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World Cruise: Paul and Donna
  • Where are Paul and Donna
  • Donna Gruhn
  • Where are Paul and Donna
  • Donna Gruhn

World Cruise: Paul and Donna

A once in lifetime opportunity, turning dreams and fantasies into reality. Meer informatie
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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 70: Ogoh Ogoh Bali Festival

    1 maart 2024, Indonesië ⋅ 🌧 86 °F

    “Extra-sensory-overload” -> I learned this term the first time I jumped out of an airplane over 30 years ago. Your mind just can’t handle all the input you are taking in at once, That is what happened today on our excursion in Bali.

    I learned to drive on the South East Expressway in Boston Massachusetts - I have driven tour buses when I was in college — there is NO WAY IN HELL I would have driven a bus through Indonesia today during the Bali New Years celebration. The traffic was totally crazy. The bus drivers deserve a medal.

    Millions of scooters like locust were every where. I saw 4 people on one scooter more than once. Driving in flip flops, with small children. Totally crazy, So you park your scooter, then later you went looking for your scooter - where the heck did we park it? Yeah, mine’s the black one.

    The people were very friendly - they smiled and waved when I took their picture from the bus window. The young girls all dressed up for the parade. The excitement was Mardi Gras and New Year’s Eve In Time Square rolled up into one. I would love to have time to walk the streets and experience and take in everything. This is a photographer’s heaven.

    The architecture was lovely and sacred, the plants were amazing. My senses were over-loaded at times - I wanted to hide - but the energy of the day was thrilling,

    I did get to a point where too many vendors were in my face - How many times do I have to say NO? I did buy 2 hand fans, and two shirts. Donna got a pair of lovely pants that look tres chic on her.

    Tomorrow we have a private all day tour for the two of us for only $75. I am looking forward to a more controlled experience.

    While my senses were overloaded with the energy of the festival and over one million people all jammed in one place - We could not have picked any better day in the year to experience Bali.    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 71: Balinese Artist at Work

    2 maart 2024, Indonesië ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    We were in Bali for three days. On the second day we hired a taxi cab driver to take us round Bali. Since we were docked we knew we didn’t have to get back to the ship at any certain time. Travel tip: “Make sure your driver speaks good English.” Our driver was barely okay in his English. However, he did give us a wonderful day, in spite of the language barrier.

    One of the stops we made was at an Art Cooperative (of which there are many in Bali). I really became enthralled with Balinese Art, especially the attention to detail and the use of color.

    When we arrived an artist was sharpening his bamboo brushes, each with different style tips. I watched him prepare his tools, mix his color, and start to apply the color to the canvas. He first took the color he had mixed off of the palette and put it on his hand - from his hand he applied the paint to his bamboo brush, then onto the canvas. The attention to detail was mind-blowing.

    We moved on to view the works in the many rooms of the coop - which seemed to go further and further back - I was amazed by everything I saw. You know art is special when you feel the energy from it as you view it. So many of the pieces transported me to different places and emotions. I could have spent hours - days in this magical place. I know they are selling their work to the many tourists who happen by - To me this was so much more inspiring then the formal settings of ‘The Met’ or ‘MoMa’ in New York City - which Donna and I are members and love to visit when we can.

    Upon leaving I stopped by the artist to see how far he had progressed - you can see the last photo. This was one of those unplanned moments which I will never forget.    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 72: Benor (Denpasar), Indonesia

    3 maart 2024, Indonesië ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    We explored rice fields, art, food, festivals, and the back roads of Indonesia.

    For the art alone I would love to go back and study with some of the artisans in this country.

    Also, the saying in Indonesia is “Unified in diversity.” I really think this country really understands the difference between church and state - better than we do in the United States.Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 75: Java Sea Day, Karimata Island

    6 maart 2024, Natuna Sea ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Yesterday around 6:00 PM we left port; Semarang (Borobudur), Indonesia heading towards Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Vietnam. This gives us a couple of sea days. One would think I should be able to catch up on my blogging.

