Dunedin, New Zealand

I suppose this post would be better titled "Port Chalmers", since I didn't actually take the shuttle bus into Dunedin (about a 20 minute ride) but instead stayed in the small port town of Port Chalmers, something I never did the couple of times I visited this port last year on the Rhapsody.

Jane and I walked through the docks, past piles of timber (a common sight in NZ ports) and around the corner into the tiny port town. It has quite a bit of history, the Scottish landed here in the 1800's, and it is a very small fishing village to this day. It was a really rainy day for us, and we headed first to a cafe for some hot chocolate. We ended up at the "Tall Poppy", an expression which means someone is too big for their britches. We relaxed there for a while, then explored some of the shops and a neat antique/thrift store. As this was our last port in the country, I used up my last NZ $5 to buy a beautiful old scarf that I fell in love with.

The rain sent us indoors again, and we settled in at the very nice little library in town, and caught up on some internet for a couple of lazy hours which went by much too quickly. It was actually a really enjoyable, relaxing, cozy day for both Jane and me. Sometimes rainy days can be the best kind.
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Wellington

Today was a fun day - I tried my hand at organizing a tour and it was very successful! I booked with the Wellington Rover tours for a Lord of the Rings half day tour that visited several film locations around Wellington. About 15 of us ended up going, which was really fun. We saw the sites of Rivendell, Isengard, Minas Tirith and Helm's Deep, with a quick visit to the Weta Cave - the studios in Miramar where much of the work is done. Our driver also surreptitiously 'happened' to drive our van quickly past a set where they were still working on filming The Hobbit!! We saw a huge green screen outdoors and a set that looked like some little town buildings. I can't wait to look for them in the movie next Christmas!! It was a bit overcast and drizzly, but the tour was still enjoyable. Our guide was pretty knowledgeable as he was actually an extra elf in the movies and did a lot of the filming back then.

After the tour there was time for a quick lunch and a very brief but much enjoyed catch-up with my good friend Hayden, who I visited here last year after my contract and did my road trip around the north island with. I got to meet his new fiance, which was awesome. And it turns out the Wellington Jazz Orchestra which he plays in is coming to L.A. In July, so it won't be long til we meet again. Always nice to know!
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Auckland, NZ

I know this doesn't really excite many of you since I was stuck on the ship today on port manning. But the day was not a loss - a piece of Auckland actually came on board the ship to see ME! My friend Karen, a youth staff worker on the Norwegian Majesty when I was there, is an Auckland native. She had enough time today to come on board and get a tour of the ship from me. We were able to get approval to eat up at the buffet as well, so that was really nice. It was great to see her again and catch up. While we stood out on the bow it turned out her mom works in a building right on the pier, and waved to us from a window on maybe the 7th story. After Karen left I took advantage of my free time to practice and do a load of laundry. In the afternoon those of us on IPM had to man the pax drill for those guests newly embarking in Auckland. We musicians were posted in a crew stairway, oddly, so we had nothing to do during said drill, but still had to stay until it was over. (Hence the photo on facebook of us in life vests and guide caps, looking very bored). Since our band had the night off, Jane and I watched about half a dozen episodes of How I Met Your Mother back to back. Good night. :-)
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Port Denarau, Fiji

This was a tender port for us, crew were able to get off around 11am. Jane and I got some lunch and wifi at the Hard Rock Cafe, very conveniently located about 10 steps from the pier. After lunch we wandered around the port area. Port Denarau is very contrived, obviously created solely for a tourist landing point. You have to take a taxi if you want to get to the nearest authentic town (Nadi). Wanting to see some of what was beyond the port, Jane and I paid 5 dollars each to take the "Bula Bus", Bula being the standard greeting or hello in Fijian. We were given the impression we would be taken on an island tour, but we were had - it was in all reality a shuttle bus between the port and the several closeby hotel resorts. So we got instead of the island, we got to tour the entrances to the Wyndham, Radisson, Westin, Sheraton, and Hilton. We also saw some lovely golf courses. I wouldn't say that I experienced the real Fiji by any means, but it was beautiful nonetheless. It was nice even just to get to ride around outside the port and enjoy the view. I can tell you that those resorts all looked lovely, if you're interested. We also saw some homes on the water that you could sail right up to. Their access roads were access waterways, absolutely stunning. Back in port we did some final shopping, some Fiji water for the road. Or the water? Hmmm....
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Pago Pago, American Samoa

