Jan 2016 World Cruise live report

[Aussie Gal]

Thanks Wayne, a very detailed report and a fair one as well. I too appreciate your writing and love your humour. Thanks for taking the time to take us along with you on this wonderful voyage.

 

Jennie

[Waynetor]

Malaysia consists of two geographical segments; West Malaysia, the southern third of the Malay Peninsula in South East Asia and East Malaysia which occupies the northern quarter of the island of Borneo. The capital Kuala Lumpur is in West Malaysia. The system of government is a Federal Constitutional Monarchy. West Malaysia is bound by Thailand to the north, the South China Sea to the east, Singapore to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west. East Malaysia is bound by Indonesia to the south, the South China Sea to the west and north, and the Sulu Sea to the northeast. The enclave of Brunei is located in the northern region of East Malaysia. East Malaysia is divided into 2 states – Sarawak to the west and Sabah to the east. The Federation of Malaya gained its independence from British rule in 1957.

We will be in East Malaysia around the end of April.

 

Penang is a state in Malaysia as well as an island within the state. Its population is highly diverse in ethnicity, culture, language, and religion.

We will be docking on the island portion. The island is 293sq km (113sqmi). Penang's capitalGeorge Town is located at one of the closest points to themainland. The old town is a UNESCO's World Heritage site and its museums and other sites are within walking distance of the port. Most ofthecity is verilyflat but the city is surrounded by hills.

The temperature does not vary much month to month. In March the average high is 32.2C (90F). March is the start of the transition periodfrom drier to wet season.

[Waynetor]

This morning we did not arrive until noon so we had a chance to enjoy views of the area as we slowly approached the port. It was a smooth sailing overnight. We are docked at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal. There are only 3 North American based cruise ships here this month but there are several more local based ships that use this port.

 

Today there was a money exchanger brought on board as well as the local tourist rep. A shuttle was offered to a local mall.

 

Today is another hot one with some humidity and little breeze and near full sun.

 

The port here in Penang is for cruise ships (cargo ships are across the bay).***Once off the ship you go into the terminal and up 20 or so stairs to the 2nd floor (there was immigration and security set up there for cruises starting/ending there).* Once through that area you go down an escalator.* I* could not see any indication of a elevator for wheelchairs.

 

Today I was part of a group of 7 hiring a van for 6 hours. The cost per hour is RM 60 and was booked through Ocean Jupiter. Our group organizer requested a tour that would include any or all of Georgetown (Fort Cornwallis, St. George's Church, Penang Museum, Little India, Chinatown, the Reclining Buddha), the Botanical Gardens, Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si Temple – basically as many highlights as we can fit in within our time. Our driver met us just outdie the gate.* There were a few vans offering tours and taxis available.* Right across the road is the remains of Fort Fredrick.

 

The whole area around the port is a World Heritage site with many buildings going back to the 1800's.

 

We drove through the old town and our 1st stop was a place with a large reclining Buddha and across the roads was another site with a standing Buddha. - both sites are over 200 years old.***We had to take off our shoes but no other clothing restrictions even though some of us had shorts on. The craftmanship in both places was very beautiful.* Both were wheelchair accessible.

 

From there we drove along the shore to the Spice garden. On the way there we passed areas with many high-end condos and then large, sprawling resort complexes including Hard Rock and Holiday Inn.* There is a lot of foriegn ownership here as well as vactioners from Singapore and mainland Malaysia.***

 

The Tropical Spice Garden is about 20km (13mi) from the pier. The garden features 500 species of flora and fauna, spread over 8 acres of sloped tropical jungle. The Spice Garden is built into a hill across the road from a beach.* You have the option of DIY, with an audio set or with a guide - we chose with a guide.* There was a nice pond with Amazon Lilies at the entrance but the rest was up and down hill.* The guide gave us nice descriptions of the various plants and the history of the Bristish taking the plants back to England and from there spreading them to the various parts of the Bristish Empire.* We saw several monkeys on the property.* The gift shop had lots of spices available.* We were there for 1.5 hours.

 

From there we made a quick photo stop at a Mosque built over the edge of the sea in the condo area. Our next stop was at the suggestion of the driver. We stoped at a store that specialized in coffee and choclate. Each person got a stiker with a code on it. There were lots of samplles available. I believe the driver gets a commission on each sale his group makes. There were several vans in the parking lot.

 

Next was the 72-acre Botanic Gardens about 8km (5mi) outside of George Town. In addition to the vast collection of unusual tropical trees and plants, we saw many spot long-tailed macaques and dusky leaf monkeys from our tram. Some plants such as cactus and orchids (none in bloom) had thier own building. We took a tram around the gardens to save time but it could easily be walked. The tram does not have a spot for a folding wheelchair but if not crowded one could be placed in one of the rows.

 

Our last stop was Kek Lok Si Temple, a huge complex (said to be the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia) located on a hill about 10km (6mi) from the pier. Aside from the excellent views, attractions include a funicular train that travels up to a massive 37m (120ft) tall statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, as well as a tower of 10,000 Buddha, which you can climb under your own power for more views. It is now allowed to drive all the way up to the top. That area is accessible but the prayer room lower down is not. Penang Hill is about a mile away but we were getting short on time so did not go there or to any of the museums that were possibilities if time allowed.Penang Hill was a cool refuge for the British, who built bungalows along its slopes. There is arailway can take you to the top, 600m (2,000ft) above sea level.

 

We saw all kinds of things in this delightfully multi-cultural city. The city is generally guite clean. While there is some vendor stalls along some roads, the majority of business are brick and mortar. Many signs are in English. Motorcycles appeared to make up less than 20% of the vehicles but they drive the same way as in other recent ports weaving in and out with no regard to lanes.

 

Most of the old town was flat and there were sidewalks. In many areas it would be hard to use a wheelchair as some sidewalks would be blocked by vendors or the sidewalk itself got too narrow and did not have ramps. Most local buses (not tourist buses) have wheelchair access.

we crossed the street and went to Fort Cornwallis. It’s a large, star-shaped structure here.

 

There are 2 bridges off the island. One is 23km (14mi) and the other 13.5 km (9mi) long. Ferries also go to the mainland.

