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Paulette Welch
Paulette Welch

Paulette Welch

traveled in 26 countries Read more
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  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Kuala Lumpur - Day 87

    March 18, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    With only 1 day we did our best to enjoy the delightful contrasts, of one of the most vibrant metropolises in Asia. We went to the National Museum, a fascinating collection that chronicles the nation's past from prehistory through the Malacca Sultanate, colonial era and present day. We also visited the National Monument, a huge bronze monument built in tribute to the valiant soldiers who gave their lives during the Communist Insurgency of the 1950s. We stopped at the elegant, historic 1910 Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and the National Mosque of Malaysia. In Merdeka Square (Independence Square), we admired the wide cricket green and the British-style Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Also we drove through the Golden Triangle, the city's entertainment district, before stopping to gaze up at the soaring Petronas Towers, resembling a pair of steel-clad rocket ships linked by a towering catwalk. This architectural wonder is the pride of Malaysia and can be seen on tourist sites.

    KUALA LUMPUR (PORT KLANG), MALAYSIA
    The lively capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur was built by Chinese tin prospectors in the mid-1800s. They had come here in search of a fortune, and found it by clearing wide swaths of jungle for a new mining town. Since then, the city of KL, as the locals call it, has grown into a stunning mix of colonial, Moorish, Tudor, neo-Gothic and Grecian-Spanish architecture. The two-story shop-houses of Old Market Square, with storefronts below and residences above, reveal the lives of merchants. The magnificent Petronas Towers are the centerpiece of this fascinating city; the side-by-side twin spires resemble a pair of rockets, connected by a two-story sky bridge that spans the 41st and 42nd floors. B ‘n    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Langkawi, Malaysia. Day 88

    March 18, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Langkawi, Malaysia
    Langkawi is Malaysia's stunning archipelago of swaying coconut palms and island shores fringed by powder-sand beaches that lies some 30 miles from the country's northwestern coast. Langkawi's mangrove forest is renowned for its swamps, towering hills and varied wildlife, including otters and lizards, and macaques and tree crabs that can be seen hiding among the mangroves. Atop Mt. Machinchang, the Sky Bridge looms 2,300 feet above sea level, offering stunning vistas of Langkawi and its surrounding islands.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Lion City (last day) Day 86

    March 17, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    SINGAPORE - Day 86
    The story of Singapore's transformation from sparse island to the economic giant of Southeast Asia begins with its cultural diversity and acceptance of immigrants. Malays, Indonesians, Indians, Sri Lankans and Chinese have all contributed to the city's rise as one of the world's most technologically advanced cities. Buddhist, Hindu and Taoist temples rub elbows with Muslim mosques and Christian churches, and you are likely to see street signs in English, Chinese, Tamil and Malay.
    Singaporean cuisine, too, has been shaped by the many cultures that have converged here, and there is no better place to sample it than at one of the city's many "hawker centers," open air food courts established by the government to keep sidewalk vendors from clogging pristine streets. 80% of citizens live in government housing. 100% are immigrants to Singapore. Karen - our guide
    9 out of 10 people own their own homes from the government
    Medical care is free
    And retirement age is 63 y/o. 90% of food is imported because there isn’t much land. They are working on high rise hydroponic gardens to feed the people.
    They are growing veg. in hydroponics on roofs and they will become food self sufficient.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Singapore Day 84

