Port Arlington Bakery

We have ridden thru here numerous times. Traveled to festivals, visited at the beach here, done shopping here but never have we tried the bakery here and we have been missing out.  The bread is done in a wood fired oven, not to mention the vanilla slices or the sausage rolls. I just don't know how it was possible although it is hidden by a large awning.  We were paying at the counter when I spied the largest doorstoppers that you could not fit your mouth around.

One loaf of bread equals three sandwiches

Bellarine Express

This is a value for money $13.00 concession ride to get you to Docklands.  On the way over it was a calm pond on the way back 40 kph winds started up and we were rocking and rolling and trough plunging.  We have souvenir throw up bags but they were not needed so our boat skills are improving. Not sure if its enough for Heide to take us out yachting yet.  I guess we also need to get a yacht first.  Its so different getting home these days. Instead of a drive to Essendon its a boat to Port Arlington then a drive thru the country.

San Telmo

This is the second time we have used Sheraton in a month.  We took full value with an early pool and spa tub soak this morning and the full breakfast was of a high standard.  As it turned out the secret restaurant was San Telmo which was literally 50 metres from the door of the Sheraton and we had no idea at time of booking. Now we are heading back via the free tram zone to find the ferry at Docklands.

Imperial Rooftop

Le Tour ?

MSO

Started off the day with a ferry ride to Docklands. This was a good way to get to the city at $14.50 p/p.  We met  up with James and Heidi at the Transport Bar. We had been mulling over the possible days activities but there was no way we would have guessed a concert by the MSO playing the sound track to West Side Story while we were watching the film at the same time. They are sneaky but Debbie loved it.  It reminded me of the time we were at the Sydney Opera House.  The timing between orchestra and film was spot on.  It's still debatable who won, the Jets or the Sharks.  We moved on to the Imperial Rooftop bar and then had a very good South American barbecue restaurant and a few drinks along the way.  Debbie is now asleep in the Sheraton bathtub.

Jeannie Pratt inducted as life member of the MSO

Leone was the third bar of the day

Super Heroes

We had Carpetman here the other day. He stayed for three cups of coffee but in those two hours impossible looking stains have disappeared. Today we had Doorman who helped us with the never first time opening of the garage door. They always say the same thing, 'It's about 20 yar old'. We have also had Chairman, as well as Heatman but the best of all was Solarman.  This did not cost us a cent.  A new unit was delivered, installed and the old one picked up yesterday. 

I followed up on the invasion of the rubber saucers. I have a few low tide pics  this time.

JellyFish

Haven't been down on the beach for a couple of weeks.  It's Jelly Fish city right now.  There have been some cold fronts with big winds and maybe that has driven these jelly fish onto shore. There are hundreds of them the size of dinner plates, with many more in the water, which makes me think those ones have died without being stranded.  I assume they will all get buried with the tides.

Jelly Soup

Floating Not Swimming

James St

There are two 2nd Hand bookstores in James St, so far I have only perused BooksAround and I spied another 3 titles from my Hugo list. I am going to have to pause on the hunt in order catch up with a bit of reading. We also checked out the Bakery Cafe which is between the two book stores. This is a good spot with large cappuccino and pot of tea and large muffin for $11.  On the way back we were stalled by someone who had pulled a petrol bowser off its foundations. Not sure how you can do that.

Pissing Contest

Never had one of these tests before but they wanted me to load up with water 2hrs ahead of the start gun, then at the precise time, pee as accurately as possible onto this small target that was situated half way up this paper cone. This was both a time and volume measurement.  It seems that the result was so so i.e. 600 ml was drained but 200ml was left behind and it took 90 sec when 30 sec was expected. I remember peeing on campfires in Tassie 40 yar ago. In this situation distance was important as there were usually a half dozen of us putting the fire out and we didn't want any mid stream crossovers.
The doc also had a video from the MRI last week which showed no signs of any nasty growths.  The doc wants more tests though as I am not peeing fast enough.

This is similar to the set up but using a paper cone with a flow meter at the vertex

The Diamond Age

This was a Hugo written in 1996, a futuristic society of ethnic tribes rather than countries where technology dominates everything.  Microscopic nanotech machines float in the air, they are in the water, they are in your body and always working away. An engineer decides that something else is needed for his daughter, so he compiles a book, 'The Young Lady's Illustrated Primer'.  Then over the next 20 years it molds the girl into a leader of yet another tribe, this one of Amazon like women. Along the way there are jokes about technology including many references to Alan Turing and the use of codes, cyphers and thinking in 1's and 0's.

Renovations Part 1

Had a look at the recently completed renos  in Pascoe Vale.  No one needs to tell me that these are always a work in progress.  The bedrooms and lounge area are complete as well as the kitchen and bathrooms, except for the bench top.  The backyard can wait.  Lunch was three courses of pumpkin soup, chicken and salad, followed by coffee and cake.  We called in at Highpoint and it seems that the more apps you load onto your phone the more likely you are to attract ads popping up as well as banner style encroachments across the bottom of your display.