 

Once back on the ship we had dinner on the Terrance Café. As the sun set another cruise ship pulled in to port – the ‘Leisure World’ was at less than half our size and with only 4 deck had no balconies.

 

It is now just past the 2 year mark of the disappearance of the air Malaysia flight – still a big mystery.

 

Today’s thought for the day - Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. – Unknown –

I can honestly say that every penny I have invested in travel over the years– has been money well spent. Travelling makes us richer because we learn how other people approach similar problems teaching us think more creative; we learn a lot about ourselves and I learn to value my home country.

[kuldalai]

Waynetour. Great reading your daily writings . kuldalai and his brother are joining INSIGNIA in Sydney on 09/05/16 for the 38 days Trans Pacific leg to Los Angeles, so hopefully we can catch up on board ?

 

If you have any queries re your forthcoming Australian ports of call, then happy to answer them as best I can for you .

 

Just did my specialty restaurant reservations on line , and cannot book anything on Saturday 21/05/16 which is a day at sea, but neither Polo Grill or Toscana seem to be open that night ?

Edited March 13, 2016 by kuldalai

[Waynetor]

Port Klang is a town and the main gateway by sea into Malaysia. It is located 38km (24mi) southwest of Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur, sometimes abbreviated as K.L, is the most populous city in Malaysia. The city covers an area of 243sq km (94sq mi) and has an estimated population of 1.6 million as of 2012. The greater K.L. area has a population of over 5 million.

Kuala Lumpur is home to the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers, which have become an iconic symbol of Malaysia's futuristic development The towers built in 1996 were the tallest of any type of building until 2004. Kuala Lumpur is the 6th most visited city in the world, with 8.9 million tourists per year. Tourism here is driven by the city's cultural diversity, relatively low costs and wide gastronomic and shopping variety.

The 3 major ethnic groups: Malays 44%, Chinese 43% and Indians 10%.

The average high temperature in March is 23C (74F).

[Waynetor]

Thanks for all the comments re my cruise review.

 

There was a question of what clothing to wear in this area. Wear the lightest, loosest fitting clothing you have for most places. It is generally better to be under-dressed than over-dressed. The ship will give expected temp but some tours go well out of town where the temp could be several degrees different. If you are on a tour bus and have a tote bag with various items, it would not hurt to bring a change of top in case of rain or just too much sweating. Most religious places do not allow items like halter tops and very brief shorts. If you are wearing such items at a temple that is just a quick stop you can wait outside or you can bring a wrap to wear, or a loose long pant that you can fit on over your other clothes for the time in the temple. If going to a must see temple that will be a longer stop either dress to their code or buy an inexpensive sarong – I have seen some where they are available to rent. Many temples will not allow shoes, some allow socks and some do not.

 

No matter water you go, you are likely to look like a tourist – there is not much to avoid that, especially when in a group. Remember you are on a tour, not participating in a fashion show so no need to be flashing lots of jewellery. The ship provides water bottles as you get off – take some unless your tour includes it.

 

There was also a question re speciality resturants being booked full well in advance. So far on the 2 longer segements Insignia has but on a specail diner for all those doing the full 180. The diner took over both resturants. What you are likely seeing is the resturants being held for another similar event.

 

The last 2 nights as soon as the sun sets we have seen lots of squid fishing boats with their bright floodlights shining down into the water to attract the squid.

 

Local authorities decided to do a ship inspection when we arrived which pushed back anyone getting off the ship until around 9:45. We are joined at the dedicated cruise terminal here by 2 other ships. One was from the German line AIDA which was a fair bit larger than Insignia and Europa 2 that was about the same size.

 

Again today there was a money exchanger brought on board as well as the local tourist rep. A shuttle was offered to a local mall.

 

If anyone is planning a do it yourself trip to Kuala Lumpur it can easily be an hour drive from the port and often with traffic closer to 2 hours.

 

Kuala Lumpur is a very modern, beautiful city. We were impressed the last time here when we did a small group tour. From the port area to the city of Kuala Lumpur was over an hour. We did quite a few short photo stops such as the Blue Mosque, War Memorials and the Twin Towers. It rained twice between stops while we were in the bus. Longer stops included the National Museum, shopping and lunch plus the KL Tower. The views from the tower were great, although in the distance it was a bit hazy. The city is so different from what we experienced in India. There is virtually no unemployment here and they need to import workers for some of the less skilled jobs. There are nice clean highways, lots of open space that is well maintained, and traffic moved in a much more ideally manner. In the city motorcycles dart in and out of the traffic just like all the other ports we have visited but honking is very discouraged here. Along the highway motorcycles have their own little roadway that runs parallel to the main highway and includes tunnels at off-ramps.This makes great sense as many of the bikes are not fast enough in normal traffic but in rush hour they can move on their own road without delays.

 

The Perdana Botanical Garden, formerly known as Taman Tasik Perdana or Lake Gardens is a 92hectare (230acre) manicured garden near the Malaysian Parliament building was once home to a British colonial official. The park includes a Butterfly Park, Deer Park, Orchid Garden, Hibiscus Garden and the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, Southeast Asia's largest bird park. We were thinking of taking a taxi there today, but with the gardens I saw yesterday, what we can see in Singapore plus the heat we decided to stay on board and catch up on some computer stuff.

 

In the main cruise terminal at Port Klang there is a fixed taxi fare system in operation. A big boss takes a cut and allocates the work to the taxi drivers.I have seen several reports about these drivers and their ‘supervisor’ being quite aggressive.The price is probably double the meter fare, but still relatively cheap compared to the ship shuttle, but travel time is unpredictable adding to the risk of missing the ship. Not sure, but if you are willing to go out beyond the port are you may be able to find other taxis that will offer better prices.

 

Today I only went for a brief walk from 2:30 to 3:00. In the port bldg. there are lots of shops (including one that was like a variety store but no liquor) and outside a nice variety of flowering shrubs/trees. There was also a restaurant offering cuisine from many of the SE Asian countries – I saw several crew heading in there. At 3 there was still quite a few taxis waiting.

