LIVE - An Epic Journey - Rhapsody - Singapore to Istanbul

[AussieVisi2r]

Mangalore continued.

 

Sitting in the lounge you got a great view of the port. The port that gets a mention for being nice and clean.

 

 

Super high security. We had to show papers many times. But this sacred Brahman bull just got to walk right through. But then again they just get to walk anywhere.

 

 

Go home ship! You're drunk. You shouldn't park there.

 

 

But the port did look great from some angles.

 

 

And sunset was pretty impressive.

 

 

[suzbro]

I feel like I'm on this epic journey with you ☺ Beautiful sunset.

 

By the way, I didn't win the cruise😭

 

Suzie

[AussieVisi2r]

Mangalore contunied.

 

And today I was in the right spot at the right time. Bringing in the Indian Flag as we sail out into international water - for the night.

 

 

 

 

The aerial show.

 

 

Another great day in India.

[Tara Jane]

Thanks so much for your postings, great reading and photos.

[cathykb]

Thanks for sharing your adventures. Your pictures are fabulous.

 

Cathy

[clochette]

what a great review thank you so much for taking the time to write it, your pictures are stunning

[AussieVisi2r]

Goa, 12th May

 

Today was a change of pace. Out of the city and into the country.

 

We did a private tour with 10 other people from CC. A fun day.

 

Today was soooo hot. Super humid and we almost hit the 100 degrees. An the air cond in the bus was useless. Of course the camera fogged up.

 

 

 

Papers - again.

 

 

We saw much of the same. Rubbish, building in different stages of completion, building that looked like they have 'dry rot' growing up them. Guess its mould! Amazing clothing, great colours and more.

 

 

 

I really noticed today that despite all the rubbish lying around India smells great. Not offensive at all. The smells include greenery, smoke, cooking, curries. All great smells.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Goa continued

 

First visit was to the "Latin Quarter" with buildings from the Portugese times. Very pretty.

 

 

 

This window is made of shells.

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Goa continued

 

I saw a MONKEY!!!!!! I was very excited and sat yelling "Monkey. Monkey. Monkey". One of the ladies on the tour said she was very confused. She was sure there were no kids on the trip!.

 

 

Basilica of Bom Jesus

 

 

 

 

Basilica of Bom Jesus.. The tomb of the "miraculous" St. Francis Xavier.

 

 

Se Cathederal

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Goa continued

It was then off to a spice farm. That was great - although the temperature and the comfort level in the 'jungle' were disgusting, So stifling.

We saw so many spices being grown. The place is 150 acres, 300 years old and family owned.

 

 

 

A great greeting. Our heads were marked, we were given flower necklaces and covered in petals.

 

Ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, Peri Peri Chill - 1000 times hotter than other chillies. Beetle Nut, Cardimum, peper, cloves, Vanilla, 5 Spice (did you know it is actually one plant - not a mix of 5 spices). Mace (actually comes from the outside shell of the nutmeg plant. )

 

Who knew. This is the fruit from the cashew tree. Each fruit produced ONE cashew. It is hand picked from within the fruit.

 

 

After the cashew is picked out, the pulp is crushed (by foot) and distilled into a 40% Moonshine.

We tried it and it sure warmed your belly.

 

 

Saw a guy climb the Beetle nut tree to harvest then bent the tree and across to the next tree, then the next.

 

 

We spent ages watching a guy wash his elephant. SO nice. Elephant was happy. She says "That if this is being exploited for tourists, she is all for it".

 

 

When we came out of the jungle they guy told us that it was traditional to hop into the river after spice picking. It is so good for you as it contracts the muscles down the spine and contracts the muscles and cools and relaxes you. Since we couldn't do that they had an alternative. The pour a dipper of cold water with spice in it down your spine. It worked!!!!!!!

Edited May 13, 2015 by AussieVisi2r

[Setting sail for fun]

The photos are wonderful!

[mslaabs]

I'm really enjoying the live report. Thanks for taking the time to post photos.

[laurieal]

Beautiful pictures! Love the sunset ones with the flag!

[AussieVisi2r]

Goa continued

 

Drove back to the ship and saw more wonderful things.

 

 

This private tour had 12 of us on board and cost $60US each. Great trip.

 

Tonight there was something new (to me) in the CL.

Whiskey tasting! Sponsored by Johnny Walker. Much fun.

12 different whiskeys. Ranging up to the lovely Blue.

 

 

A good nights work. I am not a whiskey drinker - but I gave it a go. I will admit to being a bit wasteful though.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Mumbai, 13th May

 

 

Immigration was a bit of a nightmare again today.

