Hong Kong overnight

Thanks to some quick navigation we arrived in Hong Kong 12 hours early.  Our Captain timed it so we could be in the bay just as the Hong Kong laser light show began.  Every night at 8PM, for 15 minutes, Hong Kong has a light show where all the buildings display blinking lights in patterns as laser beams are beamed from one side of the bay to the other.  What fun.  Being in the middle of this display on the water was much more fun then what you can see perched on a bar stool at a hotel on land.

XIiamen on our own

Shanghai to Suzhou

 

I really needed a break from an urban setting and decided to head out to the countryside for 'fresh air' and some peace and quiet. I needed a break from being overwhelmed. Right about now I am once again on overload with new countries, new cities, new currencies, new languages, and history lessons from tour guides. I love the cruise, BUT, I need a break!

Shanghai x 2



View from the Bund area to East Side



 Get out your brushes and find your ink... the two Chinese Characters in the Shanghai's name are 上 ("above") and 海 ("sea") which together literally mean 'Upper Sea'.

Shanghai is commonly abbreviated in Chinese to "沪".

I prefer the easy way.

Beijing, China

On a cold grey blustery Sunday morning at 8AM we were greeted by a show of military might and a  'lock in' of sorts in Tianjin, China .  I noticed a group of people securing each section of a block long fence on one side of the ship.  I was guessing this was to keep the masses from charging in.

DMZ & Kim Chi Power in Seoul

안녕하세요                                           

Ahn-nyung-ha-se-yo ....... Hello!


We arrived in Inchon, Korea early in the morning.  As we headed to our berth our ship had to traverse a lock-gate, reminding me of time we went through the Panama Canal, .
http://www.portincheon.go.kr/english/portinformation/lockgate/lockgate.asp 

Disasters Everywhere...

There is an elephant in my room and I just want to talk about it.  As we travel and see so many things and I blog about it, life happens around us that affects us.  I chat happily about all we are doing and at the same time it feels like the world is falling apart and some of its people are very very angry.  It does not feel safe to travel or to be.  Something is happening.  I can't be the only one to feel it.  It weighs heavily and is constantly on my mind.  Although we are enjoying this cruise immensely, we seem to be followed or preceded by disasters, natural and man made. Lately,it seems,  these pop up at every turn.  Add to that a few personal issues and a world at or holding back a few wars. I am not liking it.

Mamma Mia!, Taiwan



Chiang Kai-shek Memorial



If your ship is visiting a port for the very first time a fire boat spewing water guides you into port and settles you in your berth. You become a part of a parade. There is excitement and a sense of fun in the air.

Taiwan...here is where all of our money goes.  It seems everything sold in the USA made in Taiwan....  Having never been to Taiwan, we were excited it was on our itinerary. 

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My first impression of Taiwan... it is somewhat Western, old in appearance, well worn, yet  more modern then I had expected.   The buildings in Keelung reminded me of China or Russia where you build a high rise then forget about it.  Crowded.  Taiwan is mountainous. Only 28% of the land can be used to build on. Because of scarcity of flat land, people are just piled on top of one another.  There are 23 million people living in Taiwan.   Official language, is Mandarin

Corregidor

Finally, David gets to see his Corregidor!  We were here last year but because we were late arriving and the waters were rough, the tour was cancelled. 

Corregidor is an island famous for its battle during WWII where Americans and Philippines joined forces against a Japanese conquest for control the Philippine Islands. Corregidor was the last bastion of the U.S   The “Bataan Death March” occurred here where 20,000 out of 75,000 captured U.S. and Filipino troops died during a week long sweltering 60 mile march to their encampment.  No food.  No water. Torture reigned.

We walked through the Malinta Tunnel which is now rebuilt as part of this memorial.  Douglas McArthur and 3000 soldiers and nurses were forced to live in this tunnel to avoid the ceaseless Japanese bombings. His famous “I Shall Return” quote was about returning to Corregidor to finish his fight for the freedom and democracy of the Philippines.  It is humbling and sad to when you pass by these buildings and think about the men and women who lived and died through this harrowing nightmare.  I could almost feel their presence. 

Home Sweet Home, Manila

 We arrived in Manila very early on a grey morning.  The city as usual seemed to be in a dark  fog.  The sun was desperately trying to burn off the settled in fog not realising that nothing more needed to be done to enhance this day for those coming home.  The day was already a bright one sun or no sun.  With or without fog. Finally Home.

