DAY 87 - MUMBAI, INDIA - APRIL 24, 2010 (TAJ MAHAL)

ALTHOUGH THE SHIP WAS NOT SCHEDULED TO DOCK UNTIL 7:00 AM, OUR DAY STARTED AT 4:45. THE ADVENTURE FOR TODAY IS AN EXCURSION TO THE TAJ MAHAL IN AGRA, INDIA, OVER 1000 MILES AWAY. ALSO ON THE AGENDA ARE VISITS TO FORT AGRA AND THE MAHAL SHERATON HOTEL FOR TEA AND LUNCH. WE CAN’T ACCOMPLISH ANY OF THESE TREASURES UNTIL WE HAVE BREAKFAST AND CLEAR IMMIGRATION. WHEN THE IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES GIVE CLEARANCE TO THE SHIP WE ARE FREE TO LEAVE.

CLEARANCE CAME AT 7:30 AND WE WERE ON OUR BUS, ALONG WITH THE OTHER FOUR BUSES, TO THE MUMBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WE RECEIVED OUR BOARDING PASS JUST BEFORE ARRIVING IN THE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE THE AIRLINE TERMINAL. OUR GUIDE LED US TO THE FRONT DOOR, WHICH WAS GUARDED BY MILITARY MEN ARMED WITH AK47 MACHINE GUNS. MAKING OUR WAY INTO THE TERMINAL WE WERE MET BY AN AIRLINE EMPLOYEE WHO SHOWED US TOWARD THE SECURITY LINE. WE NEVER SAW OUR GUIDE AGAIN AND EVERYTHING WENT SOUTH FROM THAT POINT FORWARD.

THE SECURITY PROCESS WAS LIKE NO OTHER WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. THE LADIES LED IN ONE DIRECTION AND THE GENTS IN ANOTHER. EVENTUALLY WE WERE REUNITED ON THE GATE SIDE OF SECURITY. UNFORTUNATELY OUR BOARDING PASSES DIDN’T INDICATE THE GATE AND IT WAS ONLY WITH THE HELP OF A FEW AIRPORT EMPLOYEES WE MADE IT TO THE GATE.

THE FLIGHT WAS A CHARTER AND THEREFORE WAS NOT LISTED ON ANY OF THE MONITORS. NONE OF THESE LITTLE OBSTACLES INSTILLED ANY CONFIDENCE THAT A PLANE WAS IN FACT WAITING FOR US. MANY IN OUR GROUP HAD NOT COMPLETED THE SECURITY PROCESS BUT THOSE THAT HAD WERE INSTRUCTED TO BOARD THE SHUTTLE THAT WOULD TAKE US TO THE PLANE. THERE ARE NO JETWAYS IN THIS MUMBAI TERMINAL.

THE RIDE TO THE PLANE WAS SHORT, WE EXITED THE BUS AND AFTER THE AIRLINE EMPLOYEE REMOVED HER PORTION OF THE BOARDING PASS SEVERAL PASSENGERS BEGAN THE LONG CLIMB UP THE STEPS TO THE PLANE. ABOUT TWENTY PEOPLE HAD ENTERED THE PLANE. WE WERE THE NEXT IN LINE WHEN A MAN ALL WIRED FOR SOUND INFORMED US THE REMAINDER OF THOSE STILL WAITING TO BOARD WERE TO GET BACK ON THE BUS. THOSE ALREADY ON THE PALNE REJOINED US ON THE BUS. WE FOUND OUT FROM ONE OF THOSE WHO HAD ALREADY BEEN ON THE PLANE THAT THE PILOT HAD COME FROM THE COCKPIT AND COMMANDED THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT TO “GET THE PEOPLE OFF THE PLANE.”


WITH THE BUS AGAIN FULL, WE PULLED AWAY FROM THE PLANE FOR AN UNKNOWN DESTINATION. WE DROVE PASS A HALF DOZEN PLANES AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE AS IF THE DRIVER WAS WAITING FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN HOUR LATER, IN REALITY ONLY ABOUT TEN MINUTES HAD PASSED, THE BUS WAS MOVING TOWARD THE TERMINAL WE EXITED IN ORDER TO BOARD THE BUS. IT WAS NOT TO BE HOWEVER AS WE DROVE BY THE DOOR, CIRCLED THE ROUND-ABOUT AS WE HEADED FOR THE FAR END OF THE AIRPORT.

AT THE END OF THE PATH THE DRIVER MADE A U-TURN AND PROCEEDED UP THE RAMP STOPPING IN FRONT OF THE “ARRIVALS TERMINAL.” THE DOORS OPEN AND NOBODY MOVED EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER WAS MOTIONING TO EXIT. SEVERAL PEOPLE WEARING AIRPORT IDENTIFICATION SIGNALED FOR US TO GET OFF THE BUS BUT WE REFUSED. FINALLY ONE OF THEM APPROACHED THE BUS CHEERFULLY INFORMING US WE HAD REACHED THE ARRIVES TERMINAL AND OUR LUGGAGE WOULD ARRIVE SHORTLY.

AS CALMLY, YET AS LOUD AS WE COULD, SEVERAL OF US INFORMED HER WE WERE TRYING TO DEPART NOT ARRIVE AND WHAT IN THE HELL WAS GOING ON. LOOKING PUZZLED SHE SAID SHE WOULD RETURN WITH AN ANSWER AND TO STAY PUT. WITHIN A MINUTE SHE RETURNED WITH A YOUNG MAN AND HE INSTRUCTED US TO FOLLOW HIM INTO THE BUILDING AND HE WOULD INFORM US OF THE PROBLEM.

ONCE ASSEMBLED INSIDE THE TERMINAL AND BEFORE HE COULD GET OUT A WORD WE PELTED HIM WITH QUESTIONS, INCLUDING WHERE WERE THE OTHER HUNDRED FIFTY MEMBERS OF OUR GROUP. “THERE IS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIRCRAFT. PLEASE FOLLOW ME, YOU ALL MUST BE RE-TICKETED AND RETURN TO THE WAITING AREA.”

WHAT HE FAILED TO SAY WAS WE ALSO HAD TO PASS THROUGH THE SECURITY SCREENING ALL OVER AGAIN. NOT WANTING ANYONE TO FEEL LOST, OR GET LOST, I TOOK CHARGE AND HAD THE GROUP STAY TOGETHER UNTIL EVERYONE WAS RE-TICKETED. ONCE THROUGH SECURITY WE REJOINED THE GROUP AND BEGAN THE TEST OF ENDURANCE.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TOUR AGENCY MIRACULOUSLY APPEARED AND BEGAN CONVERSING WITH THE GATE ATTENDANTS IN A LOUD AND UNRULY MANNER. IT WAS ALL DONE IN HINDI AND NONE OF US COULD UNDERSTAND A WORD. FOR ALL WE KNOW, HE COULD HAVE BEEN ORDERING LUNCH OR TELLING A JOKE, BUT DOING IT IN A MANNER JUST TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE HE WAS DOING BATTLE FOR US.

TO MAKE A LONG STORY SOMEWHAT SHORTER WE WAITED OVER TWO HOURS FOR A NEW PLANE TO ARRIVE BEFORE HEADING FOR OUR PLANNED DESTINATION, THE TAJ MAHAL.

AT 2:00 WE LANDED AT A SMALL AIRPORT IN AGRA. ALTHOUGH THE SIGNS ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING INDICATED THERE WERE BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TERMINALS WE WERE REALLY AT A MILITARY AIRSTRIP AND INSTALLATION. ARMED SOLDERS WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS WATCHED AS EACH OF US EXITED THE PLANE AND WALKED TOWARD THE DOMESTIC TERMINAL DOOR. LARGE SIGNS INSTRUCTING PICTURE TAKING WAS PROHIBITED WAS STRATEGICALLY PLACED NEXT TO THE WALKWAY. WE DIDN’T HAVE TO CLEAR IMMIGRATION AND RATHER THAN HEAD FOR THE WAITING BUSES, WE HAD MADE A BEELINE TO THE RESTROOMS.

HAVING PERFORMED THOSE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE, AND GLAD WE WERE AS CLOSE TO THE TAJ MAHAL AS WE HAD EVER EXPECTED TO BE, WE BOARDED OUR BUSES, WITH NEW GUIDES, FOR THE THIRTY MINUTE DRIVE TO THE FABLED STRUCTURE. WE HAD TO TRANSFER TO SMALLER BATTERY POWERED BUSES TO GET WITHIN THREE-HUNDRED FEET OF THE EAST GATE OF THE TAJ. PASSING THE HUCKSTER OFFERING EVERYTHING FROM BOTTLED WATER TO LEATHER SANDAL SHOES, WE CLEARED MORE SECURITY, FRISKING AND ALL, AND FINALLY STOOD ON TAJ PROPERTY.

IN ORDER TO GET TO THE TAJ ONE HAS TO ENTER THE GROUNDS THROUGH EITHER THE EAST, WEST OR SOUTH GATES. HOWEVER TO SEE THE TAJ YOU HAVE TO EXIT THROUGH THE NORTH GATE. AS YOU WALK TOWARD THE HIGH RED STONE ARCHED NORTH GATE THE VIEW OF THE MARBLE MAUSOLEUM BEGINS TO COME INTO VIEW AT THE FAR END OF THE PROPERTY. I FOUND MYSELF LIFTING MY CAMERA HIGH ABOVE THE HEADS OF THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME, IN HOPES OF GETTING A PICTURE WHICH CREATED THE EFFECT OF VIEWING THE TAJ THROUGH A TUNNEL.

ONCE THROUGH THE ARCH THE HUGE WHITE MARBLE STRUCTURE CAME INTO FULL VIEW. I HAD SEEN PICTURES OF THE TAJ THAT WERE TAKEN FROM THE VERY SPOT IN WHICH I WAS STANDING. JUST LIKE THE PICTURE I HAVE SEEN MY EYES WERE IMMEDIATELY DRAWN TO THE LARGE WHITE MARBLE DOME PERCHED ON TOP OF THE MAUSOLEUM. SOMEHOW THE PERFECTLY MANICURED GARDENS NEVER COME INTO VIEW. THE LONG NARROW FOUNTAIN SEPARATING THE EASTERN AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE GARDENS WAS VOID OF WATER TODAY. WEEKLY MAINTENANCE WE WERE TOLD. HAVING WATER WOULD HAVE ENHANCED THE ALREADY AWESOME VIEW.

ONCE THE INITIAL GAWKING PERIOD ENDED EACH GROUP GATHERED WITH THEIR GUIDE AND HAD PICTURES TAKEN, BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A UNIT WITH THE TAJ AS A BACKDROP. WHEN THE PICTURE TAKING STOPPED OUR GROUP CHOOSE TO WALK TO THE MAIN STRUCTURE USING THE SHADY PATH ON THE FAR LEFT OF THE SUNNY CENTER ALSLE. NAV, OUR GUIDE COMMENTED AS WE WALKED. THE CLOSER WE GOT TO THE STRUCTURE WE BEGAN TO REALIZE HOW ENORMOUS IT ACTUALLY WAS.

THE MAUSOLEUM IS BUILT AT LEAST 15 TO 20 FEET ABOVE THE GARDENS. BUT BEFORE WE COULD CLIMB THE STAIRS TO THE MAUSOLEUM WE HAD TO PUT FABRIC CLOTH BOOTS OVER OUR SHOES. THE ALTERNATIVE WAS TO REMOVE OUR SHOES AS ALL THE INDIAN VISITORS DO. WE CLIMBED THE STAIRS AND HEADED FOR THE MAIN ENTRANCE. BEFORE ENTERING WE WERE REMINDED NO PHOTOS WERE ALLOWED IN THE MAUSOLEUM.

TWO TOMBS ARE LOCATED INSIDE, THE WIFE, FOR WHOM THE MAUSOLEUM WAS BUILT, AND THE HUSBAND WHO HAD IT COMPLETED AS FULFILLMENT OF HIS PROMISE TO HIS WIFE’S DYING WISH.

IT TOOK TWENTY-TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE, IS MUSLIM IN DESIGN AND THE STORY BEHIND IT HAS THE MAKING OF A GREAT CHIC FLICK. THE WIFE DIED AT AGE THIRTY-NINE FROM COMPLICATION IN GIVING BIRTH TO THEIR FOURTEENTH CHILD IN NINETEEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE. ONLY SEVEN OF THE CHILDREN LIVED. THE IRONY OF THIS GREAT LOVE STORY OF TWO PEOPLE IS OVER RIDDEN WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THE HUSBAND SPENT HIS REMAINING YEARS IN LIFE SENTENCED TO PRISON, BY HIS SON.

THE PRISON, FORT AGRA, IS LOCATED A FEW MILES AWAY. THROUGH THE CELL WINDOWS HE COULD ONLY LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE CREATED FOR HIS LOVING WIFE. THE MASSIVE RED STONE FORT WAS BUILT BY THE GRANDFATHER OF THE CREATOR OF THE TAJ.

IN JUST A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR IN ARRIVING AT THE TAJ WE WERE BEING LED BACK TO THE BUS. MORE BAD NEWS WAS IN STORE. THE LUNCH AND TEA SCHEDULED FOR THE MAHAL SHERATON WAS CANCELLED. THE STOP AT THE FORT WAS NOT LOOKING VERY GOOD, YET OUR GUIDE WAS WILLING TO TAKE US SHOPPING. (I SMELL FISH.) WE VOTED HIM DOWN. WE DID A DRIVE BY AS A PHOTO OPT, UNFORTUNATELY HE DIDN’T LET US OFF THE BUS.