 

There is a train to KL from the Klang railroad station a couple kilometers from the port.

 

We are now sailing to our final port of call on this segment of the World Cruise which is Singapore. We will enjoy 2 daysthere.

 

There will be a large turn over in passengers as well as crew. The captain is leaving but will be back before the end of the cruise. CD Andy is being replaced by Ray Carr. As Andy’s wife is also on board and has one more segment to do, he is staying on the ship but losing his office/cabin. We also lose our room steward – I’m sure he is very excited to get back to his family.

 

Tonight was another night for saying goodbyes with more tomorrow. We wish the many crew leaving a well-deserved vacation. We wished some guests who we know who are leaving to return home very safe travels. Today is the day before disembarkation in Singapore (the end of the 3rd leg of the WC), for many Passengers. Some passengers have very early flights Tuesday and they will disembark late tomorrow and stay near the airport or just go to the airport and sit around for 4 or 5 hours. There are some passengers staying on for one more segment but at this point it is mostly off in Singapore or go all the way.

 

Today’s thought for the day –“A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.” – Moslih Eddin Saadi

[Floridiana]

Like the others, I also enjoy your reports, great reading!

We will be on the Europa 2 next year in South East Asia. It is owned by Hapag-Lloyd that had leased one of Oceania's R ships. I don't remember whether it was the Insignia.

[no fuss travel]

Like the others, I also enjoy your reports, great reading!

We will be on the Europa 2 next year in South East Asia. It is owned by Hapag-Lloyd that had leased one of Oceania's R ships. I don't remember whether it was the Insignia.

 

Yes, it was.

[Waynetor]

The Republic of Singapore is an island city state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula made up of 63 islands. It is separated from Malaysia by the narrow Straits of Johor.

The Republic consists of a main island approximately 585 sq km (226 sq mi). An island of low undulating hills, Singapore reaches 42 km (26 mi) from west to east and extends 22.5km (14 mi) from the Straits in the north to the island’s southern tip.It lies just 137km (85mi) north of the equator.

The British obtained sovereignty over the islands in 1824 and Singapore became one of the British Straits Settlements in 1826. During World War II it was occupied by the Japanese. Singapore declared independence from the United Kingdom, uniting with other former British territories to form Malaysia in 1963, although it separated from Malaysia 2 years later.

Singapore is a unitary multiparty parliamentary republic with a Westminster system of one parliamentary chamber (unicameral) government. The population is highly diverse; the majority are Chinese (near 75%), while Malays and Indians forming significant minorities. Reflecting this diversity, the country has four official languages: English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil.

Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinctive seasons, uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. Temperatures usually range from 22 to 35C (72to 95F). The wettest period is November to January.

Singapore is a world leader in several economic areas: The country is the world's 4th leading financial centre, the world's 2nd-biggest casino gambling market,one of the world's top 3 oil-refining centres, the world's largest oil-rig producer, and a major ship-repairer. The port is one of the 5 busiest in the world.

A 2014 report noted that with its strong currency and price increases Singapore is now the most expensive to live in. From 2004 to 2014 the population jumped about 25% to 5.3 million.

A massive investment in new subway lines is underway but the $48 billion plan is not expected to be complete until around 2031.

Singapore is very safe. Based on 2012 stats, the world wide murder rate was 1 per 16,000 population. Singapore had the lowest chance of being murdered; 1 per 480,000 while Honduras had the highest chance at 1 in 1,100.

 

Sentosa Island, just off the south coast is considered the southernmost point of mainland Asia.

 

Over the last 50 years the size of Singapore has expanded its territory by 22%. The sand for this land fill has come from neighbouring countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

[Waynetor]

Good morning – Selamat pagi.

 

Today is very hot and humid - 34C (93F).* It started very sunny but some clouds in the afteroon with a bit of a shower around 5PM, but not enough to cool things down.

 

We have been here once before.* We did a half day ship tour on a day that was a segment end.* Before going on the tour we had to go through a quick customs.

 

The first stop on the tour was Mount Faber,the highest point in the city. We were able to use a path to wheel up to the midpoint but there were about 25 steps to the top so Freda did not go up. The view was quite good but a bit hazy and the trees in the park blocked much of it. From there we toured parts of the city before going to the Singapore Botanical Garden. Within the BG is an Orchid Garden ($5 dollar admin included in tour). We had 45 minutes to go around this beautiful garden, but could easily have used double that. Orchids and trees represent the majority of plants but there were lots of others along with fountains and waterfalls. Considering the size of Singapore and value of land, these two properties are really special here. The garden is a bit hilly but has excellent paved paths. From there we did more of the city tour. It started to pour rain very heavy which washed out our plan to walk around China Town for a bit. The driver drove us around some while the guide gave us information but the rain was so hard it was difficult to see anything.*

 

Today getting off the ship was easy for a change - no stairs or steep ramp into Harbour Front Centre terminal. Docked next to us is the Holland America Amsterdam which is also doing a world cruise.

 

We were given back our passports last evening and when we got off this morning we had to go through imigration just like at an airport including fingerprinting both thumbs.* (no need to do if not getting off the ship).* For anyone that has trouble walking it is a long, long way to transportaion - there is no help such as golf carts.

 

Just before we got to customs a ferry had arrived from another country and there was a very long line at immigration/customs.* Each person was taking around 2 minutes.* For those in a wheelchair we got to bypass the line - a nice benefit for a change.* We had to go through another passport inspection when getting back on the ship.

 

We took a taxi to Gardens By the Bay ($6.50SGN).* It is located across the water from the Marina Bay Sands bldg. and is also close to the new Marina Bay cruise terminal. We could see a Celebrity cruise ship there. This place was trully amazing for anyone into plants in anyway (legal plants). The main garden is free but there is a ticket required for the 2 main attractions.* These are the very large, enclosed Flower Dome and Cloud Forest.* Both had a wonderful range of plants from around the world beautifully arranged. There were even plants we had in our own summer garden and indoors but here they were much more spectacular.* Many trees were in bloom including Japense Cherry trees.* The cloud forest had a 7 storey waterfall.***

 

Outside the domes there are quite a few themed gardens as well as Dragon Fly Lake, a floral clock, water lily pond and Supertree Grove.* The paths around the garden were paved and smooth.* In the domes there are elevators for wheelchairs.* There are also accesible washrooms. We spent about 1.5 hours in the domes (could easily spend more) and another 1.5 outside, by then I was sweating buckets so we headed back to the ship.* The taxi back cost 11.70 ($3 for port entrance fee) but not sure why the extra differnece as we went the same way and traffic was not busy.