    March 15, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE
    Spread across 63 islands at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore is the world's only island city-state. Established in 1819 for the East India Company by Sir Stamford Raffles, after whom the famed hotel is named, it grew from a secluded backwater into a shabby port city before transforming itself into a sophisticated metropolis. The technology and economy are highly advanced here, yet the islands host plentiful green parks with tree-lined footpaths and the stunning National Orchid Garden. For a panoramic view of it all, the Marina Bay Sands towers offer the perfect observation deck; the Sands Skypark lies flat atop the rooftops of this trio of 57-story hotel towers like an enormous surfboard.
    In 1965, Singapore was considered 3rd world, however.
    today there are 5.9 million (6), 100 % immigrant people. The city is a very modern cutting edge and uncrowded city and roadways, Fresh water is precious and was created by controlling and damed 19 rivers that go to the sea, and created 17 reservoirs of fresh water - They still buy water from other countries but they are planning desalination plants to become self sufficient. They are now brackish and they are able to recycle the water into fresh. Nutmeg is a big export product from Singapore. There are 4 races in Singapore
    Indian
    Chinese
    Malaysia
    Eurasians
    80% of citizens live in government controlled, maintained, and subsidized housing. However, 9 out of 10 people own their own homes from the government with 99 year leases. You can sell the home and buy another. They have Medical-care for free for all people in their country.
    They all retire at 63 y/o. 90% of food is imported however, they are growing veg. in hydroponics on roofs and inside buildings to become food self sufficient.
    62 islands are being created in Singapore and serve for the waste disposal (land fill sites) for the island. 2035 the waste management islands will be livable. They are always looking for other ways for waste management in the future.
    Public housing is for everyone in Singapore gas more than
    7 million trees - it is mandatory to plant trees along the roads and to replace dying trees with new, they created shade for the people walking along the sidewalks. The public parks are connected to one another and provide over 400 km of connected parks for recreation.
    Singapore is the
    2nd busiest port to Shanghai - which is the 1st.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day 83 to Singapore

    March 14, 2024, South China Sea ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    The red and blue teams played Baggo against the officers and lost. However, our trivia team won against all the other teams today. We celebrated with a lunch with the whole team and then attended the port talk for India Taj Mahal, then debriefed over coffee in the Atrium living room. We had dinner with John/Heather, Angelo and Sue, Paula/Ray and joined by Heather and Marie after desert. We joined Heather/John, Paula/Ray, Jan/Pat in the Torshavn for live music dancing tel 1:00 am… what were we thinking… Paula and Ray are leaving the ship tomorrow so we wanted to spend some time with them…Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Koh Samui Nathon Thailand Day 82

    March 13, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    A paradise of long sand beaches, spectacular coral reefs and swaying coconut trees, Koh Samui is Thailand's second-largest island after Phuket. By some accounts, the island's name derives from the Malay word for "safe haven." Surely, few havens are as soothing and idyllic, as evidenced by the sun-loving beachcombers from Thailand and beyond who wade, swim and lounge in the lapping tides. Until the early 1970s, this self-sufficient community had no roadways; crossing the island required a full-day trek across nine miles of mountainous jungle. Today, Koh Samui retains the slower pace of simpler times. The cherished traditions of old Siamese fishing villages, too, are preserved as tiny boats gently bob on turquoise waters.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day to Thailand - Day 81

    March 12, 2024 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Happy Birthday Lilah!
    Pearls have been Treasured as gems for centuries, they take many forms and many colors. Finding them in the wild is rare; more than a ton of bivalves might yield only a handful of quality pearls. Throughout history, their scarcity made them the choice of kings and queens. While the purest of pearls are still considered the jewels of the very wealthy, those produced in modern-day pearl farms-where oysters are fortified with a substance that encourages growth of the calcium carbonate stone-make the pearl more affordable.
    The coveted undersea jewel was hunted for millennia by pearl divers in coastal Indian Ocean waters. The South China Sea, too, drew fortune hunters during the Han Dynasties (206 BC-8 AD;
    23-220 AD). Divers might have descended up to
    125 feet to retrieve oysters from the seabed, a hazardous vocation that, in some parts of the world, was assigned to slaves. In the Sulu Archipelago in the southwestern Philippines, the law proclaimed that the largest stones in the sea were the property of the sultan, though underground markets often sold them to wealthy European nobility.
    History's most famous pearl was discovered in 16th-century Panama by the African slave of a Spanish land owner. "La Peregrina Pearl," shaped and colored to perfection, was given to the future Phillip Il of Spain, who presented it to Mary I of England in anticipation of his marriage to her. After her death in 1558, the pearl was returned to the Spanish crown, and remained in royal collections of crown jewels until Richard Burton purchased it at auction for Elizabeth Taylor in 1969. In 2011, the stone was auctioned at Christie's in New York to a private buyer for a record price of $11 million.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Day 79

