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Morris & Susan's Viking WC
  • Susan Abell
  • Morris Abell

Morris & Susan's Viking WC

Set Sail for a 4 Month Viking Neptune 4 Month World Ocean Cruise Leggi altro
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    Black SwansPenguins Burrows1Baby Chicks waiting for their ParentsViewing Platforms1Parade of Penguins Begins!!1111

    Phillip Island: Parade of Penguins

    14 febbraio 2024, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    Arrived at Phillip Island, Australia, to find out that last night's storm had knocked out the town's power. We had tickets to see the Koala Sanctuary, but they were closed due to the outage. So the small town was doing its best to accommodate the tourists from the ship. The winning shop was the Coffee stand that already had its own generator.

    While walking through town, we discovered a barn in a back lot behind the main street shops. That's where we met the artist, Sam, the Metal Smith. He had a small studio with local handmade crafts (wood, jewelry, knitting, paintings), and a workshop for metal, leather, and wood working. What beautiful knives! He explained how he mixed metals and folded the blades for added strength. Loved the intricate design patterns and wooden handles from local wood.

    The main event of that night was the Parade of the Blue Penguins. Every night, the Penguins make the journey back from the ocean to their burrows to feed their chicks. Due to their light sensitivity, no photos are allowed after dark. It's fascinating to watch nature at work as 800+ Penguins come onto the beach at night (for safety) and locate their chicks in the burrows.

    Got back to the ship to find wonderful Valentine's Day desserts.    Leggi altro

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    Captain on Deck!

    15 febbraio 2024, Bass Strait ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    So honored to be able to tour the Viking Neptune's bridge today!

    The Neptune's maiden voyage was in 2023, so she is newly constructed with room for 915 guests on 9 decks total.

    She is equipped with 4 engines. and horizontal stabilizers that extend 18 feet. These greatly reduced the ship from rocking side to side in rough waters. In addition, she has aft and bow thrusters used to move the ship sideways during docking.

    We want to thank the crew for taking the time to show us around and answering all of our many questions.    Leggi altro

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    Eden, Australia

    16 febbraio 2024, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    Beautiful scenery along the Sapphire Coast of Australia as we made stops at three small towns.

    Merimbula: known for Oyster Farms in the Bay (under the watchful eye of pelicans).

    Pambula: fun local vacation spot. Enjoyed lunch at great local Bakery called Wild Ryes. (Delicious Flaky Thai Chicken Curry Pie and Turkish Vegetable Sandwich!!!!! ). Susan loved checking out the local antique store. Beautiful wall murals, too.

    Eden: Whaling Industry town for more than a century. We went to the Killer Whale Museum and heard the story of "Old Tom", the Orca Whale that helped the local Whalers by herding the larger whales in the bay. The Orca was given the whale tongue and meat while the whalers got the oil, ivory, and tallow. The story goes that once Old Tom died, the town's whaling industry died as well.    Leggi altro

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    Sydney, Australia

    17 febbraio 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌙 73 °F

    Imagine waking up after a day at sea, opening up the curtain to your cabin balcony, and sailing so close to the Sydney Opera House that you feel you can reach out and touch it. So great to be back in Sydney after 24 years, San Francisco's Sister City.

    For day one in Sydney, we were fortunate to be able to dock right across from the Opera House and have a beautiful morning view of the skyline.

    Quiz time: What building was projected to cost $7 million to build, actually cost $103 million to construct, recently went through a $305 million renovation, and is now considered worth billions?

    Started with the Sydney Panorama excursion which gave us a good overview of the city. Then off to the Botanical Gardens. Bushwalked along the ocean bluffs, and a short visit to Bondi Beach where the Life Savers were training.

    Took in "The Rocks" area in the afternoon and their local street market of local crafts before settling in for a visit to the tavern for lunch. joyed the evening on the Opera House boardwalk before heading back to the ship just in time to see the fireworks at the Opera house from our balcony. What a wonderful sight to cap off the evening.

