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Enjoy the "Treasures of the World" with Bill & Mary Ann on the 2014 World Cruise

WCB

By WCB,
in Holland America Line

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ger_77

ger_77

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Durian has been banned from several airlines, trains and buses due to it's unusual smell. A friend of ours who is a chef describes durian's smell as a cross between over-ripe strawberries and a bad baby diaper. We tend to agree with him.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

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WJBWJB

WJBWJB

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Hi All,

 

Thanks for the comments! Glad to see everyone is enjoying the photos.

 

I am working on a "Follow by email" link so you can subscribe by email (thanks to bet410 for the suggestion!) If this works - you can sign up at the blog site and be notified by email when I add a new posting.

 

Since I have a day job it does take me a day or two to get the blog reports built from the time the posting appears on the Cruise Critic forum.

 

Report 50 now has the photos repaired so they appear properly.

 

Report 60 is now available at the site which shows the behind the scenes workings inside the ship.

 

http://cruisingwithbillandmaryann.blogspot.com

 

Happy reading!

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ger_77

ger_77

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I have a question about the laundry - perhaps your friend Shiv may be able to answer this if you don't know. When we receive our beautifully laundered clothing, should we be taking out the tags that they stick in, or is it one less step for them to go through if we leave them in the for next time they are sent out for laundering? We kind of like leaving them in ours; it's fun to pull out a piece of clothing long after the cruise to find the laundry tag in it. ;) We always make sure the tags are removed prior to our next cruise, because we wouldn't want to create more work for the laundry folks.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

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bet410

bet410

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I have a question about the laundry - perhaps your friend Shiv may be able to answer this if you don't know. When we receive our beautifully laundered clothing, should we be taking out the tags that they stick in, or is it one less step for them to go through if we leave them in the for next time they are sent out for laundering? We kind of like leaving them in ours; it's fun to pull out a piece of clothing long after the cruise to find the laundry tag in it. ;) We always make sure the tags are removed prior to our next cruise, because we wouldn't want to create more work for the laundry folks.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

 

I remove the tags. We've done a couple of "dungeon tours". IIRC, they told us that the tags are color-coded based upon when the laundry bag arrive, and the last few digits refer to a bin number.

 

I may not be correct on this, but I'm pretty sure that the laundry needs to iron in a tag each time.

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WCB "Live from...." Rare

WCB

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Report # 62 Manila, Philippines March 1, 2014 Saturday Day Two Partly cloudy, 79 degrees

 

Despite the nice breeze that had come up last night, clearing away the smog from the coastline, the same shroud of smog was back this morning. Must be an everyday thing, like we always see in large cities like Bejing, Shanghai, or Mumbai. Sometimes you never see blue sky at all in those mega cities.

 

After breakfast in the almost empty dining room, we walked the promenade deck to find the bar staff setting up tents and tables on the starboard side. A party was planned for the sailaway, much different from the usual activities on the aft deck. This was going to be a complimentary Manila Fiesta Sailaway Party from 4 to 5:30pm. We are certain that the promise of champagne, wine, beer and sodas will bring out the crowd. The key word was "free". This brought back memories from another wine and cheese party held on this same deck back on the world cruise in 2007. We had been leaving Suva, Fiji, with a similar party, but there was no set-up with tables and bars on the deck. At that time, waiters brought out trays of filled wine glasses to pass around to the guests. Platters of cubed cheese squares with toothpicks were also passed around. Shortly after it began, it turned into a melee, with guests grabbing the wine off of the trays before they left the atrium. The poor waiters were running for their lives. The deck was covered with dropped cheese, and people were slipping and falling. Wine glasses broke both inside the atrium and outside. But it sure was a sailaway to remember. Henk, the hotel manager, was helping with the set-up, and we asked him if he had ever heard of that wild party. He admitted that he was told about it, but had taken steps to keep today's occassion civil. Saying that this was a different crowd, he hoped for a better result. We sure hope so. Well, time will tell.

