LIVE - An Epic Journey - Rhapsody - Singapore to Istanbul

[AussieVisi2r]

Kuala Lumpur sailaway

 

A really pretty sailaway.

 

The diversity of shipping was amazing. Traditional cargo boats, fishing boats to ships.

 

 

 

An amazing sunset.

 

 

 

 

Main dinning room was great - Duck! Great evening.

Edited May 7, 2015 by AussieVisi2r

[PCWalton1]

Thanks Raina, amazing photos. I am really enjoying the duel reports from you and Linda. Twice the enjoyment. :)

[AussieVisi2r]

Is this the Marina Sands Hotel? The top looks like a very shallow ship, doesn't it?

 

If not, what is it?

 

Hi Joan,

 

Yes it is meant to look like a ship. I couldn't get a great angle of it. But it is very cool.

 

At night they swing search lights around like they are searching form above. there is an infinity pool on top. Must be amazing.

 

It's really nice. But a bit out of my price range. :)

 

Raina

[AussieVisi2r]

Thanks Raina, amazing photos. I am really enjoying the duel reports from you and Linda. Twice the enjoyment. :)

 

Thanks Bill.

 

It is great seeing different perspectives.

 

Raina

[Setting sail for fun]

Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debbie

[Hazydavo]

Awesome photos especially that sunset. Also love the photos that include the ship :)

[JamesEM]

Enjoying the photos, looking forward to more.

[suzbro]

Hi Raina

 

Loving the blog and all the photos. Keep them coming :)

 

We went to that Bird Park in KL that you mentioned, and it is huge and spectacular.

 

Looking forward to reading your next installment.

 

Take Care

 

Suzie & Georgia

xxoo

[OurDogCisco]

Amazing photos.... I just added this trip to my bucket list. It wasn't even on my list but now with your prospective it is. Thanks for sharing and taking the time to post.

[AussieVisi2r]

Thailand

 

Phuket 5th May

 

It is so hot here! You cannot take photos when you first walk off the ship. You have to let the camera warm up to stop it fogging.

 

 

We had planned to just look around Old Phuket today so didn't book anything.

 

Today was a tender day. And I must say RCCL DID NOT do themselves proud. It was the worst tender operation I have been on. They arrived at port one hour early - but at a different tender place to the one in the cruise documents. Then they didn't give clear instructions. When they announced that boat one was ready to go (an hour early) many people panicked thinking they would miss their RCCL tours. Guest services was lined with people complaining that the were not ready, they they wanted on the first tender, etc. In the end a few "not so friendly' announcements were made and a very slow process with many angry people. Lines were far from orderly as people jumped in etc.

 

Everyone did get ashore eventually.

 

When we went ashore we went to get a taxi. Fairly wild and not for the faint hearted. This was worse then the Port Vila taxi scrum!

 

 

The taxi drivers ready to attack the tourists.

 

First one said $150 US. After bargaining we paid $50!!!!! Turned out he was a police officer so we were well looked after.

 

We visited the big Buddhist temple and it was stunning.

 

 

 

 

You take your shoes off to enter. Socks are OK to stay on. Bare feet are fine but the tiles get really hot. Women must have their knees and shoulders covered. Men must have their shoulders covered. They supply sarongs if you are not dressed appropriately so don't worry. This place was so beautiful. really worth going to.

 

Another point I make here is that this is a religious place. Doesn't matter if it is not your religion. It was a bit sad to see the number of selfie sticks and silly posses in front of the Buddhas.

 

People making offerings to Buddha - very beautiful.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Phuket continued.

 

A few more at the Temple.

 

 

It is worth walking to the very top. There is an actual artefact up there. A fragment of THE Buddah.

 

 

 

We drove around and looked at the town.

 

 

 

We then went to lunch which was really good but cost close to what we would have paid at home. I think we were taken to his friends place.

 

We then went for massages. I love a good Thai massage. They were $30US for a 90 minute oil massage. So much better then on board.

 

Another lovely day.

 

Back on board I went to Chops and really enjoyed it. I thought he food and the service were excellent.

[critterchick]

I am so loving your blog! We will be in Singapore next year, and I've been putting some notes into my spreadsheet so I can remember what to do by the time it comes around. Thanks for taking us on your journey!

Edited May 8, 2015 by critterchick

[AussieVisi2r]

6th and 7th May were very relaxed Sea Days. And we needed it.

 

Food, reading, swim, yayyyy - Nanna Nap. Drinks with friends, dinner with friends.

 

We are now half way across the Bay of Bengal. A hugely busy shipping lane. So many loaded ships chugging in both directions.

 

We are flying along at 21.5 knots and the sea is dead flat. Weather is still really hot but the humidity is down a tiny bit with the ship moving fast.

