and so it begins.....RTW16

[cbb]

Wed, April 20,

Today was a beautiful and very hot day. The weather forecast for Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia was in the high 90s. Fortunately we had opted for a shorex entitled "Majestic Kinabalu Park" which lasted ~8 hrs.

 

By taking the tour bus out of town and into this UNESCO Heritage Site, we not only saw a beautiful national park, but it was also in the high 70s and gorgeous because of the higher elevation.

 

There were 3 buses and our bus went immediately to the Park to see Mt Kinabalu, one of the highest mountains in SE Asia at 13, 431 feet. Each of the buses went to a different site and we met at lunch which was nice--no place was crowded.

 

We left the bus and took a hike along the Silau Silau Nature Trail which is advertised as one of the easiest and most beautiful trails in the park.

 

Even though it is "easy" it is by no means easy if you suffer from any physical disability. The steps are uneven and the riser measurements are not standard so one step may be shallow, the next quite steep. The path is rocky and uneven but totally doable if you are agile and fit.

 

Our guide was Nelson and he was able to show us many different plants including a very unique pitcher plant, as well as several varieties of orchids and other tropical plants.

 

He showed us one plant that was supposed to be used by locals as a "birth control" medicine. He said that if you asked the locals about the size of their families, you would quickly realize that the plant was ineffective!

 

The jungle was lovely, quiet, and very green despite Nelson's news that climate change is affecting them by not bringing as much rain as is expected and needed.

 

The path then led out of the jungle and into the Botanical Gardens where we saw more orchids and a collection of rare plants.

 

Lunch was in the Park at the Liwagu Restaurant and mostly Malaysian dishes were offered in a buffet. All of us were able to find something to eat and the physical setting was lovely.

 

After spending several hours in the park we headed back to the ship but stopped at a roadside market to shop for local handicrafts. Batik was popular as well as hand woven baskets. There were many stalls and we all could have spent longer than the 1/2 hour we were given. The women that were there were so gracious and not at all aggressive in their sales.

 

I didn't mind the 2 hour bus ride, both ways, as it gave me the opportunity to see more of Borneo. We saw Muslim kids walking to school and playing on the playground, Catholic and Seven Day Adventist churches, homes of the locals, many of which began as stilt houses, but the bottom levels of many have now been enclosed giving them more living space.

 

As we drove through the Crocker Range we saw lovely mountain views , vegetable gardens, and workers cutting trees on the hill sides.

 

If you ever take this excursion, sit on the left side of the bus facing the front; I sat on the right and it was quite warm both directions!

 

It was a gorgeous day and I'm so glad I was able to walk in the jungles of Borneo and take pictures of lovely plants....seriously, how many people can say they walked in the jungles of Borneo!!

 

We returned to the ship in time for me to shower and go play trivia, then headed to Horizons for Happy Hour and to watch a glorious sunset.

 

What a lovely day...hope yours was as well.

[2552phxcrzr]

Perfect timing as I am about to get started on my Kota Kinabalu research for 2017. Sounds like a lovely outing ... what size were the busses?

[cbb]

h2so4--the buses were the large ones with plush cushions and red curtains that could be pulled to block out sun. Nice big windows for ease of taking photos from the bus

 

some used the curtains, but then, of course, couldn't see out. Probably wasn't important to see out on the return trip since we traveled the same road.

 

Buses and guide Nelson were both fine.

[2552phxcrzr]

h2so4--the buses were the large ones with plush cushions and red curtains that could be pulled to block out sun. Nice big windows for ease of taking photos from the bus

 

some used the curtains, but then, of course, couldn't see out. Probably wasn't important to see out on the return trip since we traveled the same road.

 

Buses and guide Nelson were both fine.

 

Thanks so much for the response.

[cbb]

April 21,

 

Today we took a shorex entitled "Brunei Culture & Visit to Water Village." It was only 4 hours but we packed a lot into our tour. This is not a tour to take if you are not agile since 1/2 of the tour will be spent climbing into and out of a speedboat that was long, narrow, and fast. There is no one to help you in or out.

 

We boarded the bus early since we had enough for one bus to leave immediately so we were 20 minutes ahead of schedule! Eventually there would be 3 buses doing this excursion, but we were glad we were first.

Our schedule indicated we were to see Sultan and Brunei cultural things first, then last would be the water village so we were gratified to hear we would first go to the Water Village.