    March 10, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
    Ho Chi Minh City consists of 24 distinct districts, and directly at its heart lies District 1. Astir with the daily stream of locals coming and going, it exudes an exuberance and vitality all its own. The district, in addition to some of the city's most iconic architectural gems, offers a wealth of options for those wishing to immerse themselves in the storied city. Its many markets, including the renowned Bến Thành Market, showcase locally handcrafted housewares, apparel and accessories, while trendy boutiques and shops offer contemporary twists. And visits to street vendors, quaint restaurants and food stalls reveal the traditional flavors authentic to Vietnam. This district truly appeals to allRead more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Day 80

    March 10, 2024 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
    A bustling metropolis in southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City's streets and network of canals pulse with life, Dong Khoi Street is the main shopping center and heart of old colonial Saigon. The city's rich culture is evident everywhere, with stunning architecture boasting grand facades, such as the City Hall, the Opera House and the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral. Vibrant markets feature as part of everyday life here; Bên Thành Market, one of Saigon's earliest surviving structures, offers all manner wares from handicrafts to tasty street food. We ate at two 3 fantastic restaurants. Love Viennese food!Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Saigon - Day 78

    March 9, 2024 in Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 35 °C

    HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
    Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is a heady mix of French and Vietnamese cultures, where baguettes and croissants are sold alongside pho, or Vietnamese noodle soup, and motor scooters buzz past colonial-era architecture. The city's wide boulevards are reminiscent of Paris, lined with jewels such as the Opera House, fashioned after the Petit Palais, and the grand Central Post Office, designed by Gustave Eiffel. The enlightening exhibits at the National History Museum chronicle the nation's past. And the aromatic food stalls and colorful shops along Dong Khoi Street purvey tempting local specialties and all manner of Vietnamese wares, from conical hats to áo dài, the silk tunic worn by women. We took a cooking class today at a Vietnam Restaurant.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Last Sea Day - 77 to Ho Chi Minh

    March 8, 2024, South China Sea ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
    Founded as a small fishing village, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam population 100,000,000) is now Vietnam's largest city. Though it is still commonly called Saigon, locals are as likely to simplify the name of their home town to HCMC. It is a seamless blend of history and modern youthful energy, where pagodas and French colonial grandeur mingle seamlessly with bustling old-world marketplaces and modern skyscrapers, all against a constant buzz of motor scooters and trill of bicycl bells. From enduring, narrow alleyways to wide, boulevards, Ho Chi Minh City has identity all its own.
    16% of the world’s flora and fauna species can be found in Vietnam which is located in one of the world’s most biologically diverse areas – the Greater Mekong region.
    Vietnam’s flag has a red background with a large yellow star in the centre which reflects its communist history. The red signifies revolution and blood and the five-pointed star represents the five principal classes of the political front – peasants, workers, intellectuals and traders. and soldiers – that unite to build socialism.
    The Vietnam War killed 2-4 million people including at least 2 million Vietnamese civilians, over 1 million Vietnamese soldiers and 58,300 American soldiers.
    Vietnam is the second-largest coffee producer in the world after Brazil.
    Vietnam is the world’s 15th most populous country and Asia’s 8th most populous.
    Motorbikes are everywhere in Vietnam. More than 8 in 10 people own a motorbike in Vietnam with over 45 million registered motorbikes in Vietnam in 2016. The name Vietnam is actually two words. “Viet” – an ethnic group dating to a second century B.C. kingdom and “nam” means “south” – a reference to its location in relation to other Viet kingdoms.
    One of the most famous sites in Vietnam is the UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay includes over 1,600 islands and islets, most of which are uninhabited.
    Snake wine is drunk in Vietnam. It often involves the inhumane process of drowning live snakes in alcohol before being bottled.
    It’s possible for snakes to survive in the bottle for months. In 2013, a report surfaced of a Chinese woman who was bitten on the hand after a snake jumped out of a bottle of wine where it had been fermenting for three months.
    Vietnam is home to the UNESCO-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park which has over 104km of natural caves and underground rivers.
    Vietnam has had over two decades of consistent growth, matching China as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and has joined the ranks of East Asian ‘tiger’ nations.
    The world’s largest cave is in Vietnam. Son Doong Cave measures a total of 38.5 million cubic meters. However, a 2019 expedition discovered the cave is connected to another cave, Thung Cave, via an underwater tunnel which will add a further 1.6 million cubic meters to its volume.
    Water puppetry is popular in Vietnam. The art dates back over 1,000 years to when farmers adapted conventional puppetry onto the water following a large flood and we went to a puppet theater. 
In Vietnam, crossing your fingers is thought to resemble female genitalia and making the gesture is regarded as taboo.
Vietnam is the world’s largest exporter of cashew nuts. As of 2018, Vietnam exports over 38% of the world’s cashews – a $2.93 billion industry.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Java Sea Day to Vietnam - Day 74