 

Went to the main show. A country and Western night. must say the voices of the Royal Caribbean Singers were great and the Dancers were fantastic. I shall go to more shows.

 

 

Went to the Meet and Greet and meet many people I had been chatting to on line. We have had a very active group on line so was good to meet people. Many had signed up for the meeting and some nibbles were provided.

 

 

We also had a Meet and Greet lunch in the MDR. Two of the group (Thanks Valerie and Linda) organised it and many people came.

It clashed with the Solo lunch so I cannot tell you about that!

 

As I was walking past the Art Auction today I saw someone pay $8000 US for a piece of art! Sorry - don't know what it was.

 

The Crown and Anchor Party was well attended - with plenty of alcohol. top cruisers had over 2000pts with second getting her second Pinnacle award at 1400 points.

 

 

Then they had some Ballroom dancers for us. Boy could that girl move her legs.

 

 

They must have poured too many glasses of champagne and Bellini's. I saw them walking around deck 6 handing them out to people. Made a lot of people happy.

Sitting in the lounge today we saw, firstly a big school of some Pelagic fish leaping around.

Then a good sized pod of dark Dolphins. Smaller then Aussie dolphins and very dark. Irrawaddi Dolphins I think (with the help of Dr Google). They are closly related to Beluga Whales!

 

We are in 4000 metres of water. Flat water. Don't drop the camera.

 

The Disco Inferno 70's night was going off tonight.

 

 

 

I'm having a great time! Next Sri Lanka.

[Setting sail for fun]

Looks like great fun!

[AussieVisi2r]

Colombo, Sri Lanka. 8th May

 

WOW.

 

Don't know wheat to say. This was an amazing day. We travelled from Colombo down to Galle (as in ball) and saw so much.

 

I had a driver booked.....but after 30 minutes of searching I couldn't find him. So I just found another with...same price for the same stuff. Turns out my guy was waiting at the port exit! A 15 minutes drive away. This port is massive. We thought we were driving around Columbo but were still in the port. So I don't really know how the guy I booked expected me to find him!

 

TIP - if pre booking a driver make sure he has a "port entrance authority". But really there was no need to book. We got a nice van with great air conditioning and a really great driver. We wanted a big day and to go down to Galle.

Columbo is a city of 5 million people. It's amazing. Modern and ancient. Portugese, Dutch, English and Sri Lankan. Clean and messy. So much of a mix.

The driving was pretty funny. Cost was $225 US. (but he did let us include our remaining SL Rupee in the price - even better!) We left the port at 9.30

 

 

 

Columbo is a city of 5 million people. It's amazing. Modern and ancient. Portugese, Dutch, English and Sri Lankan. Clean and messy. So much of a mix.

The driving was pretty funny. not so much in a laughing way....)

 

There are Tuk Tuks, which are motor bikes with a shell and a seat for two on two back wheels. There were some private cars, scooters, taxi vans, buses and trucks.As a vehicle comes up behind another it beeps the horn to tell it we are passing. Didn't matter if there was on coming traffic, already being overtaken, on a bend or a hill. None of those silly conventions mattered. The biggest vehicle has right of way - ie if we (in our van) were passing a scooter he pulled left. If a tuk tuk was coming towards us, he pulled left and we squeezed between. If a bus decided to pass us at that moment, the scooter went further left, we went a bit left, the bus squashed between us and the on coming tuk tuk. Yes that is hard to understand but it was mental. No crashes though!

 

 

 

 

 

There was a week long ceremony happening so everywhere had 'lantern' hanging. Many had raincoats on.

 

A great mix of fantastic modern buildings then more traditional things, often side by side. I loved the traditional fruit sellers next to a digital printer or a computer shop.

[AussieVisi2r]

Sri Lanka continued

 

The drive through Columbo was fascinating. So many sites, colours, and even sounds. It was wonderful.

 

I'm pretty good (even if I say so myself) at driving in other countries. But I will admit I think I would have been back at that first intersection (where we left the port).....for at lease 6 hrs trying to get across the intersection!!!!!

 

 

 

 

And then...just like that we were on a huge modern express way, dual carriage and toll ways!

And well and truly into the country.

 

Rice paddy's.

 

 

 

Water buffalo. each beast was tethered in a spot. I guess they were eating down the grass and mushing up the soil (as water buff really destroy land) in preparation for planting. Kind of like a basic plough.

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Sri Lanka continued

 

At Galle we went to see the Stilt fishermen. This is a traditional fishing method used int his small area. The do the serious fishing at sunset and sunrise (as do most line fishermen) but also 'perform' for tourists. We paid $12 US to see them go out and fish - and they did catch a few.