 

The temperature at 8:00 was already well into the high 80s and we knew that by noon it would be very hot. The cultural stops would mostly all be indoors which meant air conditioning so stopping in those places last was wonderful news!

 

On our way to the Village we were shown the Sultan of Brunei's palace on the banks of the Brunei River. It was quite a distance away but we could still see the shiny gold domes.

 

Later at trivia, one of us asked Ray Carr, cruise director, why we all couldn't go into the Palace and his reply was classic...."If you all showed up at my house, do you think I'd let you all in?" Since we are all a bunch of characters it was an excellent answer!

 

The Water Village has a population estimated at 30,000 and has been in existence well over 1000 years. Most of the houses are made of wood and all are on stilts with boats tied up underneath. The stores, schools, hospital, mosques, and police station are all on stilts as well, but some of the newer buildings are made of what appears to be concrete.

 

Many of the homes seem to be quite large and well built and we did stop in one of them for tea and snacks. Some of us were brave enough to eat them, but most left their offerings on the plates. I visited the toilets, passing through the kitchen, and was glad I had not eaten anything. The toilets, we were told, empty into the water beneath, so no water treatment facilities were there on the river.....!!!

 

Our next stops were to learn about Brunei and their Sultan. He is also the Prime Minister, the Head of the Military, and the Minister of Finance...for a country that is sitting on oil wealth and he controls 99% of the wealth. It is an inherited position, one he accepted upon his father's death, as will his first-born son.

 

He has had 3 wives of the 4 he is permitted, but has divorced the last 2. He cannot, by law, divorce his first wife who will be Queen as long as he lives and she has given him 6 children...including the sons needed to carry on. He and his Queen are in their late 60s.

 

Sharia law is the law of the nation, by his decree, but it appears to be a more liberal nation than many others under Sharia law; women can drive, are highly educated, and are not veiled. Other religions are allowed to be practiced.

 

If one is a citizen of Brunei, his government offers a free education through university graduation, free medical, free hospitalization, and subsidizes governmental housing, a widow's pension and aid to her dependent children until age 18, and a pension for those over age 60.

 

However, even if your family has lived in Brunei for generations but are from another country, one does not receive these benefits and must work most of their lives. Our guide's grandparents came from China and she is not a citizen, and is considered "stateless."

 

She had taken the citizenship test several years ago and did not pass since part of the test is to translate words into Malay so she retook the test in 2012 and has not received the results yet. She loves Brunei and the Royal Family, is highly educated, and is not Muslim.

 

We saw the Royal Regalia Museum which contains most of the items leaders from other countries have presented to the Sultan, the Royal Chariot in which he rides while his men carry him, and items and photographs pertaining to the major points in his life.

 

We made a photo stop to see the Jame Mosque, which is gorgeous, and in which the Sultan and his sons pray every Friday.

 

My impressions of Brunei are that everyone seems to have a car, and a nice one. Our guide told us that cars are fairly inexpensive in Brunei, gasoline to fill the tanks is really cheap, that most people can afford a nice house, especially since the government subsidizes most of the housing, and education is highly valued.

 

There are no clubs and alcohol is not sold in stores or permitted in restaurants. There is very little crime and it is a very safe country for citizens and tourists.

 

We saw beautiful gated estates and very few poorly maintained homes or grounds. Schools are everywhere and the students go to one school until noon, their parents pick them up for lunch and then they resume their education at a Moslem school from 2:00-4:00. Everyone speaks English and they are Sunni Muslim.

 

We did not see any homeless people, or taxis, or anyone really on the streets. Were they at work, was it too hot? We don't know.

 

There is an enormous amount of obvious wealth in Brunei and it appears that the average citizen is sharing in the benefits of the wealth. However, we also know that the media is literally owned by the Sultan and he is the law of the land. He was educated in England, earned his pilot's license in the US and English is spoken in the home.

 

Everyone that I spoke to enjoyed this shorex. Brunei is an unusual mix of a very modern country with strict Sunni Muslim beliefs and I'm certainly glad I had the opportunity to see this fascinating country.

