Surrounded by the lush landscape of Panapompom Island, set within the Deboyne Islands of the Louisiade Archipelago, Papua New Guineans showcase their traditional war dance to captivated spectators. While these rituals vary across the regions and tribes of PNG, they honor methods of combat, symbolizing the heroism, valor, and warrior spirit of the Papuan people.

A ferry from downtown Sydney takes Residents to the world-famous Manly Beach. Walking the length of the beach is the perfect way to watch local surfers in action, a hobby that’s been a part of Manly Beach’s culture since the 1800s. The first recorded body surf took place here in the 1890s, and it became home to the first-ever World Surfing Championship in 1964.

Residents of The World were treated to a master class of teaching by former Queensland Ballet Artistic Director Li Cunxin AO following a run-through of the Snow Queen dance from the “Nutcracker” ballet. Queensland’s premier ballet company is one of only three of its kind in Australia.

At the farmers market on the Fijian island of Savusavu, friendly vendors sell fresh produce and handmade goods. Fragrant and juicy, Fijian pineapples are especially known for their intensely sweet flavor.

With a warm “mauri” (hello), shop owners welcome Residents to the island of Kiritimati in Kiribati. Amazingly, because the many islands straddle the equator and the 180th meridian, Kiribati is the only country in the world located in all four hemispheres.

Hawaii’s Waimea Canyon is an extraordinary natural attraction known for its red striated rocks that reflect a series of lava flows that occurred over the past several million years. Bringing it all to life are local storytellers who share their unique insights into this ancient land. At one of the lookouts a Hawaiian who grew up in the Waimea Canyon region regales Residents with stories of native history and culture, including sharing the meaning of several Hawaiian words. His cape and hollowed-out gourd were what the Hawaiians used for sun protection for centuries.

Pickup volleyball games are a common pastime on Manhattan Beach, a relaxed community on California’s southern coast. The nearby pier is a longtime landmark, and homes line the beach behind bike and pedestrian paths.

The post Snapshots from <em>The World</em>: Locals in Action appeared first on The World.

The Iconic Arc of Cabo

We kicked off our expedition by soaking up a legendary view of the stunning Cabo San Lucas Arch. The Arch popped in the golden sunlight as pelicans and frigatebirds soared; setting the stage for a truly unforgettable adventure through Baja and the Sea of Cortez.

Quoting Cousteau and Spotting Sealife

Jacques Cousteau famously called Isla Cerralvo “the aquarium of the world,” and we quickly discovered why. Our SCUBA and snorkeling adventures revealed a vibrant coral community teeming with diverse fish species, promising even greater wonders to come.

Deserted Diving on Island Encantada

The Island Encantada, while free of people, was booming with wildlife. Our clear water SCUBA session revealed octopi, reef fish, rays, and a gregarious group of bottlenose dolphins that put on quite a show.

The Planets Always Align

The rugged mountains, blissful skies, and ideal temperatures framed our visit to the San Javier Mission home to vineyards, orange groves, and 300-year-old olive trees. Our evening culminated with some serious skygazing – a once-in-400-years celestial alignment of six planets; something this cosmic called for us to bust out the telescopes.

A Whale Sighting and Other Wonders

At Isla San Lidefonso and Gull Rock we explored reefs and took in a show by another playful pod of bottlenosed dolphins. Then we hiked the Red Rock Canyon filled with towering cliffs etched in time. On the way back to our ship we spotted a solo gray whale. It would not be our last time connecting with these magnificent creatures.

Art, Lava, and a Lagoon Filled with Whales

We departed the French-founded mining town of Santa Rosaía, home to a beautiful church designed by George Eiffel himself, before 8 a.m. Our journey through a dormant volcano complex and across lava fields led us to a lagoon where we observed adult female gray whales feeding in the shallows.

Sightseeing and So Many Sealions

The Isla Esteban, the northernmost stop of our tour, offered exceptional hiking where we explored the interior of the volcanic island filled with a variety of cacti. Kayakers and divers happened upon even more sealife – and were greeted by the playful roar from a pride of sealions.

Going Big on Two Islands

At Isla San Marcos we were graced by the biggest living animal on earth, the mighty blue whale, drawn to the Sea of Cortez by the krill blooms. Isla Tortuga’s volcanic rock formations were a sight to behold – and underneath we saw a thriving habitat for invertebrate and reef fish.

One Last Call, One More Day for Reflecting

Our final day began with a sunrise wildlife watch and culminated with whale calls from off in the distance. We answered back and reminisced about our 11 days exploring the Sea of Cortez – a fitting end to a trip filled with so much beauty and sea life.

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A Deep Dive into Indigenous Art and Culture

Our friends and fellow Residents began in Oakland, a city so many of us know and love. Our visit took us to the peoples’ museum, also known as the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA). Inside, we explored its diverse collections of art, history and natural science.

Going Behind the Scenes in Berkeley

We then headed north where we were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The managing director showed us a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes magic that brings award-winning work to life.

