'll find that you enjoy your holiday cruise much more if you take advantage of the on-board gym facilities. Work off a few calories before dinner, and you'll have more room to accommodate a few more ! Just be careful if you strike rough seas however. I recall one particular cruise when a gaping hole suddenly appeared in the gym ceiling, right above where the step-up machine was located. It seemed that an over-enthusiastic passenger had been working out in the stormy conditions. The up and down motion of the ship propelled him right to the ceiling when he was working out. I assume he had a king-size headache for a few days, and the step-up machine was off bounds until we reached smoother seas, and also until the ceiling hole could be repaired !

Tips for your ocean cruise

2006-07-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

Previously, I covered a seasickness remedy which has helped me many times - taking ginger tablets to calm a queasy stomach. It is simple, but effective. Of course, there are other preventional measures that you can do to ensure your comfort when afloat. Firstly, don't book your cruise to go during a stormy time of year ! Certain times of year will almost guarantee a pleasantly smooth trip.

Other things that may help are as follows - try and get a cabin close to the centre of the ship if possible. The motion is less pronounced there, compared to the stern and bow where you will feel the up and down movement of the waves more directly. Another way (if conditions permit) is to get out on deck in the fresh air. This is sometimes better than being down below although I realise that there are times when retreat to your cabin is the only alternative. Remember that for most people, 'sea-legs' are gained after a day or so. It's remarkable how quickly you adapt to a new environment. Dramamine is a traditional standby, or alternatively, many people get good results with small circular bandaids which are applied behind the ear. I've also seen acupressure bands which are worn on the wrist - these may be effective.

Feeling crook ? How to cruise in comfort

2006-07-21T00:23:00.000-07:00

Of all the discomforts known to man, seasickness is one of the more uncomfortable ones. How can you prevent a dose of mal-de-mer on your ocean cruise ? I can only speak from experience in this regard. A while ago, I did a cruise from Sydney up to New Caledonia. Although it was a large cruise liner, unfortunately we hit a Force Nine Gale, running into mountainous waves and rolling seas. As you can imagine, the dining room was mostly deserted. Many passengers retired to their cabins, and the decks were off-limits. As a result, many felt seasick. I came through unscathed, and I put this down to taking some ginger tablets at regular intervals that I'd bought previously from a health food shop on land. Actually the ginger tablets also contained peppermint oil, and the combination worked very well. Normally I don't travel too well in choppy seas, but the ginger certainly kept me upright and feeling fine. It was great to have a settled stomach when all around me were turning green. I hope this advice may help others who find themselves in a similar position.

The art of successful cruising

2006-07-16T00:28:00.000-07:00

Of all holidays, it must be said that cruising is one of the most relaxing. For a start, everything is done for you, and it is entirely up to you what you do with your nautical day. In the next few posts, I will give a few tips and hints on how to get the most out of cruising - whether you are lazing around the South Pacific, or maybe listening to calypsos in the Caribbean.

If you can possibly manage it, when you book your cruise, go for an outside cabin. I've found that a porthole makes a great difference to your holiday. Perhaps it is just the thrill of seeing the sea go past,or perhaps you may see some great sunsets. So if you can afford the extra cost of a porthole cabin, you won't regret it.

Taveuni - Garden Isle of Fiji

2006-07-11T03:51:00.000-07:00

If you should travel in the South Pacific, be sure to visit the beautiful island of Tavenuni in Fiji. This is Fiji's third largest isle, and in my opinon, one of the most spectacular. It is about 9.5km in width and 40km long. A 1200m volcanic ridge divides the island along its length, making the West side very rainy, and the East side (more populated) less rainy.
Apart from superb snorkelling and diving off Tavenuni, plus a secret lake up in the mountains with a rare flower (the red and white Tagamaucia ) there is another unusual thing to do on Tavenui. A kilometer south of the village of Waiyevo, there is a plaque marking the 180th Meridian of Longitude, otherwise known as the International Date Line. This means in effect that you can stand with one foot in yesterday, and the other in tomorrow ! It depends on how you look at it. When I stood on this spot, it was interesting to speculate that my right leg was a day younger than my left ! It didn't feel any different.

