Thursday, March 24 – Dubai for the Ensemble Experience and Big Bus
Dubai! The land that marketing built. This is our third visit and we are still amazed at what can be created with such vivid imaginations. The architecture is incredible; hours could be spent just glancing upwards at the tall structures and wondering about the shapes and colors and materials and learning the reasoning behind such creativity. Turban-style, glass tubes between buildings, incredible heights…the buildings have created a city like none other. Dubai is one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates on the Persian Gulf. The government’s decision to diversify from a trade-based but oil-reliant economy to one that is service and tourism-oriented has made real estate more valuable, resulting in a property boom. It is unusual in that is population is comprised mainly of expatriates with the Emiratis constituting the minority.
The Ensemble Experience was held in the Bastakiya district – in the sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. We were welcomed in to the mosque for an explanation, allowed to ask any questions we wanted, wandered around the community and had a lunch of salads, hommous, hakhboos of fish and chicken and lugaimat (fried dough balls drizzled with date syrup).
We headed back in to the city on the Big Bus (they are also in Philadelphia!). www.bigbustours.com They offer an incredible service with included walking tours, two bus routes covering the highlights of the large city (one loop takes almost three hours), all with a running commentary. Our stop at the Wafi Mall was fascinating; it is an incredible Egyptian structure and we took the walking tour of the Khan Murjan Discovery Walk/underground souk (market) to the Lebanese, Syrian, Turkish, Egyptian and Moroccan sections. It was incredible ornate with colorful doors and glass-stained windows BENEATH the regular mall! Beautiful shops; really should be advertised more.
We wound our way around the loop and took the 5:30 PM evening dhow cruise on the Dubai Creek. It ended up at the mouth the creek, near the sea, passing many more of the architectural wonders of the city as we sat on cushions on the floor at dusk. (included in the price of the 24 hour bus pass).
“I could not at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn, his back on life.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
Friday, March 25 - Dubai – “At the Top” and along the beach route
Friday is a holy day for Muslims so many museums and stores are closed. We were tired from working late but got up early enough to get the Big Bus for the other route they offer. We headed out on a nice sunny day enjoying the top deck of the Big Bus as it went along the beach road past the rich sheikhs’ homes and fancy hotels; past the Burj Al Arab 7* hotel, the water park at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, onto the Palm, past Atlantis hotel (you would think you were in the Bahamas!) and got off at the Emirates Mall to see the ski slope again. The malls are LARGE and LONG, full of every type of store you need or don’t need. The Arabic women were their black abaya (black cover-all gown worn in public) and you can see their western-style clothing underneath. The men wear all white – the dishdasha is their ankle-length white robe which never seems to get dirty! I loved riding the upper deck on the bus and we stopped next at the Dubai Mall, the home of the Burj Khalifa observation deck (tallest building in the world – www.atthetop.ae), the Olympic ice rink, gold souk, aquarium with glass panels at least three stories high and the dancing fountains (just like in front of the Bellagio in Las Vegas). So much to wander around and enjoy; we were lucky to see a dress rehearsal of the dancing fountains to music and they must be spectacular at night!
We hurried back to the Dubai Museum to take the walking tour through the spice souk, gold souk, rode the abra (water taxi across the Dubai Creek with no railings or seats – just a bench on each side of the “captain”), and past three Iranian mosques and through the textile souk. We ended up near the large dhows which have traveled thousands of miles with their manufactured goods which they are selling in Dubai’s “tax free” zone. As there is virtually no crime, they can leave large piles of refrigerators, rice, tires, baby formula, pocket books, etc., on the docks – covered only by a cloth – and their items are not stolen. When they are sold, they are removed and the old (and I mean OLD) dhows make their way back to the native country. Fascinating. Hard to imagine these very small old dhows sailing through rough waters heavily laden – we even saw one with trucks and cars! The waves must surely crash up onto the decks of the dhows and soak absolutely everything in sight.
We tried the new air-conditioned water taxi across the Dubai Creek (approx. 10 minute crossing) and it was fantastic – just costs a little more to go first class! Theatre-style seats, large floor-to-ceiling windows and no one else on but us made for a fun crossing! (RTA Water bus) We were back on the bus for a return to the ship, late dinner, show and working in the terminal – by practically everyone on our ship!! So the internet access was slow and limited so we decided to give it up, take a nap and return early in the morning – what we won’t do for free internet!!
Re-thinking our time in Dubai, I would spend more time in the textile and spice souk areas and at the Dubai Mall – but we enjoyed all we did. Two days are not nearly enough to see and do it all. Entertainer was KUBA, a wonderful multi-instrumentalist we have seen before.
Saturday, March 26 – left Dubai and in the Arabian Sea
We were up at 4:30 to get to the main terminal to get online with the free WIFI before the rest of the world woke up! The sun rose and were worked away…But we were never able to get online with Skype to make our million phone calls. We ventured across the parking lot to the Queen Elizabeth 2 and walked around her. She has been there for 2 years and four months and now there is steam coming from her funnel. We found out a crew of 42 are living onboard her and they are in the process of renovating her to become a floating hotel, probably to be docked near the Atlantis hotel. We were able to get onboard in to the lobby area with security. Found out the Captain has his car right in front of the ship, but under a car blanket – guess he does not get out much! The “Southhampton” has been whited out on the back of the ship and it now shows “Port Vila”, which I have to look up to find out where the ship is now registered! But she looked good - much better than she did two years ago.
We wandered over to a Dubai Navy destroyer and then to two nice yachts before finding the Pacific Princess had docked in front of us. We were onboard our ship by 9:15 for a 9:30 sail away. A beautiful, hot day sail away as we viewed a sand-covered Dubai – not nearly as clear as it had been the last two days.
We were now “at sea” and we collapsed for a nap. Waking up, we felt like the day was extra long – attended Chorale rehearsal and enjoyed dinner with new tablemates from CA and Michigan. We’ve been hearing about the other ships in the area and air strikes in Israel and there is some concern among passengers about our route. We’ll see what happens in the next few days; all decisions are made by Holland America’s Seattle office and their first interest is for our and the ship’s safe passage. Entertainment was MagiComedy cabaret of John Ekin.
Since Hong Kong, we have traveled 5162 nautical miles.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Mumbai on 2nd day and at sea
Monday, March 21 – Aunt Ann and Matthew’s special birthdays! Mumbai, India
Did not set the alarm, did not pre-order room service and thought it was raining outside! I think I was tired. But quickly moved in to action to meet Ali, our driver, outside for another day in Mumbai. What a difference a day makes…today was a work day. The streets were full of cars and pedestrians and motorcycles – all traveling their own route and miraculously making it to their final destination without interfering with each other. There is no need for a lane marking or a light in this city – just a ton of patience and a loud horn. We were able to “feel the pulse” of the city with our taxi windows open and horns blaring. It was utter chaos and I really enjoyed it. I felt like we were protected in our little vehicle as we weaved through the streets, horn tooting and maneuvering slowly to our next destination.
Our first stop was the Chor Bazaar – the Thieves Market in the Muslim community. We saw a half of a goat hauled on the back of a bicycle. The streets were festively decorated with overheard lights so it must be pretty at night. During the day, it is not a tourist destination; we saw on-the-street barbers, auto mechanics, kitchen and bathroom supply vendors, antique shops…not very interesting but a cultural eye-opener. Due to the chaos in the streets, the police were thankfully there to help us across the street to Ali, our driver. Next stop was the Zaveri Bazaar but we found out the shops don’t open until 11. We did find a nice clothing shop and shopped there. www.shubhamcollections.co.in
We hurried from there to the Victoria train station – I really wanted to see the Dabbawallahs deliver the hot meals! We found them but they are just normal people in a train station so you really have to look. Man #1 got off a train carrying a large tote bag filled with round silver lunch boxes. One bag was filled with many loaves of flat bread. Man #1 dropped his bundle near a post in the center of the train station and went back to get another bundle. In the meantime, Man #2 came up to Man #1’s first dropped bundle and took them across the floor of the railway station and dropped his bundle in the middle of the floor. Man #2 went back to get more of the bundles dropped by Man #1. Then Man #3 came up to pick up the bundles dropped by Man #2 and took them out to the taxi stand. Four women appeared and quickly filled three taxis with all the bundles and were off for delivering them to the men whose wives had packed these hot lunches for their husbands!! Fascinating route to have a hot lunch delivered at lunch time! I felt like we were spies as we rushed back and forth to figure out which person was meeting which other person and to find out the final “drop” place. There have been several efficiency studies done by major corporations on these dabbawallahs.
Found a pharmacy and nice department store – Asiatic – and we have fun there! Many different departments – you sign a receipt for what you want and then pay in one area downstairs and pick up your items at the next counter once you have paid. Great prices on pharmaceuticals and beautiful ready-made clothing. Jehangir Art Gallery, contemporary art gallery of Indian artists, was interesting with water colors and photography exhibits.
Ali did a wonderful job driving us from place to place – at our beck and call. He asked that we pay him prior to arriving to the port; after we left his vehicle we saw a person approach him and he paid him something so I assume he had to pay a portion to them since he was not an “authorized” driver for the port. I felt so comfortable this time in Mumbai. I enjoyed the fast pace of the city and the interesting sites. It is fascinating but still a place that I enjoy during the day for sightseeing but need to retreat at night to my comfort zone/foreign hotel/ship for the facilities with which I am comfortable. There are over 17 million people in Mumbai, making it the sixth largest metropolitan area in the world. There is a deep natural harbor and is the largest port in Western India. Also located here are the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange and the corporate headquarters of many Indian companies. The name was officially changed from Bombay to Mumbai in 1995. Comedy of David Deeble as the entertainer.
