Untitled Document



2010 Paul Gauguin French Polynesia Total Solar Eclipse Cruise

Day 01 Tuesday July 6th Papeete, Tahiti
Papeete pronounced "Papa-aytey" is Tahiti’s capital. Randy and Ross dropped us at SeaTac airport at 5:30AM for our 7:00AM flight to Los Angeles. At LAX we exchanged $300 for 25,000 in French Pacific Francs. Large bills and very colorfull. Tahleen Nabor's as well as Peter and Thao Bromer from the China trip will be on our flight to Tahiti. We rode out to our plane on the same shuttle bus as Alex Filippenko the Astronomer from U of Cal, Berkley. Our plane crossed the Equator at 6:20PM Pacific Daylight time. We were given menus with our meal choises during the flight. The Island was hot and humid. We were greeted with champagne on the ship. Our cabin, 414, was more spacious than we expected. We took a walking tour of the ship before heading to dinner at 9:15PM. We were the last to leave the dinning room. We saw Ruth, Joseph, Peter and Thao, Tony Crocker too, but he didn't recognize us.

Our cabin was more spacious than we expected.	Cabin 414	Upon entering the ship we were greeted with champagne. Cyd is holding her nifty self portrait extension. Her camera is attached to a telescoping handle. Cool.

The red pamphlet had a complete guest list. The "Welcome Aboard" was a four page news letter that changed daily and gave a complete listing of each days activities.	Photo taken not far from the Equator.	Polynesian performers on the dock.

The hallway to one of the restraunts	Pacific Francs. The exchange at the airport was 25,0000 for $300	Ships crew doubled as a band at the first night party. The pool was empty, but alternatley filled and emptied depending on the depth of the sea swells during the trip.

Ceremonial statue was in our room. A great place to hang my hat.	Another dock greeter.	This was the crowd at LAX. Tahaleen from the China trip was on our plane.

Day 02 Wednesday July 7th Island of Raiatea
Raiatea Our first morning found us crusing into the harbor and docking on the island of Raiatea. They put us through the ship emergency evacuation drill. We had lunch with Michelle and Scott. We both had planned to climb to the top of the peak Tapioi so off we went. After asking for directions from some youngsters we were soon on the light road to the top. Along the way we passed a commercial vanilla field. There were horses, chickens, pigs, dogs and cows along the trail. I still cannot understand how palm trees can be growing on some of the steep hillsides. How do the coconuts fall uphill? The ship's doctor was at the top when we finally reached it. There was a magestic view that included distant Bora Bora. We dined at the same resturaunt. Cyd had veal medallions and dad had Moon fish. I tried the Faux Grau appitizer. It wasn't to my liking. We lost $21 at the casino before heading for bed.

First morning view of Raiatea from our cabin window	Boats used for water sking	The ship's head chef was cleaning a "Moon" fish. This one about 100 lbs they can reach 500 lbs. With only a back bone it was mostly meat. I had it for dinner. Delicious. They should have served this Moon fish over Sun fish on eclipse day.

This is a Motu. A very small island that is part of the coral reefs that circles most of the islands.		Along with our friends Michelle and Scott we ascended Mt. Tapioi.

A rainbow crosses the natural inlet between the coral reefs. The opening occurs naturally from the river runoff of fresh water. It keeps the coral from growing.		The eclipse welcome banner above the gangway door. It was actioned off at the end of the trip. The $600 high bid will be used for the crew welfare fund.

	Tapioi peak from the ship	Mr. Pig was on the road that led to the top of the peak.

There were horses and cows on the trail	We don't know the name of this flower	Lot's of little piggies.

Looking out over the town marina	Our cabin's window	This lunch station was out on the deck.

Day 03 Thursday July 08th Island of Taha'a
Cyd was up early to watch the ship anchor off the island of Taha'a. She saw a rainbow and some scattered rain. We had breakfast at Le Grille. We were shuttled over to the company's private Motu beach for all day snorkeling and sun bathing. They setup a huge barbeque and buffet that is open from 10:00 to 2:00. Most of the drinks were served in coconuts. Our first time snorkeling. The water was about 75 degrees. Saw many colorful fish, sea cucumbers and a Needle fish that was about 20 inches long Dad finally realized that because we were south of the equator the sun traveled across the northern part of the sky. It was disorienting. We read, laid in the sun and walked clear around the tiny island.

Church on the shore of Taha'a.	That's Bora Bora in the distance.	Coconut seedling. They begin to take root about eight weeks after falling.

The brother Aqua Man doesn't talk about	Scott drying the dyed cloth they made in the craft area.	Robin, your book made it to the South Seas

		A Mermaid

Walking around the Motu	Our place on the beach. There were a few vendors selling Black Pearls.	The crew loading up the shuttle.

Palm trees hiding the sun	Joseph talking with Wilderness Travels photographer	Walking the island

Black Pearl farm, we think?	Palms across the inlet	The second largest dinning room on the ship

Day 04 Friday July 9th Bora Bora
Off the ship to an early excursion. A trip around the island on Le Truck. Wooden floorboards and open air windows. We had a very good guide. We saw Brando's bungalow, Bloody Mary's bar, beautiful views, vendors and more. We walked the village at the tiny port. The local church had unusual stained glass. Back on the ship we dined alone, but returned to the island to watch a dance ceremony and local festival. Back again on the ship we stopped to listen and watch some Karaoke and disco before retiring.

