Independence Palace

Room where treaty was signed

two of the tanks that led to the fall of Saigon

Water puppet theater

Me on the pedicab my driver had a smokers cough the whole trip!

Notre Dame Church built by the French

Central Post Office

Inside Post Office use to be railroad station

One of the dances performed for us at lunch

Bill at the temple

Bill in the Pedicab

The next few pictures I call "How much can we fit on the back of our motorcycles"

32 inch flat screen tv

Ho Chi Minh City Discovery

Monday, March 5, 2012

Today we did a 7 1/2 hour tour of Ho Chi Minh City.  After our tour Bill had a better feeling for this place.  Unfortunately, yesterday we were sent to a not so nice part of town looking for cigars and Bill was not impressed but today it was so different.

We were picked up outside the ship and headed into Ho Chi Minh proper.  It is about 10 miles but takes 30 minutes due to traffic.  The Motorcycles  are 5 abreast and just keep going.  No one stops except the cars stop for red lights some cycles do also.  

Our first stop was Independence Palace.  This is where the King use to live and where 300 top army lived during the war.  It is also where Saigon surrendered.  It seems  America had given them billions of dollars plus soldiers for this war and they wanted more money.  A congressional delegation went to Saigon and Bella Abzug congresswoman from NY who always wore a hat, told them no more money more money means more lives lost so Saigon surrendered.  After walking up and down steps to go to the narrow hallways in the basement to see where the bunker was we went to the kitchen.  Okay enough of this war stuff I was thinking!  We went out and got back in our bus which went around a circle 1/2 way and stopped in front of the two tanks that helped in the fall of Saigon.  Okay  not getting off the bus to see the tanks.  Bill got off and took pictures!  We then went to the National Museum where we saw statutes from the 6 century.  Very interesting and the best part the museum was closed we were the only ones there!  Next we had a water puppet show which was really really interesting and entertaining.  After the show we exited the musuem and there were all these pedicabs for us.

My driver was smoking and coughing like crazy while I was trying to get the hell on this thing.  Bill’s driver was nice.  So off we go into this maddening traffic.  Cars, cycles, bicycles all coming at you twice I saw my life flash before me when my driver went in the wrong way lane to make a left turn and just went right in front of 2 vans and hundreds of motorcycles. As I sat in this with my hand over my eyes my thoughts were “I want she died while on a great adventure on my headstone”.  We kept going traffic as far as the eye could see,  One of the drivers spoke English so when we passed the American Embassy he pointed it out someone yelled “I don’t see the golden arches since every other place as referred to McDonald’s as the American Embassy.  Not to be shy I shouted back “No golden arches, but I almost saw the Pearly Gates”!  I will never complain about the traffic in NY again!!!!!!!!!  Our pedicab ride took us to Notre Dame Church and the Central Post Office which use to be a railroad station it was a lovely place.  After this our next stop was the Grand Hotel of Saigon since 1930 where they had a lovely buffet lunch and a Vietnamese show for us.  I must say the food last night was much much better.  This was mostly fish.  I ate stir fried veggies!!!!!  Can’t wait for dinner!

After lunch we were taken to china town. There they walked around the central market  (wholesale market)  I opted to stay on the bus where we drove around for the 20 minutes they walked.  I took all the pictures of motorcycles with so much stuff on the back.  One even had a new 32 inch flat screen tv!

After this we went to temple in Chinatown that is from the 17th century or earlier!  It was very nice.  Our next stop was Minh Phuong where they make all that lacquerware.  It was great and I bought a beautiful vase and a few other things which they are shipping!  Our last stop was the famous Rex hotel where we had a soft drink on the roof bar this is where the American generals and journalists all sat during the war.  We then returned o our home (Serenity of course).

It was a great day and we saw a lot of Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)  tomorrow we have an all day on the Mekong Delta river.  So if  I don’t post tomorrow I will post the day after.