“A mind that has been stretched will never return to its original dimension.” -Albert Einstein
Tuesday, March 22 – at sea
We had a highlight performance of “La Traviata” by an Australian group, Opera Interludes. Formal night and we had the Bollywood Ball! Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Mumbai-based Hindi language film industry. It is only part of the Indian film industry and is one of the largest film producers in the world, with over 800 films a year. They are mostly musicals and are expected to contain catchy music in the form of song-and-dance numbers woven into the script with songs, dances, love triangles, comedy and daredeveil thrills all mixed up in a 3-hour long extravangaza with an intermission! We did not quite measure up to those standards but everyone wore their new saris and Indian attire. If you wanted to be part of the fashion parade, we had a running commentary of the outfit if you entered the theatre on the starboard side. We also had silly prizes awarded for silly talent – fun evening.
“Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens.” - Jimi Hendrix
Wednesday, March 23 – at sea through the Straits of Hormuz
Many tankers in the area trading with the oil rich states in this area. Watched movie “Rabbit Hole”. Amsterdam singers and dancers in AVALON.
“The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.” - Tom Clancy
Did not set the alarm, did not pre-order room service and thought it was raining outside! I think I was tired. But quickly moved in to action to meet Ali, our driver, outside for another day in Mumbai. What a difference a day makes…today was a work day. The streets were full of cars and pedestrians and motorcycles – all traveling their own route and miraculously making it to their final destination without interfering with each other. There is no need for a lane marking or a light in this city – just a ton of patience and a loud horn. We were able to “feel the pulse” of the city with our taxi windows open and horns blaring. It was utter chaos and I really enjoyed it. I felt like we were protected in our little vehicle as we weaved through the streets, horn tooting and maneuvering slowly to our next destination.
Our first stop was the Chor Bazaar – the Thieves Market in the Muslim community. We saw a half of a goat hauled on the back of a bicycle. The streets were festively decorated with overheard lights so it must be pretty at night. During the day, it is not a tourist destination; we saw on-the-street barbers, auto mechanics, kitchen and bathroom supply vendors, antique shops…not very interesting but a cultural eye-opener. Due to the chaos in the streets, the police were thankfully there to help us across the street to Ali, our driver. Next stop was the Zaveri Bazaar but we found out the shops don’t open until 11. We did find a nice clothing shop and shopped there. www.shubhamcollections.co.in
We hurried from there to the Victoria train station – I really wanted to see the Dabbawallahs deliver the hot meals! We found them but they are just normal people in a train station so you really have to look. Man #1 got off a train carrying a large tote bag filled with round silver lunch boxes. One bag was filled with many loaves of flat bread. Man #1 dropped his bundle near a post in the center of the train station and went back to get another bundle. In the meantime, Man #2 came up to Man #1’s first dropped bundle and took them across the floor of the railway station and dropped his bundle in the middle of the floor. Man #2 went back to get more of the bundles dropped by Man #1. Then Man #3 came up to pick up the bundles dropped by Man #2 and took them out to the taxi stand. Four women appeared and quickly filled three taxis with all the bundles and were off for delivering them to the men whose wives had packed these hot lunches for their husbands!! Fascinating route to have a hot lunch delivered at lunch time! I felt like we were spies as we rushed back and forth to figure out which person was meeting which other person and to find out the final “drop” place. There have been several efficiency studies done by major corporations on these dabbawallahs.
Found a pharmacy and nice department store – Asiatic – and we have fun there! Many different departments – you sign a receipt for what you want and then pay in one area downstairs and pick up your items at the next counter once you have paid. Great prices on pharmaceuticals and beautiful ready-made clothing. Jehangir Art Gallery, contemporary art gallery of Indian artists, was interesting with water colors and photography exhibits.
Ali did a wonderful job driving us from place to place – at our beck and call. He asked that we pay him prior to arriving to the port; after we left his vehicle we saw a person approach him and he paid him something so I assume he had to pay a portion to them since he was not an “authorized” driver for the port. I felt so comfortable this time in Mumbai. I enjoyed the fast pace of the city and the interesting sites. It is fascinating but still a place that I enjoy during the day for sightseeing but need to retreat at night to my comfort zone/foreign hotel/ship for the facilities with which I am comfortable. There are over 17 million people in Mumbai, making it the sixth largest metropolitan area in the world. There is a deep natural harbor and is the largest port in Western India. Also located here are the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange and the corporate headquarters of many Indian companies. The name was officially changed from Bombay to Mumbai in 1995. Comedy of David Deeble as the entertainer.
“A mind that has been stretched will never return to its original dimension.” -Albert Einstein
Tuesday, March 22 – at sea
We had a highlight performance of “La Traviata” by an Australian group, Opera Interludes. Formal night and we had the Bollywood Ball! Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Mumbai-based Hindi language film industry. It is only part of the Indian film industry and is one of the largest film producers in the world, with over 800 films a year. They are mostly musicals and are expected to contain catchy music in the form of song-and-dance numbers woven into the script with songs, dances, love triangles, comedy and daredeveil thrills all mixed up in a 3-hour long extravangaza with an intermission! We did not quite measure up to those standards but everyone wore their new saris and Indian attire. If you wanted to be part of the fashion parade, we had a running commentary of the outfit if you entered the theatre on the starboard side. We also had silly prizes awarded for silly talent – fun evening.
“Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens.” - Jimi Hendrix
Wednesday, March 23 – at sea through the Straits of Hormuz
Many tankers in the area trading with the oil rich states in this area. Watched movie “Rabbit Hole”. Amsterdam singers and dancers in AVALON.
“The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.” - Tom Clancy
Monday, March 28, 2011
Mumbai, India
Sunday, March 20 – Mumbai, India!
Getting up at 6AM to have a face-to-passport inspection is not the ideal way to begin a visit to a new city but a necessary one when arriving in Mumbai. Our number was finally called at 7:45 AM and we had our five-second visit with Immigration for the precious stamp. Everything in India must be stamped, and stamped again and then re-examined to be sure the stamp is in the exact location where needed and then double-checked against the other document to be sure all names and spellings match exactly; bureaucracy at its best.
India is only about 1/3 the size of Europe but its more than one billion people represent fully 1/6 of the world’s population. More major religions are practiced on a larger scale in India than in any other nation. Hinduism is the main faith, but there are also Zoroastrians, Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews and Christians.
It was a perfect day to be in Mumbai – breezy!!! --as it is always hot and humid. We left the ship and port area to negotiate a cab to the downtown location. Taxis were all around –air conditioned or non air conditioned. The further you walked down the row of cars, the lower the price. It would have taken about 30+ minutes by foot and would have been a very interesting walk but more tolerable to begin the day due to the heat and humidity by riding in a taxi. Went to the docks at Colaba, the Sassoon dock. Smelly, stinky, crowded, dead fish in the road and pathway, birds, fishermen working on their nets and only three women selling the fish – out on a long covered pier. So we were very late in our arrival from their early morning arrival to distribute the fish but it was interesting.
And as today was a festival day -- people were painted all different colors – from their hair to their clothing to the sidewalk. It was a “holi festival” and paint is typically thrown at you or sprayed on you. Not anywhere we wanted to be near….but people had purple and red and yellow faces and hair and shirts and pants.
We went to the posh Taj Mahal Hotel (built in 1903 and recently bombed in Nov 2008) and they now have armored cars at every corner of the hotel. Two security checks to pass through to enter the lobby (walk through the scanner, scan your item and a body search). Wonderful shops and a beautiful private pool are in the midst of utter chaos in the bustling city of Mumbai – only the walls of the hotel separate you. The Gateway of India is across the street, from where the ferries depart for Elephanta Island and its caves – we visited them two years ago. 45 minute ferry ride, 10 minute train ride and four men can carry you up the 135 steep steps to reach the caves, where you see the various Shivas and are surrounded by monkeys – an unique experience.
The Gateway is Mumbai’s signature landmark, an 85-foot stone archway hastily erected as a symbol of welcome to Queen Mary and King George V of England in 1911.
Sunday traffic was minimal and not at all the way I remembered from our last visit to Mumbai. We were zipping around all over the city after negotiating with our driver, Ali. Down Marine Drive (the curved waterfront boulevard with promenade) and past Chowpatty Beach we set off to the Jain Temple. In an upper class neighborhood of the city, the colors and intricate ceramic patterns on the exterior were just as ornate as the interior. After removing our shoes, we walked through the small two-story temple, surrounded by overpowering incense, and watched several young people pray at each of the small Buddhas in small shrines in several small rooms off to the sides of the courtyard. The Buddhas were made of a variety of materials -- dark material, light material and some were bathed in silverleaf.
It was fascinating; the Jains are strictly vegetarians; they arrive on foot, freshly bathed in swaths of unstitched off-white cloth to pay homage to the splendid idol of Adinath, an important Jain prophet. They show their respect by arriving clean and without shoes.
We continued on to the Kamala Nehru Park, where the children can play in the “Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe” structure. There is a large children’s playground with a nice view of the city and beach below. As it was Sunday, the park was filled with kids and families and vendors; great ice cream and cold drink break while enjoying the flower gardens and people. Several young girls asked to have their photos taken with us. Walked through the Hanging Gardens where there were several topiaries of elephants and oxen.
We drove past the Towers of Silence, where Mumbai’s Parsi-followers (of the Zoroastrian faith) dispose of their dead. Pallbearers carry the corpse to the top of one of the towering cylindrical bastions where it is left to be devoured by crows and vultures. None of this is visible to the family or onlookers.
On to Mani Bhavan – an old-fashioned 3-story Gujarati house in a quiet neighborhood which was the home of Mahatma Gandhi from 1917-1934. Very nice dioramas tell the story of his life and his fight for Indian independence; replicas of the letters he wrote to Hitler and Roosevelt to end the war are on display as well as photos of his time in the UK and South Africa and his travels around India.
