Apr 2024 – Solar Eclipse cruise
- Victoria to Los Angeles – flying from home to the cruise departure port and an overnight stay
- San Pedro (LA) Departure – board Discovery Princess in San Pedro and sail south
- Sea Day – heading south offshore from Baja California, Mexico
- Cabo San Lucas – the ship stayed overnight at this Mexican port
- Mazatlan – Mexico
- Total Solar Eclipse – a special day at sea 150 miles offshore from Mexico
- Manzanillo – Mexico
- Puerto Vallarta – our last port call in Mexico
- Two Sea Days – heading north offshore from the Baja California coast of Mexico
- Los Angeles and fly home – disembark the ship in San Pedro, transfer to LAX & then fly to Victoria
Oct 2023 – Vancouver-Hawaii cruise
- Victoria to Vancouver – flight & overnight in Vancouver
- Vancouver Departure – sailing out of the harbour at sunset aboard Koningsdam
- Astoria, Oregon – a day in historic Astoria after crossing the Columbia River bar
- Astoria to Kaua’i – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5 – the six day cruise across the Pacific Ocean to Hawai’i
- Nawiliwili, Kaua’i
- Hilo – the lush, tropical side of the Big Island
- Kailua-Kona – visit with a friend and chill at Place of Refuge
- Honolulu – an overnight stay giving us two days
- Honolulu to Vancouver – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5 – the six day passage back to Vancouver
- Arrival in Vancouver – disembark the ship in Vancouver and fly home to Victoria
April 2023 – Panama Canal cruise
- Victoria to Fort Lauderdale – flying from home to the cruise departure port and an overnight stay
- Fort Lauderdale Departure – Nieuw Amsterdam sails south
- Sea Day – offshore from the Bahamas
- Grand Turk – Turks & Caicos Islands
- Sea Day – Grand Turk to Aruba
- Aruba
- Sea Day – Aruba to Cartagena
- Cartagena – coastal Colombia
- Panama Canal – Nieuw Amsterdam transits the canal using the old locks
- Sea Day – Panama to Costa Rica
- Costa Rica – Puerto Caldera near Puntarenas
- Sea Days One, Two, Three – Costa Rica to Mexico
- Puerto Vallarta – Mexico
- Sea Day – Puerto Vallarta to Cabo San Lucas
- Cabo San Lucas – Mexico
- Sea Day – Cabo San Lucas to San Diego
- San Diego – USA
- Sea Days One, Two – San Diego to Victoria
- Victoria – Canada
- Vancouver Arrival – disembarking the ship in Vancouver and flying home to Victoria
October 2022 – Vancouver – Hawai’i cruise
- Victoria to Vancouver – flight & overnight in Vancouver in a downtown hotel
- Vancouver departure aboard Koningsdam – sailing out of the harbour at sunset, passing Victoria
- Vancouver to Maui – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5 – the six day cruise across the Pacific Ocean to Hawai’i
- West Maui – Kahalui, a busy port city on Maui, and my snorkelling adventures at Olowalu Bay
- Hilo & Volcano – the lush, tropical side of the Big Island and a visit with friends in Volcano
- Honolulu – an overnight stay giving us two days
- North Shore of Oahu – driving the shores of Oahu
- Kaua’i – Nawiliwili harbour and slow “Island time”
- Kaua’i to Vancouver – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5 – the six day return cruise back to Vancouver
- Arrival in Vancouver – disembarking the ship in Vancouver and flying home to Victoria
May 22 – June 5, 2022 – Yukon, Denali & Alaska land/cruise
- Victoria to Vancouver – flying from home to Vancouver airport and an overnight stay
- Vancouver to Yukon – Whitehorse, Dawson City
- Dawson City – 2 nights
- Dawson City to Fairbanks to Denali – flying to Fairbanks, bus to Denali National Park
- Denali National Park – 2 nights
- Denali to Anchorage – sightseeing train
- Anchorage – 2 nights
- Anchorage to Whittier – sightseeing train, boarding the ship
- Hubbard Glacier – first 2 glaciers
- Glacier Bay – 7 glaciers & Mt. Fairweather
- Skagway – White Pass & Yukon Railway
- Juneau – 5-glacier seaplane flight-seeing
- Ketchikan – totems
- Inside Passage – passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland
- Vancouver Arrival – disembarking the ship in Vancouver and flying home to Victoria