Enjoying Some Indigenous Eats

After enjoying a wealth of Native American art at OMCA, it was only fitting to follow it up with a delicious lunch at Wahpepah’s Kitchen. This light-filled establishment, just off the Fruitvale BART station, is the nation’s first Indigenous restaurant devoted to Native American cooking. Inside, they were serving up some authentic eats accompanied with meditative Native drumming and chanting.

San Francisco: A Culinary & Technological Adventure

We took a self-guided walking tour of San Francisco’s famed Chinatown. It culminated with a memorable lunch at Z&Y Peking Duck Restaurant followed by a stop at San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge to snap some photos and take in those amazing views.

Iolani Palace & the Hawaiian Monarchy

We then set sail from California to Hawaii, where we made a stop at the Iolani Palace. The Palace is the only official royal residence in the United States – and offered insights into the history of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the reign of Queen Lili’uokalani and the importance of ‘ohana.

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum & the Battleship Missouri

Next up were two historical tours. The first being a visit to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, which showcases aircraft from the attack and WWII. Then we stopped at the Battleship Missouri Memorial, serving as a reminder to the lives lost and the war’s end.

Gardens & Local Delights

We spent a peaceful morning at the Lil’uokalani Gardens followed by a fresh and filling lunch at Café Pesto. We then spent some time around downtown Hilo, capping it off with a melon-banana-lychee shaved ice at Wilson’s by the Bay.

The post From Cultural Roots to Coastal Waves: A Trip from California to Hawaii appeared first on The World.

Telele and the Baining Fire Dance

We started the day with an underwater adventure in a tropical paradise, while in the evening we headed ashore for the famous Baining Fire Dance held in the mountains near Kokopo.

Duke of York Islands

On our last day in Papua New Guinea, a group of spinner dolphins bid us farewell as we sailed away from the Duke of York Islands – off to the Solomon Islands.

Day at Sea

In-between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands we cruised along in impeccably calm waters and caught a perfect sunset that painted the sky in beautiful shades of orange and pink across the sea.

Kennedy Island and Njari Island

Stepping onto the quiet shores of Kennedy Island, named after the U.S. President – we felt a sense of solitude, far away from the busy world. Later we made our way to Njari Island – a snorkeler’s paradise.

Marovo Lagoon

The Marovo Lagoon, the largest double-barrier enclosed lagoon in the world, showed us beautiful works of art in Mbili, where the creators discussed their culture and their craft. We capped the day swimming, snorkeling and kayaking in the lagoon.

Russell Islands

We briefly experienced the life of a local, getting a tour of the most picturesque village of 250 people. We then ventured out for another kayak adventure where we saw a wealth of wildlife, running the gamut from hawksbill turtles, blacktip reef sharks, clown fish and nudibranchs.

Rara Island

On our final day in Papua New Guinea we sailed through the Louisiade Archipelago in sailau canoes – and then strolled around the idyllic Rara island and spotted a Rainbow Beeeater.

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Montgomery Reef

As the tide dropped, the reef rose from the ocean. Water cascaded off its edges like a natural fountain, and marine life emerged from the evolving landscape.

Freshwater Cove

The tides made for an interesting morning at Freshwater Cove where Residents enjoyed a walk up the beach followed by an afternoon looking for whales.

Bigge Island

The rugged beauty of the Kimberley coast is something to behold, but it’s the caves of Bigge Island that most captivated Residents. The sandstone formations carved by the relentless forces of wind and water house some of the most significant aboriginal rock art in Australia.

Swift Bay

While some stayed at sea level and explored the shallow coastline of Swift Bay in search of rays, sharks, and birdlife, one intrepid group took to the sky.

Helicopters offered breathtaking aerial views of the rugged Kimberley landscape, with its vast red cliffs, winding rivers, and cascading waterfalls.

Jar Island and Vansittart Bay

The expedition’s final landing on the sand dunes of the mainland took the group over the salt flats to the wreck of a C-53 troop carrier from WWII.

After one last look at The Kimberley’s stunning landscape, this time from aboard the ship, The World and its Residents headed back to Darwin in Northern Territory.

The post Exploring Hidden Corners of Northern Australia During The Kimberley Expedition appeared first on The World.

The second day we spent with friends from New Zealand that had rented a villa nearby, just hanging out by the pool and catching up.

On our last day in Bali, we had a guide take us up to the Ubud area. It was very different from my last visit in 1997.

We did manage to visit a family compound and a thousand-year-old temple that were a bit off the main path and therefore not too touristy.

They had just installed a zipline over the terraces, which was a bit touristy, but still made for some lovely photos.

Now we’re sailing to Australia to pick up expedition staff in Darwin and then explore the Kimberley.

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We declared half the day as a sea day and then went over to the island around 4 p.m. for sunset, happy hour and dinner.

To get to the resort, it was a boat ride, a van ride and a golf cart ride, but we finally did arrive around 5 p.m.  It was worth the time and travel and we both agreed it might have been a mistake not going over earlier.

