Cambodia
Arriving in Cambodia we disembarked and took the shuttle bus to Sihanoukville and as we entered the square still on the bus we were surrounded by street sellers running along with the bus!!We ventured into the market and what a hive of activity! Beggars were sat in the aisles in the crowded place All sorts of wares were on selling including live fish/crabs/yabbi,s/shrimps something that looked like worms,Clothing,jewellery.you name it and it could be bought.Sihanoukville is very dirty and smelly methinks the cleanest places are the rubbish bins IF they can be found !! After lunch we sat in the library while I updated blog material and Annie is reading her Ebooks.The night time show was a DULCIMER Player (allright if you like that stuff for an hour ,we did,nt ) Glenn the pianist was in great form as usual and we finished the night with friends in the Crows Nest
Laem Chabang
Docked in Laem Chabang then we caught a Taxi for 10 (cheaper by the bigger numbers!) into Pattaya in Thailand .Taxis were expensive from the Boat as the Taxi Owners had the dock monopoly BUT was cheaper on the way back as we hired our own.Very hot and we spent the days bargain hunting ( I did not buy BUT Annie did plenty!) Food was cheap and the beach front was very busy and lots of very senior Australians were spotted walking hand in hand (methinks tis the only way these young ladies can escape poverty ! although a few return with their older partners to Australia,where upon they will be granted Australian Citizenship after 2 years ! and hopefully when the older mans leaves this planet all his wordly wealth will stay with his partner ) Bartered the Taxi driver and was charged a minimal fee back to the boat !) The cabin lad has made a magnificent Monkey from towels and hung it from our cabin light,delightful !! Ship docked here for 2 days in the evening had a nice chatty boozy night in the Crows nest with fellow travellors Paul & Jill
Docked at Nah Trang
Better night still a bit off colour tho.After breakfast we took a trip into Nha Trang ,very busy town with lots of hawkers pestering the lives out of us .We eventually took a rickshaw ride long the very misty beach front .The sands dipped very steeply into the sea.Back at the Ship lots of traders were selling their cheap wares and of course Annie bought lots !We unashamedly slept for a couple of hours in the afternoon .Annie yet again walked me for miles around the town looking for more elusive markets. Night time we met up with the other pals and watched Paula (who was guesting in our Group !) in the Theatre Room doing Tina & Cher impressions and she was very good after the show we went onto the Piano Bar and had a good session on trivia with John the Jugggler the nominated Captain and yet another boozy session …Next day was another Sea Day,mooched around the ship generally relaxing and of course lots more eating !! Evening we were entertained by The Opera Boys,John the Juggler he and his lovely partner Annika (apologies if I got that wrong) are now heading home to Germany, and a Chinese classical Pianist who was really good BUT not my idea of a Cruise Entertainer.Some of our group are slowly missing the odd nights boozing and having early nights (saving the strength for NYE)
Day 15
Day at Sea
Had breakfast and attended a very informative computer session learning how to make video/slide shows After dinner we attended a show and it was good fun ,the singer Paula impersonated Cher & Tina Turner.Our group then entered a musical quiz and we scored very well but didn,t win.Late night found us once more in the Crows Nest but I managed just one drink and retired early coz of my cold and left ANNIE in the safe hands of our group..
Boxing Day 2013
After breakfast we caught the bus into Da Nang (our next Port call) and did the usual shopping followed at times by lots of Vendors Alan & June tagged along The shops were mainly for women & children and stores were packed with goods giving Annie a good chance to vent her bargaining skills We arrived back on board and after lunch went in the hot tub and a swim (very refreshing) the singers from last nights show (The Opera Boys) were in the pool and I had a good chat session with them ( one from Leeds and the other from Lancaster ) We went to the first show and it was very disappointing..so we left and headed for our cabin Iwas feeling very sick with a runny nose and told Annie to head off to the Crows Nest without me BUT followed a bit later.Night time wasn,t very good and I went thru a box of tissues
Xmas Day and a Merry One to one n all
Woke up around 9.30 am and off to see Father Christmas,s arrival in the Show Theatre .Egg Nog was freely handed around and to see the kids (didnt realize there were so many on board) looking very happy on his arrival getting a present from the great man himself was a joy to watch We sat next to a couple of Senior ladies from Adelaide and had a bit of a giggle with them.After the show we ambled off to the Lido and started chatting with the Juggler from last night shows.He and his partner were very entertaining IF you get the chance to see him in action John Nations is the name and will always give you the time of the day.Originally we went for a quick cuppa BUT the chat was very easy and pleasant and went for around 2 hours!