WHAT WAS EVEN WORST, TWO BUSES HEADED STRAIGHT FOR THE AIRPORT, WE STOPPED LONG ENOUGH TO PUSH THE WINDOWS BACK AND TAKE PICTURES, WHILE ONE BUS LET THE GROUP OFF TO WANDER AND TAKE PICTURES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE HAD MORE UNHAPPY CAMPERS. HAPPY OR NOT, WE SOON ENTERED THE MILITARY BASE, EXITED THE BUSES, PASSED THROUGH SECURITY AND BOARDED THE WAITING PLANE.

AS WE TOOK OFF, THE SUN BEGAN TO SET, THE SKY TURNED A BURNT ORANGE AND WE ALL SETTLED IN FOR THE TWO HOUR FLIGHT BACK TO MUMBAI. AS WE APPROACHED THE MUMBAI AREA A SEA OF LIGHT COULD BE SEEN FOR MILES IN EVERY DIRECTION. THE LANDING WAS ROCKY AND IT SEEMED THAT IT TOOK FOREVER TO REACH THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COME TO A STOP.

YOU WOULD THINK THE RETURN BUS TRIP TO THE SHIP COULD NEVER BE AS EVENTFUL AS THE ACTIONS OF THE DAY...BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE.

THIS IS OUR SECOND TRIP TO INDIA AND I WASN’T IMPRESSED WITH THE DRIVING HABITS THEN AND STILL REMAIN UNCONVINCED THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DON’T DIE EVERYDAY IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. (THEY CLAIM THERE ARE VERY FEW ACCIDENTS) IN MUMBAI ALONE THERE ARE 55,000 TAXI CABS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BICYCLES, MOTORCYCLES, NOT TO MENTION THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF TRUCKS, BUSES, CARS, AND THE COWS THAT ARE FREE TO ROAM WHEREVER AND WHENEVER THEY SO PLEASE.

MUMBAI IS A 24 HOUR TRAFFIC JAM AND NIGHT DRIVING PRESENTS NEW CHALLENGES. MANY OF THE CABS DRIVE WITHOUT THE USE OF THEIR HEADLIGHTS. CARS AND CABS, AND SOMETIMES TRUCKS, STOP ALONG THE ROADS SIDES AND CONGREGATE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ANIMALS STILL ROAM THE STREETS AND THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS THAN IN THE DAYLIGHT. STORES FRONTS STILL OPENED AND PEOPLE MINGLE EVERYWHERE.

ON ONE OCCASION WE NEARLY SIDESWIPED ANOTHER BUS ONLY TO COME TO A SCREECHING STOP. AN ELECTRICAL WIRE DANGLED IN FRONT OF US WE HAD NO PLACE TO GO...SEEMINGLY. WILL WE MISS THE SHIP, WILL THE SHIP WAIT? WHAT TO DO? WITHIN THIRTY-SECONDS TWO LARGE TRUCKS MOTORED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION KNOCKING THE WIRE TO THE GROUND. AS WE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOWS YOU COULD TELL THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET CORNERS KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE SITUATION WAS AND JUST WENT ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS. WE, IN TURN, DROVE OVER THE WIRE AND HEADED FOR THE PORT.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I NEGLECTED TO MENTION TODAYS TEMPERATURE WAS 45 CELSIUS...THAT WOULD BE 110 FAHRENHEIT. HAVE A NICE DAY.

DAY 85 - AT SEA - APRIL 22, 2010

I DIDN’T MENTION YESTERDAY, THE MALDIVES ARE A MUSLIM COUNTRY. AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE SITUATION THE MUSLIM AND THE MORMONS HAVE A LOT IN COMMON. BOTH WANT YOU TO TURN FROM WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS THE WRONG WAY TO THEIR WAY. BOTH HAVE RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND DO’S AND DON’TS, LONGER THAN YOUR ARM.

THE MORMONS OWN STOCK IN ALL THE COMPANIES DEVOTED TO SINFUL THINGS, I.E., SMOKING, DRINKING AND GAMBLING AMONG OTHERS.

THE MUSLIM WOULD PUNISH ANYONE CAUGHT SUNBATHING OR SWIMMING IN PUBLIC, YET, THEY PROVIDE ENTIRE ISLANDS FOR SINNERS TO DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY DON’T BELIEVE IS PROPER. GO FIGURE.

DAY 86 - AT SEA - APRIL 23, 2010

TODAY IS ANOTHER RELAXING DAY AT SEA. WE ATTENDED THE PRESENTATION ON THE MUMBAI PORT CALL BY MARTYN GREEN. HIS TALKS ON OTHER PORT CALLS HAVE ALWAY BEEN INFORMATIVE AS WAS THIS ONE. HE HAS TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY AS A FORMER PILOT FOR BRITISH AIRWAYS. HE NOW DOES WORK FOR PRINCESS, MONTHS AT A TIME, GIVING PRESENTATIONS.

POINTS OF INTEREST AND HISTORY ALWAYS HIGHLIGHT HIS TALKS. IT IS INTERESTING THAT IN AS MUCH AS THIS WILL BE OUR SECOND TRIP TO INDIA, NO AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING PICTURES, WILL EVER REMOVE THE CULTURE SHOCK WHEN YOU HIT THE STREETS OF INDIA.

THIS AFTERNOON FRANKIE HELD AN INFORMAL PRESENTATION WHICH INCLUDED FIVE MEMBERS OF THE SHIP STAFF FROM INDIA. THE CULTURE IS SO DIVERSE ANYMORE TWO WERE CATHOLICS, TWO WERE HINDU AND ONE A MUSLIM.

DAY 84 - MALE, MALDIVES - APRIL 21, 2010

AS WE WAITED IN THE LOUNGE FOR OUR TOUR TO BE CALLED WE COULDN’T HELP BUT NOTICE THE LARGE GROUP WITH STICKERS ORANGE 1 AND 2. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 80 TO 100 PEOPLE GATHERED. OUR GROUP, IDENTIFIED AS SILVER 4, HAD ONLY 30. WE COULDN’T HELP BUT THINK WE HAD CHOOSEN THE WRONG TOUR, AS WE HAD THOUGHT ON SOME OF THE PREVIOUS TOURS.

THE LARGE GROUP WAS HEADED FOR THE “KUDA BANDOS RESORT ISLAND TOUR.” WE ON THE OTHER HAND WERE LINED UP FOR THE KUDA BANDOS ISLAND EXPERIENCE,” AN UNINHABITANT ISLAND IN THE CHAIN OF 1190 ISLANDS IN THE MALDIVES. BOTH TOURS REQUIRED BOAT TAXI RIDES OF AT LEAST FORTY-FIVE MINUTES BUT THEIR TOUR SOUNDED SO ELEGENT, THEY WERE GOING TO A RESORT.

OUR GROUP WAS CALLED AND WE HEADED FOR THE THIRD DECK AND BOARDED THE TENDER FOR OUR TRIP TO THE SHORE WHERE WE TRANSFERRED TO THE WATER TAXI. THE GROUP CERTAINLY SEEMED ENTHUSIASTIC AND YET WE HAD OUR DOUBTS. THE TAXI SLOWED AS WE APPROACHED A LARGE POOL OF DOLPHINS. EVERYONE MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE TRYING TO TAKE GOOD PHOTOS. I FOUND THE BEST THING TO DO WAS PLACE THE CAMERA ON THE “SPORT CONTINUOUS” SETTING. AS LONG AS YOU HOLD THE BUTTON DOWN IT WILL TAKE UP TO FORTY-FIVE PICTURES. I FIGURED I WAS BOUND TO CATCH THE LITTLE BUGGERS AT LEAST ONCE.

AS THE ISLAND CAME CLOSER THINGS BEGAN TO OPEN UP AND THE SURROUNDINGS WERE INVITING. AS WE EXITED THE BOAT AND WALKED TOWARD THE BEACH WE WERE MET BY WHAT SEEMED TO BE THE CUSTODIAN REQUESTING, MAKE THAT DEMANDING, $15 FOR EACH OF US BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE BEACH CHAIRS. THE GUY WHO COLLECTED OUR TOUR TICKETS WHEN WE BOARDED DID NOT ACCOMPANY US TO THE ISLAND. HAD HE BEEN THERE I DON’T THINK WE WOULD HAVE HAD ANY PROBLEMS. AS IT TURNED OUT ONE OF THE PASSENGERS, IN A VERY STERN VOICE, TOLD HIM OUR TOUR PAID FOR OUR SPACE ON THE ISLAND, AND HE HAD BEEN ON THE ISLAND BEFORE AND THERE WAS NEVER A CHARGE.

THE BEACH CHAIRS WERE LIMITED AND GEORGIA LED THE WAY TO A COMFORTABLE SHADY SPOT NEAR THE WATER. ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT THE SNORKELING TYPE OTHERS FOUND GREAT DELITE IN THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENT. WE ON THE OTHER HAND GOT READY TO ENTER THE CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER JUST A FEW FEET AWAY.

THE ISLAND WAS OURS, AT LEAST UNTIL THE NEXT BOAT ARRIVED, AND WE MADE GOOD USE OF IT. THE WATER WAS AS WARM AS ANY TROPICAL WATERS WE HAD EVERY ENCOUNTERED, THE BEACH SAND WAS WHITE AND SOFT AND ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SOME BROKEN CORAL AS WE ENTERED THE WATER IT WAS NOT A DETERRENT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

THE CLEAR WATER NEVER GOT ANY DEEPER THAN TWO FEET AND STRETCHED OUT ALMOST 125 FEET FROM SHORE BEFORE SUDDENLY DROPPING TO A DEPTH OF 20 FEET. IN A WORD IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, IN ANOTHER WORD IT WAS FABULOUS. A LONG TIME AGO I PICKED UP A FEW SCREEN SAVER SHOT OF THE MALDIVES FROM THE INTERNET SITE WEBSHOTS. NOW I HAVE MY OWN SHOTS.

GEORGIA AND I STAYED IN THE WATER ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE HEADING TO THE BEACH CHAIRS WHERE WE CLOSED OUR EYES AND LISTENED TO THE WATER GENTLY HIT THE CORAL ROCKS TO OUR RIGHT. OCCASIONALLY THE NOISE FORM A LARGE JETLINER APPROACHING THE AIRPORT INTERRUPTED THE TRANQUILITY.

WE CAN SAY ONE THING, FOR A SMALL ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, WE SAW SEVEN PLANES LAND IN LESS THAN TWO HOURS.

AS IN THE PAST, WHEN WE HAD DOUBTS ABOUT OUR CHOOSEN TOUR, WE MADE THE CORRECT CHOICE FROM THE VERY START. HOWEVER, AS IF TO SAY WE WERE WRONG, THE SHIPS POOL BECKONED SHORTLY AFTER LUNCH.

A SHORT NAP, NOT DINNER AND WORKING ON THE BLOG FINISHED OUT THE NIGHT. WE ANXIOUSLY AWAIT OUR TOUR TO THE TAJ MAHAL THIS SATURDAY.

DAY 81 - AT SEA - APRIL 18, 2010

IT IS NOT HARD TO LOSE TRACK OF TIME WHILE IN THE SHIP AND IT SLIPPED OUR MIND THAT TODAY IS SUNDAY. WE HEADED TO THE BUFFET FOR BREAKFAST AND FOUND VERY FEW PEOPLE SITTING AROUND EATING AND GABBING. ONE OF THE SERVERS ASK GEORGIA WHY SHE HADN’T GONE TO THE BRUNCH. “THIS IS SATURDAY” SHE REPLIED. THANKFULLY WE HAD NOT PLACED ANTHING ON OUR PLATES. WE HEADED FOR THE BRUNCH.

ALTHOUGH THERE WERE MANY DELECTABLE ITEMS TO CHOICE FROM, GEORGIA AND I BOTH CHOOSE ITEMS FROM THE GALLEY. FRESH BLUEBERRY PANCAKES AND EGGS BENEDICT, WHICH WE SPLIT. WHILE WAITING FOR OUR MEAL GEORGIA BROWSED THE DESSERT BAR AND DISCOVERED DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES AND BANANAS ON A STICK DIPPED IN THE SME DARK CHOCOLATE. WE PUT SEVERAL ON OUR PLATE AND TOOK THEM BACK TO THE ROOM FOR ANOTHER TIME.

AFTER AN HOUR OR SO WE WENT TO THE GYM AND WALKING ON THE TREADMILL. WE WANTED TO GET EXERCISE EVEN THOUGH WE DID PLENTY OF WALKING YESTERDAY. WE NEVER CONSIDERED WALKING ON THE DECK, IT IS ABOUT 95 DEGREES, THE HUMIDITY IS HIGH AND IT ISN’T WORTH KILLING YOURSELF UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS WHEN YOU CAN DO IT ALL INDOORS.

THE BIG ATTRACTION TODAY WAS THE SHOWING OF “THE KING AND I.” THE MOVIE WAS VERY APPROPRIATE AS WE HAD JUST COME FROM THAILAND, FORMERLY KNOWN AS SIAM. ABOUT 60 PEOPLE ATTENTED THE BIG SCREEN SHOWING.

WE WERE NOT PLANNING ON GOING TO THE EVENING ENTERTAINMENT BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE CHANGED OUR MINDS. WHAT FLEXIBILITY WE HAVE! THE COMEDIAN, RIKKI JAY, WAS BILLED AS “FAST, FUNNY, AND CALORIE FREE.” IT WAS JUST ENOUGH TO LURE US IN.