    March 7, 2024, South China Sea ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    The Dutch East India
    Company's Financial
    Revolution
    By the 1600s, the fleet of the Dutch East India Company, or the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC), had grown into the largest corporate entity in the world. Exactly how it became so massive highlights the most pivotal moment in the history of finance.
    In its earliest days, as the first ships of the VOC set off for Indonesia, each voyage was financed individually with the hope that investors would turn a profit from the sale of spices and other goods when the ships returned. But with piracy, shipwrecks and disease common, this economic model proved unsustainable. In its place, the VOC introduced a revolutionary financing strategy: public trading and the issuance of stocks and bonds.
    For the first time, speculators placed their money on an entity rather than on a single venture, allowing the scale of VOC expeditions to expand exponentially. Trading posts were established in
    Batavia (modern-day Jakarta), on Java, and in as far away as Japan. This was the birth of corporate globalization, and it gave rise to the financial markets that still exists today. Investment banking, investment funds, corporate shareholders, stock futures, and many other systems integral to today's finances were all created by the VOC. And all the trading action took place on the floor of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, also the first of its kind, established in 1602. By the mid-1700s-as the political and economic atmosphere shifted in Asia, as corporate corruption became viral, and as dividends exceeded profits- the. iC ‘s prosperity faltered. The company was nationalized in 1796.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day to Vietnam - Day 76

    March 7, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an S-shaped country located in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China, Cambodia and Laos.
    Capital city is Hanoi and the Population is 98,721,275. It has
    An area of 331,210 sq km. The
    Major languages: are Vietnamese, and English. The
    Major religions are Atheism and Buddhism
    Humans have inhabited northern Vietnam for around 500,000 years. However, it was not until around 7000 BC that hunter-gatherers began to practise basic agriculture. The Dong Son culture, renowned for its bronze moko drums, emerged during the 3rd century BC. The Dong Son era also witnessed advances in rice cultivation and the emergence of the Red River Delta as a major agricultural centre. The Mekong River. (Nine Dragons ) runs through Vietnam and split into nine distributaries in Vietnam although now only seven still exist. The Mekong Delta is continually changing because of the forces of nature and of man. At 4,350km, it is the longest river in Southeast Asia, the 7th longest in Asia, and the 12th longest in the world. France colonized Vietnam from 1859 to 1883 France colonised Vietnam along with the surrounding region which became known as Indochina or French Indochina.
    Japan took control of Indochina during World War II. Following the end of the conflict, France tried to regain control. The First Indochina War or Anti-French Resistance War was fought between Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, (Uncle Ho who died in 1969 and his body is preserved and on display in Hanoi) and France until 1954. In 1954, Vietnam was partitioned into North and South Vietnam. A second conflict followed known as the Vietnam War, the American War or the Second Indochina War. The USA was heavily involved in support of the South Vietnam against communist N. Vietnam. By 1976, the USA had been defeated, North and South Vietnam were finally unified and the independent Socialist Republic of Vietnam was proclaimed. The largest city in Vietnam is Ho Chi Minh City. The city was called Saigon until 1976 when it was renamed in honour of the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. 16% of the world’s flora and fauna species can be found in Vietnam which is located in one of the world’s most biologically diverse areas – the Greater Mekong region.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Semarang, Java, Indonesia Day 73

