Yesterday was a sea day and we did just about nothing--the first nothing day in a long time, and we enjoyed it!
Today, we were in Singapore's harbour at about 8, but with the formalities, we didn't get downtown until about 10. We took the subway and a bus from the dropoff point to the Singapore Flyer--the 165 meter high observation wheel. A really great view of the city and harbour--lots of pictures. Then we went to Raffles Hotel and had Singapore slings--$C54, but worth every penny for the experience of having the drink where it was invented.
Singapore was hot and humid, but also green and very clean. The city is very pretty, beautiful in fact, with many parks and green areas even right downtown. Traffic was awful, but the subway was fast, efficient and cheap.
We had to come back to the ship for a swim. Tomorrow is a sea day as we travel to Vietnam.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
All Aboard!!!
Quite an uneventful taxi ride down to Laem Chabang. Most of the trip was on 3 or 4 lane elevated expressway toll roads, so we got a good view of the "rural" areas south and east of Bangkok. Took just under 2 hours. Checkin was similarly uneventful and we were in our cabin in about 1/2 hour after we were dropped off.
Our cabin is larger than we've ever had before and of course, has a WINDOW. We look out over the top of a lifeboat (think 125 passenger enclosed and motorized, not a rowboat by any means!) and have a really good, open view of the sea, horizon and sky--only slightly obstructed.
We met with the Cruise Critic group for the sailaway, had a swim, supper and pretty much collapsed.
The ship--Diamond Princess--is beautiful and the Internet Cafe is terrific--even serves coffee--real stuff, not Princess Syrup.
We hope everyone is fine at home, as we are here. Hope the flood doesn't get worse.
TTYL
Our cabin is larger than we've ever had before and of course, has a WINDOW. We look out over the top of a lifeboat (think 125 passenger enclosed and motorized, not a rowboat by any means!) and have a really good, open view of the sea, horizon and sky--only slightly obstructed.
We met with the Cruise Critic group for the sailaway, had a swim, supper and pretty much collapsed.
The ship--Diamond Princess--is beautiful and the Internet Cafe is terrific--even serves coffee--real stuff, not Princess Syrup.
We hope everyone is fine at home, as we are here. Hope the flood doesn't get worse.
TTYL
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Shopping Day in Bangkok
Today was too hot and humid to do anything outdoors, so basically we ran around between air conditioned shopping malls, taxis and the SkyTrain, an elevated-above-ground "subway". It is 4:30 PM here now (430AM your time). We'll be going for a swim and a nap and then out for supper to a Vietnamese restaurant.
We saw one soldier on duty today, at one of the SkyTrain stations. (He looked thoroughly bored...) Laurel and I have not seen any other evidence of the situation, except what is on BBC and CNN. I'm totally sure that we will be safe tonight and on the ride to the ship tomorrow.
I do have to say that the populace here is heavily armed, though, with SuperSoakers and water pistols with backpack tank reservoirs, and buckets and at one place, an electric Pressure Washer no less. Songkran is well under way and just about everyone is having a blast.
Tomorrow morning we leave the hotel at 10AM for the taxi ride to Laem Chabang where we will board the ship. We'll do the next post from aboard the Diamond--not totally sure when; possibly not till after sailaway. Talk to you soon.
We saw one soldier on duty today, at one of the SkyTrain stations. (He looked thoroughly bored...) Laurel and I have not seen any other evidence of the situation, except what is on BBC and CNN. I'm totally sure that we will be safe tonight and on the ride to the ship tomorrow.
I do have to say that the populace here is heavily armed, though, with SuperSoakers and water pistols with backpack tank reservoirs, and buckets and at one place, an electric Pressure Washer no less. Songkran is well under way and just about everyone is having a blast.
Tomorrow morning we leave the hotel at 10AM for the taxi ride to Laem Chabang where we will board the ship. We'll do the next post from aboard the Diamond--not totally sure when; possibly not till after sailaway. Talk to you soon.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Happy New Year!!!
Today is the beginning of the Thai celebration of the New Year, Songkran. It is traditionally celebrated with water--spraying people with water pistols, buckets, hoses, water barrels in the back of half tons with people dipping and throwing the water as the truck goes down the street. Also, putting white flour paste on faces mostly, but clothes, hair, shoes, vehicles, etc. All is done with much laughter and smiling and FUN.
