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Hong Kong to Singapore 2018-19

December 2018 - January 2019
Cruising with Holland America from Hong Kong to Singapore with stops in Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand Read more
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  • TravelerHong Kong to Singapore 2018-19
    Day 7

    Hanoi, Vietnam

    December 22, 2018 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Our first port of call is in Vietnam, our ship docks in Halong Bay and then it's a 3 hour bus trip into Hanoi for our shore tour.

    Hanoi - Past & Present, we visited Ba Dinh Square, also known as the Ho Chi Minh Quarter, the burial place of Chairman Mau.

    Then it was onto One Pillar Pagoda, Chairman Mau's home and extensive parklands.

    We then visited the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius and was Vietnam's first university.

    Then it was onto the Hoa Lo Museum, known widely by the nickname of ‘Hanoi Hilton’ given during the Vietnam/American war, established by the French colonial government in 1896 for the purpose of detaining political prisoners.

    Then before leaving a tour Old Hanoi visiting the ancient district of Thirty-Six Streets—where Vietnamese culture is alive and well.

    Our tour guide gave us some great advise to survive on the streets of Vietnam in regard to the chaos that is the thousands of scooters, when crossing a road make like sticky rice (stick together) and keep moving, don't stop or run, keep the same steady pace and they will go around you. It worked we all made it across with no problems    Read more

  • TravelerHong Kong to Singapore 2018-19
    Day 9

    Hoi An, Vietnam

    December 24, 2018 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Boat docked in Da Nang, and took a tour to Ancient Hoi An, on the way stopped at marble workshop right at the base of the Marble Mountains, saw some amazing marble carvings, unfortunately not something you could carry and didn't check out how much to ship back to Australia, definitely a reason to visit again.

    Hoi An is a lovely community, with many remaining wooden buildings lending the town a distinctive charm. walked through its narrow streets and visited a traditional merchant’s house, where we saw our silk was made and was able to order some lovely pants that were delivered while we were having lunch.

    During some free time went shopping in the town. Lunch was served at a local restaurant that also offered cooking classes in traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

    Before returning to the ship, we stopped at My Khe Beach aka China Beach. This was a favorite military recreation spot during the war and became world famous through the television series in the USA.    Read more

  • TravelerHong Kong to Singapore 2018-19
    Day 11

    Cu Chi Tunnels

    December 26, 2018 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Boat docked at the port of Phu My, took a tour to Cu Chi tunnels.

    The tour focused on the ingenuity and resilience of the Vietnamese fighters who both lived and fought from underground tunnels. Originally constructed as a means to fight against the French by the Viet Minh, the tunnels were later expanded up to 36 feet below ground in hard soil using only rudimentary tools. Most tunnels were only 2 – 2½ feet wide and 4½ feet tall, with thick roofs capable of withstanding the weight of tanks or the impact of bombs.

    Watched a short video that traces the history of the tunnels, their origins, construction and design. Then, a military guide explained, with the use of dioramas, the underground network.

    Saw some of the tools and weapons used by the guerrilla fighters. Much of the tunnel complex has been opened and ventilated so was easier experience the underground meeting rooms, kitchens, hospital and sleeping areas.

    I was not adventurous and agile enough to experience an unlit passage, which has not been enlarged. Learnt about the ingenious methods Vietnamese soldiers employed to remain undetected and frustrate their enemies.

    Lunch was served in an open pavilion by the river and was lovely.

    In the parking area, there was a display of some military paraphernalia, including a captured American helicopter.

    On the way back to the ship have a toilet break at a souvenir shop and was able to pick up the bargain of the tour, 2 t-shirts for $7 USD.    Read more

  • TravelerHong Kong to Singapore 2018-19
    Day 13

    Sihanoukville, Cambodia

    December 28, 2018 in Cambodia

    Our only stop in Cambodia, Sihanoukville, where infrastructure is failing to keep up with the building boom financed by a huge influx of Chinese and Russian money. The population has over doubled in 10 years going from 145,000 to 345,000.

    Started the visit off by visiting the local temple and received a monk's blessing, then it was onto a hotel for lunch on Otres Beach where I had a foot massage. We also visited a local school and the children sang us a local song.    Read more

  • TravelerHong Kong to Singapore 2018-19
    Day 14

    Bangkok, Thailand

    December 29, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    The boat dock at Laem Chabang, Thailand, then it was a 2 1/2 hour bus trip into Bangkok for a highlights and river cruise tour.

    First stop was the Wat Traimit Temple of the Golden Buddha, which has an amazing story attached to it. During the Thai war with Burma, a priest hide the statue by covering it in plaster, unfortunately the knowledge of this was lost and after the war they were moving the cement buddha to a new temple and the ropes broke and they dropped it, as it was late and they were tired the priests went to bed the next morning when they examined the broken statue the solid gold Buddha inside was revealed.

