Gregg Michel, President of Crystal Cruises

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

@sea enroute to Nagasaki, Japan

Today was a sea day and it was just what I needed.  I was not feeling well yesterday my asthma was acting up so after our tour we came back I took my predisone and antibiotic and climbed into bed at 3pm.  We had dinner sent to the room and I stayed there until 9am this morning.

I needed to be well since last week we received an invitation to have dinner in Prego (Italian Restaurant on board) with Mr. Gregg Michel the President of Crystal Cruises.

He joined the ship in Beijing and today he gave a lecture about what is happening with the ships and unveiled the 2015 World Cruise.  He had a question and answer session also.  

Dinner tonight was a table of 8.  3 other couples and a single man.  At times the conversation got heated about smokers vs no smokers.  When all was set and done.  Gregg thanked me for being the "voice of reason".  

We had a set menu  appetizer was a choice of seafood or buffalo mozzerala with tomatoes and balsamic 

Followed by their famous cream of mushroom soup in a bread bowl

Main course was a choice of a fish or rack of lamb.

The wine was flowing as was the conversation.  He is a lovely man and we did enjoy our evening.

Tomorrow we will be in Nagasaki Japan

We did cancel our tour to Tokyo from Osaka but will go to Koyoto.  

Not sure when internet will be back up so I am rushing to get this done.

Will be in touch when I can

Good night and God Bless

Entrance to the Serenity Garden

I wanted to just sit here and relax it was so peaceful

Becky caught up to me and had to try the swing we both agreed we wanted to stay there

Tea Museum

green tea

 Tuesday, March 27, 2012
 Jeju Island, Korea

 Today we were in Jeju Island Korea and we had a tour booked.  It took us first to the mystery road.  The road looks like it is up hill but the bus turned off it's engine and we coasted.  The road is really down hill but looks opposite!  It was a mystery!  After that stop we headed to the Serenity Gardens.  It was very pretty and extremely peaceful.  I found a wonderful swing with a waterfall behind me and just couldn't resist sitting there.  I would have stayed the whole time there!  Liann, The ship's photographer came by and took a picture then Bill took one then Becky said with me and Bill took one then I hope Becky got the one of both of us because it isn't on my camera.  It was a great serene place, beautiful blue skies and the weather was warming up in the 50's a beautiful day here in So. Korea.

Our next and final stop was to the O'sulloc Tea Museum and it was suppose to be shaped like a tea pot unfortunately my mind did not see it.  Anyway we tasted their Green Tea and Bill had green tea ice cream.  We did get a great picture of their green tea jelly roll cake.  Next it was back to the bus.  Our guide told us they have over 200 museums.  Well I was reading signs and I saw one "Sex and Health Museum,  And Chocolate Museum.  Wish I had more time to check out those two!
It was a great day in Jeju Island, So. Korea,
We have set sail and are on our way to Nagasaki, Japan the day after tomorrow on Thursday.  We are still approximately 12 hours ahead of you guys.
WE WILL NOT HAVE INTERNET FROM MARCH 29-APRIL 2 SO I WILL NOT BE BLOGGING OR ON FACEBOOK.  THIS IS A JAPANESE LAW AND NO CASINO EITHER.  IF YOU DON'T HEAR FROM ME ON APRIL 3RD IT MEANS I JUMPED OVERBOARD FROM INTERNET WITHDRAWAL.........

Shuttle Stop 

Never saw these fish with these tails

Family have lunch on the street

Is she not the most precious thing you have ever seen?

Monday March 26, 2012

Busan, S. Korea

Today we are in Busan, S. Korea.  We were suppose to be in Seoul but because of Obama and other world leaders being there for a summit we were preempted!  So they took us to Busan.  It is a fair size city and everyone we spoke to who understood us was very nice. I went into one shop and the women did not speak English but she looked at me and said 

"American".

We were still recouping from our Beijing adventure and since our tour was cancelled for Seoul we decided not to book a tour but to just take the shuttle bus into town.

We walked around the fish market.  I must say I didn’t eat fish before but after seeing some of these fish I will never ever eat it again!!!!!  Some looked like a snake with a fish body and snake tails.  We then walked all around the markets.  I felt like I was in Chinatown in NY so we headed back to the shuttle.

We got back to the ship had lunch up in the Trident grill and decided to relax until this evening.

The ship did offer a 13 1/2 hour tour by bullet train to Seoul for a limited number of people but we are still tired from Beijing and we were worried that the traffic might be a nightmare.  We are use to NY traffic when heads of countries come to the UN and everything becomes a nightmare so we decided to take it easy!