    The ship repositioned to a nearby dock around midnight with lovely views of the city and Sydney Bridge as we went under it.    Leggi altro

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    1Taylor Swifts in Town!!

    Sydney 2nd Day

    18 febbraio 2024, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    Took the ferry today back to "The Rocks" and then went to the Barabgaroo Reserve, a lovely local park with pathways for bikes and walking along the harbor waterfront. Wonderful large cut stone areas for sitting & swimming. BTW, Swift Mania has hit Australia as well.

    In the afternoon, we went on "The Rocks" Pub to Pub walk. The Rocks is the birthplace of modern Sydney. With the arrival of European settlers in 1788, it was here that the convicts first set up houses and shops utilizing the local rocks to build with.

    Hearing the history of each pub on the tour was very entertaining.
    Fun fact: Official name of most Australian pubs includes the word "hotel" because until the 1980's, pubs were required to provide some sort of overnight accommodation in order to have a liquor license. And until 1970's, most Australian pubs were separated by gender, and women had the parlor area for drinking.

    Today, many pubs still have the word hotel in their names even though they offer no accommodation. The more you drink, the clearer it gets. 😀    Leggi altro

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    Playful Day at Sea

    19 febbraio 2024, Coral Sea ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    Saw playful Dolphins today while we were at Sea.

    Susan learned about Aboriginal Art as she was trying "her hand" at dot painting.

    What better way to cap off the night than with a Gin Mixology Class!! Happy to report that they did a great job in decorating the class, and that we got an A. 👍Leggi altro

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    ANZAC MEMORIAL111Grey-headed Flying Fox Bat

    Brisbane

    20 febbraio 2024, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    Short stop over in Brisbane, took in a Panoroma tour before heading to the Koala Sanctuary to see the adorable Koalas. Went on a walkabout to see the Kangaroos and Emus, too. They are so docile and will eat right out of your hands.

    Enjoyed seeing a few of the other local animals as well.
    Grey-headed Flying Fox Bats are
    vegetarian and play a vital role in our environment by spreading pollen and seeds.    Leggi altro

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    Cairns: Great Barrier Reef

    23 febbraio 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌧 82 °F

    Amazing Day Snorkeling at The Great Barrier Reef.
    Water was about 80 degrees, but we wore stinger suits because of the stinging nettle in the water.
    The coral has bleached out since we were here 25 years ago, but it still has the beautiful blue, purple yellow and orange colors. However, pinks and reds have been diminishing.

    We had several Marine Biologists on board w us, and they currently have several coral nurseries that they use to replinish the coral in the hardest hit areas to preserve this natural wonder. Such a beautiful day at sea.    Leggi altro

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    Thursday Island, Last stop in Australia

    25 febbraio 2024, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Where's Thursday Island, you may ask? Well, it's between Wednesday Island and Friday Island, of course. 😀. The Torres Strait Islands ( between Australia and Papua New Guinea) is an archipelago of at least 274 small islands, one of them being Thursday Island.

    The island was once home to a thriving pearl fishing industry. From the 19th century, divers came from Japan, Malaysia and India to harvest pearls.
    So it was thought that the area would be spared from bombing in World War II, due to it being the burial place of many Japanese pearl divers as well as current Japanese residents on the island. However, neighboring Horn Island was a strategic air base, and it was extensively bombed.

    On the tour, we saw a wonderful dance by the Torres Strait Islander's in their native costumes. The kids were all too happy to share their culture and how the instruments worked. Notice the intricate weaving of the palm fans

    Warupaw uu (The Echo of the Drums) was printed on the pathway to town.
    The drum has been used in sacred music performances for thousands of years by Torres Strait Islanders and is a quintessential symbol of their identity.
    "Warupaw UU" drum top is made of stretched snake skin. They add nubs for sound variation and heat it up to keep it tight prior to playing.