Asian exercise at East Coast park, Singapore

2006-07-07T02:57:00.000-07:00

It could be said that East Coast Park is one of Singapore's best kept secrets. One reason that it is often overlooked, is that most visitors head straight for the shops and sights of Orchard Road or Raffles. As a result, outlying areas with coastal parkland are sometimes bypassed. This is perhaps a pity. You can see another side of Singapore here. The best time is early morning. That's when the locals come to the beach park. The air is soft, a cooling breeze comes off the ocean, and it's a place to feel relaxed and rejuvenated. I watched a group of elderly Chinese taking a swim. They bathe at the same spot each day. One of the veteran swimmers took a small scoop net into the water. Why ? He used it to remove assorted objects from the waves, then he tidily placed them in a rubbish bin ashore. Flotsam and jetsam washes up here from hundreds of passing merchant vessels. They discard a constant stream of plastic bottles, cans and thongs overboard. Maybe if everyone followed the old Chinaman's example, our planet would be a cleaner place.

Reflexology foot massage in Singapore

2006-06-28T02:35:00.000-07:00

Possibly you may not have experienced the alleged benefits of a foot massage in Singapore. Here's what you can expect. In my previous post, I told of meeting a Mr Wong who was to carry out the job. He began by smiling, and then stretching his fingers athletically, cracking each digit with a rather disconcerting flicking action. "And now we begin," he said. "this will be very good for you." Nivea cream was applied to my feet. The action commenced. Wong proceeded to pommel and pound, stretch and scrunch, beat and batter my feet, as if tenderising a prime steak for a barbecue. No time to feel ticklish. Just sheer, excruciating pain. Best advice I can offer if you find yourself in a similar situation is - study the foot chart, grit your teeth, and keep your cool. Focus on the positive benefits of the treatment. Apparently various parts of my anatomy need a tune-up. Mr Wong found this by pressing on the soles of my feet. Trouble with the digestive system was found, and apparently fixed. By the time my thirty minutes was up, not only had my digestive system been overhauled, but my gall bladder was again in great shape. Sinuses had been given the OK too. All this had supposedly been accomplished from accupressure on specific points on my feet. As a coup de grace, each of my toes was cracked with a skilful flick of his agile fingers. A soothing cup of green tea followed. The obvious question is - did I notice any positive benefits ? The initial effect was a pronounced tingling in my feet, which continued for about a week at intervals. But I was very pleased with a dramatic reduction in sinus problems which I tend to suffer from. It was quite remarkable. A feeling of well being persisted for the next few days. So my travel tip is - when in the East, take time for a foot rub. This could be one pressing engagement that your feet - and the rest of you - will really appreciate !

The pros and cons of a foot rub in Singapore

2006-06-27T04:01:00.000-07:00

If you try out a foot massage in Singapore like I did, here's what you can expect. First on the agenda was a ritual foot washing with warm water. My feet were then dried with a warm towel. So far so good. I could almost relax. I sat back in a comfortable leather reclining chair, as soothing Oriental music played in the background. My own personal toe torturer was a partially sighted Chinese man in his thirties. Mr Wong, as I shall call him, beamed at me owlishly through thick lenses. " You will find there is no gain without pain," he murmured rather ominously. "But you delighted will be, with results."
I was handed a chart that showed a multicoloured diagram of the bottom side of a pair of feet. First impressions were that the owner of the diagrammatic feet suffered from some weird tropical disease charactised by coloured outbreaks on the skin. A closer inspection revealed however, that each coloured region of the foot, corresponded to another point elsewhere in the body. For instance, I learned that pressing on the tips of the toes would possibly remedy or alleviate any sinus problems that I might have.

Getting your feet rubbed - Asian style

2006-06-26T01:08:00.000-07:00

S0 you've decided to get your feet rubbed in Singapore. A wise decision. Costs will vary according to the length of time taken, but generally about $S20-30 should give you approximately thirty minutes of treatment. It may be wise to start with just a half hour if you haven't experienced this before. This lets your sensitive soles get accustomed to what can be a fairly vigorous massage.
It was with some apprehension that I booked in for half an hour at a reflexology centre in Katong, an outer suburb of Singapore. After all, how could pressing my feet have a beneficial effect on the rest of my body, as the Asians seem to believe ? And did I really need this when perhaps a cool beer on the balcony back in my hotel room might have been equally or more effective ?