Tomorrow we are going to the island of Jeju and we do have a tour planned.

My asthma is kicking up a combination of the pollution in China, the cold weather and over exertion so I have started on my predisone to try to fight it off before it gets too bad!  I sound worse than I feel. But don't want that to change!

Tonight there is an early show at 7pm for the late seating guests and then an evening at the Savoy in the Crystal Cove with the Orchestra and Karen singing so that should be great.

Hope all is well with you we are truly enjoying our trip!

People out and about in Temple of Heaven Park. Some were exercising, playing cards and doing all kinds of fun things

Me trying this exercise bike like equipment with Steve right at my side helping me on!

Bill stretching

Temple of Heaven

Altar

Bill and other guests learning Tai Chi

Beijing Day 3 Saturday March 24, 2012

Temple of Heaven

This morning we had breakfast with Becky.  It is the first time we have seen here since we left the ship!  After breakfast, Becky went to meet her bus and we headed up to our room to put on our long john pants, get our suitcase and jackets.  We were suppose to meet our guide Steve at 9:00am in the lobby.  We headed down around 8:40am and there he was.  I swear he slept there.  Everyday he has been there early!

We got into the car and headed to the Temple of Heaven.  This is not a Buddhist temple but a temple that the Emperor had built to pray for a good harvest.  It is huge.  There is a huge park all around the temple and being Saturday people where out in droves.  

They have all kinds of activities.  Seniors were learning dancing, other places, people were singing lots of card playing, dominoes and even Mah jong.  The younger people were playing tennis, badmitton and a game like soccer but with something that looked like a birdie!

There are all exercise equipement for the people to get fit.  They pay $15 a year and go whenever.

I tried one machine which was like a walking, skiing machine.  Steve helped me on that was a hoot but it was fun.  Bill tried a few of the other machines.  We walked all around the park the into the temple that was built in 1420.  It was really something!  Unbelievable how they built things back then.  We walked all around the temple then back to the park where the Crystal people were just getting to and they had a Tai Chi demonstration and we got to try.  At this point I was really starting to hurt so I asked if we could just go back to the ship and skip the lunch.   Bill was getting hungry so we went to lunch.  It took 1 1/2 hours with the traffic to get to the hotel for lunch.  The pier was a little over 2 hours away.  We could have been to the ship and have an american lunch.  I have had so much Chinese food, some good some yucky I am starting to look Asian.  Anyway we had the lunch buffet at one of the leading hotels and most of the food was yes you guessed it   Chinese.  So I had a salad and bread.  We left there and were back on the ship by 3pm.  We did think we were going to be killed right near the pier.  I was reading and all of a sudden our driver who was going 80 mph swerved to avoid something that flew off the back of a military truck in front of us.  I looked up in time to see the guard rail so close I held my breath.  Our driver did great never even blinked and we were soon going about like nothing happened.

When our driver stopped the car he helped me out and I gave him a very generous tip.  This man helped me in and out of the car and by the end of the day he could see that I was hurting and he would actually lift my legs into the car before I tried to pick them up.  He was wonderful!

Our guide Steve was another God-Send.  He was right there helping me on all the stairs, walkways and what not  He was fabulous and we learned a lot from him.

We got back to the pier and it was a very large long walk terminal.  Steve walked in with us toting our suitcase and our green Crystal bag and there were all the Crystal people waiting with wheelchairs.  Bill gave Steve a very generous tip and he was sad to see us go.  He gave us his email if we come back or know anyone coming.  I would recommend him highly.  One of the Prego waiters wheeled me to the ship.  Another crew member took the suitcase and Bill walked along.  As we got on the ship it was so touching it brought tears to your eyes.  All the crew were lined up both sides of the entrance and yelling welcome home.  We were greeted with cold towels and hugs.  They deposited us at our cabin and we immediately unpacked.  I ran to the laundry room.  Too late all the machines were taken.  No problem I will do it tonight when the old people are in bed!

We did not know what to expect from China.  Bill does not like Hong Kong so he thought China might be like that.  We were told it is very polluted.  Well maybe the high winds helped but the last two days we had sunny, blue skies.  The people were very friendly and extremely proud of their country!  China has been the highlight of this trip!