The Dhobi Ghats are large outdoor washrooms were clothes are pounded clean in enormous open-air laundries. As it was a Sunday and a “holi festival” only the vendors were there to greet us but we looked down from the Mahalakshmi train station at the vast laundry below. We enjoyed seeing them in action last time and are constantly amazed at how they can keep track of whose laundry belongs to whom.
Night drive on Marine Drive and all the party-goers were out celebrating. We try to take advantage of every overnight port visit; the city looks, acts and smells so differently at night. We felt safe with our driver and were really glad for his calm driving in this middle of all the chaos. We were on the internet for an hour also.
Indian dance performance onboard the ship and they were fantastic! Young and enthusiastic, you could tell they really enjoyed sharing their culture with foreigners.
Tired and fell in to bed, not even able to feel my extremities…
Getting up at 6AM to have a face-to-passport inspection is not the ideal way to begin a visit to a new city but a necessary one when arriving in Mumbai. Our number was finally called at 7:45 AM and we had our five-second visit with Immigration for the precious stamp. Everything in India must be stamped, and stamped again and then re-examined to be sure the stamp is in the exact location where needed and then double-checked against the other document to be sure all names and spellings match exactly; bureaucracy at its best.
India is only about 1/3 the size of Europe but its more than one billion people represent fully 1/6 of the world’s population. More major religions are practiced on a larger scale in India than in any other nation. Hinduism is the main faith, but there are also Zoroastrians, Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews and Christians.
It was a perfect day to be in Mumbai – breezy!!! --as it is always hot and humid. We left the ship and port area to negotiate a cab to the downtown location. Taxis were all around –air conditioned or non air conditioned. The further you walked down the row of cars, the lower the price. It would have taken about 30+ minutes by foot and would have been a very interesting walk but more tolerable to begin the day due to the heat and humidity by riding in a taxi. Went to the docks at Colaba, the Sassoon dock. Smelly, stinky, crowded, dead fish in the road and pathway, birds, fishermen working on their nets and only three women selling the fish – out on a long covered pier. So we were very late in our arrival from their early morning arrival to distribute the fish but it was interesting.
And as today was a festival day -- people were painted all different colors – from their hair to their clothing to the sidewalk. It was a “holi festival” and paint is typically thrown at you or sprayed on you. Not anywhere we wanted to be near….but people had purple and red and yellow faces and hair and shirts and pants.
We went to the posh Taj Mahal Hotel (built in 1903 and recently bombed in Nov 2008) and they now have armored cars at every corner of the hotel. Two security checks to pass through to enter the lobby (walk through the scanner, scan your item and a body search). Wonderful shops and a beautiful private pool are in the midst of utter chaos in the bustling city of Mumbai – only the walls of the hotel separate you. The Gateway of India is across the street, from where the ferries depart for Elephanta Island and its caves – we visited them two years ago. 45 minute ferry ride, 10 minute train ride and four men can carry you up the 135 steep steps to reach the caves, where you see the various Shivas and are surrounded by monkeys – an unique experience.
The Gateway is Mumbai’s signature landmark, an 85-foot stone archway hastily erected as a symbol of welcome to Queen Mary and King George V of England in 1911.
Sunday traffic was minimal and not at all the way I remembered from our last visit to Mumbai. We were zipping around all over the city after negotiating with our driver, Ali. Down Marine Drive (the curved waterfront boulevard with promenade) and past Chowpatty Beach we set off to the Jain Temple. In an upper class neighborhood of the city, the colors and intricate ceramic patterns on the exterior were just as ornate as the interior. After removing our shoes, we walked through the small two-story temple, surrounded by overpowering incense, and watched several young people pray at each of the small Buddhas in small shrines in several small rooms off to the sides of the courtyard. The Buddhas were made of a variety of materials -- dark material, light material and some were bathed in silverleaf.
It was fascinating; the Jains are strictly vegetarians; they arrive on foot, freshly bathed in swaths of unstitched off-white cloth to pay homage to the splendid idol of Adinath, an important Jain prophet. They show their respect by arriving clean and without shoes.
We continued on to the Kamala Nehru Park, where the children can play in the “Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe” structure. There is a large children’s playground with a nice view of the city and beach below. As it was Sunday, the park was filled with kids and families and vendors; great ice cream and cold drink break while enjoying the flower gardens and people. Several young girls asked to have their photos taken with us. Walked through the Hanging Gardens where there were several topiaries of elephants and oxen.
We drove past the Towers of Silence, where Mumbai’s Parsi-followers (of the Zoroastrian faith) dispose of their dead. Pallbearers carry the corpse to the top of one of the towering cylindrical bastions where it is left to be devoured by crows and vultures. None of this is visible to the family or onlookers.
On to Mani Bhavan – an old-fashioned 3-story Gujarati house in a quiet neighborhood which was the home of Mahatma Gandhi from 1917-1934. Very nice dioramas tell the story of his life and his fight for Indian independence; replicas of the letters he wrote to Hitler and Roosevelt to end the war are on display as well as photos of his time in the UK and South Africa and his travels around India.
The Dhobi Ghats are large outdoor washrooms were clothes are pounded clean in enormous open-air laundries. As it was a Sunday and a “holi festival” only the vendors were there to greet us but we looked down from the Mahalakshmi train station at the vast laundry below. We enjoyed seeing them in action last time and are constantly amazed at how they can keep track of whose laundry belongs to whom.
Night drive on Marine Drive and all the party-goers were out celebrating. We try to take advantage of every overnight port visit; the city looks, acts and smells so differently at night. We felt safe with our driver and were really glad for his calm driving in this middle of all the chaos. We were on the internet for an hour also.
Indian dance performance onboard the ship and they were fantastic! Young and enthusiastic, you could tell they really enjoyed sharing their culture with foreigners.
Tired and fell in to bed, not even able to feel my extremities…
Cochin, India and sea days
Wednesday, March 16, 2011 – at sea
Another itinerary change! Am pretty sure there will be more revisions…but we now back to the original day for Aqaba, Jordan since there are too many ships in port on April 2. This will affect our transit of the Suez Canal so we’ll just have to wait and see as we get closer.
Could not get out of bed so decided to stay there and rest! Late lunch and then a haircut. Had dinner with friends and the band’s piano player, Raddie.
The Grand Voyage and Grand World Voyage are so different from a cruise. It is a voyage. It takes you to unique cultures in such an easy way. No flights. Meals are provided and easy to come by – buffet, restaurant, specialty restaurant, room service. All services are available – live music, fitness, computer, dentist and doctor, photography, laundry. You are hard-pressed to find a service where they cannot help you. And you get pillow animals each night. And chocolates. And make friends from around the world – passengers and crew. Have continuous entertainment – on TV, live in the theatres, cooking demonstrations. How can it get any easier? It is not a vacation. That may be hard for you to believe, but it is truly hard work to be a traveler. You have only so many hours to be out there to explore the new destination. The hours in port are never enough to do it all…to experience a new culture and make new friends. And to buy it all!
Thursday, St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2011 – at sea
Lunch with friends, meetings and work. 1st time cruisers met and expressed their thoughts on what they would have liked to know before they began the cruise. Enjoyed dinner with our table hosted by Joachim, a 4th Officer from the Netherlands. St. Patrick’s day festivities in the Crowe’s Nest with the orchestra and Far and Away movie and comedian, Kevin Devane.
Revised schedule again!
March 24, 25, 26 – Dubai! Departing at 10:00 AM on the 26th
March 27 – Muscat, Oman
March 28 – at sea
March 29 – Salalah, Oman
March 30, 31, April 1, 2 – at sea
April 3 – Aqaba, Jordan
April 4 – at sea
April 5 – transit Suez Canal
April 6 – Ashdod, Israel
April 7 – at sea
April 7 and 8 – Kusadasi, Turkey
Friday, March 18, 2011 – Kochi (Cochin), India
Kochi is both a city and former state in SW India on the Arabian Sea. The region has one of the highest population densities in India. Agriculture is the chief economic activity, there is a naval base and shipbuilding industry and is the primary training center of the Indian Navy.
Nice to have an arrival at 10AM so we had a nice sail-in past the Chinese fishing nets at a decent hour. The Chinese nets are huge triangular nets on long poles which are lowered from a platform in and out of the water by 4-5 men. We had a fun and hot day exploring Kochi. With another couple, we hired a cab for a tour of the area. I had my list of sites ready to explore and off we went with a nice older gentleman. We docked on Willingdon Island and headed over to Jew Town and the Fort Cochin district to explore the St. Francis Church, one of the earliest Indian churches to be built by Europeans. The church was a Catholic church until 1664, when it became a Dutch Reform church; it later became Anglican and is now part of the Church of South India. Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was once buried here but his body was moved back to Portugal. The interior of the Santa Cruz Cathedral is colorfully painted with scenes and decorations that are gorgeous and gaudy. It dates back to the 16th century. From there we found a few nice shops and bargained hard for our treasures. The Pepper Exchange may not be on everyone’ list but it was on ours! And it was nothing! All the trading of pepper is now done on-line and they had nothing to show us in their offices. So I guess that interesting in itself – you just never know until you get there. The Dutch Palace was closed. The harbor front was lined with these precarious-looking bamboo and wood structures hovering like cranes over the waterfront. They are thought to have been introduced by Chinese traders in the 14th century. Fascinating way to catch fish without going out to sea.
