World Cruise

135th Holland America Anniversary Buffet

2008-04-26T11:13:00.000-05:00

2008-04-26T11:12:00.000-05:00

The Golden Odyssey World Cruise

This year 2008, was the 50th anniversary of around the world tours for Holland America.

Our journey was in a beautiful ship designed to navigate the 7 seas. The food was delicious and plentiful, see some of the pictures. The crew prepared 6,000 meals a day for 114 days. They told us we broke some records by consuming 65,000 pounds of beef, 115,000 pounds of seafood, 300,000 eggs, 45,000 pounds of potatoes and 3,000 gallon of the home made ice cream.

The accommodations were spotless and brimming with exquisite art, antiques and fresh fragrant flowers. We have posted some pictures previously of the elaborate floral arrangements fresh from Holland. Fresh flowers were always at our dining table, in the library, everywhere even in our cabin.

The well trained smiling crew were ready to cater to our every need 24 hours a day Over 650 crew members went to work every day to help create “golden moments” for us.

We enjoyed the generous hospitality of our fellow citizens of the world, greeting us in their native language. We enjoyed meeting and making new friends and the warm lasting memories of this unique experience is one that can never be duplicated. We are also proud of the fact that we were part of the contributions made to the Susan G.. Komen Foundation to reach the “Golden Goal” of $50,000 for the cure of breast cancer.

We had 72 different guest entertainers during the voyage starting with Regis Philbin and his wife. We had two casts of Holland America dancers and singers who wore the most fabulous costumes which Las Vegas does not duplicate. We had 18 different guest speakers who lectured on numerous topics. We collected numerous recipes from the cooking schools and demonstrations. First rate movies were shown in the WaJang Theater three times a day.

We attended almost all of the bridge lectures and played some bridge with new friends. Other classes on board were Tai Chi, Art and Crafts, Painting, and Dance. There were also facilities for paddle ball, tennis, volley ball and basketball. We were regulars at the exercise facility to use the machines and also take aerobic classes. There was also a large library and plenty of room to get comfortable and read. The library is where we often spent time using the internet.

On one of the last days, we attended a coffee chat to talk about the memorable time throughout the voyage. Some of the favorite entertainers were discussed. Dick Hardway and Karme (from old Vegas) were favorites. Also Black Tie musical group, Ken and Casey (ventriloquist), a gymnast who was an Olympic medal winner, the show that featured the children of Samoa, Regis Philbin and the Osmond brothers.

One of the highlights is the scene from the ship as we sailed into Sydney under the bridge giving us a view of the Opera House. The sail away from Hong Kong at night was a beautiful sight. It was a special experience when families of crew members met their relatives, not seen for months in Bali and Manilla. Many of the passengers appreciated the Easter Sunrise service on the Red Sea. Going through the Suez Canal was a new experience for most of us as was experiencing the Pyramids and the Sphinx. We could go on and on, Istanbul, Venice, Santorini, Malta and Gibraltar were among our favorites. We have enjoyed this Grand Voyage, but we are also looking forward to returning to our home in Andover.

New York Skyline from the Ship at Sunrise

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New York City, New York

We docked in New York about 7:00 a.m. and were greeting with a welcome sign pulled behind an airplane. The sun was rising between the skyscrapers.
About 200 people disembarked in this city and about the same number embarked for the trip to Ft. Lauderdale and then on to Alaska.

Everyone on the ship had to go through immigration and we were called alphabetically so it was about 10:30 a.m. before we left the ship. We walked to Central Park where we took a pedal cart with a guide who took us throughout the park and gave us some commentary. The trees were in bloom as were many flowers and the grass was green. The grass that has to be mowed covers around 283 acres, and the entire park is like 840 acres.

At 4:45, we went out on the deck to attend the sail away and commenced our voyage towards Fort Lauderdale.

Good luck arch in the park

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Scene from Bermuda

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Bermuda

A 30 minute ferry ride took us from the ship to Hamilton which is Bermuda’s main port and capital.

Bermuda’s capital has a colorful harbor with colonial buildings which have a definite British flavor. As we approached land, we noticed the single-story wood and limestone homes with white roofs. The bright white eaves are not just decorative, they are the visible part of an elaborate water collection system, and they channel rainwater into underground storage tanks. There are no rivers or lakes, cistern are the main source.

The sand, local buildings, busses and even the sea are pastel colored. Bermuda’s beaches really are pink! The color results from the red skeletons of single-celled coral organisms mixed with white sand. The resort is so famous, many visitors are surprised to learn the total land area is only about 20 square miles and while many people think there is only one island, there are many smaller islands.

We walked along front street and noticed that the streets are very clean. There are no highrises, no parking meters, no neon signs, no smokestacks or pollution, no slums and no income taxes.

The people we met on the street and in the little park we visited were very well dressed. Some men even had on the classic Bermuda shorts with their suit coats and ties. While in the park we passed beneath Bermuda’s moongate (limestone arch) for those who pass through are blessed with good luck.

We had a long wait for the ferry to take us back to the ship. The line stretched over blocks, the sun was hot but there was a cool breeze blowing from the water. We arrived back in time to dress for dinner, but a little late for the sail away party on the deck with champagne.

Basket Ride Down the Mountain

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Steps to the Church

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Jackuranda Trees

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Funchal (Madeira) Portugal

Funchal, Madeira’s capital is one of Europe’s prettiest ports. There are flowers everywhere and flowering trees. We saw many Jackuranda (sp) trees. Funchal is named for one of the most fragrant native plants–funcho (fennel) that grows all over the coastal area. The colorful flowers along with the spectacular waterfalls and perfect climate encourages tourist trade.

Our approach to Madeira presented a stunning picture as the colorful and majestic Madeiran peaks suddenly appeared from the blue mist. We docked at 8:00 a.m and we were anxious to get out into the perfect sunny weather. We walked toward the town which is about a mile, but weren’t sure where to make a turn so we walked back and took the shuttle. The shuttle dropped us off in the center of town and from there we walked to find the cable cars.