    Here is today’s schedule:

    7:30 - Get up, take a shower, head towards World Cafe (Deck 7) for breakfast. I need to get up earlier like I did at the beginning of the cruise.

    8:00ish - Breakfast with Brian & Sue - I finally got my first taste of Vegemite. Brian was happy to give me a taste from the stash Sue carries in her purse. So, not only was this my first taste of Vegemite - most likely it may be my last taste as well. Brian says, “It’s an acquired taste.” He’s right!

    9:15 Head to The Restaurant (Deck 2) to be sure to get a seat for the 10:00 AM Calligraphy Workshop. People were already there when I got there 45 minutes early. Already with only a couple of hours of practice Donna and I are slowly getting better.

    11:00 Attended an informational meeting about our upcoming Mekong Delta overnight excursion in Vietnam in The Torshavn (Deck 2)

    11:45 Paul goes back to The Restaurant to get on the list for today’s Wool Felting class - Making Turtles - we must return by 12:30 or loose our spot.

    11:53 Paul & Donna head to the World Cafe (deck 7) for a very quick lunch.

    12:19 iPhone Alarm goes off - get Chocolate Cookies for Gail (our felting instructor). Yes, sucking up to the felting instructor pays dividends. She can be bought with Chocolate Chip cookies.

    12:28 With a huge leap over tables, I crossed the finish line and located a table, by the window, at The Restaurant (Deck 2). Then we started learning how to make our turtles. We will finish them up tomorrow.

    (1:00) We could have attended a Desert Wine Tasting - but signed up too late for today’s and are on the waitlist for the next one. And felting with Gail is more important to us over tasting wine. We get to taste wine every day - 24 x 7 if we want.

    2:30ish Felting class is over - Donna wants to get some steps in and I land at the Glass Table (Deck 8) in the Explorer’s Lounge and get to work on some posts.

    3:19 That is what time it is RIGHT NOW as I am writing these words.

    Today’s Crystal Ball: So, I think the plan is to get caught up on a couple of the back due blog posts, most likely dinner at the World Cafe, unless I am told otherwise, then attend the 9:00 PM show with Jennifer Gray in the Star Theater.

    I have attached a couple of pictures of our Sea Day sailing the Java Sea. We are at -1.89480 Long. 108.74611 Latitude. It’s gray skies, raining on and off, with calm seas.

    I did miss a few of the other offerings on ship during a sea day. The Spa, Dance Classes, Lectures, find a quiet place and read, play cards with friends, there are tons of things to do.

    3:39 PM. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

    All of a sudden 10 of the Neptune Supermodels appear from the door behind me (on Deck 8) . Under the fine leadership of Christian the Ship’s Gemologist leads a showing of over $ 1,000,000 dollars of jewelry to the audience below on Deck 7.    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 76: Learning about Desert Wines

    7 maart 2024, South China Sea ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    Today we attended a session on “Desert Wine Tasting” under the leadership of Sommelier, Goran Prosic and his team.

    We explored five different desert wines.

    You know when they hold up a glass of wine and look at in the light - what are they looking for? Color is the first thing, the other thing I learned today is does it stick to the side of the class as you tilt it and tilt it back. If it does it will most likely be a thicker more full bodied wine.

    Also learned pairing a nice wine with that fruit cake you got given for the holidays can help the fruit cake go down in a nice way.

    There were a couple of dry wines that really surprised those of us who might not prefer a dry wine that when it is paired with the right fruity desert it creates a pleasant balance to the palette.

    Also a sweet desert chocolate cake can be paired with a drier wine. If the desert is sweeter the wine can be more tart, and visa versa if the desert is more bland you can perk up the tasting experience with a fruitier wine.

    Color, Nose, Palette, Linger are key areas we explore and judge as we taste each wine. I staff is doing an excellent job, teaching us about each wine and what to look for as we taste them.

