Southwest Pacific Cruise Nov 06—23, 2007
Posted by David Bishop
David Bishop
David Bishop loves his vocation and cannot imagine anything better than exploring wild and beautiful places in Asia and the Pacific in the company of friends and clients. H...Related Trips
First and foremost, a very big "thank you" to you, our wonderful clients who contributed enormously to making this trip so much fun. Thank you too, for continuing to support VENT during our hour of need when we had to switch ships in mid-stream, adjust the itinerary, and change the dates. From all of us at VENT, thank you. Thanks also to Shirley and Patrick back at the VENT office who toiled unbelievable hours to make this all happen.
As the promo said, it was indeed the trip of a lifetime. Now, with time to sit back, digest, and reflect, the comment, "Didn't we do well?" seems to sum it up. The ship was absolutely delightful, as were the captain, his crew, and all the staff. For one who is not exactly the best of sailors, it was a pleasure sailing on such a lovely vessel.
And what a way to see such a little-known and relatively inaccessible part of the world. With all the travel we do, it's so easy to become jaded—"just another day in paradise." But really, how could that be, with island-scape after island-scape, of fine, remarkably charming, and friendly people in picture-postcard villages, and some wonderfully interesting and lush forests inhabited by some equally interesting birds. There were, of course, disappointments such as the lack of birds on Nendo, but equally there were wonderful surprises such as on Rennell and Santa Anna where the birding was so productive and the birds so confiding. Who will ever forget: those fruit-doves that just sat out for us to imbibe their sumptuous colors; hornbills; seabirds, at times in large numbers and including great views of several infrequently seen species such as Heinroth's Shearwater and the lovely Collared Petrel; the spectacular display by a large herd of dolphins late one afternoon; the good selection of endemic and little-known species of flying-foxes; and a seeming never-ending supply of endemic birds.
I'd do it all again tomorrow.