[Paulchili]

cbb,

Did they tell you about the Sultan's car collection (among them are 300 Ferraris and 600 Rolls Royces)?:

http://blog.dupontregistry.com/celebrity-cars/sultan-of-brunei-his-5000-car-collection/

Maybe if he sold 550 of his RRs (the 50 left should be enough :D) and a couple hundred of Ferraris, some of those people in the water village could have homes on land with plumbing, cleaner waters, etc?

Not holding my breath :D

Sorry for my sarcasm - I am enjoying your excellent reports.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Paulchili

[cbb]

paulchili,

 

yes, the car collection was mentioned! This is a man that likes fast cars and planes.

 

From what I've gathered, the people who live in the Water Village want to live there and no where else and that their people have lived there for generations.

 

The ick factor was high for those of us who knew about the toilet flushing--some of the others didn't know about it until they visited the facilities and were a little taken back by the hole in the bottom of the basin and the wave action from the river seen in the hole.

 

One of the guides said that everyone knows when the Sultan is coming for prayers; a police escort and then a gorgeous Rolls Royce with the Sultan driving goes by, a handsome man, my guide assured me, with the chauffeur sitting "shotgun" (probably literally holding a shot gun or some type of weapon!)

[maztoz]

Cynthia

This thread is a work of great mastery.

Your seemingly effortless ability to distill down to essentials while still conveying your contagious sense of wonder and joy is a sheer pleasure to read.

Thank you very much for this outstanding resource!

[cbb]

Maztoz (mom, i told you not to write in...!)

 

seriously, thanks for the kind words. Thought I'd give some more Brunei info:

 

Our guide in Brunei said that because most of the population cannot drink, they seek other enjoyments. Average size of their families is 6 children. They also love Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds, and Pizza Hut. Brunei food is much more healthy...veggie and fruit based.

 

She said take-out delivery is popular but expensive. It would be $22. for a large pizza to be delivered. I don't know if that is US$ or Brunei. Because of the popularity of pizza people are trying to learn how to make it at home.

 

She says many people of Brunei are not growing taller, but are growing wider. It is too hot to do outside activities as most other countries' people do, and indoor gyms are finally gaining participants but are based on gender--men and women's gyms. Zumba is becoming very popular.

 

Few people are seen outdoors doing anything. Even if you live next door to the school it would be rare for you to walk to get the kids...you would drive. Driving is popular, cars and fuel are cheap, cars are air conditioned, but driving instruction is mandatory before you can get your license at 18.

 

We saw no one on bicycles, mopeds, or motorbikes. No one honks their horns unless it is an emergency; it is considered disrespectful to do so. Going to the movies is very popular; they are first run features AND the theater is air conditioned! It's all about priorities!!!

[cbb]

Under "things I wish I knew before I embarked on an Around the World Adventure"...

 

Now that we're in Day 110 I thought I'd give some unsolicited advice.

 

-Don't think you can have too many magnets; make sure they are strong ones. I bought a 2 pack of 6 each little ones with clips--I wish I had more. I also wish I had bought more stronger magnets with hooks. Would be great to hang up head phones, caps, etc.

 

-I purchased 8 sheets of 12x12 card stock in tropical colors, clipped them to the walls and then used the colors to organize us. Mr. Wonderful put Currents on one, menu of the day on another, speciality reservations and I put important things on one (like cards that have to be filled out for immigration/entrance) etc. It really helps us.

 

-I bought 6 plastic picture frames with magnets for family pix. Nice to bring home with you.

 

- i brought a small year planner-I write stuff into it and then when someone wants to meet for lunch/dinner or whatever, I can glance at it and know whether we can or not. It is my central go-to place.

 

-if you take this itinerary, you can't have too many light-weight longish sleeve tops. Many of the women, and some men, have bought the tunic length, 3/4 sleeve light-weight cotton tops from some of the markets and we all wish we had bought more. In so many of the sites, women have to be covered up so the tops work well. Think white or very light colors.

 

- many are wearing the "zippy" pants and long sleeve shirts that can be washed and are ready to go the next day which are especially nice for the Overlands. When you sweat, and on this itinerary you will sweat, the material dries quickly.

 

-some of the men wish they had bought a suit jacket or blazer. Several said they celebrated special events on board and wished they could have had the jacket. Also for some of the events O puts on for RTW, it is nice to have (no ties!) a jacket and sometimes the Lounge is cold enough that a jacket is needed. Yes, we have the white ATW O jackets but they aren't what a guy would wear to celebrate an anniversary!!

