The 21-Hour Trek to Tahiti & Paul Gauguin Cruises

We are finally on our way to Tahiti and the Society Islands! It's going to be a long trip—about 21 hours from our door to our hotel in Papeete—but it will be well worth it. By this evening we'll be tucked in bed at the InterContinental Tahiti and on Saturday afternoon we'll board the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises.

There's no chance of an upgrade on the way to Los Angeles (too many Elites running that route from Newark), but our game plan is to sleep on that flight and then try to stay awake on the eight-hour Air Tahiti Nui flight. That way, we'll hopefully be able to sleep through the night once we arrive in Tahiti. Fingers crossed that our plan works!

Stay tuned to this blog for daily posts from the South Pacific. We promise to share all the details of the trip with you, along with tons of photos (Internet willing)! And, if there's anything you want to know about Paul Gauguin Cruises, the InterContinental Tahiti, Le Meridien Bora Bora, or the islands in general, please let us know!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of InterContinental Tahiti/Danee Hazama

Pre-Cruise Craziness—Looking Forward to Paul Gauguin Cruises

No matter how prepared I am in most aspects of my life, I always seem to race to finish a zillion tiny tasks the day before embarking on a cruise.

My bag has been packed for days, but I've got a list of minor details to tend to today before we can leave for our Paul Gauguin Cruises vacation...

• Download some new eBooks to my Kindle; I know I'll purchase Richard Clarke's new Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It and I'll have to pick a few others. I'd love to get a new Lisa Unger novel, but her next book (Fragile) isn't out until August. Darn!
  
  
• Get my hair done; I love the 24-hour beauty parlor in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan. It's right near my office and I'll be in and out before 8am!
  
  
• Send out Mother's Day care packages. My favorite gifts to send include Belgium chocolates from Leonidas or cute "honeybee" bon bons from L.A. Burdick; clothes or fashion jewelry from Coldwater Creek; or pies from the Little Pie Company.
  
  
• Pick up some gourmet snacks for the plane. It's not smart to rely on the airlines to provide satisfying meals in the air so I'll be packing a picnic basket for the trip. For this, I head to Garden of Eden on 14th Street in Manhattan.

I'm sure I'll get it all done; I always do. But I can't wait until I can sink into my seat on the flight to Los Angeles and get some sleep! Now that you know my pre-cruise to-do list, share your last-minute travel traditions.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of LA Burdick

Hailstone Showers in Bangalore

Few years back Bangalore had the best climate in the country. In summers the temperature never used to raise beyond 30 degree Celsius. It was a paradise in all seasons. But it has been changing since couple of years at a rapid phase. The Mercury has been steadily raising every year in the summer. In summer now it is hovering around 35 degree Celsius. This year it has recorded the highest temperature of 37.6 degree Celsius in the past 25 years. (Click on the images for bigger picture)

But, last week has been a pleasant surprise. Parts of Bangalore witnessed sudden and heavy showers for a period of one hour.

With it arrived this year’s first hailstones. They were fast and plenty. Entire road got covered by small hailstones. The white spots in the above image are hailstones falling down. By enlarging the image they are clearly visible.

Packing for a Cruise: The Great Luggage Challenge

Leonard and I just finished packing for our South Pacific odyssey, which begins this Friday with our Air Tahiti Nui flight from Los Angeles to Papeete. We'll board the m/s Paul Gauguin on Saturday!

For this trip, we challenged each other to pack only what we need. I have to say, I think we were successful. We have one large suitcase, a small carry-on, my backpack/purse, and Leonard's camera bag. Not too shabby!

Of course, it's easiest to pack for a warm-weather cruise. After all, we're not going to need any cable-knit sweaters on Bora Bora! Instead, here's what we each packed:

• two swimsuits (two-piece separates for me and the bottoms do double-duty as shorts)
• three pairs of shorts
• two pairs of long pants
• four mix-and-match casual tops
• three country-club casual tops for evenings (plus a light wrap for me and a jacket for Leonard)
• shoes: one pair each of dress sandals, sneakers (to wear on the plane), and reef slippers
  
• one hat each

We generally send our laundry out once during a cruise, so this should get us through the seven-night itinerary with no problems and I'm sure we'll both pick up a T-shirt or two on the islands.