    March 6, 2024, South China Sea ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Long a center of Hindu-Buddhist empires and an important trade center of the Dutch East India Company in the 17th and 18th centuries, the island of laya is indonesia's repositery of history and culture. The bustling port of Semarang was founded by the Dutch and hints of the island's colenial past det the cityscape. Outside the city, Borobudur, the largest Buddhist monument in the werd, strikes a dramatic pose against a backdrop of four volcanoes, A popular Dace of pilgrimage and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the massive pyramidal temple towers to a great height. The devout walk up a clock wise path to the pinnade, passing 2,672 reliefs and 504 Buddha statues along the way. We had a 7:15 am call for the 8 buses scheduled to go to the Borobudur Temple. We left the port with truly VIP treatment. We had police escort front and back. The locals were attentive to the parade and taking pictures of the spectacle.
    The Population of Indonesia is 270 million - they are 4th most populated country after India, China, America then Indonesia. Imam our knowledgeable local guide…. Java has the largest number of Muslims in the world. They became independent in 1945. There are 17,000 islands - all citizens must adhere to the 5 Principals. 1. A belief in god. 2. Commitment to Social justice 3. Equality for all people (no cast system) 4. Democracy 5. Unity of all people Jakarta is the Capital (north - soil is clay) They are moving the capital to Borneo. Tradition and Religion have mixed in Java, and have been incorporated into the daily life of the people. Sunni Muslims also do the ceremonies like the Bali Hindus. Their practice of Hinduism is different again from the Indian practices.
    Colors - Green, gold, silver mosques in the community are a community choice. 20 % of the government’s budget goes to education in Indonesia including trades and other needed careers. 204 million people voted in their election last year.

    Viking ‘s 8 busses with more than 200 passenger had a police escort front and back to get us through the traffic on Java to get to and from the temple. We were the first of 8 huge busses, so, the police sirens were blaring for the 1 1/2 hour trip each way. The concern was the short port stay in Semarang. Tge ship is scheduled for a 5:00 PM deadline to be on board. We could have stayed longer at the Sel Sar Borbudur for great shopping.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day to Vietnam - Day 75

    March 6, 2024, South China Sea ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    SAIL THE SOUTH CHINA SEA
    Tucked between mainland China, Vietnam and the Philippines, the South China Sea is one of the world's most important waterways. One-third of commercial shipping passes through these waters. It's a tradition that stretches back untold centuries, to when dynastic emperors and the barbarians who opposed them sailed their ships here. Later, 16th-century Portuguese traders called it Mar da China, the China Sea. In Chinese literature, Nanhai, or the South Sea, is one of the storied four seas. In fable and lore, the waters serve as metaphor. Still today, the beauty of these waters and the enriching destinations to which they lead are noteworthy.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler
    1

    Java Sea Day to Samarang Day 72

    March 5, 2024, South China Sea ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    SAIL THE JAVA SEA
    Traversed by merchant ships from the Dutch East India Company throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the waters of the Java Sea witnessed one of the most economically successful trade relationships in history. The cargo holds of Dutch ships carried countless crates of spices from these shores back to The Netherlands, bolstering a nation's wealth and contributing to the famed Dutch Golden Age. More recently, the Allied naval forces of World War II defended Java from a Japanese attack in these waters. Spread throughout the Java Sea and beyond, today's nation of Indonesia encompasses more than 17,000 islands, a vast archipelago of lush beauty.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Bali - Day 71

    March 4, 2024, South China Sea ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    BALI (BENOA), INDONESIA
    With its distinct flavors and traditions, Bali's food culture stands apart from that of the rest of Indonesia. Indigenous ingredients, recipes and techniques blend with influences from the island's Chinese and Indian heritages to create dishes found nowhere else. As most Balinese are Hindu, beef is rarely included at a typical family's table and intricate dishes are sometimes prepared as offerings to deities. For many, a daily ritual may involve shopping for ginger, turmeric and Kaffir lime in spice markets, or for fruits, vegetables and meats in the pasar pagi, or wet market.
    Traditional warung, tiny family-owned food stands essential to daily life, often specialize in a particular dish, such as babi guling (suckling pig) or bebek betutu (crispy duck). Seems Bali Hindu’s are not vegetarians.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Benoa Bali, Indonesia Day 70

