Scroll down this long web page to follow my journey country-by country.
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Its a short summary of the major stops along the way. Most of the better details and stories are in my blog or Instagram feed.
Stop by or join-in; let me know if you read or see anything you find interesting. Sharing is half the fun.
Cebu, Philippines
I begin this adventure in the Philippines, arriving in Cebu January 17th. My Cebu hotel on Mactan island - Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel has made the first days simple and reliable. Easy airport transfer, good breakfasts, and the perfect room. Giving myself a few days to recover from jet-lag before embarking on a live aboard dive boat - The Philippine Siren.
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Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is a jewel. Modern, clean, friendly.
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My private city guide gave me a tour of 4 huge Buddhist temples and palaces today. Each more amazing than the next. Taking tons of photo's, and going on an amazing Long-tail boat ride thru the river and canal system. Experiencing a short river-crossing ferry with locals. Wow, it pays to have a private guide on my first visit here. Definitely this is someplace to revisit.
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Learning more about Thai history and culture. Trying to teach my hands to form a lotus blossom and bow my head as a greeting. The influence of ancient Chinese cultures is obvious as you visit the temples- some remind me of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Its like the Thai one-up'ed their former overlords.
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Bangkok is a smoggy city, but today (a Saturday) it didn't impact the tour....but I wouldn't be surprise is can get horrible.
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The car's, streets, hotel.. everything is first-rate. Looks more like Japan than the Philippines.
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Just 3 nights here. But I'll be back!!!
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...actually I did get back already.. l looped back after Vietnam (below) to retrieve my dive gear.
my second visit included a wondering the city on its skytrain, managing my own airport transfers on the train/tuk-tuk transports and Thai massage. The food is wonderful, and cheap. I can understand why is is an ex-pat haven. Makes you think !!!
Cambodia
Siem Reap is the closest airport and city to the famous Angkor Wat ruins of Cambodia.
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After a crazy passport control and Visa entry at the airport, and a short ride to my hotel...the adventure here begins. Off on a ATV thru rice fields on dusty back roads. The highlight is our Tuk-tuk transport became the ATV guide...and his personal story about Cambodia and the genocide of his people under Pol Pot was emotional. Lots to blog and write about.
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Finding dinner on the streets of Siem Reap was also an adventure of a new kind. Tuk-tuk's rule the roads, street life was fast - but welcoming. Such a mix of old and new...mostly old. A very different feel of life here. Hard to pin-point.
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Angor Wat and the many temples of Cambodia are magificant. Everyone should visit once in their life.!!!
A short flight to Phnom Penh opens the recent history of Cambodia to me. Pol Pot's genocide of his citizens can never be understood by myself. 3 million gone. Visits to the killing fields and S-21 are so powerful they can't be capture here. This country has suffered behind compare. In spite of that history, this capital shines on the Mekong. A vibrant street-life and wonderful restaurants to explore This city is growth is everywhere. Tuk-tuks rule the streets still, but in 10 years, this will be a very-very different place. Businesses are investing and growing here.
Vietnam
First stop HCMC - Saigon. So much history between America and Vietnam, I have always wanted to visit this small but powerful country.
I was only a few years short of being drafted to the American-Vietnam war. How different had my life been had that happened. Most Americans my age know someone personally lost or changed from that war. Thankfully both countries have put that war in our past, and look to a increasingly positive future.
Tuk-Tuks give way to car's and a city more like NYC or Tokyo. Lights, vibrant sky-line. Pho for dinner. I was able get a room at the Majestic, a 1925 colonial era grand hotel - how luck I am to experience this country. I'll be touring thru-out Vietnam, so no single summary will sufficient. It deserves its own web-site.
Hoi An, Danang, Phong Nha caves, train adventures, Hanoi, HaLong Bay. So much to see in this nation. History, cultures, strong people. I'll always dream of returning.
Indonesia
After a short stop back in Thailand to retrieve my dive gear, I head to this expansive island nation. 17,000 islands under a single flag. Amazing that they can hold this nation together.
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I start in Bali, with a visit to Ubud and onto diving in Pemuteran. So many blog and photo moments here. wow what a place.
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Then onto West Papau. Sorong is the jump off point for Raja Ampat and more world class diving. The Indo Siern - a sister ship to the Siern I dove in the Philippines. How fortunate to get aboard with great divers.
Labaun Bajo - diving the Komodo islands and experiencing the wild life of Flores was amazing.
Komodo Dragons, and Giant Bats, Manta Rays, Sharks, the list is too long to catalog. This part of Indonesia feels like the edge of the earth. So alive, so vibrant. I love every second here.
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I was able to find some day-trip dive boats, and one 3-day live aboard to jump on. The boats are short on luxury, but long on adventure. I like the trade off.
