Go-Bucks!

Ko Samui, Thailand...took a great ship tour! In 4WD vehicles, we went to a rubber tree farm and got a demonstration of how they make sheets of rubber, visited a coconut place where the shop had beautiful, inexpensive wooden household items, watched a cooking demonstration of Green Papaya Salad (with a tasting), saw a waterfall, but best of all was being able to interact with 3 young elephants! It was a sanctuary for rescued ones. Made friends with 3 darling little boys too.

The passenger got an appointment at the US Embassy in Bangkok to get her document notarized.

Our guide said you can be arrested for saying anything derogatory about any of the royal family! Crazy!

Took a tour of Bangkok in a tuk tuk! Had a scary moment in a roundabout when our driver pulled out in front of a city bus!! He stopped inches from it....yikes! But the rest of the ride was fun. 😉 Walked through a flower market where they prepare floral sacrifices to Buddha, passed tall unusual looking downtown buildings, and visited the Wat Pho temple with the HUGE reclining Buddha. Pictures of their king were everywhere because his coronation is in 2 weeks. Traffic wasn't even close to being as crazy as Saigons....busy, but not overwhelming and way fewer scooters/motorcycles.

Wishing everyone a blessed Resurrection Day from just off shore of Thailand!

We also visited the war museum...they displayed tanks and planes that the US Army left behind. Here are some more pictures. First fruit is a mangosteen. Some people can sleep anywhere!

Absolutely! I've loved all of Asia.

Yes...huge advantage of a small ship!

LLPToday Xuan had us in Saigon...another fun day. Started out at the morning market for locals...most foods looked fantastic! The huge frogs were hopping around and chickens were crowing. Next we took a 45" trishaw ride in that crazy Saigon traffic...my life flashed by me a couple times but it was super fun. I took videos to prove my bravery! Then we got some time to shop at a great market and I got a Rolex....(wink, wink)...well, at least it looks like one. Lunch was at a local Pho restaurant (pronounced "fuh") with the best I've ever had...no tourists anywhere in sight. Finally we visited the Saigon post office. Oh, and I bought a small bottle of snake wine to show the grandkids! I don't have time to post all my pics so more will be posted later. I highly recommend Tour with Xuan for Vietnam touring...he'll do whatever you have in mind.

We had mangosteens yesterday and loved them. Our guide bought us more today! Yum!! They drink the snake wine, but no way I would!

Today we took the 2nd of 3 tours with Xuan...highly recommend him!! Drove 2 hrs to the town of Cai Be on the Mekong River. Rode on a sampan boat, had lunch at a locals home, boarded a small boat where we got to taste many of the fruits a woman was selling, made rice paper and watch a man pop rice! Very fun!

We booked a private tour of Danang/Hoi An with Xuan so had a very large van take us. Yes, there was a shuttle into Danang, but not to Hue or Hoi An. I don't know what ship tours there were. We loved Hoi An...very quaint and authentic because it wasn't damaged in the war. Ate a delicious lunch there and a mid morning drink on the rooftop of a cafe.

We docked in Tien Sa.