Get your feet done in Singapore

2006-06-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

Serious shopping safaris in Singapore may sound like fun, but walking miles in tropic temperatures can take a toll on your feet. Pounding the pavements along Orchard Road in search of bargains can rapidly lose its appeal in these conditions. You may, as I did, end up afflicted by "shoppers foot" - a condition characterised by tired tootsies which begin to swell and ache. Fortunately, there is a cure at hand (or at foot) that will help relieve this condition. The remedy is a visit to a foot reflexologist. You may well ask, can you find a competent foot reflexologist in Singapore ? And what actually is carried out at these places ? You'll have no trouble finding such a place in Singapore. The practice of kneading and pressing specific points on the feet is very popular here. These techniques have been taught in the East for centuries, so this is no passing fad. Most shopping centres and suburbs have feet reflexology parlours where if you're feeling down, you can get a tone-up, with your feet up.

Visit the monks at Caldey Island

2006-06-22T22:10:00.000-07:00

Feeling fed up with the pace of the twenty-first century ? Perhaps traffic jams are getting you down ? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit or even live in a peaceful monastery on an island off the Welsh coast ? Well, it is possible to do this. If you are in South Wales, visit the beautiful seaside town of Tenby. From here you can catch a small launch which will take you out to the island. It's not a lengthy trip, as the island only lies about 4 or 5km offshore. Caldey Island is compact, being approx 3km in length, and only 500km wide. In prehistoric times it was joined to the mainland by a marshy stretch of land. It's great for walking or having a picnic.
The Cistercian order was founded in France back in the eleventh century, but it was not until the early part of the 20th century that the monks established a settlement at Caldey.
Usually, there are seventeen full-time monks in residence on the island. In addition, if you are male, (no women are allowed to be monks) and want to experience being a monk for a short period, you can come out to experience the somewhat austere and simple lifestyle. It kind of gets you into the habit of things so to speak. During summer especially, there are lots of day visitors (of both sexes) who come out to Caldey out of curiosity, just to have an enjoyable day out in the fresh sea air. The buildings on the island are very picturesque with orange turrets and arched windows. So for something different, and a little off the beaten track, include Caldey on your Welsh holiday itinerary. It's definitely worth a visit.

Parking your rental car in England

2006-06-20T21:58:00.000-07:00

If you're driving a car around England, you should be careful when parking. This may seem like an obvious statement, but when you spend a holiday in this country, you quickly realise that there are simply too many vehicles for the number of spaces available. The problem is getting worse, not better. Take my experience for instance. I managed to incur an instant twenty pound fine (payable by post) when I parked on a yellow line in a Midlands village. Don't think that because you are a tourist from overseas that the rental car company won't track you down to pay the fine either. That's one reason why they insist on taking your credit card imprint when you hire the vehicle ! Fortunately in my case, I explained to a kindly village constable that I was a stranger to the rules and regulations of parking in this bewildering country. Incredibly, he let me off, and the ticket was discarded. You can understand that I resolved henceforth never to stray on a yellow line again !

Roundabouts in England

2006-06-20T03:01:00.000-07:00

Roundabouts are a perennial problem for drivers like myself who hire a rental car in England. And it's not only me who finds them a navigational minefield. I've met others who have voiced similar misgivings about English roundabouts. The Highway Code for Great Britain is a handy booklet that devotes almost three pages to explaining how you should negotiate a roundabout. It gives you step-by-step instructions on what to do on the approach, then what you should do when you're in the roundabout. The code will tell you what signals you should give, and what position you should adopt when traversing a roundabout. You'll be brought up to date on how to leave in an orderly and safe fashion. All is explained, although in a rather roundabout way !
The booklet is worth getting and will cost you about one pound 49p. I picked up a copy from a Road Chef roadside cafe, and you can probably get them from Welcome Break or Granada rest stops as well.