 

Our plan for today was to take the shuttle back to Robinsons to grocery shop. Leaving around 10am, we found that the buses were not running so fast today. Since it is Saturday, there was a marathon being held near the stadium on the main drive. That meant that the buses were stuck in traffic, and might take an hour to get back to pick up the rest of us. We did not see that coming. The pier guards suggested that we go inside the terminal to get out of the hot sun. Did we do that? Of course not, because we would have lost our place in line, and missed another bus. So a small group of us stayed, which was great, because we had a chance to visit. We met a nice lady who was going off on her own. Unfortunately, her husband had a fall a couple of days ago, and broke his collarbone. We hate hearing news like that. Somehow we got on the subject of safety and being careful while we are in Manila. Yvonne and Johnny from Holland told a story about her getting attacked in daylight in Amsterdam while parking for work at a hospital. Some young thugs ripped off her necklace and tried for the purse. She said she fought like a wildcat, not knowing if they had weapons. These guys did not know who they were messing with, since she has to be adept at handling patients that go off on her. By the way, she is a nurse. She knows how to subdue if necessary. Anyway, the guys ran off without trying to take her car or phone. Calling the police, she said they were caught. But it left her extremely wary of her surroundings, and how she dresses, or what kind of purse she packs. Attached to her shirt is a whistle, which she never leaves home without.

 

The bus finally arrived, and we were all happy to climb onboard and cool off with the air-conditioning. This was when another accident happened. A man and his wife were passing our bus, not watching where they were walking, but were waving to some people they knew sitting behind us. One second they were up, the next second they were down on the ground. Now these folks were on the large side, and fell like sacks of cement. The guards ran quickly to help them up, and as far as we could tell, there were no broken bones. Just bleeding elbows and knees. By the time the bus turned around to leave, a nurse was running to the couple with a wheelchair to get them back on the ship. Like we said, things can happen so fast, you always have to pay attention.

 

The main road was blocked for the marathon, but the bus driver took a turn around it. He got us to the mall within 20 minutes. That was about all it took us to buy our supplies, and re-board the bus to go back. We successfully used the majority of the pesos we had left from yesterday. We saved a little bit to spend at the pier souvenier stand later.

 

Stashing our stuff, we went off again to walk to nearby Rizal Park. It is a huge area that is dedicated to Dr. Jose Rizal, a national hero and revolutionary, who was executed for his anti-political views and writings. His remains lie under the huge Rizal Monument at one of the park. We noticed that the grounds appeared to be very dry, indicating that they have not had a whole lot of rain recently. In the center of this park is a pond with fountains and lights. We think there are light shows in the evenings, perhaps on the weekends. Gigantic speakers were set up at each corner of the pond and a Filipino singer was broadcasted throughout the whole area.

 

Lining both sides of the narrow stretch of park were stands selling food such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and many forms of Filipino food. Ice cream vendors were also in big demand. Most of the restrooms were in areas that you had to pay to get into. Such as the Chinese Gardens, which costs 10 pesos to enter. For both of us, that would be the equivalent of about 50 cents. It was hot, and the time was running by quickly, so it was time to leave.

 

Our next stop was the best. It was at the famous Manila Hotel, built we think around 1913. The exterior is not really impressive, but once inside, it is quite impressive. It was like stepping back in time by walking into the caverous lobby with marble floors and wood paneled walls and ceilings. The center of the room was filled with couches, tables, and chairs for enjoying coffee, tea, or drinks. A pianist was playing the piano while the folks listened or visited with friends. Right off of the lobby is a lounge and bar, where we knew we could order ice cold beers and get something to eat. never checking a menu in the past, we were thrilled to find there were four pizzas to choose from. OK, doesn't get better than this. Our choice was a Hawaiian pizza and two San Miguel beers. Simply delicious. Another hour flew by, and it was time to go.