    March 3, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    We tried to get to some of the most of the famous sites in Bali and went shopping at the Wood Carving factory, Batik factory, Silver and Gold factory, Painting Gallery and we also went to a market for shopping. What a wonderful place to visit.
    Bali is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali.
    Tanah Lot temple was built to worship Bhatara Segara, or the sea God. To protect the temple, with his mighty power, he created a poisonous snake from his sash. The sea snake is believed to be living at the base of this rocky island, to guard the temple from evil intruders. The Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and Hindu temple complex in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. Its official name is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Balinese: Mandala Suci Wenara Wana), and its name as written on its welcome sign is the Padangtegal Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. The village's residents view the Monkey Forest as an important spiritual, economic, educational, and conservation centre for the village and the wider region.
    The Te gala lang Rice Terraces are the most famous rice fields in Bali, and for good reason. The lush, green valley is stunning to look at especially just as the sun rises over the valley in the morning. Besides the rice fields, there are the famous Bali swing and Love Bali sign that make for good photo spots.The temple compound consists of a petirtaan or bathing structure, famous for its holy spring water, where Balinese Hindus go to for a ritual purification called Melukat.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Bali, (Benoa) Indonesia - Day 69

    March 2, 2024, South China Sea ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    BALI (BENOA), INDONESIA (means “come back” and “ceremony”).
    With a thriving arts scene, lush beauty and magnificent seaside vistas, Bali has long beckoned travelers in search of ultimate beauty. The island's rich Hindu culture has forever held that gods live in all natural things —from mountains to streams to pebbles on the beach—lending the island a peaceful air. Denpasar is the island's thriving capital.
    Founded as a market town (the name translates roughly into "north market"), it still today bustles with colorful stalls and vast emporiums selling bright sarongs and intricately patterned batik. Because this is Bali, the city has a serene side, too. Some of its many elegant and highly revered temples are carved from white coral harvested from the sea. There are 17,000 islands in Indonesia. There are 4 million people in Bali. Mostly Hindu in Bali. There are 3 mainTemples in each village and many temples in each of the houses. They celebrate full and dark moon every 25 days. They pray and give offerings for environment, plants, animals and for humans. And for the gods. 4 difference parts of the house. NE is the temple for the gods. West for children of the house and their children, Southern part is kitchen, Eastern part is for ceremonies. Grinding teeth ceremony. All Hindu are cremated. Burial is free for 2 years and then the bones are dug up and cremated. Great day. Bali is a busy place!    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Komodo National Park - Day 68

    February 28, 2024, Selat Sumba ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    KOMODO NATIONAL PARK (RINCA), INDONESIA - Komodo National Park spans 670 sq miles, encompassing 26 small isles and the 3 larger islands of Padar, Komodo and Rinca. This is our 2nd island (Rinca) 2020 we visited the Lesser known than neighboring Komodo Island, Rinca is an ideal location to see the world-famous Komodo dragon. The largest lizard in the world, these breathtaking creatures can grow up to ten feet long and typically weigh about 150 pounds. Wild pigs and water buffalos also inhabit Rinca, as well as saltwater crocodiles. A visit to the mangrove forests of Loh Buaya Park provides visitors with the opportunity to view these reptiles up close.
    Please take me back to the ship - Tolong kembalikan aku ke kapal. (2 people on the Sky were taken off by stretcher - shades of 2020 / it is hot.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    3rd Day to Komodo Day 67

