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edoyle

59 Blog Entries
2 Trips
371 Photos

Trips:

World Cruise
World Cruise

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Pearl of the Orient

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We docked in Port Klang,about 1 hr from [[Malaysia/Kuala-Lumpur]].I took the highlights tour.[[Malaysia/Kuala-Lumpur]],the name means muddy confluence,is a beautiful city with wide streets,high rises

Skyscrapers from bus

and lots of green space.I was surprised as i had no idea what to expect.The architecture has been described as Indo-Saracenic,esp.the Sultan Abdul Sawad Bldg.now a heritage site.

Sultan Abdul Sawad Bldg.,a heritage site

Opposite was a cricket Field with a large television in one corner.

Cricket field with large television screen opp.Sultan Abdul Sawad Bldg.

We visited the obligatory temples,Chinese
and Hindu,

Hindu temple

Ceiling of Hindu temple

We visited a war memorial to the fallen of all wars.

Monument to WW11 fallen

We drove through the Indian section,

Sidewalk in Indian section

and finally to the Royal Palace where I took a picture of 3 siblings.

Three siblings at palace

At palace gate

We saw the famous Blue Mosque at a distance and it was hazy.

Blue mosque

We all thought KL,as it is called,was a lovely city and wished we could have had more time there.



permalink written by  edoyle on April 17, 2011 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
from the travel blog: World Cruise
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Singapore

Singapore, Singapore

Wed April 13.Docked at 6am.I took "Singapore's Iconic Tour"The city state is 710sq km with a population of 5 million.Very clean and safe.17% of the land has been reclaimed.When I was here 3 yrs.ago the symbol of Singapore,the Merlion(head of a lion,body of a fish)was at the mouth of the Singapore River.Now there are many buildings beyond it on reclaimed land and it was in a small red building,unable to be seen,I forget why.We took a boat trip which was lovely.


Riverside shops and cafes
Along the riverfront are shop houses where the merchants lived above their businesses.These are now trendy shops and cafes.The river used to be polluted by all the barges, etc.but has been cleaned up and the only boats are those that bring tourists up and down.

Our tour boat

We got off the boat where the statue of the founder of modern Singapore is,Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.

Statue of Raffles

Many trishaws there;I rode one 3 yrs ago,but this time we walked to our coach and were driven to Raffles Hotel where we went up an outside staircase to the long bar for our Singapore sling and peanuts in the shell.

At Raffles long bar having a Singapore Sling

I took a picture of the lobby where only residents are allowed.
We visited a Taoist temple built in 1821,no nails were used.The roof detail was interesting.This was for protection.

Roof detail on pagoda

We passed the once Governor's residence

Governor's house
and saw many raintrees with epiphytes

Raintree with epiphytes

It was extremely hot and humid and I could hardly wait to get back to the ship to put all my clothes in the laundry.
Tomorrow Kuala Lumpur.

permalink written by  edoyle on April 15, 2011 from Singapore, Singapore
from the travel blog: World Cruise
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Venice of the East

Bangkok, Thailand

Docked in Laem Chabang.Lunch on ship and then a 90 min.drive to the Shangri la Hotel in Bangkok.Lovely, though not quite as magnificent as the one in Beijing.However the view was gorgeous,looking out at the river with boats going up and down.
Thailand has a population of 65 million,12 million of whom live in Bangkok.Space is at a premium so many of the canals have been filled in for roads,destroying much of the city's charm.Transportation used to be by water and the floating markets were famous.Now they have moved to the suburbs.

One of many canals now being filled in

Three of us went to a tailor to see about having a silk suit or jacket made.Then we went to the Gems Gallery.A vast array of necklaces,earrings and bracelets of every kind.I didn't even price anything but went to the silk area where I bought an evening jacket.Very hot!
I had a Thai massage by a woman who came to my room.Our guide arranged it and said she was trained in the temple and did the authentic Thai massage.It was very good.I had a quick bite and then a fitting for the suit I had decided on.I hope it turns out OK,one fitting is really not enough.
The Thai people are extremely polite and bow all the time.I learned two phrases which I used appropriately and it seemed to please them no end.We had a buffet breakfast next morning and the waitress bowed deeply with her hands together to show me to my table.I felt awkward with a plate in each hand not being able to bow back.
I went on the Grand palace and Emerald Buddha tour,while others went on the floating market tour.It was very hot and humid.We saw beautiful shrines with gold and gems inlaid.
We had to remove our shoes to enter the temple of the Emerald Buddha which is carved from a single block of the stone and dressed in 24 carat gold differently for spring,summer and winter.This is done by the king.The statue was high up and not very easy to see.No cameras allowed.

