The last 3 days at sea have been fairly quiet. I've tended to keep myself to myself a lot, and popping to visit Christina in the shops now and then. If she's not busy, it has been nice to have a chat.
Paul has come down with a cold and has not been feeling terribly great. A couple of times he's ended up working from the cabin's computer. He has also still been reachable by staff if he's needed.
Last night we went to the showroom to see Mario D'Andrea, an Italian born musician whose family moved to Australia when he was 11 years old. Mario is very talented and played a range of music on his electric guitar, including making his music sound like it was being played on a baziki, bagpipes and mandolin. It was very good and he had a terrific sense of humour.
It was a bit cool and overcast when we arrived in Port Chalmers. Another cruise ship was docked, and made for a very busy day in the tiny port and it's adjoining town.
I had been assigned to do a guided walk up the nearby Mt Cargill. Trust me to choose a chilly day but at least I didn't get over-heated during the walk.
 |
| The basalt Organ Pipes |
The tour's minibus met us on the pier and we soon headed out of Port Chalmers and part way up Mt Cargill from where we did our walk. The path was steep in parts and the plants changed the higher we got- the forest became more open bush-land. Mist and low lying clouds hampered what would have been spectacular views. Our guide was good, pointing out different plants along the way and explaining their uses (if any - e.g. medicinal) and a couple of times she would pull off a leaf of a plant for us to smell or to feel its texture.
 |
| Mt Cargill's peak in the fog |
We eventually arrived at a rock formation called the Organ Pipes - pillars of solid rock of hexagonal formation, towering above us towards the skies. These reminded me of Ireland's '"Giant's Causeway" which is also made up of hexagonal shaped basalt columns. Health and safety was in our guide's mind and we were therefore only allowed 1 or 2 at a time towards the rocky hillside to view the Organ Pipes formations. Local walkers went straight to the rocks and clambered over them but we weren't allowed. So I had to abide by the tour guide's rules.
The next part of the walk took us almost to the top of Mt Cargill where we had a snack and something to drink. We could have gone to the peak of Mt Cargill but it was under thick fog so we we wouldn't have gained anything view-wise. As it was, we still couldn't see much blow us from where we sat.
 |
| View towards Port Chalmers on our walk down from Mt Cargill |
As we headed down the mountainside back to the minibus, the sun started to burn off the cloud cover a bit and we felt a bit warmer. Views were still not great but guests seemed happy nevertheless. Possibly the fresh air and exercise helped to lighten their spirits after being cooped up on a ship for the past few days!
Our lovely guide dropped us back at the pier. Some guests caught a shuttle bus to Dunedin, some went out of the port to explore Port Chalmers (it's only a tiny town though) and I boarded the ship to meet up with Paul.
Paul was feeling a bit better from his cold and decided to join me and Christina when we caught the shuttle bus to Dunedin. Whilst waiting for the bus, a young lass doing shuttle duty had a bit of a chat with us. She had a great sense of humour and had us laughing. I took the opportunity to ask her about a recommended piercing shop in Dunedin and she told us about one near the library. It was something for us to think about as Christina and I had been talking about having a piercing done for a few days now.
The bus stopped a few feet away from the a piercing shop. Needless to say, Christina and I gravitated towards it and, poor Paul - little did he know what he was letting himself in for! After checking the prices, we didn't have to wait very long before the piercer emerged with a newly nailed client who had a red nose - I think she had had a nose piercing. After signing our lives away by means of a consent, the piercer led the way to the back of her shop to the piercing room. Paul came with us for support and to take some pictures.