NOT ONLY DID HE TALK NON-STOP FOR FIFTY MINUTES, HE NEVER STOOD STILL. HE MOVED ABOUT THE STAGE CONSTANTLY. HE MIGHT BE CALORIE FREE, BUT WATCHING HIM MOVE AROUND ONLY MADE US TIRED...I DON’T THINK WE LOST ANY CALORIES. SO MUCH FOR THAT TYPE OF EXERCISE.



DAY 82 - AT SEA - APRIL 19, 2010

TODAY WE DID MUCH OF NOTHING. WE CAUGHT UP ON OUR E-MAILS, READ SOME OF GLENN BECK’S BOOK.GEORGIA WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE LAUNDRY AND WRITE MORE FOR HER BOOK.

WE HAVE BECOME VERY LAXED OVER THE WEEKS. FORMAL NIGHT CAME AND WENT AND WE DIDN’T CARE. WE CHOSE TO GO SWIMMING INSTEAD. RAMESH AND LOLITA ALSO SKIPPED, WE SAW THEM HEADING TO THE STEAM BATH. 

GEORGIA AND I WATCHED SOME OF THE NEWS, EVEN THAT HAS BECOME SOMETHING WE DON’T SEEM TO GET VERY INTERESTED IN ANY MORE. HOWEVER AS WE CAUGHT UP ON SOME OF THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THE ICELAND VOLCANO WE BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE MISSED IN THE LAST TWELVE WEEKS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL EARTHQUAKES IN THE LAST TWELVE WEEKS. WE WERE PUT ON WATCH BECAUSE OF THE TSUNAMI CAUSED BY THE CHILE QUAKE. YOU MAY RECALL OUR DOCKING IN SUVA, FIJI WAS DELAYED SEVERAL HOURS. SNOW STORMS HIT THE EAST COAST CAUSING DAMAGE AND DELAYS, 50 INCHES IN PGH. THERE WAS A CYCLONE IN THE PACIFIC, WHICH CREATED THIRTEEN DAYS OF ROUGH SEA, BUT WE DIDN’T ENCOUNTER ANY RAIN.

ALL OF OUR PORT CALLS WERE GREAT, NEVER A POOR WEATHER DAY. WE HAD REPORTS OF ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE WEATHER THE DAY BEFORE OUR ARRIVAL AND THE CALL FOR BAD THINGS ON THE DAY OF OUR PORT CALL. SEVERAL TIMES WE LEARNED THE WEATHER TURNED BAD AFTER OUR DEPARTURE OF A PORT. WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED. THE WORST WE HAVE HAD TO ENDURE WAS TEMPERATURES IN THE NINETY’S ON SOME OCCASIONS.

GINGER MENTIONED THAT GRANNY CALLED TO TELL HER THAT WE CALLED AFTER MIDNIGHT WHILE IN SINGAPORE. SOMEHOW GRANNY GOT THE IDEA GEORGIA WAS ALL GUN-HO ABOUT OUR TRIP AND I WAS READY TO THROW IN THE TOWEL. IT IS THE FURTHEST THING FROM MY MIND. BUT THEN AGAIN, GRANNY HEARS WHAT SHE WANTS TO HEAR AND TRANSLATES WHAT SHE HEARS INTO WHAT SHE WANTS TO BELIEVE THE SITUATION TO BE.

WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING HOME NEXT MONTH BUT ARE VERY SADDEN ABOUT ENDING THE CRUISE. AS W. C.FIELDS ONCE SAID, “YOU HAVE TO GRAB THE BULL BY THE TAIL AND LOOK THE SITUATION STRAIGHT IN THE FACE.” IN OTHER WORDS TRANSLATED FOR US, WE WILL HAVE TO FACE REALITY IN TWENTY-FIVE DAYS.

WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR MEALS, GAS, AND FOOD. THE GRASS WILL BE AS HIGH AS AN ELEPHANTS EYE, OKLAHOMA YOU KNOW, AND WEEDS WILL BE CREATING MORE WEEDS IN THE YARD, OR WORST YET IN THE NEIGHBORS YARD THEN MY YARD.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, WE GET TO START THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT GREAT ADVENTURE, WHEREVER THAT MIGHT BE. THE BUCKET LIST IS LONG AND GETS LONGER EVERDAY AS WE TALK TO OTHERS ABOUT THEIR ADVENTURES. IT IS AN EXCITING JOURNEY IN FIRST HAND EDUCATION.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT WAS ONCE ASKED OF WHICH OF HIS CREATIONS HE WAS MOST PROUD, THE NEXT ONE WAS HIS ANSWER. AND, SO IT IS WITH GEORGIA AND I, IT IS THE NEXT ONE THAT BRINGS NEW THRILLS IN THE PLANNING. I HAVE OFTEN SAID WE PLAN WAY MORE TRIPS THAN WE COULD EVER EXPECT TO ACCOMPLISH, BUT THE FUN IS IN THE PLANNING, AND PLANNING WE SHALL DO. WHAT THE HECK, IT DOESN’T CAST A DIME TO PLAN.

DAY 83 - AT SEA - APRIL 20, 2010

WE ARE ONE DAY AWAY FROM THE MALDIVES AND THREE DAYS FROM THE TAJ MAHAL. ALTHOUGH THE TRIP IS WINDING DOWN SOME OF THE BEST PORTS ARE YET TO COME. DUBAI AND THE MAN MADE ISLANDS, EGYPT AND THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS, ATHENS AND THE PANTHEON, SERRENTO AND THE ISLE OF CAPRI AND FINALLY ROME.

TODAY THE SEA IS CALM, THE SKY HAS AFEW PUFFY WHITE CLOUDS AND THE WATER IS BLUE AS CAN BE.

THERE IS NOT MUCH GOING ON TODAY, ALTHOUGH THE SHIP HAS PLENTY OF ACTIVITIES PLANNED. GEORGIA AND I, LIKE MOST OF THE WORLD CRUISERS ARE HAVING TO MUCH FUN DOING OUR OWN THING TO TAKE PART IN ALL THE GAMES. WE ARE RELAXED.

DAY 80 - PHUKET, THAILAND - APRIL 17, 2010

PHUKET YOU MAY REMEMBER IS THE SITE OF THE DEVASTATING TSUNAMI SEVERAL YEARS AGO. ALTHOUGH WE DIDN’T GO TO THE RESORT AREAS AND BEACHES WE HAD ONE FINE DAY ON OUR EXCURSION.

THE TOUR WAS CALLED “CHALONG WAT, SAFARI WITH LUNCH”, WHICH CAN OR CANNOT STIR ONES INTEREST. OUR FIRST STOP WAS THE SAFARI VILLAGE. THE DRIVE TO THE VILLAGE WAS LESS THAN IMPRESSIVE, THEY DRIVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR STARTERS, TONS OF TRAFFIC, FEW DRIVERS OBEYING THE LAWS, ALTHOUGH BETTER THAN INDIA, AND VERY NARROW ROADS ONCE LEAVING THE MAIN HIGHWAYS. OUR BUS AND A SMALL TRUCK HAD AN INCIDENT ON THE ROAD GOING BACK TO THE VILLAGE.

ONCE ON THE SAFARI GROUNDS THINGS LOOKED VERY ACTIVE, ALREADY A GREAT MANY PEOPLE TAKING PART FOR BEING SO EARLY IN THE MORNING. OUR BUS WAS THE FIRST TO ARRIVE, THERE WERE THREE IN THIS TOUR, AND WE WERE LED TO THE ELEPHANT SHOW. THE ELEPHANTS HERE ARE THE SMALLER ASIAN OR INDIAN AND NOT THE LARGER AFRICAN VARIETY.

THREE CHARMING LITTLE GUYS, THE WAY I LOOK AT IT THERE ARE NO SMALL ELEPHANTS, WERE LED INTO THE RING AS WE TOOK OUR SEATS. AS THEIR NAMES WERE CALLED THEY EACH RAISED THEIR TRUNKS AND BOWED THEIR HEADS. THEY KICKED SCOCER BALLS INTO A NET, SHOT DARTS AT BALLONS AND DUNKED BASKETBALLS ON COMMAND.

THE SHOW ENDED WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM OUR GROUP VOLUNTEERING FOR THE IMFAMOUS ELEPHANT MASSAGE. I HAVE TO BELIEVE IT IS IMFAMOUS BECAUSE THEY TOLD US SO. THE OBJECT IS TO LAY ON THE GROUND, FACE DOWN, A MAT IS PLACED ON YOUR BUM AND THE ELEPHANT TAKES ONE OF HIS LARGE FEET, IT’S BIGGER THAN YOUR BUM, AND TENDERLY MASSAGES YOUR BUTT AS HE RUNS HIS TRUNK OVER YOUR HEAD AND EARS. AS WE LEFT THE ELEPHANT SHOW WE TOOK PICTURES STANDING NEXT TO THE LITTLE GUYS.

THE MONEYS WERE NEXT WITH A LITTLE SHOW OF THEIR OWN. THEY RODE BIKES, DUNKED BASKETBALLS AND WALKED ROPES HOLDING UMBRELLAS. THEY RANGED IN SIZE FROM SMALL TO VERY LARGE. THEY ARE NOT HOWEVER AS BIG AS ORANGUTANGS. ONE OF THE LITTLE CREATURES WAS LABELED AS “SAFARI VILLAGE QUEEN FOR 2010” AND WAS A WILLING PARTICIPANT IN HAVE PICTURES TAKEN HOLDING YOUR HAND.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EXCURSION WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN...A THIRTY MINUTE RIDE ON AN ELEPHANT. WE CLIMBED THE LONG STAIRWAY TO THE PLATFORM BUILT FOR BOARDING THE ELEPHANT. EACH ELEPHANT HAS A LARGE METAL SEAT, ACCOMMODATING TWO PEOPLE, PLACED ON ITS BACK.

CLIMBING ABOARD IS NOT AS EASY AS ONE WOULD THINK. IT TAKES A GREAT AMOUNT OF GRACE, WITH THE AID OF TWO ASSISTANTS, GETTING ON TOP OF THE BEAST. (GETTING OFF IS EVEN WORST AND LESS GRACEFULLY ACCOMPLISHED).

GEORGIA AND I MANAGED TO GET ON TOP WITHOUT ANY MAJOR INCIDENT AND FOLLOWED THE FIVE COUPLES IN FRONT OF US. EACH ELEPHANT TAKES ORDERS AND COMMANDS FROM HIS PERSONAL KEEPER. THE ELEPHANT KNOWS HIS KEEPERS VOICE AND FOOT MOVEMENTS BEHIND THE EARS AND REACTS ALMOST INSTANTLY. OUR ELEPHANT MOVED THROUGH THE GROUP OF ELEPHANTS IN LINE FOR OURS IN OUR PARTY. HE SLOWLY HEADED DOWN THE LONG STEEP HILL WADDLING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND WITH EACH STEP GEORGIA MADE A FRIGHTENING SOUND. THE ELEPHANT KEEPER SOON PICKED UP ON GEORGIAS FRIGHT AND HELPED ENCOURAGE HER BY CONTINUALLY REPAEATING “OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD.”

AT ONE POINT, AS THE ELEPHANTS MOVED FROM THE DIRT ROAD TO A WATER FILLED TRENCH, OUR GUIDE MANEUVERED OUR ELEPHANT INTO POSITION TO TAKE ONE GIANT STEP INTO THE TRENCH. GEORGIA HELD ON FOR DEAR LIFE, TRYING TO STAY SILENT, BUT THE KEEPER STARTED WITH “OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD.” I FOUND IT QUITE FUNNY. GEORGIA, EVEN THOUGH FRIGHTENED TO DEATH, WAS HAVING TO MUCH FUN TO REALIZE HE WAS ENCOURAGING HER ACTIONS.

WE WALKED FOR A QUARTER MILE BEFORE REENTERING THE DIRT ROAD AND UP A DIFFERENT STEEP HILL WHERE WE STOPPED AND WAITED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE GROUP. WHILE WE WAITED I TURNED THE CAMERA TO TAKE A PICTURE OF OURSELVES WHICH THEN PROMPTED THE KEEPER TO INDICATE HE WOULD TAKE OUR PICTURE. BEFORE WE KNEW IT THE KEEPER OF ANOTHER ELEPHANT HAD OUR CAMERA AND HE SNAPPED AT LEAST A HALF DOZEN PICTURES. HE CERTAINLY KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING AS HE ZOOMED IN AND OUT FOR VARIOUS EFFECTS. THEY WERE SO GOOD WE NEVER GAVE MUCH SERIOUS THOUGHT TO PURCHASING THE PICTURES TAKEN BY THE VILLAGE PHOTOGRAPHERS.

WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE GROUP TO GATHER, ONE OF THE KEEPERS BEGAN YELLING “AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE.” WITHIN SECONDS THE REPLY CAME “OYE, OYE, OYE.” IT’S AN AUSTRALIAN THING WHICH WE HAVE EXPERIENCED BEFORE, ONCE IN AN AUSTRALIAN SLANG DISCUSSION WHILE ON THE SHIP AND ONCE DURING ANOTHER TOUR. ONE MAN INDICATED HE YELLED IT IN THE MIDDLE OF TIME SQUARE AND SURE ENOUGH THE REPLAY CAME BACK.

SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE GROUP BOUGHT BAGS OF BANANAS AND WHILE WAITING FOR THE OTHERS TO ARRIVE THE ELEPHANT SNIFFED OUT THE GOODIES AND BEGGED FOR TREATS. ONCE WE ALL GATHERED TOGETHER, WE BEGAN OUR TREK THROUGH A FOILAGED LINED PATH ON OUR WAY BACK TO THE LOADING STAND.

