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March 2024
  • Tui Snider
  • Tui Snider

March 2024

An open-ended adventure by Tui Snider Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 1, 2024
    Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Fremantle Wandering

    March 2, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 88 °F

    We had a fun day in Fremantle. If we’d had more time, we could’ve popped up to Perth, as well, but we spent the day exploring “Freo” as locals call it, instead .

    I enjoyed watching the pilot embark onto our ship during our morning walk, as you can see.

    I took gobs of photos during our walk through Freo’s West Terrace Cemetery, but hardly took any during our walk around the city center. Maybe it’s because the market was so crowded?

    The market was lively, but wowza, was it a tight squeeze. I just took it all in and kept my bag tight. Had to snap a pic of the didgeridoo player though.

    We eventually found a sidewalk cafe on a side street where we enjoyed some iced coffee. I like how they often add a scoop of ice cream to these in Australia. Really hit the spot!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Aborigine Welcome Dance

    March 3, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    A shuttle bus in Fremantle took us from the port to the heart of town. We arrived just in time to watch a local Aborigine group perform several dances.

    As always, I thoroughly enjoyed the didgeridoo.Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
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    Fremantle Cemetery

    March 3, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    Considering that it’s “the most visited grave in Australia,” Bon Scott’s monument is surprisingly humble.

    As AC/DC’s original singer, and despite lyrics proclaiming, “forget the hearse, cuz I never die,” Scott tragically drank himself to death in 1980.

    Cremation was not approved by the Catholic church until 1963. Even then, they frown upon ashes being scattered, preferring them to be buried instead.

    Bon Scott’s ashes are buried along with many others in a small remembrance garden, so it took a while to find.

    The flat monument is covered with grave goods befitting a rock star such as beer caps, booze bottles, and an AC/DC candle.

    There are a couple of info plaques near his grave, as well. One provides a mini bio of Bon Scott, along with a QR code for more details, while another reminds fans to be respectful when they visit his grave.

    In places, the vegetation at West Terrace Cemetery is quite lush. The oldest section, however, reminds me of scraped graveyards I’ve seen in the USA. I didn’t come across any groundskeepers, alas, so I couldn’t ask about that.

    The cemetery has a pretty walking trail, with more signage and QR codes. I had a printed copy of the map from the Visitor’s Center, too.

    I need to invest in a good pair of binoculars, because once again the birding here was excellent, and I swear a couple lorikeets were following Larry around the place!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
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    Lingsar Temple

    March 7, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    Pura Lingsar is a temple complex in Lombok Island’s village of Lingsar.

    Lingsar means “clear revelation from God,” in the local Sasak tribe’s language. “Pura,” meanwhile, comes from a Sanskrit word for "walled city" or "palace.” (It’s a word you’ll see all over Indonesia in connection to temples.)

    Pura Lingsar dates back to 1714 and the grounds include a couple ponds and a spring, all of which are considered sacred to the Sasak tribe.

    On our way in, we noticed locals fishing. Later, we visited another pond where sacred eels dwell. If you see one of the eels, it means your wish will be granted. (Apparently, vendors sometimes sell hard boiled that you can use to coax the eels out with, but there were none around during our visit.)

    We did, however, pay a visit to Pura Lingsar’s artesian well, which our guide called the fountain of youth. Splashing water on ourselves was certainly a much needed cool off.

    After this refreshment, our guide instructed us to say thank you to our mothers. “You must be thankful to momma because you would not be here without her.”

    He also explained what the different colored cloths symbolize. Black and white checkered cloth stands for the balance between mankind’s dark and light forces, for instance.

    Pura Lingsar is multi-denominational temple, with areas for Balinese Hindus as well as followers of Lombok’s syncretic religion of Wektu Telu, which combines Islam with the Sasak tribe’s ancient animism.

    Local street vendors chased us from the parking lot to the shrine entrance, which made it hard to listen to our guide at times, but we figured that was all part of the experience here.

    With 490 tribes, and just as many languages and dialects, the cultural mix of Indonesia has my head spinning.
    There is so much to learn!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Cultural Influence as Intense Dialogue

    March 7, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F

    We were greeted at the museum in Mataram with gamelan music, drinks, and yummy little snacks.