The toiletry bag was tougher to cull since we'll need copious amounts of insect repellent (I'm a mosquito magnet) and sunscreen (which can be expensive in Tahiti).

I have friends that can't believe we can make it all the way to Tahiti with just one suitcase and a small Vera Bradley rollerboard! (I'll have to handle that bag since the pattern is a bit too girl-y to expect Leonard to carry around; it's the carry-on bag I usually use during overnight business trips.)

It will be interesting to see how I feel about our luggage selection once we return. But, I'll say this, there have been plenty of times that I've come back from a cruise with outfits in my suitcase that never saw the light of day. I've never returned wishing I had brought more clothing.

I like the fact that we won't be bogged down by suitcases, since our camera gear is heavy enough as it is!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

3 Things I Didn't Know About Silversea's Silver Spirit

Guess what? We've just booked passage on the June 5th sailing of Silversea's new Silver Spirit from Venice, Italy to Athens, Greece. This is a ship we've been itching to try, but the itineraries just weren't meshing with our schedules. But, when we saw a small window in which we'd be available, we investigated the options and Silver Spirit's itinerary fit the bill nicely.

That being said, I now need to learn everything I can about the ship—quickly! I'm just scratching the surface, but here are some things I've discovered that surprised me:

3 Things I Didn't Know About Silver Spirit

1. Silversea Loves Fine Chocolate as Much as I Do!
   Finally, a luxury cruise line that leaves artisan chocolates on your pillow during evening turn-down service. I love chocolate far more than I should (I know, it's an addiction that I really should seek help to overcome) and Silver Spirit will cater to my sweet tooth. They purvey handmade chocolates from Pierre Marcolini of Brussels. These treats will eventually make their way to Silversea's other ships during select itineraries this summer in Europe.
   
   
2. Silver Spirit's Been on TV
   Plum TV reporter Alex Miranda filmed a short segment aboard Silver Spirit. Check out this Silver Spirit clip, which includes an interview with Silversea's VP of Sales, Stephen Tucker.
   
   
3. How the In-Room Mirror TVs Work
   I knew that this ship had installed unique mirrors that double as a TV. What I didn't know is how they work. Check out this video for the details.
   
   
   
   I'm excited to learn more about this beautiful new ship and I'm curious to match up what I've heard and read with my own personal experience. Just 39 days until we board Silver Spirit!
   
   
   —Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com
   
   
   Photo courtesy of Silversea
   

Shekhawati Paintings

Shekhawati region in western India, is famous for its mural paintings. It is like a huge open air gallery of painted walls, havelis and palaces in the vast expanse of the desert of Rajasthan in India. Every nooks and corner of the each town, street, home has been painted with frescoes. The homes built by the people of the region feature exquisite paintings that decorate their walls, doors, and interiors. The themes of these frescoes depict gods, kings, flowers and scenes from daily life. (Click on the images for bigger picture)

The technique of Fresco painting in Shekhawati is very similar to the Italian Fresco technique of the 14th century. Mostly vegetable pigments were used for coloring. Some of the main ingredients are kajal for black, lime for white, neel for blue, geru for red, kesar for orange, yellow clay for yellow.

The above image is interior courtyard of haveli in Mandwa taken in the night. This technique has been used since 1580 in this region. So this paintings in this area are around this period.

Govind Palace, Datia

We left from Shivpuri early morning. After visiting Survayi Ki Grahi, we proceeded to Datia which is at a distance of 106 kms. (Click on the images for bigger picture)

Govind Palace is the seven-story palace built by Raja Bir Singh Deo in 1614. Out of this only five levels are visible and other two levels are underground hidden from view. The main entrance is on the eastern side, while the south opens out to a lake, the Karna Sagar. A central dome rising to 35m caps the palace.

It has more than 440 rooms and several courtyards. What makes this palace special is that it is made entirely of stones and bricks with no use of wood and iron. This palace is one of finest example of a style of architecture that arose in the late 16th and early 17th centuries in the Bundelkhand area under the reign of the Bundela Rajputs. It is a fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture.