    Torres Straight flag's white design center is meant to resemble the official head dress wore by the Islander's elders. Green Hill Fort on Battery Point was built in 1892 to protect the island over growing concern of a potential Russian invasion as a result of the deterioration of the relations between the Russian Empire and the British Empire. It was shut down 30 years later, then reactivated during WWII as a lookout and communication station.

    Small Island with a lot of history.    Leggi altro

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    1Baby Komodo DragonTeenager Komodo Dragon2

    Komodo National Park, Rinca Island

    29 febbraio 2024, Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    Are dragons real? Seems like a simple question. One that made us think twice after a wonderful lecture before we docked.

    If you say they are real, then you probably enjoyed seeing them in Game of Thrones, The Hobbit, and the Harry Potter Series. BTW, the motto of Hogwart is Draco Dormies Nunquam Titillandus (Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon).

    If you say they are not real, then how do you explain various stories of dragons around the world (especially in China where they see dragons as good luck). What about several mentions of dragons in the Bible (i.e.-Nevi'im 27:1 or Ketuvim 74:12-14).

    As we sailed into Indonesia and the Komodo National Park, we are in search of the true dragons of our time. We are reminded that while today's Komodo Dragon's can be up to 10 feet long, their ancestors were 21+ feet in length and weigh over a ton. They can smell blood from miles away (so stay away if you are bleeding), and can kill and tear apart animals that are much larger, like a water buffalo.

    By contrast, we were amazed at how peaceful this area looks. The islands are like soft rolling mounds of lush green amid turquoise waters. The National Park spans 670 sq. miles, 26 small islands, and 3 larger islands Padar, Komodo, and Rinca.

    We met our park rangers on Rinca Island, and he stayed with us on the boardwalks over the Komodo Dragon area. Komodo Dragon's are the largest moniter lizard on land and can weigh up to 150+ lbs. He also said that the younger dragons can climb trees and boardwalks, so to watch our step.

    It got very hot close to noon, and we we were lucky to see the young ones as well as the older dragons in the wild. Amazing ancient creatures.

    Beautiful full moon as we sailed on to the islands of Bali and Java.    Leggi altro

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    Bird Nest Lookout over Rice2 women prepping the fields for planting

    Bali Day 1

    1 marzo 2024, Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    We found Bali to be a magnificent island within Indonesia - a country that has about 17,000 islands and has the 4th largest population in the world. However, Bali is 85% Hindu while the rest of Indonesia makes up the largest Muslim population in the world. The island's rich Hindu culture holds that gods live in all natural things - from mountains and streams to pebbles on the beach - lending the island a peaceful air.

    Karma is a central theme of Hinduism, and it plays a large role in Bali culture. As an example, when the open air shops that we saw along the roadside closed for the night, they just roped off the outside area instead of doors across the shop entrance, so everything is left out in the open. They said no one takes anything because it would be bad karma.

    Bali was also our first taste of the madness that Asia calls "traffic." Scooters everywhere weaving between cars. No sidewalks, or room to park a car. Just polite little beeps as they all pass each other in organized chaos. If someone needed to cross a street, no problem. Just raise your hand and walk, but don't back up, the drivers just go around you.

    Our hugh bus weaved through town for an hour in the rain without a thought of the traffic as we approached the Tegallalang Rice Terraces in Ubud.
    As we walked above the beautiful terraced rice fields and marveled at the engineering, you couldn't help but be struck by the cultural landscape that consisted of rice terraces and water temples. The temples are the focus of a cooperative water management system of springs, canals, and weirs known as "subak" that date back to the 8th century. We were fascinated to learn about rice: planting, growing, harvesting, and final processing. The rain didn't dampen our excitement as we toured, and we vowed never to take rice for granted again.