    February 28, 2024, Philippine Sea ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Weather: Partly cloudy with rain. 84° F / 29° C
    Sunrise: 5:36 AM Sunset: 6:10 PM
    SAIL THE TIMOR SEA
    It is thought that early inhabitants of Australia "island hopped" to the continent across the shallow waters of the Timor Sea. The body of water shares its name with the independent state of East Timor to its north. In the region's Malay language, the sea's name closely translates to "east" for its location in relation to Indonesia's Sunda Islands. In the late 1980s, skilled sportsmen and women raced 1,000 miles by junkung, or outrigger canoe, across the Timor from Bali, Indonesia to Darwin, Australia. Using vessels fashioned after traditional Balinese fishing boats, crews from nine nations started the journey individually and, famously, agreed to finish as one team to ensure the safe passage of all.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    2nd Sea Day Komodo Island - Day 66

    February 27, 2024, Philippine Sea ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    Another time change tonight - 1 hour back. We listened to 3 lectures today. Rinca (Komodo National Park - very interesting presentation. The venom of the dragons is an anticoagulant, in addition to being very nasty bacteria that kills the prey… Betty got 2 out of two in the hole today!Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day to Komodo Nat. Pk. Day 65

    February 26, 2024, Philippine Sea ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    SAIL THE ARAFURA SEA
    Located north of Australia, the bed of the Arafura Sea holds a key to the earliest human migrations. Around 18,000 BC, during the Ice Age period known as the Last Glacial Maximum, sea levels were much lower and the floor of these waters, known as the Arafura Shelf, formed a dry land bridge linking Australia and New Guinea. Entire populations easily walked from continent to continent, exchanging language and customs. In centuries past, wooden sailboats from Indonesian Makassar sailed these waters in search of trepangs, or sea cucumbers. Today, the sea is believed to be named for inhabitants of the Moluccas, who called themselves haraforas, or "children of the mountains."Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Thursday Island - Day 64

    February 25, 2024, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    THURSDAY ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
    Thursday Island was once home to a thriving pearl fishing industry. From the late 19th century, divers came from Japan, Malaysia and India to harvest these precious stones. The diving has declined, but traces of Asia's diverse influences remain. The island's Green Hill Fort was built during the 1890s with growing concerns of a potential Russian invasion. The fort was shut down just 30 years later and reactivated during World War II as a wireless station. Many islanders, still to this day, abide by a no-footwear policy out of respect for the spirits of their ancestors. Aboriginal flag’s design consists of a colored rectangle divided in half horizontally. The top half of the flag is black to symbolise Aboriginal people. The colour green is for the land. The dharri or deri is a symbol for all Torres Strait Islanders. The black represents the people. The blue is for the sea. The five-pointed star represents the island groups. Used in navigation, the star is also an important symbol for the sea-faring Torres Strait Islander people. The color white of the star represents peace.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler
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    Sea Day to Thursday Island - Day 63

    February 24, 2024, Great Barrier Reef ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    Our new travel literary was announced today!
    What Is the Indian Ocean
    Dipole?
    There is no more dramatic illustration of the relationship between the world's oceans and its land masses than the weather patterns created by sea surface temperature. Residents of North America are familiar with the heavy precipitation and drought effects of the El Niño and La Niña phenomena in the Pacific Ocean. Similarly, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) has a dramatic impact on both Indonesia and Australia.
    The IOD is an irregular cycle of warmer and colder sea-surface temperatures that periodically oscillates throughout this massive body of water.
    Scientists have observed that surface temperatures exhibit three phases. The neutral phase is the ocean's more balanced state, when thermometer readings are normal. An average and predictable rainfall coming off the ocean helps crops flourish and land is easily managed. The two other phases create extreme conditions that can be harmful. In the positive phase, warmer sea temperatures in the western region of the Indian Ocean create more rainfall in East Africa while cooler temperatures in the east may cause droughts in
    Australia and Southeast Asia. The negative phase creates opposite conditions-warm waters and more rainfall in the east and cooler waters with less rain in the west.
    Coral samples have allowed contemporary scientists to trace the occurrence of IODs all the way back to 1846. Historically, about four positive and four negative IOD events transpire over each 30-year period, each lasting about six months.
    However, positive IODs have become more frequent since 1980, inserting the Indian Ocean Dipole into the debates over climate change. We are going between the Indian and Pacific Ocean.    Read more

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