What a beautiful place! I was up early to join a guest tour of the island, the rather obvious alternative to participating in another crew drill all morning after 4 days at sea. Our tour went around the island, across from the harbor of 'Payngo Payngo' (as it's pronounced) where we docked all the way to the western side. We made a few stops, such as the "flowerpot" rock, which rises out of the sea near shore and is covered with greenery on top, and the site of the first missionary landing in Leone. We also stopped at a local village and met the chief and his wife as they greeted us with the traditional Kava Ceremony. They live in modern buildings, but the ceremony took place in the traditional round, columned, unwalled 'guest house'. After the ceremony we were entertained by some local dancing. One of many things I found interesting about the island is that many locals use discarded tires as creative flowerpots or plant protectors. Some are so huge they must have been from tractors, and many are whitewashed, perhaps as an attempt at disguise.

After the tour I had enough time to wander down to a resort and have a dip in the sea. It was amazing to float out there and see the tall green mountains all around. The island is of course tropical, and filled with such lush greenery. On my next (as yet hypothetical) visit, I would love to do some hiking in the national park. I read about a few amazing hikes you can take there. Next time! But I did manage to get in a little shopping before I had to rush back for rehearsal. It was a lovely day, and a lovely place. I hope I come back!
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A more Pacific crossing

Since leaving Hawaii we have had really fabulous weather and smooth seas, improving every day. Today is already our fourth and final sea day before our next port, they have really flown by as I stay busy practicing and reading. Jane and I just finished watching all three extended edition Lord of the Rings films, in about 1 or 1 and a half hour chunks, in preparation for New Zealand next week.

Yesterday we crossed the equator, and the Queen Elizabeth witnessed a large scale version of the traditional ceremony. Having now seen an English pantomime I could recognize elements of one incorporated into the presentation. The deck was completely packed, and hundreds of guests signed up to be initiated from "pollywogs" to "shellbacks" at their first crossing of the equator. We supplied the music, leading a procession and playing the death march as hundreds of guests received their punishment for crossing into the realm of Neptune uninvited - kissing a large fish. Later they were " gunked" by crew with leftover food sludge. So much fun for them.... Would YOU sign up?? Lastly some crew were punished excessively to everyone's amusement....one poor guy with a sensitive composition, one of the actors, was about to vomit and was retching a little....we laughed I must admit. He definitely turned green around the gills. What fun! Actually the ceremony is quite fun, and we had front row seats as the band. Even if we did have to play the death march about a thousand times in a row waiting for 300 guests to kiss the same fish.

The other night we played for a male vocalist who sang literally nothing but Andrew Lloyd Weber. I thought that since he was male, at least we definitely wouldn't have to play the sickeningly overused Don't Cry for Me Argentina and Memory, which are female songs. I was wrong. The show opened with the famously recognizeable Phantom of the Opera riff. For the best mood-lightener ever, the award goes to Bryan, our saxophonist. Referring to the eighth notes in said opening, he asked, "So we're swinging these, right?" We laughed our way through those usually eternal final two minutes to showtime, doing impressions of what the Phantom music would sound like if swung. When it came to downbeat we could barely play it with a "straight" face.
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Mobile Blogging!

I've finally figured out how to post blogs using my blackberry! It only took me 4 months....Basically using my roaming internet access I can send an email to a special address, which automatically posts it on my blog. Yesterday's Hawaii post was my test run, and due to comment received (thanks, Mom!) I know it worked! So in addition to putting up a proper post for every port, it will also be easier to give you other little tidbits along the way. Now if only I could reply to your comments via email....that would be fantastic.

Well for today's tidbit then. Last night we played for a violinist from LA called Alwyn Wright. She has worked and recorded with all the bigwigs out there (dad, read Paul McCartney, ladies, read Josh Groban and Celine Dion) She was lovely, it always brings home the similarities in personality that Californians share somewhat unknowingly. It feels familiar just to be around her, or anyone from the area. I also learned a new (British?) nickname for violinists....its a little rude but gave me a chuckle. Tim had written it on our schedule next to her name: Scraper.
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Honolulu, Hawaii

I traded my port mannings around a bit, so that I can be sure to get off the ship in the places I've never been before. As a result I had IPM today. It was a bit of a bummer not to have the day ashore, as it is sandwiched between 4 sea days on either side of it. I did manage to get plenty of things done while the ship was quiet, like laundry, practicing, and business at the crew office. I like that feeling when the ship is relatively empty and quiet, it is relaxing and makes you feel a bit exclusive somehow.

