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Our 10 day Christmas cruise around Asia, as well as a short Balinese break Read more
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  • TravelerThe Asian Christmas cruise
    Day 1

    Sydney, Australia

    December 13, 2018 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Today began the first day of our Asian Christmas cruise, We had originally booked this cruise as we both got Annual Leave for the Christmas break, and since we were still on a high from our Alaskan cruise, this seemed like a great way to spend the Festive Season.

    Fortunately our flight to Denpasar wasn't until 5pm, so I had plenty of time to do pre-holiday arrangements, like laundry, packing a bag and getting a haircut. Since we are only visiting warm destinations, packing was easy. Unfortunately waiting for the dishwasher to finish its cycle before leaving wasn't, since we had to turn off the water before leaving.

    Once at the airport, something unfortunate happened when my arch enemy sciatica came back with a vengeance. It had bothered me in the morning, but by the time we got to check in, I was almost paralysed. Even worse was receiving our boarding passes late due to being on standby, meaning we had to make haste to our flight.

    By this stage I could barely walk, and security even sympathetically brought me to the front of the queue. They offered to get me a wheelchair to my flight, but were only able to get a trolley to use for support. Thankfully we were in Star Class, as even walking to my seat was excruciating pain.

    Fortunately the only pain I had to endure during the flight was when I needed to use the bathroom, as sitting didn't make it difficult. The CSM offered to get me a wheelchair upon arrival and by this stage, I knew it wasn't unreasonable to accept it. The passengers in Star Class were really sympathetic, and offered me help such as painkillers, massage therapy in Bali, and even a private driver to our hotel.

    Being wheeled through Denpasar airport was much better than hobbling through it, and my two commissionaires helped with luggage collection and going through immigration. Ted had arranged a taxi to the hotel, where I was then transferred to another wheelchair for the hotel.

    Hopefully this doesn't continue throughout the whole holiday. Today was the worst pain I've ever experienced, and it wasn't a great way to start.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Asian Christmas cruise
    Day 2

    Denpasar, Indonesia

    December 14, 2018 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    I would love to say that the pain miraculously disappeared overnight but it didn't. Today was not a good day, as I am still not able to walk without a lot of agonising pain. Once I managed to get to the breakfast room, it was very warm already but the dining room has a spectacular view of the ocean.

    Whilst Ted went to the gym, I stayed in the room feeling sorry for myself. After having a nap to make up for lost sleep, Ted encouraged me to try pool running, which did increase some movement. Ted later walked to the nearby shops to get some things before we went back to the dining room for lunch.

    We returned to the dining room for a nice dinner and even though we hoped it wasn't necessary, unfortunately I needed the wheelchair again to get around. At this moment, we're worrying we might need to return home instead of continuing the holiday. I was in so much pain I couldn't even shower myself. We'll wait and see what tomorrow holds.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Asian Christmas cruise
    Day 3

    Denpasar, Indonesia

    December 15, 2018 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    After waking up and feeling no better, we decided to do something productive! A few friends had recommended going to a healer instead of just getting a massage, so I found one online and made a booking. Finally a step in the right direction!

    We went for a mediocre breakfast before Ted went to the gym. Our hotel is in a very good location close to everything, so we were able to walk to the main area to get a taxi. It seems like there's a real war between legitimate taxis and the rideshare apps so, after some aggression, we finally flagged a taxi.

    The place I visited was called Bali Chy Healing and was certainly different from the usual massage places I've visited. The healer explained about holistic healing, asking if I also needed to talk about any problems I might be having in life. Since I didn't have any pain except physical, he decided to work on the sciatica problem.

    The massage was like a deep tissue therapy on the sciatic nerve which, after an hour, I was good enough to walk again. the massage was really painful but I didn't mind. Even though it was more expensive than a standard massage, at least I was able to walk again. I was asked to do a video recommendation for him since it seems to be how they advertise their business here in Bali!

    Ted and I then went to nearby Mama's German restaurant for lunch and later bumped into one of the passengers from our flight, who suggested going out together that night. Once returning to the hotel, we lay by the pool, although our view was ruined by a woman who decided to go topless.

    After a shower and a nap, we had another dinner in the restaurant. Logically we could go into town to eat, but the setting here is so beautiful. We had drinks and music in our room, before heading down to Mixwell. The crowd was really busy and we stayed until there was no room to move. I'm still feeling sore from the massage but at least I can live my life again.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Asian Christmas cruise
    Day 4

    Denpasar, Indonesia

    December 16, 2018 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    We didn't get much of a sleep in today, on our final full day in Bali this holiday. Breakfast was great this morning with a lot of options. Ted was still feeling tired so he had a nap whilst we relaxed in our room.

    I'm still in pain from the massage but it is starting to ease. Ted dropped off some laundry before we headed to nearby De Nyuh for some massage therapy. I had a pedicure and foot reflexology massage whilst Ted had just the foot massage.