 

On our way out, a beautiful bride was posing at the front door for the photographer. Her dress had a train that must have weighed more than the girl. Her bridesmaids arrived, dressed in black and gold gowns, and they were all off to the church we assumed. Guess we were lucky to have been here on a Saturday to see these type of events. Walking back to the ship is safe enough, but it is a bit of a seedy area. A few street vendors bothered us, but not as bad as in other places. At times you are tempted to buy their trinkets in hopes they will then go away. But you run the chance of a dozen more of them coming from around the corner selling more stuff.

 

The rest of the afternoon was a busy one with many events taking place. At 3pm, an orphanage, The Asociacion de Damas de Filipinas, Inc., put on a special performance in the Queens Lounge. There were around 25 little ones singing and dancing, cute as can be. Judging from their dance moves, we think they come on many ships when they are in port. It is a wonderful way to bring this subject to light, and the guests love it. So do the kids, as they are treated to lunch, and all the ice cream they can eat. Each child left the ship with gift bags prepared by our staff.

 

All aboard was 4:30pm, and the time for the sailaway party on the promenade deck. We have to congratulate the staff for thoroughly thinking the set-up for this event prior to execution. On the dock, two bands were alternately playing modern tunes, while baton-carrying girls danced and young men did flag-throwing to the music. The only downside was the fact that the Amsterdam was docked with the setting sun on the starboard side. The sun made most of us melt, and ruined many a photo due to bad exposure. We have to admit the heat and sun were responsible for a large consumption of free wine, champagne, beer, and sodas. The only thing they ran out of was regular beer. Taking photos and drinking at the same time does not work. So we held off, and went for beers too late. All that was left were cans of lite beer, not our favorite. Coke Zeros were abundant however. The deck was crowded with little wiggle space to walk from end to end. We did not see a whole lot of appetizers served, but we did find the gutters littered with them on our after dinner walk later on. All in all, the send-off was a success as the crew bid farewell to their families and friends. Always bittersweet.

 

By 5:30pm, we were clear of the harbor, and within 1/2 hour we were clear of the smog that covered the city and nearby mountains. The sun set by 6pm, dipping behind an island that looked like a volcano. Sure was a nice way to end the visit to the Philippines. We must say that most all of the locals we encountered were polite and super friendly. Even the locals driving by our buses waved and saluted as we drove by. Young men, including the guards, greeted us with respect even at the malls. Perhaps we have a comfort level with people from the Philippines as well as from Asia, since there is a huge population of them living in California. Many of them tend to be in the health care services, and are excellent care-takers.

 

We now have our sights set on Hong Kong, reminded that it is a day away when we filled out our landing slips today. We will probably have another body temperature check and passport check soon.

 

In response to a question regarding the Mariner Appreciation Days, that will happen in Durban when Mr. Kruise and his team will join the ship to Cape Town. Another question came up concerning souveniers and declaring them. If the items you purchase are local art, you do not need to declare them. When we get to Africa, some of the wood carvings will be required to be frozen to kill any parasites.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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KNOT2L82SAIL

KNOT2L82SAIL

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THANK YOU...WJBWJB!

I am now a subscriber!

It was so interesting to be able to see the pictures of the workings of the ship after reading the blog.

I hope they post some more pictures of the crew. I have so enjoyed my cruises on the Amsterdam. I am enjoying going along again on the world cruise. Maybe someday I will be able to do a WC too.

Once again, thank you. and a big THANK YOU to your parents. :)

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WCB "Live from...." Rare

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Report # 63 Sailing Towards Hong Kong March 2, 2014 Sunday Partly cloudy, 85 degrees

 

Many things were happening this day, as the Amsterdam sailed towards Hong Kong. With such a busy two days in Manila, we wish there were more sea days between two big ports, but it only takes one full day at sea to get to Hong Kong.

 

A new celebrity guest chef has joined us by the name of Pranee Khruasanit Halvorsen from Thailand. She turned up the heat with a demo on some spicy prawns, rolls, and veggies.