 

-bringing things from home. Before we left home, we started a list of things we used everyday, some days, and things we used only rarely but were useful. Every time I used something I would make a little hash mark by it and soon realized that needle, thread, and extra buttons might be added to the "rare but useful" list. Shampoo, conditioner, skin lotions, including whatever you use on your lips..chapstick, vasoline, balms? I used the ship-provided shampoo, etc, but after a while my hair said "whaattt?"

 

-Over-the-counter meds would fall into the "everyday" and "some days" list. I included cough meds and lozenges at the last minute and we used them. Many of us on RTW have gotten either a cold and/ or a bad cough and have been miserable. Having those meds we rely on to get us through have been invaluable! (Yes, you can go to the clinic and many have, but I like to try what works for me first)

 

-Bring your own bandaids and antibiotic cream and carry them on excursions. You may get scratches and blisters and you're going to be in some dirty places.

 

- I even immediately washed out a scratch with my antibiotic gel since I didn't trust the water at the site. Take lots of gel...you may not always have an opportunity to wash your hands while touring. We took one big bottle of gel and a couple of small ones and then refill. Of course it isn't as good as washing your hands with soap and water, but often the soap looks a little iffy and it is rare to have hot water.

 

-always have toilet paper or kleenex in your pocket. You will use it for what it is meant for, but you can also use it to breathe into when you meet funky air....and there is lots of funky air on this itinerary.

 

-bring an extra bottle of something you use often. One of the passengers had a bottle of sun screen taken away at an airport and had no fall-back. She has spent 2 weeks looking for more until a fellow passenger hearing of her plight gave her an extra bottle she had. (she could find lots of bottles of skin whitener, but not sun screen)

 

-be sure and bring extra cables, chargers, etc. Sometimes things break and it is nice to have a back-up. So far we've had a phone break and a GPS stop working.

 

-storage units: I bought 2 cheap under-the-bed blanket boxes from the dollar store. One holds all of these extras that I have been describing, the other holds paper back books. Yes, I know many of you swear by your e-books but some of us like the feel of a book. Most of these will go to the ship's library.

 

-bring a pair of shoes that you can hike, walk, tiptoe through water, get dusty, etc. that also won't go home with you because at the end of 6 months they will be pretty gnarly! I have a pair of sneakers that have gone on safari, to Dune7, to Ganvie Village, to the Serengheti, Angkor Wat, etc. Some people worried about their shoes....don't....you're there to see cool things, not worry about footwear! I'm amazed at what some women wear on excursions...don't their feet hurt at the end of the day?

 

-bring a small point and shoot camera. You will be in places that you don't want to expose a really good camera, or phone, in public. A small cheaper camera that fits into a pocket is nice to have...take the picture quickly...and then back into the pocket, keeping your hand on it! Bad guys like nice phones...point and shoot cameras?...not so much!

 

-we went to the Container store and bought some plastic shoe boxes with lids. They stack nicely on shelves (i labeled what was inside and faced the label out) and put a larger one (i think it is advertised to hold men's shoes) on the table in the room. We throw everything in there and it keeps the rest of the room looking nice.

 

-i can't do without my clipboard. Weird, I know, but since there is only one desk in our room, it makes it nice for the other one to have something to write on. I also carry it to trivia since the lounge layout makes it hard to always get a writing surface. You will get lots of forms to fill out, placed at the bottom of your bed, and it is nice to clip them onto the clipboard and work away!

 

-print up some cards with your name and email address on it. You will want to exchange email addresses with new friends, to send pictures to them, whatever. It just makes it easier than those little bits of paper floating around in your pocket. I've put those new cards around the desk mirror--makes them easy to find. Yes, you can load them into smart phones, but we've seen cases where the smart phones don't work...either blocked or owners forgot to recharge!

 

- i also brought scissors, brightly colored index cards, scotch and duct tape. We brought a small pair of pliers has repaired 2 earrings!

 

-got a small white board and marker. I keep the day's day and date and RTW day# on it and communicate with our room steward on the bottom. It is lime green--hard to miss on white sheets!

 

-finally, bring that thing that you like to put on that is comfy. Mine is a giant black beach cover up that gets worn after showers and before bed. Others have flannel pjs, leggings, favorite tee, whatever. No one will see you and it is nice to put on something that feels good after a long day...and reminds you of home.