March 6-April 2, 2020 – South America cruise
- Victoria, Canada to Buenos Aires, Argentina – flights
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Montevideo, Uruguay
- Two days at sea – to the Falkland Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Day at sea – to Strait of Magellan
- Punta Arenas, Chile
- Punta Arenas – shore excursion
- Day 2 – facing uncertainty
- Leaving Punta Arenas – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Declared
- Scenic cruising – Magellan Strait, Sarmiento Channel & Chilean Fjords
- Sailing to Valparaiso – 2 sea days
- Valparaiso, Chile
- Chile to Panama – 5 sea days
- Panama Canal Transit
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida – 2 sea days from Panama & docking
- Returning to Canada – flights from Ft. Lauderdale home to Canada
March 2-10, 2019 – Southern Arizona & astronomy
- Victoria to Phoenix to Dragoon Ranch – flights from Victoria, BC, Canada to Phoenix, Arizona, USA – pick up my Tesla rental and my friends and I drive to Dragoon Mountain Ranch
- Dragoon Mountain Ranch – day 1 – getting settled and observing and photographing the night sky
- Dragoon Mountain Ranch & Council Rocks – an Apache stronghold in the nearby hills offers great hiking in picturesque topography
- Bisbee, Tombstone & astronomy – an historic mining town, the wild west, and night sky wonders
- Dragoon Mountain Ranch – 3 days to observe and image the night sky, share wonderful meals with friends, and experience the Pima Air & Space Museum
- Dragoon Ranch to Phoenix to Victoria – airports, car rentals, and flights home to Canada
Dec 1-20, 2018 – Caribbean Sail Cruise aboard the Royal Clipper
- Victoria, Canada to Montego Bay, Jamaica – flights
- Jamaica
- Montego Bay – swimming & all-inclusive resort
- Boarding the Royal Clipper & departing Montego Bay
- Port Antonio – castles, fancy hotels & beaches
- Day at sea – out of Jamaica – climbing to the crows nest
- Dominican Republic – Santo Domingo – former Spanish colony
- Day at sea – to St. Barts – sailing the Caribbean
- Saint Barthélemy – Gustavia – sailboat, swimming and beaches
- Antigua – Falmouth Harbour & Segway in St. Johns
- Ile des Saintes – Terre de Haut – beach time
- Dominica – Cabrits & north shore chocolate factory
- St. Lucia – Marigot Bay & Soufrière – horse riding
- St. Vincent & Bequia – The Grenadines – speed boat!
- Barbados
- Arriving in Barbados – Bridgetown & south coast
- Kicking back in Barbados – south coast
- Harrison’s Cave – explore caves
- Relaxing in Barbados – south coast
- Barbados to Victoria, Canada – flights
June-July 2018 – Victoria to Calgary road trip
- Victoria to Merritt – ferry to BC Mainland & Coquihalla Highway
- Merritt to Golden – Coquihalla Highway to Kamloops, Glacier National Park, Trans-Canada Highway through Rogers Pass
- Golden to Calgary – Yoho & Banff National Parks
- Southern Alberta
- Calgary – RASC General Assembly, First Nations welcome, astronomy conference, Rothney Observatory, nocturnal preserve
- Alberta Badlands – Cretaceous/Tertiary Boundary, Tyrrell Museum & Trekcetera Museum
- Looking for Mars in the Rockies – Martian Analogues in the Canadian Rockies, Athabaska Glacier
- Alberta First Nations – Blackfoot Crossing & Majorville Medicine Wheel
- Calgary to Revelstoke – Banff, Yoho & Glacier National Parks, Rogers Pass
- Revelstoke to Okanagan Falls – Revelstoke Dam & Revelstoke Railway Museum
- Okanagan Valley – Radio Observatory & wine tour
- Okanagan to Vancouver – Similkameen Valley & Manning Park
- Vancouver to Victoria – UBC Museum of Anthropology, ferry to Vancouver Island
April 2018 – Borneo
Victoria to Kuala Lumpur – flying from my home in Canada to Malaysia through Los Angeles and Hong Kong
- Kuala Lumpur – this major city in Peninsular Malaysia is both the starting point and end of the tour
- Kuala Lumpur to Brunei – flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei on the island of Borneo
- Brunei – mosques, stilt villages and wildlife along the Brunei River, and the Sultan’s eye-popping wealth!