 

Also, we have a new guest speaker who has been on several world cruises. He is Melvin Foster and his talk was all about women pirates....hellions of the South China Sea and beyond. Bet that is a very interesting subject.

 

A Mongolian Cookout was held in the Lido Pool area, as well as a Lido Pool party at 1:30pm. There was the promise of games, grand dollar prizes, food, music, and dancing. Drinks were available, but at your own expense.

 

Today was the end of the second segment of the world cruise. The final total we got for the folks disembarking tomorrow is 114. On Tuesday, 230 newbies will be boarding. Currently onboard are 947 guests and 622 crew members, according to the Cruise Log pamphlet we got today. The segment from Hong Kong to Cape Town will be the most passengers we will have on any segment so far. The folks leaving were asked to return library books to the Explorations Cafe and DVDs to the front desk. Maybe the lost movie, The Hunger Games, will finally be returned. And those who have earned Grand Dollars participating in the ship's games, could turn them in for prizes today.

 

The photo competition, part two, has come to an end. The categories were people of the Amsterdam, wildlife and landscape, architecture, and be creative. For a $5.00 entry fee, an 8 x 10 printed copy of your photo will be entered. Anyone can enter a photo in each category. Voting will take place on March 2nd. You know what? The photo gallery is off the beaten path for us, and we have not made a pass through it since day one. Over the years, we have collected scores of photos, so we do not feel the need to buy more. And we are certain that the prices have gone up since we last bought photos.

 

The problems with the internet have not gone away, although some of the team of technicians have left. At times, we can post to some sites, but have had problems sending and receiving emails. What we and our buddies do not understand is why do we lose a minute each and every time we log on? If used daily, that could be a loss of over 100 minutes by the end of the trip. Gosh we wish this new system was not in place for this trip.

 

To answer a question about the laundry tags that are ironed on the clothing, it does not matter if you leave the tag on. Each time the item is laundered, a new tag will be added. Besides your room number, the tags change color and also have other numbers on them.

 

Looking forward to the next two days in Hong Kong.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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brownblonde

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Hi All

 

With permission of Bill and Mary Ann (my parents) -- please feel free to check out the blog version of their postings if you are also interested in seeing some of the photographs that go along with their cruising documentaries (note that not all reports have photos especially the at-sea days!)

 

The blog can be reached at http://cruisingwithbillandmaryann.blogspot.com

 

So far Reports 50-59 are available. As more are added I will put an update here.

 

Thanks!

 

We owe you a world of Thanks that you talked them into posting their photo's. It makes the blog so much more meaningful.

Thanks to you and to them agreeing that it would be a good thing.

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WCB "Live from...." Rare

WCB

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Report # 64 Hong Kong, Peoples Republic of China Monday Part One Chance of rain, 70 degrees

 

The Amsterdam sailed quietly into Victoria Harbour sometime around 6:30am this morning. Barbara H gave an informative narration on the outside decks, as well as on our stateroom TVs. Having been here many, many times over the years, we slept in. The weather was dismally foggy and cool, so getting up early to go outside was not the way we needed to start a long day. By the time we made it to the dining room, we were docked (starboard pierside), and we had a good table to watch the local harbor traffic while we dined. What a city of contrasts. A modern ferry was sailing into the nearby slip with the help of two tugs, while a small sampan went by with an elderly couple fishing from its bow as the boat rocked back and forth in the choppy waters.

 

Hong Kong is home to over seven million people. We think we encountered at least half of them as we walked up Nathan Road today. The city is a world class financial trading and business center mixed with quiet parks, green spaces, and mountaintop views. There are skyscrapers, temples, and shopping malls like you have never seen before. As for the history of Hong Kong, we won't get into the details other than it began as a fishing village, had a shady past, and has evolved into the fascinating, vibrant city that we see today.