"Dining with the Captain" Story in My Cruise Magazine from Thomas Cook

If you're not from the United Kingdom, you may not be familiar with a terrific travel magazine called My Cruise (formerly Cruise). The tagline says it all: "The magazine for people who see the world by sea." The publication is sponsored by Thomas Cook, a well-regarded travel company that sells vacation packages and publishes its own series of guidebooks.

There's a very interesting feature package in the February/March 2010 issue called "The Ultimate Guide to Cruising." Cruise experts, like yours truly, shared their expertise on a variety of subjects.

Here are the pieces you can read at the My Cruise website:

• How to Get on the Captain's Table by Andrea M. Rotondo (my article!)
  
  
• How to Meet People on Board by Jennie Bond
  
  
• How to Pack for a Cruise by Esther Rantzen
  
  
• How to Celebrate Onboard by James Dunn, assistant cruise director, Carnival Dream
  
  
• How to Pick the Best Shore Excursions by Ann Elsten, shore excursion manager, Grand Princess
  
  
• Five Ports to See Before You Die by Carolyn Spencer Brown (Cruise Critic)
  
  
• Five Must-Have Cruise Apps by Anisha Patel
  
  
• Five Onboard Options That Aren't Publicized by Fran Golden
  
  
• How to Pick the Best Cabin by Jane Archer
  
  
• How to Get an Upgrade by Anisha Patel
  
  

There are a ton of other good reads in the magazine as well, including a hefty feature about Silversea's new Silver Spirit. That story was particularly timely for me since I'm booked to sail Silver Spirit this summer.

Check out My Cruise magazine and bookmark its website. The magazine is definitely worth reading.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of My Cruise magazine

T-Minus 10 to French Polynesia and the m/s Paul Gauguin

I know the economy is recovering because I haven't been this busy in nearly three years. I'm working on nonfiction book projects, guidebook updates, magazine and website articles, and even an iPhone app! Every minute of the day seems to be spoken for so I am quite literally counting down the minutes until our French Polynesian vacation. Paul Gauguin Cruises, here we come! I can't imagine a better place to unwind.

Next week we'll make the long trip from New York to Tahiti. We've got a one-night pre-cruise stay at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti. We're IC Ambassador members so I'm hoping for an upgrade from a panoramic room to an overwater motu bungalow. To be honest, the upgrade probably won't matter much. We'll roll into Papeete a little before midnight and will be very, very tired! Our plan for the next day is to sit by the pool and relax until it's time to head to the m/s Paul Gauguin.

The seven nights aboard the the ship will be heaven. We're also looking forward to shore excursions, like the Dolphin Watching Expedition in Moorea lead by marine biologist Dr. Michael Poole and Shark and Ray Watching by Glass-Bottomed Boat in Bora Bora.

Leonard will also spend plenty of time at the aft Watersports Marina, where he'll kayak, windsurf, and maybe even try water-skiing.

The only bag we've got packed so far is Len's camera gear. He's carrying the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II these days so we'll be posting tons of photos and high-definition video while we're away and upon our return.

If there's anything you want to know about the new Paul Gauguin Cruises, please let us know!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Shiva Temple, Survaya Ki Grahi

Survaya Ki Grahi is a big auditorium of stone. There is a Shiva temple with the idol still inside it. The temple has beautiful carvings on the exterior as well as on the ceiling. The below are the images of the Shiva temple. (Click on the images for bigger picture)

Above is the entrance to the temple. The idol can be seen inside and the carvings are all around the entrance.

Above is the intricate carvings in the ceiling of the temple.

Above is the carvings on one of the external walls of the temple.

To see other participants at: That's My World Tuesday

Survaya Ki Grahi Temple - 2

Survaya Ki Grahi is a big auditorium of stone. There is a Shiva temple with the idol still inside it. There are two more temples here without the idols in it. The below are the images of temples without the idol inside them. (Click on the images for bigger picture)

This is a temple beautiful carvings all around it.

The above structure is in front of the temple.

The above structure is on the top of the residential area of the students and teacher.

New Alaskan Wilderness Adventures for Summer 2011 from InnerSea Discoveries

Does this sound like you?

• I dream of cruising Southeast Alaska, but I cringe at the thought of sailing aboard a huge cruise ship that can't get up close to the wildlife.
  
