Daily Outfit - Anchors Away!

Banned Small Anchors Cardigan - Gwynnies

Yours Sincerely Full Circle Skirt in Snow White - Target

50s pinup vintage rockabilly multicolor top, worn underneath (see bottom photo) - Queen of Holloway 

Judy Sunglasses in Navy - Collectif via Gwynnies 

White shoes - ???

Regular readers will probably notice that I like to don a nautical style outfit from time to time and what better time than on a cruise! Here is the outfit I donned to board our cruise.  The outfit was warm enough to keep me warm on a chilly winter morning in Brisbane but still felt like a holiday outfit. 

Not only was this outfit perfect for the chilly Brisbane weather but it also was great for our sail away party!

Shore Day 3 - Port Vila

 

 Our third shore day was in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The cruise ship docks outside of the town centre of Port Vila so when you get off the boat there is not a lot to see. There is a market that is set up port side which sells tourist souvenirs and trinkets. The market runs the whole way up the main road into town. While we were waiting for our pre-booked shore tour we went to check it out. The locals were incredibly friendly and offered us rides into town but we told them we were waiting for our tour to the Mele Cascades. They reassured us that this was the best place to visit.

After a while our tour number was called out and we boarded the mini bus taking us to the waterfall. Driving around Port Vila is an experience in itself as there isn't much in the way of rule of the road in Vanuatu! Our route took us through the main town of Port Vila and through the outlying villages. On the way we spotted many areas that still showed the damage from the cyclone that had hit the island back in March.

We arrived at the cascades and made our way up the first set of steps where we were greeted by a local band who sang for us. We then continued the short walk across and river and to the base of the waterfall. At the final stage you can walk up the small cascades and pools and actually get under the waterfall. The hubby did this and said sitting under the waterfall gave him the best shoulder massage possible but being the clumsy person I am I just relaxed in the bottom pool and took some shots of the falls.

After we had all taken a dip, dried off and headed back down the trail we stopped for snacks and then our driver dropped us off in the main town. We made a bee-line for the duty free shop where we stocked up on alcohol at half the price you would pay in Australia. Next we checked out a number of numerous souvenir shops the grace the main street of Port Vila. We picked up a cute owl bag for our little niece and a beautiful wooden bowl with mother of pearl inlay.

We had planned to do a self guided walking tour of the town and check out the local sites but by this time we were a little tired so we headed for the undercover market in the centre of town to do a last little bit of shopping and then looked for a taxi. This is incredibly easy to find in Vila as any time that you stop on a street corner a kind local will ask you if you need a ride back to the ship.

On the way back to the ship our driver Benjamin asked us about our day and told us that the next time we come to Vila (and we loved it so much we will be back!)  we should pay for a local driver to give us a tour as for just $35 each we could hire a driver for the whole day!

Port Vila was by far our favourite port of call. The town was not as picturesque as the island paradise of Lifou but the town had a friendly, lively vibe that we just loved!

Shore Day 2 - Lifou

We awoke on our second shore day to find we had already dropped anchor in the tropical paradise that is Lifou. After a breakfast sat on deck in the sunshine admiring the beautiful view and hopped on a tender boat to the docks where we were met by a fabulous welcoming from the local choir.

After having a quick look around the markets we made our way up to Our Lady of Lourdes church on the top of the hill where there was a gorgeous view of the whole bay. On the way up we passed the entrance to Jinek Bay and considered going for a dip to check out the local marine life but in our haste to get off the boat we had failed to bring our swimmers and as I am not a confident swimmer when I am out of my depth we decided against it.

 After admiring the view and having a look inside the little church we headed back down the hill and in the opposite direction to Efate's main Catholic church. Opposite the church was a lovely little museum with information about the island, its inhabitants and their way of life.

 Inside the church was a stunningly carved altar and cross. On the way back from the church to the beach we passed some local offering to take tourists to the cave and grotto for $5. We were severely tempted but by this point I was starting to get a little sunburnt as the maleria tablets we were taking make you photosensative so I ended up with a sunburnt hairline and hands!  

 After sitting on the beach in the shade and admiring the stunning views and turquoise waters we decided to hop back on a tender and take advantage of the fact that the ship was almost empty so we spent the rest of the day in the Oasis adults only area of the ship having a few drinks, hopping in the hot-tubs and looking out on this stunning view.

Shore Day 1 - Noumea

 

Hello lovely readers. We're back from our holidays and I have so much to share with you so I' start with our first shore day which was in Noumea.

We arrived in Noumea at around 3pm and headed straight off the ship. Unfortunately we weren't greeted by the best weather as Noumea was pretty grey and only 19 degrees. The first thing we wanted to do was to find Le Fournil Gourmand bakery as I had heard great things about it and being a French colony Noumea has great food and pastries. Unfortunately when we found it Le Fournil Gourmand was closed and from what our limited french could decipher from the sign on the door seemed to have gone into liquidation!

Undeterred by this we decided to seek sweet delights at Chocolat Mourand so we headed in the opposite direction and made our way there. On the way we passed the harbour and the American war memorial. We also caught glimpses of the Cathédrale Saint-Joseph de Noumea nestled up on the hill.