Le Truck and our guide.	Protestant church	Military bunker from WWII

The box that was used as a step fell out.	Money from all over the world at Bloody Mary's	Stain glass window at the village church.

Brando's bungalow	Lunch on the rear deck	Buying our dyed cloths

American tourists		Our guides tatoo and flower wreath

Breadfruit the cargo of the Bounty	King Kong's cave in the mountain	Local boats

Black pearls	Native ceremony	Polyneisian Dancers

Day 05 Saturday July 10th At Sea
We headed out to sea at about 11:00PM last night. The seas swells are up to 3 meters. We found the resturaunt that serves sausage and bacon and french toast etc this morning, yea. Previous breakfasts were more continental. Mom layed by the pool while I went to practice with the settings on the cameras. I sat in on Jay Andersons talk about the eclipse and the weather. Lunch had a German theme. Later I sat in on Alex Fillipenko's 2nd talk in the afternoon. Alex is an Astronomy professor at Cal Berkley. Six times voted professor of the year. If you watch the science channel, he has appeared on science documertaries many times. We are sitting off the end of the ship watching Tahiti drift away at 10 knots. We are hoping to see the "green flash". It's a rarely seen flash off the sun as it dips below the horizon. Too many clouds tonight. The sun comes up at six and goes down at 6. Fish and Chips at Le Grille and to bed early.

Chart of our path to the path.	Sunset off the stern.	Jay Anderson sitting behind. He is the head of the Canadian Royal Astronomical Socieity and an eclipse and weather pattern expert.

	No green flash



Day 06 Sunday July 11th Eclipse Day
This morning is the eclipse event. Dad got up about 4:45AM to join a few astronomers on the top deck. A few experts were pointing out the jewels of the southern sky. I got a chance to use the new image stabilizer binoculars. Great views. The sky is completely different. Orion is visible, but tipped on it's side 90 degrees. We found a place on deck at about 6:15AM and awaited 1st contact. That's when the moon's disk first touches the sun. People were setting up some expensive equipment. A man near us set up a small camera that would take two photos per second. It recorded almost 5000 images. He sayed he will send me the finished video. The eclipse was better than China's. Four minutes long with a briliant final diamond ring and longer coronal flares. Champagne and Corona beer was served. Took long naps today. A post eclipse talk was held and many of the days best photos were shown. Had surf-n-turf for dinner, steak and lobster. The evening ended with a Polynesian dance troop on stage. Approximate eclipse viewing location: 18°36' S 147°12' W

People assembling near the pool.	His eyes say look but don't touch!

Solar filters	Extreme Pin Hole art	Eclipse chasers are a wonderful breed.

A technique for seeing a larger corona is to patch one eye to prepare it for the darkend sky.	Eclipse Paparazzi	Scott and Michelle from Kentucky

Pin holes in cardboard spell Randy and Ross in crescents.	Thao and Peter from Miami	Nine returned from the China trip in 2008. That's Tony from LA in the back row.

Ruth and Joseph from Raleigh, NC with Michelle	Alex Fillipenko - his 11th eclipse	1st contact top left and 4th contact bottom right

Using differnt F-Stops	The second Diamond Ring	The eclipse through Cyd's point and shot camera

		The Croatian ship captain

Can't get much cooler than this!	His time lapse camera took nearly 5,000 images during the entire eclipse event. One every two seconds.	Toasting our friends back home

Day 07 Monday July 12th Moorea (pronounced Moh'oh'rea)
We anchored off Cook's Bay. Our excursion to the island was another bus tour. This little yellow beauty was air conditioned. Drove to Belvedere, saw the "Bahli Hi" mountain peak from the movie "South Pacific". Saw human sacrifice structures used 400 years ago, pineapple plantation, rubber and Bamboo trees. The are 18 hotels with rooms that are bungalows built on stilts over the water on Moorea. It was too rough to Kayak off the stern of the boat. The captain was a Croatian, born in Split. There was another Polynesian dancing show. Our last dinner was with the group from the China trip.

Tour bus	Next time we'll stay here

	Tour guide

	Local boats	Bahli Hi

The largest dining room	"Surf and Turf" Lobster and steak	The ships marina

Pineapple	Sacrifice structure	Pineapple plantation

Papaya	Captain's farewell party	Rainbow during the party

	Russian family	Mr. Blackwell's best dressed

Evening sunset	The largest dining room	Night's entertainment

Day 08 Tuesday July 13th Back on Tahiti
Ruth and Joseph's daughter Carlie came on board and had breakfast with them. Out of the room at 9:30AM. Left the ship at 12:00 noon. Climbed abaord a big bus and toor a three hour tour of the island. Stopped at a writer's museum. He wrote the original Mutiny On The Bounty. Saw a waterfall and very interesting lighthouse. They dropped us at the Raddison hotel where we stayed until the ride to the airport at 6:00PM. The plan left for LA at 10:00PM. We arrived home at 4:30PM on Wednesday PDT.

Big boats in the harbor	Carlie Huberman	Flower at the museum

James Norman Hall Museum		H.M.S. Bounty

Local Beer - very good	Walk to the falls	Tourists

Bamboo	Museum gate	Unknown

Lighthouse		I didn't know she was poseing

Radisson beach	Radisson court yard and pool	Palm tree