Riding in the cable cars, we were rewarded with sweeping views of the city and Funchal harbor. The cable ride took approximately ten minutes. The system has 40 cars each with capacity for up to 8 passengers so we didn’t have to wait long even though there were 3 cruise ships docked at the port.

We reached the town of Monte that is only 4 miles from Funchal, but nearly 2,000 feet high, it seems almost like heaven. There were many fine gardens and a church that required walking up 68 steps. We wanted to embark on the sleigh-ride from Monte back but found we didn’t have enough Euros. After much searching and finding interesting new places including a restaurant where we could buy a fridge magnet, some cards and a cold drink, we found “a card box” which is what the natives called the ATM. We then embarked on the exciting trip down the steep and narrow street on a sleigh that is steered by by two people. (See picture) The only problem was they only took us half way. There were taxis there but we thought we could walk . It turned out to be 6 kilometers or 3.6 miles of very steep streets and we suffered the next day from sore muscles.

After reaching the bottom of the mountain we rested with a gelato and continued walking and shopping then back to the bus stop for the shuttle. The ship sailed away at 6:00 p.m. for 5 days at sea and then Bermuda.

Sunrise from the Veranda

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Typical Passengers Returning From a Tour (taken from our veranda)

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Two Soldiers at the Memorial

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Belem Tower in Lisbon, Portugal

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Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is along the northern bank of the Tagus River and is Europe’s westernmost capital. We were on our veranda early in the morning for the sail in and had a good view of a 752 foot figure representing Christ the Redeemer, towering on a hilltop along the southern bank of the Tagus river. This is a reminder that there is more than a casual kinship between Lisbon and Brazilian sister city Rio de Janeiro. We also enjoying watching the sunrise on a 60 degree beautiful morning.

We left the ship at 8:00 for a leisurely walk then caught the shuttle from the ship to a central area called Baixa. We then boarded an open top tour bus to drive around the city. This was a bus where we could get off when we saw something of interest and reboard. We also had ear phones to listen to explanations and descriptions of what we were seeing.

We drove through the Alfama district where streets are lined with antique wrought iron lamps, framed with ornate balconies, decorated with colorful flowers. Most of the buildings were built prior to the late 1700's.

In other areas, we noticed sharp architectural contrasts between modern high-rise towers and elegant old buildings. The city is often compared with San Francisco for its hills and bridge.

We got off the bus to take a closer look at the Tower of Belem which is a quadrangular, five-story building and looks like an enormous chess piece. We will post a picture. The tower’s silhouette often appears on official publications.

We returned to the main shopping area, shopped had lunch and returned to the ship. The next day was a sea day and then on to the island of Madeira. We celebrated the 100th day at sea yesterday and have two more weeks to go.

Get the Monkeys Off My Back!

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See the Monkeys

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The Rock of Gibraltar

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The Rock of Gibraltar as Seen From the Ship

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Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar and shares a border with Spain to the North. Spain surrounds tiny Gibraltar but it is an independent British colony, but the motherland is responsible for the military support only.

We felt that since this is such a small area it would best be appreciated on foot. The ship docked at around 7:00 a.m. and we disembarked at 8:00 a.m. starting out toward the cable cars, about a thirty minute walk. We hooked up with a small tour company in a van with six other people and traveled to Gibraltar’s Top Station . It was about 65 degrees and a beautiful clear day, the sweeping view was magnificent. We could see the coast of Morocco in Africa, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. (See picture from the top of the rock)

We then traveled on to the Middle Station to visit the Barbary Apes. We saw tailless monkeys roaming free and climbing all over our van. We were told to keep our possessions close and not to feed or touch these wild animals. As you can see from the picture Jack got a little close. According to lore, Britain will control Gibraltar until the simians leave.

We walked along a wooded path to enter and admire St. Michael’s Cave, a grotto with spectacular display of stalagmites and stalactites. Classical concerts are presented in a large natural auditorium.

We then continued on to the Great Siege Tunnels, excavated in 1779-83, and carved out of solid limestone. The French-Spanish tried to capture Gibraltar, but the British-Dutch expeditionary force ordered the troops to dig out “defensive galleries” (caves or tunnels). The maze is one of the most ingenious defense systems ever built. Hewn by sheer muscle, the first tunnel was the work of 18 men who drove 82 feet into the limestone base with sledgehammers and occasional gunpowder (there was no dynamite). Large guns were mounted on the openings. By the time the attack finished the tunnel was 370 feet long and the French and Spanish troops were defeated.

We then walked the Main Street and checked out the many shops buying our souvenir fridge magnets and then back to the ship for lunch. Lunch was followed by the sail away party only this time it was a sale away party. Table were set up for people to bring their “white elephants” or things they had purchased and then had second thoughts. The money that was taken in was for breast cancer cure.

2008-04-13T11:52:00.000-05:00

Valletta, Malta

Valletta is the capital city of Malta and is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta. It was another picturesque sail in with the view of the Baroque type buildings and the sparkling blue waters. (See picture)

Valletta is an old walled city and is above the port/harbor area. It was quite an uphill hike with 118 steps (we counted them), but the steps were no more than going f rom A deck on the ship to 8 deck which we do each time we return from a port. We are avoiding the elevators in an attempt to help maintain our weight. We walked down Republic street where most of the shops are located, then on to St. John’s Co-Cathedral. The building was completed in 1577 and is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The church has finely carved medieval stone walls that are adorned with vibrant colors and gold and is a unique monument of international importance.

The splendid inlaid marble floor of St. John’s consists of a collection of tombstones about six feet by four feet. The use of symbols and pictures tell the individual stories of important Knights who are entombed below.

The Oratory was once a place for private devotion, but today has paintings and large tapestries. A very large painting depicts the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. Part of the collection is a bronze monstrance intended to hold the relic of the Baptist’s forearm. There is also a collection of illuminated large choral books and a room containing elaborate vestments. The cathedral is a magnificent artistic expression of the High Baroque era. We have posted one picture of the focal part of the church. Mass is still held in the church with two masses on weekdays and six on Sunday.