Good for vacuum salesmen

Bird Show

I have been working through some Vanuatu video but there is also the videos off the deck here which are always a bit impromptu. I have gathered a few together before they get lost among other stuff. I have slowed down the section below where a shag uses a bobbing technique to bring up a fish but then the neighbours spy it in his beak.

Books Around

This would have to be the most organised secondhand book store ever. The shelves are orderly without a book out of place.  The shop is divided into categorized sections and each section has alphabet letters jutting out to show authors beginning with that letter.  All the shelves have one book only with the spine facing outward, no doubling up and no books on the floor.  I just breezed around with my list and picked up 5 Hugos, the most I have ever found in one session. I had my hands on a sixth but left it behind on the shelf as I had so many.

I'll be back

Long Way to the shop if you want a Coffee Scroll

I rode to Coles via the Potato Shed. Maybe they used to sell potatoes there but now it is an entertainment venue. It would be good if they showed Star Wars films from time to time.  It must be popular as there is a bus interchange to rival Moonee Ponds.  The daily Coles coffee scrolls are $1.50 but you have to buy 2 for $3.  It would be better if they got rid of the ginormous plastic container like Woollies did.

Magician

Finished this 700 page tome mainly in airports and on aeroplanes. This one features the game of council instead of the Game of Thrones.  It is a one volume story but as it happens Raymond E serves up another three volume Feist when he teamed up with Janny Wurts for the Empire series. This is the original unedited edition.

Suppose I Try

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). I have never had my picture taken using a whole lot of clanging moving magnets before but it reminded me of laying down in a Vanuatu village full of baying dogs and roosting roosters.  They put on head phones over the top of earplugs but it was a particularly weird 40 minutes not even counting the hour before that. The first thing the nurse said was I am going to inject you in three places.  First its a Poo Enhancer where the sun doesn't shine, then its a muscle loosener in the arm and finally a contrast solution in the veins for good imaging and all for only $500.

Magneto

Vanuatuans

We struggled with the group name for citizens of Vanuatu, maybe Vanuatians. Each night there was always one group or another either splashing, dancing, singing, pounding, wriggling or just yelling. A lot of them mention how they used to be cannibals. Some of the first Spaniards that arrived were eaten. But the Europeans got there own back when they returned with the priests as they also brought disease and the 4,000,000 natives present at the time were reduced to today's 250,000.

Caught in a Cannibal Crossfire

Reef CloseUp

Have been unloading a few more cameras. The under water shots have worked well. One day when the tide went out I started walking between the corals and the sun was also at a good angle.  The trick is not to stir up the bottom too much. There are bottom dwellers that have a different idea though.

Octopus's Garden

Beer Deluxe

I have sat in this exact same seat at least 4 times. It's not until you turn around then get the same view as last time that the dejavu sets in.  Killed another hour with some blog updates, at least this side of the gate is better than the last hour. There are a lot of grumpy Richmond supporters floating around due to losing by two points last night to GWS.  Have not had a TV set for 10 days, although we did look up the Tour to see Peter Sagan doing his thing.

Sydney Domestic

This is a cramped airport with about 100 seats for a 1000 people.  Because I am insisting on Avalon that means Jetstar which means cheap terminal as well. We have found a small table in a corner which Debbie had to sprint towards before someone else claimed it.  My computer has got its IP addressing straightened out which doesn't help much now that I'm back in the airport. I will get the hard drive out, some photo additions may work now.  An hour has passed. Just added a some photos to previous entries.

Lazy Day

We started with a massage which was a freebie and the lazy day just kept on going. We got a prime spot on the beach and kept it all afternoon which then went into happy hour. We have a 3:30 am start tonight. One thing about this place is the sand. The entire place is covered in sand. All the walkways, all the dining tables are set on sand. No phasements.

Rarru Falls - swimming hole

Tsunami Warning

These warnings are everywhere and you need to pay attention as we were shaking for a minute or so last night. That is the second quake we have had since being here.  I went outside but no-one paid it much attention. There is a small rise we are meant to walk to if the tide goes out.  This resort suffered a bad hit from Cyclone Pam three yar ago. The neighbouring properties here are bombed out shells, so they have enough to deal with without telling them that global warming is going to submerge their island. Australia is spending millions trying to measure the height of the sea here. Maybe we could use that money for something else.

Breakas Toblerone

Its happy hour and I am forced to drink two Toblerones instead of one.  It was a big day today, with a walk thru the Pango village which gave you a real taste of the local lifestyle. We went to the kindergarten for some songs and left a donation as the government here does not support them.  In the afternoon we went to the Raru falls for a swim and followed up with a visit to the Blue Hole. Temperatures have been 26 degrees for the last week.