Halfway through our trek to find chocolate it started to rain and we realised we probably wouldn't have time to make it to the chocolate shop and be back in time to catch our pre-booked shore tour the Tchou Tchhou train so we headed back to the terminal and went upstairs to check out the little market there. I picked up a few postcards and a pretty wooden candle holder and then we went to the shore tours marquee to wait for our tour.

Unfortunately the tours were running late which meant we probably could have made it to the chocolate shop and back in time to catch the train. This also meant by the time our tour actually set off it was somewhat dark and by the time we reached the lookouts and the places of interest the tour stopped at it was too dark to see anything much at all!

The Tchou Tchou trained stopped at  the Notre Dame de Pacific where we looked over the lights of the city and our cruise shipped docked in the distance before heading around the beaches and the bays (which we couldn't actually see as it was too dark!) stopping for some light refreshments and heading up to the gun cannons nestled high on the hill before heading back to the ship by which time it was particularly dark and rainy so instead of spending more time looking around Noumea sites as planned we headed back to the ship a little early to grab some dinner.

I have to say that Noumea was by far my least favourite port of call, although my view may have been biased by the bad weather and the fact that we missed most of it as it was dark so we didn't actually get to see any of the bays or beaches. But we found the feels of Noumea was a little like a seedier Paris in the Pacific. It had a run down feeling about it and wouldn't be the kind of place I would feel happy wandering around at night.

Tip:
Although we did learn so interesting facts about Noumea from our guide on the Tchou Tchou train I would have to say it is not really worth doing in the dark as there is very little to see and whats more it is a lot cheaper to book the little green train once you get to Noumea rather than booking the shore tours through P&O.

Have you been to Noumea? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments below

Cruise Month - Cruising Time

Well we've checked out our ports of call, packed a stunning nautical themed wardrobe and picked some good reading for those days spent relaxing on board and now its finally time to set sail. We cruise tomorrow and wont be back until Saturday 25th. So I will be back on the blog on Sunday 26th with an bumper edition of 'What Emma Did' to give you a taste of what we've been up to on our holidays.

And fear not Cruise Month fans as Cruise Month will continue until the end of July as I will be posting about our trip and some cruise outfits will be popping up on the blog between Mon 27th and the end of the month.

Cruise Month - Cruise reading

This post contains affiliate links

Going on a cruise and being on the ocean is the perfect time to take some time out for a spot of relaxing and reading. Here are some books that will be gracing my suitcase this cruise thanks to The Book Depository.

Tales of the South Pacific:

"Tales of the South Pacific "is the iconic, Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece that inspired a Broadway classic and launched the career of James A. Michener, one of America's most beloved storytellers. This thrilling work invites the reader to enter the exotic world of the South Pacific and luxuriate in the endless ocean, the coconut palms, the waves breaking into spray against the reefs, the full moon rising behind the volcanoes. And yet here also are the men and women caught up in the heady drama of World War II: the young Marine who falls for a beautiful Tonkinese girl; the Navy nurse whose prejudices are challenged by a French aristocrat; and all the soldiers and sailors preparing for war against the seemingly peaceful backdrop of a tropical paradise.

Getting Stoned with Savages:

After two grueling years on the island of Tarawa, battling feral dogs, machete-wielding neighbors, and a lack of beer on a daily basis, Maarten Troost was in no hurry to return to the South Pacific. But as time went on, he realized he felt remarkably out of place among the trappings of twenty-first-century America. When he found himself holding down a job one that might possibly lead to a career he knew it was time for him and his wife, Sylvia, to repack their bags and set off for parts unknown. " Getting Stoned with Savages" tells the hilarious story of Troost s time on Vanuatu a rugged cluster of islands where the natives gorge themselves on kava and are still known to eat the man. Falling into one amusing misadventure after another, Troost struggles against typhoons, earthquakes, and giant centipedes and soon finds himself swept up in the laid-back, clothing-optional lifestyle of the islanders. When Sylvia gets pregnant, they decamp for slightly-more-civilized Fiji, a fallen paradise where the local chiefs can be found watching rugby in the house next door. And as they contend with new parenthood in a country rife with prostitutes and government coups, their son begins to take quite naturally to island living in complete contrast to his dad."

Pacific: 

Young Australian actress Samantha Lindsay, fresh from her success on the London stage, is thrilled when she lands the lead role in the latest Hollywood war epic to be filmed in the dramatic South Pacific islands of Vanuatu. It's the role of a lifetime. In another era, Jane Thackeray travels from her home in England to the far distant islands of the New Hebrides with her husband, a Presbyterian missionary. Ensnared in the turmoil of war in the South Pacific, Jane witnesses the devastating effect human conflict has upon an innocent race of people, and her life becomes entwined in a maelstrom of love, hate, sacrifice and revenge. On location in Vanuatu, Samantha plays a character based on the life of 'Mamma Tack', a World War II heroine who was invaluable to both the US forces and the New Hebredian natives. Uncanny parallels between history and fiction emerge and Sam begins a quest for the truth.

