Sunday 8 June, Day 14.

The Paul Gauguin arrives in Noumea, capital of New Caledonia, on time whilst we were having breakfast. Rather an overcast day, and whilst we have noticed it becoming a bit cooler as we have cruised south, it is still pleasantly warm. Today is a big day. Kathy gets to ride a segway, something that she's wanted to do for some time. We are a small group of 6 and a minivan picks us up for the 10 minute ride up the hill to the forest garden.

A big like Kings Park in Perth, it is an area of natural bush put aside by the city to preserve the flora and fauna of the area. We are met by 3 guides/trainers and receive personalised training in the safe used of the battery powered 2 wheeled machine. You stand on them and have to balance, which is not *******ce you are used to it. You only use the handlebar by pushing to the right or left to steer. Lean forward and the machine senses the change of balance and moves in that direction. Lean back to slow down or reverse. A bit odd at first but most people get the hang of it. Then the driving test around the cones. We all pass. It's important not to knock down kids or collide with other segways!

We spend 1 1/2 hours on a guided tour around the park which also has zoo exhibits of endemic fauna like a really smart crow that makes and uses tools, or the biggest pigeon in the world (looks like a chook!).

Sunday in Noumea is pretty quiet. Evidently it all happens at Lemon Bay which we will see tomorrow. Perhaps not the best planning, but tomorrow, Monday, is also a public holiday so the opportuity for shopping will be strictly limited. We spend the rest of the day reading, or in my case, trying to get the technology to work properly. At the moment I cannot see my movies on the tablet, only photos. At 5.00pm we tour the bridge to see all the fancy machines, like the sextant that they use for navigation (yes they have one, and 3 independent GPS of course). Then on to a 65th birthday celebration in the "Owner's" cabin for Marilyn, with champagne and of course, canapes. We met Marilyn & Roman in 2010 on our Star Clipper cruise of the eastern Mediterranean.

Monday 9 June, Day 15.

This morning we head off to the other side of the harbour to board a large catamaran for a 3 hour cruise around the harbour and out to one of the islands. The weather is perfect, seas calm, and enough wind to make it interesting. We anchor near a reef and go snorkeling, or swimming in Kathy's case. I've seem better reef but at least there was live coral and enough fish to make it worth while. Lovely people on board, good coffee and relaxing on deck or in the bow nets.

Back on board the Paul Gauguin and it is lunchtime with a glass or two of respectable sauvingon blanc. An afternoon lazing in the sun until a moderate-sized P&O cruise ship tied up along the wharf. Time to take a few photos. The Pacific Dawn looks to be about 6 times the size of PG with perhaps 2000 passengers from Sydney. Dinner tonight with a nice ex-pat British couple, Wayne & Margaret who live in Spain.