 

-of course I didn't cover 6 months of script meds--that's up to you!!

 

Some day I will relate what we brought with us and haven't used! Have fun planning.

[2552phxcrzr]

Cynthia -- thanks for the list ... very useful for planning purposes. Anything that keeps us organized will make life easier.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Wow, what great detail about how to keep yourself organized on such a trip! I won't ever be on one, but who knows, even for a month some of this would be very useful.

[Toranut97]

Under "things I wish I knew before I embarked on an Around the World Adventure"...

 

Now that we're in Day 110 I thought I'd give some unsolicited advice.

 

-Don't think you can have too many magnets; make sure they are strong ones. I bought a 2 pack of 6 each little ones with clips--I wish I had more. I also wish I had bought more stronger magnets with hooks. Would be great to hang up head phones, caps, etc.

 

-I purchased 8 sheets of 12x12 card stock in tropical colors, clipped them to the walls and then used the colors to organize us. Mr. Wonderful put Currents on one, menu of the day on another, speciality reservations and I put important things on one (like cards that have to be filled out for immigration/entrance) etc. It really helps us.

 

-I bought 6 plastic picture frames with magnets for family pix. Nice to bring home with you.

 

- i brought a small year planner-I write stuff into it and then when someone wants to meet for lunch/dinner or whatever, I can glance at it and know whether we can or not. It is my central go-to place.

 

-if you take this itinerary, you can't have too many light-weight longish sleeve tops. Many of the women, and some men, have bought the tunic length, 3/4 sleeve light-weight cotton tops from some of the markets and we all wish we had bought more. In so many of the sites, women have to be covered up so the tops work well. Think white or very light colors.

 

- many are wearing the "zippy" pants and long sleeve shirts that can be washed and are ready to go the next day which are especially nice for the Overlands. When you sweat, and on this itinerary you will sweat, the material dries quickly.

 

-some of the men wish they had bought a suit jacket or blazer. Several said they celebrated special events on board and wished they could have had the jacket. Also for some of the events O puts on for RTW, it is nice to have (no ties!) a jacket and sometimes the Lounge is cold enough that a jacket is needed. Yes, we have the white ATW O jackets but they aren't what a guy would wear to celebrate an anniversary!!

 

-bringing things from home. Before we left home, we started a list of things we used everyday, some days, and things we used only rarely but were useful. Every time I used something I would make a little hash mark by it and soon realized that needle, thread, and extra buttons might be added to the "rare but useful" list. Shampoo, conditioner, skin lotions, including whatever you use on your lips..chapstick, vasoline, balms? I used the ship-provided shampoo, etc, but after a while my hair said "whaattt?"

 

-Over-the-counter meds would fall into the "everyday" and "some days" list. I included cough meds and lozenges at the last minute and we used them. Many of us on RTW have gotten either a cold and/ or a bad cough and have been miserable. Having those meds we rely on to get us through have been invaluable! (Yes, you can go to the clinic and many have, but I like to try what works for me first)

 

-Bring your own bandaids and antibiotic cream and carry them on excursions. You may get scratches and blisters and you're going to be in some dirty places.

 

- I even immediately washed out a scratch with my antibiotic gel since I didn't trust the water at the site. Take lots of gel...you may not always have an opportunity to wash your hands while touring. We took one big bottle of gel and a couple of small ones and then refill. Of course it isn't as good as washing your hands with soap and water, but often the soap looks a little iffy and it is rare to have hot water.

 

-always have toilet paper or kleenex in your pocket. You will use it for what it is meant for, but you can also use it to breathe into when you meet funky air....and there is lots of funky air on this itinerary.

 

-bring an extra bottle of something you use often. One of the passengers had a bottle of sun screen taken away at an airport and had no fall-back. She has spent 2 weeks looking for more until a fellow passenger hearing of her plight gave her an extra bottle she had. (she could find lots of bottles of skin whitener, but not sun screen)

 

-be sure and bring extra cables, chargers, etc. Sometimes things break and it is nice to have a back-up. So far we've had a phone break and a GPS stop working.

 

-storage units: I bought 2 cheap under-the-bed blanket boxes from the dollar store. One holds all of these extras that I have been describing, the other holds paper back books. Yes, I know many of you swear by your e-books but some of us like the feel of a book. Most of these will go to the ship's library.