  
• I'd consider doing Alaska on my own, but I have no idea where to seek out the best spots to view whales, sea lions, seals, bears, and other animals.
  
  
• I prefer to travel with small groups of like-minded individuals.
  
  
• I want to be pampered on my Alaska cruise, but I could care less about formal night and the casino.
  
  
• I want to actually experience Alaska. I plan to hike, kayak, fish, swim, snorkel, and maybe even camp onshore.
  
  
• I'm an adventure seeker!

If that's you, visit InnerSea Discoveries' website and book an Alaska wilderness adventure. This cruise line is a new venture from the American Safari Cruises team and it focuses less on luxury and more on active, small-group adventures.

Choose from two small expedition ships: the 170-foot, 49-guest Wilderness Discoverer and the 157-foot, 49-foot Wilderness Adventurer. While the ships are small, the list of activities is long. Passengers can challenge themselves physically or simply relax. Options include hiking, paddle boarding, beachcombing, shore boat excursions, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, whale and bird watching, glacier viewing, yoga sessions, fishing, and more. There are even cave exploration excursions and overnight camping options on shore.

There are two seven-night itineraries available from Ketchikan to Juneau. One direction explores the western region and the reverse itinerary explores the eastern region. There's no duplication on the two itineraries, so you can create a 14-night round-trip back-to-back.

InnerSea Discoveries calls their trips the "un-cruise" and they are ideally suited for anyone who eschews traditional big ship cruising. Seven-night expeditions start at $1,795 per person, double occupancy.

The inaugural season of InnerSea Discoveries begins May 21, 2011 and lasts through September 3, 2011. Learn more from your travel agent or contact InnerSea Discoveries at 1-(877) 901-1009.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of InnerSea Discoveries

Survaya Ki Grahi Temples

Survaya Ki Grahi is one of the ancient place. In those days this place was a Gurukul, what is now known in modern terminology as residential school. There are 3 beautiful temples and some residential place for the pupil to stay. The fortress around it was built at a later stage to protect it from invasions. (Click on the images for bigger picture)

Out of the 3 temples one of the temple is for Lord Shiva. Other temples do not have idols at present. The temples are beautifully carved.

The place of stay for the Guru (Teacher) and his students is a simple double stories building. There is also a underground water source inside the fortress.

Glimpses of Survaya Ki Grahi

Next day morning from Shivpuri we proceeded to Survaya Ki Grahi which is at a distance of 20 kms on Shivpuri - Jhansi road. This is a historical place with several old temples inside the fortress. (Click on the image for bigger picture)

We shall explore more about this place in the subsequent posts.

New Cruiseflicks.com Archives Cruise/Shore Excursion Videos

Cruiseflicks.com is a new website devoted to archiving cruise and shore excursion videos. While the site is just getting up and running, it could become a wonderful research tool if enough luxury cruise travelers submit video clips of their voyages.

To sweeten the pot, Cruiseflicks.com is running a cruise giveaway. Details are sketchy at the site right now, but I'll be checking back to see how things develop.

I couldn't find any luxury cruise clips just yet, but there are some nice videos taken on various shore excursions.

It's worth bookmarking the site—http://www.cruiseflicks.com—and checking back in the future to see how the site grows.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

New Port for Crystal Cruises: Ashdod, Israel

This fall Crystal Serenity will depart Athens, Greece on October 19 for its 12-night "Ruins and Relics" Mediterranean voyage. This is the perfect itinerary for anyone who's fascinated by the ancient—and not so ancient—histories of Greece, Israel, Egypt, Malta, and Italy.

Travelers on this voyage will be the first Crystal passengers to overnight in Ashdod, Israel. With two full days to explore this Israeli port city, there will be an opportunity to visit sites of importance for Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Shore excursions visit the Western (Wailing) Wall and Temple Mount, among other locations.

This will be an action-packed cruise since you'll visit so many different historic sites, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, King Herod's tomb, Pompeii, Mount Etna, the Acropolis, and so much more.