    Finished the day at the Puri Lukisan Museum and Temple in Uday. We then went for dinner at Cafe Lotus, which just happened to have a large water temple in its backyard.    Leggi altro

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    Bali Day 2

    2 marzo 2024, Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Tour to Denpasar, capital of Bali, to visit the Central Local Market. Beautiful colors with all the peppers, fruits, and vegetables. Strolled through meat stalls (note no refrigeration!) as women shopped w large baskets on their heads. Local vendors cleaned produce, made flower offerings for holiday prayers, and made woven baskets.

    Then, we went to Maospahit Temple, which is known for its bare red brick architecture. Note that the builders did not use any mortar!! Pura Maospahit was built using a concept known as Panca Mandala, where the most sacred area is situated at the center of the complex instead of facing the direction of the mountain. In the spirit of the Bali Holiday, the Hindu priest was blessing all who visited that day.

    In the Evening we went to Bali's Bird Park for a lovely Dinner followed by a fascinating performance of the Kecak, a ritual dance that recounts an epic tale from the Hindu " Ramayana" and fire dance. What a night!!    Leggi altro

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    Garuda - Mythical BirdGaruda protecting her eggsVishu - Hindu GodUluwatu Temple

    Bali Day 3 GWK and Beach

    3 marzo 2024, Indonesia ⋅ 🌧 84 °F

    Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK), is a cultural park dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and home to the largest statues in SE Asia.

    The statue, which stands 400 feet tall, is a representation of the Hindu god Vishnu and his mount, the Garuda bird. It was completed in September 2018 and took 25 years to finish.

    Rising above it all, the grand and captivating statue was inspired by a famous story in Hindu mythology about the search for Amerta (the elixir of life). According to the myth, Garuda agreed to be ridden by Vishnu in return for the right to use the elixir to liberate his enslaved mother.

    We were lucky to be in Bali during the Bali Galungan Celebration, which marks the return of the deceased to visit their homeland. Current inhabitants have a responsibility to be hospitable through prayers and offerings. The most obvious sign of the celebration is the tall Penjor Bamboo poles decoarated with offerings along the road at the entrance to every home.

    Next stop - Uluwatu Seaside 11th Century Temple, Bali's most sacred, 230 feet above the ocean.
    The Uluwatu Temple is not just home to the gods. It's the physical home to hundreds of long-tailed macaque monkeys. They are famous for stealing things from visitors and then holding them to ransom. One lady on our cruise had her iPhone snatched, and a guy had his glasses taken off his head while he was wearing them. Luckily, the guides were able to retrieve both ... for a fee.

    On our way back, we saw a poster for the most expensive coffee in the world. Kopi Luwak is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and pooped out by Asian palm civets (think face of a raccoon, body of a cat). The cherries are fermented as they pass through a civet's intestines, then collected and processed. Yukkk. No, we did not try it, and the locals affectionately refer it it as CatPooChino. They say it's delicious.

    After a hot and humid day, we headed to Nusa Dua Beach. Home to beautiful roads, gardens, and 5 star hotels that were built to host the G20 summit in 2022. Headed to the beach and local resort for a swim.
    Big Thank you, as we sail on, to the Balinese people for sharing their culture, family life, and hospitality.    Leggi altro

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    Semarang, Java, Indonesia

    5 marzo 2024, Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    Arrived in Java at the Port of Semarang today. This island has long been a center of Hindu-Buddhist empires. It now has a Muslim presence that blends with the island to create a rich history and culture that you can feel. Java was once an important trade center for the Dutch East India Company in the 17th and 18th centuries.
    As we drove outside the city, we headed to Borobudur, the largest Buddhist monument in the world dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries. Upon arriving, we were given special woven sandals so that our shoes did not wear down the stones. Then, the local guides led us through the monument, providing us with details/history of the site. Amazing to think it was buried under volcanic ash until it was discovered in 1815 and restored with the help of UNESCO in the 70s.