    I think many of my sense buds are lacking - I find it hard to smell (nose) the differences others can sense.

    What I tend to enjoy the most is when a wine is “complex” (Another cool buzz word to use) that it has different flavors happening on your palette.

    It is funny to watch others when they taste something they clearly don’t like. We have all experienced that at one time or another.

    There really is an art to pairing wines with the different parts of a meal. Donna and I are truly a newbies in this arena. But, we are enjoying the lessons.    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 76: Cruising South China Sea

    7 maart 2024, South China Sea ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    Another jammed packed Sea Day traveling the South China Sea towards Viet Nam, we arrive tomorrow. We will be there for four days.

    Breakfast, Laundry, Calligraphy Class, Lunch, Felting Class, Desert Wine Tasting Class, unplanned nap due to wine tasting class, dinner, Academy of Mixology: Rum class, A great show with Ben Mills. To those back home you may notice a trend of eating & drinks & eating & drinking — rinse and repeat.

    Another jammed pack day. Looking forward to exploring Ho Chi Minh City tomorrow afternoon. Then two days in the Mekong Delta.

    I was born in 1956, High School Class of 1974 - 1956 was the last birth year of the draft numbers - the date of that drawing was March 12, 1975. My draft number was 319. I was fortunate to miss the draft. The last draft call was on December 7, 1972 until it was resumed in July 1980 for men born in 1960 and later.

    To those onboard who are not visiting Viet Nam for your first time and came here back in the 60’s & 70’s a sincere “Thank you for your service.”    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 76: Academy of Mixology: Rum 1:3

    7 maart 2024, South China Sea ⋅ 🌙 81 °F

    So we are continuing our life long learning as we attend today’s Mixology Session on Rum. We learned how to make; Blue Hawaii, Daiquiri, and Shark’s Tooth.

    Everyone attending is having way too much fun.

    I needed to create three separate posts so I could include all the photos of everyone making and drinking their course work.

    This first post is of the wonderful display on the bar the staff created for the event, also the recipes for each of the three drinks, and a video of drone shots flying over the display.    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 76: Meet Oscar “Ozzy” Thomas Wilson

    7 maart 2024, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    On March 7, 2024 our first Grandchild came into the world. Meet Oscar “Ozzy” Thomas Wilson. 7 lbs. 20”. Red hair like his daddy.

    Once we get home the next excursion is to Indiana to meet Ozzy.

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
    The Viking Sky our Sister Ship

    Day 77: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    8 maart 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 93 °F

    We had four days and three nights in Viet Nam.

    Day One, Friday, March 8th we arrived after lunch time, and the shuttle service was very poorly planned. They only had 4 buses scheduled to go at certain times. the first bus at 3:00 pm was full with an overflow of 20 people wanting to get on. We got on the 4:30 shuttle. To end up in the city, at 6:40 pm. The bus we rode in on became the 7:00pm shuttle back to the ship. We never got off the bus. The traffic is crazy. I personally feel Viking dropped the ball on this one.

    Viet Nam traffic was the worst of any of the cities we visited. 4 and 5 people on a scooter. More scooters than people. Traffic in Viet Nam is a great example of fluid dynamics in motion.

    Day Two & Three we did the Mekong RIver Delta Over night . It was fabulous. See other posts.

    Day Four we did the Viking included excursion around Ho Chi Minh City and got some good pictures on that day.

    Knowing what we know now. We should have gotten a hotel and stayed in the city, We would have seen move of the city. I do think Viet Nam is easily a two week holiday. To be able to capture both the excitement of the city and the peacefulness of the country.

    Several wise people who did stay in the city were able to get outfits and suits made in 24 to 48 hours. That would be a thing we would do if we ever went back.    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
    Waiting for the pontoon boat to take us to the island.
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    Day 78: Azerai (Part 1)

    9 maart 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    Donna and I - along with about 70 other Viking Neptune passengers - took the Mekong Delta Overnight excursion. I have a bunch of photos from the last day and we aren’t even finished yet.