- Brunei to Sabah – the Sultan’s Memorabilia Museum & the gates to his palace, lunch at a 6-star hotel before our flight to Sabah
- Sabah – a province of Malaysia on the northern coast of Borneo – lots of rainforest wildlife & a wide variety of cultures
- Kota Kinabalu – the big city in Sabah – fish market, temples, Malay stilt houses, and mosques
- Kinabatangan – the wildlife of Borneo – Pygmy Elephants, Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys, exotic birds & bugs!
- Sepilok – more wildlife in Sabah – especially Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys & Sun Bears
- Sandakan to Kuching – our flight from Sabah to Sarawak ended up taking a lot longer than planned!
- Sarawak – the southeast of Borneo – more wildlife in the rain forests, tribal longhouses, a wide variety of other cultures
- Kuching to Batang Ai – we leave the big city of Kuching, ending up in a remote area of Sarawak
- Batang Ai – the Iban tribe shares their culture with us, and some of us experience a rainforest canopy walk
- Batang Ai to Kuching – Batang Ai to Kuching – we return to the big city, but not before experiencing a Bidayuh longhouse and it’s people
- Kuching to Kuala Lumpur – one last cultural experience on Borneo before returning to Peninsular Malaysia and the big city of Kuala Lumpur
- Kuala Lumpur to Victoria – flying home to Canada through Hong Kong with an overnight stop in Los Angeles, and home the following day
February 2018 – Southern Arizona & Astronomy
- Victoria to Tucson – flights from Victoria, BC, Canada to Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Tucson to Dragoon Mountain Ranch – pick up my Tesla rental, check out the old part of Tucson and drive to my friend’s ranch
- Dragoon Mountain Ranch – wildfires, observing and imaging the night sky, wonderful meals, and poor weather!
- Council Rock at the Conchise Stronghold – an Apache stronghold in the nearby hills
- Sonora Desert Museum – flora and fauna of the desert
- Bisbee – an historic mining town, and the wild west
- Dragoon Mountain Ranch – more astronomy!
- Dragoon Ranch to Tucson – hotels, airport deliveries, and car rentals
- Tucson – four days
- Museum of Optics & Mineral Collection – University of Arizona
- Kitt Peak – driving up the mountain in a Tesla Model S
- Pima Air & Space Museum – lots of aircraft on display
- Tucson to Victoria – the flights home to Canada don’t quite go according to plan!