 |
| Hollow cannula needle going through for Christina's belly piercing |
Christina volunteered to go first - she was going to have her belly button done. After the piercer measured her for a bar and dotted the entry and exit points of the future piercing, Christina lay on the piercing couch and baring her stomach; holding on to my arm throughout the procedure. I could feel Christina's grip tighten on my arm as the cannula needle (hollow) went in. The plastic tubing was briefly left in and the needle removed. At the lower end of the tube - the bar of the piercing was pushed into the tube and plastic tube crimped to hold the bar. The plastic tubing was pulled through, bringing with it the belly bar through to the upper hole and out. The top of the belly bar bar was screwed on in place and all was done. The whole procedure was over and done with quite quickly an the piercing really looked lovely. It was done with a titanium belly bar, a preferred choice of the piercer because it is less likely to be rejected to the skin compared to surgical steel.
 |
| My nose getting pierced |
My turn was next. The piercer dotted my nose at the intended entry point and used a narrow cannula needle for the piercing, followed by a small titanium nose wire with a stud on the end. In the past I have had a nose piercing done with a piercing gun and a huge stud but my skin eventually rejected the piercing. My poor hooter throbbed a bit, my left eye watered but I was fine. All done and dusted. We were glad we had our piercings done when we did - there was quite a queue waiting for the piercer! Christina and I walked out feeling quite pleased with ourselves and Paul was a bit deflated because he couldn't have a piercing done! Anyway, at least he got a few photographs and was with me.
We had a bit of time on our hands to see a bit of Dunedin but eventually our sights turned to the Cadbury chocolate factory shop. How sad is that - looking for chocolate?! We found the place and made a few purchases before heading back through town to meet up with the shuttle bus. With time marching on, we had to get back to the ship and Paul had to start work; getting ready of the ship's departure.
All in all it has been a pleasant day and with good company.
The Maasdam is now heading to Akaroa, a tender port.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Mt Cargill
 |
| View from the Organ Pipes |
Dunedin and piercings
 |
Courageous and ready while the piercer gets ready.
|
Belly piercing
 |
| Forceps in holding the area to be pierced, hollow needle to hand. |
 |
In goes the cannula needle, needle removed, piercing bar attached to tube
and the tube crimped to hold the bar. The tube is pulled through along
with the bar. |
 |
| Bar in place, just the top to be screwed on. |
 |
| All done and the piercing area is being cleaned, |
Nose piercing
 |
| Getting a dot to mark the spot |
 |
| The dot marks the spot |
 |
| Nervous but ready, Christina holding my hand. |
 |
| The clamp goes onto my hooter nostril |
 |
| In goes the hollow cannula needle |
 |
Needle removed leaving hollow tube. The clamp is removed too. The top
of the tubing will be shortened, a nose pin inserted into the tube and tube
crimped around it, then the tube will be pulled through, bringing the nose
pin with it. |
 |
| All done and a throbbing nose. |
 |
| Happy with our piercings! |
The Maasdam dropped her anchor in the lovely bay just off Akaroa. The weather was overcast to start off with but the sun managed to break through later on during the day. 
I was excited for my tour even though it was going to be a short one. As soon as the ship had been cleared, the tender process got underway. My small group of 6 was soon on a tender and we headed to the pier where we met by our guide/pilot, Brett. A short walk down the road and we found ourselves at the jetboat's office, getting spray jackets and life-jackets. After a safety briefing we were good to go.
We arrived at the jetty feeling elated and exhilarated even though we were a bit damp. 
The guests headed into Akaroa to explore the town but I took a tender back to the ship. After a quick catch-up with Paul, Christina from the ship's shops and I took a tender across to Akaroa and had a nice wander around the small village. Christina and fish and chips for lunch and I had some calamari. Yum. We sat on a bench overlooking the bay with seagulls eyeballing our meal and hoping for a morsel or a fallen titbit. They were rewarded with a few chips at the end of our meal. With a bit of time before the last tender back to the ship, Christina and I took a wander around the shops in Akaroa. Needless to say she ended up getting a lovely red sunhat and, from an arts and crafts market, handmade soaps on a rope. The soaps smelt really lovely and will scent her bathroom or cabin quite nicely if she hangs them up.