 

When coming back to a cruise ship, make sure you know which terminal your ship is in.*

 

If you have not been here in several years, you may not recognize Singapore the next time you come back - there seemed to building cranes everywhere.

 

Harbour Front Centre has 3 storeys of retail offerings.* This terminal is in 1 big mall, HarbourFront Center, and beside an even bigger mall, Vivocity. There is a MRT stop, Harbourfront, conveniently located here. We looked around a bit - liquor was very expensive even by Canadian standards.* On board the drink of the day is Singapore Sling for $6.50 which is much cheaper than at the bar here where is was first made.

 

Tonight's entertainment is the 2015 movie Cinderella. The ship is very quiet, some people are getting up very early while those staying on beyond Signapore are out enjoying the city.

 

Today at the botanical garden we were walking just behind one of the gardeners that was carrying a large bucket.* As we neared the water lily pond we heard voices shouting and laughing with glee.* As we came closer we could see it was a bunch of young women skinny-dipping in the pond.* The gardener made the women aware of our presence and they all went to the deep end of the pond.* One of the women shouted to him, "We're not coming out until you leave!"* The gardener frowned, "I didn't come down here to watch you ladies swim naked or make you get out of the pond naked." Holding the bucket up he said, "I'm here to feed the alligator."

 

Today’s thought of the day - Let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way. Anonymous

[Aussie Gal]

So glad you got to visit Gardens by the Bay. It is a fabulous place and the Cloud Forest is incredible. It is one of the really great attractions in Singapore, a city we visit at least once if not twice or more a year.

 

We have witnessed the change in Singapore since the 70's when we first visited with our children. Back then, Raffles was a very faded hotel and opposite the sea. Now it is a very expensive, upmarket hotel and the sea is miles from its front door. Sometimes, I miss the Singapore of old which was more laid back, not as crowded and very Asian. Now it is really just another big city, though exceptionally clean and very, very safe.

 

Jennie

[Waynetor]

By the time we got up today most of the departing passengers were long gone - a last call was made at 9:15am.

 

Like yesterday, today was very hot and humid.* Sunny in the morning with afternoon clouds.

 

Captain Maroje Brajcic has taken over for a couple of months,* Ray Carr is now the CD (staying on until the the first couple segments after we leave) and there is a new Insignia show band.

 

We were down to 2 choices on what to do today.* It was either China town area or go over to Sentosa Island spending time at the S.E.A. Aquarium.* Sentosa is the the southern most point of continental Asia.* We choose the Aquarium as it would be a mostly indoor day.

 

Getting through customs today was much quicker than yesterday.

 

To get to Sentosa we took the Sentosa Express train from the Vivocity mall.* The train makes 3 stops on the island.* We got off at the first.* The cost is $4 each and that is for an all day pass so no cost to go to the other stations or return.* We could see the island from the ship.* The Singapore $ is almost exactly the same as Canadian so it makes comparison for us easy.

 

The aquarium is very large with many exhibits including early man and his use of the sea.* there are tanks with fish from many areas around the world.* the cost with a seniors discount (60+) was $22.

 

Some of the exhibits included Reef Matra Ray, Giant Spider Crabs, Lionfish, Jelly Fish, Shark Seas, African Lakes and oral Garden.* There are several VIP extra packages such as Dolphin Discovery, Shark Dive, ad Sea trek Adventure.* *

 

The Express train and everything on the island is wheelchair friendly but at some spots the elevators are not very clearly signed and we had to look around a bit to find them.

 

From there we wandered around a bit and ended up at the beach.* The beach area is where the cable car ride starts/ends. The island could provide several days of entertainment - there is a long list of venues - google Sentosa Singapore for more info.* One of the interesting stores was* Candylicious with its fairytale-like decor and over 5,000 varieties of candy and related items on offer.

 

Singapore is a melange of religions and cultures and everyone respects those differences.* All holidays of all religions and cultures are celebrated by everyone.* Children are taught these values very early. Schools require uniforms to minimize class differences and school children visit cultural sites and learn about other cultures as part of the curriculum.* This week was a school holiday in Malaysia and I believe here also - they we a lot of children at all the part of the island. It amazes me to watch older children and young adults walk up to the display in the Aquarium stand with their back to the tank, do a selfie and then move on.

 

Once back at Vivocity mall we wondered around a bit before ending up at the Duty free shop to spend or last $SGN.

 

Once back on board we had time to have a refreshing beverage, clean up a bit and then off to another muster drill.

 

Not sure of the exact number of people coming and going at Singapore but we were told 412 came on and 382 got off but those number included some entertainment staff.* Basically just about everyone that got on in Miami is now gone except those doing the full 180.

 

For the fist time on this voyage , we have a child on board a boy 12ish and his older sister.

 

At dinner we had a nice view as we headed out to sea through a maze of cargo ships anchored off shore.

 

A couple side notes re Signapore - For anyone coming here and wanting to use the tourist card for the subway that can be purchased for multiple days there are a few points to be aware of;first the cards are only sold at certain stops so you may have to pay to take the subway to a place to purchase one plus there is an S$10.00 refundable deposit for the card. The cards are not a 24-hour purchase, they are a daily purchase. So if you first use it one evening that counts as being activated and as day and a 2 day pass would then expire at midnight the next day.

 

Our overall impressions of this small city/country is that it is very pretty, very lush and green beautifully maintained parks, a good roadway system and a crowded but impressive downtown area with British Colonial buildings next to very modern high-rise buildings.