Roof detail

Detail at base of a shrine

Jeweled shrine


Ornamented shrine

Detail of shrine in Palace compound


Part of Palace


Monkey guard in front of shrine

Gilt temple


Mythical creature guardine a shrine

Inlay


Close up of gilt tiles

There are many pictures of the king around the city.He is now in his 80s and not well.

One of many photos of the king throughout the city

On our way to the Palace we passed many street markets.

Street scene

Flowers in street market


Street market

We saw many tuk tuks which resemble golf carts and are named for the sound of their engine.

Tuk tuks

We had a buffet lunch at the hotel and the coaches brought us back to the ship.All in all a very delightful excursion,but tiring.We were all glad to be back on the ship.
There was a lot of security around lunch time and we heard that the Prince of Brunei was staying at the hotel.We had to walk a short distance to our coaches,they were not allowed to come to the front.

permalink written by  edoyle on April 11, 2011 from Bangkok, Thailand
from the travel blog: World Cruise
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Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tue Apr.5.Took a tour 'Highlights of Saigon" 2 1/2 hrs.The city has a population of about 8 million.French Indochina comprised Vietnam Cambodia and Laos and the French were entrenched for around 100 years.There is still a lot of French architechture although many buildings have not been maintained and some have been torn down for the inevitable high rise.Notre Dame Cathedral draws tourists and the main post office is interesting inside.
Most of us got off the bus near the Rex Hotel where the shuttle would take us back to the ship.I walked to the big market in heat and humidity so intense I thought I would collapse on the street.The market was stifling so I didn't stay long.I took a pedicab back to the Rex Hotel and sat in the air conditioned lobby for a while and then got a shuttle to the ship.Usually the shuttles run every half hour but here they ran every hour.I took a nap that afternoon.

Wed.Apr.6.Mekong River Delta.Our tour met at 7:15am.We drove to My Tho and visited a Buddhist temple which had an enormous statue of a happy Buddha


Huge Happy Buddha on way to Mekong Delta

We boarded a boat to go to the largest island in the delta,Unicorn Island.

Our boat from mainland to Unicorn Island

There we had tea with local honey and fruit,which was delicious.We were given a tiny sample of banana wine which was not at all sweet.The fruit was papaya,pineapple and what looked like a speckled watermelon which we tried with salt and chili powder,interesting but not bad. We then got into sampans,4 to a boat,one behind the other,while a paddler sat in front

Canal ride on Unicorn Island

and one in the back and we traveled along a canal.The trees formed a canopy overhead with occasional openings where the sun shone through.It was delightful and cooler than on land.

We were brought into an open building where we has lunch.We were served fish in rice paper,small crisp spring rolls,rice and soup.It was all very good.The long table had a large round orange looking object which we thought was a decoration but it was sticky rice which was cut up into little pieces.It was slightly sweet and chewy.I then watched it being made,from a small patty to a large ball

Beginning of huge ball of sticky rice

Ball of sticky rice almost ready


Sticky rice ready to be cut and eaten

We were shown a python after lunch and I volunteered to have it draped around my neck.
I was amazed at how heavy it was,I would guess over 30lbs and it felt hard and dry.

Holding a python

This was a delightful day but it was still good to be back on the ship.

permalink written by  edoyle on April 7, 2011 from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
from the travel blog: World Cruise
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Amazing Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

We docked last night at the Ocean Centre cruise terminal.Some people went out but I did not.I went out this morning to look for a camera because I broke the battery cover on my old one.I found one that is HD and now I am charging the battery.My other camera was about 6 years old and compared to what is available now,is completely outdated.I must read the owners manual carefully.The main shopping road is Nathan Rd.cheaper than the Ocean Centre,an all marble megalopolis that exhausted me just walking through it.It has all the designer names imaginable with prices to match.
Hong Kong has a population of 7.5 million in just a few square miles.People live in very small apartments where they don't spent much time, prefering to go out.
Public transportation is wonderful.Most of the buses are double decker and there is a metro,and train service is good to other parts.Pedicabs are popular.