    This set of photos is us arriving at the Azeria Resort Island. Yes, our resort is on an island we had to take a pontoon boat to get there and check-in. It was actually nice to spend a couple of days on land. We had a suite with a view of the river, very luxurious.

    The pictures are as follows: Pontoon Boat Ride to Island, pictures of the property, our Suite, the view from our suite, and the video at the end is really cool - Now Donna wants these installed in our bedroom when we get home.    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna

    Day 79: Fried ball - Sticky Rice

    10 maart 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 91 °F

    Donna and I did the Mekong Delta over night excursion, over-the-top amazing. Our guide Vin was excellent, Rodrigo was Viking’s support staff he went over the top helping people. It was like 6-7 mini-excursions wrapped up into one big tour. The Azerei Island Resort was amazing.

    But, this was just plain cool ….

    On the way back to the ship on day two we stopped at the “Mekong Rest Stop.” It is a very nice stop to get a toilet break, a nice meal, and souvenirs.

    I jumped ahead a bit and I saw this man making Fried Ball - It was just fun looking. I knew I would want one of these with our meal.

    Brian, Sue, Donna, and I sat down and ordered a lunch of spring rolls, rice, and I insisted on getting a Fried Ball - they looked at me like I had 4 eyes. They didn’t trust me for a minute. However, they didn’t see what I had seen earlier. I do wish I watched the whole process from beginning to end.

    We ate our lunch, the spring rolls had a different style wrapper that tasted wonderful not the heavy fried style you are use to being served. Then finally our Fried Ball arrived.

    How the heck are we going to eat this? The waitress took out a pair of scissors, and cut it into pieces and folded them one to a small plate. Some of the pieces had sticky rice in between. She also served us the a plate of the sticky rice that was in the bottom of the ball.

    The taste was a wonderful sweet desert. Brian, Sue, and Donna all apologized to me for having their doubts and not trusting me. It is an amazing desert. If you ever have the opportunity to try a Fried Ball & Sticky Rice don’t hesitate.

    #myvikingstory    Meer informatie

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  • World Cruise: Paul and Donna
    Sunset video as we leave Viet Nam
    Sunset as we leave Viet NamFinally won at Five Crowns.The tanks that chrashed throught the palace gatesThe CIA Building where the last Americans were evacuated from Viet NamThe Palace Gate which the tanks crashed through

    Day 80: Sunset - Leaving Viet Nam

    11 maart 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    We had four days in Viet Nam, each day had its own special set of events. Later I will be posting a bunch of different posts from our Viet Nam experiences.

    Right now the Viking Neptune is sailing south towards our next stop in Thailand. As a group of us played cards “Five Crowns” - Happy to announce I finally won! It’s my first time winning.

    More importantly, we watched the sunset in the west. I made a short time-lapse video (18 seconds) it’s kinda cool to watch. It did give a peaceful moment of reflection to think about our time in Viet Nam as the sunset over Viet Nam.

    I am sure for many of us who visited our feelings are all mixed emotions. Some of you served here many years ago. Others like me were fortunate to have the draft eliminated when it came our time to get called.

    During today’s excursion we did stop at the Palace where the two tanks crashed through the gates as a gesture of power - an “In your face” statement. The tanks are still there off to the right hand side of the palace.

    We also saw the CIA building which is famous for the photos of the helicopter taking the last Americans out of Viet Nam. Remember not everyone got to come home - I wore a MIA bracelet for some time. It’s sad I forget the name on the bracelet. Seeing these places made it more real for me.

    I have friends back home in Connecticut which served. One of my college roommates, Rex, served.

    Most of us can agree - war just doesn’t make sense. It seems like every country we have visited has their own war stories.

    When will history actually teach us - nobody really wins?    Meer informatie

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