Luckily, however, the cocktail pianist Dymitry covered my IPM for an hour while he had to be working, so I did get to stretch my legs and breathe some fresh air. I had a wander down to chinatown where I bought some fresh cherries, and through some of the other shopping areas. I got some good Kona coffee grounds to enjoy for a while (the coffee on the ship is rather questionable...and I am borrowing a french press, fortunately). I was a couple minutes late back on board, but no one noticed. :-) it was a wonderful hour.

Back on board I got to call home and chat to my parents for a while, the last action my Verizon cell phone will see until June. I stayed out on deck and watched the sailaway and sunset. It was beautiful. I was sad to leave....couldn't we stay in Hawaii for a week or two?? But no, its onward to Pago Pago, another 4 days at sea away.

Later I got to go eat in the main restaurant with Jane, since I had a night off. It was her first time there, we both really enjoyed ourselves. Afterward I hung out with her in the print shop while she finished up the day's printing.
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San Francisco

We pulled into San Francisco and passed under the Golden Gate Bridge around 4:30am.  We decided not to get up to watch it…..preferring instead to watch the sailaway in the evening.  I had been looking forward to this port for some time as my parents came up to the ship to see me!!  We were finally allowed off the ship around 11:30 am, having had to wait for guests to clear immigration.  Nick signed off the ship today, so we piled him and his luggage into our car to take him around San Fran a bit before dropping him at the airport.  We were able to get some great views of the Golden Gate Bridge from a pier, and then walk across a little bit of it too, take photos of and drive down Lombard Street, and have soup in breadbowls on Fisherman's Wharf.  It was a really lovely sunny day, and we made the most of it.   

After dropping off Nick, we returned to the Queen Elizabeth just in time to get my parents on board for a tour.  The gangway security were kind enough to extend our deadline half an hour so that we could have a proper tour.  I loved showing my parents my ship.  It was really fun for me, especially since this time I could take them to the crew areas.  After they disembarked, I just barely made it back on board before my shore leave expired at 7pm.  I ran into several other musicians on the gangway, out of breath having maximized their time ashore until the very last minute.  I was lucky enough to have been off at night, so I didn't have to worry about anything other that being back before the ship sailed, which was nice.  

We let go lines just before 9pm, and made our way out and under the Golden Gate Bridge, while my parents braved the cold to watch from the pier.  We were escorted by a news helicopter taking aerial footage since this is our ship's maiden call to San Fran, which my parents later got to see on the bay area news.  As we passed under the bridge, we sounded our horns, and the bridge actually honked back at us.  It sounds three blasts as well, which was cool.  We were all out on the forward deck enjoying the sight as we went underneath.  It was a neat experience.  I m so glad my parents got to see me off on my world voyage as I left the west coast! 

Now we are on our way two Hawaii, on our second of 4 sea days.  So far the Pacific Ocean is not living up to its name.  Nothing I haven't survived before, though.  Everyone loves a little rock and roll.  

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, is right at the very southern tip of Baja California.  It is a tender port for us, always making it a bit difficult for crew to get ashore.  We were lucky enough to sneak on a tender at 9am, they let a few crew go at a time on each boat and we were the first in line.  When myself, Nick and Jane got ashore we took another small boat over to "Lovers Beach", which is located just between the high cliffs and rocks that mark the very tip of the cape.  Our boat driver Carlos showed us a few sights on the way, like some sea lions and tropical fish underneath our glass-bottomed boat.  We spent an hour exploring the area of the beach while we waited for him to return for us, and then walked the 20 minutes or so into town.  The climate is very dry there, but the weather was perfect.  I can imagine it is quite miserably hot in the summer.  February is a good time to go. We had some great Mexican food for lunch, which was our main goal.  Fresh, homemade guacamole….yummy!! I even tried some tacos that had tofu in them…..very odd flavor combination.  We walked back to the ship slowly, did a little shopping along the way, and were very satisfied with our day.