THE EXCURSION WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT IF IT HAD ENDED HERE BUT THERE WERE MORE THRILLS IN STORE. RUBBER TREES ARE IN ABUNDANCE IN THAILAND AND THE LATEX INDUSTRY THRIVES. WE WERE SHOWN HOW THE RUBBERY SAP IS EXTRACTED FROM THE TREES AND PROCESSED INTO LATEX SHEETS FOR SHIPMENT TO LARGE PROCESSORS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. IT WAS VERY EDUCATIONAL.

WE MOVED ONTO THE RICE FIELDS. WE WERE GIVEN A DEMONSTRATION IN THE PROCEDURES USED IN PLANTING OF RICE AND USE OF THE WATER BUFFALO IS IN THE OPERATION. HARVESTING RICE PRODUCES YET ANOTHER SET OF SKILLS AND PROCESSES BEFORE CONSUMPTION OR SHIPMENT...AGAIN VERY EDUCATIONAL.

THE ONE CONSTANT IN ALL THESE OPERATIONS IS THERE IS ALMOST NO MACHINERY USED, IT IS ALL MANUALLY PERFORMED.

AS WE FINISHED GAINING ALL THIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXITED THE DEMONSTRATION OX CARTS WERE WAITING TO TAKE US ON ONE FINAL JOURNEY. WHAT A WAY TO END THIS PORTION OF OUR TOUR.

NOT FAR FROM THE VILLAGE WAS CHALONG WAT. WAT MEANS TEMPLE. CHALONG IS ONE OF TWENTY-NINE VENERATED PHUKET BUDDHIST TEMPLES. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE SEEN OUR SHARE OF BUDDHIST TEMPLES ON OUR EXCURSIONS IN ASIA EACH SEEMS TO PRESENT NEW CHARACTERISTICS IN BUDDHISM. ALL THE BUDDHAS HERE WERE STANDING AND ALL HAD LITTLE CAPS WITH PEAKS. ALL WERE GOLD AND ORNATE. THE TEMPLE GROUNDS HAD SEVERAL SMALLER TEMPLES AND ONE ENTRANCE DISPLAYED THREE ELEPHANTS. WE WERE TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH THE ELEPHANT IS NOT WORSHIPPED IT IS HELD IN VERY HIGH ESTEEM AND IS SACRED.

ALL THE TEMPLES ARE COLORFUL AND HAVE ORNATE CARVINGS AND STATUES IN FRONT AND ON TOP OF THE BUILDINGS. THE PLACE WAS JAMMED WITH VISITORS AND WORSHIPPERS. FROM TIME TO TIME FIRECRACKERS WERE IGNITED TO CHASE OFF EVIL SPIRITS.

THE SMELL OF THE FIRECRACKERS AND THE INCENSE COMBINED WITH THE RISING TEMPERATURE PERSUADED GEORGIA AND I TO RETURN TO THE AIR-CONDITIONED BUS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED MEETING TIME. MUCH TO OUR SURPRISE, THE BUS WAS ALREADY HALF FULL. OUR COMPANION BUS WAS ALSO JUST ABOUT FULL.

WE WERE ALL HOT AND HUNGRY AND OUR NEXT STOP FILLED THOSE NEEDS. THE THAI CULTURAL CENTER CONTACTED AN OUTDOOR RESTAURANT WHICH COULD ACCOMMODATED THE WHOLE CREW.

THE SPRING ROLLS WERE CRISP, THE DEEP FRIED PORK WAS DELICIOUS AND THE CURRY BEEF AND POTATOES WERE SO SPICY IT SOAKED INTO THE RICE AND MADE BOTH UNEATABLE. WE ALSO HAD TEMPURA VEGGIES AND PORK ON A STICK AND THEY WERE GOOD ENOUGH FOR MY TASTE BUDS.

NO EXCURSION CAN BE ENDED WITHOUT A CHANCE TO SHOP AND OUR FINAL STOP WAS A LARGE JEWELRY STORE. THANKFULLY, ON THE SECOND FLOOR THERE WERE OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST. WE GOT AWAY WITH SPENDING ONLY $9. WHAT A BARGIN.

DAY 79 - AT SEA - APRIL 16, 2010

THE RAIN STOPPED SOMETIME DURING THE NIGHT AND IT WAS HOT, HAZY AND STICKY ALL DAY. THE SEA WAS VERY CALM. THE SHIP HAS BEEN INVADED BY 200 NEW PASSENGERS AND YOU CAN SEE THE FRUSTRATION ON SOME OF THEIR FACES AS THEY TRY TO LEARN THE LAYOUT OF THE SHIP.

OUR INTENT WAS TO SLEEP LATE BUT THE CAPTAINS MORNING MESSAGE WOKE US SHORTLY AFTER 9:00. WE STRUGGLED TO GET OUT OF BED AND DECIDED TO TAKE OUR CHANCES OF MISSING BREAKFAST BY ATTENDING THE PHUKET PORT CALL PRESENTATION AT 10:00. THANKFULLY THE TALK WAS SHORT AND BREAKFAST WAS HAD.

IT SEEMED LIKE THE IDEAL DAY TO WASH CLOTHES AS WE STARTED A NEW SEGMENT. HOWEVER, MANY OF THE WORLD CRUISERS HAD THE SAME IDEA. GEORGIA SAID THE ROOM WAS CROWDED AND ONE WOMEN WAS STANDING IN THE HALLWAY. WASHING PLANS HAD BEEN PUT ON HOLD.

EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON WE HIT THE TREADMILL AND EACH OF US WALKED OVER TWO MILES. FROM THE EXERCISE ROOM TO THE POOL FOR A PLEASANT COOLING OFF.

DAY 78 - SINGAPORE - APRIL 15, 2010

SEGMENT THREE ENDED WITH THE PORT CALL IN SINGAPORE FOR APPROXIMATELY 250 PASSENGERS. THANKFULLY WE WERE NOT AMONG THEM. WE ACTUALLY DREAD THE DAY THE CRUISE ENDS A MONTH FROM NOW IN ROME. THAT HOWEVER IS A STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY.

WE WERE UP EARLY TODAY AND BEFORE GOING TO BREAKFAST WE CALLED GRANNY FROM THE CABIN PHONE. WE HAVE AVOIDED USING THIS MEANS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE FAMILY BECAUSE OF THE COST...$5.00 PER MINUTE. IT HAS BEEN AWHILE SINCE WE LAST TALKED TO ANYONE, SYDNEY I THINK, AND WE FELT IT WAS TIME TO LET GRANNY KNOW WE WERE OKAY. WE ONLY TALKED FOR A FEW MINUTES TO LET HER KNOW WE WOULD CALL HER BACK AFTER WE FINISHED OUR TOUR. IT WOULD BE NOON HERE IN SINGAPORE AND MIDNIGHT IN PITTSBURGH. WE DIDN’T WANT HER TO BECOME ALARMED IF WE JUSTED CALLED OUT OF THE BLUE. FIRST THINGS FIRST, HOWEVER.

WE HAD TO COLLECT OUR PASSPORTS YESTERDAY IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE SINGAPORE CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATIONS AUTHORITIES. SURPRISINGLY THE PROCESS WENT VERY QUICKLY AND AS WE CAME THROUGH THE CUSTOMS DOORS, TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, WE WERE GATHERED IN GROUPS BY TOUR NUMBER. WE WERE IN THE SECOND BUS FOR OUR CITY TOUR.

THIS IS GEORGIA’S SECOND TRIP TO SINGAPORE AND MY FOURTH AND WE FELT IT WAS TIME TO SEE PLACES NOT ON OUR PREVIOUS TRIPS. THE TOUR SERVED OUR NEEDS QUITE WELL.

OUR FIRST STOP WAS MT FABER, THE SECOND HIGHEST PEAK IN THE CITY. DON’T LET THE MT. IN MOUNT, OR MOUNTAIN, FOOL OR MISLEAD YOU, AS THE PEAK IS ONLY 105 METERS OR 325 FEET HIGH. I THINK BROOKLINE QUALIFIES AS A MOUNTAIN AND WHO KNOWS WHAT TERM WE SHOULD USE TO DISCRIBE MOUNT WASHINGTON, OR EVEN BEECHVIEW. BUT, I DIGRESS AGAIN.

THE BIG ATTRACTION ON MT FABER IS THE CABLE CAR RIDE THAT TAKES YOU TO SENTOSA ISLAND. TWO THINGS WRONG HERE, FIRST, IT WAS NOT PART OF OUR ITINERARY AND SECONDLY, IT IS CURRENTLY IN A LARGE RENOVATION PROGRAM. THERE ARE NEW CABLES BEING INSTALLED AND LARGER CABLE CARS WILL REPLACE THE OLD CARS.NEVERTHELESS THE VIEW FROM THE PEAK WAS QUITE IMPRESSIVE. WE TOOK PICTURES IN ALL DIRECTIONS, THE CITY, SHIP YARDS, MALAYSIA, INCLUDING A FEW WITH MERLIN, THE MYTHICAL HALF MERMAID, HALF LION, SYMBOL OF SINGAPORE.

THE COUNTRY, SINCE GAINING ITS INDEPENDENCE IN 1965, HAS BECOME VERY PROGRESSIVE, MODERN AND A LEADER IN MANY ASPECTS OF BUSINESS AND COMMERCE. THEY CLAM TO HAVE OVERTAKEN HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI AS THE BUSIEST SEAPORT IN THE WORLD.

FROM THE “MOUNT” WE MEANDERED THROUGH SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE CITY, INCLUDING A DRIVEBY OF THE FAMOUS RAFFLES HOTEL, ON OUR WAY TO CHINATOWN AND THE INDIAN HINDU TEMPLE THAT SITS VIRTUALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHINESE DISTRICT. WE WALKED ALONG THE NARROW, CAR FREE STREET, OCCASIONALLY STOPPING TO LOOK AT THE MERCHANDISE. IT SEEMED TO ME THAT MOST OF THE SHOP OWNERS WERE NOT CHINESE BUT INSTEAD INDIAN. LIKE MOST OF THE STREET SHOPPING EXPERIENCES THIS ONE RANKS RIGHT DOWN THERE WITH THE REST OF THEM. (I DON’T LIKE THIS STUFF BUT GEORGIA ENJOYS IT)

THE TEMPLE WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING WE HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE. I BELIEVE, EVEN WITH OUR TRIP TO INDIA IN 2005, THIS IS THE FIRST HINDU TEMPLE WE HAVE EVER VISITED. ORNATE MIGHT BE A GOOD WORD TO USE IN DESCRIBING THE ARTIFACTS AND STATUES. THEY WERE EXTREMELY COLORFUL AND ALTHOUGH NOT LIFE SIZE, LARGE ENOUGH TO BE FILLED WITH LOADS OF DETAIL. PICTURES COULD ONLY BE TAKEN INSIDE BY PAYING A $3 FEE, YET, YOU COULD TAKE MORE THAN ENOUGH PICTURES OF THE OUTSIDE, THROUGH THE DOOR OR IRON FENCES. BOTH GEORGIA AND I ALTERNATED ENTERING THE FACILITY TO LOOK AROUND. THE BEST PICTURES WERE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WE SAVED $3. (NOW HOW MUCH WAS THIS CRUISE?)

THE FINAL STOP OF THE DAY WAS THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, SPECIFICALLY THE NATIONAL ORCHID GARGEN. THE DISPLAYS WERE EXCELLENT. THERE WAS A WIDE VARIETY OF ORCHIDS, IN VARIOUS SHADES AND SHAPES. WATERFALLS AND FOUNTAINS WERE STRATEGICALLY PLACED THROUGHOUT THE GROUNDS ADDING TO THE BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR SETTING. OUR STAY LASTED FORTY MINUTES.

GEORGIA AND I SHARED AN ICE CREAM CUP, WAY OVERPRICED, IN AN EFFORT TO COOL DOWN. IT WAS NOT QUITE NOON AND THE TEMP WAS ALREADY OVER THIRTY CELSIUS, MID NINETYS, AND IT WAS EXPECTED TO GO EVEN HIGHER. THE HEAT WAS DRAINING ALL OUR ENERGY AND WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK ON THE SHIP.

FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN’T GET ENOUGH SHOPPING COMPLETED IN ANY ONE EXCURSION, OUR BUS STOPPED AT SCOTT AND ORCHARD ROADS AND LET A FEW HARDY SOULS OFF THE BUS. OF COURSE THEY HAD TO GET BACK TO THE SHIP ON THEIR OWN. FOR GEORGIA AND I THIS CORNER BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF OUR TRIP IN 2005. THE MARRIOTT HOTEL IS LOCATED ON THIS CORNER, IT WAS OUR HOME FOR FIVE DAYS.

TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER WE WERE UNLOADING AT THE SHIP TERMINAL AND ALTHOUGH THE SHIP WAS THE DESTINATION, SEARCHING FOR A PUBLIC PHONE IN THE TERMINAL WAS OUR GOAL. AFTER TALKING TO GRANNY FOR FORTY-FIVE MINUTES WE CALLED SCOTT. IT WAS ONLY 10:00PM IN SAN FRANCISCO AND WE KNEW HE WOULD BE UP. AFTER THIRY MINUTES OF TALKING TO SCOTT, THE SHIP WAS IN SIGHT, BUT SHOPPING WAS ON OUR AGENDA.