 

We stayed on the Kowloon side, since most of the places we like to visit are here. Before we left the ship, we had a few jobs to do first. Getting local money, Hong Kong dollars was first on the list. We find it much easier to do this on the ship. Years ago, we got foreign money at the bank at home before we left. It was a good thing that we did not do this for Hong Kong, because recently there has been an alert for conterfeit $1000 bills especially those dated 2003. And they will not be accepted anywhere in town. That is the only time we have ever run into this problem.

 

Then we had to turn in a slip for lost internet minutes. No, the internet is still not working properly, and we have little hope it will be anytime too soon.

 

Lastly, we dropped off a white tuxedo jacket that we had made by the onboard tailors a few years ago. We felt the sleeves were too short, and the tailor agreed. So he said to bring it to him when they got here to Hong Kong, and he would fix it for free. Excellent service.

 

Finally we were ready to go on our hike. To say it was a long walk, is a gross under estimation. It was at least 4000 miles for sure. The Bird Market was the furthest destination, a very interesting place for us, since it makes us feel right at home. Besides the big variety of songbirds, they have traditional bamboo cages for sale. We actually own a couple of them already. What is neat here, are the many locals, mostly elderly, that bring their songbirds in the bamboo cages to learn to sing from the other caged birds. There are cement benches and single chairs where they sit with their cages in the trees. Sometimes these men visit with each other while their pets warble away the morning. Funny thing, we have never seen any women doing this. Right before we left, we decided to buy one more butterfly decoration for potted plants that they sell here. With a small amount of Hong Kong change, we did not have quite enough to buy it. Oh well, we said OK, but the elderly vendor said come back. She held out her hands, and we dumped the coins in them. She counted the change, and said OK, here it is, even though we were short. Nice people work here.

 

Then we were off to the Flower Market right next door.. We always find some very nice flowers to take back to our room. Todays best buy were two bunches of pinks, small carnations, with at least a total of three hundred blooms. All this for under $20 US dollars. This 2 block area is loaded with small shops, all getting early morning deliveries from, of all places, Holland. Of course, these flowers would not be grown here at this time of year or in this climate. Some of the orchids do come from here, and the prices are incredibly inexpensive. If they were not so delicate, we would have purchased some for our room. But carrying them back 4000 miles to the ship would be impossible. Funny story. A few years back, we had been on a tour that stopped here. One lady was so impressed with the size and price of the orchids, she brought a huge one back in the bus. As we hit every bump in the road, the branches began to snap, and when we arrived at the pier, only one branch was left. We all knew that could happen, but she did not even consider that. Live and learn.

 

The Ladies Market was across the road, so we made our way across the street. One good thing about long traffic lights, is that you have a few minutes to catch your breath to continue onwards. Got to the point where you pray for a red light to stop. Then once it turns green, it is like the charge of the light brigade...heads down, zigzagging, weaving through the crowds. Just like living and working in downtown San Francisco years ago. In fact, we could have been at home, walking down Market Street or making our way up to Union Square. And with the misty fog in the air today, well it brought back many memories.

 

There was no problem finding what we needed at the Ladies Market. They sell good quality umbrellas, as well as clothing for the entire family. Practical housewares are abundant, as are the small pouches for carrying groceries. We have a collection of those foldable bags, and wanted to pick up five more. At $10 Honk Kong (a little over one dollar), they are a bargain. And they last forever. There was no such luck trying to find the crocheted lace top that we searched for in the Haymarket in Sydney.

 

It was getting past lunchtime, so we knew to head back to the shopping mall at the pier, unload our purchases on the ship, and head for Pizza Express on the lower level. It was heavenly to be able to sit, relax, and enjoy every bite of margherita pizza and sips of Peroni beers. Right across from this restaurant was the Seabourn Legend, a much smaller vessel than the Amsterdam, we are certain sailing on her is a 5 star experience.