You will see that we posted a picture of the Smart Car which we saw parked on the street in Valletta. Many people were stopping to look at the new car which has not yet reached the states. It was ironic that our camera picked up a horse and carriage in the back ground portraying the old with the newest type of transportation.

Multiple Transportation is Available Buggy and Smart Car

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St. Johns Co Cathedral Valletta, Malta

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Malta, The Walled City of Valletta

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Glass Blowing Factory

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Gondola Ride

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Murals at St. Marks Basilica

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St. Marks Square on Sunday Afternoon

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View from the Rialto Bridge

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St. Marks Square as seen from the ship

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Venice, Italy

Venice has been known as the “Queen of the Adriatic”, “City of Water”, “City of Bridges”, and “The City of Light. The city stretches across 110 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea.

The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wood piles, which penetrate alternating layers of clay and sand. Most of these piles are still intact after centuries of submersion. The foundations rest on the piles and buildings of brick or stone sit above these footings. However, the city is still threatened by more frequent low-level floods that creep to a height of several centimeters. Many Venetians have resorted to moving up to the upper floors and continuing with their lives.

Each of the 110 small islands have its own character and legends. The vanguard is the Lido, a long, narrow sandbar that is also one of the most fashionable resorts on the Adriatic. The city is laced with 150 canals, but you won’t get wet because of the 400 bridges. The longest is the 3-mile Laguna Veneta which is the only bridge that links to the mainland.

This was another beautiful sail in. We took pictures from the bow. Our first tour was a four hour walking tour which acquainted us with Venice. Narrow Venetian streets lead us to some of Italy’s most prized buildings. We passed through Camp San Polo–an enormous square dating back to the 15th century. We saw buildings designed around 1550 and famous churches. We walked to the Rialto Bridge (see picture) the first bridge to be built of solid stone after the collapse and decay of earlier wooden structures. We walked through markets along the Grand Canal. Finally we arrived at St. Marks Square to admire its beautiful basilica and belltower (see pictures). We then had some free time for shopping, but we found a small café for an expensive beer.

We went back to the ship long enough to eat and then back to Venice for a gondola ride. The city is best admired from the water and is especially lovely viewing at night, with moonlit reflections glistening on the water.

The next day, we visited two of Venetian Lagoon’s 40 islands, Murano and Burano. Murano is known for their glassmaking. Today, the Murano products of blown glass mirrors, chandeliers, goblets and intricate works of art are renowned worldwide. We saw a glassmaking demonstration, then checked out the many shops. Burano is know for their lace making. A lady demonstrated this complicated craft. The craft requires extreme precision. Stitches are so intricate, each artist specializes in a single pattern–a completed work is a community effort passed from seamstress to seamstress.

Split, Croatia

Since this was a tender port and the waves were too high, we were not able to go aboard. This was a first for us. Holland America quickly came up with a new daily program as is usual for a day at sea. This gave us some extra time which we needed to catch up on our blog.

Sail Away Party on the Deck

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Zig Zag Donkey Trail which takes us to Fera on Santorini

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Returning to the Ship on the Tender

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Oia on the island of Santorini

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Oia, Greece

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Santorini, Greece The Blue Domed Mosque

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Santorini, Greece

We saw a spectacular sight when we walked out on our veranda this morning. We were awestruck with the picturesque beauty of the islands of Santorini. Even though the temperature was in the 60's it appeared we were looking at snow on top of the cliffs. Looking through the binoculars we saw that what we were looking at were clusters of homes and other buildings, all white. Santorini’s spectacular physical beauty has contributed to its becoming one of Europe’s hot tourist spots. Many visitors also come for the alluring beaches but Santorini’s attraction goes far beyond the beach.

Santorini is a small, circular group of islands located in the Aegean Sea, about 124 miles southeast from Greece’s mainland. Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, destroying the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island and leading to the creation of the current islands.

This was a tender port and the only one where Holland America had to use the port’s tenders. It was a very rough ride going into port. We loaded into our coach and drove up to the highest point on the island, Mountain of Prophet Elias to enjoy the best views of this gorgeous island and to take pictures. We were then headed on to Oia, and along the way to learn from our tour director about the volcanic nature of the island.

Oia ( EE yuh )is a picturesque town with blue-domed churches, old two story mansions, narrow cobblestone streets lined with tiny shops selling hand made ceramics, paintings and semi-precious jewelry. The population of Oia is 400 people but they have 70 churches. This is about one for each family, some of the churches are private. The priests for these Greek Orthodox churches travel to a number of churches.

Oia and Fira town, which was our next stop, are perched on the side of a steep cliff above the sparkling blue Aegean Sea. From the landing, at Fira, there are three options to reach the lofty town. The cable car, riding donkeys or walking. Those with energy can walk up in 40 minutes but are warned to watch where one walks as the donkeys use the same path.

We noticed an area in the water close to shore that appeared to be marked. We later heard from some other passengers that a cruise ship had sunk one year ago and , in fact, was still there at the bottom of the sea. All 1600 passengers were saved. Evidently the lawyers are still fighting over whose fault it was so they are leaving the ship there because someone has to pay to remove it.

French Attack Near the end of the War

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Panorama of the Crimean War

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Panorama Mural of the Crimean War

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Sevastapol, Ukraine

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Sevastapol, Ukraine

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Bosphorus Strait The Bridge Connecting Asia and Europe

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Sailing through the Bosphorus Strait Fort

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Sulphur Springs at Sochi

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Sochi, Russia

Today was a unique cultural experience. We dropped anchor at the expected time, but all the tours ran late. Many of the tours were not able to offer all that we expected to see because of the shortage of time. The Russian officials came on board and changed much of what they had said earlier. Everyone had to have their passport stamped and hand in a photo copy of the passport. We were also issued a landing card to carry with us which no one looked at. The officials didn’t want us walking down the stairs so we had to take the elevator, their computer broke down, then they wanted snacks before they got started. There were 1200 of us disembarking on tours because we were not allowed to get off the boat without a visa unless we were on a tour. It was a cold rainy day and the tours were not as exciting as we have had previously. This was the coldest day, 51 degrees, that we have had yet. Needless to say it was a unique cultural experience.