The "Ruins and Relics" Full Itinerary Includes…

Piraeus/Athens, Greece

Ashdod, Israel (overnight)

Alexandria/Cairo, Egypt (overnight)

Valletta, Malta

Sicily/Catania, Italy

Naples, Italy

Civitavecchia/Rome, Italy

A special guest speaker will also be onboard this voyage: former White House press secretary and expert in world affairs, Marlin Fitzwater.

Crystal is currently offering two-for-one fares for this itinerary, starting at $5,940, double occupancy plus free air transportation from more than 20 North American gateways (free Business Class Air for penthouse guests), and $1,000 per person ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’ shipboard credits.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Crystal Cruises at 1-(888) 799-4625.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo from iStockPhotography.com

Paul Gauguin Cruises to Offer 2-for-1 Fares and Free Airfare on All 2011 Voyages

Paul Gauguin Cruises has announced its 2011 schedule for the m/s Paul Gauguin in French Polynesian. There are 40 voyages to choose from and all are on offer as 2-for-1 cruise fares with complimentary airfare from Los Angeles.

Take a look at the 2011 Paul Gauguin Cruises Preview Catalog and dream about which cruise you'd like to take.

Leonard and I are lucky enough to be sailing with Paul Gauguin Cruises at the end of the month and we can't wait! Our voyage is the 7-night roundtrip out of Papeete, Tahiti with ports of call Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, and Moorea. Longer voyages are also available throughout the Society Islands, Cook Islands, the Marquesas, and Tuamotus.

Our cruise documents just arrived and we look forward to pouring over them tonight! We'll report back tomorrow with more details.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo courtesy of Paul Gauguin Cruises

Seabourn's One-Week Fare Sale is Almost Over

If you've been following cruise pricing over the last year, you know Seabourn often runs one-week "specials". We're in the middle of one of those promotions. Here are the details in case you didn't hear about it from your travel agent:

• Sale Dates:  Monday, April 5–Monday, April 12, 2010
• Promotion:  two-for-one cruise fares, including roundtrip air or cruise-only fares up to 65% off the rack rate
• Itineraries:  27 voyages between June and August 2010 are included in this sale

Seven-day Mediterranean cruises aboard Seabourn Spirit, Seabourn Legend, and Seabourn Odyssey begin from $2,499 per person for cruise-only, or $3,550 with inclusive air. Nine- to 12-day voyages on the brand new Seabourn Sojourn in Northern Europe start from $4,999 cruise-only or $6,400 with inclusive air. Cruises of 10 to 14 days in Asia aboard Seabourn Pride start from $3,499 cruise-only and $5,400 with air. Inclusive air is available from 40 North American gateways. All fares are per person, based on double occupancy.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Seabourn 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Vidhana Soudha Domes Front View, Bangalore

Vidhana Soudha houses the State Legislature for Karnataka, and is the largest Secretariat in India. Below is the picture of the front view huge central dome of the building. (Click on the image for bigger picture)

Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia Chattri, Shivpuri

In Shivpuri there is a historic site of Scindia's cenotaphs. In the formal Mughal garden facing each other across a water tank are the cenotaphs (Chhatris) of the Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia and the Maharani Sakhya Raje Scindia. The cenotaphs are blended with architectural idioms of Hindu and Islamic styles with their shikhara-type spires and Rajput and Mughal pavilions. (Click on all the images for bigger picture)

The King Madhav Rao Scindia cenotaph has the glittering white marble surface inlaid with lapis lazuli and onyx. This creates a spectacularly rich effect.

The memorial contain life-size image of the King. It is rendered extreme devotion by ceremonially dressed retainers who perform the rituals of placing flowers and incense before the statue each day. The above snap of the interiors is taken during the day time.

The above snap was taken during he night when the interiors were lighted. At the far end the statue of the King can be seen.

For more visit Ruby Tuesday

Wildlife in Madhav National Park

In Shivpuri, we went for boating in the Sakhya Sagar lake which is one of the important support system in the Madhav National Park. It is situated on the edge of forests of Madhav National Park. The lake is habitat of variety of reptiles. Species that can be seen here are marsh or mugger crocodile, Indian python and the monitor lizard. (Click on all the images for bigger picture)

While boating here our boatman showed us the crocodile resting on the rocks in the lake. He stopped the boat nearby for us to click some snaps.

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