 

Shortly after 4pm, we went back out for a jaunt to the Night Market, which begins their set-up around then. The food stalls would not be ready until after dark, but we do not go there for the food. With an allergy to shellfish, one of us cannot take a single chance that everything or anything could have some type of sauce or flavoring with a shellfish base. That could ruin a week's worth of sailing for sure. No, we like to bargain for treasures there, and even though we were not specifically looking for anything, we always find a good deal. If you go early, you can get the "earlybird" special by being the first customer of the evening. That worked for two Mulberry clutch purses, and one whimsical chicken. Yes, we said chicken......one that sings Yankee Doodle and squawks while dancing in place. So, so funny, we know our room stewards will get a laugh with him. We nicknamed him Foghorn Leghorn, of course.

 

It was dark by the time we got back, but we made it on time to dinner. There were only six of us, but that was nice for visiting with a smaller group. All of us had done something different, having spent a busy full day either in Hong Kong and Macau. A few of our group were up to seeing the show featuring the Hong Kong Welsh Male Choir. Among the cities they have performed around the world, they have been at the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Sydney Opera House. Being that it was a local group, we knew it would be televised tomorrow.

 

By the way, we have to mention that our Canon camera has decided to act up again, so most of the photos have been taken with a small Olympus camera. So the quality is sacrificed, but until we resolve the problem, it is as good as it gets.

 

With one more full day in Hong Kong....we need to get some much needed sleep.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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WCB "Live from...." Rare

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Report # 65 Hong Kong, PRC March 4, 2014 Tuesday Day Two Chance of rain, 70 degrees

 

We had until 4pm before we had to be back onboard today, so we had to chart our day carefully. Breakfast began early in the dining room, since we are in port. What was different this morning was the first encounter with some new passengers that joined yesterday. Or near encounter, we should say, since two couples were sitting a couple of tables away from us. The four of them were not having the best day, because their order was not quite correct. Since we were sitting so close, we could not help but hear them putting our favorite waiter through the ringer. Their cereal was no good, the eggs were cooked wrong, and the bacon never arrived. One of the men got up four times to find the head waiter to complain. Then they had the nerve to demand espresso cups to drink their regular coffee. Now our waiter was having a bad start , because of these people. We sure hope that these folks chill out soon, or they will have a horrible cruise. And so will the staff.

 

Thinking that we would have to look into the progress with the tux jacket adjustments, we were surprised to find the garment bag hanging on our stateroom door. The work had been completed and it looked great. No charge either. We highly recommend the services provided by these tailors.

 

The weather today was even more dismal than yesterday. A heavy mist hung in the air, although we could not call it rain. OK for walking long distances. Beginning with a walk to the Jade Market, which is located near the Temple Street Night Market, we just thought we would walk through it. We always think that, and we always come out with something. That something was a pair of South Seas pearl earrings to match a double strand of pearls we purchased a few years ago on the ship. It's been impossible to find a pair at home, so we thought we'd try to look here in Hong Kong. Taking a chance that they would match, colorwise, we found a pair in a short time. The fun part was the bargaining, which we cannot do at home.

 

Near to the Jade Market is the bustling veggie and live fish market. Well, most of the fish were alive in styrofoam boxes full of water. Not only fish, but eels, turtles, and brown frogs. Each narrow stall had a butcher who was fileting and scaling big groupers and tuna. Everything was so fresh, that there was barely a smell. By the end of the afternoon, we suspect all of the fish will be sold to mostly little elderly Asian ladies pulling shopping carts behind them. While we were busy taking photos of the produce and fish tables, these ladies continued pulling their carts over our feet as they went about their shopping. We noticed that most all the little kids were being watched by their grandmas or grandpas, while the parents were at work.

 

Some of the narrow side streets were closed off to traffic, and a couple of blocks were dedicated to selling fresh produce off of tables covered with tents. Most of the fruit and veggies looked like the ones we have at home with a few exceptions. Durian was again for sale, however, we think we made a mistake with the pricing on the fruit while in Manila. Looks like it goes for 140HK a kilogram (one kilogram = 2.2046 pounds). Much of the excellent-looking apples and pears must be imported, because they do not grow here. And they were expensive.