 

-bring a pair of shoes that you can hike, walk, tiptoe through water, get dusty, etc. that also won't go home with you because at the end of 6 months they will be pretty gnarly! I have a pair of sneakers that have gone on safari, to Dune7, to Ganvie Village, to the Serengheti, Angkor Wat, etc. Some people worried about their shoes....don't....you're there to see cool things, not worry about footwear! I'm amazed at what some women wear on excursions...don't their feet hurt at the end of the day?

 

-bring a small point and shoot camera. You will be in places that you don't want to expose a really good camera, or phone, in public. A small cheaper camera that fits into a pocket is nice to have...take the picture quickly...and then back into the pocket, keeping your hand on it! Bad guys like nice phones...point and shoot cameras?...not so much!

 

-we went to the Container store and bought some plastic shoe boxes with lids. They stack nicely on shelves (i labeled what was inside and faced the label out) and put a larger one (i think it is advertised to hold men's shoes) on the table in the room. We throw everything in there and it keeps the rest of the room looking nice.

 

-i can't do without my clipboard. Weird, I know, but since there is only one desk in our room, it makes it nice for the other one to have something to write on. I also carry it to trivia since the lounge layout makes it hard to always get a writing surface. You will get lots of forms to fill out, placed at the bottom of your bed, and it is nice to clip them onto the clipboard and work away!

 

-print up some cards with your name and email address on it. You will want to exchange email addresses with new friends, to send pictures to them, whatever. It just makes it easier than those little bits of paper floating around in your pocket. I've put those new cards around the desk mirror--makes them easy to find. Yes, you can load them into smart phones, but we've seen cases where the smart phones don't work...either blocked or owners forgot to recharge!

 

- i also brought scissors, brightly colored index cards, scotch and duct tape. We brought a small pair of pliers has repaired 2 earrings!

 

-got a small white board and marker. I keep the day's day and date and RTW day# on it and communicate with our room steward on the bottom. It is lime green--hard to miss on white sheets!

 

-finally, bring that thing that you like to put on that is comfy. Mine is a giant black beach cover up that gets worn after showers and before bed. Others have flannel pjs, leggings, favorite tee, whatever. No one will see you and it is nice to put on something that feels good after a long day...and reminds you of home.

 

-of course I didn't cover 6 months of script meds--that's up to you!!

 

Some day I will relate what we brought with us and haven't used! Have fun planning.

 

You are a remarkably wise and observant traveler. I have been loving both RTW threads and appreciate your wisdom and ability to adjust and "go with the flow." May the remainder of your journey be blessed!

 

Donna

[cbb]

thanks for the kind words everyone.

 

being organized makes both of us easier to live with! We don't do well with a bunch of clutter.

 

Going with the flow is indeed the key. Why get bummed about superficial things?

 

I will be so sad to leave the ship and her crew, the new friends I've made and to realize that on day 181 there will be no more exciting ports to visit....and I'll be responsible for all those things the crew does so beautifully.

[clcmdse]

Cynthia

My thanks as well for your beautifully recounted trip and the extremely helpful to-do list of items. We have all benefited from this thread and we know the time and effort it takes to write so often and with such care. Marty and I look forward to joining everyone in Los Angeles, where the RTW'ers will be completing their last segment of the journey through the Panama Canal and we will starting ours!

 

Best to all and counting the days until June 15

Catherine

[cbb]

April 23, Day 111 RTW!

 

Early this morning we docked in Kuching, Malaysia which shares the island of Borneo with Brunei and Indonesia. This whole area of Malaysia on Borneo is called Sarawak. We were quickly cleared by officials and we left the ship around 8 am.

 

We took the first O shuttle into Kuching (1/2 hr ride) and DIY this town by wandering and also following a historical tour I found on line called the Heritage Walk.

 

We saw that Kuching is very much a blend of new world and old world and old world is a combination of Indian, Malaysian, British, and Chinese cultures. In a population of ~600,000* the Chinese and Malay people make up 2/3. (*note: there are sources that state the population of Kuching is half the number I used, but official government sources put the number at 600,000+...)

 

Kuching is on the Sarawak River and several years ago the city officials decided to close the port facilities and warehouses, build new ones further away, and turn the area into a Waterfront Promenade on the river side and stores and cafes on the other side.