We all did a bit of balancing using various parts of our face and co;dinners enjoyed the impromptu show. Annie has now gone off to get information on our next land visit via a seminar (there are lots of different seminars going on daily and can be quite interesting) Time is passing so quickly on this trip and we have yet (hopefully) to meet more interesting people in coming days .Mid afternoon we went for tea on Xmas day and were treated to an amazing assortment of cakes.In the evening we were entertained by 2 English lads introduced as the Opera Boys and they were excellent from Bring him Home to the great Nessum Dorma Then after that show we once again attended the Piano Bar for another Xmas Sing Song.Later we got together with our ever growing group that has now reached 12! Because were were drinking quite a lot of alcohol Happy Hour was extended by half an hour and our Xmas Party finally finished at 1.30 am !! Fantastic night
Xmas Eve in Ha Long
The clocks were moved back by one hour and after breakfast we boarded the Tender for our first stop at Halong Bay for a quick look before our booked afternoon trip. Brian the Yorkie stopped by to apologise for being rude last night I quickly dismissed that simply because he was quite funny with his lovely partner Charlotte keeping him in check most of the evening The stay in Ha Long was short and sweet as there was not too much to see except taxi drivers and motor bike hirers.We settled for relaxing morning by the pool and were joined by Alan and June ,he promptly showed us a video of his wife in a very drunken state !! very funny BUT not for June. We boarded our Junk at 1.30 and headed for the Islands and what an awesome trip it was ! We were first taken into a very spectacular cave after climbing 100,s of steps yet again !It was HUGE and I have seen caves of the world but nothing like this one !!Next was a trip around part of the 1000 islands and it was breath taking !Dotted around the islands were fishing boats tied together to form villages, a sight to see.The junk we were on was used like a Dodgem Car when berthing . As we were travelling to the islands small boats came alongside trying to sell their fruit wares by knocking on the outside window holding very young children (who were very cute and methinks used to encourage passengers to buy !) Annie bought quite a few souvenirs,all at very knock down prices because she is very good at at bartering ! On return to the boat we had dinner and Annie had one of her famous naps then Xmas Eve !! First stop was the Piano Bar and a Christmas Carol sing song that was really good followed by a show where the perfomance by a juggler John Nations and he was great to watch Merry Xmas to all…Our group has now grown to 8 strong and we celebrated Xmas Eve in The Crows Nest and had another great boozy night that ended around 2 am !
At Sea today heading for our first Port
Up late 9.30 am had breakfast,sharing a table with a lovely lady Doctor from Vancouver.Again the conversation flowed especially after me asking for advice on my medical condition (Only kidding Jayne we spoke about all topics EXCEPT medical matters,which must have been a relief for Dr Pat) Today will be spent at Sea arriving at our destination tomorrow.Currently sat in the Sun Lounge by the Pool relaxing. Went to a Windows workshop on how to edit pictures via Photo Gallery..instructor at times regimented but good valuable tips taken on board.Lunch fruit and ice cream because I,m cutting down. Afternoon saw Annie sleep for 4 hours and we watched a movie from the Boats extensive library.After a “light” dinner we sat in the Piano Bar for a drink and watched the excellent pianist strutting his stuff.We met up with 2 other couples PLUS a reserve couple on the next table.The table was at one time FULL of wine and beer (not a drop wasted !) and we had such a great night a repeat is in order
Leaving Hong Kong on a High
Spoilt once again for breakfast but we managed,currently sat in the library in wonderful surrounding transfering Blog material from my Galaxy Tablet to my Laptop (Annie is catching up with clothes washing !) After lunch we had to do a passport inspection in order we can get Visa,s for up coming countries.We sat on the deck of the Crows Nest savouring the majestic views of the Hong Kong harbour and met up with passengers Martin and Hazel who remained our companions throughout the voyage before I decided to have a nap whilst Annie went to Tai Chi.Mandatory Life Saving Drill held at 5pm IF a person does NOT attend their cruise is instantly terminated . We attended how to use a digital camera seminar and showed basic use,short,but to the point information.After dinner we attended the live Hits of Broadway show that proved to be quite good..followed by a session in the Piano bar watch the excellent pianist strut his stuff. Free raffles held in the Casino but NO winner for us..The Crows nest was a good evening spent with fellow travellers Alan & June once again we were there for Happy Hour simply because the prices are so good.During the day I absolutely pigged out and in future I need to cut down .Good conversation was the order of the day and the music was from the 60,s.A rather large Australian chatted to use and he made very good use of the Happy Hour ! BUT he was very friendly (and probably lonely) apparently lives near my daughter in Ocean Reef
First Day on the The Vollendam
Early Breakfast then Taxi to the ship Volendam where embarkation proved to be very quick.Our cabin stewardYardi introduced himself and we familiarized ourselves with our cabin with a huge porthole (lovely) Luggage arrived THEN disaster no 2 !! SOMEONE had locked the case keys inside the case !! Maintenance were called but after an hour no one came,so after some extra effort on my behalf I forced one open that had the keys in with very minimal damage and all was OK once again SO we ventured out ona reccy of the boat and came across a FREE ice cream parlour ( Nooooo) I have told Annie this will be out meeting point should we lose each other and I have told her not to panic finding me !! The foodhall has a great mouth watering selection of foods and is a great alternative to the “posh” restaurant We walked for miles exploring this wonderful but old boat and we are happy with the whole set up. Dinner was in the Restaurant and we enjoyed the spiffy meal at a table shared with a couple from Manchester (my birth place) followed by a visit to the Cinema to watch PUSH Free popcorn is offered to patrons and we were the only couple in there !! Later we caught the dying few minutes of the live show introducing the entertainers which looks quite promising in the next few days at sea.We finished the night in the Crows Nest just in time for Happy Hour where 2 drinks can be bought for just $6.25 Annie had TWO bluish strangely names cocktails and still managed to stay on her feet !! Amazingly out of nowhere a lady who had seen me on Facebook called me by name and introduced herself and partner SO nice to meet you Noelene and Geoff..Hell I even had a dance with Annie (she was so surprised with this she felt NO effect from the alcohol) looks like a good trip coming up !! Almost forgot we also attended the 7.30 Xmas tree lighting up ceremony with afew carols thrown in,finally made bed around midnight
Watch me play Didgeridoo
Geoffs Life After Work ! 