Home from the Sea

Well I've had a week to assimilate to real life & to get photos organised.  This very long weekend we've had has been a bit of a blessing as there is a list a mile long of things to get back into once the rest of the world opens up.  By my next trip I hope I will have worked out how to put photos on my blog with out using up my precious 35c/minute time on the ship.  So here goes with some photos.

Brunei

Kota Kinabalu

Sailing into Hong Kong Harbour early in the morning, almost there & fog lifted.

Approaching the berth at Kowloon

Shanghai skline is amazing.  The city is divided into the Old & New town by the river. This is from the Old to the New.

The bridge is relatively new and the road system to get to it is a spiral with about 5 rotations.

 The MagLev train travels between Shanghai & the airport 38 miles away, top speed 430mph. No wheels or tracks all done by magnets and levitation.

Washing day

From the 88th floor of the Crystal Building (looks like a Vase) in the New town to the Old.
From below>>>>>>>.

Guess where!  Beijing.

Forbidden City

Busan, South Korea had some of the most interesting modern sculpture we saw all trip.  Lots of Hyundais.

And Cherry Blossom.

Saipan with it's very interesting war history.

Bonzai Cliffs, Saipan

Apart from the shops, this was the highlight of Guam, U.S. Coastgaurd with a machine gun pointed at us mostly.

 Rabaul with it's Volcano constantly smoking.

Doesn't do it justice it was a deep yellow and beautiful.

Rabual

After a few days at sea it was interesting to visit PNG, Rabual in particular.  The volcano was smoking but the smell wasn't too bad, it was very dusty but not that you could see.  It was most noticeable when you took your clothes off and got in the shower.  The children were delightful and the locals very friendly.  The general feeling was that the $40 we paid in a visa tax should be spent in Rabaul.

We have had another 2 days at sea and are getting closer to Australia with mixed feelings all around about packing, and all the things we will have to think about doing ourselves when we get home.  Won't be able to stick a plastic sign in the door saying "make up room now" or line up for dinner at 5:45 or 7:45 & then choose from a menu.  Drinks will be cheaper, washing machines easier to get, pillows will be firmer & showers bigger.

Won't be playing bowls every afternoon, or golf in the morning or trivia twice a day & winning occasionally but thats a good thing. Cruising is fun and you meet lots of people but there really isn't anything as good as your own home, family and bed.

Saipan & Guam

Saipan was an interesting place to visit with so much history from the War in The Pacific.  The Museum was closed so we went to the Memorial Park where they had an interesting video and artifacts from the battle which saw the lives of thousands lost, many through suicide.  The scenery was similar to other Pacific Islands, with tropical jungle being the main feature.  We hired a Taxi, 5 of us, for 2 hours and our driver took us to significant sites.

Guam was a shopper’s heaven with the elusive shoes being found and bought.  It’s a bit like Hawaii on a much smaller scale.  Big hotels/resorts on a beach, headland at one end shops at other end.  Traditional yellow school buses and red trolley buses to move people around.  $10 for a day ticket cheap when you see the hills and feel the humidity. Lots of history but also an active military base with visible uniforms all over.  Very friendly people with possibly the exception being the Coast Guard who patrolled the water in a dinghy style boat with a machine gun on the front.  Better to be safe than sorry.

Busan South Korea

I was astounded at the development of this intersting city.  I also felt at home as every 2nd car was the same as mine.  I predict that given the opportunity this city will be like Hong Kong in a few years.  Harbour right in the old town, very busy, bustling port.  Friendly people shoppers paradise (if you take smaller than a 8 in a shoe and no bigger than a 14 in clothes for ladies & 42 collar for men & 10 in a shoe)  I bought some socks to help the economy.

Weather was amazing & we were peeling of layers as the day went on.  News of the ship we are all to be given a free flu vaccine as there is a flu bug going around and at least 2 people have died from complications combined with age.  1 was 95 the other a severe asthmatic & in her late 60's they are the confirmed rumour has it up to 7.  I am incredibly healthy must  be the early nights and early rising or just avoiding any sneezing, coughing or option 3 WINE is a good preventative!!!!!

Some Photos

Mosque in Brunei

Ashore n Kota Kinabalu

Beijing

Beijing, busy, bustling, & what we saw beautiful.  We went to Tianamen Square which is enormous & busy, busy.  Most of the tourists were chinese from rural areas in Beijing for the 1st time & haven't seen europeans before.  It was funny being regarded as a tourist sight in the middle of Tianamen Square by elderly Chinese.  Delightful being spoken to by a 4 year old who was also mesmerised & so polite. so many buildings & history our guide was informative easy to listen to and had a great sense of humour, just as well with 34 Aussies.

 We then went to the Forbidden City which is even bigger than the Square (126 acres) Massive, ornate exteriors, lots of steps & eventually interesting garden.  It was a 2 1/2 hour drive both ways but worth it & the sun shone for us temp about 22.

Will post photos when I download them.

On board life gets interesting.  4:30 start this morning with a freezing shower, get back on board 4:45pm no water at all should be fixed by 6pm!!!!  I've now had flood, freeze & drought.  Got chocolates in apology for flood wonder what I'll get for the other 2???

Beijing

We are at the port where the chinese have built a brand new International Cruise Terminal it is 2 & half hours by coach from Beijing but is very big, not finished and local taxi drivers don't know how to get there.  A shuttle is available to the closest town which is half hour away.  I have spent the day on board catching up on washing, sleep & drinking lots of tea.  It's quite cold but apperently it was to reach 20 today, possibly in a sheltered position in the sun ie Horizon Court (Buffet area inside).  Tomorrow Tianamen Square, The Forbidden City & Temple.  So will get to take lots of photos.  Will be wearing my new leggings from Shanghai under fleecy track pants.Many layers on top.