October 2017 – Cruise to Hawai’i aboard ms Eurodam
- Victoria to Vancouver and Eurodam departure – getting to Vancouver, embarking the ship, and sailing out of the harbour at sunset
- Vancouver to Hilo – Day 1, Day 2, Days 3 & 4, Day 5 – the six day cruise across the Pacific Ocean to Hawai’i
- Hilo – the lush, tropical side of the Big Island
- Honolulu – an overnight stay giving us two days
- Lahaina – a busy tourist town on Maui
- Kaua’i – Nawiliwili harbour and slow “Island time”
- Kaua’i to Vancouver – Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5 – the six day return cruise back to Vancouver
- Arrival in Vancouver – disembarking the ship in Vancouver and returning home to Victoria
August 2017 – Total Solar Eclipse from Oregon
- Victoria, BC to Lakewood, WA
- Lakewood, WA to Newberg, OR
- Total Solar Eclipse Day in Monmouth, OR
- Newberg, OR to Centralia, WA
- Centralia, WA to Victoria, BC
February/March 2017 – Southern Arizona & Astronomy
- Victoria to Seattle by Victoria Clipper fast ferry
- Seattle to Sacramento by train – Amtrak’s Coast Starlight
- Sacramento to Los Angeles – by bus & commuter train
- Los Angeles to Tucson by train – Amtrak’s Sunset Limited
- Tucson to Dragoon Mountain Ranch – my arrival by train in Tucson and driving to my friend’s ranch
- Tombstone – gunfights and other wild west history
- Pima Air & Space Museum – lots of aircraft on display and observing and imaging the night sky
- Imaging the night sky – a ‘down day’ and later observing and imaging the night sky
- Kitt Peak – lots of observatories!
- U of A Mirror Lab – where mirrors for the big telescopes are made and later observing the night skies
- Kartchner Caverns – big caves and later observing the night skies
- Tucson – my five days
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum – flora and fauna of the desert
- Aircraft Bone Yard – lots of aircraft in the desert awaiting their fate
- Sabino Canyon – a desert canyon in the Catalina Mountains
- Catalina State Park – another side of the Catalina Mountains
- Biosphere 2 – climate and water experiments under glass
- Tucson to Los Angeles by train – Amtrak’s Sunset Limited
- California coast by train from LA – Amtrak’s Coast Starlight
- Northern California & Oregon to Seattle by train – Amtrak’s Coast Starlight
- Seattle to Victoria by Victoria Clipper fast ferry
February/March 2016 – SE Asia and Total Solar Eclipse cruise aboard ms Volendam
- Flight from Canada to Singapore & cruise departure
- Penang, Malaysia -Georgetown – small colonial city, funicular train to Penang hill, Kek Lok Si Buddhist temple
- Phuket, Thailand – upcountry tour of the Big Buddha, Kratu Tin Mine history, and lunch in the hills behind the famous beaches
- Myanmar (Burma) – in Yangon (Rangoon): Bogyoke Aung San (Scott Market), golden Lion Throne at the museum, and the amazing golden Shwedagon Pagoda both during the day and lit at night, and Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha
- Langkawi, Malaysia – bats, eagles and mangroves at the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – the Batu Caves Hindu shrine, and then the big city sights colonial versus modern architecture, including the Pentronas Towers
- Malacca, Malaysia – Dutch and British colonial influences in this seaport town
- Singapore – 2 nights on board the ship, with a full day tour of Singapore: views from atop the Marina Bay Sands hotel, superb arborteum at Gardens by the Bay, visits to Arab Street and Chinatown’s Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, then a Singapore Sling at Raffle’s Hotel
- Semarang, Java, Indonesia – huge Borobudur temple
- Probolinggo, Java, Indonesia – Mount Bromo volcano
- Total Solar Eclipse – a perfect view from aboard the ship in the Makassar Strait off Sulawesi, Indonesia
- Komodo Island, Indonesia – Komodo Dragons!