We did all kinds of Jim Thompson silk today. (he basically restarted the Thai silk industry after WWII) Started with the factory outlet--got 15 meters of awesome Thai silk fabric--warm up those sewing machines, people! Then, after a refuel at Starbucks, we went to the main Jim Thompson store, where they have scarves, clothing, accessories, etc. BeAuTiFuL. Then, we went to Jim Thompson's restaurant and had Thai food--some of our choices were *really* spicy--think breaking into sweat, turning beet red and needing water. Good food, though, and a very nice surrounding. (Tomorrow, we might go to his house, which has been turned into a museum)
An afternoon nap, which turned into a sleep, then we went out with Arthur and Hui, friends of Brian. Drinks at their beautiful apartment and then we walked to their favorite seafood restaurant for very interesting, and delicious, food. A good time was had by all. Arthur is Scottish and his party piece is the Address to the Haggis, which he does in Hong Kong for Robbie Burns Day.
Just a word for those who are worried about our safety--don't! The Red Shirts are basically confined to one area of the city and we aren't going near there. The only delays we have experienced are associated with water throwing parties. All is good.
We did all kinds of Jim Thompson silk today. (he basically restarted the Thai silk industry after WWII) Started with the factory outlet--got 15 meters of awesome Thai silk fabric--warm up those sewing machines, people! Then, after a refuel at Starbucks, we went to the main Jim Thompson store, where they have scarves, clothing, accessories, etc. BeAuTiFuL. Then, we went to Jim Thompson's restaurant and had Thai food--some of our choices were *really* spicy--think breaking into sweat, turning beet red and needing water. Good food, though, and a very nice surrounding. (Tomorrow, we might go to his house, which has been turned into a museum)
An afternoon nap, which turned into a sleep, then we went out with Arthur and Hui, friends of Brian. Drinks at their beautiful apartment and then we walked to their favorite seafood restaurant for very interesting, and delicious, food. A good time was had by all. Arthur is Scottish and his party piece is the Address to the Haggis, which he does in Hong Kong for Robbie Burns Day.
Just a word for those who are worried about our safety--don't! The Red Shirts are basically confined to one area of the city and we aren't going near there. The only delays we have experienced are associated with water throwing parties. All is good.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
What a GREAT day
Woke up way early in the morning, had a superb buffet breakfast and caught the 7AM van to get us to where the tour left. Then, we got a bus heading to the NorthEast, upriver, for about an hour, to the second traditional Thai capital--there are 4 in sequence, with Bangkok being #4.
The first temple we saw had been destroyed by the Burmese in the early 1700s. What we saw there was basically remains--walls that had been breached, Buddas with the heads (at least) removed as war trophies and partially ruined buildings. Still, very impressive.
Then, we went to one that was close by, and intact. We had to take off our shoes to go into the shrines. The first one had 2 smaller Buddas with a huge one in the back. All golden. We could take pictures, so you will see them--for now, just think ornate beyond belief. There was another shrine with a huge teak Budda and a monk beside it, collecting alms and giving away bracelets to protect children from bad spirits. Being children at heart, we each got one, a pink and a blue.
Then we went to a reclining Budda that was outside and huge. Apparently not the largest, but plenty big. It was not covered, so it was blackened by the elements, and no gold, except for little squares that the devout had placed--and there were thousands of those...
Then, to the King's Summer Palace. 42 acres, all gorgeous, with manmade pools and lakes and 20 or so buildings that were, (forgive me) fit for a King. The Palace area is still in use by the King, so there were soldiers and security and not all buildings were accessible. But the outside style was as ornate as you can imagine. The pictures you will see do not do it justice.
By this time, it was hot--well over 30 with about 98% humidity, so we were happy for the chilled wet wipes the driver was handing out.
After about a 30 minute bus ride, we boarded a riverboat for the 2 hour cruise downriver into Bangkok. The bus ride fortunately coincided with a downpour which just chucked it down for a short while then stopped. Apparently typical for this time of year. A buffet lunch was the first order of business, it being about 1:30. Downriver past temples, Thai capital #3, homes standing on posts in the river, lots of river traffic--barges and others. Fortunately, the riverboat was air conditioned or else we would have jumped ship for sure.
A quick van ride to the hotel followed by a swim in the rooftop pool. Thats the day so far, with Happy Hour and supper still to come...
Still nothing on the political front that we have seen, although apparently there are still significant tensions.