Queue up to get your yellow card and passport.

Queue up to a do a ”face to face” with an Indian immigration officer – but most of them decided they needed a cup of tea.

Hand your passport back to ship staff.

 

Royal staff were excellent. All of this was beyond their control. Many passengers whined and complained but there was o Royal could do.

 

And then down to the theatre as we were doing a ships tour! “Shades of Mumbai.”

 

Mumbai is a massive city of 25 million. Heaps of vehicles, a lot less rubbish than other places and so many vehicles. And a mix of incredible old building (some with conservation orders so they are maintained) and buildings that we would think of as ruins.

 

 

 

First stop was a railway station. A commuter station where 2 1/2 million people pass through each day.

 

We saw a train come in and people just kept getting off. It was a bit like a comedy skit where the people just keep recycling past. There were heaps of cobblers plying their trade - dozens of them. Shoes must be made to last a life time.

 

 

It was then our turn it get on. We were travelling against the peak - luckily as they have 4 people per square foot on peak hour trains - thus the people hanging off the sides. The train only stops for around 30 seconds at each station so you have to be ready to leap on or off.

 

We were in a First Class carriage and were told by our guide that the main difference in First Class, apart from the cushion on the seat is the quality of the smell of the passengers. Our guide commutes two hours each way to work.

 

 

There are a number of different carriages. Mainly women only carriages. The chances of rape in a mixed carriage is very high.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Mumbai continued

 

It was a fun train trip.

 

We got off and went to the world’s biggest outdoor laundry.

 

 

Now I could go mad here and show you all my photos ....but I will use restraint! But it was a visual spectacular!!!!!!!

Most people do not own washing machines. The Dhoby Walla collets the washing from your home and brings it here to Dhoby Ghat to wash it. It is washed in bays using blocks of soap and stone, and pounded on the cement.

 

 

Everything is sorted by colour and hung to dry, or draped with military precision. It's then ironed and deliver home.

 

 

 

 

These guys are totally illiterate, yet still manage to keep track of each person's washing. How do they know who owns which pair of jeans.

 

The washing is collected in huge bundles then sorted and washed. But I can barely keep track of my own washing. They are very skilled.

 

 

It is also The Dhoby Wallas (whole family) earns around $150 U a month, but do have to pay a monthly rent to he council for their wash space.

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Mumbai continued

 

They also wash carpets. Like full sized Turkish Rugs. I can barely move mine dry!

 

 

Everyone's clothes are always immaculately clean. The whites are so white - yet look at the water they are washed in. They must have rinse water that we couldn't see.

 

The Dhoby Walla's are from the Untouchable class and live a terrible life with no chance of improvement.

There houses are the ‘huts’ next to the washing pits.

 

 

 

It is also amazing and sad that this 'slum' and place of such hardship and manual labour is part of the modern city with high rise, computers and all.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Munbai continued

 

We hit the 100 degrees today! Can you tell by my healthy glow to my skin. And of course we sweated like taps again today.

 

Sacred cows in Mumbai are tethered during the day - to avoid accidents. Ladies bring them in the city each day with bunches of grass. You buy a clump of grass to make an offering to the cow.

 

 

Taxis, and trucks, and buses, and scooters, and pushbikes, and wagons, and hand cart and more.

 

Hand carts. They carry huge loads that the person can barely move them.

 

 

And I don't think my local station would re fill these gas bottles. Just a bit f rust...and I suspect they are out of inspection.

 

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel - No nowhere near the real Taj Mahal (1000 ks away). Built by a wealthy Indian business man who was snubbed by the Brits and denied access to their hotel. So what did he do.......he built the grandest hotel in India.

 

 

This is the hotel that was attacked in 2008 by the Palestinian terrorist group. 167 people were killed. Security was heavy, our bags were scanned. They checked under the bonnet and in the boot as well as the underneath of every car that drives up. Huge bollards are raised and lowered between every car sealing off the area.

 

But at least our bags were comfortable as they travelled through the scanner. on their red velvet cushions.

 

Lunch was great and the deserts were amazing.

 

Opposite the hotel was the "Gateway to India" a huge British monument. The first and last thing the Brits saw travelling to India.

 

 

 

Mumbai Central Railway Station. Modelled on St Pancras in London. Where I was two weeks ago!

 

3 1/2 million people a day through here. A very stunning building and so huge. As big as the London one but so used. Luckily this one has a protection order on it so it is one of the few buildings that will not rot away.