SINGAPORE, LIKE HONG KONG AND SYDNEY, AND UNLIKE EVER OTHER PORT OF CALL, CATERS TO THE SHOPPER IN ALL CRUISERS. EVERYTHING CAN BE FOUND WITH MINIMAL EFFORT, CAMERA SHOPS, RESAURANTS, FINE DINING, FOOD COURTS, CHAIN STORES LIKE TOY R US, 711, AND MINI SUPERMARKETS. WE NEEDED MORE LISTERINE AND SO THE SEARCH BEGAN. SIXTY MINUTES LATER AND S$93, SINGAPORE DOLLARS, WE HEADED FOR THE IMMIGRATION CENTER AND THE SHIP.

BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE. THE SUBJECT OF EATING. HOT, SWEATY AND TIRED WE USED EVERY BIT OF ENERGY WE COULD MUSTER TO CLIMB ONE FLIGHT OF STAIRS TO SEEK NOURISHMENT. WOW IS THAT HEAVY. ACTUALLY IT BECAME DINNER, WE DO HAVE LIMITS YOU KNOW.

ALTHOUGH GEORGIA WANTED TO GO TO THE POOL THE EYES WERE SHUTTING AND SLEEP WAS IN ORDER. SO AFTER A SHORT NAP, ONE MUST DEFINE SHORT, GEORGIA HEADED FOR THE TREADMILL AND I FOR THE LIBRARY TO CREATE THE TEXT FOR THE BLOG. IT IS ALMOST 11:00PM AND IT IS CURRENTLY POURING CATS AND DOGS. THE RAIN IS PELTING THE LARGE PICTURE WINDOWS OF THE LIBRARY, FLASHES OF LIGHTENING AND THE ROAR OF THUNDER CAN BE SEEN AND HEARD. SURPRISINGLY THE SHIP IS NOT BOUNCING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE FINISHED THE NIGHT BY WATCHING “HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE” ON THE TV. WE ALSO ENJOYED SOME MILK AND COOKIES AS WE WATCHED.

DAY 76 - AT SEA - APRIL 13, 2010

THE SEA HAS BEEN VERY CALM FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND CRUISING HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL. THE HEAT HAS ALSO KICKED UP AND IS AVERAGING AROUND 90 FOR THE LAST TEN DAYS. SOME OF THE TOURS HAVE TAKEN ITS TOLL ON US, POOR BABIES THAT WE ARE, BECAUSE OF THE HIGH TEMP AND HUMIDITY. WE HAVE EVEN GIVEN UP EATING ON THE PRIVATE VERANDA ON DECK NINE.

WE TRIED OUR LUCK AT THE BINGO AGAIN IN MORNING SESSION, WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. WE HAD FUN AND CAME CLOSE A FEW TIMES BUT ALWAYS END A NUMBER SHORT. THE JACKPOT IS UP TO $2200.

I WORKED ON THE BLOG, GEORGIA DID EXERCISES AND WENT TO THE POOL. WE ACTUALLY MADE IT TO THE MAIN DINING HALL TONIGHT...WE WERE EVEN THE FIRST TO ARRIVE. I INADVERTENTLY PLACE TIAN JIANG AS THE ENTERTAINER LAST NIGHT. IT WAS TONIGHT.





DAY 77 - AT SEA - APRIL 14, 2010

ANOTHER RELAXING DAY WITH NOTHING TO DO...EXCEPT BINGO. NOBODY WON THE MORNING SESSION, $2400 AND THEREFORE SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO TAKE THE MONEY HOME TODAY. IT TOOK SIXTY NUMBERS TO DECLARE A WINNER IN THE AFTERNOON SESSION. THE LADY CARRIED OFF $2500.

THE THIRD SEGMENT ENDS TODAY. WE ARRIVE IN SINGAPORE IN THE MORNING. WE LOSE OVER 250 PASSENGERS. THEY SAY WE WILL GET THAT MANY BACK AND THE SHIP WE BE FULL AGAIN.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, WE MADE IT TO DINNER IN THE MAIN DINING ROOM AGAIN. OUR NEW WAITER AND HIS HELPER ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ORGANIZED AND DINNER IS ARRIVING LATER EACH DAY. SINCE COMING ABOARD HE HAS HAD THE FORTUNE OF SEVERAL PORT CALLS AND AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, LOTS OF FOLKS HEAD TO THE BUFFET FOR DINNER THOSE NIGHTS. WHEN WE ALL SHOW UP IT GETS A LITTLE HECTIC FOR THEM.

VICTOR MICHAEL MADE IS FINAL PERFORMANCE TONIGHT. HE REALLY HAS A GREAT VOICE AND RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION FOR HIS EFFORTS.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR RETURN TO SINGAPORE. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WE HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE A TOUR. HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER SEEN IN OUR PREVIOUS TRIPS.

DAY 75 - MUARA, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM - APRIL 12, 2010

THIS STOP PROVED TO BE MORE INTERESTING THAN WE IMAGINED IT WOULD BE, BASED ON YESTERDAY’S BORING MUSLIN EXPERIENCE. FIRST OF ALL OUR GUIDE, DANI, WAS EXCELLENT.

WE BEGAN WITH A SHORT TWENTY MINTUE RIDE TO THE BRUNEI ROYAL REGALIA MUSEUM. AS WE DROVE TO THE SITE, IN THE TOWN OF MUARA, DANI EXPLAINED THE GOVERNMENTAL WORKINGS OF THE COUNTRY OF BURNEI. FIRST AND FORMOST IT IS RUN BY THE SULTAN, A MUSLIM SOVEREIGN. THERE HAVE BEEN TWENTY-NINE SULTANS SINCE THE 1300’S. THE CURRENT SULTAN, AS CAN ALL PREVIOUS SULTANS, CAN TRACE HIS ROOTS BACK IN TIME TO THE RULING FAMILIES OF LONG AGO.

IN ESSENCES HE IS A KING AND IN BRUNEI HE PROVIDES ALL THINGS NECESSARY TO SURVIVE, EVEN THOUGH WE SAW SOME VERY POOR AREAS. BRUNEI IS THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. AS IT WAS EXPLAINED TO US, IMAGINE A LARGE PICTURE FRAME. THE PICTURE FRAME REPRESENTS THE ISLAND OF BORNEO. THEN IMAGE THE NAIL HOLDING THE FRAME ON THE WALL. THE NAIL REPRESENTS BRUNEI. NOW, GUESS WHERE ALL THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS ARE FOUND. HELLO, YOU GOT IT...BRUNEI. ESTIMATED TO BE ENOUGH FOR THE NEXT 350 YEARS.

ANYWAY, BACK TO THE TOUR. WE PASSED A HUGE BLUE DOMED BUILDING, A GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENT...EMPTY. WHY YOU ASK...BECAUSE THE CURRENT SULTAN MAKES ALL THE DECISIONS, WITH THE HELP OF TWENTY-ONE MINISTERS OF WHATEVER. THE PEOPLE LOVE HIM. BUT, I DIGRESS AGAIN.

THE MUSEUM HAS ALL THE REGALIA, INCLUDING THE CROWN JEWELS, SURROUNDING THE CORNATION OF THE SULTAN. THERE ARE REPLICAS OF THE LARGE CARRIGE USED TO TRANSPORT THE SULTAN, REQUIRES FORTY-EIGHT MEN, FROM POINT A TO POINT B IN THE PARADE ROUTE. UNIFORMS, SHIELD, SWORDS, SPEARS AND FLAGS.

THERE ARE MODELS OF THE SULTANS PALACE, OVER 1100 ROOMS, AND SO MUCH MORE. DANI LED THE TOUR AND KNEW ALL THE ANSWERS TO THE MULTITUDE OF QUESTIONS OUR GROUP ASK. ALTHOUGH WE WERE ONLY SCHEDULE FOR FORTY MINUTES WE WERE THERE OVER AN HOUR.

THE SECOND STOP WAS THE WET MARKET. I WAS EXPECTING PEOPLE ON BOATS OR SAMPANS HOWEVER IT WAS ON SOLID GROUND SURROUNDED BY WATER AND ACCESSIBLE BY FOOT BRIDGE. THERE WAS NO COOKING GOING ON, BUT PLENTY OF SPICE, VEGETABLE AND FRUIT STANDS. A FEW FISH STANDS WERE SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE MORNING SESSION WAS THE TRIP TO THE MAIN MOSQUE, THE ROYAL MOSQUE AS IT IS. THIS IS THE MOSQUE THE SULTAN ATTENDS. IN A WORD...BEAUTIFUL. THE STRUCTURE HAS A LARGE GOLD DOME, FOUR SMALL GOLD DOMES BENEATH THE MAIN DOME AND FOUR MINARETS WHICH STAND ALONE, ONE IN EACH CORNER OF THE BUILDING.

UNLIKE MOST MOSQUE’S THERE IS SEPARATE AREA FOR THE WOMEN, WHICH CANNOT BE ENTERED BY THE MEN. THE LARGER MOSQUE IS FOR THE MEN, HOWEVER IF ROOM EXSIST THE WOMEN CAN GAIN ACCESS TO IT FOR PRAYERS. THE WAY YOU CAN TELL IF THE MOSQUE ALLOWS SUCH ACTION IS TO LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE DOME. IF THERE IS A CIRCULAR MOON AND A STAR IN THE CENTER...WOMEN ARE ALLOWED IN THE MENS PRAYER ROOM. SO MUCH FOR LESSONS IN THE MUSLIM FAITH.

AFTER LEAVING OUR SHOES ON THE FRONT STEPS, AND FOR THOSE MEN AND WOMEN HAVING PLACE ROBES OVER INAPPROPRIATE CLOTHING, WE WERE GUIDED THROUGH THE AREA WERE THE PEOPLE WASH THEIR HANDS AND FEET BEFORE ENTERING THE MOSQUE. WE CONTINUED UP A LONG CURVED MARBLE STARCASE LEADING TO THE MOSQUE’S PRAYER ROOM, OR SANTUARY. LARGE WOODEN DOORS FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

ONCE INSIDE THE SANTUARY IT WAS EVERYTHING I HAD SEEN ON TV DOCUMENTARIES. ONE LARGE AREA WITH NO PILLARS TO OBSTRUCT VIEWS OF THE PULPIT. PRAYER RUGS COVERED THE ENTIRE FLOOR. THE FLOOR IS ABOUT 150 FEET IN DIAMETER. PRAYER RUGS COVER THE ENTIRE FLOOR, EACH PERHAPS FOUR FEET WIDE TO ACCOMMODATE THREE PEOPLE. WE WERE TOLD THE RUGS ARE ROTATED EVERY DAY. OUR GUIDE SAID HE CAN TELL WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK IT IS JUST BY LOOKING AT THE RUGS. THERE IS A NEW COLOR EVERYDAY. THE INSIDE OF THE DOME EXPOSED A LARGE GOLD CHANDALER. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS SOLID GOLD, EVERY INCH, AND WEIGHED OVER FOUR TONS.

THE MOSQUE IS CALLED JAME’ ASR HASSANAL BOLKIAH.

THERE WAS A MISHAP AS WE WERE LEAVING THE MOSQUE. ONE OF THE LADIES MISSED THE FIRST STEP AND FELL AND HIT HER HEAD ON THE MARBLE SIDEWALK. THE AMBULANCE WAS ON SITE WITHIN SEVEN MINUTES AND THEY HAD HER IN THE HOSPITAL VERY QUICKLY. THE MIRACLE...NO BROKEN BONES, NO CONCUSION AND ONLY SEVEN STITCHES IN HER HEAD. SHE DOES HAVE A GOOD SIZE BUMP ON HER HEAD. IT IS A WONDER SHE IS NOT DEAD.

AFTER HAVING LUNCH AT THE SHERATON HOTEL WE VISITED THE KAMPONG WATER VILLAGE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES LIVING IN THIS COMMUNITY. (THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE AREA ALSO.) SOME OF THE HOMES ARE RUNDOWN, BUT MOST ARE JUST MODEST AT BEST.

THE HOME WE VISITED, THE PINK HOUSE, HAD A VERY LARGE COVERED FRONT DECK AND SURPRISINGLY VERY LONG, BUT NOT NARROW, CONTAINING MANY ROOMS. GEORGIA STROLLED THROUGH THE HOME AND WAS AMAZED AT THE SIZE AND QUALITY OF THE OWNERS POSSESSIONS. THE LIVING ROOM HAD A MODERATE SIZED PLASMA TV, LARGE SPEAKERS, DVD, ETC., ETC. THE KITCHEN WAS LARGE AND MODERN.

AS GEORGIA AND I WALKED ALONG THE WOODEN PLANKS WINDING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY WE COULD NOT HELP TO NOTICE ALL THE TV DISHES ON THE ROOFS OF THIS EYESORE OF A COMMUNITY. I REALIZE THESE PEOPLE HAVE LIVED THIS WAY FOR PERHAPS CENTURIES, BUT IF THE SULTAN IS AS GOOD AS THE CLAIMS WHY DOESN’T HE HELP THEM TO PROGRESS INTO MORE MODERN FACILITIES. WHATEVER.

OUR STAY LASTED FOR OVER HALF AN HOUR. WE WERE WAITING FOR ANOTHER GROUP TO RETURN FROM THEIR BOAT TRIP UP THE RIVER. WHEN THEY DID ARRIVE WE FOLLOWED THE WOODEN PLANK WALKWAY TO THE BOAT LAUNCH FOR OUR RIVERBOAT ADVENTURE.

OUR GROUP WAS THE SMALLEST OF THE PASSENGERS ON THIS EXCURSION, ONLY ABOUT EIGHTEEN, AND WE WERE NOT CROWDED ON THE BOAT. WE HAD TO TAKE GREAT CARE IN GETTING ON THE BOAT AS THERE WERE TEN NARROW STEEP STEPS DOWN TO THE BOAT. THE BOAT WAS NOT TIED TO THE LAUNCH IN ANY WAY AND IT BOBBED CONTINUOUSLY. OUR WEIGHT HAD TO BE DISTRIBUTED EVENLY TO PREVENT TIPPING. THE SEATS FACE EACH OTHER AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR TAKING PICTURES.