    We enjoyed the museum, but it was a lot of info to take in. According to our guide, Indonesia is made up of over 490 tribes, and everywhere you go, there is a wide range of cultural influences. There are over 70 dialects on Lombok Island alone. It’s a lot to take in!

    When traveling, my motto is, “Shoot first, ask questions later.” I shot pics of the museum’s info plaques so I could read them later.

    We were surprised to learn what the colorful rocking horses are for. Traditionally, after Sasak boys are circumcised, they are put on these horses “to comfort them.”

    Below are some snippets from the museum plaques. I love how they call the various cultural and influences “an intense dialogue.”

    “The native inhabitants of the island of Lombok, which is also known as Gumi Sasak, are of the Sasak ethnic group …

    Not a lot is yet known about who the Sasak people were and where they came from, except for fragments of archaeological information from the prehistoric era …

    In the times that followed, different ethnic groups, such as the Balinese, Javanese, Bugis, Banjar, Melayu, Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese and so forth, came to Nusa Tenggara Barat by stages and in alternation.

    The same happened with religions and beliefs; at the very beginning were animism and dynamism, then the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism, Christianity (in Donggo, Bima) and lastly Islam.

    The difference between the two islands, each with its own community and cultural identity, is the intensity of the dialogue with the arrival of external cultures which influenced them.

    The Sasak community in Lombok chose to have an intense dialogue with Bali and Java, whereas the Samawa and Mbojo communities on the island of Sumbawa had a more serious dialogue with the Bugis of South Sulawesi.”

    TRADITIONAL HOUSE
    The traditional house of Sasak tribe is called Bale. It usually has square shape,
    pole, wall and alang-alang roof.

    The traditional house in Museum
    Negeri Nusa Tenggara Barat is called
    "Bale Gunung Rata" that as one very small window.The purpose of making
    small window is to avoid the thief comes.

    in to the house using the window.
    It also avoid the Sasak girl goes out without permission from the parent.

    JARAN KAMPUT
    Original plaque:
    It is used to comfort the circumcised Sasak boys who also called "Praje Sunat". The "praje sunat" are seated on
    "Jaran Kamput" - like horsemen and couple of people carried them in a parade around village.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Welcome to Lombok

    March 8, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    The locals rolled out the red carpet for us on Indonesia’s Lombok Island. Our ship was serenaded with gamelan music, drummers, and a traditional dancer.

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Lombok Drive

    March 8, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    We enjoyed a scenic drive on Lombok Island. There wasn’t a lot of traffic, and it was mostly cars and scooters, but we also passed a few horse drawn carts along the way.

    As our guide explained, “That is a small horse, not a donkey. Indonesians are small people, so God in his great wisdom gave us small horses.”

    Rice fields abound on Lombok, so we passed many fields. Some rice was recently harvested, as evidenced by the woman we saw spreading using a push broom to spread out some rice on a sheet to dry. (I took that as a weather forecast, as well. After all, they wouldn’t dry rice on a rainy day, would they?)

    Unlike neighboring Bali, Lombok’s citizenry is mostly Muslim and Wetka Talu (a syncretic blend of Islam with the local tribal animism), along with a smattering of Balinese Hindus. (Bali, on the other hand, is mostly Hindu.)

    We passed a lot of mosques and temples on our drive.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Parade of Schoolkids

    March 8, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    Our tour bus got caught in a traffic jam, but it was caused by school kids, not cars!

    Our guide wasn’t sure what the parade was all about, but he said it was “kinda like a wedding, but not really.”

    He went on to explain that the Sasak people of Lombok Island have an old tradition where the groom kidnaps his bride to be. They sneak off together, and when they return, the family has a big procession like this in the streets.

    So we don’t really know what the kids were celebrating, but just like everyone we saw around the island, they were quick to a smile, and many of them waved at us as we passed by.

    I got a kick out of the one wearing Chuck Taylor tennis shoes!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Lombok Crafts Market

    March 8, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    Our tour took us to a crafts market where vendors sold locally made crafts.

    A gamelan band played at the gate while two men engaged in a traditional “stick dance” that seemed more like some form of combat to me.