The first temple we saw had been destroyed by the Burmese in the early 1700s. What we saw there was basically remains--walls that had been breached, Buddas with the heads (at least) removed as war trophies and partially ruined buildings. Still, very impressive.
Then, we went to one that was close by, and intact. We had to take off our shoes to go into the shrines. The first one had 2 smaller Buddas with a huge one in the back. All golden. We could take pictures, so you will see them--for now, just think ornate beyond belief. There was another shrine with a huge teak Budda and a monk beside it, collecting alms and giving away bracelets to protect children from bad spirits. Being children at heart, we each got one, a pink and a blue.
Then we went to a reclining Budda that was outside and huge. Apparently not the largest, but plenty big. It was not covered, so it was blackened by the elements, and no gold, except for little squares that the devout had placed--and there were thousands of those...
Then, to the King's Summer Palace. 42 acres, all gorgeous, with manmade pools and lakes and 20 or so buildings that were, (forgive me) fit for a King. The Palace area is still in use by the King, so there were soldiers and security and not all buildings were accessible. But the outside style was as ornate as you can imagine. The pictures you will see do not do it justice.
By this time, it was hot--well over 30 with about 98% humidity, so we were happy for the chilled wet wipes the driver was handing out.
After about a 30 minute bus ride, we boarded a riverboat for the 2 hour cruise downriver into Bangkok. The bus ride fortunately coincided with a downpour which just chucked it down for a short while then stopped. Apparently typical for this time of year. A buffet lunch was the first order of business, it being about 1:30. Downriver past temples, Thai capital #3, homes standing on posts in the river, lots of river traffic--barges and others. Fortunately, the riverboat was air conditioned or else we would have jumped ship for sure.
A quick van ride to the hotel followed by a swim in the rooftop pool. Thats the day so far, with Happy Hour and supper still to come...
Still nothing on the political front that we have seen, although apparently there are still significant tensions.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Saturday in Bangkok
Saturday at 5PM local time--5AM in Winnipeg!! (12 hours difference now)
Up and to the airport in lots of time. Had a coffee while we were waiting for boarding. An airbus 330 flight for 2h40m from Hong Kong along the Chinese coast, between the island of Hainan and the mainland, then down the NW coast of Hainan and basically straight across to Bangkok--overtop of Vietnam and Laos.
Passing over the Thai countryside inot Bangkok was neat--lots of flooded rice fields and little villages with red and blue roofs and many canals and roads and a couple of big rivers. The airport here is huge--we got off the plane, walked a bit, took a moving walkway and then passed a sign saying our destination was a further 760 meters down the way! Taxi ride into the Hotel--nice, with a rooftop pool. We're booked on a tour to Ayutthya tomorrow--the traditional capital.
We've seen no evidence so far of the political disruption...
Off to a bar and supper--we'll post tomorrow after we're back.
Up and to the airport in lots of time. Had a coffee while we were waiting for boarding. An airbus 330 flight for 2h40m from Hong Kong along the Chinese coast, between the island of Hainan and the mainland, then down the NW coast of Hainan and basically straight across to Bangkok--overtop of Vietnam and Laos.
Passing over the Thai countryside inot Bangkok was neat--lots of flooded rice fields and little villages with red and blue roofs and many canals and roads and a couple of big rivers. The airport here is huge--we got off the plane, walked a bit, took a moving walkway and then passed a sign saying our destination was a further 760 meters down the way! Taxi ride into the Hotel--nice, with a rooftop pool. We're booked on a tour to Ayutthya tomorrow--the traditional capital.
We've seen no evidence so far of the political disruption...
Off to a bar and supper--we'll post tomorrow after we're back.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday
Today we had a slow start on the day. We revved up and went to the mall next door for an amazing Dim Sum lunch. We talked about an expedition to the Museum of Coastal Defense but it seems destined to forever remain a mystery (much like the Mitchell Corn Palace). We proceeded to pack for our trip to Bangkok, and while packing it was clear a bottle or two of wine would make things more fun....which worked wonders and everything is now in suicases. Our van arrives at the crack of 8:30 and our flight leaves Hong Kong at 11:20 arriving Bangkok at 1:00 pm.
We are not sure when we will be able to update this blog as we will not be near a computer for a few days.
Goog night and good bye from Hong Kong. It has been fun and interesting....Mike even liked it!
We are not sure when we will be able to update this blog as we will not be near a computer for a few days.
Goog night and good bye from Hong Kong. It has been fun and interesting....Mike even liked it!
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