Author: richardandsuzanne

There are about 200 marine lakes in the world, part salt water and part fresh, and so-called stingless jellyfish have evolved in several of them. Without any ocean predators around, the jellyfish no longer needed its natural defense system and its sting evolved into one so weak that people don’t feel it.  The largest known…

Not a Whale but a VERY LARGE SHARK Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the largest shark, and indeed largest of any fishes alive today. They feed on plankton and travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce. Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the…

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature,Komodo National Park spans almost 700 sq miles of volcanic islands and crystalline seas off the west coast of Flores, Indonesia. Along with several nearby islands, Komodo is part of a national park dedicated to the protection of the “dragons” as well…

The ship has an annual Halloween party where they go all out with a theme and decorations, even the restaurant team gets into the act.

What a stunning island; mountains, waterfalls, beaches, people and rice fields. Our friend Freda joined us in Bali and had the opportunity to share the experiences and witness life aboard the ship. We spent 3+ days on the island, first in Benoa in the south, where the airport and most of the tourists go.  From…

Indonesia is an archipelago made up of over 17,000 islands that are stretched out wider than the United States.  The country has almost 300 million people; with over half of them living on the island of Java with its capital Jakarta.  Our next stop on the island of Java was the city of Semarang, home…

We have arrived in  hot and humid Indonesia. Jakarta is an huge city that blends modernity with tradition. It is also recognized as one of the fastest-sinking capitals, sinking 4-11 inches each year. The traffic is chaotic and moves at a snail’s pace. We spent the day exploring the entire city, seeing the school attended…

Next stop, the islands of Mauritius…  We spent the first days in Port Louis on the main island and a short 160 mile overnight ride from Reunion Island.  The stunning beaches of this lush island in the Indian Ocean are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.  I had a very friendly dolphin visiting with…