Today was a nice relaxing sea day.  Other than my memoir writing class I did absolutely nothing else today!  This evening we had a cocktail party with our travel agency and then Augusto made us a Caesar Salad and his famous pasta. Our senior waiter Chetan climbed the wall but fell in the kitchen today at lunch and hurt his knee so he is out poor guy and our waiter Javier is still not feeling well and I made him promise me he would go see the doctor!  I feel like I am their mother!  Someone has to watch over them after all they take such good care of us!  Had a great dessert and I am ready to call it a night  Tomorrow we will be in Busan, S. Korea.  We were suppose to go to Seoul Korea but the port changed the security because of the summit.  Most world leaders including our President will be in Seoul.  Some of the people are taking the 13 1/2 hour trip by bullet train.  Not us we are going to relax  we might take the shuttle bus or just stay on the trip.  We will be in another part of S. Korea the next day and we have a tour planned.

We also cancelled our trip to Tokyo.  Not going to push it.  But I must say.  The overland adventure to Beijing was part of the price of the cruise but I opted to pay more for a private car, driver and guide and it was the best thing I have ever spent money on.  It worked out so well for me.  No rushing and we were always way ahead of the busses so we did not have the crowds.

Crystal also had busses going just to the wall for the crew. Half went the first day and half went the second day.  We were told about 120 people opted to remain on board for one reason or another.  Some have been here many times before and some just felt that it was to strenuous for them.  So all the crew couldn't go together!  Our headwaiter, senior waiter and stewardess all went and were happy our waiter Javier is not feeling well so he did not go.

Crystal did a wonderful job the busses held 60 people and they only put 30 on each bus.  The hotels were great, tours great and the dinner in the Great Hall of the People was fantastic.

Great Job Crystal Again.  A special thanks to James (Shore Excursion Manager) and his team.  It is not easy moving 800 people to all these places and making it seem effortless!

Our first stop up the wall we went up to the third tower.  I made it almost to the third and had to stop!  It was freezing and so windy!!!!

To show you the distance between towers and it was a long way up to the first tower.

Steve helping me down as  I was like a runnaway train from the wind!

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House we visited.  Much bigger than in Dalian this is half the room

Women who owned the house

The impressive stairway at the Great Hall (Steve found the elevator for me)

Olympic Torch tower

 The Great Wall 
Beijing, Friday , March 23, 2012. 

We had a 6:30 wake up call as we needed to be ready for 8:30 pick up.  It is cold but beautiful blue sky and sunny today first time we have seen the sun since before hong kong .  They had a lovely buffet breakfast and then we donned our silk long johns, socks, jackets ,gloves, hats and scarves and met our guide Steve in the lobby.  

We are being driven around in a VW Passat and there is a lot of room in the back for our legs.  It is nice and comfortable.  We headed out and sat in New York Rush hour traffic.  Steve explained all about the wall as we drove and pointed things out.  It is only like 70 km but takes over an hour due to traffic.  Before  long we could see part of the wall as our excitement grew.  We were dropped off by a hotel/gift shop to use the rest rooms.  Long line and by the time we came out the buses that left 1/2 hour before us arrived.  We started to climb and it was very windy and steep.  I made it to the first watch tower and was gasping but I rested and we headed to the next one.  I got 3/4 of the way up and just ran out of steam but I went further than a lot of the people so it was great.  Bill continued up and thank God Steve was going to help me to the first watch tower.  The wind now was at my back and sooooooo strong I was like a run away train he had to grab on to me and hold on tight.  I later learned our friend Joe, fell and broke his arm so I am so thankful for Steve.  I had to stand in the corner and wait it was so windy. 

I was so proud of myself. I DID IT!!!!!!!  Bill  said  he almost went flying down also it was so windy.  It was a long walk down steps, hills and whatnot.  When we got down we went into the store and I was so exhausted I didn't even look.  Bill got a coffee and I sat.  We had our picture taken at the wall and it was put into a book for us and while Bill had coffee Steve went and got our book.  All too soon we were back in the car and headed away from the wall.  Oh I want to come back when it is warmer!  

We were taken for lunch in a small private room where the people who had the private tours were.  Regis and his wife Joy sat across from us and she asked me what we were eating and if it was good.  Today the food was great.  We had a beef soup that was really good.  Chicken with veggies and a brown sauce, fried tofu didn't like that, fried rice, vegetables with a clear sauce kinda like chow mien sauce fruit and a desser that looked like French toast but tasted different it was good.  There were two other dishes but had shrimp so we didnt have it.  Great lunch and there was a whole floor of jade products.... Very expensive boarded our car and we headed to theOlympic  village we got out and walked around a little  as our driver had to circle the block.  We then went to old town and you can not ride through with cars as the streets are so narrow so we each got on a rickshaw and had a tour through the neighborhood around the lake.  Thank goodness they had blankets it was quite cold.  We stopped and went into a private house that the women said her great grandfather bought.  There was a courtyard and what looked like the same house was actually 3 other 3 room homes.  Her children live in the others and there is a common bathroom!  Lovely lady but I never saw so many anniamls.  She had a dog, there were pigeons, crickets, cats, birds you name it.  Bill noticed trophies on the piano and asked her about them it seems the pigeons won them!  After this we made a stop at the silk market.  I actually only bought myself a doll as there was sooooo much stuff  it was overwhelming .  Plus how do I get all this crap home!  We headed back to the hotel and had an 1 and 1/2 hour turn around time until our dinner and performance at the Great hall of the people.