Singapore
Leaving Indonesia, I loop west again to Singapore. This tiny island nation is truly unique. Crazy expensive. Sterile, clean, engineered society. The 1975 movie Stepford Wives comes to mind :)
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Well, in the end; Singapore has won me over. The zoo, the skyline, he museums, the Botanical gardens. Their all irresistible. And the Mariana Bay Sands Hotel is out of the world crazy. Its infinity pool on the 57th floor overlooking the Singapore skyline must be one of the most stunning views on the planet. Mankind can create the impossible. I still am torn by the two-sides of this city-state. On one hand strick-by the book, the other decadent spending and wealth.
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I may have to come back with a guest and spend like a mad-man to truly appreciate this place.
Soloman Islands
Honiara, Guadalcanal - These islands where the location of major WWII battles. Thousands of American, NZ, Japanese and Australians died here. Wreaks liter the oceans, and tank shells still remain.
I booked another live aboard here. Part of the Master fleet; The Taka - embarking out of Munda, on New Georgia - I'll be taking a short island hope to get there from Honiara. Dive dive dive.
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Diving the Cuts, Caverns, Caves, Headhunters, Coral Gardens of this Paradise has been a privilege - WOW!!! The out-island villages, their children and pace of life stole my heart. Tiny villages of 200 people - self sufficient micro communities. Smiles, crystal clear warm calm waters. Jungles.. I'm in the South Pacific. Its a little like Africa, a little like Tobago.. I could stop here.
Vanuatu
I start my Vanuatu visit in Port Vila. Diving with Nautilus on several wrecks and the local reefs. The dive shop is just a 5 minute walk from my luxury hotel 'The Grand'. The wonderful harbor side walk was the highlight of my time in Port Vila. I'll need to explore the island more next visit.
I continued my visit here by jumping to Espiritu Santo for epic diving on the Coolidge and a tour of the island that was breathe taking. Wow.. this isn't a luxury destination. but one of the most beautiful I've ever visited, and the deep wreck diving was amazing.
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I finished my Vanuatu holiday with a short one-day flight to Tanna and the Mt. Yasur volcano. Crazy to be at the edge of this monster. visit my blog for the whole story.
New Zealand
Ahhhh. Back to NZ. Landing Auckland I am struck by the 17 degree C temp - wow. freezing.
I'll be tour the North island and visiting friends in Wellington.
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I packed in adventure and culture in NZ. My friends in Wellington were amazing hosts, and I can't wait to visit them again. Hobbiton, Rotorua, Tongariro, Wellington, New Plymouth, Taranaki … I rented a car out and drove the North Island. It felt like home. I have a detailed blog about my adventures, Rugby, Museums and endless nature. How can anyone NOT visit here ? Its easy to see why people want to live here.
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I would live to come back next February and hike the mountain passes. Anyone want to do the crossing?
Fiji
Back to diving the islands. After a layover in Nadi, I flew to the north of Fiji - Tavenui - known as the Garden island. Rainforests, waterfalls, legendary diving. Somosomo Straits and its Rainbow reef live up to its name.
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The dive photos are epic. My Kava experience unforgettable, and a climb to pristine waterfalls were impossible !!! Impossible to replicate!!!! Fiji is living up to its reputation.
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More diving to come...just getting started here.
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The shark diving out of Pacific Harbor was unforgettable. And driving Viti Levu was fun. Adding some diving in the Bligh Waters off North Viti Levu was a wonderful surprise too.
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Just a last stop in Nadi before onward travel. I visited their high-end utopia. A beautiful harbor of hotels, private homes and manicured landscape. Fiji at its best. Idyllic even. Very expensive to say in this area, but it looks amazing.
Cook islands
Rarotonga for 5 days. Diving 4 times from a boat, touring the island. OK, but not exactly for me. Very rough surfer erverywhere, small, mostly KiWi tourists.
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Aititaki - a garden paradise. Dove just 2 times. Fun fun fun. beautiful beyond a few short words. Read my blog about this great hidden gem. I need to return !!!
Samoa
The most Polynesian of the islands. Dove 4 times - shore dives...OK, but not fantastic. But, I did snorkel two times … and once with giant clams... That was cool. Toured the island by a rental car, enjoyed a Fire dance show. Interesting place. More to learn from these people.
Hawaii - The Last Island
Oahu, Maui and Hawaii : I re-enter the US of A thru the back door, entering from Samoa. Strange to be home again after such a long adventure. And a shock as-well. Crazy expensive, over hyped. The mountains are cool, but the waters aren't near what I've found in dozens of islands. Pearl Harbor was the highlight to Oahu, and my dive of Molokini Crater the highlight of Maui. Maui vibe is definitely 100x better then Oahu.
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The big island - Hawai'i is next, and last of my journey. Kinda cool that my journey began in Cebu - Where Magellan was killed, and ends in Hawai'i where Captaion Cook was killed. Imagine sailing these sea's with old wooden boats, no communication, little food and water. Wow, that is living an adventure … and many of these men paid with their lives.
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Two amazing night dives in Kona. Manta Rays, and a Blackwater. Hawai'i has redeemed its diving. Kona was cool, traveled the island again. Kilauea isn't active now, so no lava flows to visit. But the views are still worthy.
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