    I got a lot of mileage out of the simple phrases I’ve learned from Indonesian crew on the ship by saying “good morning,” “how are you,” and “thank you.”

    I’m able to use Google translate for Indonesian, too, since they use the same alphabet.

    We chatted with some vendors and bartered for a few handmade souvenirs. As we drove away, a bunch of kids waved to our bus.

    Our next stop was a fancy pearl store. We took a quick look, but spent most of our time watching a calf try to befriend a skittish dog.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Happy Birthday to me!

    March 9, 2024 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    Had a lovely birthday aboard ship!

    Wound up with two cakes, though, because both Larry and our sweet tablemates, Thelma and Clive, requested cakes for me.

    Two cakes mean two wishes, though, so I’m not complaining! We shared the excess with nearby guests as well as the crew.

    I had two wonderful surprises for my birthday, as well. While waiting in the theater for the show to start, Clive, who is a professional magician, gave me a mini show as a gift.

    Not only is he a member of the prestigious Magic Circle, but he has won several close up magic competitions. I love close up magic, so it was a real treat.

    The second surprise was a cute photo from our grandkids wishing me a happy birthday. So sweet! I miss those little munchkins.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    A “Fine” City

    March 11, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    I’m no hooligan, but anytime we visit Singapore, I’m on my best behavior. No jaywalking, for instance.

    With numerous laws and harsh penalties (which even include caning) it’s simply not a good place to bend the rules.

    For example, a cruise director once warned us not to chew gum while ashore, as it’s banned in public and carries a hefty fine.

    Here are a few signs while we were out and about in Singapore recently.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Singapore’s Little India

    March 11, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F

    Even though we’ve visited the city-state of Singapore several times, we have definitely not run out of things to see and do there.

    This time around, we finally had a chance to explore Little India. My to do list included finding a Parrot Fortune Teller, but the sights and sounds overwhelmed me and I completely forgot this quest! Next time…

    We did, however, end up chatting with two men who operated a little storefront. They had all sorts of questions about cruise travel and the USA. Meanwhile, we were curious about their shop and how things were before and after covid.

    It was hot, humid, colorful and intriguing. I would have enjoyed more time there, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Singapore still has so much for us to see and do!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
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    Kopi C & Historic Cemeteries

    March 11, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F

    Our plan was to take the Hop On Hop Off bus to Singapore’s Kampong Glam neighborhood, then find a coffee shop where could enjoy some Kopi C Peng, a local treat that’s very similar to Vietnamese iced coffee.

    We wound up having espresso with iced cream which, while tasty, isn’t quite the same thing. Oh, well!

    Thus refreshed, it was time to find Singapore’s Old Malay Cemetery. Along the way, we passed a coffeehouse called Penny University.

    Years ago, I had a coffeehouse of my own called the New Bohemian. After it closed, however, I sometimes daydreamed of opening another coffeehouse and calling it Penny University!

    Why? Because that’s an old nickname for English coffeehouses. Back in the day, you could buy coffee for a penny, and get an education from all the learned folks there.

    Next time I visit Singapore, I’d definitely like to visit Penny University.

    Google steered us to the Old Malay Cemetery, which is tucked behind a bus stop on a busy street and surrounded by tall buildings.

    As of this writing, I don’t know the meaning behind the green, white, and yellow cloth. More items for my research file!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
    Saw this guy taking my photo, so I snapped one of him and waved!

    Hoho in Singapore

    March 11, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 90 °F

    Quick! Look at your zipper. Does it say YKK? Finally seeing a YKK store after seeing it on zippers my whole life was a Singapore surprise.

    We were passing on a bus, but next time I’d like to go in. I wanna ask them about, “Little pants, big difference.”

    Not sure why, but it took forever to get off the ship in Singapore, and by “forever,” I mean 5 1/2 hours!

    The first 3 hours we spent on the ship, waiting for the huge throng to thin out. Once we joined the queue, it took us a full 2 1/2 hours to get through the immigration line at the port.

    As a result, we weren’t able to make the most of the Hop On Hop Off Bus this time around.