Sochi is the Russian Republic’s largest resort area. The shore stretches nearly 100 miles along the Black Sea. Even though it shares latitude with Toronto, the warming current and the sheltering mountains maintain a beach like climate, except for today. The city attracts millions of vacation goers for the health benefits of the sulphur springs and the annual film festival. The air quality is among the best in the world.

We were off to a great start when we took our motor coach to a huge spa where tourists come for all kinds of healing. The building was closed much to the surprise of the tour director, but we were able to walk around and see the springs. The next stop was at the Riviera Park where most of the attractions were closed, it seems we were ahead of the tourist season. By this time, most of us wanted to find a bathroom. The first place we were lead to was closed. We then had a long walk to some that were open. They wanted 10 rubles to use the “trenches” and some people didn’t have any rubles. The 10 rubles bought a strip of toilet paper. We skipped the last part of the tour which was supposed to be a walk along the beach. A unique cultural experience.

2008-04-03T05:09:00.000-05:00

Sevastopol, Ukraine

Sevastopol is located on the Black Sea on the coast of the Crimean Peninsula. The city, formerly the home of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet, is now a Ukrainian naval base mutually used by the Ukrainian Navy and Russian Navy. It is an important center of marine biology research, in particular the studying and training of dolphins It is called the white city because most of the buildings are limestone. The city has also been called the cradle of Christianity.

Our first introduction to Sevastopol was viewing the famous Panorama-- a 5,000 square foot monumental painting called The Defense of Sevastopol which depicts the battle of Malakhov Hill during the Crimean War. We climbed a winding staircase to view this painting which encircled us as we reached the top. It could be called a diorama as what seemed like a part of the painting were real objects. It literally took our breath away to view the scene of combined assaults of the Turkish, British, French, and Sardinian troops. The painting included 4,000 soldiers. We then walked to a nearby section of the Bastion where seven historic cannons remain in place. It was there that Leo Tolstoy wrote Sevastopol Sketches.

In the downtown area, we visited the Vladimirsky Cathedral—pantheon of renowned Russian Admirals. We returned to the pier, then walked back to the downtown area for some shopping.

The Amazing Bosporus

This is a narrow strait 20 miles long and varies from half a mile to a mile and a half in width. A local pilot came on board to help us navigate through the strait. Our first glimpse of this alluring scenery was from our veranda which is on the starboard side which was facing Europe .We listened to a commentator on our speaker explain what we were seeing. We passed under a suspended bridge that separated Europe and Asia and were told that we could make a wish and it would come true. Some of the structures that we saw were palaces occupied by Sultans at one time. This strait is the narrowest strait that can be navigated in the world. Forty thousand ships a year go through the strait, more than through any canal. In ancient times chains have been strung across the Bosporus to keep enemy ships from entering the Black Sea.

Dardanelles

Small Part of the Dessert Extravaganza

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Belly Dancer at the Party

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Pouring a Drink at the Party

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The Grand Bazaar

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Turkish Flag and Skyline as seen from the ship

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The Blue Mosque as seen from the ship

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Sultan's Palace as seen from the ship

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Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is the only city to have a “foot” on two continents. The view from our ship as we approached the remarkable port was unforgettable. The domes and minarets(spires) of more than 135 mosques rose through the misty landscape along the channel. The palaces are wonders in design.

The history of Istanbul is long, the Byzas established the port in 675BC. Ankara may be the Turkish capital, but Istanbul is the commercial center. Instanbul is Europe’s most populour city (the world’s 4th largest city proper. Today, the traditionally clad Muslim women walk alongside those in jeans or designer outfits, and even though donkey carts and old cars have yielded to Mercedes and BMWs, the change was fairly recent.

Our first tour took us to the Hippodrome, where ancient Byzantine entertainment spectacles such as gladiator fights and chariot races took place. This park featured an obelisk from Egypt dating to 3,000 BC.

Next, we visited the St. Sophia church constructed in the sixth century. It took thousands of workers more than five years to complete the massive structure. That was an impressive feat in the absence of modern architectural knowledge. For 1,000 years the Hagia Sofia was the world’s largest church. It was later converted to a mosque. The unsupported domes have withstood centuries of earthquake and war and though they have been repaired several times, they have never fallen.

The next stop was for a carpet demonstration. We watched as a woman worked on an intricate pattern. Some of the hand made carpets take months to complete. The price seems to depend on the number of knots, they’re very expensive. We were then dropped off at the Grand Bazaar to do some shopping. The Grand Bazaar is inside, has a domed roof and contains 4,000 stores. It was extremely crowded and we were inundated with the vendors. We were big spenders, buying a refrigerator magnet. However we did find something to buy on the street going back to the bus. We can’t say because it might be a gift for someone.

The next day our first stop was the Blue Mosque. We removed our shoes but did not need to cover our heads. The Blue Mosque was named because of the over 21 thousand azure colored tiles on the walls. The 16 balconies on its six minarets honor the 16 sultans of the empire.

Our next stop, the Topkapi Palace was close by and the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Although the palace suffered fires and many of the older buildings were replaced over time, the original layout is still intact. The palace consists of courts, mosques, fountains, pavilions and a rich treasury section. A crowd often gathers around the Spoonmaker’s Diamond, the collection’s priceless 86-carat jewel. The Harem is another point of fascination. The only men permitted to enter (other than the sultan) were enuchs, hand picked by the ruler for their unlikely interest to women–the women were considered the Sultan’s personal property.