Tonight Carol and Harold are doing the Evening in Saigon that we did last night so it will be just us for dinner again!

Really having a great time..  Got to do my hair and get ready for dinner I am starving!!!!!!!! 

Have a great day....

Bill and I at the Majestic Hotel Ho Chi Minh City

Dancers at hotel

This is called the fan dance

Menu I tried it all except for the rice pancakes

my special spring rolls minus crabmeat

Dessert the fruit was great

David and Collen singing in the Ave. Saloon it was a hoot

Ho Chi Minh City Formaly Saigon

Sunday March 4, 2012

We docked in Vietnam around 10:30 am today.  We took a shuttle into town.  We were on a quest to find this cigar store so Bill could buy some cigars.  We were dropped off by the famous Rex hotel which was where all the American Servicement and Journalist came during the war.  There was a mall and we went in.  Nothing bigger than a size 10 shoe (Bill’s a 12)  didn’t even look at the women’s clothes.  We then set off with map in had for the cigar / restaurant the Concigere found for us.  It was not in the nicer part of town and Bill kept saying this place smells..........  So after he got his cigars we started to walk back to the shuttle but stopped by a hotel instead and took a cab.  It was $10 american money not bad.  These people are terrible drivers.  The motorcycles don’t stop for red lights.  I was told you just keep walking and they work around you.  Anyway we made it back to the pier and they wouldn’t let the taxi in.  He told us it would cost $2.  so we gave him the $2 and waited. Finally a shuttle van came and we were told to get in that.  So Bill asked for his $2 back.  Most people don’t speak English and they don’t like Americans just our money.  We headed back to the ship had lunch and relaxed until it was time to go on our “Saigon by Night”

We headed down outside where there is a market set up and James said they were using vans.  He put us in the first van and it filled quickly and off it went  We had cocktails in the rooftop bar at what use to be the Rex hotel but is now the Majestic.  They put on a lovely show of dancing and music and it was much better than Indonesia where theu only knew two notes and kept repeating them all the time.

After our cocktails we came out ad got into vans and they drove us all around the city which is really pretty at night and we went to a restaurant for dinner.  It was called Manderine and I tried almost all of the dishes.  I am going to post the menu.  I eve used chop sticks!!!!!!!!  It was a great  time.  We were back to the ship at 10ish and were met by Augusto our head waiter who told us he missed us at dinner.  We then headed to the Avenue Saloon to meet up with Carol and Harold.  It was a hoping place.  David was there and I got Collin to play Happy Birthday and everyone in the place sang   it was fun but all good things must come to an end.  Bill went for his cigar, Harold has golf at 7am and we have a 7 1/2 hour tour tomorrow so I came up to work on this blog.

Tomorrow we are doing a Ho Chi Minh Discovery and I just noticed that it includes a pedicab so that should be fun.  More to follow tomorrow or nor.  We have to meet ouir friends in the Ave saloon tomorrow as they are going on the evenign in Saigon tomorrow.  

Another wonderful day.............

Going to bed have a great day

Motorcycle pulling this one too

local markets along the way

Police Escort and the motorcycle cut us off

House along way to Phenom Penh

This is on the back of a motorcycle

Royal Palace

Royal Palace

Silver Pagoda

Child holding onto the bus begging we were forbidden by the police to give them money.

motorcycle pulling this truck

Sianukville, Cambodia

Friday, March 2, 2012

Wow, what can I say we arrived in Cambodia early this am.  We got back from Bangkok and I was not feeling well, I guess the heat the exhaustion got to me so we did not even go down to dinner.  My head it the pillow and that was it but all too soon our 6:30am wake up call arrived.  We got ready and went up to the Lido for breakfast.  I think the whole ship was up there.  My stomach was still not feeling well so I opted for a small roll with butter and tea.  Don’t want to overload the stomach we have a 4 hour ride each way.