ONCE ONBOARD THE DRIVER PLACED IT HIGH GEAR AND WE SPED THROUGHT THE WATER AS IF IN A RACE. WE PASSED SEVERAL LARGE BARGES AS WE TRAVELED UP STREAM. THE MANGROVE WAS GREEN AND LUSH AND UNLIKE THE MANGROVE IN COSTA RICA THIS SHORE LINE WAS FILLED WITH PALM LEAVES. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE TRIP WAS TO SEE MONKEYS.

WE TRAVELLED SEVERAL MILES UP STREAM, PULLING OVER INTO THE THICK BRUSH IN OUR QUEST FOR A MONKEY SIGHTING. THREE TIMES WE ENTERED THE BRUSH NEVER SEEING THEM BUT SEEING THE TREES BRANCHES MOVE WILDLY FROM MONKEY ACTIVITY.

OUR FOURTH ATTEMPT PROVED TO BE SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL. THE EXCITEMENT OF SEEING THE FAMILY OF MONKEYS ALMOST CAUSED US TO TIP THE BOAT. EVERYONE RUSH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND GREAT PANIC SET IN. HAD OUR BOATMAN TRIED TO MOVE THE BOAT, I’M SURE MANY OF US WOULD HAVE FALLEN INTO THE RIVER.

I BEGAN SNAPPING FRANTICALLY IN AN ATTEMPT TO CATCH ANYTHING IN A PHOTO. BEFORE WE KNEW IT THERE WERE SIX OR SEVEN MONKEYS WITHIN SIGHT. SOME WITH A CLEAR VIEW TO THE CAMERA AND OTHERS HIDING IN THE LUSH GREEN FOLIAGE. I’M HAPPY TO SAY THAT I HAD SEVERAL GOOD PHOTOS. I WILL NOT DIVULGE HOW MANY WERE DELETED. TWENTY MINUTES LATER WE WERE HEADING BACK TO THE WATER VILLAGE FOR OUR RETURN TO THE SHIP. IT WAS A GREAT TOUR.

WE DID MANAGE TO MAKE DINNER IN THE MAIN HALL TONIGHT. THE PIANIST FROM CHINA, TIAN JIANG, WAS PERFORMING AGAIN AND WE GOT TO THE LOUNGE EARLY FOR GOOD SEATS.

DAY 74 - KOTO KINABALU, MALAYSIA - APRIL 11, 2010

EARLIER TO RISE AND EAT. JIM MUNDELL PASTORED THE CHURCH SERVICE AGAIN THIS MORNING. THE SERMON CENTERED AROUND THE PERSON OF THE CHRIST. IT WAS A GOOD MESSAGE FOR ANYONE ON THE FENCE. JIM AND HIS WIFE BETTY LEAVE IN SINGAPORE. WE WILL SURELY MISS HIM AND HIS ABILITY TO PREACH.

ON THE ISLAND OF BORNEO, IN THE COUNTRY OF MALAYSIA, IN THE STATE OF SABAH YOU FIND THE CITY OF KOTO KINABALU ( KIN A BAL LU). THIS IS OUR PORT OF CALL. IT IS A SMALL PLACE, POOR, WITH BASICALLY NO INDUSTRY BUT TOURISM. THE COUNTRY IS PRIMARILY MUSLIM

OUR TOUR, KOTO KINABALU CITY TOUR, STARTED BY SHOWING US THE FIFTEEN STORY CIRCULAR GLASS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING TO THE LEFT OF THE PORT. IN AS MUCH AS IT WAS SUNDAY THE BUILDING WAS CLOSED, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RESTAURANT ON THE TOP, WE ONLY SPENT TEN MINUTES AT THE SITE.

AS WE HEADED FOR OUR NEXT STOP WE PASSED THE CITY MOSQUE, AN IMPRESSIVE BUILDING, BUT WE DIDN’T STOP FOR PICTURES OR ENTRY. WE WENT BY SO QUICKLY IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SNAP A PICTURE THROUGH THE BUS WINDOW. WE HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE, THE WATER VILLAGE, HOMES BUILT ON STICKS, AS WE APPROACHED OUR SECOND STOP, THE STATE MOSQUE.

THE MOSQUE IS AN EYE-CATCHER WITH THE BLUE AND GOLD CERAMIC TILE DOME. FIVE MINI GOLD DOMES SIT BELOW THE MAIN DOME. TO THE RIGHT OF THE MOSQUE IS A TALL MINARET, WITH A GOLD TOP IN THE SHAPE OF A DUNCE CAP. AT THE TOP OF THE DUNCE CAP WAS A GOLD MOON SHAPED OBJECT WITH A STAR IN THE CENTER.

WE WERE NOT PERMITTED TO ENTER THE MOSQUE FRO SEVERAL REASONS, ONE WE WERE NOT DRESS PROPERLY AND SECOND IT WAS SUNDAY. (THE REASONS MADE LESS SENSE AFTER OUR BRUNEI PORT CALL). THIS STOP LASTED ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES AS WE ALL ROAMED AROUND TAKING PICTURES FROM THE OUTSIDE.

THE SABAH MUSEUM WAS OUR NEXT ADVENTURE AND PROVED TO BE A BETTER EXPERIENCE. THE MUSEUM HAS AN INTERIOR SECTION WITH ARTIFACTS OF BORNEO’S HISTORY. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE MUSEUM ONE MUST REMOVE HIS/HER SHOES. WE DIDN’T DO THE INTERIOR. WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME IN THE VILLAGE AND LIMITED THE REMAINDING TIME AVAILABLE FOR VISITING THE INTERIOR SECTION.

THE OUTOOR VILLAGE CONSISTING OF SEVERAL HUTS PORTRAYING LIFE, AS IT WAS, IN THE PRIMITIVE DAYS OF BORNEO. THERE WERE HUTS FOR THE BOYS, SEPARATE HUTS FOR THE GIRLS, MEETINGS, COOKING, STORAGE AND THE MOST INTERESTING, THE SCULL HUT.

IN CASE YOU DO NOT KNOW, OR DON’T REMEMBER TAILS YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE COUNTRY, BORNEO WAS FAMOUS FOR BEING THE COUNTRY OF HEADHUNTERS.

THE FINAL STOP WAS A SORT OF CULTURAL EVENT, THE OUTDOOR MARKET. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SHOPS AND STANDS THAT SELL TANGIBLE ITEMS, WE SAW MOSTLY FRESH FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND FISH. THE AROMAS VARIED FROM DELICIOUS, TO DOWN RIGHT OVERCOMING AND GROSS. IF FOR NO OTHER REASON IT WAS AN EXTREMELY INTERRESTING PHOTO-OPT.

WE WERE TOLD THAT OVER 450 PASSENGERS WENT ON TOURS. AS THEY ARRIVED BACK AT THE SHIP MOST WENT TO THE BUFFET FOR DINNER AND AVOIDED THE DINING ROOM. I CAN’T EVER REMEMBER TRYING TO GET TO THE MAIN DINING ROOM AFTER SPENDING THE DAY TOURING. TODAY WAS NO EXCEPTION.

DAY 71 - CAI LAN, VIETNAM - APRIL 8, 2010 - (KI LAN)

WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT WE WOULD VISITED VIETNAM, ESPECIALLY NORTH VIETNAM. SEVERAL HUNDRED PASSENGERS TRAVELED TO HANOI FOR AN ALL DAY EXCURSION. THREE OTHER TOURS WERE OFFERED, WE CHOOSE THE ZEN MONASTERY AND THE RED RIVER DELTA.

CAI LAN HAS BEEN ONE OF ONLY THREE PORTS WHERE WE HAD TO BE TENDERED TO SHORE. AFTER THE SHORT TWELVE MINUTE TENDER TRIP WE BOARDED OUR BUS FOR AN EXITING RIDE TO OUR FIRST STOP AT A CERAMIC FACTORY. I SAY EXCITING BECAUSE IT REMINDED US OF OUR TRAVELS IN INDIA. THERE WAS NO REGARD FOR THE RULES OF TRAFFIC, INCLUDING BEING ON THE PROPER SIDE OF THE ROAD, PASSING IN A NO PASS LANE AND THE EXCESSIVE USE OF THE HORN. AFTER A FEW NEAR MISSES WE ENTERED THE CERAMIC GROUNDS.

A VISIT TO ANY ASIAN SITE IS ALWAYS ENHANCED WITH THE USE OF WESTERN STYLE FACILITIES. THE CERAMIC LOCATIONS WAS A SPECIAL TREAT. ALTHOUGH THE AREA IS POOR, AND PERHAPS NOT ANYMORE ADVANCED NOW THAN BEFORE THE WAR, SOME PROGRESS HAS OCCURED. ALMOST EVERYONE HAS A CELL PHONE, AND JUST LIKE AMERICANS, THEY USE THEM EXCESSIVELY.

THE TOUR BEGAN WITH A LONG WALK THROUGH THE BACK STREETS BEHIND THE FACTORY SHOWROOM. LIKE MOST ASIAN ESTABLISHMENTS WE HAVE VISITED, THE MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS ARE HIGHLY MANUAL, VERY LITTLE MECHANICAL OPERATIONS EXSIST. EVERY OPERATION HERE WAS MANUAL.

THE CLAY IS MADE INTO A LIQUID STATE AND POURED INTO THE MOLDS, WHERE THEY STAND FOR DAYS, EVEN WEEKS, UNTIL REACHING THE PROPER HARDNESS. EACH CASTING IS HAND PAINTED WITH VARIOUS DESIGNS. FROM WHAT WE SAW, NO INDIVIDUAL PAINTER COMPLETES THE DESIGN ON THE VASE. THE RIM, THE BASE AND THE BODY ALL GET INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION FROM DIFFERENT PAINTERS. BY THE WAY, ALL THE LABORERS ARE FEMALE.

THE FIRING, OR BAKING OPERATION, REQUIRES BUILDING LARGE OVENS, WITH HUGE FIRES REACHING EXTREME TEMPERATURES. AFTER POLISHING, THE FINISHED PRODUCT FINDS IT WAY TO THE SHOWROOM, AT HIGHLY INFLATED PRICES.

WE WERE BACK ON THE ROAD FOR ANOTHER HAIR RAISING RIDE TOWARD THE ZEN MONASTERY. HOWEVER BEFORE ARRIVING WE STOPPED A THE HOME OF A LOCAL FARMER. IN ORDER TO GET TO THE FARMERS HOME WE WALKED A 1/4 MILE DOWN A SIDE ROAD AND ON TO THE PROPERTY. THREE SMALL BUILDINGS, ONE KITCHEN AND STORAGE, ANOTHER A RUNDOWN SHACK WHICH ACTED AS A DOG AND CHICKEN PEN AND THE MAIN RESIDENCE.

THE LIVING QUARTERS CONSISTED OF THREE ROOMS, TWO SMALL BEDROOMS AND A THIRD ROOM DIVIDED INTO ANOTHER BEDROOM AND LIVINGROOM. THREE GENERATION OCCUPIED THE HOME, GRANDPARENTS, THE SON AND HIS WIFE, AND GRANDCHILD. HOT TEA AND A HOT POTATOE FROM THE FARMERS YARD WERE SERVED. THE STAY LASTED ABOUT FORTY MINUTES BEFORE RETURNING TO THE BUS.

AFTER OUR CULTURAL CONNECTION WE CONTINUED THE TRIP UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THE MONASTERY. I THINK THIS WAS THE FOURTH BUDDHIST MONASTERY WE VISITED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

THE MONASTERY IS RUN BY NO MORE THAN FIFTY MONKS AND IS EXPERTLY KEPT. THE WOOD CAVINGS, AND ART WORK ARE BEYOND WORDS AND EACH PAGODA IS DEVOTED TO A SPECIFIC BUDDHA. THEY SEEM TO KNOW WHICH IS WHICH, I DON’T CARE TO KNOW, BUT EACH IS BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE.

WHEN THIS PORTION OF THE TOUR ENDED WE WALKED DOWN THE LONG STAIRCASE, BOARDED THE BUS AND BEGAN ANOTHER ADVENTURIST JOURNEY IN ASIAN TRAVEL.

ARRIVING AT THE PIER PROVIDED US WITH BETTER PICTURE TAKING OPPORTUNITIES THAN THAT OF THE MORNING DEPARTURE. THE FORECAST WAS FOR RAIN FOR MUCH OF THE DAY. ALTHOUGH IT REMAINDED OVERCAST MOST OF THE DAY, THE SUNNY BROKE THROUGH SHORTLY AFTER NOON. I WOULD NOT HAVE GIVEN EVEN MONEY ON THE SUN EVER MAKING AN APPEARANCE BASED ON THE DOWNPOUR THAT OCCURED WHILE WE ATE BREAKFAST BEFORE LEAVING THE SHIP.

IT WAS ALMOST 2:30 BY THE TIME THE TENDER RETURNED TO THE SHIP. AS THE TENDER WAS SECURED TO THE SHIP, TWO SMALL ROW BOATS APPROACHED. ONE OF THE BOATS HAS A WOMEN AND THREE SMALL CHILDREN, ALL UNDER THE AGE OF FOUR, THE OTHER WITH TWO WOMEN AND A CHILD ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD. EACH WAS LOOKING FOR A MONEY HANDOUT. THEY STAYED CLOSE TO THE SHIP AND APPROACHED EACH RETURNING TENDER THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WE MANAGED TO MAKE IT STRAIGHT TO THE BUFFETT, LIKE MOST OF THE RETURNING EXCURSIONIST, FOR A BITE TO EAT. THE MEAL TURNED OUT TO BE LUNCH AND DINNER. WE SKIPPED THE MAIN DINING ROOM AGAIN.