- Lombok, Indonesia – peaceful Narmada Water Palace and Lingsar temple, horse cart ride to see Banyu Mulek village’s pots being made
- Bali, Indonesia – away from Bali’s hustle and bustle: the Sangeh monkey forest, the Pura Ulun Danu temple at Lake Bratan, and lunch in the cool lake country highlands
- Sailing from Bali to Singapore – two days at sea and an overnight aboard the ship before departing Singapore
- Flights from Singapore to Canada – marathon flights to return home
February 2015 – Gems of Arabia In Focus tour
- Flight from Victoria, Canada to Dubai – with an overnight in Atlanta
- Old Dubai – The Creek, souqs, Jumeirah Mosque, Palm Jumeirah Island, Marina District (New Dubai)
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi & Liwa Oasis – the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan Mosque (Grand Mosque), Burj Al Arab hotel
- Liwa Oasis & sand dunes – sunrise and sunset on the sand dunes
- Liwa Oasis to Al Ain – Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum, Al Ain Zoo
- Al Ain, UAE to Musandam Peninsula, Oman – camel market in Al Ain, coastal road along Musandam Peninsula
- Muscat to Dubai – a long day on a bus
- New Dubai – Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Marina
- Flight from Dubai, UAE to Victoria, Canada – with an overnight in Atlanta
- Musandam Peninsula – dhow cruise, 4×4 to Jebel Harim, cliff houses
- Muscat – Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Mutrah, souq, palace & forts
- Muscat to Sharqiya Sands – Tiwi oasis, Sur, sand dunes
- Sharqiya Sands – sand dunes, Bedouins, camels, Ibra souq
- Jebel Akdar – terraced town of Sayq, Al Mudhaireb, Sinaw souq
- Nizwa – Nizwa souq, Al Hamra oasis, Beit al-Safa (traditional Omani house)
- Jebel Shams – Wadi Ghul, aka Grand Canyon of Arabia
- Jebel Shams to Muscat – beehive tombs at Al Ayn, Jabrin Castle
September 2014 – Best of Europe in 21 Days Rick Steves’ tour
- The Netherlands – flight from Victoria, Canada to Amsterdam, Haarlem, Amsterdam, Open Air Museum, the Dutch countryside
- Germany – Bacharach, St. Goar, Rhine cruise, Rothenburg, Bavaria, Dachau, castles
- Austria – Tyrol
- Italy – South Tyrol, Venice, Florence, Rome, Vatican, Massa Marittima, Cinque Terre
- Switzerland – Lugano to Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen Valley, the Alps – Shilthorn & alpine hike
- France – Beaune & Burgundy countryside, Paris, flight from Paris to Victoria, Canada
February & March 2014 – Hawai’i, Fanning Island and French Polynesia cruise aboard ms Statendam
- Victoria to San Diego & departure – Flight from home to San Diego, California, USA, and ship’s departure
- Cruising San Diego to Hawai’i – 5 days at sea
- Oahu, Hawai’i – Honolulu and the North Shore
- Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i – snorkelling and whale watching
- Hilo & Mauna Kea, Big Island of Hawai’i – driving the roads, visitor center, the observatories on the summit
- Kona, Big Island of Hawai’i – Place of Refuge, coffee farm, Painted Church
- Hawai’i to Fanning Island – 2 days at sea
- Fanning Island, Kiribati – a few hours visit to this tropical outpost
- Fanning Island to French Polynesia – 2 days at sea
- Bora Bora, French Polynesia – overnight & snorkelling
- Raiatea & Taha’a, French Polynesia – vanilla & pearl farming, snorkelling
- Tahiti, French Polynesia – 4X4 into the mountainous interior
- Moorea, French Polynesia – no landing due to bad weather
- Rangiroa, French Polynesia – best snorkelling!
- Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia – idyllic high island
- Cruising French Polynesia to San Diego – 6 days at sea
- San Diego to Victoria – disembark and flight home
November 2012 Total Solar Eclipse Cruise & Fiji aboard the Paul Gauguin
- 2012 Canada to Fiji flights
- Lautoka – pre-cruise stay at First Landing Resort
- At sea – Fiji to New Caledonia
- New Caledonia – Ile des Pins
- Total Solar Eclipse 2012 – 200km south of New Caledonia in the Coral Sea on November 14th
- New Caledonia
- La Grande Terre (Noumea & Amédée Island)
- Ile de Mare
- Ile de Lifou
- Port Vila, Vanuatu
- Blue Lagoon Resort, Nacula Island, Yasawa Group – a post-cruise stay on tropical islands
- Flights from Fiji to Canada – flying home turned into a bit of an endurance test!