 

Singapore has very strict laws in many areas from spitting out gum to drug possession. Canning is used as punishment for various crimes. The Singapore government also believes in the mandatory death penalty of hanging for crimes such as using firearms, kidnapping, murder and possessing 15 grams of heroin. In the last 20 years, they average about 20 death sentence per year. The immigration card we had before going through inspection warned of the death penalty for drugs.

 

Today’s thought of the day – People who don’t travel cannot have a global view, all they see is what’s in front of them. Those people cannot accept new things because all they know is where they live.” – Martin Yan

[Floridiana]

One of the women shouted to him, "We're not coming out until you leave!"* The gardener frowned, "I didn't come down here to watch you ladies swim naked or make you get out of the pond naked." Holding the bucket up he said, "I'm here to feed the alligator."

 

 

Naked ladies in this pond (you wish!), but there is a type of flightless dragon in it (water monitor?).

[Waynetor]

This morning we (and many other passengers) are wishing we had another day in Singapore.

 

Again last night the sea was full of very small fishing boats with very bright lights on poles facing down into the water catching squid using the lights to draw the squid towards the surface.

 

Today we are sailing through the South China Sea with very calm conditions, and mostly sunny skies. Despite sailing eastward, last night we turned our clocks back an hour.*

 

We had a good turnout today for our CC M&G get together for this segment.* It was nice Ray, the new CD joined us for a bit.

 

Along with the 2 children I mentioned yesterday, there are also 2 young girls around 4 and 6 (my guess). They were enjoying the pool very much.

 

The new folks on board so far are not big on on-board participating - only a couple new people for shuffleboard and mini-golf. At afternoon trivia we had been averaging 13 -15 teams - today we had 5 and at evening trivia we averaged 5 teams and tonight had 14 people. Hopefully they do not feel the 180 folk are treating them differently.

 

Tonight we had dinner with a couple that had boarded in Singapore. They were both a bit vertically challenged and around our age but the lady explained they had both been widowed early and now were on their honeymoon.* Both were dressed very elegant including him in his black tux, bow tie and white shirt.* She told us she did one of those computer dating programs to find her the perfect mate.* “I want a companion who is small and cute, loves swimming, and enjoys group activities.” Back came the answer: “Marry a penguin” she explained so here he is, the closest I could find.

 

Today’s thought of the day –Temper is the 1 thing you can’t get rid of by losing it – Jack Nicholson

[Waynetor]

On May 11, 1949, Siam, which means "black," officially changed its name to Thailand, which means "land of freedom. The Kingdom of Thailand is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. The country is a constitutional monarchy. The king of Thailand is titled Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Adherent of Buddhism, and Upholder of religions.

KoSamui is an island off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus.(Ko means "island”). It is Thailand's 2nd largest island after Phuket, with an area of 228.7sq km (592sq mi) and a population of over 62,000 attracting 1.5 million tourists per year.

KoSamui has abundant natural resources, coral reefs, white sandy beaches and coconut trees. The central part of the island is an almost uninhabitable tropical jungle mountain called KhaoPom, peaking at 635m (2,000ft). The various lowland and coastal areas are connected by a single 51km (31mi) road, running mostly along the coastline and encircling the bulk of the island. On the northwest coast of the island is the old capital, Nathon. Although Nathon spreads over a large area, the actual port and main business district is relatively small. However, the eclectic mix of traditional Thai, Malaysian and Chinese architecture provides a first impression for all tourists arriving by ship. Nathon continues to be the major port for vehicular and goods transportation from the mainland, it is the centre of the fishing industry. Being the location of the main port and the closest inhabited area to the mainland provided the impetus for Nathon becoming the commercial centre. More recently, the decline in dependence of the local coconut industry, the continued growth and development of the tourist industry and the north-eastern location of the airport, has seen the move of the commercial centre to Chaweng.

Chaweng Beach on the eastern side of the island is undoubtedly the current hub of KohSamui. Chaweng offers hundreds of shops, restaurants, resorts and entertainment venues over a 5km (3mi) beach-side stretch of golden sand and clear, warm water. There are other primary tourist beaches on the southeast coast as well as the north and northeast sides of the island. The Big Buddha, a 12m (39ft) gold statue of the Lord Buddha in a seated position is one of KohSamui’s most popular attractions.

In general, Southern Thai food is renowned for its spiciness. Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. Favourite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce and chicken biryani.

The average high temperature in March is 31C (87F

[Waynetor]

Today we are having another very hot day - 32C (90F).* Its a hazy sun with just a bit of cloud over the island.* Our stretch of calm seas continued overnight.* Of coarse what is calm on Insignia, does not equat to calm on a tender - the tender boats were really rockin.

 

Today I went down to get a tender ticket at 10:30 and did not get on one until 11:30 and the ride in to the dock took 30 minutes.*

 

There was an on-board tourist rep but she did not have a detailed map of Nathon (pronounced Naa-tawn), fortunatley I had brought my own and used that to fine the various temples and other sites.* There were no shuttles available today due to a strong taxi union.**Nathon is not very big and is mostly just a town where ferries come in and is a town built around local needs, not tourist needs.

 

For a relatively small island, Ko Samui has a number of cultural wonders.

 

On our previous time here we did a tour that hit several key tourist sites. The main feature of our first stop was trained monkeys that climb coconut trees and pick the fruit.The monkeys learn which coconuts to pick by the textures and the sounds they hear from inside the coconuts (the young coconuts have more water inside them).* The monkeys then learn to spin the coconuts until they come off the branches.* Jumping from tree to tree, the monkeys work much faster than human beings.* A well-trained monkey can pick between 700 and 1,000 coconuts a day while a humans can pick only about 200. It started raining while we were there and did not end until we were back on the ship. Our next stop was a restaurant that had great cliff side views of the Gulf.* With the rain it was hard to enjoy much of the view. From there we went to 2 locations that each featured a giant Buddha. (One was the Wat Phai Laem Temple).The rain for the most part was not too heavy, just annoying. The tour took us on a drive around the island totalling about 70km (42mi). Overall the island looked very nice with lush hills but there did not seem to be a lot of history, large development or industry. Most of the businesseswere quite small. Most food and other items come from the mainland. We saw some water buffalo but no other livestock.