Hula Girls

Banana Balls - We had one of these hanging in our outdoor shower

Pango Village Kids

Powerful Pam 

Breakas

If you are into surfing then come here but don't come for the snorkelling.  There are exposed rocks at low tide which leave pools of interest like some starfish and crabs. This is also a noisy place with lots of nearby dogs barking thru the night. And I heard a rooster crowing at midnight. That sounds like the title of a book.  No phasements.

Port Vila

Hailed the bus to go into town. The bus is a van which has a B on the number plate. These are everywhere and it is 300vat ($3.50) for the trip from Breakas to the casino.  The town is a bit shambolic, as are the buses, as are the roads but everyone is happy. We bought a few things ,including a Pandora Turtle, some stamps, a pull over beach type shirt and potatoe chips at the milk bar over the road.

We might try Irriki next time

I bought a few stamps

Alcoholic choco - Baileys, Kahlua, ice cream

Efate

This is the main island although smaller than Espiritu Santo.  The Spanish were first in the area, hence Holy Spirit Island. Captain Cook came along hence New Hebrides but the French spilled over from New Caledonia so they have been driving on the opposite side of the road here ever since.  French flags on the back of crazy utes were evrywhere after the semi final.  What will happen if they win?  The Beakas Resort here is compact. When the tide goes out there are rocks for 200 metres.

Ratua Foundation

I would recommend this island but it does have a few issues.  It is not a Hilton, although Paris Hilton is coming this week on their mega yacht, maybe they will bye it.  The current owner is a kiwi who swapped his yacht for the island no cash involved. The previous owner had run it down so they are now trying to get it back up to its glory days.  It is a self sufficient approach with some deliveries like butter, which ran out while we were there.  If they catch a fish then we eat fish provided it hasn't been eating the coral like the 60kg trevally which we couldn't eat. Overall the activities were the winner and being a not for profit any extra proceeds go to the Foundation.

Early morning Ratua

Intertidal Zone

When the tide is out the browsing is interesting. Around here the view is amazing. We found the moray eels do not retreat with the tide, they prefer to hide in a pool under a coral tree, close to their area. There are some hairy tentacular legs waving from under rocks. Our big win was paddling with turtles. I tracked them while Debbie jumped out of the kayak for a swim over the top of them.

Slippery customer

These were flailing trying to catch anything

Horsing around

One of the features of this island is a horse stables. I have never ridden a horse until today but it was not just any ride. This first ride was bare back, thru a sea channel over our heads so that I had to grab the mane when I floated free of the horse. Karen might think it madness but this is island style. A woman was bucked off and killed last year.  We did some more snorkel and discovered moray eels hiding in rocky holes just below our deck. I think this was even better than the gee gees.

HiHo Silver

water water everywhere

We started off the day with a standup paddle although in my case it was a wobble paddle which I still have not got the hang of, although Debbie can move quite well. We switched to the kayak and got amongst the turtles. After lunch was our first official excursion, a kayak to the blue hole. This is a fresh water area and things sink more easily including us.  In the afternoon I waded amongst the coral and got some very close photos of corals, fish and starfish. The meals here are a good size due to a French influence.

Not a Clifton sunset

We are never going to see sunsets any where else now to rival Clifton Springs. The fish show is entertaining. Flying fish are unwrapping wings for short flights to chase bugs. There were arrow like gar fish spearing through the air and you would not want to be standing in the way.  We walked to the end of the island via the airstrip which provided a clear path past the horses, the goats and the feral pigs. Today was the sunniest so far around 26 degrees. I took the one bike that still works and rode down every track which was only 5km.

The far end of the island

Snorkel City

There is a reef straight off the beach here with excellent snorkelling. We have brought our full face masks and have used them each day. I have switched to a tablet device as a windows update killed the laptop, so photos will be another problem.  There are many turtles here. Their heads are always popping up for a breath but when we get to that spot they have moved off. The old wooden houses are interesting but they creak and crack and don't forget to duck thru each door.

Nightly Bonfire

Ratua

The access to Pacific Islands seems to always be a drawn out affair and the further you go the lessening of aircraft technology. The order was car,plane,bus,plane,bus,bus,plane,car,boat taking about 24 hours with 3 hours sleep.  This is a private island of about 60 hectares.  We are hoping for a good nights sleep. Our house is 200 yar old and was rescued from the peasants who were slowly burning them as firewood. 

Dry Season ?

Ours is the Deer house

Airport Time

We have quickly got back into the reality of dealing with airports. This is the third so far today and only one to go at about 11:30 pm tonight plus another one tomorrow morning. We are switching to Air Vanuatu on behalf of QANTAS and so far they are on island time as there is no sign of anyone at this checkin desk. I recommend the chocolate covered muffins at Mach2 though.  The Avalon experience was relaxed as there were a lot less people around. We flew over the Alps which had a lot of snow cover.

Very fast coffee