Headed out to the bus and we got settled in.  Our tour guide was adorable he told us his name but I couldn’t figure it out but he said his English name is “Lucky”  We traveled through many villages.  Had to stop to let the cows cross the road.  We saw such poverty.  Lucky told us his father died when e was young and his mother raised the 4 children alone.  The town that they lived in only one house had a bathroom or well.  He decided early on he did not want to live in poverty forever so he signed up to be a Monk.  It cost $300 which his mother had to work and slave to get for him to go to Monk school.  After a few years he left and got a job at a hotel in the capital city where we were headed Phenom Penh (pronounced  Nom Pen).  He worked very hard and then spent $1500 to get his license to be a tour guide.  He does this but is currently in the University.  He will get far as he is a go getter and speaks perfect English.  He said he watched American Idol to learn English.

Anyway on our long trip Lucky explained the history of Cambodia, the politics and spoke about the killing fields.  There was a bus going there also.  We did go through some beautiful scenery.  The highway was built by the Americans.  It is 2 lanes and you must contend with motorcycles and trucks.  You would be surprised what they put on the back of a motorcycle.  They make them into taxis, buses for local people, I even saw one carrying timber!

Halfway to Phenom Penh we stopped for what they call “Happy Room” what we call a potty break.  As we excited the bus they were handing out tissues.  Thank God for Becky she gave me a roll of Charmin to Go!  So in I went and if I could have taken a picture you all would be on the floor.  Since they don’t use toilet paper they have sprayers so the floor is all wet.  So again like in Bangkok here I am rollig the  bottom of the pants up the top of the pants down and praying they don’t fall into the water!  That major accomplishment done, we load the bus and head out to Phenom Penh all of a sudden all the buses are being pulled over.  We had three going on our tour and 1 going to the Killing Fields.  Our guide got out came back and explained that the police said we were all speeding.  Let me tell you there is no where to speed between the motorcycles, bicycles, cows, dogs I could walk faster.  All the bus drivers had to pay a fine that finds itself into the police’s pocket  (Corruption at it’s finest).  So we continue on.  “Lucky explains that they had to get special permission to use the center road and that when we got about 10 KM away we would be met by a police escort or we would never get into the city.  Sure enough each bus was given a police escort with siren blasting.  We never stopped for a light it was  great. Our first stop was the Raffles hotel same as in Singapore where we had a great buffet lunch.  They had a lot of local food but my stomach is still hurting so I don’t want to make it worse.  There were a lot of shops but I opted to sit and relax I know I must be getting old.  I am having trouble with my heel spurs so I was in pain.  When we left the hotel our police escort took us to the Royal Palace.

 We arrived at the Royal Palace and again I must quote Mel Brook’s from “The History of the World”  “It’s good to be king”.  This is the home of the silver pagoda and it was impressive.  Like any good Palace they have their own temple so we were allowed to go in there.  Oh did I mention that we were the only ones there they opened early just for us!  In the temple they have a buddha that has the biggest (real) diamonds.  Diamonds for eyes belt, necklace and the one in the middle of the forehead was a 10 carat pear shape diamond.  Not to be outdone it had two one in each palm 10 carat round diamonds on the hands.  I WANT THIS STATUE AND I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!  WE weren’t even allowed to take a picture........But they did sell postcards so I bought them.  Seeing this is to believe it.

After the Palace our police escort took us to the Royal Museum.  I decided to sit on a bench in the lobby by the fan.  Our last stop was shopping and I was not going to waste any of my energy looking at statues.  I was impressed with the city it is large and crowded like all big cities.  Lucky told us they call it Lexus city there are so many Lexus cars there.  He said there is a lot of corruption.  did I mention that our tour guide has an IPHONE!  a couple of years ago he didn’t even have a toilet!  Anyway I have never seen so much traffic we sailed through.  Our last stop and we only had 20 minutes I could have used all day to leisurely walk through instead I could only visit a few of the stalls! The Central Market.  It was huge!  I got a few scarfes and didn’t have time for anything else!  Oh well I have 2 and 1/2 days in Vietnam!!!  Bring it on.