The driver took us to his home, which he is renting. 2 rooms, near the temple with an outside kitchen. Four people live there for approx. $175 a month. He phoned his wife and daughter and was so proud for us to meet them. There was a holy festival in town and we went to the temple to see several elephants!!! HUGE, big old elephants strolling around the grounds. They were being washed down from top to their underside and the stood there and turned so the hose could reach them. They turned just as casually as if they were on a rotating pedestal knowing how far the water would reach. And the hose was aimed into their trunk and seemed to remain there forever. We thought we might be sprayed with all the water in their trunk but the excess water just spilled out of their mouth. They were not decorated; they were just there for the holy 11 day festival and we happened to be there on the next to the last day.
Amsterdam singers and dancers performed “H2Oh”.
“Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go and you learn at once how big and precious it is”. - Anonymous
Saturday, March 19 – at sea
Ensemble cocktail party – our last one! We now have an former U.S. Ambassador onboard, Howard K Walker.
“Be precise. Don’t repeat like a gramophone record. Words have a limited utility.” - Gautam Buddha
(love this quote)
Another itinerary change! Am pretty sure there will be more revisions…but we now back to the original day for Aqaba, Jordan since there are too many ships in port on April 2. This will affect our transit of the Suez Canal so we’ll just have to wait and see as we get closer.
Could not get out of bed so decided to stay there and rest! Late lunch and then a haircut. Had dinner with friends and the band’s piano player, Raddie.
The Grand Voyage and Grand World Voyage are so different from a cruise. It is a voyage. It takes you to unique cultures in such an easy way. No flights. Meals are provided and easy to come by – buffet, restaurant, specialty restaurant, room service. All services are available – live music, fitness, computer, dentist and doctor, photography, laundry. You are hard-pressed to find a service where they cannot help you. And you get pillow animals each night. And chocolates. And make friends from around the world – passengers and crew. Have continuous entertainment – on TV, live in the theatres, cooking demonstrations. How can it get any easier? It is not a vacation. That may be hard for you to believe, but it is truly hard work to be a traveler. You have only so many hours to be out there to explore the new destination. The hours in port are never enough to do it all…to experience a new culture and make new friends. And to buy it all!
Thursday, St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2011 – at sea
Lunch with friends, meetings and work. 1st time cruisers met and expressed their thoughts on what they would have liked to know before they began the cruise. Enjoyed dinner with our table hosted by Joachim, a 4th Officer from the Netherlands. St. Patrick’s day festivities in the Crowe’s Nest with the orchestra and Far and Away movie and comedian, Kevin Devane.
Revised schedule again!
March 24, 25, 26 – Dubai! Departing at 10:00 AM on the 26th
March 27 – Muscat, Oman
March 28 – at sea
March 29 – Salalah, Oman
March 30, 31, April 1, 2 – at sea
April 3 – Aqaba, Jordan
April 4 – at sea
April 5 – transit Suez Canal
April 6 – Ashdod, Israel
April 7 – at sea
April 7 and 8 – Kusadasi, Turkey
Friday, March 18, 2011 – Kochi (Cochin), India
Kochi is both a city and former state in SW India on the Arabian Sea. The region has one of the highest population densities in India. Agriculture is the chief economic activity, there is a naval base and shipbuilding industry and is the primary training center of the Indian Navy.
Nice to have an arrival at 10AM so we had a nice sail-in past the Chinese fishing nets at a decent hour. The Chinese nets are huge triangular nets on long poles which are lowered from a platform in and out of the water by 4-5 men. We had a fun and hot day exploring Kochi. With another couple, we hired a cab for a tour of the area. I had my list of sites ready to explore and off we went with a nice older gentleman. We docked on Willingdon Island and headed over to Jew Town and the Fort Cochin district to explore the St. Francis Church, one of the earliest Indian churches to be built by Europeans. The church was a Catholic church until 1664, when it became a Dutch Reform church; it later became Anglican and is now part of the Church of South India. Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was once buried here but his body was moved back to Portugal. The interior of the Santa Cruz Cathedral is colorfully painted with scenes and decorations that are gorgeous and gaudy. It dates back to the 16th century. From there we found a few nice shops and bargained hard for our treasures. The Pepper Exchange may not be on everyone’ list but it was on ours! And it was nothing! All the trading of pepper is now done on-line and they had nothing to show us in their offices. So I guess that interesting in itself – you just never know until you get there. The Dutch Palace was closed. The harbor front was lined with these precarious-looking bamboo and wood structures hovering like cranes over the waterfront. They are thought to have been introduced by Chinese traders in the 14th century. Fascinating way to catch fish without going out to sea.
The driver took us to his home, which he is renting. 2 rooms, near the temple with an outside kitchen. Four people live there for approx. $175 a month. He phoned his wife and daughter and was so proud for us to meet them. There was a holy festival in town and we went to the temple to see several elephants!!! HUGE, big old elephants strolling around the grounds. They were being washed down from top to their underside and the stood there and turned so the hose could reach them. They turned just as casually as if they were on a rotating pedestal knowing how far the water would reach. And the hose was aimed into their trunk and seemed to remain there forever. We thought we might be sprayed with all the water in their trunk but the excess water just spilled out of their mouth. They were not decorated; they were just there for the holy 11 day festival and we happened to be there on the next to the last day.
Amsterdam singers and dancers performed “H2Oh”.
“Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go and you learn at once how big and precious it is”. - Anonymous
Saturday, March 19 – at sea
Ensemble cocktail party – our last one! We now have an former U.S. Ambassador onboard, Howard K Walker.
“Be precise. Don’t repeat like a gramophone record. Words have a limited utility.” - Gautam Buddha
(love this quote)
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Singapore
Sunday, March 13, 2011 – Mom’s special birthday! – SINGAPORE and Ensemble Excursion
Docked at the Harbourfront mall (Talok Blanghah Road), which was extremely convenient EXCEPT we had to clear customs every single time we left or returned to the ship! You forget one thing – you have to clear customs and go down the pier and back on to the ship through our clearance to get your item and then reverse the procedure!
We had an early morning departure at 8:00 and it was drizzling but we went to the Merlion Park. The merlion is a figure with the head of a lion and the body of a fish/mermaid. It is the trademark of the country/city. We saw the original smaller size near Marina Bay and the larger size which now has a one-room hotel built around it – you can sleep there from 8:30PM-8:30AM for $125 a night! This is a promotion for a few months only – great idea! We continued on to the Malay Heritage Center to see the melting pot which created the country of Singapore – Malaysians, Chinese, Indonesians, Indians…
Jean, the guide, gave a great commentary on the country as we drove around. Cars on the roads – besides paying for the car, Singapore only allows so many of each type of car to be on the road so they are not inundated with traffic. So many luxury cars, so many medium class cars and so many economy cars – so you pay a car tax permit determined by the type of car you drive IF you are lucky enough to acquire the permit. We drove to government housing in the Bishan district and took the elevator to the 12th floor, to walk down one flight to the 11th floor apartment of William and Shirley. The elevator only stops on four floors so if your floor is not one of those, you either walk up or down from where it stops to get to your floor. The several apartment buildings are built of varying heights to allow for the flow of air around them and in to the apartments (smart!). They pay to go to school – any age, any type of education. She had snacks and tea sandwiches for us to enjoy and we asked all kinds of questions – excellent interaction.
Back in the city we went to the Chinatown Heritage Center. That was very interesting as each small room was set up as if the immigrant had just arrived to Singapore. It told their name and life history so you saw how their occupation determined their fate in their new land. Some time for shopping and returned to the ship. Quick lunch and off we ventured to Sentosa Island, a beach, casino, several hotels, monorail, theatres…Locals have to pay $100 to enter the casino! Great way to discourage gambling EXCEPT they did not seem to mind! The minimum bets were $25 - $50 a hand and there was no shortage of players at any table. It was a very busy place with great music and complimentary drinks (hot chocolate, water and coffee and tea). We took the monorail to the back of the park, where we had been two years before, and then found a Disney-type show was to take place at 9PM so while waiting for that we found out it was canceled that night! Two cranes are supposed to dance in the water and then turn into to doves…they said you can see it on u-tube. We walked around the waterfront and it was a nice night. Restaurants at the waterside, our beautiful ship all lit up in front of us, the lights of the mall and music streaming out of the various venues…a very nice area and walk. Ate a quick dinner and out to work on the computer – free internet!!
We were up until 2:30 on the computer in the Mall! It was great to get so much accomplished but how tired we will be tomorrow….
Monday, March 14, 2011 – Singapore
Yes, we were tired. We really forced ourselves to get up and headed out to a hawker’s market. There was once right across the street from the mall – supposedly one of the best 10,000 things to do before you die. It is an open-air market with all kinds of foods sold in small stalls. We checked out each stall but decided against the chicken feet soup for brunch. A bus connection took us near the Singapore Flyer, the largest ferris wheel in the world. Fantastic views of the city. We went up with an Australian couple and enjoyed the headphones describing the feng shui designs of this modern city and continuing development in the newly reclaimed area. Hurried back to the ship to be onboard by 1PM as customs takes an inordinate amount of time to process outgoing paperwork. Napped, ate and relaxing dinner.
Singapore is fascinating; modern, clean and safe.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 – sea day in the Straits
Rested, watched the movie “Secretariat” and really enjoyed it! Worked. Dinner with Jessika and Matt, our crew friends.
Docked at the Harbourfront mall (Talok Blanghah Road), which was extremely convenient EXCEPT we had to clear customs every single time we left or returned to the ship! You forget one thing – you have to clear customs and go down the pier and back on to the ship through our clearance to get your item and then reverse the procedure!