 

In Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos a Wat is a Buddhist monastery or temple.

 

The tender goes to the middle of the 3 piers in town.* The piers are quite long so make sure when returning you go to the right one before walking all the way.* The left pier had a constant coming and going of ferries of many differnet sizes.* There were lots of taxis and vans offering tours even when I got to shore at noon.* Off the pier to the left is the Post Office.* I went that way and passed 2 nice temples.* The second one had a large banner up noting a cermation ceramony on Mr 19.

 

The town is not wheelchair friendly - there are some new sidewalks and other areas where the sidewalks are under construction but the ramps that are being built are either very narrow or steep like they are meant for store owners to use for carts and not for wheelchairs.* Like many of the cities in this part of the world, they have no concept of burying wires - utilities poles are weighted down heavily with large numbers of wires.*The town is the administrative center for the island so there are various government type buildings and offices.

 

Based on our prior experience and input from others, here and in most of the ports in the next couple weeks a word of caution for any future first time tourist – washroom facilities in most of these countries are not what `western` tourist are used to.* Most are `squat` over a hole – not wheelchair friendly.* Some do not have paper or have baskets for `used` paper.* You should be alright in most hotels and restaurants that cater to tourist but if possible do your `thing` before heading out on tours and bring some extra paper with you just in case.

 

Small motorcycles/Scooters are a popular way for locals to get around – but safety does not seem to be a big concern as often 3 people including infants or small children can be seen riding a bike meant for 1.* Helmets are rarely used.* Many of these vehicles have been customized in various ways making it possible to carry large quantities of supplies – they can make deliveries much easier and cheaper than large trucks.* This scene will repeat itself throughout S/E Asia as fuel is so expensive especially in comparison with income.

 

While I did not feel like going to a beach by myself, I talked to some passengers that went to Chaweng Beach which is the island's most famous beach with its powder white sand.* It used to be a quiet place to get away but now is crammed with hotels, resturants, bars, massage stands and souvenier stands and hawkers.

 

There are beaches near the port.* They are OK for dipping your toes in to say you were there but no good for relaxing on (did see a few locals kids in the water).* Coral reefs offshore keep the water near shore calm.

 

“Kiss me I’m Irish” is a popular saying back home on St. Patrick’s Day even with those revellers with dodgy links to the Emerald Isle.* There is not a lot on board today re St. Patricks day - some Irish based drink specials by the pool bar and up in Horizona at night plus a cake with green icing by the grill area.

 

The way I post to this thread has changed in the last few days.* Up to Singapore I was borrowing a passengers computer to create* the draft post in a word doc.* That person has now left so what I am doing now is creating a draft e-mail that I can add to a couple times a day before copying to CC.* Now that I look at my post from the last couple days, I am seeing several astrichs aded to the post.* As no one has commented on then, I'm not sure if others are seeing them.* the new computer manager on board has not seen it before and thinks it may have to do to old computer systems.* So if you don't see them great, if you do, it's not me adding them.***

 

Today we were in one of the cocktail lounges having a cocktail when we noticed a very elderly gentleman, (mid-nineties) very well dressed, hair well groomed, great looking suit, flower in his lapel smelling slightly of a good after shave, presenting a well looked after image, walks into the lounge.* He notices an elderly looking lady, (mid-eighties) seated at the bar.* The gentleman walks over, sits along-side of her, orders a drink, takes a sip, turns to her and says, "So tell me, do I come here often?"

 

Today’s quote for the day - There are good ships and there are the wood ships,

The ships that sail the sea.

But the best ships are the friendships

And may they always be.* Irish Toast

[2552phxcrzr]

I've noticed the asterisks, but I am so tickled that you are posting despite the hurdles you have to jump through that I am ignoring them ... still, thanks for explaining that it's not you adding them, as I did wonder:)

[deus]

No problem at all with the ***I am enjoying your postings too much to notice. Thanks for bringing me along!

Lauren

[Emma Chisit]

Wayne, just wanted to let you know that, now we are home again, I am in the process of downloading your posts – because we have already forgotten many details of the cruise and what happened when! Thanks for all the detail.

Sorry about your computer woes; I am so happy to be re-united with my PC again - and not forced to use “his” Mac as I was while travelling.

And***I like the stars in your posts***

[Waynetor]

Bangkok is the capital and the most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies 1,568.7sq km (605.7sq mi) in Central Thailand, and has a population of over 9.8 million, or about 15% of the country's population. Over 25 million people live within the surrounding area. Bangkok traces its roots to a small trading post during the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 15th century. Bangkok means "city of angels".

Bangkok is situated in the Chao Phraya River delta in Thailand's central plains. The river meanders through the city in a southward direction, emptying into the Gulf of Thailand approximately 25km (16mi) south of the city centre. The area is flat and low-lying, with an average elevation of 1.5m (5ft). Most of the area was originally swampland, which was gradually drained and irrigated for agriculture via the construction of canals which took place throughout the 16th to 19th centuries. The course of the river as it flows through Bangkok has been further modified by the construction of several shortcut canals. Extensive ground water pumping has resulted in parts of the city sinking so some areas are now below sea level and in danger of flooding.

Bangkok was subject to Japanese occupation and Allied bombing during WWII, but rapidly grew in the post-war period as a result of United States developmental aid and government-sponsored investment. Bangkok's role as an American military rest and relaxation destination launched its tourism industry. Bangkok is one of the world's top tourist destination cities. MasterCard ranked Bangkok as the global top destination city by international visitor arrivals in its Global Destination Cities Index, with 15.98 million projected visitors in 2013. The city is ranked 4th in cross-border spending, with $14.3 billion US projected for 2013, after New York, London and Paris.

The Asian investment boom in the 1980s and 1990s led many multinational corporations to locate their regional headquarters in Bangkok.The city has become a major regional force in finance and business. It is an international hub for transport and health care, and is emerging as a regional centre for the arts, fashion and entertainment.Its vibrant street life and cultural landmarks, as well as its notorious red light districts, have given it an exotic appeal.