We headed back out of town each with our own motorcycle policemen two on each.  People do not pay any attention to them it is hysterical.  Lucky asked if we wanted to see a movie i thought this would be a good idea until he put in “The Killing Fields” so I tried to sleep not happening so I watched the stupid movie!  We arrived at our “Happy stop”  It was crowded and there was only one stall open, yikes when I went in it was a ceramic hole in the ground.  Okay here we go again.  Again a big thank you to Becky charmin to go came in really handy.......

We got back in the coach and now all four buses are together and we have  a police escort to get us back to the ship a little early.  We arrived back to the ship around 8pm had just enough time to shower change and get to dinner.  Since we had not been there for 2 nights it was great to get back.  Our friends Harold and Carol took the shuttle yesterday and apparently the beggars and peddlers were banging on the bus windows so they did not get off and came right back to the bus.  We did not have that there were a few beggars outside the Royal Palace and our police chased them.  

It was a really long day and I am thrilled that today is a sea day I am not doing anything!  Unfortunately, my memoir class is cancelled for now Joe Kita who teaches it had to leave unexpectantly in Singapore as his mother is very ill and we don’t know if he will return!

We have seen so much in the last three days with much much more to go!  Elaine asked if we are halfway through the cruise not quite a few more days!!!!  

I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I am not dreaming.  

I do want to note that I HATE STEPS !!!!  But feel very blessed to be able to do this World Cruise!!!!!!!!!

We have just docked in Ho Chi Minh City and I will be going ashore soon.  We are here for three days and have a night time tour tonight.  WIll try to post about it later tonight.

Have a great day.

Temple of Dawn

Me and Buddha

Life on the River

Chao Praya River

Women going to market

Fish trying to jump into the boat

Bangkok Day 2

March 1, 2012

Today we had an early wake up call and I realized that when it was 700am in Thailand it was 7pm in NY so we were able to Skype with the kids.  I haven’t spoken to then since Newcastle Australia.  We had a lovely chat.  I had to make a decision when I got out of the sower,  Blow dry my hair or Skype so my hair looked like I put it in a light switch and I didn’t care.  After our  breakfast we met on the dock of the Peninsula hotel and boarded a boat.  Our guide Chula was so fantastic.  He really gave us a lot of information.  We sailed on the major river and I will post a picture of the name because I can’t remember it.  We then went to the Temple of Dawn.  It was different from the other temples as it was built many thousands of years ago by the Hindus and is now a Buddist temple.    Here there was a market set up and we bought a few souveniers.  After that we had to board the boat again.

Okay when I first boarded I was beside myself I didn’t think I could climb the large step but two of the hotel’s men helped me and up I went and when I had to get off Bill and Chula (our guide) helped me.  So here it is time to get in again.  I am getting good at this.  Thank you Dr. LaCognata!!!!  We then traveled to see the Royal Barge Museum  Only problem it was high tide and they had to close the musuem so we could only see it through the gate so pictures not too good.

We traveled up and down the river got a great view of the Grand Palace we went to yesterday (Emerald Buddha)

Got to see how the people live on the river.  Got to see some women in their boats going to the produce market.

After this we went to a spot that had a lot of fish and we were all given small loaves of bread to throw to the fish.  I thought they were going to jump right into the boat between the water being so high and them jumping it was quite interesting.

We got back to the dock at the hotel and had 1 hour before check out of course I checked out the shops and then we went up and I downloaded a book hey free quick internet why not take advantage!  We then brought our bag down to the bell captain who put it with our group and we had a nice lunch.  Unfortunately, my stomach was hurting so I hardly ate.  Two hours on a bus not going to take a chance even though the bus did have a bathroom Chula told us the first day  bathroom okay for peepee not kaka!  Everyone was hysterical!!!!!!