We had an early morning departure at 8:00 and it was drizzling but we went to the Merlion Park. The merlion is a figure with the head of a lion and the body of a fish/mermaid. It is the trademark of the country/city. We saw the original smaller size near Marina Bay and the larger size which now has a one-room hotel built around it – you can sleep there from 8:30PM-8:30AM for $125 a night! This is a promotion for a few months only – great idea! We continued on to the Malay Heritage Center to see the melting pot which created the country of Singapore – Malaysians, Chinese, Indonesians, Indians…
Jean, the guide, gave a great commentary on the country as we drove around. Cars on the roads – besides paying for the car, Singapore only allows so many of each type of car to be on the road so they are not inundated with traffic. So many luxury cars, so many medium class cars and so many economy cars – so you pay a car tax permit determined by the type of car you drive IF you are lucky enough to acquire the permit. We drove to government housing in the Bishan district and took the elevator to the 12th floor, to walk down one flight to the 11th floor apartment of William and Shirley. The elevator only stops on four floors so if your floor is not one of those, you either walk up or down from where it stops to get to your floor. The several apartment buildings are built of varying heights to allow for the flow of air around them and in to the apartments (smart!). They pay to go to school – any age, any type of education. She had snacks and tea sandwiches for us to enjoy and we asked all kinds of questions – excellent interaction.
Back in the city we went to the Chinatown Heritage Center. That was very interesting as each small room was set up as if the immigrant had just arrived to Singapore. It told their name and life history so you saw how their occupation determined their fate in their new land. Some time for shopping and returned to the ship. Quick lunch and off we ventured to Sentosa Island, a beach, casino, several hotels, monorail, theatres…Locals have to pay $100 to enter the casino! Great way to discourage gambling EXCEPT they did not seem to mind! The minimum bets were $25 - $50 a hand and there was no shortage of players at any table. It was a very busy place with great music and complimentary drinks (hot chocolate, water and coffee and tea). We took the monorail to the back of the park, where we had been two years before, and then found a Disney-type show was to take place at 9PM so while waiting for that we found out it was canceled that night! Two cranes are supposed to dance in the water and then turn into to doves…they said you can see it on u-tube. We walked around the waterfront and it was a nice night. Restaurants at the waterside, our beautiful ship all lit up in front of us, the lights of the mall and music streaming out of the various venues…a very nice area and walk. Ate a quick dinner and out to work on the computer – free internet!!
We were up until 2:30 on the computer in the Mall! It was great to get so much accomplished but how tired we will be tomorrow….
Monday, March 14, 2011 – Singapore
Yes, we were tired. We really forced ourselves to get up and headed out to a hawker’s market. There was once right across the street from the mall – supposedly one of the best 10,000 things to do before you die. It is an open-air market with all kinds of foods sold in small stalls. We checked out each stall but decided against the chicken feet soup for brunch. A bus connection took us near the Singapore Flyer, the largest ferris wheel in the world. Fantastic views of the city. We went up with an Australian couple and enjoyed the headphones describing the feng shui designs of this modern city and continuing development in the newly reclaimed area. Hurried back to the ship to be onboard by 1PM as customs takes an inordinate amount of time to process outgoing paperwork. Napped, ate and relaxing dinner.
Singapore is fascinating; modern, clean and safe.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 – sea day in the Straits
Rested, watched the movie “Secretariat” and really enjoyed it! Worked. Dinner with Jessika and Matt, our crew friends.
Vietnam and at sea
Wednesday, March 9 and Thursday, March 10– at sea – in bed resting all day
Ronn Lucas, ventriloquist entertained and he was great! I did make that show. Bill Harris in onboard with a speaker series about the glory days of Hollywood and all his interviews with celebrities. Gene found out that Raddie, the piano player in the Ocean Bar, The Neptunes band, has been to Sedalia, MO to play on a piano once played by Scott Joplin! To make a long story short, Raddie was playing at the Sydney Hilton and befriended an elderly woman from Sedalia who paid for his air ticket from Sydney to play at her retirement party!
Friday, March 11, 2011 – Phu My, Vietnam – port for Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) or Vung Tau, Vietnam
This is the closest port to Saigon so you have the option to visit the beach town of Vung Tau or take the 2 hour drive in to Saigon – we escorted buses in to Saigon. My bus had a good guide, Tri, who was anxious to please and assist the guests to figure out how to get from one part of town to the other. We had a fun drive in and out of the city with him. Gene’s bus guide was the opposite; was absolutely afraid to speak English and asked Gene to sit beside him to speak in to the microphone! I felt terrible for those guests – of course it is fascinating to just look out the window but to be able to question and learn is such a wonderful opportunity. Monthly income is $250. Extended families live in the same household – he has Mother, Father, brother, two aunties and one grandmother. There are over 9,000,000 people in the city located on the banks of the Saigon River, 37 miles from the South China Sea. The currency is the dong at approx. 20,000 dong to one US dollar!
We were dropped off at the Rex Hotel, from where the journalists broadcast daily during the Vietnam War. It is now a luxurious hotel in the city center. We wandered around the nearby streets and then took a taxi to the War Remnants Museum, “which exhibits proofs of Vietnam War crimes and their consequences – rarely do Westerners have the opportunity to hear the victims of US military action tell their own stories”. Not an easy museum to wander through, no matter what view of this war. Very descriptive photos. Tanks, air planes, tiger cages and other imprisonment conditions, aggressive war crime section, “historical truths” and war documentary photos taken by 134 journalists from 11 nationalities killed during the war.
We took an overpriced taxi (since he knew we were at his mercy at the museum closes at lunch and that is the quickest form of transportation to get to the next point) to the Ben Thankh market – what fun! Bought some pretty items from a market that had about 1000 vendors – all wanting my dollars. They could help me find whatever I needed and whatever I did not need but they thought I needed.
Back to the hotel for the transfer back to the ship and we were back in plenty of time, which upset a few people. But think of the alternative….if you were delayed due to bad traffic you may have to find your own way to the next port of call – Singapore! Shopping pierside – Rolex watches for $25 and beautiful enameled wall hangings…Entertainment by Eve Sherratt, a great vocalist from Wales.
Saturday, March 12, 2011 – at sea in the China Sea – itinerary change announced!
Guest Chef Brown Burch, from Le Cirque, NY, was onboard for a presentation. They have a fantastic kitchen set-up for demos and the recipes are even shared! Indonesian Tea with friends. Ensemble cocktail party! Tried a different area of the ship and where we had more standing room plus seats. I think we were able to circulate better; most had the Singapore Sling since we dock there tomorrow! Saved them $28 in case they don’t get to Raffles for the original drink.
As we have fairly good TV reception and receive a daily newspaper, we are able to keep up with the events in the world – good and bad. Captain Olav Van der Waard finally announced a decision had been made of our upcoming itinerary. No port calls in Egypt.
March 26 – Muscat, Oman
March 28 – My birthday this year will be in Salalah, Oman
March 29 – Gene will celebrate his birthday at sea
April 2 – Aqaba, Jordan
April 4 – Transit Suez Canal
April 5 – Ashdod, Israel
April 6 – Haifa, Israel
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” - Samuel Johnson
Ronn Lucas, ventriloquist entertained and he was great! I did make that show. Bill Harris in onboard with a speaker series about the glory days of Hollywood and all his interviews with celebrities. Gene found out that Raddie, the piano player in the Ocean Bar, The Neptunes band, has been to Sedalia, MO to play on a piano once played by Scott Joplin! To make a long story short, Raddie was playing at the Sydney Hilton and befriended an elderly woman from Sedalia who paid for his air ticket from Sydney to play at her retirement party!
Friday, March 11, 2011 – Phu My, Vietnam – port for Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) or Vung Tau, Vietnam
This is the closest port to Saigon so you have the option to visit the beach town of Vung Tau or take the 2 hour drive in to Saigon – we escorted buses in to Saigon. My bus had a good guide, Tri, who was anxious to please and assist the guests to figure out how to get from one part of town to the other. We had a fun drive in and out of the city with him. Gene’s bus guide was the opposite; was absolutely afraid to speak English and asked Gene to sit beside him to speak in to the microphone! I felt terrible for those guests – of course it is fascinating to just look out the window but to be able to question and learn is such a wonderful opportunity. Monthly income is $250. Extended families live in the same household – he has Mother, Father, brother, two aunties and one grandmother. There are over 9,000,000 people in the city located on the banks of the Saigon River, 37 miles from the South China Sea. The currency is the dong at approx. 20,000 dong to one US dollar!
We were dropped off at the Rex Hotel, from where the journalists broadcast daily during the Vietnam War. It is now a luxurious hotel in the city center. We wandered around the nearby streets and then took a taxi to the War Remnants Museum, “which exhibits proofs of Vietnam War crimes and their consequences – rarely do Westerners have the opportunity to hear the victims of US military action tell their own stories”. Not an easy museum to wander through, no matter what view of this war. Very descriptive photos. Tanks, air planes, tiger cages and other imprisonment conditions, aggressive war crime section, “historical truths” and war documentary photos taken by 134 journalists from 11 nationalities killed during the war.
We took an overpriced taxi (since he knew we were at his mercy at the museum closes at lunch and that is the quickest form of transportation to get to the next point) to the Ben Thankh market – what fun! Bought some pretty items from a market that had about 1000 vendors – all wanting my dollars. They could help me find whatever I needed and whatever I did not need but they thought I needed.
Back to the hotel for the transfer back to the ship and we were back in plenty of time, which upset a few people. But think of the alternative….if you were delayed due to bad traffic you may have to find your own way to the next port of call – Singapore! Shopping pierside – Rolex watches for $25 and beautiful enameled wall hangings…Entertainment by Eve Sherratt, a great vocalist from Wales.
Saturday, March 12, 2011 – at sea in the China Sea – itinerary change announced!