    Lunch unfortunately was at the Ramada and while it was a lovely location right on the river, lunch was an international buffet, so those of us hoping for an authentic Thai meal were disappointed.

    Next stop was the flower markets, where all manner of flowers are sold, we learnt how to fold the leaves of the lotus flower as left in temples. My attempt wasn't very successful.

    After that we went on a wonderful river cruise, including many of the canals that originally provided passage in and around Bangkok. One of the most amazing sites was one of the tallest building in Bangkok, MahaNakhon, which is designed to look like a spiral.

    Where the river cruise dropped us off, we had some free time to do a spot of shopping before heading back to the ship.    Read more

  • TravelerHong Kong to Singapore 2018-19
    Day 15

    Laem Chabang, Thailand

    December 30, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    After witnessing an amazing sunrise from the ship, it was off to experience a floating market and again experience how the locals use the canal system to move around Thailand. Then lunch is again a buffet at a local resort, before going on to see a local temple.

    At the markets if you wished for luck you could pay to release a turtle into the water.

    Our guide used a very unique marker to ensure we didn't lose him, a quite magnificent hat.    Read more

  • TravelerHong Kong to Singapore 2018-19
    Day 16

    Nathon (Koh Samui), Thailand

    December 31, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 30 °C

    Our only tender stop this trip the wonderful island of Koh Samui.

    My tour this stop was a waterfall hike, we started the tour by stopping at the local market to admire the fresh seafood and fruit.

    Then it was off to the waterfall, where we started off by feeding the fish and then after being given rain ponchos and warned the trail was slippery after rain that morning we started off. Not even 5 minutes into my walk my asthma started playing up, so ended up turning back.

    Once back at the base the guide hooked me up with a local who was supervising his son who was swimming in the lagoon, he found me a lovely spot where I could sit on a rock and have the flowing water over my feet. Ended up getting out when his son got cold and the timing couldn't have been better as it started to rain.

    Made my way up to the cafe and met up with another 2 hikers from my tour group who hadn't made the hike. We watched the rain absolutely pelt down, while the cafe owner fed us tea and biscuits, never been so glad to be an asthmatic.

    After the drowned rats finished their hike it was off to town for lunch, which was held in a lovely restaurant right on the water, where we had a lovely view of the ship docked just off shore.

    After lunch had some free time so did some shopping and then headed back to the the ship, was glad I wasn't on the last tender as was absolutely chock full.    Read more

  • TravelerHong Kong to Singapore 2018-19
    Day 18

    Singapore, Singapore

    January 2, 2019 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    And so the cruise comes to an end in Singapore.

    After disembarking, took a city tour which finished in China town then shared a taxi with a couple to my Hotel, The Carlton. Which is located right in central Singapore, next door to Raffles, which is unfortunately closed for renovations, although the long bar is open so could have tried one of their famous Singapore Sling's.

    First stop was the amazing National Orchid Garden, then it was onto see the larges Mosque and few the shops in Arab. Learnt how when Singapore was a British colony it was divided into ethnicities. Final stop before chinatown was a shopping centre where you could get a great view of the Sands and the Singapore dragon, on the man made lake created by closing off the river's head to the ocean.    Read more

  • TravelerHong Kong to Singapore 2018-19
    Day 19

    Singapore Round-Island Tour

    January 3, 2019 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Joined 2 of the ladies I met on the ship, Joanne & Arlene, from Las Vegas, for a tour of the Island.

    Our first stop Henderson Waves, one of Singapore’s tallest pedestrian bridges. Next stop was the Kranji War Memorial a very solemn place where you could view the list of all those who died in the fall of Singapore in world war II.

     Lunch was at a local restaurant, right on the water in what used to be part of the British Navy base, where you could look across the water to Malaysia.

    Next was Bright Hill Temple, where all visiting dignitaries are taken to view Singapore's main industrial estate of which they are rightly proud of, considering that when they were kicked out of Malaysia, for asking for equal rights for all, they were a very poor and mainly rural country. Here dignitaries are invited to plant a tree, next to each tree is a plaque commemorating their visit.    Read more

  • TravelerHong Kong to Singapore 2018-19
    Day 19

    Night Safari

    January 3, 2019 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    A unique experience to view the animals at night, while on a tram.

    Discovered that photographing animals while both they and you are moving at night is very difficult.

    While I really enjoyed the tour, there really wasn't enough time to enjoy everything, as dinner wasn't included ended up eating after the tram, which meant I didn't have time for the shows that were also on. Even fellow tourers who did the show ended up having to leave early to make it for our bus trip back. Maybe something that is better done independently even though that means a long wait for the tram. Public transport in Singapore is excellentRead more

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