    It is hard to describe the over whelming feelings we had when we first saw it, let alone the amazement when we climbed and walked around the upper levels. Borobudur was built by hand, without any mortar, from local volcanic rock that was carried from the mountain 40 Km away, It has over 49 million stones that make up 9 stacked platforms (6 square, 3 circular) topped with a central dome. You walk up clockwise via stairs viewing 2, 672 reliefs, 504 Budda statues along the paths. The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa for a total of 73.
    Upon descending, our guides hosted a lovely luncheon for us over looking the monument. We are glad to have the opportunity to visit such an incredible site.
    Finished the night off with an amazing Singer, Ben Mills, from Australia.    Leggi altro

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    Eggshells used for coat/hatShells for tree branchesEggshells for pathways and buildingsSanding, lacquer applied

    Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam Day 1

    8 marzo 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 95 °F

    We always wanted to go to Vietnam, and now surrealistly, here we are. We are feeling a curious mix of emotions ranging from excitement to a bit of aprihension as our teenage years were all about the war and fall of Saigon. The city is now officially called Ho Chi Minh City, but many locals still call it Saigon.

    So the photos start with the building currently called Independence Palace. This is the building where the last USA helicopters flew from which marked the fall of Saigon at the end of the war when, on 4.30.1975, the North Vietnamese army tanks crashed through its gates. Many mixed emotions for me as a protester and in losing someone in the war (Rest in peace, Herman).

    Ho Chi Minh has now become a bustling, seamless blend of history and modern youthful energy, where pagodas and French colonial grandeur mingle with bustling old world alleyways and marketplaces along with modern skyscrapers.

    In addition to the Palace, our tour took us to Chua Phuoc Hai, Buddhist Temple. We then visited a Lacquerware factory employing people affected by the war's aftermath. Fascinating multistage process of utilizing eggshells, shells, and painting to create these pieces of art.

    This city has 15 million people and 10 million scooters swarming all around mixed w cars. Traffic lanes and lights only seem to be a suggestion as everyone tries to pass everyone else in this chaos. Then, all of a sudden, someone raises their hand, wanting to cross the road. As I put my hands over my eyes, anticipating the horns, the slamming of breaks, and imminent carnage, I see a woman's confidence in stride crossing the road and traffic just going around her. Our tour guide told us that this is normal here, and you either cross this way or don't get across. The main rule is don't stop and don't step back ... "Because that's how accidents happen." We now have a new normal.

    With this introduction, our fear of a strange place melted away, and we decided to get off the tour bus for dinner on our own. In the process, we bravely tried to cross the busy streets ourselves, and I am happy to report that we survived!

    We found a fun restaurant for dinner, discovered the local beer, and grabbed a Grab back to the ship.    Leggi altro

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    Opera HouseGrinding eyeglassesScooter parking....Coconut drinks, only way to beat the heat

    Ho Chi Minh ( Saigon), Vietnam Day 2

    9 marzo 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 91 °F

    Since the commute from the port was so long into Saigon, we decided to spend 2 nights in the city center, and it worked out beautifully. Found a fun little hotel 2 blocks from Opera House to explore downtown.

    Walked the city admiring the impressive French colonial influence which has been preserved and can still be seen in the architecture of the Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral (modeled after Paris), and Central Post Office, designed by Gustave Eiffel.

    The first stop was to "Nice Silk Tailors" to have a custom tailored dinner jacket for Morris and shirts for Susan made. Not sure about this process as they quickly took our measurements and unbelievably promised a 24 hour turn around time, but we jumped on the opportunity.

    We then had a very full day exploring the central Ben Thanh market filled with stalls of local clothing and goods. Intersting to see old-world vendors sewing shoes or grinding eyeglasses alongside modern stores. Had a lovely lunch at "Souls" overlooking the marketplace.

    We then decided to visit the War Remnants Museum. What a wave of emotion going through this museum to see the history of the Vietnam War from a different perspective. Sad to see how war has overwhelming devastation on both sides of a conflict.