 

The side shops on the closed-off street were meat butcheries. Pork was the number shop, with all parts of the pig hanging from hooks in the open air. Hooves, heads, innards....you name it, you can buy it. As we have noticed in the past, there are few flies or insects bothering all the exposed meats. Some of the pork, like bacon, ham, and ribs were already cooked, as were the peking ducks, chicken, and smaller poultry. Every now and then, you would see some beef cuts, the fat being very yellow in color. That indicates to us that the cows were grain or corn fed before butchering. The poultry has the same shade of yellow as well.

 

As we were winding around the stalls, we spotted several fat cats, content to curl up in a ball and watch the world go by. Two possible reasons came to mind about their healthy weight and coats. They are well fed with the readily available fish and meat or they are good ratters. We are leaning towards the "rat" patrol because everyone works here in Hong Kong......even the cats

 

After taking a million colorful photos, we began our walk back towards the pier and the waterfront stroll from the busy Star Ferry Terminal, the Clock Tower, Cultural Center, Space Museum, and the Avenue of the Stars. So much of this walkway was cordoned off, due to ongoing maintainence, that we had to be careful where we walked. What was fascinating was the sampan that was bobbing near the dock. An elderly couple were checking existing traps for fish and crabs we assume. Gosh they were working hard to lift the cages with a makeshift pulley system. Keep in mind, ferries, tankers, junks, and modern boats were sailing by as they fished the old way. The traps were full of small jumping fish, which the woman dumped in 5 gallon buckets in their ancient-style boat. Like we said, everyone works here no matter what their age.

 

Lunch was starting to sound good about now, so we headed back to Harbour City Mall and the BLT Burger restaurant. We knew they served excellent burgers and skinny fries, which we each ordered. Adding beers to the order did boost the bill to almost $50. US, but they sure tasted good. They specialize in milkshakes with names like Yin & Yang, Mocha Mudslide, and Grandma's Treat made with a touch of bourbon. They start from $68HK and go to $78HK for a spiked one ($10. US).

 

Since all aboard was 4pm with a mandatory muster drill, we had to leave. But not without one last stop at Toys R Us, where we spent the last of our coin collection on M&M's peanuts. Many other folks were doing the same thing. The rest of the remaining passengers and crew members were dialed into the free wifi near the pier entrance.

 

Shortly afterwards, the muster drill was held. So far we have not recognized any familiar faces of the newbies. Following that, was the Asian Night Market Sailaway held in the Lido Pool area. Along with finger foods and drinks? (not free), were stands of souveniers, crafts, and things for sale. It was printed that we could watch the city lights fade away into the night as we sailed towards our next destination of Singapore. There were two things wrong with that description.......nightfall would not happen until well after 6:30pm, and the city and harbor lights were not visible once we were 100 yards away from the pier. The weather was terrible for a scenic sailaway. The fog was low and eventually it began to rain lightly. The only way to see the harbor exit was from the aft deck, so we moved for a while to deck seven aft. By 6pm, we had passed most of the tall buildings that house the throngs of people and were exiting Causeway Bay. Knowing that Hong Kong is not on the itinerary next year, we were already sad to be leaving.

 

Today being Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, there was a party held in the Crows Nest at 9pm. Well that pretty much excludes the late seating dinner guests. Wonder who makes up these times and events?