Guest Chef Brown Burch, from Le Cirque, NY, was onboard for a presentation. They have a fantastic kitchen set-up for demos and the recipes are even shared! Indonesian Tea with friends. Ensemble cocktail party! Tried a different area of the ship and where we had more standing room plus seats. I think we were able to circulate better; most had the Singapore Sling since we dock there tomorrow! Saved them $28 in case they don’t get to Raffles for the original drink.
As we have fairly good TV reception and receive a daily newspaper, we are able to keep up with the events in the world – good and bad. Captain Olav Van der Waard finally announced a decision had been made of our upcoming itinerary. No port calls in Egypt.
March 26 – Muscat, Oman
March 28 – My birthday this year will be in Salalah, Oman
March 29 – Gene will celebrate his birthday at sea
April 2 – Aqaba, Jordan
April 4 – Transit Suez Canal
April 5 – Ashdod, Israel
April 6 – Haifa, Israel
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” - Samuel Johnson
Elsebeth in Hong Kong
Sunday, March 6, 2011 – Sea
Wonderful evening with the Filipino Crew Show!! It was wonderful. Bamboo dancing, candle light dance, castanet dance and singing by our friends.
“A journey of a thousand miles must being with a single step”. – Lao Tzu
Monday, March 7, 2011 – Hong Kong, China
We docked at the Ocean Mall, on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong, which is made up of approx. 235 islands. European trade with China had been taking place since the 16th century but as European demand for tea and silk grew, the balance of trade became more unfavorable to the Europeans, who were expected to pay in silver. In 1773, the British unloaded 155,000 pounds of Bengal opium and the Chinese taste for the foreign mud grew exponentially. Alarmed at the drain of silver from the country and the increasing number of addicts, the Emperor banned the drug trade but the Europeans and the corrupt Chinese officials kept the trade in opium going until 1839. It was a British dependency from the 1840s until July 1, 1997, when it passed to Chinese sovereignty as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
We were met by Elsebeth, my Danish exchange sister now living in Hong Kong! She was invited onboard and we showed her around and had lunch before venturing out to tram-hop on Hong Kong Island. After taking the Star Ferry across the Victoria Harbour, we rode on the upper deck in the local tram all the way to Kennedytown, passing the Western market and seeing all the fresh and dried fishes in the various shops. We take the local train to Sha Tin on the Kowloon side and then the local bus up a windy hill to their pink apartment building connected with the Hong Kong Baptist University. Elsebeth and her husband, Hans Jorgen, are both teachers and two of the three boys are attending school here. The eldest returned to Copenhagen for his adventure in school and employment. After a nap, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with everyone and took the train back to the ship. We were able to walk underground approx. a mile from the train/subway exit to the ship! There are extensive underground subways connected to their transportation system and an extensive network of malls above-ground so you never have to be out on the street to face the cold or the extreme heat.
By this time, I was not feeling great but we tried to work on the free internet in the Ocean Mall.
“A single rose can be my garden…a single friend, my world.” – Leo Buscaglia (read his books!)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 – Hong Kong, China
New passengers boarded and some of our friends departed – crew and passengers. We walked in the mall all the way up to the ferries to Macau and saw the new terminal. They go every half hour so maybe next time we will venture there. Walked through Kowloon Park and down Nathan Road. Many of the museums are closed on Tuesday but the Space Museum looked really nice – IMAX and all! And the theatre is very close by the ship also so it would be a great option for an evening’s entertainment also. We missed the onboard Hong Kong Cultural Arts show at 7PM which had the dragon dance and other fancy costumes. There is so much to do in Hong Kong. You have to choose just one or two things and go there...Stanley market, Victoria Peak, shopping...
Dinner onboard with Emil and Elsebeth and the laser light show at 8PM over Victoria Harbour from the pool deck! Was a nice evening to share in Hong Kong. We worked on the computer in the mall, phoned the USA and boarded the ship to find out that we were wanted by Chinese Immigration and the Captain, Guest Relations Manager and Hotel Manager! Since we “thought” we might go to Macau, we had filled out a form stating that intent and the ship had stamped our passport as if we had departed. So since they thought we had left the country we needed to “legally” enter the country. But since we had never really left and had never retrieved our passports from the pursers office, we were not sure what happened on their end but we ended up having to appear in front of the officials so they could see us face-to-face and then issue that ever-so-valuable departure stamp.
I practically fell in to bed that night.
From Sydney to Hong Kong, we have traveled 4900 miles at an average speed of 16.9-19.8 kts.
Wonderful evening with the Filipino Crew Show!! It was wonderful. Bamboo dancing, candle light dance, castanet dance and singing by our friends.
“A journey of a thousand miles must being with a single step”. – Lao Tzu
Monday, March 7, 2011 – Hong Kong, China
We docked at the Ocean Mall, on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong, which is made up of approx. 235 islands. European trade with China had been taking place since the 16th century but as European demand for tea and silk grew, the balance of trade became more unfavorable to the Europeans, who were expected to pay in silver. In 1773, the British unloaded 155,000 pounds of Bengal opium and the Chinese taste for the foreign mud grew exponentially. Alarmed at the drain of silver from the country and the increasing number of addicts, the Emperor banned the drug trade but the Europeans and the corrupt Chinese officials kept the trade in opium going until 1839. It was a British dependency from the 1840s until July 1, 1997, when it passed to Chinese sovereignty as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
We were met by Elsebeth, my Danish exchange sister now living in Hong Kong! She was invited onboard and we showed her around and had lunch before venturing out to tram-hop on Hong Kong Island. After taking the Star Ferry across the Victoria Harbour, we rode on the upper deck in the local tram all the way to Kennedytown, passing the Western market and seeing all the fresh and dried fishes in the various shops. We take the local train to Sha Tin on the Kowloon side and then the local bus up a windy hill to their pink apartment building connected with the Hong Kong Baptist University. Elsebeth and her husband, Hans Jorgen, are both teachers and two of the three boys are attending school here. The eldest returned to Copenhagen for his adventure in school and employment. After a nap, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with everyone and took the train back to the ship. We were able to walk underground approx. a mile from the train/subway exit to the ship! There are extensive underground subways connected to their transportation system and an extensive network of malls above-ground so you never have to be out on the street to face the cold or the extreme heat.
By this time, I was not feeling great but we tried to work on the free internet in the Ocean Mall.
“A single rose can be my garden…a single friend, my world.” – Leo Buscaglia (read his books!)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 – Hong Kong, China
New passengers boarded and some of our friends departed – crew and passengers. We walked in the mall all the way up to the ferries to Macau and saw the new terminal. They go every half hour so maybe next time we will venture there. Walked through Kowloon Park and down Nathan Road. Many of the museums are closed on Tuesday but the Space Museum looked really nice – IMAX and all! And the theatre is very close by the ship also so it would be a great option for an evening’s entertainment also. We missed the onboard Hong Kong Cultural Arts show at 7PM which had the dragon dance and other fancy costumes. There is so much to do in Hong Kong. You have to choose just one or two things and go there...Stanley market, Victoria Peak, shopping...
Dinner onboard with Emil and Elsebeth and the laser light show at 8PM over Victoria Harbour from the pool deck! Was a nice evening to share in Hong Kong. We worked on the computer in the mall, phoned the USA and boarded the ship to find out that we were wanted by Chinese Immigration and the Captain, Guest Relations Manager and Hotel Manager! Since we “thought” we might go to Macau, we had filled out a form stating that intent and the ship had stamped our passport as if we had departed. So since they thought we had left the country we needed to “legally” enter the country. But since we had never really left and had never retrieved our passports from the pursers office, we were not sure what happened on their end but we ended up having to appear in front of the officials so they could see us face-to-face and then issue that ever-so-valuable departure stamp.
I practically fell in to bed that night.
From Sydney to Hong Kong, we have traveled 4900 miles at an average speed of 16.9-19.8 kts.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Manila!
Friday, March 4, 2011 - Manila Philippines
Manila is the capital; it became the seat of the colonial government of Spain when it controlled the Philippines Islands for over 300 years, from 1565 to 1898. Beginning in 1898, the USA occupied and controlled the city until 1946. During WWII, much of the city was destroyed and it was not until 1975 that the metropolitan Manila region was enacted as an independent entity. Under Spanish rule, it was known as the “pearl of the orient”, the jewel of Spain’s empire in the pacific. Ravaged during WWII, it has grown into a modern metropolis with few vestiges of its Spanish colonial past.
There are over 20 million people in the city and people say it is an introduction to the country akin to baptism by fire. There is terrible traffic and pollution and is not exactly traveler-friendly but once you get used to it, it has a certain shambolic charm.
We were told to be up early for a temperature scan before we could leave the ship. Our time was set for 6:30 AM! But thankfully that never happened – they will do it as we exit the ship. But we were ready for the sail-in! It was fabulous!!! Two bands, dancers, baton twirlers, a HUGE tent (double wide, and half the length of the LONG pier) all set up for crew family members, shops and booths. And the sun was rising so it was not blazing hot!! Wonderful welcome. I’ve always wanted to come to Manila and what a great way to enter a country – with an excited bunch of 210 crew members getting to see their families and friends and bands and dancers! Our Filipino friends offered to drive us around the city so we were off! We’re off!
We ventured north in the city to a local market, Tutuban. Lots of clothing and everyday wear and handmade formal wear. We saw them sewing the pearls and sequins on the most glamorous gowns. The tuxedo jackets and formal Filipino-worn shirt, the barong, were available in various fabrics, among them banana and pineapple leaf. We wandered around and enjoyed a great lunch at Max’s, their local fried chicken house, also specializing in fried pork and halo-halo ice cream. It was a real adventure as we worked our way through the menu. Crispy Pata (fried pork knuckle), Lumpiang Shanghai (rice with beans), Shanghai Fried Rice, Cameron Rebosado (shrimp) and in the halo-halo ice cream is shaved ice with ube (a purple tuber flavored ice cream), flan, sweet beans, fried toasted rice, coconut, sweet bananas, agar (red sea weed) garbanzo beans, jack fruit and sago (tapioca). Yes, all that was in this HUGE bowl of ice cream and shaved ice. So you can imagine as it all melted all the colors and flavors…I was not sure about as I looked at it but when you ate it, we really enjoyed it.