Nov-Dec 2011 – Incan Empires cruise – Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego aboard the Rotterdam – 30 days
- Victoria, BC, Canada to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA – flights
- Boarding the Rotterdam in Ft. Lauderdale
- Half Moon Cay the Bahamas
- Bahamas to Colombia – at sea
- Santa Marta, Colombia
- San Blas Islands, Panama
- Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
- Panama Canal Transit
- Fuerte Amador near Panama City
- Panama to Peru – at sea
- Trujillo, Peru
- Lima to Cusco, Peru
- Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru
- Machu Picchu, Peru
- Cusco to Lima to Pisco, Peru
- Peru to Ecuador – at sea
- Guayaquil & Manata, Ecuador
- Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica
- Corinto, Nicaragua
- Puerto Quetzal & Antigua, Guatemala
- At sea – Guatamala to Mexico
- Mexico
- Cabo San Lucas to San Diego – at sea
- San Diego to Victoria, BC, Canada – flights
Sep-Oct 2010 – South Pacific cruise – Vancouver to Auckland aboard Volendam – 30 days
- Vancouver departure
- Seattle – port of call
- Seattle to Hawaii – cruising across the Pacific Ocean
- Kaua’i, Oahu & Hawaii – ports of call
- Hawaii to Samoa – cruising south across the Pacific Ocean
- American Samoa
- American Samoa to Fiji – cruising the South Pacific Ocean
- Suva and Dravuni Island, Fiji – ports of call
- Fiji to Vanuatu – cruising the South Pacific
- Luganville & Port Vila, Vanuatu – ports of call
- Ile des Pins & Noumea, New Caledonia – ports of call
- New Caledonia to New Zealand– cruising the South Pacific
- Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Auckland, New Zealand – ports of call
Oct-Nov 2010 – North Island, New Zealand – 16 days
- Auckland to Kerikeri
- Kerikeri & North –
- Matauri Bay & Whangaroa
- Ninety Mile Beach
- Waitangi, Pahia & Opua, Bay of Islands
- Warkworth – SheepWorld & Point Wells
- Whangamata, Coromandel Peninsula
- Rotorua
- Te Kuiti & Waitomo
- Auckland to Victoria – flight back to Canada
October 13 to November 11, 2008 – Southern Africa
April 7-14, 2006 – Greece
- Milan to Athens – flying to and getting settled in Athens
- National Archaeological Museum – a world-class museum in Athens containing ancient Greek art and antiquities, which I visited twice
- Athens – Day 2, Day 5, Day 6 – Exharia, Olympieion, Hadrian’s Arch, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Zapion, Lykavitos Hill, Benaki Museum, Roman Forum, Tower of the Winds, Monastiraki, Library of Hadrian, restaurants, the Metro, farmer’s market
- Circle Tour – Corinth isthmus & Peloponnese peninsula – Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth, Acrocorinth, Mycenae & the Treasure of Atreus, Castle of Palamidhi, Epidaurus
- Acropolis & Ancient Agora – the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion (Old Temple) and Odeion of Herdes Atticus (Herodion) theatre
- Cape Sounio – Temple of Poseidon, coastline of the Saronic Gulf, New Olympic Stadium
- Returning home from Athens – flights – Athens-Milan-Toronto-Victoria
In 2015, I moved my most current content from my old website to this website, however destinations I have visited a long time ago do not currently appear here. Still working on it!
The back story
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Wow! You have had a lot of adventures! I look forward to looking at some of these trips you have been on:)
Was great hosting you here. Hope you come again so we can take you out for some more adventures here!
It was great to meet you and Evan, and reconnect with Dave. I love Okanagan Falls, so I expect I will be back for another visit!
I’ve travelled all my life, so yes, there are lots of travelogues, photos, videos, and maps to explore on my JoeTourist website…