This was a beautiful resort with very fine white sand beaches and a big cooling breeze.

The champagne, entertainment and beach BBQ was really excellent.

A beautiful sunset and a perfect ending to our 3-month odyssey as we leave for California on Monday.

We spent Saturday at sea. On Sunday afternoon we sailed up the Long Tau and Saigon Rivers to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), a huge city of some 10 million people.

Thanks for traveling with us and especially thanks to our family for putting up with our wanderlust and never making us feel guilty.

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Chef Ngo, a 20-year veteran in hospitality and of Vietnam’s culinary scene, prepared a tantalizing feast for our diners. He became a sensation when he won the first Master Chef Vietnam title in 2013. Just one year later, Thao Van Hoa Dan Ong magazine named him Chef of the Year. It’s all thanks to the philosophy with which he always approaches his art, “Cook with love.”

We experienced that love first hand over an exquisite three-course meal.

First, Chef Ngo presented appetizers including a seasonal salad and seared scallops prepared with caramelized pork belly, chili jam, quinoa, shallot, and a lotus seed mash. It was paired with vintages from the Ship’s award-winning wine list. It was a perfect beginning to the meal which helped ‘bring the destination alive’ through The World’s food and beverage program and its collaboration with a renowned local chef.

Chef Ngo’s culinary artistry was showcased in every course. Amidst selections of Wagyu beef, pumpkin soup, and fresh prawns, his modern Vietnamese menu dazzled Residents with a main course of pan-fried toothfish. Served with a passionfruit and fish sauce, king mushrooms, fried leek, and truffle oil, this entrée was a delight (especially when served with the 2020 Greywacke Wild Sauvignon Blanc).

And of course there was dessert. Chef Ngo delighted us with a confection of tamarind and tangerine dark chocolate mousse, elevated with a serving of dragon fruit and coconut sorbet, all topped with a delicious salty coconut foam. This impeccable blend of flavors was the perfect end to an experience only Residents aboard The World can enjoy.

While we wish Chef Ngo could have stayed longer, we bid him a fond farewell so he could return to his work at East, his restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. We hope we get to welcome him back again soon and look forward to our next exclusive culinary adventure!

Posted by Senior Food & Beverage Director Sai

The post Exploring the Culinary Delights of Vietnam with Guest Chef Ngo Thanh Hoa appeared first on The World.

We are a group of 23 plus an escort from the Ship to help handle all the logistics (thank goodness).  We flew in 3 separate small Cessna Caravans for 2.5 hours to the Serengeti National Park.

This required some preplanning for the members of our group.

Once we landed, staff from Sangita Sasakwa Lodge met us with wet towels and a glass of champagne.  We completed our lodging registration at the airport and then jumped into Land Rovers for a ride to the Lodge. These Land Rovers will be our transportation over the next few days.

Sangita Sasakwa is an amazing property with views from high on a hill overlooking the vast expanse of the Serengeti National Park.

Absolutely stunning!  Our room is huge and the only thing we had to complain about was that we were only staying for 2 nights…..

Upon arrival we had lunch, had about 30 minutes to refresh in our room and then jumped into our vehicles for our afternoon game drive.  Typically on safari the game runs are early in the morning and late afternoon/early evening.  This is when the animals are moving (eating/hunting). Midday is hot and this is when the animals seek shade and sleep.

We had an eventful ride seeing elephants and giraffe and zebra early on, lots of various antelope/deer-like animals whose names we can never remember).

Most remarkably a pride of lions, laying in the open field sleeping.  The vehicles pulled up right alongside the lions and we watched as they swatted away the pesky flies with their paws and tails.

It was remarkable to be this close to the king of the jungle.  But when they did look you straight in the eye, it was time to take notice.

As the sun set we pulled over and had our evening “sundowners”, consisting of cocktails and snacks spread out on the front of the vehicles.  This is a safari tradition which we very much enjoy.  Nothing like a gin/tonic or a glass of wine while watching the sunset over these vast plains while munching on tasty appetizers.

We were back to the lodge about 7pm and immediately headed to a 5-course dinner with wine pairings from their very extensive wine cellar.

We were back to our room and headed right to bed as we have a 4:45 wake up call for a hot air balloon ride at sunrise.  Wohoo!!!  Except for the early alarm.

The post Embarking on a journey through Zanzibar, the Serengeti, and Rwanda appeared first on The World.

We joined about 70,000 people, beginning at 10 p.m. for the samba parades down the wide Marquês de Sapucaí Avenue that runs the length of the Sambodromo.

Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel school opened the second night (Monday) – when we attended — with the history of the cashew tree fruit, presenting its legends and curiosities that are known by the Brazilian people.

Unidos de Vila Isabel school will reissue in 2024 the subject “Gbala — Journey to the Temples of Creation” from 1993.

With samba by Martinho de Vila, the school emphasizes the importance of children for a better world, carrying forward the values and teachings of the orishas.

Photography courtesy of Richard E.

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