Down to the largets mall in Asia, the Mall of Asia, we saw the ice skating rink and a very long line of wanna-be-a-star hopefuls interviewing for the Filipino version of that TV show. The mall had everything…so after walking, we stopped to snack and rest. Back to the ship for all of us and Gene and I ventured out on our own to the Robinson Place mall with the ship’s free shuttle. We tried and tried to connect but only met some nice people along the way.
We were dropped off at the Manila Hotel (whose doors opened in 1912), where Gene had stayed years ago and met the nicest young man, who happened to be the butler for the MacArthur Suite! We had a private tour of General MacArthur’s suite and sat at his desk and saw all the photos and rooms. Gene was so proud to be allowed to wear his hat and sit at his desk with his corn cob pipe! It was a fascinating glimpse into the history of our two nations. The hotel is similar to the Plaza in NYC – reeks of character and glamour. Live piano music greets you as you enter the hotel and view the intricately carved dark wood ceilings, sparking chandeliers, marble floors and tour the Archives Room. Great ambience and staff. We practically floated back to the ship as we walked through the port late at night.
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller
Saturday, March 5, 2011 – Manila
We were driven by a new friend back to the Tutuban mall but found we were too early so we bargained for a taxi to go to the Chinese cemetery. The tombs resemble mini-houses with fountains, balconies, bathrooms, crystal chandeliers and benches and tables to sit and play majong. They are air conditioned and there are now over 100,000 Chinese interred here. It would be interesting to wander the streets in the cemetery on All Saints Day.
We rode in the horse and buggy (during the rain!) around the Intramuros area (historical section/walled city) of Manila. This is the old Spanish capital of Manila, built in 1571, it is a monumental relic of the Spanish occupation. At one time, there were plazas, the Governor’s Palace, fifteen churches and six monasteries in the city “within the walls”; much was destroyed during WWII. The Cathedral (wedding was taking place) was built in 1581 and has been destroyed several times by fire, typhoon, earthquake and war. We visited the San Agustin Museum and church (wedding was taking place) which was built in 1599 and is the oldest stone church in the country and Fort Santiago, a 16th century military defense structures standing witness to the valor and heroism of the Filipino through the centuries. We toured the armaments, the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Shrine to Dr. Rizal, a national hero who was executed for his belief in freedom. His final poem was secreted in an oil lamp and smuggled to his family hours before his death.
We jumped into a jeepney, one the main modes of public transportation. This is a WWII Army jeep, which has been modified to carry passengers. They have added two benches in the back with enough room for 12 people, painted it every color of the rainbow, added badges, horns, aerials, air fresheners, icons, lots of mirrors, a tape deck that plays only Philippine pop, a chrome horse…you get the idea. We wanted the experience wo we hopped on, met some nice people who helped us figure out when to get off, told us to keep an eye on our belongings, and we hopped off at near the port entrance. Very inexpensive ($0.18 a ride) and convenient and riding in a piece of history made it all that more appealing to us.
As we sailed out of Manila Bay, I felt how large the area is. It is W I D E and expansive. You find it hard to see one end to the other. Corregidor (an island which was fought over bitterly during WWII) and Baatan are nearby but we pass them at night so we are not able to see the area clearly. The Philippines are definitely worth a much longer return visit – to pay our respects at Corregidor, explore Manila and visit the outer idyllic islands such as Palawan.
“Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think…” - Benjamin Disraeli
Manila is the capital; it became the seat of the colonial government of Spain when it controlled the Philippines Islands for over 300 years, from 1565 to 1898. Beginning in 1898, the USA occupied and controlled the city until 1946. During WWII, much of the city was destroyed and it was not until 1975 that the metropolitan Manila region was enacted as an independent entity. Under Spanish rule, it was known as the “pearl of the orient”, the jewel of Spain’s empire in the pacific. Ravaged during WWII, it has grown into a modern metropolis with few vestiges of its Spanish colonial past.
There are over 20 million people in the city and people say it is an introduction to the country akin to baptism by fire. There is terrible traffic and pollution and is not exactly traveler-friendly but once you get used to it, it has a certain shambolic charm.
We were told to be up early for a temperature scan before we could leave the ship. Our time was set for 6:30 AM! But thankfully that never happened – they will do it as we exit the ship. But we were ready for the sail-in! It was fabulous!!! Two bands, dancers, baton twirlers, a HUGE tent (double wide, and half the length of the LONG pier) all set up for crew family members, shops and booths. And the sun was rising so it was not blazing hot!! Wonderful welcome. I’ve always wanted to come to Manila and what a great way to enter a country – with an excited bunch of 210 crew members getting to see their families and friends and bands and dancers! Our Filipino friends offered to drive us around the city so we were off! We’re off!
We ventured north in the city to a local market, Tutuban. Lots of clothing and everyday wear and handmade formal wear. We saw them sewing the pearls and sequins on the most glamorous gowns. The tuxedo jackets and formal Filipino-worn shirt, the barong, were available in various fabrics, among them banana and pineapple leaf. We wandered around and enjoyed a great lunch at Max’s, their local fried chicken house, also specializing in fried pork and halo-halo ice cream. It was a real adventure as we worked our way through the menu. Crispy Pata (fried pork knuckle), Lumpiang Shanghai (rice with beans), Shanghai Fried Rice, Cameron Rebosado (shrimp) and in the halo-halo ice cream is shaved ice with ube (a purple tuber flavored ice cream), flan, sweet beans, fried toasted rice, coconut, sweet bananas, agar (red sea weed) garbanzo beans, jack fruit and sago (tapioca). Yes, all that was in this HUGE bowl of ice cream and shaved ice. So you can imagine as it all melted all the colors and flavors…I was not sure about as I looked at it but when you ate it, we really enjoyed it.
Down to the largets mall in Asia, the Mall of Asia, we saw the ice skating rink and a very long line of wanna-be-a-star hopefuls interviewing for the Filipino version of that TV show. The mall had everything…so after walking, we stopped to snack and rest. Back to the ship for all of us and Gene and I ventured out on our own to the Robinson Place mall with the ship’s free shuttle. We tried and tried to connect but only met some nice people along the way.
We were dropped off at the Manila Hotel (whose doors opened in 1912), where Gene had stayed years ago and met the nicest young man, who happened to be the butler for the MacArthur Suite! We had a private tour of General MacArthur’s suite and sat at his desk and saw all the photos and rooms. Gene was so proud to be allowed to wear his hat and sit at his desk with his corn cob pipe! It was a fascinating glimpse into the history of our two nations. The hotel is similar to the Plaza in NYC – reeks of character and glamour. Live piano music greets you as you enter the hotel and view the intricately carved dark wood ceilings, sparking chandeliers, marble floors and tour the Archives Room. Great ambience and staff. We practically floated back to the ship as we walked through the port late at night.
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller
Saturday, March 5, 2011 – Manila
We were driven by a new friend back to the Tutuban mall but found we were too early so we bargained for a taxi to go to the Chinese cemetery. The tombs resemble mini-houses with fountains, balconies, bathrooms, crystal chandeliers and benches and tables to sit and play majong. They are air conditioned and there are now over 100,000 Chinese interred here. It would be interesting to wander the streets in the cemetery on All Saints Day.
We rode in the horse and buggy (during the rain!) around the Intramuros area (historical section/walled city) of Manila. This is the old Spanish capital of Manila, built in 1571, it is a monumental relic of the Spanish occupation. At one time, there were plazas, the Governor’s Palace, fifteen churches and six monasteries in the city “within the walls”; much was destroyed during WWII. The Cathedral (wedding was taking place) was built in 1581 and has been destroyed several times by fire, typhoon, earthquake and war. We visited the San Agustin Museum and church (wedding was taking place) which was built in 1599 and is the oldest stone church in the country and Fort Santiago, a 16th century military defense structures standing witness to the valor and heroism of the Filipino through the centuries. We toured the armaments, the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Shrine to Dr. Rizal, a national hero who was executed for his belief in freedom. His final poem was secreted in an oil lamp and smuggled to his family hours before his death.
We jumped into a jeepney, one the main modes of public transportation. This is a WWII Army jeep, which has been modified to carry passengers. They have added two benches in the back with enough room for 12 people, painted it every color of the rainbow, added badges, horns, aerials, air fresheners, icons, lots of mirrors, a tape deck that plays only Philippine pop, a chrome horse…you get the idea. We wanted the experience wo we hopped on, met some nice people who helped us figure out when to get off, told us to keep an eye on our belongings, and we hopped off at near the port entrance. Very inexpensive ($0.18 a ride) and convenient and riding in a piece of history made it all that more appealing to us.
As we sailed out of Manila Bay, I felt how large the area is. It is W I D E and expansive. You find it hard to see one end to the other. Corregidor (an island which was fought over bitterly during WWII) and Baatan are nearby but we pass them at night so we are not able to see the area clearly. The Philippines are definitely worth a much longer return visit – to pay our respects at Corregidor, explore Manila and visit the outer idyllic islands such as Palawan.
“Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think…” - Benjamin Disraeli
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Tuesday, March 01, 2011 – at sea – 55th day – ½ way through the cruise!