 

 

[joand452]

I'm dumbfounded by that laundry!! Unbelievable that they can keep track of all those clothes. But then I was thinking that maybe folks just don't care if they get someone else's jeans or a sari -- as long as it fits!

 

Loving your report!

[AussieVisi2r]

Thanks for all the comments guys.

 

Glad your enjoying it. I sure am.

 

Hope I'm not putting in too many photos.

 

Also if you have any questions fire away.

 

Raina

[AussieVisi2r]

I'm dumbfounded by that laundry!! Unbelievable that they can keep track of all those clothes. But then I was thinking that maybe folks just don't care if they get someone else's jeans or a sari -- as long as it fits!

 

Loving your report!

 

They use a tailors chalk to mark things when they arrive - but that washes off.

 

And that line of blue jeans cannot belong to one person. How on earth do they keep track!!!!!!

 

R

[AussieVisi2r]

Mumbai continued

 

Market next.

Huge and a riot of colour, noise smell. Wonderful.

 

So many mangos - but not ones that would sell in Australia. They pack them is straw. How much better is that.

 

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Mumbai continued

 

A few more sites around Mumbai.

 

 

I guess they don't stop many fires.

 

 

 

 

 

And yet so pretty. Looks like any other modern city.

 

 

Sail away was through an incredibly busy harbour with lots of unusual vessels. I saw a few that I have seen on the TV show Mighty Ships - Cable laying ship, drilling platforms.

 

 

The flute guy, Marlan, is still in Giovanies. He played for us, then whipped out a knife, a potato and a tomato, and made us a rose.

 

Later that night there were heaps of drilling platforms all lit up.

 

So...India was brilliant. I love it. So much to see. The colours were amazing. I loved the building - in a post apocalyptic way. All run down and stained. But they will all fall down in the not to distant future. There is no maintenance at all. Either buildings are new and shiny or in a state of rotting away.

 

I do believe that when they made up the word juxtaposition - they were thinking of India.

 

Rich and poor, old and new, traditional and British. So many contrasts.

 

Yes you will be harasses / approached by hawker and beggars - many in desperate conditions, there will be certain smells - like the toilets at the train station, there will be sites - like the mangy dogs, the rubbish, the homeless on the streets BUT the colour and life of the place, the interesting people and the fact that is is about as far from our own lives that makes it such an amazing place. And the food was so good. The food and the chia were brilliant.

 

So worth visiting. I have loved my 4 days in India.

 

But it was so good to get back onto the ship at night.

[QE2_Fan]

 

So...India was brilliant. I love it. So much to see. The colours were amazing. I loved the building - in a post apocalyptic way. All run down and stained. But they will all fall down in the not to distant future. There is no maintenance at all. Either buildings are new and shiny or in a state of rotting away.

 

 

 

I do believe that when they made up the word juxtaposition - they were thinking of India.

 

 

 

Rich and poor, old and new, traditional and British. So many contrasts.

 

 

 

Yes you will be harasses / approached by hawker and beggars - many in desperate conditions, there will be certain smells - like the toilets at the train station, there will be sites - like the mangy dogs, the rubbish, the homeless on the streets BUT the colour and life of the place, the interesting people and the fact that is is about as far from our own lives that makes it such an amazing place. And the food was so good. The food and the chia were brilliant.

 

 

 

So worth visiting. I have loved my 4 days in India.

 

 

 

But it was so good to get back onto the ship at night.[/color][/size][/b]

 

 

Hi Raina!

 

I have been following your travels quietly, excited to hear of your thoughts of India. And you have summed it up so much more eloquently than I ever could. Yet I would wish to say exactly the same.

 

For me the single sentence " do believe that when they made up the word juxtaposition - they were thinking of India." Is how I think of India After 3 business trips. A place I never wished to visit, yet strangely it now holds something magical over me and a fascination to discover more!

 

Then old, the new, the rich, the poor...all interspersed randomly so you never quite know who or what will be in your face next! The history of the country and its surrounds is also uniquely fascinating and so different to our own!!

 

Well your lovely (and in my eyes, so very accurate!) summary of Your India interlude made me come out of the woodwork, off I hide again and look forward with further fascination as you discover new lands, cultures and juxtaposition s [emoji13]

 

Cheers

Matt (from C.A. social media!!)

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Edited May 15, 2015 by QE2_Fan

[aussielozzie18]

Please don't apologise for the all the photos. They are wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to do this blog and to share a part of the world that many of us may never see or experience.