Posted on

It’s Not All Beer and Skittles

Our friends on “Savannah” riding out one of the many squalls we get here

It’s a quaint throwback phrase from my Pommie origins, but it came to mind after a few recent incidents gave us a timely reminder that life in paradise is not always idyllic. Yes, the diving is superb, the scenery and the anchorages are by and large sensational, but living on a boat in remote areas comes with its own challenges. So, for those of you who think that the cruising life must be constantly blissful, here’s our version of a reality check…

Continue reading “It’s Not All Beer and Skittles”
Posted on

Dawn Trekkers

Diving’s not the only thing that Raja Ampat is famous for. The lush, green forests here are home to myriads of exotic birds, including huge hornbills whose wings beat the air with an extraordinary ‘whomp… whomp… whomp’ sound as they fly overhead.  Then there’s the guttural, mournful cry of the great-billed herons and a cacophony of other bird calls in just about every anchorage we visit.  But perhaps what this area is best known for are the Birds of Paradise; the iconic symbol of Papua.  Their mating displays are quite spectacular by all accounts, but they live deep in the forests and are hard to find.

Continue reading “Dawn Trekkers”