WE NAPPED UNTIL 7:00 AND VENTURED TO THE LOUNGE FOR THIS EVENING ENTERTAINER. VICTOR MICHAEL HAS A RICH TENOR VOICE AND SANG A VARIETY OF SONGS MADE POPULAR BY MARIO LANZA, ANDREA BOCELLI, AND OTHERS IN THE ITALIAN GENRE. HE WAS VERY GOOD AND ENDED A STRING OF SO, SO COMEDIANS AND WHATEVERS.

TOMORROW STARTS TWO AND A HALF DAYS AT SEA.

DAY 70 - AT SEA - APRIL 7, 2010

TODAY WAS ANOTHER RELAXING DAY AT SEA.

WE DID MAKE IT TO THE MAIN DINING ROOM AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OUR NEW WAITER AND HID ASSISTANT, “Z” AND SIMON.

DAY 69 - HONG KONG, CHINA - APRIL 6, 2010

WE HAD ANOTHER EARLY START AND WERE IN THE BUFFET EATING BREAKFAST AS WE PULLED INTO THE HONG KONG HARBOR. WE WERE SCHEDULED TO DOCK AT 7:00 AND EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT TO THE MINUTE.

OUR MEETING TIME WAS 8:00 IN THE LOUNGE AND EVERTHING WAS GOING LIKE CLOCKWORK. THE SHIP WAS CLEARED AT 7:45, OUR SMALL GROUP OF 12 WAS GATHERED AND WE WERE ON THE BUS AT 8:15.

WE HAVE CHOOSEN TO TAKE THE TOUR TO LANTAU ISLAND. (LAN TOWEL) THE MAIN ATTRACTION IS THE WORLDS LARGEST OUTDOOR BUDDHA AT THE PO LIN MONASTERY AND INCLUDES SEVERAL OTHER STOPS.

ONE OF OUR DINNER TABLE MATES WAS SCHEDULED TO GO ON THE TOUR ALSO BUT MENTIONED AT DINNER THE OTHER NIGHT HE HAD DECIDED AGAINST THE TOUR BECAUSE HE HAD SEEN ENOUGH BUDDHIST TEMPLES ALREADY. ALTHOUGH GEORGIA AND I NEVER COMMENTED ON THE STATEMENT, WE TOLD EACH OTHER LATER WE HAD ENTERTAINED THE SAME THOUGHT. WE HAD ALSO CONVINCED OURSELVES WE HAD RESEARCHED THE TOURS, OVER AND OVER, PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR THE CRUISE, AND WE FELT OUR CHOICES WERE THE BEST AT THE TIME AND NOTHING WAS GOING TO CHANGE OUR MINDS.

THE BUS PULLED AWAY AND BEFORE WE KNEW IT WE WERE HEADING ACROSS THE NEW TWO AND A HALF MILE BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS KOWLOON PENINSULA AND THE ISLAND OF LANTAU. THE ISLAND ONLY HAS ABOUT 25,000 RESIDENCE AND IS HOME TO THE NEW HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND DISNEYLAND HONG KONG. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO THIS ISLAND DIDNT EVEN HAVE PAVED ROADS AND CONSISTED OF SEVERAL DOZEN FISHING VILLAGES.

OUR FIRST STOP WAS THE LARGE SHOPPING MALL LOCATED NEAR THE AIRPORT. ALL VEHICLES ON THE ISLAND MUST BE REGISTERED AND LARGE VEHICLES, LIKE BUSES, EVEN THE 20 PASSENGER SIZE, COMING FORM HONG KONG ISLAND OR THE PENINSULA MUST DROP PASSENGERS AT THE MALL TO TRANSFER TO AUTHORIZED VEHICLES, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAD TO HAPPEN IN OUR CASE.

WE TRANSFERRED TO A BUS JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT GOT US TO THE MALL AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY. OUR GUIDE, K.C., POINTED OUT A CABLECAR SYSTEM MOVING FROM THE MALL TO THE HILL ON OUR RIGHT AND CONTINUING OVER ANOTHER HILL AND OUT OF SIGHT. THE DESTINATION, AS WAS OURS, WAS THE GROUND VERY NEAR THE MONASTERY, APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES AWAY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY COOL TO GET TO THE MONASTERY BY WAY OF THE CABLE, OR EVEN RETURN, BUT THE CHANCES OF DELAYS IS GREAT AND CAUSING THE SHIP TO MISS DEPARTURE TIME WOULD NOT BE TO THEIR LIKING.

THE HIGHEST POINT ON THE ISLAND IS ABOUT 900 METERS AND ALTHOUGH WE WERE NOT GOING TO THOSE HEIGHT WE DID CLIMB SOME VERY STEEP HILLS, AND OF COURSE DOWN THE OTHER SIDE, BEFORE REACHING OUR FIRST TOUR STOP, THE UPPER CHEUG SHI BEACH. I THINK THE MAIN PURPOSE WAS REALLY TO USE THE FACILITIES, SOME OF WHICH ARE WESTERN STYLE.

THE AREA WAS VERY CLEAN, WORKERS PREFORMING THEIR EARLY MORNING TASKS IN ANTICIPATION OF THE AFTERNOON CROWDS. HONG KONG WAS STILL ON EASTER HOLIDAY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS TUESDAY. IF NOTHING ELSE IT WAS A CHANCE TO TAKE PHOTOS OF THE BEACH, THE SHARK NETS THAT PROTECT THE SWIMMERS AND THE ASIAN WOMEN, ALL DECKED OUT WITH CHINESE HAT AND NETTING OVER HER FACE, RAKING THE DEBRIS FROM THE SAND. OUR STAY WAS ONLY TWENTY MINUTES AND WE WERE BACK ON THE ROAD.

OUR SECOND STOP WAS REAL CLOSE TO BEING THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EXCURSION. THE FISHING VILLAGE OF TAI O. ONCE HOME TO 1500 HOUSES BUILD ON STICKS IN THE BAY, THERE IS NOW LESS THAN 1/3 THE HOUSES AND ONLY 900 TO 1000 RESIDENCE. THE NARROW STREETS WERE LINED WITH SHOPS SELLING EVERYTHING INCLUDING POSTCARDS, FANS, DRIED FISH AND SUCH DELECTABLES AS SIX INCH DEHYDRATED SEA SLUGS. LOCALS, SOME SHOPPING AND OTHERS PUSHING CARTS WITH MERCHANDISE, I WOULD ASSUME FOR THEIR STORE OR SHOP, FILLED THE STREETS. ONE LADY HAD TWO SMALL CHILDREN ON A SMALL FOUR WHEEL CART WORKING HER WAY THROUGH THE CROWDS OF LOCALS, TOURIST AND SIGHTSEERS.

DOWN THE MAIN STREET AND TO THE LEFT WAS A BRIDGE THAT CROSSED OVER THE CHANNEL TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VILLAGE AND MORE MARVELOUS ADVENTURES IN ASIAN CULTURE. THE AROMAS COMING FROM THE SMALL RESTAURANT PERMEATED THE AIR, OCCASIONALLY OTHER LESS ENDEARING SMELLS WERE DETECTED.

ON THE BACK STREET, NEXT TO THE MARKET THAT PROUDLY DISPLAYED LIVE FISH IN AN OUTDOOR TANK, WERE TWO BUDDHIST TEMPLES. THE FIRST WAS THE BUDDHA TO THE WARRIORS, GIVING STRENGTH TO THOSE IN NEED. THE SECOND WAS A BUDDHA TO PEACE. THERE ARE SO MANY BUDDHAS, OVER 12,000 WE HAVE BEEN TOLD. THE ONLY ONES I INSTANTLY RECOGNIZE ARE THE FEMALE AND THE LAUGHING.

THE JOURNEY BACK TO THE BUS RETRACED OUR STEPS PASSED ALL THE SAME SHOP AND AS WE ENCOUNTERED NEW PEOPLE WE ENGAGED IN NEW PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES. SEVERAL IN OUR GROUP STOPPED TO HAGGLE WITH THE SHOP OWNERS FOR SOUVENIRS. EVENTUALLY MAKING IT BACK TO THE BUS WE CONTINUED ON TO THE PO LIN MONASTERY.

NORMALLY ACCESS TO THE BUDDHA COMES FROM THE LOWER PARKING LOT AND UP THE 200+ STEPS TO THE BASE OF THE 110 FOOT HIGH STATUE. WE HOWEVER WERE SPARED THE STRENUOUS STAIR CLIMB AS OUR SMALL BUS WAS ALLOWED TO TAKE THE MAINTENANCE ROAD TO THE BASE. THERE WERE STILL SEVERAL DOZEN STEPS TO CLIMB BEFORE ENTERING THE MUSEUM UNDERNEATH THE STRUCTURE. THE MUSEUM IS MUCH LARGER THAN IT APPEARS,
THERE ARE THREE FLOORS BENEATH THE STAUTE FILLED WITH ART, ARTIFACTS, AND A GIFT SHOP. WHEN REACHING THE THIRD LEVEL THE EXIT LEADS OUTDOORS TO THE FOOT OF THE STATUE AND A FABULOUS VIEW OF THE ENTIRE GROUNDS OF THE MONASTERY. YOUR EYES HOWEVER IMMEDIATELY REFOCUS ON THE STRUCTURE ABOUT. THE BRONZE SCULPTURE HAS AGED OVER THE YEARS AND THE SHINEY LUSTER NO LONGER EXSIST. LIKE ALL BRONZE MATERIAL, OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS TURNED A GREENISH COLOR.

SHINEY OR DULL IT DOESN’T DEMINISH FROM THE AWESOME SPECTACLE THAT IT IS. THE RIGHT HAND RIASED AS A SIGN TO CONTROL THE FORCES AND AND THE LEFT HAND, PALM UP, TO BRING COMFORT TO THE PEOPLE. HIS FACE CONVEYS PEACE AND COMFORT.

GEORGIA AND I WORKED OUR WAY TO THE STAIRS AND DECENDED ABOUT THIRTY STEPS SO WE COULD SNAP PICTURES OF THE MAMMOTH STRUCTURE ABOVE. WE WORKED OUR WAY BACK TO THE BUS FOR THE JOURNEY TO THE MONASTERY AND TEMPLE. BEFORE HAVING FREE TIME TO ROAM THE GROUNDS WE WERE USHERED INTO THE RESTAURANT FOR A FANTASTIC VEGETARIAN LUNCH. THE MONASTERY FOLLOWS A STRICT VEGETARIAN PLAN ALLOWING NO USE OF, NOT ONLY MEAT, BUT, CHICKEN, FISH, OR EGGS. THE MEAL WAS EXCELLENT.

AFTER LUNCH GEORGIA AND I WALKED TO THE CENTER OF THE MONASTERY AND VIEWED THE BUDDHA FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE LONG STAIRCASE. IT IS JUST AS AWESOME A SIGHT AS IT WAS STANDING AT TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN AS STANDING AT THE BASE.

OUR LAST STOP TOOK US TO THE A SHOPPING PLAZA NEXT TO THE MONASTERY WHERE WE HAD AROUND THIRTY MINUTES TO BROWSE THE ESTABLISHMENTS RANGING FROM RESTAURANTS TO MASKS FROM THE BEIJING OPERA.

OUR EXCURSION ENDED AND WE TRAVELED THE NINETY MINUTES BACK TO THE SHIP.

DAY 67 - AT SEA - APRIL 4, 2010 - EASTER SUNDAY

WE CELEBRATED EASTER BY HAVING AN EARLY BREAKFAST AND ATTENDING THE 10:00 NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH SERVICE IN THE LOUNGE. REV. JIM MUNDELL, A METHODIST MINISTER FROM PHILADELPHIA, CONDUCTED THE SERVICES. HE HAD AN EXCELLENT MESSAGE AND IT IS OBVIOUS HE KNOWS THE LORD. HE ALSO DID A MARVELOUS JOB LAST WEEK FOR PALM SUNDAY.
THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY WAS RELAXING TO SAY THE LEAST. THE ONLY REAL WORK WAS GETTING READY FOR FORMAL NIGHT, THE SECOND AND LAST OF THIS SEGMENT.

AFTER DINNER WE CHANGED INTO MORE COMFORTABLE CLOTHES AND RETREATED TO THE LIBRARY. GEORGIA CAUGHT UP ON READING AND I WORKED ON THE BLOG. WE EVENTUALLY MADE IT BACK TO THE CABIN AFTER MIDNIGHT.



DAY 68 - AT SEA - APRIL 5, 2010

ALTHOUGH WE HIT THE SACK AROUND 1:30 GEORGIA WAS WIDE EYED AND BUSHY TAILED AT 7:00. I COULD NOT FORCE MYSELF TO GET OUT OF BED AND SLEPT UNTIL 10:00. GEORGIA HEADED FOR THE EXERCISE ROOM, HAD BREAKFAST AND BEGAN TAKING NOTES FOR ANOTHER BOOK IDEA.

WE PROMISED OURSELVES TO LEAVE THE DINNER TABLE EACH NIGHT WHEN THE DESSERT MENUS ARE HANDED OUT. WE HAVE GONE OVERBOARD THESE LAST FEW WEEKS AND ARE DETERMINED TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS, ONCE AGAIN.