 

Personally, I think the 2009 built State Assembly building is waaayy out of scale for the area but perhaps the assemblymen wanted to persuade the population that they were that important!

 

On the Waterfront we saw the Square Tower, built in 1879 on one side of the river, and Fort Margherita on the other, both built as part of a defensive system against invasion.

 

We saw a couple of statues of cats. Now there are different stories about how Kuching got its name.

 

Some believe it derived its name from Cochin, a commonly used word by the Portuguese and Chinese meaning "sailing port."

 

Others believe that James Brooke, upon landing in the area in 1841, pointed down and said "what is this" meaning "what is this place called?" However, there happened to be a cat there, and the locals replied "kuching" meaning "cat." You get to decide the origin of the city name!

 

Brooke, a British adventurer, renamed this area "Kuching" and dropped "Sarawak." He was given the area as a gift for helping the Sultan foil an insurgency, became the White Rajah, and it stayed in the family until the Japanese conquered the area in 1941.

 

After the war Charles V Brooke, the last White Rajah, deeded it to the British Crown where it remained a colony until Malaysia became independent in the 1960s.

 

Everyone we met was extraordinarily nice and went out of their way to ask if they could help us find a location when we stopped to look at the GPS or the paper map. The streets are clean and trees and flowers have been planted and are well maintained. Some of the buildings are no longer totally painted, but it is kind of funky and faded so I liked them very much.

 

We saw the Main Bazaar which was the downtown commercial center of Kuching and has many Chinese shophouses dating back to the early 1900s. A shophouse is pretty much self-explanatory: shop on ground floor, live on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

 

We also saw some antique stores and Tua Pek Kong, the old Temple built in 1876 by Chinese immigrants thankful for their safe arrival and still used for the same reason by new immigrants.

 

Carpenter Street (where carpenters used to ply their trades) is my favorite. In the old days the street was filled with opium dens, brothels, and gambling rooms. The shophouses were built of wood and thatch but an enormous fire in 1884 pretty much destroyed all of them.

 

Nephew Charles Brooke, by then the White Rajah of Sarawak, decreed that all future buildings would be built with nonflammable materials and he ordered the area to be "cleaned up." Some of those brick shophouses can still be seen on Carpenter Street and some of the carpenters' businesses are still there.

 

Today Carpenter Street is one of the entrances to Chinatown and there is an amazing big Chinese arch at one end of the street--I think all tourists have to take a picture of it!

 

I was able to find an arts and crafts store there and the young woman assured me that everything in the store was made in Sarawak. I chose some earrings, with her help, and I love them, not only because they're cool, but because local women made them.

 

Other shophouses we saw were on Gambier Street which sold Indian spices and other necessities for Indian cuisine. We saw an old Indian Mosque dating back to the 1800s squeezed between stores, tea shops, and street food being prepared. There were many stores selling silk clothing and fabric.

 

If you come here, remember you are in the tropics which means just because the sun is shining doesn't mean it will be in 10 minutes. One of the Terrace guys told me 20 minutes before our arrival back at the ship that it absolutely poured rain; we were on the shuttle bus and didn't see a drop! Be sure you come equipped with something to keep you dry! (If you've ever lived in south Florida in the summer you understand the phenomena!!)

 

I loved how the neighborhoods blended into this wonderful maze of streets, shops, gardens, and alleys, each holding little surprises.

 

We saw buildings with British-influenced architecture, a clock tower, an old Chinese temple in the shadows of a western hotel, a modern mall next to the Post Office with Corinthian columns. Old Bazaars and shops selling phones were crammed side by side, and old tea houses were next to buildings boasting "fast wifi."

 

This is just a very cool place and very easy to do on your own. Shuttles ran mostly on the hour with the last one at 2:30 with sail-away at 4pm.

Edited April 23, 2016 by cbb

[TenerifeSharon]

thanks for the kind words everyone.

 

being organized makes both of us easier to live with! We don't do well with a bunch of clutter.

 

Going with the flow is indeed the key. Why get bummed about superficial things?

 

I will be so sad to leave the ship and her crew, the new friends I've made and to realize that on day 181 there will be no more exciting ports to visit....and I'll be responsible for all those things the crew does so beautifully.