Wow what a place it is amazing.  Steve found the elevator as the flight of steps up was impressive.  We got a table front and center.  The menu was great and the shrimp and scallops looked awesome.  The Kung pao turkey was spicy but everything was very good.  

The entertainment was fabulous the orchestra played while we ate and as soon as we finished an opera singer sang then a man sang and then they did a duet.  Next came the young girls dancing.  It was so cool.  Then came a traditional dance and after all that the little girls came out they were so adorable but the best was the young boys and adult men who did the Kung fu.  As soon as the last performer left the stage there was Steve to take my arm and get us down to the car.  Our driver was waiting on the steps to help me down into the car and while they were loading buses we were on our way and back to the hotel .  Steve suggested that we check out tonight as all 300 world cruisers will be checking out tomorrow.  That done we just have to drop the key at the desk on our way out....

Tomorrow the temple of heaven then the 2 1/2 hr trip back to the port.

Beijing looks like Vegas at night all lit up.  Bill just came up from the cigar lounge and said good thing we checked out when we did there was a huge line already tonight.

Olympic Torch

Cube (Swimming pool)

Us in the Rickshaw  They took us all around old town Beijing around a lake and we had a visit to a private house.

This day has been unbelievable.  Another goal I get to check off my bucket list and I can't wait to see Dr. Lacognata to thank him for my new hip so that I was able to walk.  I am ready to collapse but I am like the energizer bunny and will keep going!

Soldiers in Tiananmen Square

Soldier Tiananmen Square

Forbidden City

Plate from the Ming Dynasty.  My mother had a ming vase and would love this.

Bill and I Forbidden City

large stone carving

This is called the marriage tree in the gardens of the Forbidden City .  See the two trees are holding hands~

Tiananmen Square

Us at Tiananmen Square

Beijing,.Thursday, March 22, 2012

On way to Beijing  chaos as we were not cleared by Chinese immigration and the lines were insane.  Long wait finally got off the ship and what a walk almost as long as Singapore .  As I walked a few feet there was one of the bellhops coming my way with an empty wheelchair so they took me out and Bill was waiting with the guide.  Bring on Beijing!  Just found out they have a bullet train and you can be there in 29 minutes if we knew that we would have done that, instead of a 2 1/2 hr car ride.

Well I have peed in enough holes in the ground thank u very much.  It was an easy ride and we arrived at the hotel for lunch 40 minutes before the first bus.  Had lunch and headed to the Forbidden city.  Man this place is huge 9999 rooms and I swear we saw 9990 of them.  We saw all the ceramic ware my mother would have loved it!  Then we saw the wedding room the throne room etc.  the forsythia was blooming as well as the cherry blossoms .  I am exhausted up and down steps walking all around. But it was definetely worth seeing.  It was extraordinary!   Next stop Tiananmen square . All the government buildings are around here and they have these huge tv screens where they show all different parts of China.  There was a huge police and military presence here.  Just found out that Facebook, Google, Twitter and You Tube are baned in China.  I only have my IPAD so I will not be able to post this till we get back to the ship.    Walked all around there then ahh hotel time to relax.  Tonight 

Bill picked the Chinese restaurant in the hotel hopefully there will be something for me to eat.

There was a set menu it started off with the chef's signature platter had shrimp on it.  Next was the wok fried shrimp with sweetened walnuts then came the braised pork spare ribs in special sauce followed by shredded bean curd soup braised with shrimp, Jinhua ham, egg and veggies.

Next course wok fried shredded beef with black bean sauce.  Then hold onto your hats......DEEP FRIED CRISPY PIGEON!!!!!!!!!s

Followed by deep fried crispy croaker, sautéed veggies, fried rice "Yang Zhou" style, fresh fruit.

Bill and I passed and ordered off the regular menu.  Sweet and sour pork for me that was delicious. Bill had Peking duck said it was great and we both had steamed rice.  That was an adventure!!!,, PIGEON.   YUCk!well time to hit the hay as we have an early morning. Start

Great wall here we come!