And so the substitute Alaska trip begins

[Pushka]

It may not be the trip you planned but it looks lovely! Happy birthday/anniversary.

Thankyou blackcat20.

 

[Pushka]

Another glorious morning here.
Dinner report later but just a quick pic of the beach at low tide! They stole the water. No water activities until the afternoon. (We remembered the tidal change from last time).


I love exploring when the water is out. But first, breakfast.

 

[Pushka]

So while waiting for MrP to go back to the room for a bag to get some fishing bait from the buffet (yep, brought our own fishing gear), a dinner report.

Pre dinner, some of the chips and wine/gin while on the balcony helped out the wait.

As I mentioned a limited choice dinner menu is included. Three starters, three mains and two desserts. They looked ok. We could also choose off the menu and $50 would be credited so we just pay the difference.

We were still weary so we just ordered our plan. MrP the soup, curry and sorbet. The restaurant was Bamboo so Asian influence. I ordered dim sum, the curry and sago.

It was certainly very nice. No photos - it wasn't memorable, but pleasant. Wine was $15 a glass, water $10 bottle for sparkling. Glad we organised our own pre dinner snacks.

The restaurant was packed at 8.30 when we arrived and deserted at 10 when we left.

Hayman is not the place for a raging night life which suits us fine.

 

[Pushka]

Now this is a breakfast buffet.

 

[Pushka]

Love the honeycomb. The honey oozes out of the comb down the rail and into the pot.


Round 1. Pink grapefruit Dame. QM2 again.



Round 2.



I showed remarkable restraint. Today.

Great view at breakfast.



Internet here is fast, everywhere and FREE. GoT to be streamed tomorrow on my ipad app. Joy.

 

[love_the_life]

I always say that you need a good breakfast

Given the price of the resort, I would expect the internet to be free!

 

[Pushka]

Pano shot.

 

[Pushka]

Fly fishing in paradise.



I caught 2 rocks and 2 trees. Catch of the day.

 

[RB]

I feel your pain of missing your long planned trip-same happening to me at the moment. Maybe I can ease your pain by posting these photos of our Mt McKinley base camp landing:evil:

 

[Pushka]

Is that Talkeetna Air taxi?
I should add that was a pic of MrP just in case.
I did see this critter though


Plus a horde of stingrays. A couple of turtles. And these yellow wormy things that bit. With the blood thinner working they created quite some blood work. Didn't attract any more fish though.

 

[sinophile888]

Puskha, I was so sorry to hear of your health interruption. I remember you were very kind to me when I had a bad 2014. All is well now, so I am predicting the same for you.

We had to cancel the QM2 trip in 2014 which you sailed on. But we made good this year on QE from Fremantle to Hong Kong. And the biggest thrill of it all was that we booked a guarantee balcony cabin for the Melbourne to Hong Kong leg and were upgraded to the Princess Grill.

So here’s hoping no more hiccups with your future travel plans.

 

[Pushka]

Puskha, I was so sorry to hear of your health interruption. I remember you were very kind to me when I had a bad 2014. All is well now, so I am predicting the same for you.

We had to cancel the QM2 trip in 2014 which you sailed on. But we made good this year on QE from Fremantle to Hong Kong. And the biggest thrill of it all was that we booked a guarantee balcony cabin for the Melbourne to Hong Kong leg and were upgraded to the Princess Grill.

So here’s hoping no more hiccups with your future travel plans.

Yes Sinophile, I remember your sad story well. Fantastic to resume life as we want it. By a strange twist, AF can lead to DVT's. Not in my case but in many others.

Dame the Older (love_the_life) and I are booked on another leg on QM2 - Singapore to Dubai in April next year. We booked a guarantee obstructed - so possibly some orange tenders for company. If there is an upgrade I hope we both get it as we love our dinners together. Those staterooms are also undergoing a refurb currently while others aren't so orange might be the new black.

I've already booked flights for that using points. Dame - into Singapore on Wednesday and out of Dubai on Friday night direct to Adelaide.

Great score on that upgrade. That is so rare! Dame scored a great one last time - from an inside to a balcony.

Looking at next year, 3 cruises planned. Princess Diamond Asia Singapore return over New Years, the QM2 in April and hopefully a rebooked Alaska tour in July.

 

[Pushka]

Oooh. I just have company.

 

[love_the_life]

Oooh. I just have company.
View attachment 71742

Such a beautiful bird but can be so destructive. One shredded part of our balcony railing at the other place!

Stick to the pools for swimming by the sound of it. Not keen on odd biting things.

 

[Pushka]

They are incredibly destructive birds and a real pest in SA, even in Adelaide. They kill trees and damage property. We have huge swarms of them, they are noisy and large, strong, powerful birds. Yesterday they were grabbing food off the plates while people were waiting.

 

[Pushka]

Now this beautiful bird has visited us each meal. He is very meek but accepts any donations. He is quite tall - maybe 2 feet?



This guy enjoys our view.

 

[sinophile888]

Dame the Older (love_the_life) and I are booked on another leg on QM2 - Singapore to Dubai in April next year. We booked a guarantee obstructed - so possibly some orange tenders for company. If there is an upgrade I hope we both get it as we love our dinners together. Those staterooms are also undergoing a refurb currently while others aren't so orange might be the new black.
Looking at next year, 3 cruises planned. Princess Diamond Asia Singapore return over New Years, the QM2 in April and hopefully a rebooked Alaska tour in July.

I am planning to do the Fremantle to Melbourne leg on the QM2 in February and then, hopefully, the Hong Kong to Singapore leg in April. We will just miss each other.

There is a great special at the moment for the Hong Kong to Singapore leg with Balcony cabins for Inside prices. $3500 down to $1500 approximately.

I have enough points for CX J from PER -> HKG and will try ScootBiz from SIN -> PER.

 

[Pushka]

That is a fabulous deal. Mmmm.

 

[RB]

Is that Talkeetna Air taxi?
.

Yes Talkeetna Air Taxi. We used a coupon from the Alaska Tour Saver book-not sure that discout is still in place but we found the book to be very good value. There are a few more photos of the day in this trip report http://www.australianfrequentflyer....zag-around-the-us-23908.html?highlight=alaska -maybe a few things you could use in planning.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your "substitute" trip

 

[Pushka]

Thankyou - we booked TAT. Sounded fabulous. Will get into your TR.