Cookin' Up a Storm: The True Taste of Bali

Once we finished our Klungkung Market tour we headed to the Alila Manggis Resort.  We entered the secluded seaside resort through a gated entrance and drove on a windy road toward the ocean.  The resort is a tiny white washed, red roofed building with 12 rooms. It has magnificent gardens, palm trees planted everywhere and, huge square pool.  Lots of lazy days and lounging around can be accomplished here.  This is the home of the first Balinese cooking school in Indonesia.  The resort  has its own organic garden.   Most of the area for gathering is in open air rooms.   Although it was hot, the high ceilings with fans and the breeze from the ocean made it comfortable. 

We Go Continuing

 

A picture tells a thousand words.  Since I took about 200 pictures in my one short hour tour of a local market in Bali you all should be thankful I am choosing to tell it in pictures rather then in words.  You can tell how much I love to go to markets or to do anything revolving around being with the locals where ever we go.  I love the faces both young and old.  The older people have their lives etched

on their faces.  I look at the colors and the way of dress and it suggests a hard life, an elegance and pride on some.  I often saw the warmth in closeness to friends and family as people sat and chatted while waiting for that sale.

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The children are beautiful, fun, warm, friendly and full of hope and playfulness, a bit shy.  I can't describe the smells of the market other then to say they match the colors of the market...:)  Sometimes you need to walk fast to get through some areas.  Notice the floor....(in 2 photos above) wear closed toe shoes not sandals like I did.   I found everything in this market, fresh fish, dried fish, fruits, spices and vegtables, ready made food, flowers, live chickens to be bought home for dinner that night, offerings ready to go, birthday candles, umbrellas,  hand cream, popcorn, and Bali's own hand made salt.  I did not see any ice or refrigeration. I tasted a fruit called snake skin fruit, liked it and lived. 

I loved visiting this market but an hour was enough.  Our Guide would say "Let's go continuing" as he moved us through the market, up and down the narrow pathways and stairs, indoors and out while being in the way and bombarded by shoppers and people hauling new produce through the same narrow sometimes dark aisles.  It was HOT.  It was HUMID.

We got back to our air conditioned van.   A cold wash cloth and a colder bottle of water with a straw awaited us.  Need I say how fortunate  I felt ?   Such a small offering at the ready held a huge impact on me at that moment.  I was very Thankful as our small group piled into the van and headed to our cooking class.  Two very different cultures mingled for one very short hour.

the Top End

A short journey out of Darwin traveling on the Arnhem Highway, past fields of Mango farms,  past Humpty Doo, into some wetlands, and on the Adelaide River, we arrived in Kakadu, home of the Jumping Crocodiles, stars of a Famous Show and tourist attraction.  Yike!  We threw caution to the wind. We were well aware that keeping our hands, arms and toes tucked safely within the confines of the boat was a good idea.  We headed out into the wilds of their natural habitat.  We wanted to be one with these bad boys. 

Fight! Fight! TI

I have been thinking about the blog and blogs in general.  I wonder why all the blogs are happy blogs....? When people blog they always try to find the positive.  No one is ever grumpy.  Where is the REALITY? Who wants to hear the negative?  Oh, sure.... I know who you are.... Well, today I have the juice..... I have to tell you what happened today.

In for a Visit....

Cruising the Great Barrier reef on the way to Thursday Island the water was like glass, a mirror.  It was so smooth and the air so still I found myself on the balcony just watching and taking it all in. It was beautiful.  I happened to look down from 8 decks up and found an unlikely friend swimming alongside of us.  I think it was a Hammerhead Shark!  Yike!  He was on TOP of the water, imagine that.  Just think how large he was if this is what he looked like from my balcony.  No swimming in this reef, for sure.

Great Barrier Reef

It is almost noon, lunch, Trivia and Captain -Update-From-The-Bridge time.  I am sitting at my desk on the computer on a grey rainy day.  I welcome the rain.  When I look out, I see a ring of black sea on the horizon.  I have never seen a black ring before.  An eerie beauty, a puzzle..... Out to my balcony to take a picture to share it with you. Looks like a storm is brewing ahead.  A black ring..... something different.  Will keep you posted!