Pedicab in Saigon

Tomorrow I go on an excursion called "Tai Chi and Dim Sum".We meet on the pier at 7:15am,so the dim sum will be breakfast.
Wed.Mar.30.
Last night there was an event for the full world cruisers at the Four Seasons Hotel.We had wine while some had their fortunes told,while others got a paper cutout of the animal in their year of birth.Mine was the dragon.There was a long line to have a fan painted with your name in Chinese but dinner was announced while I was 6th in line.A helpful assistant had us write our names on a piece of paper and we picked up our fans before dessert.Between courses we were treated to a show.There were acrobats,a dragon and a masked man who ,every time he swirled around,had on a different mask.It seems he had 6 or more thin silk masks that he managed to whip off as he turned.It was very impressive.

At Four Seasons reception,Akimi,Arthur and Edna

Dragon


Masker

I took some pictures of the city at night but don't think they came out well with my new camera.


Night view of the city

Hong Kong at night

Hong Kong at night

The dim sum breakfast was very good.In addition to the dumplings we had a radish cake rather like a firm rice pancake which we all loved.We also had two types of tea,and plenty of both.
We then went to the waterfront where we had Tai Chi lessons.The weather had been a little drizzly but stopped.it was cool enough to wear a light jacket.It was fun.
We were driven to a tea place where we had a tea ceremony,very important in Chinese culture,tasting two different types of tea.We saw how the little rolled hollow sticks one often sees in ice cream were made, and had samples.


Small street off main shopping area


Shopping in Hong Kong

Shopping in a side street


Shopping

We saw a sign for braised snake soup and had to take a picture

Braised snake soup

Back in the park I visited the little temple

Temple in a small park

This was not a too tiring day.We were back on the ship for lunch and I didn't feel like going out again.
Tomorrow is a day at sea and then Halong Bay.

permalink written by  edoyle on March 29, 2011 from Hong Kong, Hong Kong
from the travel blog: World Cruise
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Stunning Shanghai

Shanghai, China

Mar.23 the ship slowly sails up the Huangpu river to dock at the new cruise terminal in Shanghai.It is 5:30pm.The terminal looks like a spaceship,round with legs and skylights around the top.Right beside it is a lovely little park.I did not go ashore that evening.
Wed 24th I went on "The Best of Shanghai",an all day tour.The city has a population of 18 million.There are magnificent apartment buildings and run down apartments and shacks where people have few amenities.

{The contrast is striking.Those who can afford washing machines will not have dryers,prefering to hang their washing in the sun.

We drove along the Bund,a word from India,meaning embankment.It was built by the English with money from the Opium Wars.It is like walking along a street in London.The doorways are magnificent.The buildings house banks,clubs,offices and hotels and are such a tourist attraction that the area is considered a national treasure.Stately and elegant would describe it.Unfortunately Shanghai has no bedrock and the buildings are subsiding so that one has to step down to enter the front door of some buildings.Newer buildings are built on a large concrete base which supports the weight.We crossed the river to the growing Pudong District which is becoming a financial area and saw the Oriental Pearl TV tower and many skyscrapers

Oriental pearl TV Tower
.


The ubiquitous McDonald's at the river's edge

Back across the river we went to the Yu Yuan Gardens,built by an official in the Ming Dynasty for his parents.However,it took 19 yrs to build and his parents died before they could enjoy it.There are many rockeries and pavilions and 4 dragon walls.The curved up ends of each roof had mythical characters to protect the inhabitants.

Mythical creature on eave of temple roof

Mythical creature on roof

Interesting pattern of pathway in Yu Yuan Gardens


Chairs made from banyan root

Interesting pattern of pathway in Yu Yuan Gardens

Magnolia that never has leaves,only flowers

We had a lovely lunch on the 8th floor of the opera house,after which we went to the jade Buddha temple where we saw a 9 ft.statue of a slim feminine Buddha with a beautiful face
carved from a single piece of white jade.Several people were burning incense sticks in the courtyard,bowing in each of 4 directions.

Jade Buddha

Doorway framing greenery in temple of jade Buddha

Our last stop was the Shanghai Museum,a flat round shape on top of a square,the heavens on top of the earth.

Shanghai Museum

Beautiful jade,furniture,delicate Ming and more elaborate Ching.

Ming Dynasty bed in museum
One section had costumes from the different provinces.