    Ended the day with a haircut for Morris before heading out to see a traditional Water Puppet show at nite, and eating dinner at "Tandoor" Indian restaurant. Walking back to the hotel, we stumbled upon a Fashion Show extravaganza being held in the town center. Family party atmosphere for young and old.    Leggi altro

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    Notice the pole that displays what they are selling.Different types of RiceSalt dried fishMarket w Leo our Guide

    Mekong Delta, Vietnam Day 3

    10 marzo 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 91 °F

    We are picked up at 0 500 hours from our hotel room for a day long trip to see the floating market on the Mekong Delta. As Robin Williams asks in Good Morning Vietnam, "What does the 0 stand for?". It stands for Oh my God, it's early.

    Incredible site of people living and doing business on boats. In some places, the boat traffic was as bad as downtown Saigon.

    Jumped into a private boat for tour of the Delta and had many eye-opening experiences, including:
    - Visiting a Rice Noodle factory (got to experience making noodles ourselves)
    - Having breakfast and coffee delivered to the boat
    (Two women had a coal cooking pot in the center of the boat, preping delicious broth w noodles for us. Had fresh made Vietnamese coffee over ice, which they make w condensed milk, Yummm!)
    - Trying pineapple with chili salt
    - Going to a Coconut candy factory
    - Bravely tasting Snake wine (more like a whiskey, and yes, it's a real snake)
    - Hearing traditional songs performed
    - Tasting local tea and honey, and playing with bees
    - Enjoying lunch off a canal
    - Touring a local farmers market
    - Riding in a canoe through the Delta canals

    On the way back to Saigon, Morris is missing his hammock and enjoying the ride. That's what he called first-class accommodations.    Leggi altro

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    Vietnamese Coffee w Condensed Milk!!Guitar in front of Opera HouseBen Thanh MarketFresh made Spring RollsSalad on the Go......Love this Scooter T-Shirt!!Parking or Traffic jam?Banh Me Stand

    Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Day 4

    11 marzo 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 97 °F

    Set out this morning to find " Little Hanoi Cafe," described as a hidden gem for breakfast. After getting to the GPS location, however, we could not find it anywhere. When we spoke w the locals , they pointed down an alleyway that didn't look like a place you would want to walk down. But off went, and there on the right side behind a vendor was our cute hidden gem. Wonderful breakfast.

    Next stop was to pick up our tailored jacket and shirts, all the while bracing for the unexpected. Arrived and, after teasing us with someone else's order. Viola, just like that, a lovely suit coat and shirts appeared in 24 hours. They looked amazing and fit great.

    Headed back to Ben Thanh Market for elephant print pants and Fancy Custom T-shirts.

    As we were taking pictures and heading back towards the ship, a cute 2nd grade school kid was passing by with his class, looked up at Morris, and in beautiful English asked, "Are you enjoying Vietnam?" Adorable and warmed our hearts!!

    One last stop... a famous Banh Mi sandwich to go.

    Good Day Vietnam! What a wonderful stay!!    Leggi altro

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    Koh Samui, Thailand

    13 marzo 2024, Tailandia ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Koh Samui is a small island off the western side of Thailand, and it's now our new definition of paradise. Between the sand, water, seculusion, and tropical atmosphere, it was heaven.

    We set out on an all-day excursion from Koh Saumi to a small island called Koh Pha Ngan. The first stop was snorkeling, and while the fish were beautiful, what really impressed us were the colorful Giant Clams imbeded within the coral. They were spotted white/brown. Some were as large as 3 feet! I wish I had an underwater camera to capture these magnificent creatures.

    Next stops were a secluded spot for beach swimming and a larger beach area for lunch. This spot had cute beach bungalows and a restaurant that prepared a delicious brunch for us to enjoy.

    Prior to going back to ship, the 4 of us promised ourselves that we would definitely be back to this wonderful beach paradise.