Our last night in Istanbul was a trip to the Binbirdirek Cistern. This was an event hosted by the President and CEO. A special guest was Ambassador Ross Wilson, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey. The Cistern was built in 330 CE to hold water for a palace. This was a lavish party with plentiful selections of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres representing the different flavors of Turkey. These were served continually through the evening along with special drinks, wines and anything one wanted to order. The Cistern was large enough 200 x 400 feet and had 30 foot ceilings supported by many columns. It has been converted into a restaurant and was large enough for the 1200 of us. To touch a column that is over 2,000 years old is a special feeling. We were entertained with folk dancers, belly dancers and fire eaters. The bus brought us back to the ship for a dessert extravaganza which included chocolate martinis.

Sphinx Part Lion Part Man

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Camels at the Pyramids

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Pyramid Jack in the Foreground

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Cairo Housing

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Suspension Bridge Suez Canal

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Sandy Saudi Arabia from the Canal Starboard

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Green Egypt from the Canal Port Side

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2008-03-28T14:36:00.000-05:00

Alexandria, Egypt

Alexandria is Egypt’s largest port and the 3rd largest in the Mediterranean and is 140 miles from Cairo. It is known for its temperate climate and sandy beaches. The city was named for Alexander the Great in 400 BC. The population is 5 million in Alexandria and 80 million in Egypt. Our tour director told us there is an increase of 1 million every 10 months which is presenting a problem. The population inhabit only 5% of the land with 95% desert uninhabited. The government has offered to give free land to the people who will build and farm the land. They have 3 years maximum to work the farm, but if it is not producing they must give it back. They receive about 15 inches of rain a year so they must irrigate from the Nile river.The Nile River is 4200 miles long and goes through 10 countries in Africa. A big problem is the lack of wheat, they are importing from other countries even the U.S. Dahlia, our tour director said the people stand in line for bread.

Our tour to Cairo was a three hour ride so our tour director had time to give us a great deal of information. Since we were going to the Museum of Antiquity and would see mummies she talked about the procedure used to mummify. The first step is to remove the intestines, lungs, liver and brains. They stick something up the nose to pull the brain out!! Then the body is buried in salt to absorb the moisture for 40 days which is also called the mourning period. After that the body is treated with oils and stuffed with herbs and spices, sawdust and lemon juice. They are then wrapped in linen cloths and put in a coffin. Kings may be placed in 4 coffins, one in side of the other.

Cairo has a population of 18 million, with another million who commute from the Delta every day and 1,000 new migrants every day. It is the 3rd largest city in the world.. One third of the households lack running water, one fourth have no sewers and there are one half million who reside in squatter cemeteries, the famous Cities of the Dead. The amount of green space per citizen fit in the palm of a child’s hand. Air pollution caused by traffic is equivalent to smoking 30 cigarettes a day. The traffic reminded us of some other cities we visited recently. Our tour director said traffic was the “survival of the fittest or the fastest”. The driver should not make eye contact or he loses. No one has the right away and they seem to think the white lines and few lights are for decoration. Sometimes we were stopped at an intersection for 15 minutes.

We asked our director about some large white cones we saw in the countryside and were told they were for breeding pigeons. Why do they breed pigeons? Because they eat them. When asked about their Muslim diet, we were told it is very similar to a Jewish diet, no pigs, horses or dogs.

Dahlia answered questions from us regarding the Muslim religion and explained it as many others had telling us about the 5 Pillars. When asked about 911 and the suicide bombers. She said, “all religions have some who manipulate and misuse what is written”. She said people get brainwashed and some are simple minded. The media shows the extremist, not the average Muslim The media showed dancing after 911, not those Muslims who were crying.

Our first stop was at the Museum of Antiquities, located in the heart of Cairo. This was very crowded and if this is an example of every day, we can see why tourism is an important part of the economy. This museum houses the world’s most important collection of Egyptian antiquities from 2700 BC to the 6th century AD with thousands of statues, jewels and artifacts f rom every period of ancient Egypt. We spent most of our time admiring the amazing treasures of King Tut including his funeral mask made of solid gold, still perfectly preserved. There were 12 rooms filled with treasures from King Tut’s tomb, which was discovered in 1922 virtually untouched. If one allows one minute per exhibit in this museum, it would take 9 months to view it all. Every treasure is an original. The only copy is the Rosetta Stone. The original is in a London museum.

After visiting one of the shops, we traveled on to one of the leading hotels in Cairo for lunch. Lunch was a culinary delight with a buffet of foods from different countries. The dessert table had around 50 different desserts fit for the Gods. The hotel was a former palace built in 1869 to house a French queen during the opening ceremonies for the Suez Canal.

Our tour bus then took us to visit the great pyramids of Giza, the largest of which is the only remaining one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We were in awe as we stood beside these incredible Egyptian monuments and marveled at their size. The Pyramid of Cheops is said to have 2.3 million stone blocks, each one weighing 2.5 tons. The height of the two large pyramids is 450 feet tall. If you take l cubic foot stones of the Pyramid and arrange them in a line, they would stretch 2/3 around the world at the equator. What makes these statistics truly astonishing is that the pyramids of Giza were built around 2000 BC. The visit to the interior of one of the pyramids was hot, dusty and dark. The climb involved bending over at the waist and bending the knees for many, many steps down and then just as many steps up to finally reach the burial chamber.

We opted not to take a camel ride although the many guys were quite persistent. We then moved on to view the mysterious Sphinx. With the face of a man and the body of a lion, the Sphinx has puzzled travelers for centuries with its inscrutable expression. It is carved from natural rock and measures 190 feet long by 66 feet tall.

At the end of the tour, we relaxed for the drive back to Alexandria. The entire tour was 13 hours by motorcoach.

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Safaga, Egypt Ali Baba and 40 tee shirts

2008-03-28T14:34:00.000-05:00

Jack and Friend

2008-03-23T02:57:00.001-05:00

/St. Patricks Day Celebration

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Container Cranes 7,000 containers loaded per day

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Tour Guide Explaining about the Franchincense Tree

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Camel on the Highway

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Buying franchincense at the market

2008-03-23T02:48:00.000-05:00

2008-03-22T05:19:00.000-05:00

Salalah, Oman

Salalah, despite lying in the Arabian desert, enjoys a temperate climate through most of the year. However; our tour director said in the summer the temperature can go up to 55 degrees Celsius or around 140 degrees Fahrenheit with 99% humidity. Everything is air conditioned, homes, cars and businesses. The city is known as the perfume capital of Arabia.