That evening we went to see an acrobat show,truly magnificent.No photos allowed.
This morning I took the shuttle in and walked to Nanjing Rd.the big shopping street.Part of it is pedestrian only.I went to get a massage where our fitness director went yesterday and had a Chinese massage,one of many choices.It was very good.I was given a silk outfit,rather like pjs and the massage was done over a towel on top of this.She went quite deep and then stretched my arms and legs.90 mins.for approx.$35.I took a taxi back to the ship.
At sea tomorrow and Xiamen on the 27th.

permalink written by  edoyle on March 25, 2011 from Shanghai, China
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Beautiful,bustling Beijing

Beijing, China

We are docked in Tienjian Sunday morning and on a bus for the 2 1/2 hr.drive to Beijing and our overnight stay in the Shangri-la China World Hotel.The city has a population of 17 million.The streets are very wide,skyscrapers dominate and there are many,many apt.
buildings.Our eyes are smarting from the pollution which imparts a slight haze to everything.

Apt.bldg.

A friend,who had seen all the tourist spots,had arranged for a car to come to the hotel at 2pm and since I had also seen the Forbidden City,Tiananmen Square,etc.I went with her.
We had a driver and a guide who spoke good English.We drove all over the city,seeing places tourists never see.We walked around the old part with lovely little shops and fast food places.There were old houses with quaint doorways that opened onto courtyards.As evening approached young people filled the small streets.


Street in old part

Shop in old part

My friend bought 2 chops for her daughter and son-in-law.Chops are stamps that are carved with the name in English and Chinese.This was done while we waited and took no time at all.She also bought the ink pad in a lovely little ceramic container.Somehow the subject of age came up and our guide was astounded to learn that my friend will be 90 in a few weeks. She told this to the man carving the chops and he was astounded so my friend was quite a celebrity and on our return to the hotel she had to take our picture to show her mother.
Myfriend and I went to a restaurant beside the hotel and had a very spicy meal.No one spoke English but the menu had pictures and we used sign language.We began with a margarita each,which was the only cocktail whose name we recognised.It was a memorable evening.
Our hotel was beautiful with a large lobby and a pianist playing lovely music.My room was large with a big TV and I was able to watch BBC TV before I went to bed.The bathroom had a bath and a very large curved shower.By the washbasin was a volume control for the TV.

Hotel lobby of Shangri la

In hotel lobby

The next morning we joined the other tour groups in one of 4 buses returning to the ship.
On the way we stopped at the Great Wall.It was windy and cold.I had climbed twice before and didn't attempt it this time.There are 13 different access points to the Wall and this was my 3rd different one.

Difficult side of great Wall

A wonderful experience but glad to be back "home"on the ship.

permalink written by  edoyle on March 22, 2011 from Beijing, China
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Modern Seoul

Seoul, South Korea


Changing of the guard at the palace
{I forgot to mention that we had we had a performance on board in Taiwan of two dragons and dancers.The dragons came among the audience.The following day on our group's return to the ship we were "attacked" by the two dragons as we were walking from the terminal.We had great fun with them.
Fri.Mar.18 we dock in Inchon.I took the "Grand Tour of Seoul"Some took the tour to the DMZ.The drive to Seoul was 1hr 10mins.The city is very wide and modern.We were warned about pollution but I didn't notice any air problem.The city has a population of 10 million,broad streets and skyscrapers.It was cold and overcast at first but sunny later.I was glad of a sweater under my jacket.

Strange monument

We went first to the National Museum of Korea,which has 3 floors with wide marble hallways.Even the restrooms were vast:all the washbasins were above the counter and each one had a soap dispenser beside it with a towel underneath to catch drips and the water flowed automatically when your hands were underneath the tap.I mention this because we went to a public restroom down steps on the street and it was exactly the same.The distance from the stalls to the washbasins was at least twice that of any other restroom I've seen.Vastness seems to be the word here.
We had a typical Korean lunch with beef and mushrooms cooking in a central vessel,high in the middle with sizzling oil around the sides and surrounded by small dishes of kim chee,crunchy vegetables,noodles,bean paste and sticky rice.beer and coke were included.
After lunch we visited a palace.

Entrance to palace
Not too much to see so two of us did'nt climb steps to the last building but sat on a bench and communed with nature--very restful.As we were leaving to join the group we were directed away from the main entrance where the changing of the guard was taking place.We had a great view.One group in bright yellow robes marched out banging drums and blowing trumpets followed by an armed contingent in bright red robes,although theirs looked more like uniforms.

Drum and bugle players
{

Guarding the palace

Next to the palace an artist was tracing a design onto wood and then carving it out.he had several leaning against the wall.

Carvings on wood outside palace

Our last visit was to a market that sold everything and anything.Very interesting food items.We were the last of the groups to leave and we saw vendors setting up cooking stations where the people come from work and get a quick meal.We stopped at one where a young girl was putting batter in muffin-like pans on heat.When one side was done she flipped them and put a weight on top.two of us split one and it was filled with chopped nuts and honey.It was delicious,the batter was almost like a crepe but thicker.