Bangkok's historic centre is the Rattanakosin Island in PhraNakhon District. It is the site of the Grand (Royal) Palace and the City Pillar Shrine, primary landmarks of the city's foundation, as well as many important Buddhist temples. Although Bangkok does not have a clear geographical centre, "downtown" is generally considered to be at or near Siam Square, which contains many of the bigger malls and commercial areas, as well as Siam Station, the only transfer point between the city's two elevated train lines.

Issues often encountered by foreign tourists include scams, overcharging and dual pricing. Violent crime is not common but non-confrontational crimes of opportunity such as pick-pocketing, purse-snatching, and credit card fraud occur with frequency.

Traffic accidents are a major hazard in Bangkok. While accidents in Bangkok amounted to 50.9 percent of the entire country, only 6.2 percent of fatalities occurred in the city mainly due to the lower speed.

The majority of Bangkok's population are Thai ethnicity, although details on the city's ethnic make-up are unavailable, as the national census does not document race.

March is one of the driest months but also one of the hottest – average high 34C (94F).

Washington DC is a sister city.

[Waynetor]

Today is the 1st of 2 in Bangkok.* It was a sunny day with a high of 33C (94F) with some humidity thrown in

 

Some people on tours yesterday said their guide noted the long range weather forecast for April is a string of days with temps approaching mid 40s C or close to 110F. Likely the same here as there.

 

The show last night featured Monique Lualhati a finalist in the X-factor talent show.* It was her birthday. She was very energetic - not to everyone's taste but she is an excellent singer and has great stage presence.

 

When we were here last time on a sister ship of Insignia we docked at the port of Laem Chabang which is located at least 90 minute drive from Bangkok.* Today on Insignia we had a nice sailing up the river and were able to dock in Bangkok.

 

Last time here we did a tour to the Nong Nooch Garden and Cultural performance.Apart from the botanical park, Nong Nooch Garden features daily shows at the Thai Cultural Hall.* We enjoyed the spectacle of sights and sounds of classical Thai dances, ancient drum performance, martial art performance as well as the elephant talent shows.Some people don’t believe elephants being trained to play games and other acts are ethical but they did seem well taken care of.* The Garden is only part way from the port we used towards Bangkok, so never did see any of the city.

 

We are docked along the river in the middle of a long line of freighters. There are many barges, often linked together like a freight train going by.

 

Along with the normal tourist rep, there was a money exchange on board and for the first time on this voyage there was a couple tables set up with goods for sale.

 

You can take a small shuttle van to the port gate but there is not a lot for most tourist in that area.* There were some taxis available inside the port.

 

There was a shuttle available to the Central World Mall.* It was advertised as no A/C but it was a nice modern bus - needed 6 steps to reach seats. The shuttle only ran once per hour.*The ride to the mall took 30 minutes.* The mall is very large and modern and wheelchair accessible.* Other similar new bldgs also appeared accessible but nothing else appeared to be.* Sidewalks generally had some issue making them not usable* In the old town tourist area there were ramps on corners but these had bicycle signs printed on them. *

 

Looking at the map I got on board there were a few sites to see such as Jim Thompson House, Victory Monument, Suan Pakkad palace and several other malls and markets nearby.

 

Outside the mall I found a tourist info booth and asked the lady how far it was to the Grand Palace.* She said to far to walk and gave me a more detailed map that showed some transportation options including a canal boat ride which I took.* Each boat holds about 30 people and made 4 stops from where I got on.* The last stop was by the Golden Mount Wat and the Parakan Fortress at the edge of old town.* From there I wondered around seeing many of the main tourist sites including democracy Monument, City Pillar Shrine, Wat PO, Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Emerald Buddha.* I went through a couple of markets and ended up by the river, it was packed with various types of boats - many of them tourist rides and then I started heading back to the canal boat. The boat ride coast the equivalent of about 30c each way.

 

By the time I got back to the mall I had missed a shuttle by 10 minutes and then the ride was very slow due to Friday rush hour so I was later getting back than expected but it was a very enjoyable day hiking around Bangkok - another great day for picture taking, a hot and humid day, but well worth the effort.

 

While it is prohibited to take food off the ship in many ports of call around the world, there are some such as Thailand where it is permitted.

 

In Bangkok – tuk – tuk - a 3 wheel truck/taxi are quite common as are motorcycles but they are not allowed on the freeway.* There is a fusion of various aromas in the air.* Like in India, horns honk constantly, everyone seems in a hurry at dusk which is stark contrast to Singapore where honking was very rare

 

Tonight's show was Du-Ri-Ya-Pra-Neet - a celebration of traditional dance of Thailand.* Due to them needing rehearsal time and most people off the ship afternoon trivia was cancelled.* For the show we were the first people there so I got the centre front seats which were great for photo taking. They did 1 musical nmber (2 drums, 2 xylophone and 1 hand symbol) several dances (5 dancers) and a martial art display.I thought it was a great show and a very nice change form the normal nightly show.* I expected a overflow crowd but with many people off the ship, the room was just near full.

 

Today’s thought for the day - "If you're yearning for the good old days, just turn off the air conditioning." - Griff Niblack

[Floridiana]

Excellent ideas for our next visit to Bangkok - I wasn't planning to,, 4 days of traffic jams were enough for me.

[Waynetor]

Another hazy, hot day with a high of 35C (95F).* The morning heat did not seem too bad, but the afternoon was very different.* I'm one who can normally handle a hot day but just playing quick games of shuffleboard and mini-golf this afternoon was enough for me.

 

I saw most of what I wanted yesterday so stayed on board today. In the morning we pretty much had the ship to ourselves.

 

Some passengers departed today for an overland private tour to see the fabulous Angkor Wat. Oceania has a similar tour departing tomorrow.

 

The ship pulled away from the dock just before 4pm but it took until 5:45 to get up the river to open sea. It's not very scenic cruising - mostly industrial.

 

A couple at diner told us about a tour the did today. It started just after 4AM - they went to the Bridge over the River Kwai to see a train crossing just as the sun was coming up and then off to do elephant rides and other activities with the elephant such as bathing them - sounded like a great day.

 

Today is my favourite day of winter – the last one!!