Cruise Month - Your Cruising Wardrobe

This post contains affiliate links

For me a big part of taking my first cruise is what I am going to wear. There are a number of theme nights aboard as well as dress codes for certain venues and times of day so here is a little taster of the kind of outfits I plan on wearing:

 

1. Philomena Top
2.  Fran Shorts
3. Martha Dress
4.  Bella Dress
5. Joni Dress
6. Jaelene Cardigan
7. Tina Shorts

These fabulous nautical style items from Voodoo Vixen would definitely take pride of place in my suitcase afterall if you can't go for a nautical theme wardrobe on a cruise when can you?!

All these fabulous sailor themed items can be found at Kinny and Howie Retro Boutique. 

Cruise Month - Destination Port Vila, Vanuatu

Port Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu and is located on the island of Efate. Situated on the south coast of the island of Efate, in Shefa Province, Port Vila is the economic and commercial centre of Vanuatu.

Population:
44,040

Language:
Bislama is spoken by everyone as the day-to-day language. In addition, English and French are also widespread. Other Indigenous languages are also spoken in the city.

Currency:
Vanuatu vatu

Ethnic distribution:
Predominately Melanesian, with small Polynesian, Asian, Australian and European populations, mainly French and British.

Flags:

Climate:

What to see and do in Port Vila:
♥ Take a trip to the Mele Cascades
♥ Learn about the local culture at Ekasup Village
♥ Enjoy some nature at the Summit Gardens
♥ Visit the worlds most unusual post office - the underwater post office
♥ Do some shopping for souvenirs at Port Vila Markets
♥ Take the ferry to Iririki Island

Cruise Month - Destination Lifou, Loyalty Islands

Our second port of call is Lifou in the Loyalty Islands. Lifou is made up of Lifou Island, the largest and most heavily populated of the Loyalty Islands, its smaller neighbour Tiga Island, and several uninhabited islets in between these two. All these islands lie among the Loyalty Islands, 190 km (120 mi) to the northeast of New Caledonia's mainland. At 1,146 km2 (442 sq mi), Lifou Island is the largest atoll in the world.

The town of Wé, on Lifou Island, is the administrative centre of the commune of Lifou as well as the provincial seat of the Islands Province

Area: 
1,207.1 km2

Population:
10,320

Language:
10,320

Currency:
CFP Franc

Ethnic distribution:
Kanaks 96.9%
Europeans 2.6%
Polynesians 0.1%

Other 0.4%

INSEE/Postal code: 
98814 / 98820

Elevation: 
0–104 m (0–341 ft)

What to see and do in Lifou:
♥ Don your snorkel and head to Jinek Bay
♥ Take a walk up the hill to check out the views of Easo including the church
♥ Take in the scents of Lifou's Vanilla House
♥ Check out the stunning caves and grottos

Cruise Month - Destination Noumea, New Caledonia

Our first port of call on the cruise is Noumea, New Caledonia. Noumea is the capital of New Caledonia and is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian (Wallisians, Futunians, Tahitians), Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians, Ni-Vanuatu and Kanaks that work in one of the South Pacific's most industrialised cities. The city lies on a protected deepwater harbour which serves as the chief port for New Caledonia.

Area: 
45.7 km2 (17.6 sq mi)

Population:
100,237

Language:
French
Kanak languages

Currency:
CFP franc

Ethnic distribution:
Whites 50.9%
Kanaks 22.9%
Polynesians 12.3%
Other 13.9%

INSEE/Postal code:
98818 / 98800

Elevation:
0–167 m (0–548 ft)

Flags:
French flag and the Kanak flag

Climate:

Emblem of New Caledonia:

What to see and do in Noumea:
♥ Take a ride around the city and see the sights on the Tchou Tchou Train
♥ Visit the Museum of New Caledonia and marvel at the Kanak and Melanesian art and cultural items
♥ Visit the stunning Tjibaou Cultural Centre
♥ Visit the Aquarium des Lagons and check out their collection of nautilus and other marine life from around the island
♥ Get in the water and try snorkeling, scuba diving or surfing

Cruise Month - The Itinerary

Hello dear readers and welcome aboard for cruise month. We kick off with our cruising itinerary. The Hubby and I will be cruising aboard P&O's Pacific Dawn for a seven night Pacific Island Hopper cruise visiting Noumea, Lifou and Port Vila.

 So you can follow us on our journey. Here is a full copy of our itinerary:
Day 1 - Depart Brisbane
Day 2 - At Sea
Day 3 - Noumea 
Day 4 - Loyalty Islands (Lifou)
Day 5 - Port Vila
Day 6 - At Sea
Day 7 - At Sea
Day 8 - Brisbane

Cruise Month

I am excited to announce that as we are taking our first cruise in a couple of weeks July will now be deemed cruise month! Over the next few weeks I will be sharing with you many cruise related posts including information on my ports, cruise tips, my cruise reading and ideas for a great cruise wardrobe.  So you will be able to share the trip with me.

My first 'Cruise Month' post on Friday will give you details of my cruise itinerary so watch out for that but in the meantime why not follow my Pintrest board here for more cruise information!