First Hawaiian sunrise
It was a balmy, humid morning when I took this photo. We’d been at sea for five days when this beautiful sight came into view. In the distance, beyond the nearly empty deck of the MS Noordam are the first signs of a Hawaiian sunrise. The actual sunrise is more visible on the starboard side of the ship, but I was thrilled to see land.
This was our last morning on the Noordam and most people were either packing or sleeping in. Yes, I’m one of those early birds who absolutely must see the sunrise. With the exception of a few days during the second week of the cruise, I was almost always up at first light and sitting near a window so I could write and enjoy the beginnings of a new day.
The Australian flu strikes hard
Our trip had begun in Sydney, traveled around New Zealand, and returned to Sydney at the end of about two weeks. Unfortunately, near the end of the second week of the cruise, I contracted the Australian flu. Quite honestly, it was a frightening experience. It experience ranks right up there on my Top 10 Never to Do Again list. There was one night in particular when I was certain I might not see another sunrise.
On the morning this photo was taken, we’d been on the Noordam for thirty days. The flu was mostly behind me and I was looking forward to a few days of R&R in Honolulu. Well, that almost worked out, but that’s another photo.
Want to see more photos from our trip? Here’s a link where you can check out all the entries in our travel journal.