    We relaxed in our room before heading to nearby La Plancha for sunset drinks. This was a wonderful experience, as the setting and atmosphere were both incredible. We stayed for dinner too, since the view was unrivaled and the cost was surprisingly reasonable.

    Tomorrow we head to Singapore before our cruise, so we packed up our bags for our departure tomorrow.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Asian Christmas cruise
    Day 5

    Singapore

    December 17, 2018 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    We had an earlier start for our flight to Singapore today, but it almost ended up being too early as we woke at 3am due to an alarm Ted had set on his phone. It turned out that his phone was still on Australia time, meaning we woke up three hours early!

    Before heading off, the restaurant staff were kind enough to let us have breakfast before the restaurant opened. We then took a taxi to the airport before heading to our Jetstar Asia flight. I am walking a lot better today, which has really lifted my spirits.

    Our flight time was about three hours before arriving in Changi airport. We bought a transport card for three days before heading towards our hotel. It seemed the directions I got off Google weren't all that accurate - we disembarked at Bugis station and walked for about 15 minutes in the heat, before finding out there was a metro station right outside our hotel!

    The hotel is very nice, albeit expensive which is typical for Singapore. Ted was interested in seeing Little India so we headed in to look around. We both liked the area, and Ted was keen to stay for dinner. We went to the Khan restaurant which definitely fit the bill - cheap and authentically Indian. I loved the paratha!

    We then headed into the Gardens by the Bay, which was also putting on a Christmas show. Even though it was late at night, the area was really humid, but we still took a lot of great photos before heading back.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Asian Christmas cruise
    Day 6

    Singapore

    December 18, 2018 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    After an awesome sleep-in today, Ted and I headed out to try and find a decent breakfast, as this hotel doesn't include it. It did have the option of paying $20 but since it seemed somewhat steep, we settled for a cafe across the street for rolls and coffee.

    Ted was keen on seeing some of the sights that he hadn't seen previously. I wanted to show Ted the nearby Raffles hotel but clearly I should've done some research first, as the hotel was being renovated until the middle of 2019! We still looked through the gift shop at the expensive souvenirs.

    We then headed towards the Merlion, no doubt the most recognisable sight of Singapore. It seemed like every other tourist in town had the same idea too but it was still worth a visit. Since we didn't do it last night, we took the elevator to the observation deck of the Marina Bay Sands. The price also included a Singapore Sling cocktail at the top.

    The view was really amazing to say the least, and I thought it was worth the money. Ted wasn't keen on his cocktail due to the sugar content and for me, one was enough anyway. I almost bought the tourist photo taken but since we'd already spent enough money, ended up passing it up.

    My inner geek was keen to see the DC Super Heroes Cafe, so since it was nearby, we headed there to check it out. Of course I enjoyed it a lot more than Ted! It was really well set up with a restaurant, gift shop and a lot of merchandise. The effort used to construct it was impressive. I stayed to have a coffee there, and was tempted to steal the menu as well.

    Unfortunately this humidity has meant that I needed to do laundry again so we found a coin laundromat in nearby Chinatown whilst we explored the area. After returning to the hotel, Ted had a nap before we headed out to dinner. We found another cafe next door which offered breakfast before having a salmon salad (me) and Popeye's (Ted) for dinner at the nearby Cathay shopping mall.

    I was interested in seeing the new Aquaman movie so I stayed for the film and caught up with Ted afterwards. Ted wanted to go to a local venue so we caught the metro back into Chinatown to have a look around. The area wasn't as animated as we'd expected at night. and it turned out the venue was having a quiet night anyway! Since Tuesday nights weren't really a happening thing in Singapore, we came back to the hotel to chill instead.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Asian Christmas cruise
    Day 7

    At Sea

    December 19, 2018, Natuna Sea ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Today begins our cruise! Whilst I had a reasonable sleep, I fell ill during the night which was unfortunate. We went to the Mexican restaurant next door for a cheap breakfast before heading back to our room to pack up and chill out. Our check out was quite easy too, and we then took three different train lines to get to the cruise ship station.

    We got a refund on our train passes (just for handing them back in) before walking about ten minutes to the cruise ship terminal. When we booked this cruise, the agent said there was a chance we could get an upgrade. Sadly that didn't happen, as we were still stuck with our obstructed view cabin! There seemed to be unlimited checkpoints before we finally boarded the cruise, which included having to surrender your passport. It seemed a but strange but I guess it's to ease the visa and immigration process for each port.

    Before exploring the cruise ship, we went to have lunch in the dining room. We unintentionally compared it to our previous cruise on Celebrity, and found Princess to be lacking in this area. Afterwards we explored more of the ship and we like the design of the common areas. Since we also prefer the design of our cabin, we decided we would stop comparing the two different cruise lines.