 

Anyway, we have three lazy sea days ahead of us before another marathon visit to Singapore, one of our most favorite cities in the world.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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WCB "Live from...." Rare

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Report # 66 Sailing Towards Singapore March 5, 2014 Wednesday Partly Cloudy, 75 degrees

 

It only took the Amsterdam sailing overnight, for us to be back in pretty nice weather. When we went for our morning walk, the skies were mostly blue, something we have not seen for the entire time we were docked in Hong Kong. Not that everyone was complaining about the grey overcast, but those who had tours to Victoria Peak or Lantau Island were disappointed to be denied the views that are there to be enjoyed. We have been lucky in that respect, since we have visited Hong Kong this time of year, as well as in the fall while on the Asia/Pacific cruise. We recall that the fall was a much better time weatherwise to tour China and Japan.

 

We have two good speakers that gave lectures today. The morning session was delivered by Brian Stoddart who spoke about China's influences on the world, beginning many years ago. Has anyone heard of the phrase "Chinoiserie"? It is a mixture of Chinese design blending with Western taste. Mr. Stoddart explained further in his talk. In the afternoon, Mel Foster spoke about the turbulent history of Singapore, the Island Nation, and Sir Stamford Raffles part in its history.

 

With the new start of the third segment of the world cruise, we went into full service buffets in the Lido for 48 hours, which ended today at noontime. We think it is a great idea, but we doubt it is enough to stop another explosion of sore throats and upper respiratory infections. The "bug" has begun to go around once again, and has impacted some of our tablemates. One of our hosts has had three bouts of the illness, which does not get bad enough for a fever, but leaves one miserable with an annoying cough that hangs on for days. As for us, we did have a brief period with symptoms of a headcold way back in late January, but luckily, it cleared up without any meds. In addition to spraying the dining room late at night, we heard tank spraying being done around 1am in our hallways. Sometimes "bombs" are set off in the hallways, creating a dense fog of disinfectant, permeating every nook and cranny. If it helps, we are in favor of it. Just don't leave your room during the spraying.

 

We have not had a chance to mention exercise classes available to all. Starting early at 8am, Jodie, the Lifestylist and fiancee of Gene Young, holds a sit and be fit class. Something tells us that those who normally participate in that activity at home are probably not out of bed yet. Aqua aerobics are taught at 9am and 11am in the Lido Pool by Jodie. Between classes, she leads a guided meditation group at 10am. The rest of her day may involve personal training for a price, but we cannot confirm that. So who is one of the most fit person onboard? Well, Jodie, of course. She also has youth on her side........and Gene too.

 

Another popular activity with the folks is tai chi, taught by Master Cathy. It is not unusual to see people of all ages practicing the deliberate moves on the lower promenade deck. One of our longtime Asian buddies, Eddie, is a master himself at the art. We guess his age to be in the nineties, and his moves are learned from a lifetime of Chinese training, since he comes from there. While walking through Kowloon Park, we saw many locals doing tai chi, a daily ritual there. It is fun to watch, but much more difficult to do, we are sure.

 

A new musical group has joined us by the name of the Katherine Stone Band. They play in the Crows Nest, and according to Barb, they are OK, but very, very loud. So much so, that conversation is difficult. The last time we went up to the Crows Nest was for the first Cruise Critic meeting, and we have not been there since. The only place that is comfortable to sit for us is at the bar on the high seats. However, we are certain that every seat is taken by the regulars that began this trip in Florida.

 

Catching up on some of the late night entertainment, we heard that the 2 person Celtic group were very good, but were drowned out by the ship's drummer. We have heard no comments on the singers and dancers, but will ask about them during dinnertime. Tonight, Byron Johnston will be playing his guitar with classical and pop tunes. Poor Keith has been under the weather, and announced for the last two or more nights that he was not going to the show. Bed was a better option. We second that.

 

Surprise.....we had presents tonight.....two ballistic nylon carry on travel bags with wheels. Perfect, since we will be using these for our overland safari in Africa. They are the perfect size for packing essentials for that trip.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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grantwilma

grantwilma

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You re awesome for bringing to life your adventure. Thank you. I've truly enjoyed the trip so far and I'm looking forward to more adventures. Unfortunately I can not talk my wife into this trip. Your very fortunate that your partner enjoys this with you.

 

 

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