Dolphins! Lunch with friends. Crocodile Dundee II afternoon movie! Exercised. Worked. Library time. Photo time. Talking time. Walked. !!! Assistant Cruise Director and two other friends joined our table of five for a nice dinner. Worked to reschedule the Ensemble cocktail party due to the port change. Tim Ellis, magician, and Paul Fredericks, singer.
“I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.” – Lillian Smith
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 – at sea
Breakfast with friends. Galley/kitchen tour and found my favorite friend, the pastry chef/master of all marcipan! Worked on taxes. Tired. Computer class on making movies. Drinks in the Crowe’s Nest and then a fancy Pinnacle Grill dinner with friends. We were there for over 3.5 hours! Classical guitarist was the entertainer. Did not feel well after the wine and port and heavy meal .
Free wine since missed a port!
“How we tried, but not succeed through waves of effort, for facilities to mislead
Best intentions put aside, your safety is our main concern while all looked forward to Koror, it led us to adjourn
Knowing what you’d like, we’ve added now an overnight
Manila’s call will be extended, you’ll see our crew’s delight
As master of this vessel, I wish to do what’s proper so please enjoy the wine, with this evening’s supper.”
Thursday, March 3, 2011 – at sea
Cloudy and rainy day as we sailed through some of the 7700 islands of the Philippines. Silent art auction from the works of the students in the water color class; money goes to the Hospicio de San Jose in manila, the first social welfare agency in the Philippines. We raised over $1600! Exercised. Tai chi. Lunch with a former host who now sails every year on the world cruise so that shows how much she enjoys it! Tea in the Crowe’s Nest with friends. Chinese/Australian singing sensation Ms. Tamara Guo Royalty Ball; we met the newly crowned Baron of Cornflakes and the Duchess of Windex. We all had a real laugh when the gentleman who was crowned King was asked to sit on his throne. He was dressed in a Scottish kilt, which was above his knees when he was standing, so when he sat on the throne in center stage, the kilt became even shorter and he had to sit with his knees locked together. He finally took a piece of paper and held it over the knees! Do we really know what they wear under a kilt?? Nice dance music with the live orchestra and turned the clocks back an hour.
Friday, March 4, 2011 - Manila Philippines
Manila is the capital. It became the seat of the colonial government of Spain when it controlled the Philippines Islands for over 300 years, from 1565 to 1898. Beginning in 1898, the USA occupied and controlled the city until 1946. During WWII, much of the city was destroyed and it was not until 1975 that the metropolitan Manila region was enacted as an independent entity.
We were told to be up early for a temperature scan before we could leave the ship. Our time was set for 6:30 AM! But thankfully that never happened – they will do it as we exit the ship. But we were ready for the sail-in! It was fabulous!!! Two bands, dancers, baton twirlers, a HUGE tent (double wide, and half the length of the LONG pier) all set up for crew family members, shops and booths. And the sun was rising so it was not blazing hot!! Wonderful welcome. I’ve always wanted to come to Manila and what a great way to enter a country – with an excited bunch of 210 crew members getting to see their families and friends and bands and dancers! Our Filippino friends offered to drive us around the city so we were off! We’re off!
When we have an overnight port of call, they show a movie in the Queens Lounge – tonight it is “Inception”.
Dolphins! Lunch with friends. Crocodile Dundee II afternoon movie! Exercised. Worked. Library time. Photo time. Talking time. Walked. !!! Assistant Cruise Director and two other friends joined our table of five for a nice dinner. Worked to reschedule the Ensemble cocktail party due to the port change. Tim Ellis, magician, and Paul Fredericks, singer.
“I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.” – Lillian Smith
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 – at sea
Breakfast with friends. Galley/kitchen tour and found my favorite friend, the pastry chef/master of all marcipan! Worked on taxes. Tired. Computer class on making movies. Drinks in the Crowe’s Nest and then a fancy Pinnacle Grill dinner with friends. We were there for over 3.5 hours! Classical guitarist was the entertainer. Did not feel well after the wine and port and heavy meal .
Free wine since missed a port!
“How we tried, but not succeed through waves of effort, for facilities to mislead
Best intentions put aside, your safety is our main concern while all looked forward to Koror, it led us to adjourn
Knowing what you’d like, we’ve added now an overnight
Manila’s call will be extended, you’ll see our crew’s delight
As master of this vessel, I wish to do what’s proper so please enjoy the wine, with this evening’s supper.”
Thursday, March 3, 2011 – at sea
Cloudy and rainy day as we sailed through some of the 7700 islands of the Philippines. Silent art auction from the works of the students in the water color class; money goes to the Hospicio de San Jose in manila, the first social welfare agency in the Philippines. We raised over $1600! Exercised. Tai chi. Lunch with a former host who now sails every year on the world cruise so that shows how much she enjoys it! Tea in the Crowe’s Nest with friends. Chinese/Australian singing sensation Ms. Tamara Guo Royalty Ball; we met the newly crowned Baron of Cornflakes and the Duchess of Windex. We all had a real laugh when the gentleman who was crowned King was asked to sit on his throne. He was dressed in a Scottish kilt, which was above his knees when he was standing, so when he sat on the throne in center stage, the kilt became even shorter and he had to sit with his knees locked together. He finally took a piece of paper and held it over the knees! Do we really know what they wear under a kilt?? Nice dance music with the live orchestra and turned the clocks back an hour.
Friday, March 4, 2011 - Manila Philippines
Manila is the capital. It became the seat of the colonial government of Spain when it controlled the Philippines Islands for over 300 years, from 1565 to 1898. Beginning in 1898, the USA occupied and controlled the city until 1946. During WWII, much of the city was destroyed and it was not until 1975 that the metropolitan Manila region was enacted as an independent entity.
We were told to be up early for a temperature scan before we could leave the ship. Our time was set for 6:30 AM! But thankfully that never happened – they will do it as we exit the ship. But we were ready for the sail-in! It was fabulous!!! Two bands, dancers, baton twirlers, a HUGE tent (double wide, and half the length of the LONG pier) all set up for crew family members, shops and booths. And the sun was rising so it was not blazing hot!! Wonderful welcome. I’ve always wanted to come to Manila and what a great way to enter a country – with an excited bunch of 210 crew members getting to see their families and friends and bands and dancers! Our Filippino friends offered to drive us around the city so we were off! We’re off!
When we have an overnight port of call, they show a movie in the Queens Lounge – tonight it is “Inception”.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
crossing equator...
Monday, February 28, 2011 – at sea – crossing the equator! King Neptune joins us
The equator is the center of the tropics – between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Overseeing the equator is King Neptune (Poseidon in Greek mythology) and we held a poolside ceremony to ensure a safe passage of the ship. King Neptune, Chief of the Water Deities was present, several mermaids (singers and dancers and onboard hostess), the Captain, Hotel Manager and other top officers. They voted to decide if each person crossing the equator should live or die after they were made to kiss the large dead fish. Yes, a large dead fish. But even worse, was the table by the pool where they were slathered in foamy meringue and jello food-stuff. Disgusting. Then they had to either sit and bake by the pool (it was a hot day!) or jump in and try to clean off the food debris! This is the sacrifice made by the ship for a safe passage for Neptune and her passengers. It was a fun ceremony and they always make a big deal out of it.
Chorale practice and we have a new medley of Rogers and Hammerstein. Water aerobics! Lecture on China. Walked and exercised and saw a large and long sea snake from the 8th deck! Lunch with friends. Digital techspert time with my computer and photos. Culinary Demonstration on making fruit flowers. Morning Game show with cruise director. Paul Fredericks, singer. Muriel’s Wedding, an Australian film. Worked until 2:30 AM. Port of call in Koror, Palau was canceled as our tender spot had been reallocated to another ship (never heard that one before!) . We are now spending two days in Manila and there are many, many happy and excited Filippino crew members who will be able to see their family members.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011 – at sea – 55th day – ½ way through the cruise!
Dolphins! Lunch with friends. Crocodile Dundee II afternoon movie! Exercised. Worked. Library time. Photo time. Talking time. !!! Worked to reschedule the Ensemble cocktail party due to the port change. Tim Ellis, magician, and Paul Fredericks, singer.
The equator is the center of the tropics – between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Overseeing the equator is King Neptune (Poseidon in Greek mythology) and we held a poolside ceremony to ensure a safe passage of the ship. King Neptune, Chief of the Water Deities was present, several mermaids (singers and dancers and onboard hostess), the Captain, Hotel Manager and other top officers. They voted to decide if each person crossing the equator should live or die after they were made to kiss the large dead fish. Yes, a large dead fish. But even worse, was the table by the pool where they were slathered in foamy meringue and jello food-stuff. Disgusting. Then they had to either sit and bake by the pool (it was a hot day!) or jump in and try to clean off the food debris! This is the sacrifice made by the ship for a safe passage for Neptune and her passengers. It was a fun ceremony and they always make a big deal out of it.
Chorale practice and we have a new medley of Rogers and Hammerstein. Water aerobics! Lecture on China. Walked and exercised and saw a large and long sea snake from the 8th deck! Lunch with friends. Digital techspert time with my computer and photos. Culinary Demonstration on making fruit flowers. Morning Game show with cruise director. Paul Fredericks, singer. Muriel’s Wedding, an Australian film. Worked until 2:30 AM. Port of call in Koror, Palau was canceled as our tender spot had been reallocated to another ship (never heard that one before!) . We are now spending two days in Manila and there are many, many happy and excited Filippino crew members who will be able to see their family members.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011 – at sea – 55th day – ½ way through the cruise!
Dolphins! Lunch with friends. Crocodile Dundee II afternoon movie! Exercised. Worked. Library time. Photo time. Talking time. !!! Worked to reschedule the Ensemble cocktail party due to the port change. Tim Ellis, magician, and Paul Fredericks, singer.
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