At 2pm we started our long journey back to the ship.  I loved everything about Bangkok except for the HUMIDITY......  But I would come back here again.

We arrived back at ship right on time according to my watch.  Chula said we were 5 minutes late I said my watch said 4pm.  He laughed he said “his watch was an original knockoff”.  

When we entered our cabin there was a note welcoming us back and a plate with assorted cookies and chocolate covered strawberries!

Unfortunately, my stomach is not better so showered and got into bed.  We did not go down for dinner opting for room service.  I should be sleeping instead I am writing this blog.  I can promise there will not be one tomorrow evening as it will be really late when we return!

So Thailand was great and sorry to be leaving so soon.

Good night and God Bless

Back from our all day in Phenom Phen will do that blog tomorrow.  Exhausted!!!!!

One of the Elephants that greeted us when we docked

Sign on highway

Downtown Bangkok

People's homes in Bangkok

One of the streets

Golden Buddha

Taxi in Chinatown  a huge Chinatown

Chinatown push cart

Government Bldg

Elephants all over the place Love it!

Grand Palace Temple of the Emerald Buddha

View of river from hotel room

Dancers greeting us at port

1. Bangkok Thailand
   We docked in Laem chabang port
   As we got off the ship to make our way to the tour buses they had elephants to greet us and dancers right out of the King and I   We boarded our bus and thanks to James and his staff we were on the right bus.  Our guide's name is Chula and he speaks perfect English!!,  I understood every word he said.  First thing he did was talk about The King and I.  I love that movie.  I was so hoping to see Yul.  
   Our first stop was Wat Trimitr with the solid gold 24 karatBuddha  it was unbelievable  something that has to be seen to be appreciated .  It was a beautiful temple.
   our next stop was the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel where we had a private room and an international buffet luncheon.  I even tried the Thai noodles with veggies.  They had stir fry chicken with cashews and pork piccata steak a with a green pepper sauce.  Some kind of green curry which I did not try.  
   After lunch we headed to the grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha.  As Mel Brooks says It's good to be King.  The emerald Buddha is really jade and covered in gold.  The whole temple is gold I was drooling. Weren’t suppose to take pictures I think Bill got a few when he went to the bathroom not knowing but I can’t find them now will check it out later and post at another time if we have them. We walked all around the Palace but I didn't go into any more temples it is just to much to take off the shoes all the time and I was starting to get really hot....
   Our tour guide gave us fans on the bus and they came in very handy.  After we waited for one woman for what seemed liked hours  our guide got in touch with the hotel.  It seems she took herself to the hotel and checked in and didn't bother to tell anyone.  Some people are such spoiled brats you just want to smack them.  Our tour escort  is Pauline Clark her husband John is the golf pro.  She is the sweetest lady  and she walked back all around thePalae looking for this IIDIOT! She was having palpitations thinking we lost someone. 
   On the way to check into the Penninsula hotel, we stopped at a gem factory.  Bill wanted me to buy something but the necklace. I liked was $25,000 so I didn't get anything.  Bill did get as nice crocadile belt.
   We arrived at the hotel and we had a special. Room for check in when we entered they gave us cold towels and then iced lemongrass tea.  Not bad!  Well thiere was some confusion people where getting angry with the wait not us we were third taken.  Anyway we came back and freshened. Up and went down to dinner.  Great dinner And wonderful show.  Got back to our room there was a gift from Crystal, A beautiful bell with an elephant and  a note from the hotel apologizing about the service we received upon check in there was a box of truffles and two Peninsula hotel keychains. (Not sure if everyone got this or just because we are AMEX Platinum!  No one mentioned it this am.  Will need to do some snooping around!
   They just  brought me a power strip for my Cpap machine and anything else I need power for.  
   
   Everyone here is so nice Thailand means country of smiles.  Everyone greets each other with their hands together pointing up  and bowing.  I am getting good at this!
   Good night