Our tour directors’ name was Abdulla which means the son of God. He was full of information and talked in pretty good English for the full four hours of the tour. He told us that the city was very clean and we would see no trash or rubbish. Cleanliness is very important to the people, in their homes as well as the city. The city is also one of the safest, no worry about leaving things on the bus when we were gone. If someone steals an apple, they will be put in jail. Those in jail may have written a bad check, drove without a license or in the country illegally. Everybody has a job, free education, free health care and no taxes. They do take 5% of salaries for Social Security. When a young person turns 18 they are given free land where they can build a home.

You will see the pictures of the cranes which load containers.. Seven thousand containers are loaded onto the ships daily. Also we were told that one million barrels of oil are pumped daily. Petro (gas) is cheaper than water. They use the water from the sea for everything except drinking and that has to come from springs in the mountains.

Our tour took us out of town which began with a drive to a grove of frankincense trees, a species unique to Southern Arabia. During the monsoon season the mountainside setting is lovely, lush and green, but today it was dry and brown. The scraggly trees yield an aromatic medicinal resin that is used to make the sweet smelling incense. There were very little cars on the highway, but the only traffic problems encountered were the camels that wondered on and off the highway. (See picture)
Also you will see a picture of the frankincense tree and our tour guide in his native dress.

Abdulla gave us some information about uses for frankincense. He said the people clean their houses in early morning after first prayers before sunrise then burn the incense. It is said to absorb smells and kill germs and keeps away the flies. Another benefit is to help asthma and stomach upsets.

We asked Abdulla about women’s rights and we were told that they could drive, work or stay home and that some women have been elected to positions of power. Not long ago women were not permitted to leave the house without their husbands permission.

Abdullah’s family history was interesting. He said his father married in Oman and they had eight children in nine years. Times were very difficult then in Oman and his father left for Africa to find better living conditions, there he married again and had twelve children. He then moved again to find a better place and married again. Abdullah was the first born from this 13 year old wife in 1963, and had six brothers and sisters. The total number of children fathered was 27. The father has recently built a house with 17 bedrooms as when the family get together there are 306, enough for two football teams and then fill the stadium.

In the Islamic religion a man can marry up to four women, but he has to get permission from the first wife and everything must be equal. Whatever the first wife has, others must have the same and the man’s time must be divided equally. Also the man has to buy the wife. Abdullah called it a dowry, but the man pays $25,000, with 30% going to the girls’ parents. The dowry for each wife is the same, but if the next wife has been divorced there is a 50% discount. We were surprised when Abdullah said that 20% divorce. He thought the reason is that marriages are arranged. When a boy reaches marrying age, the mother and sisters check around to see who is available. All the women have their faces covered in public but not at home. The female family members will visit available girls and return to the boy with a description of the girl. Abdullah said he wanted to make sure they had good teeth and a nice nose.

Most of the Omani people adhere to the ancient tenets although the society is one of the least rigid. Still the call for prayer comes five times daily. The central Islamic belief is: “There is only one God, and Mohammed is his prophet”. Islamic faith further requires its followers to give alms to the poor. Other pillars of Islam include a one-time pilgrimage to Mecca and fasting during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

Abdullah said that jihad has often been tragically misinterpreted. The translation is “holy war” but it is a reference to man’s internal struggle against impure motivations and manifest behavior. There are some sects with wrong ideas, but according to Abdullah Islamic faith is as gentle and as much concerned with peace and goodwill to fellow human beings as any other religion. We just completed a book on Islam and the Quran and it disagrees with Abdullah. However; we had a good impression of the people of Oman and with Abdullah’s sincerity.

Housing on the Streets

2008-03-17T04:38:00.001-05:00

Diorama of Ghandi at the Museum which was his home

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Dhobi Ghat The laundry for the people

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Gateway to India

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Typical Street Scene

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Cows are seen on the street

2008-03-17T04:26:00.000-05:00

India

2008-03-17T04:24:00.000-05:00

THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA

Chinai

It has been said that India is less a country than a continent, and it holds as many variations in religion, language, customs, art and cuisine as it does in Topography. India is bordered at the top with the Himalayan Mountains, but also has deserts and rice paddies. The country has 5 major nations, is 1/3 the size of the U.S. and has over 4 times the population of the U. S. It is an agriculture country growing, rice, tea, cotton, sugarcane and potatoes. They export milk, cashews, coconuts and spices. There are 300 million cows which are sacred, they even have a home for old cows, they are never eaten or killed.

Religion is 83% Hindu, 12% Islam with some Christians and Jews. When we entered temples or mosques we removed our shoes. We were told to keep shoulders, thighs and midriff covered and ladies had to cover their heads.

The Indians do outside what we do inside, cooking, sleeping and washing clothes. We will post some pictures showing some of the poorest dwellings. Many of these dwellings were across from the Marina Beach which is 7.5 miles long. Some of the poor lived on the beach. In this area we saw the signs of Tsunami, the deterioration of the buildings was still evident. In 2004, over 1,000 people were killed.

We were warned about the excessive heat, traffic, beggars and the hassles. When we disembarked, the dock had some icky black substance that stuck to our feet and tracked into the bus. Those who visited temples, removed their shoes, then found themselves walking through residue. They had to throw their socks away. Our neighbor said he got up in the middle of the night to clean his shoes because the smell was so bad.

We were still unprepared for the culture shock. The traffic was unbelievable , we marveled that there were not more accidents. We spent most of our time in the air conditioned coach on our tour. We stopped only once for some shopping. This was in an upscale store where we were met at the door and followed all through the store. The tour busses that drove closer to the temples for a visit ended up being delayed by traffic. One bus tried to go close to a church, found the street barricaded and were stuck there for an hour. Things that stood out were the decay of the buildings, trash everywhere, dirt sidewalks and lack of maintenance everywhere. The port was the dirtiest we have visited and was most unorganized. Due to poor planning the busses were unable to leave the port, with vehicles trying to go all directions with continual horn honking. (See the jammed up busses in a posted picture.