    Back on board, Morris' cold started up again. So Andre, the ship bartender, provided Morris with a cure for a lingering cold. It included orange, lemon, lime honey, hot tea, and brandy. Yum...    Leggi altro

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    Singapore

    15 marzo 2024, Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F

    If Koh Samui, Thailand is the paradise of beaches, then Singapore is the pradise of cities! Imagine no trash, no graffiti, no crime, manicured green spaces everywhere. Having the feeling of security to the point that you save a table space with your cell phone and walk away to pickup your food. That's Singapore. The question, of course, is at what cost.

    We really lucked out that Hamid (Morris's hiking buddy in San Jose, CA) was here visiting his daughter, and offered to give us the grand tour of Singapore.

    First stop: Gardens by the Bay! What a network of modern greenhouses and waterfront parks. Super Tree structures lined w solar cells that light up at night.
    Walked through the Flower Dome, a huge greenhouse with plants from different regions of the world. Then to the adjacent building called the Cloud Forest with cascading waterfall and plants among a 6 story high Skywalk. What a visionary to design this space!

    Then we walked through the park hosting "Love the Last March Sculpture" by Gille and Marc. Largest sculpture at 192 m long, depicting 62 of the world's most endangered animals. Amazing!

    Loved the view of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Sands Skypark that looks like a surfboard on top as a backdrop. Had lovely dinner at Yard Birds Resturant - best Chicken-and-Waffles with an Asian hot spiciness.

    Then off for a night walk with fountains and light show, and to check out the Helix Bridge. Ended the night at our hotel on Arab Street, and all the lively shops opened at night during Ramadan.

    Thanks again to Semi, Hamid's daughter, for putting together the itinerary and making us feel at home. There's nothing like a local's touch.    Leggi altro

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    Who remembers these?Chicken Rice Rice!ARAB Street

    Singapore Day 2

    16 marzo 2024, Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    On our way to find a good cup of coffee, stopped on Orchard Street (a high-end city shopping street) and wound our way into a Beverly Hills type shopping mall to find "Wild Honey." It was a top rated breakfast nook, so we decided to try it. The food was great, and the Israeli owner told us he had just remodeled and had the light centerpiece hand woven in a small village in South Africa. This is also the place where Morris learned the difference between Shaksuki and Shaksuka.

    Walked to the National Museum while admiring all the green spaces throughout the city. [Side note: Chewing gum is not allowed in Singapore and and smoking in public places is heavily fined. So, no trash from either.]

    We learned about the history of Singapore at their National Museum and found Singapore's growth almost Cinderella like when compared to other developing countries.

    In 1965, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew made a decision to become independent from Malaysia. PM Yew's vision and focus developed Singapore from a shabby port into a thriving, clean, green, safe city. Since '65, they cleaned up lakes and waterways, planted trees, developed infrastructure, & instituted citizen responsibility.

    We were also very impressed by the Museum's Exhibit on Plastics. Very educational as it explained in 3 parts: *Why did we start using plastics in the first place", *Current situation that is no longer sustainable and why", and *Who is leading the change: People, countries, and companies that are working on solutions.

    For dinner, we meet up w Hamid, his daughter, and granddaughter at National Kitchen Resturant at the Art Gallery. Learned about Chicken Rice Rice (Rice that the Chicken Rice has been cooked in... too funny). Also loved the circular Ping Pong table at the gallery.

    While walking around Clarke Quay, we saw beautiful artwork in the tunnel walkways, loved the colorful apartments above the shopping areas, and heard all about life in Singapore from Hamid and family. Then went to Arab Street behind our hotel to check out the night life and see one of the many "hawker centers" (open food courts established by the government to keep sidewalk vendors from clogging pristine streets).    Leggi altro

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    1Pool on the Roof Top!2

    Singapore Day 3

    17 marzo 2024, Singapore Strait ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    Last half day in Singapore, and Morris stopped for selfies, (LOL). We decided to quickly visit India Street, where vibrant colors could be seen on buildings and in the stalls with fabrics, produce, and flowers.