TONIGHT WAS FORMAL NIGHT AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT ALL SEVEN OF US SHOWED UP AT THE DINNER TABLE. IT IS A RECORD 3 DAYS IN A ROW. TONIGHT ALSO IS THE LAST NIGHT FOR OUR WAIT STAFF, TIK AND SOMBAT. THEIR CONTRACTS ARE UP AND THEY ARE HEADING HOME, TO THAILAND, FOR A TWO MONTH REST. THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN REASIGNED TO THE PACIFIC PRINCESS FOR THEIR NEXT CONTRACT.

WE ALSO LOST OUR EXCELLENT CABIN STEWART, SAMMY. HIS CONTRACT IS ALSO UP AND IS HEADED TO HIS HOME IN THE PHILIPPINES.

THE WEATHER, ALTHOUGH A LITTLE FOGGY AND RAINY, IS GETING WARMER. THE TEMP HAS GONE UP ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR DEGREES CELSIUS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS CURRENTLY RAINING IN HONG KONG. WE PRAY IT STOPS BY THE TIME WE PULL INTO PORT IN THE MORNING.

DAY 66 - AT SEA - APRIL 3, 2010

WE SET THE ALARM FOR AN EARLY WAKEUP. THIS MORING WE WERE INVITED, BY THE CAPTAIN, TO TOUR THE BRIDGE. THERE WERE TWELVE OF US IN TOTAL AND IT WAS FANTASTIC. THE THIRD OFFICER EXPLAINED ALL THE EQUIPMENT, ANSWERED QUESTIONS AND WE HAD OUR PICTURE TAKEN WITH THE CAPTAIN.

LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD, THE BRIDGE OF THE SHIP IS TOTALLY AUTOMATED. THE RADAR, THE PLOTTING OF THE COURSE AND THE SPEED. VERY LITTLE IS LEFT TO MANUAL LABOR. THE ASSISTANT TO THE CAPTAIN OCCASIONALLY PLOTS A CHART ON PAPER, BUT NOT VERY OFTEN.

DAY 67 - AT SEA - APRIL 4, 2010 - EASTER SUNDAY

WE CELEBRATED EASTER BY HAVING AN EARLY BREAKFAST AND ATTENDING THE 10:00 NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH SERVICE IN THE LOUNGE. REV. JIM MUNDELL, A METHODIST MINISTER FROM PHILADELPHIA, CONDUCTED THE SERVICES. HE HAD AN EXCELLENT MESSAGE AND IT IS OBVIOUS HE KNOWS THE LORD. HE ALSO DID A MARVELOUS JOB LAST WEEK FOR PALM SUNDAY.
THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY WAS RELAXING TO SAY THE LEAST. THE ONLY REAL WORK WAS GETTING READY FOR FORMAL NIGHT, THE SECOND AND LAST OF THIS SEGMENT.

AFTER DINNER WE CHANGED INTO MORE COMFORTABLE CLOTHES AND RETREATED TO THE LIBRARY. GEORGIA CAUGHT UP ON READING AND I WORKED ON THE BLOG. WE EVENTUALLY MADE BACK TO THE CABIN AFTER MIDNIGHT.

DAY 68 - AT SEA

ALTHOUGH WE HIT THE SACK AROUND 1:30 GEORGIA WAS WIDE EYED AND BUSHY TAILED AT 7:00. I COULD NOT FORCE MYSELF TO GET OUT OF BED AND SLEPT UNTIL 10:00. GEORGIA HEADED FOR THE EXERCISE ROOM, HAD BREAKFAST AND BEGAN TAKING NOTES FOR ANOTHER BOOK IDEA.

WE PROMISED OURSELVES TO LEAVE THE DINNER TABLE EACH NIGHT WHEN THE DESSERT MENUS ARE HANDED OUT. WE HAVE GONE OVERBOARD THESE LAST FEW WEEKS AND ARE DETERMINED TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS ONCE AGAIN.

DAY 65 - XINGANG, CHINA - (BEIJING) - APRIL 2, 2010

THE ALARM SOUNDED AT 5:30 AND BY 6:45 WE WERE IN THE BUFFET HAVING BREAKFAST. WITH SO MANY PEOPLE OFF THE SHIP IT WAS ALMOST LIKE HAVING THE PLACE TO OURSELVES. EATING ON THE VERANDA WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ONLY 7 DEGREES CELSIUS, ROUGHLY 45 F.

WE WERE IN THE LOUNGE BEFORE THE NEW MEETING TIME OF 7:45 BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON WE DIDN’T GET ON THE BUS UNTIL 8:15. THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE WHO HAD BOOKED BUT NEVER SHOWED UP. WE FINALLY PULLED AWAY AT 8:25.

TIANJIN CITY IS THE DESTINATION FOR TODAY. MANY OF THE BUILDINGS AROUND THE PIER AND THE CITY, WHICH WE ALL CALLED XINGANG, INDICATED OR LED YOU TO BELIEVE YOU WERE REALLY IN TIANJIN CITY. NOT SO, TIANJIN CITY IS AT LEAST 35 MILES FROM THE PORT. AS WE HAD DONE YESTERDAY, THE BUS HEADED TO THE HIGHWAY AND THE MILES OF BARREN LAND. ABOUT SIX MILES INTO THE TRIP TRAFFIC CAME TO A COMPLETE STANDSTILL. THE WINDS WERE STRONG, THE AIR WAS FILLED WITH A BROWN DUST, AND IT WAS POSSIBLE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT.

THE BUS DRIVER MADE SEVERAL CELL PHONE CALLS TO HIS COMMAND CENTER WITH NO RESULTS AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE DELAY. OUR GUIDE ASSURED US WE WERE FINE AND WE WATCHED THROUGH THE WINDOWS AS SEVERAL OF THE PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS OF OTHER VEHICLES GOT OUT OF THEIR CARS TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES. WE HAVE PICTURES TO PROVE IT.

THIRTY MINUTES LATER THE TRAFFIC BEGAN TO MOVE AND THE CAUSE OF THE DELAY BECAME EVIDENT SEVERAL MILES UP THE ROAD. A RAMP LEADING TO ANOTHER INTERSECTING HIGHWAY WAS BACKED UP BUMPER TO BUMPER. AS WE INDICATED IN PREVIOUS WRITINGS CHINESE DRIVERS DO NOT OBEY THE RULES AND CONSEQUENTLY BOTH LANES OF OUR HIGHWAY WERE BEING USED TO MOVE INTO THE RAMP LEADING TO THE OTHER HIGHWAY. ONCE WE MOVED BEYOND THE INTERCHANGE WE NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANYMORE DELAYS.

OUR FIRST STOP WAS TO HAVE BEEN THE CONFUSCIOUS TEMPLE, HOWEVER THE TEMPLE WAS BEING RENOVATED AND THE STOP WAS CHANGED TO A BUDDHIST TEMPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF TIANJIN CITY. EACH OF OUR VISITS TO THE BUDDHIST TEMPLES HAS BEEN QUITE INTERESTING. THEY ALL SEEM TO FOCUS ON SOME SPECIALITY. IN CASE YOU WERE NOT AWARE, THERE ARE OVER 12,000 BUDDHAS. TAKE YOUR PICK, LAUGHING, CRYING, SMILING, YOU NAME IT AND YOU CAN PRAY TO IT FOR WHATEVER. I DON’T WISH TO MAKE LIGHT OF IT BUT I CANT’FIGURE OUT HOW THEY KEEP TRACK OF THEM ALL, AND WHICH ONE DOES WHAT.

ANYWAY THE PLACE WAS ACTIVE, MORE SO THEN ANY OF THE OTHERS WE VISITED, WITH LARGE TRIPODS WITH BELLS, INCENSE BURNERS, AND VENDORS SELLING THINGS FOR OFFERINGS TO BUDDHA. THE BUILDINGS ARE IN THE MING ARCHITECTURE AND ARE VERY COLORFUL. OUR STAY LASTED ABOUT 40 MINUTES.

ALTHOUGH OUR NEXT STOP WAS ONLY FIVE MINUTES AWAY, WE BOARDED THE BUS FOR THE SHORT JOURNEY. BILLED AS THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE FLEA MARKET IT ALSO WAS UNIQUE. THE MARKET WAS SEVERAL BLOCKS LONG IN EACH DIRECTION AND THERE WERE SEVERAL SIDE STREETS WITH JUST AS MANY STORE FRONTS. JEWELRY, CERAMICS, PAINTINGS, SILKWORKS, GAMES AND MUCH MORE WERE AVAILABLE FOR A PRICE.

ALTHOUGH WE WERE NOT LOOKING FOR ANYTHING SPECIAL, GEORGIA FOUND A BEAUTIFUL SET OF CERAMIC DOLLS. WHEN YOU SEEM INTERESTED THEY HOLD UP A CALCULATOR WITH A NUMBER, REPRESENTING THE DOLLARS THEY ARE REQUESTING. IN OUR CASE THE AMOUNT WAS $35. GEORGIA INDICATED NO, BEGAN TO WALK AND THE PRICE DROPPED TO $25 AT WHICH POINT GEORGIA CLEARED THE CALCULATOR AND ENTERED $20. THE DEAL WAS DONE.

WE OF COURSE SNAPPED DOZENS OF PICTURES AS WE PARADED THROUGH THE CROWDED MARKET. IN ADDITION TO THE LOCAL WHO FREQUENT THE MARKET, HUNDREDS OF ASIAN TOURIST FLOODED THE STREETS. IT IS FUNNY TO WATCH THE ASIAN GROUPS. IN AN EFFORT TO DISTINGUISH THEM APART THEY ARE, IN A SENSE, COLOR CODED. ONE OF THE LARGER GROUPS HAD ORANGE HATS, ANOTHER HAD BEIGE AND A THIRD GROUP HAD WHITE HATS. (LAST YEAR AT THE WALL WE SAW A LARGE GROUP ALL DRESSED UP WITH RED HATS AND RED JACKETS...THEY WERE A SIGHT.

THE MORNING ACTIVITIES ENDED WITH ANOTHER SHORT TRIP TO A LOCAL HOTEL AND ANOTHER FABULOUS LUNCH. BASICALLY THE SAME TYPE ITEMS WITH A LITTLE TWIST. WE NEVER WALK AWAY HUNGERY.

THE TIANJIN CITY MUSEUM WAS THE NEXT STOP. JESSIE, OUR CHINESE GUIDE, HAS US ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREE ITEMS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST. THE FIRST WAS THE JADE CABBAGE, FOLLOWED BY THE ACCIENT TRIPOD AND FINALLY THE SLIK CLOTH PAINTING. BESIDES THOSE ITEMS WE ALSO VIEWED A LARGE SOLIDER LIKE FIGURE MADE OF JADE.

THE MUSEUM STRUCTURE IS EXTREMELY MODERN, COMPLETED JUST SEVEN YEARS AGO, WITH A SHINY POLOSHED STEEL PANELED ROOF AND LARGE GLASS PANEL PERMITTING VAST SUMS OF LIGHT INTO THE MARBLED FLOOR LOBBY. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS MORE SECURITY HERE THAN IN MOST AIRPORTS. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT, AND METAL DETECTORS FOR EVERYONE ENTERED THE BUILDING.

OUR LAST STOP WAS THE SHI FAMILY MANSION. IT IS A LARGE COMPLEX OF MANY BUILDINGS IN THE MING ARCHITECTURAL STYLE. THE HISTORY DATES BACK OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS. IN THE 1940’S AND 50’S THE STRUCTURE WAS OWNED BY A FAMOUS CHINESE MOVIE STAR. UNFORTUNATELY HE ENDED HIS OWN LIFE IN THE 50’S. IT IS REPORTED HE HAD MENTAL PROBLEMS.

BESIDES MANY OF THE OLDER ARTIFACTS OF THE SHI FAMILY, MANY OF THE ROOMS AND BUILDINGS ARE STILL USED AS MEANS OF PROPAGANDA AND INTIMIDATION FOR ASIAN VISITORS. MOVIES OF TRIALS AND ARREST FROM TIMES NOT TO LONG AGO PLAY CONTINUOUSLY. PICTURES OF MAO AND OTHERS IN HIS REGIME HANG FROM THE WALLS AND STILL CARRY COMMUNIST SLOGANS.

THE GARDEN COURTYARD GIVES ALL INDICATIONS THAT SUMMERTIME WOULD DISPLAY VIVID FLORAL COLORS. UNFORTUNATELY WE MISSED THE SPRING BLOOMING TIME BY ABOUT THREE WEEKS.

AS WE HEADED BACK TO THE SHIP I TRIED TO TAKE NOTE OF ALL THE PUBLIC PHONES IN THE CITY, BOTH TIANJIN AND XINGANG. I CAN SAFELY REPORT NONE WERE SPOTTED. NOT EVEN IN THE HOTEL WHERE WE HAD LUNCH. THEY ARE AS RARE AS HENS TEETH.

ALTHOUGH WE SAILED AT 7:00 WE HAD TO BE BACK ON BOARD AT 5:30. THE TERMINAL WAS STILL OPENED AND WE ALL HAD TO PASS THROUGH THE METAL DECTORS BEFORE CLIMBING THE GANGWAY. CHINESE IMMIGRATION INSPECTORS EVEN EXAMINED THE PASSPORT COPIES WE WERE REQUIRED TO CARRY WITH US THROUGHOUT THE CHINA STAY.

OUR RETURN WAS EARLY ENOUGH THAT WE DECIDED TO TRY THE MAIN DINING ROOM. TO BILL HYDES SURPRISE IT WAS ONLY THE THREE OF US. THE OTHERS CHOSE THE BUFFET.