    Even so, it was a scenic trip and I’d like to take it again. Maybe sometime when there is an overnight stay here.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
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    Penang Cat Cafe

    March 12, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    Years ago, I toyed with the idea of opening a coffeehouse that also had a small bookstore and petting zoo out back. Most folks I shared this idea with told me I was an idiot. (But back then, I did not have the best support system around me, haha!)

    Anyway, I’ve wanted to visit a cat cafe for ages. I finally got my chance in Penang and it did not disappoint!

    Cat cafe rules vary from venue to venue. Many make you pay by the hour, but the one in Penang simply requires you to order food and/or drinks.

    Larry and I shared a duck curry and an amazing dessert called Yuzu Bingsu, and we each enjoyed an iced caramel espresso.

    I was there for the cats, but wow! The food was excellent. They also had free WiFi, which meant that Larry, who is definitely not a cat person, was content to read the news and scroll Facebook while I enjoyed the kitties. Also, there was absolutely no litter box smell.

    The food was inexpensive, too. Our curry, for instance, cost roughly $6 in US dollars!

    The Yuzu Bingsu was quite a surprise. It was a bit like a snowcone, except that the ice was much finer. It was more like snow, in fact. They gave us little shovels to eat it with, as well as a citrusy syrup to pour on top. It was nice and tart, not overly sweet, at all, and had little citrus micro spheres along with fresh grapefruit inside it.

    It really was the most refreshing treat to have on a sweltering day in Penang.

    As for me, I had a lovely time playing with the kitties. It sure made me miss my cat, however. None of those cats loves me the way Miss Otis does and vice versa.

    I’d definitely visit Munchkind and Friends again if we ever return to Penang.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Phuket Scenery

    March 12, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    Here are a few things we saw while driving to and from the Elephant Sanctuary in Phuket.

    The sign for “Tourist Attraction” cracked me up. So generic!

    I was surprised at all the places advertising cannabis. Unlike other Asian countries, Thailand seems to be fine with pot.

    A barber shop we passed had quite a cultural melange in its window display. As always, we saw a few large posters of Thailand’s royal family here and there.

    I don’t know what those bird beaked creatures are all about, but I find them rather scary and intriguing.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
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    Exploring Penang

    March 13, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    Despite the sweltering heat, we enjoyed exploring Penang’s Georgetown neighborhood, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    I really wanted to free one of the caged birds we saw along the way, however. The poor thing was out in the bright sun, with no available shade!Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Graves in a Frangipani Grove

    March 13, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    We took the free CAT Bus in Penang to the nearest stop to the Old Protestant Cemetery.

    The grounds are well-kept, but since the first gate we found was padlocked, we wound up entering through a part of the wall that had caved in.

    The burial ground is tucked in a shady grove of frangipani trees. As you can see, I tucked some of the fragrant blossoms into my hat band. (Look closely and you can see that I have sweat right through my hat, as well. It was such a hot and humid day!)

    I saw a strange little creature on the corners of a sarcophagus. It reminds me of these little piggy looking creatures that I saw all over town. Once again, something to research later!

    I also so many different kinds of butterfly here, as well as a moth that was the size of my hand. Really fascinating place.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
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    Dragon Full Moon Party

    March 13, 2024, Strait of Malacca ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    In Penang, the ship had a “Dragon Full Moon Party.” Oddly enough, the lunar phase that evening was a waxing crescent, which you can see if you look closely at my photos.

    We enjoyed a lively conversation with Alan and Susan (friends we made through the choir class) along with cool beverages, and a glorious sunset.Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler
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    Ladyboys of Phuket

    March 13, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 91 °F

    For our stop in Phuket the Simon Cabaret Ladyboys came aboard, and boy did they ever deliver an energetic show!

    What is a ladyboy? Basically, Ladyboys are transgender men who dress and live as women. The Thais have their own word for it, but “Ladyboy” emerged as a term to explain things to Westerners. It’s not a derogatory term, Ladyboys are an accepted part of Thai society.

    Why is that? Some say it’s because the Buddhist religion is more accepting. That said, same sex marriage isn’t legal in Thailand, nor are they allowed to change the sex on their IDs, even if they’ve had surgery.

    (Update: Same sex marriage is on the ballot in Thailand!!!)

