Day 17 Back in Cape Town 20th February, Monday

Goodbye for now and until next time. After a 22 hour journey we are back in Andrew's house. Our only complaint is that our luggage had not arrived on the carousel prior to our Cape Town flight closing. Cathay got us onto the next flight from JHB to CT but it means that we will not drive today. Grateful to spend time with the boys, Amy and Carolyn.

Day 16 Singapore 19th February, Sunday

Decided to do an excursion that ends at the airport. Once again Singapore is so clean and everything works.

A river cruise on a battery operated boat, in a waterway from where they get their drinking water.

Singapore has no natural resources - everything is man made. From desalianating the river to reclaiming land between the islands to extend the airport. 

A trip through Chinatown to a Hindu temple

 

A visit to the Orchid garden - wow, variety of VIP orchids named after presidents and such that have visited this garden.

 

 Joaquin Chisano

 

Trip through little India - the curry smells and the shopping!

 

Back to the airport

 

Day 15 Last day At Sea, 18th February, Saturday

The longest cruise that Michael and I have been on - it has been fun. A moving hotel changing destinations daily. One day in a lot of different places is enough to scratch the surface and get a feel as to whether you would want to go back.

 

Day 11 At Sea, 14th February, Tuesday

We have just been told that we are not stopping in Cambodia due to adverse weather. The ship is sailing directly to Laem Chabamg the port for Bangkok, Pattaya and Ayuthaya (Siam).  So we could not do Angkor Wat. Luckily we are able to go and see Siam the old capital of Malaysia prior to it becoming Bangkok. We went to Pattaya the first day at this port and to Ayuthaya the second day as Pattaya is a miniature of Bangkok.

 

Day 10 Cu Chi Tunnels, Phu My, Vietnam, 13 February, Monday

Early start with a bus to Cu Chi Tunnels - a 3 hour drive to the border of Vietnam with Cambodia. The Tunnels stretched for many miles and were tiny. Both Michael and I made the 100m underground but the rest of the bus got out after the first 10m - none of the other 40 plus people could take the claustrophobic place. 

  Vietnam cultivates a lot of rice with acres of  rice plantations on either side of the road. We stopped for a great great lunch. Vietnamese food is very much like Chinese food. Multiple courses of spring rolls, stir fries and soup.

 

Day 13 Ayutthaya Thailand, 16th February, Thursday

Second day at Laem Chabang port so as we had not made Angkor Wat in Cambodia we are going to the ruins of Ayutthaya which is the new name for Siam the old capital of  Thailand and home of the king of Siam on which the king and I movie with Yul Bruner was based on. A Wat is the name given to these shrine like structures of all shapes and sizes. There are many Wats - with the primary religion being Buddhism there are a lot of these pagodas - named as such to differentiate between temples which exist in or just outside of every home for ancestor worship. Belief is that every one of our family that has passed protect us so offerings of food and drink and prayer are made on a daily basis.

 

Ayutthaya ruins are so as the result of the war. Much was destroyed while the enemy be headed the Buddha structures as gold and valuables were often hidden within the torso of the Buddha.

 

 

 

Visited many Wats on this 3 hour trip to the Ayutthaya north of Bangkok. Buffet style lunch of typical Thai curries and deserts - food is really good!

Day 12 Laem Chabang, Thailand, 15th February, Wednesday

Having sailed directly to Thailand to avoid the bad weather in Cambodia means we didn't stop at any Cambodian ports, but now we have 2 days in Thailand. We docked at Laem Chabang which is the port that gives access to Bangkok, Pattaya and Ayuthaya (Siam). The first day we went by bus to Pattaya, a 45 minute drive from the port. The saying goes that 'good boys go to heaven and bad boys goto Pattaya' wow it is so evident with strip joints, massage parlours and gentleman clubs lining the roads. We chose to go to the Sanctuary of Truth. A temple constructed in wood - every structure inside and out is carved. The Buddhist principles seem so simple 'no killing, no adultery, no stealing and no alcohol or mind altering drugs' . Such great contrasts in this small city -  

 

 

A 3D museum - what fun. We took off our shoes and acted like kids, the camera changes the perception of a painting on a wall. Every picture that follows is painted on a normal wall and floor. The artist and the camera do the rest.

 

  

 

 

 

 

Starbucks came to our assistance - good coffee and a chocolate frappacino. Carried on walking back to where we were catching the bus. Two pubs along the way.

 

 

Night life is Pattaya

 

 

Day 14 Ko Samui, Thailand, 17 February, Friday

Ko Samui is an island so the ship does not dock. We go onto shore using tenders. These are the lifeboats that are used to take people to shore. A very good practice session should the real thing become necessary. How Princess cruise line staff get 2800 people off a ship is so very well done. Efficiency personified. The passengers are definately the bottleneck.

We walked to a waterfall, strenuous walk but worth every ache and pain.

 

 

Formal night

 

 

Day 4 At Sea, 7th February, Tuesday

I am going to leave the sequence of the blog as is. Internet is so difficult and expensive. Corrections take sooo long to post! Will never recommend this posting app! Do not buy BlogTouch - offline mode in this app does not work!

 

 

Day 9 Ho CHi Min City, Saigon, Phu My, Vietnam, 12th February, Sunday

One and a half hour into Saigon from the Port of Phu My in a bus. They have Wifi in the bus - yay caught up on all my postings.

 

Walked around Saigon and went to the Museum of natural history where we watched under water puppets a viatnemese art form.

 

Posted a letter home at the post office - here is proof, should it never arrive in SA

 

Post office designed by Eiffel same person that designed the tower in Paris.

 

Notre Dame Cathedral right opposite the post office.

 

90 million people in Ho CHi Min City/ Saigon and 8 million motorcycles. Crossing the street is an event - they don't stop. At the end of the days we were professionals.

 Ended the day at a Tea House

 

Day 8 at Sea, 11th February, Saturday

The sea is rough being thrown from one side to another - drunken people have more balance than we do! Captain announces a re-routing to Ho CHi Min City, the new name for Saigon. So we are doing 2 trips into Saigon - the city tour to see all of the important sites and the day after we are going to see the tunnels that the Vietcong used to befuddle the American troops.

 

Day 7 Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia 10th February, Friday

Walked off the ship and around the town. Lots of shopping centers - we counted 3 Starbucks and a Hard Rock Cafe. The place is busy - Malaysia is very busy. We look like giants amid tiny people.     Religious temples and Churches everywhere!

Day 6 At Sea, 9th February, Thursday

Taking it easy after nearly 40km walk yesterday we deserve a break. It is a formal night tonight. Everyone on the ship dressed up - looking gorgeous. Women in evening dresses and men in tuxedos and suits. A look from a different era!

 

 

Dennis and Rowena a lovely couple that shared our dinner table. We thoroughly enjoyed our evenings!!

 

Day 5 Singapore, 8th of February, Wednesday

Off the ship with the idea of getting on the hop on hop off red bus, so armed with their map we went searching for a bus stop. No bus stop at the terminal so we walked to the train/ underground. Very efficient system of trains and we caught one to Orchid Street - well it has every named brand shop. Could have been in the Champs de Elize in Paris.

 

 

Stopped at the Raffles hotel with the idea of s Singapore sling drink but it was not open on a Wednesday. 

Onto the botanical gardens - wow indoor waterfalls and every different country had a garden bed. Very expensive coffee but worth it, looking at the surroundings. Walked around Chinatown, lots and lots of vendors! The day is hot and humid sweating buckets - can always rely on Starbucks with a final refreshing drink on the way back to the ship.