 

Today’s thought for the day - "A rumor without a leg to stand on will get around some other way." - John Tudor

[Waynetor]

The Kingdom of Cambodia and once known as the Khmer Empire, is located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Its total landmass is 181,035sq km (69,898sq mi), bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.

 

The Vietnam War extended into Cambodia, giving rise to the Khmer Rouge, which took over the capital Phnom Penh in 1975. Cambodia remerged several years later within a socialistic sphere of influence as the People’s Republic of Kampuchea until 1993. After years of isolation, the war-ravaged nation was reunited under the monarchy in 1993 and has seen rapid progress in the economic and human resource areas while rebuilding from decades of civil war. Cambodia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with economic growth averaging 6% for the last 10 years. Strong textiles, agriculture, construction, garments, and tourism sectors led to foreign investments and international trade. In 2005, oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, and once commercial extraction begins the oil revenues could profoundly affect Cambodia's economy.

 

Pronounced as “Say Hack nook wheel” or “See Hack nook wheel”, Sihanoukville was the place of the last official battle of the US army in the Vietnam War. It is known as the Mayaguez incident on May 12–15, 1975 between the US forces and the Khmer Rouge.

 

The city was only founded in 1950. During the Vietnam War, Sihanoukville, which means "Star of the South," was transformed from a sleepy little fishing village to an important deep water port. This port city is a growing urban center, located 185km (115mi) southwest of the Phnom Penh. Sihanoukville now attracts tourists with its relaxed beach atmosphere. Tourists can take water taxis to the nearby islands for diving, snorkelling, and game fishing. The port is about 12km (7mi) from downtown but much of the distance between is lined with the beautiful but narrow beaches.

Both Miami and Seattle are sister cities.

[Waynetor]

Well winter is over, spring has sprung – not that it makes much difference in this part of the world.

Besides the start of spring, today is Palm Sunday.

 

Another very calm day, near full sunshine with humid temps reaching 31C (88F).

 

We slowly slid into port by 11 this morning passing some hilly islands on the way.* The port area was not very busy - just a few mid size frieghters.* The pier we were at was just for cruise ships - there was nothing special for cruise ships but nothing either for cargo ships.*

 

Despite the poverty I had read about, the hill overlooking the harbour had a lot of nice, newer looking bldgs, mostly 3 - 4 stories which I assume were apartments.

 

There was one shuttle to the port gate and another which ran hourly to the central market in town about 15 minutes away.* You could walk out of the port in about 5 minutes if you wanted. Just outside the gate there is a bit of a park and just beyond that Victory Beach - it looks nice from the ship - could only see a few people using it.

 

I took the 12:30 shuttle - the 2nd one.* As soon as the bus got within a few hundred meters/yards of the destination people started chasing the bus holding signs for taxi rides/tours.* By the time we stopped there were a few dozen drivers surrounding the door not only making it hard to get off and others to get back on, it made it scary for some people and they stayed on the bus and went back to the ship.

 

I got together with 2 others that were on the bus and headed into the market.* Once in the market there was little pressure from anyone.* The market was for the local consumer - lots of fruit, vegatable, meat* (mostly chicken) and dried and fresh fish including some in large bowls with just enough water to keep them alive.* Some stalls also had shoes, clothing and other household items.

 

Once finished there, the 3 of us decided to hire a tuk-tuk for a couple hours.* My 1st tuk-tuk ride.* Our driver spoke quite good English. Our first stop was a quick photo op at the Golden Lion Traffic Circle where 5 streets merge into a circle with large statues of a male and female lion in the middle.

 

Next we were off to Ochheuteal Beach where we stopped at a small resort.* I was able to go knee deep into the sea.* It was the warmest sea water I can remember.* Then we sat down in the shade and had a beverage and the other 2 had lunch - everything was priced in $US.

 

After that nice break we were off to Sokha Beach for a quick look around next to a 5 star hotel.* The beach at both places were not very busy.* We were told that part of Sokha Beach is owned by Sokha Beach Resort is private but you can access it by paying a couple dollars.

 

On the way to the next stop we passed a forest where we saw a few dozen monkeys.* Our driver said they were Chinese monkeys.* Many were in small family groups including some that were very young.* A vendor had a stall set up selling bunches of small bananas for $1.* That was a nice unexpected bonus.

 

We passed quite a few large casinos in the beach areas.* Some were stand alone and others part of resorts.* They were only open at night. Beach tourism is growing here a lot.*

 

Next stop was Wat Krom, a large, very elaborate complex where over a 100 monks live.**There were only a couple of other tourist there along with some children selling postcards.*

 

Next was a brief stop at Independance Square and a nearby area with a large Buddha.* We passed a large brewery - tempting to stop and see if they sold any there but we did not have time - they brewed the local Ankor beer, Carlsberg and Pepsi. Our last stop was Wat Chatnieng aka Wat Leu.* Another series of beautiful bldgs. The driver said over 50 monks live there.* Besides the bldgs, the sight was on a high hill offering a great view of all the areas we had just driven through.* I could see a large area under construction - it will be a university.

 

We had the option to go to the fishing village just north of the port to see the fish catch being processed but decided to head back to the ship.

 

Overall a very nice 3 hour experience for $30 each.* We made it back just in time for trivia - including the 3 of us there were only 7 players.* At dinner we shared a table with the same 2 people so Freda got the days activity fully relived.

 

Despite the rush to get our taxi business and a few begers at the market, there were not a lot of signs of extreme poverty.* I only saw one small area with people living in homes built of wood blanks with tin roofs.* The few people we saw at the beaches selling things were not aggresive.

 

Tonight while waiting for the show we got to talking about wine a bit. One of the ladies noted “Men are like a fine wine. They start out as grapes, and it's up to women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.”

 

As spring has now sprung in the northern hemisphere; here are few thoughts for today -

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ~Proverb

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood

The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. ~Bern Williams

Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!' - Robin Williams

“Spring is the only revolutionary whose revolution has succeeded.” ― Marianne Van Hirtum

“That is one good thing about this world...there are always sure to be more springs.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

"A life without love is like a year without spring." - Octavian Paller

"An optimist is the human personification of spring." - Susan J. Bissonette