    And not all Ladyboys are cabaret dancers. We saw one working at the elephant sanctuary, and another as a cashier.

    Anyway, the Ladyboy show was a blast. To me, it felt like a lively celebration of womanhood. I enjoyed all the glitz and glam.

    Afterwards, the Ladyboys received a standing ovation and people rushed up to have photos taken with them.

    I waited ‘til the last minute, but as you can see, the Ladyboys are tall. They stand a good head taller than me!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

    March 14, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    Our dinner companions, Thelma and Clive, joined us for a trip to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.

    As we drove to the sanctuary’s grounds, we passed a latex farm, where we could see little cups catching the rubber as it drips. I’m always surprised by how thin rubber trees are.

    Once we arrived, the employees sat us down for refreshments. While we enjoyed fresh banana fritters and other snacks, we watched an eye-opening documentary about the mistreatment of elephants.

    I didn’t realize, for instance, that when you see elephants seemingly painting pictures for fun, they are actually being forced to do so by a trainer who covertly pokes them in the ear with a sharp nail. And that’s just one example of how elephants are exploited and mistreated.

    The residents here are all elephants that have been rescued from bad circumstances.

    The highlight of our visit was feeding fruit to the elephants. They spend most of the day eating leaves, but fruit is a special treat for them, rather like dessert.

    I really enjoyed making eye contact with our elephant while feeding her. As you can see, Larry just as delighted as I was.    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    We took a tuk tuk!

    March 17, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    I downloaded a special rideshare app called PickMe for our visit to Sri Lanka. It’s like Uber, except you can also book tuk tuks and motor scooters.

    Thus prepared, we stepped off the ship. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to connect to any cell services in Sri Lanka. Larry occasionally got one bar of service, but the app was all set up on my phone, so we couldn’t use it.

    We wound up booking a tuk tuk the old-fashioned way, when a man approached us and asked if we needed a taxi. Larry negotiated with him and off we went.

    I’d never been in a tuk tuk before, and it was a blast! Despite the hot day and heavy traffic, I wasn’t scared. Our driver, Indika, knew how to maneuver that little machine, with the open air providing a much-needed breeze.

    I don’t really enjoy over-crowded cities, but our tuk tuk trip turned it into a fun whirlwind of sights, sounds, and smells.

    I didn’t realize that even the police use tuk tuks. At one point, we even saw a couple men handcuffed together. One of them sat on the other’s lap as they were taken to jail!

    After wandering through a historic cemetery for a couple hours, we were ready for refreshments, so Indika took us to a lovely coffee shop where Larry bought drinks and pastries for the three of us.

    At Indika’s insistence, we dropped by Victoria Park to see the elephants. L&I found it a rather sad scene, however. The mahouts were shooting rocks at crows with slingshots for fun, and laughing cruelly anytime they got close.

    We could have fed and pet the elephants, but I didn’t want to tip those mahouts, and was sad to see that the elephants there had both their front and back legs chained.

    I was excited to see a brightly colored kingfisher there, and rather puzzled to see a crow with a pack of cigarettes…

    I’d rather expected our tuk tuk ride to be scary, dirty, and hot, but was pleasantly surprised, instead. I’d definitely book a tuk tuk again!    Read more

  • Tui SniderMarch 2024Traveler

    Arthur C Clarke Grave

    March 17, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    It’s probably a good thing that I didn’t read about the venomous snakes of Sri Lanka before our visit to Borella Kanatte cemetery in Colombo!

    Sticking to the paved paths is the safest bet, but we were searching for Arthur C. Clark’s grave, and this required much wandering through the grass.

    Our tuk tuk driver, Indika, is Catholic, but he can read and speak Singhalese, so he was able to interpret many of the epitaphs for me along the way.

    After the Catholic section, we wandered into the Buddhist section, where my favorite mausoleum featured skeletons, elephants, swans, and the traditional Buddhist wheel.

    Indika showed me the grave of a famous Sri Lankan “sing song lady” whose monument is shaped like a sitar.

    After an hour and a half, Larry finally found Arthur C. Clark’s grave. There was still a lot more to see, but by then we were melting from the heat, so we hopped back into Indika’s tuk tuk and went to a coffee shop.    Read more

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