    Went to Merlion Park to see the Lion fountain. The Merlion is the official mascot of Singapore. It is depicted as a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish and it welcomes all visitors to Singapore.

    Singapore is 70% Buddhist, 13% Hindu, 10% Muslim, 7% Christain. The main reason Singapore split from Malaysia was because PM Yew (1965-1990) wanted to have a country that allowed all religions, had cultural diversity, and was inclusive to all. Malaysia is predominantly Muslim.

    Last stop - getting a Singapore Sling at the rooftop of the Surf Board Sky Park Lavo Bar. What a view!

    Job well done PM Yew......what a beautiful country!!!    Leggi altro

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    National MuseumWood Carved Wall and Palace DoorOld Train StationThis is what we look like most days taking photos of the same things LOL!!

    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    18 marzo 2024, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    Our stopover in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, was only 6 hrs. long, so with our tour, we made the best of it and did get a chance to see some great sites.

    Our first stop was the National Museum, where we learned about its colonial history. We then saw the Moorish architecture styles of the old Train Station and Government buildings.

    This was contrasted by the modern large high-rise buildings, including the splendid Petronas Towers. These Towers are the centerpiece of the city, and they look like two side by side rockets connected by sky bridge (that are hinge attached). A fun fact about the towers is that the PM wanted them built faster and less expensive than the bids he was receiving. So he decided to award each tower to different contractors so they would compete. With this move, he achieved both goals.

    Last stop was the War Rememberance Monument.

    When we were back on board the ship, we heard an interesting lecture on The History and Rise of Islam.    Leggi altro

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    Langkawi, Malaysia

    19 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    Decided to book a private tour today to see the Skybridge atop Mt. Machinchang, and what a busy day it ended up being. The island seemed very quiet as we disembarked to meet our guide, Leo. He reminded us that it was Ramadan and that most places were closed.

    The Sky Bridge is the longest curve hanging bridge in the world, is about 400 feet long and looms 2,300 feet above sea level. A cable sky tram system first takes you to the Red Eagle Nest overlook, and as the name implies, it's shaped as a nest supported by a glass floor all around it. The tram then lifts you a few more hundred feet to the SkyBridge. What a beautiful structure floating in the air, and offering stunning vista's of Langkawi and its surrounding islands.

    We then visited the 3D Interactive Museum at the bottom of the mountain. Most fun museum ever! We were like 2 kids playing in this 3D collection of art.

    We continued our exploration on a boat tour through the Mangroves to see the wonderful Red Eagles ( a symbol of Langkawi), feed the monkeys, and tour the Bat Cave. (No Alfred or Robin in this one)

    As we drove back to the ship, we stopped in the main town square to see the huge Eagle statue. Dinner was at the seaside where we saw jumping fish while we enjoyed a wonderful Indian food feast.    Leggi altro

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    Pedal TrishawYap Kongsi Clan Temple

    George Town, Malaysia

    20 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 91 °F

    Off to tour a snapshot of George Town, capital of the Malaysian island of Penang. George Town has long been an important port between Malays, Indians and Chinese that all share a past here, and it is reflected in the culture and architecture. Went to the crown jewel of Buddest temples: Kek Lok Si Temple (largest in Malaysia). Situated upon the hillside with impressive walkways up to the top.

    Hopped off the tour and decided to spend the day checking out the unique street art. Hand painted color murals on building sides throughout the city along with the wire art that depicts the history of George Town. Love all the Pedal Trishaws that people use to get around town.

    Came across the firehouse with its small museum inside. At one point in the city's history, the police and fireman were one and the same as seen in the wire art piece. Check out the bicycle with the firehouse in the bike baskets.

    At lunch, we had a wonderful conversation at Backpackers Street Restaurant with the waiter over how they are reducing plastic waste by using recyclable utensils and cardboard for carryout. The town considers it each person's responsibility to start the change they want to see. Lovely empowering attitude.    Leggi altro

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