3-16-08 Mumbai, India, Population 18 million formerly Bombay

We were up at 5:30 and ready to go through the immigration procedure at 6:30. The procedure was efficient unlike Chinai. Also different from Chinai, the deck was clean even though it appeared to lack paint and maintenance.

We were standing on our deck waiting to be called for our tour when we saw the ambulance pull up. A passenger a few cabins from us had died. He is the second death since departure and younger than most of us. The average age on ship is 75. He was very heavy and diabetic. He was cremated in Mumbai and his wife picked up the ashes and continued the cruise.

Our tour was the highlights of Mumbai, starting with city’s most famous landmark the Gateway of India archway, built in 1911. See the picture that is posted. Tourists were walking around in a large area. A little boy with a snotty nose and filthy, 4 or 5 years old attached himself to Jack’s trousers, pointing at his mouth. You feel like crying for them, but we had been warned that if we give to one we will soon have a crowd around us. When our bus stopped anywhere, the beggars and people peddling approached even in traffic. Our tour director told us some of the children were abandoned. They sometimes leave girl babies on the street. Fifty percent of the population, 18 million, are below the poverty level. The population is more than that of our three largest cities in the United States combined.

We visited the Prince of Wales Museum, but the most interesting was a museum which is a memorial to the famous leader of non-violent cooperation, Mahatma Gandhi., There were dioramas of the pivotal points of Gandhi’s life. We will post an example picture. Another colorful photo opportunity was the dhobi ghats, where laundry from all over Mumbai is brought to be soaped soaked, boiled and beaten. It looked like the way they were beating the clothing, the buttons and any trim would be ruined. The workers stand in the water in tubs and hit the clothing with sticks or beat on the sides of the tubs. (See picture)

The Victoria Terminus railway station is a conglomeration of domes, spires and columns. The first train in India left from this station in 1853; now, half a million commuters pass through the station every day.

Our tour bus continued on to the Hanging Gardens which was adjacent to seven towers called The Towers of Silence. According to our tour guide and other information we read, when the people die, they are placed in the towers for the vultures to devour. The bones are usually picked clean in 4 to 5 hours, the bones are ground and returned to the earth, body fluids are drained into filters so they can be reused. However; this is not happening as much today because of a shortage of vultures. The vultures were eating animals which had consumed pesticides and are dying off.

Day 2 at Mumbai (Bombay)

Paul Phelps a friend and the two of us walked to the gate to find a cab. Both guys had trouble folding their long legs into the small Fiat cab. We asked to be taken to the Crawford Market, but the driver suggested another. He took us through parts of town that were not pretty. Some shacks with piles of trash were sandwiched between shops. We didn’t like any place he showed us, so he took us to Crawford Market and didn’t charge us more, only $5.00.

Crawford Market goes for many blocks and has everything imaginable, even monkeys. We didn’t go to the pet area as we were told it could be very disturbing. This market was next to the Thieves Market. It is joked that what is for sale there has been stolen. Upon arriving at the market, we were assigned a guide who could take us where we could find what we were interested in. He also helped us cross the street which was quite a challenge. We found a nice place for shirts , drugstore and a place to buy decorative pillow covers.

We’ve had multiple notes since we left reminding us to turn our clocks back an hour, but we were surprised that the last two time changes have been in 30 minute increments. Today as we leave India for Oman we set our clock back 30 minutes. We are now 13 hours ahead of central time in the U.S.

We have included a picture of a cooking demonstration which was presented on a sea day. The last two demos have been on Indian cooking and mostly vegetarian. We have many new recipes to take home and try.

Chenai

2008-03-16T10:29:00.000-05:00

Chenai

2008-03-16T10:28:00.001-05:00

Chenai: Street Scene Showing Damage from Tsunami

2008-03-16T10:25:00.000-05:00

Chenai: Man doing wash

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Chanai: Little girl waving to the bus from her home

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Cooking Demonstration on Ship

2008-03-16T10:19:00.000-05:00

Merlion the Trademark Symbol of Singapore

2008-03-16T10:16:00.000-05:00

Cable Cars We Rode to the Island of Sentosa

2008-03-14T02:33:00.000-05:00

Botanical Garden in Singapore

2008-03-14T02:31:00.000-05:00

2008-03-08T20:46:00.000-06:00

SINGAPORE, REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

Singapore, an island country and the smallest country in Southeast Asia, is located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. When Singapore acquired independence, having few natural resources, it was economically underdeveloped. Foreign investment and rapid government-led industrialization has since created an economy which relies on exports of electronics and manufacturing primarily from its port. Singapore has the highest standard of living in Asia, and is ranked 11th in the world and is the 22nd wealthiest country. As a result of efforts to control motorized traffic, the maintenance of natural greenery, strict regulations on industrial locations and emissions,,Singapore has been able to control its pollution levels.

We noticed that most cars are new. That is because the people can only keep a car for 10 years. First they must pay for an entitlement and there are only so many entitlements to cut down on the traffic. Cars are expensive, $52,000 for a Toyoto Corolla and $368,000 for a Mercedes. We asked what they do with the old cars and were told they would be exported to New Zealand and other countries.

Eighty-three percent of Singapore’s population live in government constructed housing. An average place, 3 bedroom, may be between $230,000 and $280,000. They pay 20% down then make payments at 2.65% interest. If single they have to be 35 to buy, if a couple they have to be married. The private homes range in the five to ten million range. The government encourages taking care of the elderly. If a couple will live close to the parents, the government gives them $3,000.00 and a $30,000 tax credit which reduces their income tax credit for several years. The same party has been in power for 40 years. The Prime Minister is paid 3.5 million a year and the department heads 1.5 million.