 

And I think we will all be sad to know that we will no longer have your exciting REports to look forward to and enjoy. It will, indeed, be a loss for us. :(

Thank you, once again, for sharing all your experiences, knowledge and enthusiasm with us. :)

[mariners]

cbb and Waynetor

 

I have never sailed on Oceania nor a World Cruise and I don't usually follow the Oceania board. However, your threads on your experiences on this World Cruise have been a pure joy to read and Oceania is now included in our "radar".

 

Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to keep all of us virtual readers sailing with you!

[Floridiana]

Our longest trips are 4-6 weeks, but much of this advice is great for short trips as well.

 

-if you take this itinerary, you can't have too many light-weight longish sleeve tops. - Absolutely true. On shorter trips, they are essential as well.

- many are wearing the "zippy" pants and long sleeve shirts that can be washed and are ready to go the next day which are especially nice for the Overlands. When you sweat, and on this itinerary you will sweat, the material dries quickly. - Great as pants, hate the material for tops.

 

I included cough meds and lozenges at the last minute and we used them. Cold viruses spread like wildfire. We have always need cough drops etc.

 

-always have toilet paper or kleenex in your pocket. ALWAYS

 

-bring a pair of shoes that you can hike, walk, tiptoe through water, get dusty, etc. All true, I also bring a pair of comfortable shoes for on board. I hate dragging the off shore dirt into our cabin.

 

-bring a small point and shoot camera. There are places where my husband leaves his bigger camera in the hotel or on the ship.

 

All your advice is great and very useful. Thank you very much.

Edited April 23, 2016 by Floridiana

[AdvenLee]

To cbb and waynetor,

I agree with poster above in that I thank you so very much for posting such wonderful, detailed reports of your trip. We will be boarding the Insignia in Syndey (to LA), so I feel like I have sort of been around the world with you!! I do hope that we can meet aboard the Insignia. You both sound like wonderful sailors with positive attiudes. What a cruise you seem to be having, and, again, I do appreciate your taking the time to share such great adventures with us all. Holly from Virgina (cabin 7054)

[Wisewoman8]

thanks for the kind words everyone.

 

being organized makes both of us easier to live with! We don't do well with a bunch of clutter.

 

Going with the flow is indeed the key. Why get bummed about superficial things?

 

I will be so sad to leave the ship and her crew, the new friends I've made and to realize that on day 181 there will be no more exciting ports to visit....and I'll be responsible for all those things the crew does so beautifully.

 

I have followed your journey with great pleasure.

 

My granddaughter(14) and I will be on the RTW 2017 in an inside cabin with no view. Oceania's posted cabin pictures leave a lot to be desired. I am having palpitations about the 160 feet room and 52" closet and 180 days.

If it is possible, I desperately request pictures of the cabin, closet, and bathroom so at least I know what I will have to expect.

 

Any kind person can mail pictures and advice to a jittery grandma at wisewoman8@aol.com. Juanita Van Decker

[buggins0402]

I have followed your journey with great pleasure.

 

My granddaughter(14) and I will be on the RTW 2017 in an inside cabin with no view. Oceania's posted cabin pictures leave a lot to be desired. I am having palpitations about the 160 feet room and 52" closet and 180 days.

If it is possible, I desperately request pictures of the cabin, closet, and bathroom so at least I know what I will have to expect.

 

Any kind person can mail pictures and advice to a jittery grandma at wisewoman8@aol.com. Juanita Van Decker

 

Here's a link to the Preisman's review of Regatta, a sister ship to Insignia. There are pictures of an inside contained within the review:

 

http://www.thepreismans.com/bermuda_regatta_page1.htm

 

Note, these pictures were taken prior to it's dry dock, when the grill was added to Terrace Cafe (which Insignia also has). I believe some soft furnishings on the R ships were also updated, when they each went into dry dock.

[Floridiana]

Just an idea...

A couple we met on a different cruise said they put the TV on the channel with the ship's camera. In their opinion it worked like a window to the outside.

[Wisewoman8]

Thank you so much! The link and their pictures have really helped. Juanita

[Baandb]

My granddaughter(14) and I will be on the RTW 2017 in an inside cabin with no view. Oceania's posted cabin pictures leave a lot to be desired. I am having palpitations about the 160 feet room and 52" closet and 180 days.

 

Will your 14 year old granddaughter be doing the entire 180 days?