    When we went to the pre-departure safety demonstration in the Japanese Sushi Restaurant which took ages. We went up to the deck for the sail away party, but the Singaporean heat was so oppressive, we gave up that idea. One thing that was really nice were a group of carollers in the Atrium, which was a great welcome to the cruise.

    When we went for dinner, the number of vegetarian options are really limited, so I might have to be pescatarian during this cruise. In the evening, we headed to the LGBT meeting which surprisingly attracted 16 of us, from Australia, the United States and Mexico, organised by Richie, a Colombian who works on the cruise. One thing we really like about this cruise is a messenger system you can access on your mobile phone, making communication with your fellow cruisers easy.

    Ted and I explored more of the ship before going to bed, although tomorrow is a ship day, giving us more time to look around.    Read more

  • TravelerThe Asian Christmas cruise
    Day 8

    At Sea

    December 20, 2018, Natuna Sea ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    Today was a great way to settle into the cruise before we arrive at our first port tomorrow. The beds on the cruise are really comfortable, so we both had an amazing sleep last night. We have two independent tours lined up for this cruise but I haven't had the chance to meet the organisers yet, so I left notes for them at their staterooms.

    Breakfast didn't really stack up either, as both of us found few options to eat. When you're vegetarian or diabetic, your options are always limited! Ted was feeling woozy today from the ship movements, so he needed to lie low today. I went to an acupuncture workshop which didn't provide a free session and then headed to trivia which I almost won!

    The ship seemed to be vibrating quite a bit, so after checking out our boarding photo, headed back to the room to relax. The movie under the stars was Black Panther but it wasn't so easy to watch with all the screaming kids in the pool underneath! I had a vege burger at the pool restaurant where we met a couple from the UK, Mark and Richard.

    We went back to trivia in the evening (almost won again!) before trying out the formal dinner. The meal was really quite good, and it removed the temptation to overindulge like we do in the buffet restaurant. But as it turned out, we ended up going back to the buffet later when we were still hungry!    Read more

  • TravelerThe Asian Christmas cruise
    Day 9

    Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

    December 21, 2018 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    This morning I thought we should try the formal breakfast option to see if we would like it. We were seated at a table with couples from Australia, the USA and Switzerland. I liked the breakfast as the setting was relaxed and the food options were varied, but I think Ted preferred the buffet as it is easier for him to find diabetic options.

    We had a later arrival into Kota Kinabalu so I went to morning trivia and lunch before packing a bag to join our day excursion. Our tour was shuffled into the ship's theatre before departing the boat. We boarded a bus before heading first to the Tun Mustapha Tower, and Sabah State Administrative Centre which is a government office complex. They are both examples of modern architecture in the city.

    We then headed to the City Mosque, also known as "The Floating Mosque", as well as the Sabah State Mosque for some impressive outdoor photos. When we were given the option to visit the markets, they didn't look even slightly appealing, so Ted and I decided to hang out at a nearby Starbucks to relax in air conditioning, have a coffee and use the wifi.

    Afterwards we headed to the Sabah Museum which also included an outdoor display of culture and the traditional way of life. We found the outdoor display much more interesting as it included a blow dart display and the types of housing the natives used, and decided to forego the museum altogether.

    To be honest, we didn't find Kota Kinabalu particularly interesting, and we were looking forward to re-boarding the boat for a buffet dinner. That evening we tried Movies under the Stars again with the film Tomb Raider. I thought the film was boring but Ted liked it. I headed to a Hollywood Trivia night instead with a group of new-found friends which was a lot more fun. Another ship day tomorrow!    Read more

  • TravelerThe Asian Christmas cruise
    Day 10

    At Sea

    December 22, 2018, South China Sea ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    Today was a nice relaxing ship day, which are well spread out on this cruise. We also gained an hour by crossing time zones, meaning the day was even longer! We had breakfast this morning with Mary and Beth from Michigan before I went to try out the coffee bar with a view of the ocean. Unfortunately just like Celebrity, the coffee on this ship is horrible too!

    Ted and I headed up to have some more to eat before going to morning trivia with Chris. The three of us managed to win, and each won a Princess water bottle as a prize (Mary and Beth turned up late and also scored the prize). One bad thing about cruising is that, while the room was being cleaned, we headed back upstairs to eat - even though we weren't hungry!

    We thought we could continue our success by similarly going to afternoon trivia but there were too many players and we weren't successful a second time. When we went for dinner at the buffet that evening, I was able to practice my Spanish with a Mexican waitress who was really helpful.

    Thanks to the on-board messaging system, I was able to organise drinks for our LGBT group back at the Wheelhouse before some of us headed up to the Skywalker Bar afterwards. I didn't enjoy the bar much as the boat was really rocky tonight and the bar was swaying somewhat. I might need an extra day to get my sea legs!    Read more

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