The average age to marry is 27 for female and 35 for the male. Couples were waiting longer for a family and having only 1.2 children on the average. The government encourages more babies and pays $3,000 for the first baby and a tax rebate of $10,000. If the parents open up a savings account for the baby the government will match dollars for up to $8,000. The third child rebate is $20,000.

Education is not free but inexpensive and the government schools are quite good. When we took our tour, the places we visited were filled with the students who were on field trips their last day of school before a holiday. The students all wear uniforms.

Health care is not free, but subsidized from 55 to 80 percent. There is no Social Security but money is accumulated from salaries in a fund.

Singapore’s rules are tough, but clear. Jaywalkers are fined on the spot. Litter and you pay and convicted drug traffickers can expect to earn a death sentence. The city is very clean, the streets and buildings are cleaner than any Western city. Unlike other large cities, you can walk fearlessly in Singapore at any time day or night.

Singapore is just 90 miles north of the equator, the climate is tropical but the pace is anything but relaxed. Our tour leader told us there were 4 seasons, summer, summer, summer and summer. It is the time for winter and it is 85 degrees. More than 4,000,000 people live on the big island and there are 14 major nationalities. Most people belong to one of several Chinese groups.

We went on a tour that showed us highlights of Singapore. We boarded the air conditioned coach to drive through the heart of old Singapore. We disembarked several times to walk the tidy streets to view the historic Colonial District. We photographed the gold domed Sultan Mosque and the gemstone handicraft factory. Finally we visited the National Orchid Garden to see the largest orchid display in the world, featuring more than 60,000 plants.

We had two tours in one day, the second being a night safari. It is not an ordinary zoo with lights but is set in 98 acres of dense secondary forest. The night safari offered a unique experience of observing wildlife in a tropical jungle at night. There were subtle lights that enabled us to view the 1,000 nocturnal animals in vast natural habitats. Our viewing was from an open air slow moving tram.

The second day in Singapore we were on our own. We spent the morning trying to work on our blog. The internet service on ship is sometimes very frustrating. We gave up and left the ship about 11:00 and took a cable car over to Sentosa Island. Sentosa is a popular island resort in Singapore which features a beautiful sheltered beach, golf courses and two five star hotels. We walked around for about three hours and enjoyed the beautiful plants and flowers.

Nhung's mother and brother

2008-03-08T20:42:00.000-06:00

Motor bikes at the light in Saigon

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Halong Bay Shopping with Jack

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Halong Bay Skyline

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Grandpa and kids at the village home

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Rural Village Home with pigs

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Shoes at the Market

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Dynang Market Exotic fruits

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2008-03-08T20:19:00.000-06:00

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong Bay features some of Vietnam’s prettiest scenery. Because of the beauty of the bay, which features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes, it has been made a UNESCO World Heritage site. During the Vietnam War, many of the channels between the islands were heavily mined by the navy of the U.S., some of which pose a threat to shipping to this day.

We did not sign up for a tour here, but rather just went ashore and did some shopping. There were many, many stands close to the pier and the prices were very reasonable.

The entertainment that night was pretty special as a gymnast who was a two-time Olympic team member and a member of the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame, Lance Ringnald put on a performance. We also had another show put on by the Filipino crew. It was fun to see the front desk girls, our plumber, even a doctor on board sing, dance and entertain.

Da Nang, Vietnam

Da Nang is a major port city in the south-central coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea. During the Vietnam War the city was home to a major American air base. The city’s economy is based primarily on seafood export, tourism and furniture, household goods and clothing production. They export many millions of dollars worth of goods to the U. S.

On our tour, we were driven through the center of Da Nang, and past some of the city’s colonial style buildings for a brief stop at the local market. The market was amazing, very large. The lower level was fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meats etc. Upon going upstairs, we were awed by the vast number of shoes and clothing, but no time to buy as this was just a walk through. We did return later in the afternoon.

The coach then took us to the rural area to visit a local village community. We enjoyed a walk through the village, shaded from the sun by a canopy of bamboo thickets, passing local homes, vegetable and fruit gardens and a village temple. We met many children walking on the road. They were returning home from school in their navy and white uniforms. We were told they attend school for half a day. They knew how to say “hello” and were very friendly. We were taken into a home where grandma and grandpa were baby sitting with two children. There was a very ornate altar which took up quite a lot of space. Our guide said the altars are not for a particular religion but just to honor the ancestors. We were allowed to walk all through the house. There was a pot on hot coals at the back of the house. The lady showed me what was cooking. I thought it looked delicious, then I found out it was for the two pigs in a pen nearby.

Before returning to the ship, we visited the Cham Museum which houses a collection of Cham ethnic artifacts, as well as an extensive collection of sculptures and history of the Cham people.

Phu My, Vietnam

We docked early at Phu My, Vietnam which is the gateway to Ho Chi Minh city. Ho Chi Minh is the largest city in Vietnam and is located near the Mekong River Delta. The city was known as Saigon until the end of the Vietnam War. In 1975, Saigon was renamed to Ho Chi Minh city.

The tour we chose was the transfer to Saigon. The trip of 60 miles took 2 ½ hours as the road was packed with motorcycles and bicycles.

Our daughter in-law has family in Saigon. Nhung’s brother, Theing and mother met us with a large bouquet of flowers. They introduced us to some of the major highlights of the city. We were glad they were with us especially when it came to crossing the street. We walked through and around an endless stream of bicycles, cyclos and motor bikes.

We were enthralled with the market and all the fresh produce including exotic fruits and vegetables particular to the region. In addition to fruits and vegetables, we could buy clothing, jewelry etc. etc. We enjoyed many little shops, including one with hand embroider pictures where we made a purchase.

Theing and his mother took us to the Windsor Hotel for sumptous Vietnamese food. When the waitress saw how awkward I was with chopsticks, she brought us forks.

We met our bus at 4:00 p.m. and made our way back to the ship through the maze of motor bikes and bicycles.

Night Skyline from our Veranda

2008-03-01T00:18:00.000-06:00