Busy street market

Market

Tomorrow we dock in Tienjian and most of the world group will spend the night in the Shangri-La hotel in Beijing.

permalink written by  edoyle on March 19, 2011 from Seoul, South Korea
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Taiwan

Taipei, Taiwan

Arrived in Keelung 6pm on Monday.We all had to go to the terminal with our passports and a photocopy which was stamped.We were told we'd need this to be allowed back into the port.I put mine in a pocket and went to dinner.It must have fallen out because I could't find it at bedtime.My tour was to meet at 7:45am on Tues.so I was able to get the afternoon tour and rhe Purser's office got another photocopy stamped when the Immigration officials were available at 8:30am.This was probably fortuitous as it was raining heavily all morning and while the skies were grey there was no afternoon rain.
The port city of Keelung has grown and there many shops but we didn't stop anywhere.
The buses were double decker and most of us sat on top.The drive to Taipei was about 30 mins.Lots of small cars and TONS of motor scooters which were parked in every crevice available.

Scooters everywhere

A busy street in Taipei

Our first stop was the Sun Yat Sen Memorial in a wide courtyard.
Our next stop was the National Palace Museum,3 floors of paintings,jade,bronze and wood carvings from China's earliest history.When the communists took over Chiang Kai Shek had it all brought to Taiwan.There was one long painting, yards and yards,behind glass that rolled from left to right,depicting life as it was then that was exquisite.The detail was amazing. We saw a jadeite cabbage(the Chinese long one,not our round type) that had a white stem and green leaves.It was magnificent.
A small statue of a woman in a glass case showed the style of beauty of an early dynasty.She was buxom,with tiny full lips,puffy cheeks and a rolled topknot.No photos allowed in the museum.
Our last stop was the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial in a huge courtyard.His statue is seated so high up,approx.100 steps,that I couldn't see it clearly.I climbed only part way.There were two pagodas,one on each side that were so far away I didn't walk to them.The walk to the memorial was enough.

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial

On the way back our bus stopped briefly for us to take a picture of the 101 Tower,which was the tallest building in Asia until the Burj al Khalif (or is it Khalid?)in Dubai.

101 Tower

I thought the tip of the tower didn't show because the picture had to be reduced to upload.The whole thing shows on the original.This is so frustrating.The pictures look dull because the day was dark cold and windy.
We now have two days at sea,our next stop being Korea.

permalink written by  edoyle on March 16, 2011 from Taipei, Taiwan
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Manila

Manila, Philippines

Arrived in Manila 7am yesterday,March 11.The ship was docked on the starboard side,where my cabin is and from about 7:30 a band played,dancers dressed somewhat like American Indians did a dance and a group played drums and cymbals.The dancers mopped their brows and sat down after each session.It was hot and humid.This went on all mornin

Dancers on the pier

We had to get a pass and have a thermal scan before the Philippine authorities let us on the pier.
Several of us took the shuttle to the huge Mall of Asia (air-conditioned) and walked around.Prices seemed high but the shops on the pier had better value.

Globe opposite Mall of Asia

Today I went on a tour "Modern Manila"This is a bustling city of 8 million,12 million including the outskirts and it is growing at the rate of 1.2 or 1.3 million a year.This is incredible.


Skyscrapers from the bus

View from the bus
The city is known for the "Jeepneys",WW11 jeeps bought privately ,enlarged and covered and decorated.They hold 20 people and are inexpensive.Tourists are advised not to use them.I couldn't get a decent picture of them as the bus was moving too fast.
We visited the American Cemetary which is beautifully kept.There were curved rows of crosses interspersed with Stars of David.
We also drove through the old walled city which the Spanish built refusing entrance to the natives and the Chinese.It was the last refuge of the Japanese during the war and was bombed repeatedly by the Americans.Most of the wall remains and the Cathedral,but little else.The Lyceum of the University is there and a renowned technical college.

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Some old buildings are now dorms for the college students.I would have liked to have taken pictures outside the bus but we didn't stop as this was not part of the tour.
Because of the tsunami the refuelling tanker was not allowed to fill up so it will get here late.Refuelling takes 5 hrs.pouring in over 130 cubic tons (or is it tonnes?) of fuel.We are now scheduled to depart at midnight.This will delay our arrival in Taiwan so tours may be cancelled.


permalink written by  edoyle on March 12, 2011 from Manila, Philippines
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