 

They go out into the surf and climb up the poles then sit (on a thin uncomfortable stick) and fish with a line on the end of a twangy branch. Very cool.

It looked awesome.

 

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Sri Lanka continued

 

Next was a just looking at really stunning things.

 

 

 

 

Then we came to some fish markets. It you've followed any of my other travels you will know I love markets - not tourist markets, real ones. This one was amazing. The boats were up on the shore. Fish spread out on tarps. And people working on boats and nets.

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Sri Lanka continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

As in most cricketing nations the conversation went like this.....

 

"Ah, you are from Australia.

You like cricket? You know Shane Warne?

Shane warn is a good man!"

 

I have had this conversation in a few countries. For the US people Cricket is huge and Shane Warne is one of our legends - although he is also a bad boy.. well bad husband. But after the Boxing Day Tsunami he organised a series of celebrity cricket matches and raised millions for people effected. So yes he is very much a good man to people here.

 

This place was amazing. So traditional, so pretty, and the fish smelt so good. Could have watched the guy mending the nets for ages.

[AussieVisi2r]

Sri Lanka continued

 

Next stop was the Fort - Galle Fort or The Old Dutch Fort. . It was built by the Portugese in 1588 and fortified by the Dutch in from around 1650. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It survived the Boxing day Tsunami but did need a bit of restoration.

 

 

 

It's a massive area with many shops and restaurants. Lots to see.

 

Including washing drying in a UNESCO site. HAHAH

 

 

 

These kids go to school in such an amazing place. And imaging keeping their uniforms clean.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Sri Lanka continued

 

We had the BEST CURRY lunch EVER. It was sensational. We had a fish curry, a seafood curry, a mutton curry and a cashew curry with rice. They were very light dishes with a fine runny sauce. the meat was also in small chunks. It was wonderful.

 

 

Of course I had to have some Sri Lanka tea.

 

 

The weather is ridiculously hot and humid (but I had humidity). To be less than lady like - the sweat just runs off you. You can't put your arms on the chair arms as they just slip off. And no need for toilet breaks. Fluid had left your body well before that is needed - sorry. Just keep drinking.

 

Next we drove through the area hit by the Boxing Day Tsunami. When the wave came ashore it was 25 feet high. Hard to comprehend. The wave was higher than the trees in the photo below. 50,000 people (across Sri Lanka) were killed including 1257 people on the "Queen of the Sea" train that runs up the coast to Columbo about 20 meters back from the shore line.The train had no radio communication so had no warning. It just chugged up the coast into the wave as it hit.

 

 

The art work was particularly powerful. ( If you have seen the movie "The Impossible" you will understand it more.) But to see a train being churned around in the image is horrific.

 

 

The place is full of besser brick building shells that are now uninhabitable. A new law says no new buildings within 100 metres of the shore line.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Sri Lanka continued

 

A few of the sites along the road.

 

Buddhist graves are decorated with banners.

 

 

 

This guy was in the back with three hugs pigs.

 

 

Transport is what ever you can make work. Heaps of people were driving hand tractors / excavator things on the road pulling big trailers.

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Sri Lanka continued

 

We got back to the ship after more than 9 hours of mind blowing sites.

 

Just before the ship we saw a train chugging along. Just like in the movies it was covered in people. People hanging out the doors holding onto other people. Fantastic

 

We bought a bunch of flowers for our rooms. Under $1 US a bunch.

 

 

I didn't do anything tonight. A chat in the lounge then bed - well internet to put up photos.

 

Other people did other tours.

 

Elephant orphanage got excellent reports. A full day trip. Train ride to the orphanage then lots of time patting and watching the elephants. Lunch was in a good restaurant over looking the elephants playing in the river.

 

The tea tour also got rave reviews. 3 1/2 hours.They went to a big plantation and saw the terraced plantation, the factory, watched tea bags get made, tea picked and dried etc. They all loved it as well.

 

So - Sri Lanka. A huge tick from me.

 

And do you know what is really exciting???????

 

I am UP TO DATE. This really now is a LIVE review!!!!

 

Yayy.

 

[flippam]

Your blog is so vivid! Excellent story teller. Will be boarding ship in Dubai and will hopefully run into you. Thanks for a great trip so far😊. Question re: dinner time dinning- is first seating in MDR REALLY at 5:30? Looking forward to your next post😃

[AussieVisi2r]

Your blog is so vivid! Excellent story teller. Will be boarding ship in Dubai and will hopefully run into you. Thanks for a great trip so far😊. Question re: dinner time dinning- is first seating in MDR REALLY at 5:30? Looking forward to your next post😃

 

Hello. Thanks.

 

They have grown a brain and gone back to 6pm for the Dubai leg. Yayyyy.

 

I'm sure we will catch up.

 

Raina