Hong Kong

Monday, April 23rd

This is a full day tour I arranged with Jamie Lloyd, a English gentleman that has lived in Hong Kong for 30 years. Initially, I had 10 people committed to this tour but thru cancellations, we are down to 4 people. This will be a very strenuous day. It is 10-11 hour day roaming all over Hong Kong using public transportation and WALKING!!!! I am very grateful that I will have 2 sea days to recuperate before we get to Shanghai.

Princess provided a shuttle from the port where we docked in to the Ocean Terminal where we met Jamie to start our adventure. Our first stop was at an ATM where we got our HKD needed for the day.



Here we go starting our day on the Metro..Charlie with Jamie and Gretchen and Joe Rezash.

Our first stop was at the Chi Lin Nunnery. It is said that not a single nail was used in the construction of this replica of a Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) place of worship.












Our next stop was at the Wong Tai Sin Temple. Legend holds that Wong Tai Sin who was born around AD 328, could see the future and make wishes come true. Worshippers from the three main Chinese religions...Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism..flock here, not to mention the soothsayers hawking their services


Charlie with his "sign".......THE RAT.....how appropriate is that !!!!!!!








Bringing offering to the Gods...hoping for prosperity. Mainland Chinese make a day trip to worship at this temple. The scent of incense is intense.....




We stopped for lunch at a great restaurant for Dim Sum....this is really just like spanish Tapas. Jamie ordered for us and everything was delicious!!!!! especially the Ji Ma Wu....a warm sesame dumpling...


After lunch, we walked around Kowloon, making our way to the Star Ferry to get over to Hong Kong Island.





The Peninsula Hotel, opened in 1928. The hotel overlooks Victoria Harbour and is possibly the most expensive hotel in Hong Kong.


Standing next to the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry, the clocktower is the last remnant of the old Kowloon railway terminus. This was the final stop for trains from the mainland, including the Orient Express from London.





View of the Hong Kong skyline from the Star Ferry


WOW.....now that's a tall building!!!!!


Central's Statue Square. 150 year old building initially a French Catholic mission and then the colony's first Government House and is now housed the Court of Final Appeals.


Only statue left in Statue Square. Thomas Jackson...a 19th century banker.


Last stop on a very long day..Aberdeen Harbour for a SanPan ride.






Our "Captain".....this was a really neat way to end our day in Hong Kong.





The famous Jumbo Seafood Restaurant.


Example of Feng Shui.......hole incorporated in to new building to leave a path for the dragon to come off the mountain and get to the water.


Locals practicing Tai Chi...

We made our way back to the Ocean Terminal in Kowloon, with a stop for wine, to the shuttle bus back to the ship. Long, exhausting, wonderful day.

Unfortunately, weather did not permit us going to Victoria Peak. Even though it was cloudy most of the day, we were really lucky that we did not get rain. We did not have time to go to any of the markets...there is so much we didn't get to see. Would have loved another day here.








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Nha Trang

Saturday, April 21th

Today, we are off on a full day tour of Nha Trang arranged by Meredith LaRatta (Cruisebabe1). The tour was arranged thru www.nhatrangrivertour.com.

Our first stop was at an Embroidery Factory. At first, I thought this would be a waste but it was amazing to watch these girls working. They produced some very beautiful works...in fact, we even bought one.








Next, we stopped at a Pagoda orphanage. A lot of us brought gifts, mostly toys or candy, to give to the children. It was so sad to see these children that have been abandoned but they seem happy and well cared for. We all need to be so thankful for what we have....















Scenes from the countryside........







"White" Buddha



Cemetery








Making rice noodles







Had to get one of these stupid hats...that's me with Vikki Harvey our next door cabin mate.

Joe with his new BFFs!!!!!

We hopped on boats for a cruise down the river to our lunch stop. Passed on most of the lunch...not ready to try octopus and squid...









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Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Friday, April 20th

This morning, we are joining a private tour to Saigon arranged by Cliff Cunningham (c-to-sea). The day started with a 2 hour drive from the port of Phu My to Saigon.

The tour includes the Jade Emperor Pagoda, the Independence Palace, a water puppet show, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, driving by the central city where the Rex Hotel, city hall and the Opera House are located. Lunch will be at Pho 2000 ( Bill Clinton's favorite ). Then time for shopping at the Ben Thanh market and then the drive back to Phu My to return to the ship.

The day started with a VERY LONG drive in to Ho Chi Minh City. it ws amazing to see all the people riding scooters. Our guide said that there are 10 million people in Ho Chi Minh City and 5 million scooters!!! I believe it!!!!


Our first stop was at the Jade Emperor Pagoda. I'm not exactly sure of the significance of the Pagoda as our guide wasn't too informative and was difficult to understand.








Next stop was the Independence Palace. This was the home and command center of General Nguyen Van Thieu, the head of a military junta who came to power after the first President of South Vietnam was assassinated in 1963. This was the site of the dramatic finish to the Vietnam War as tanks crashed through the main gate on the morning of April 30, 1975. In 1975, the palace was renamed the "Reunification Palace"





Russian tanks that crashed through the gates on April 30, 1975


Operation "Frequent Wind"....USUH-1 helicopter on the top of the 4th floor. Was used as a helipad for evacuating staff just before the palace was overrun.

Next stop was the Water Puppet show....this was probably the highlight of the day! These puppets are controlled on sticks from behind the curtain.









The puppeteers...still wish we could have seen how it was done.


Notre Dame Cathedral


We stopped for lunch at Pho 2000..a noodle shop that was made famous because Bill Clinton had lunch there in 2000. Food was good but place was packed. After that, we had a few minutes to shop at the local market.......think flea market on steroids!!!!!!

Long drive back to the ship...good but not great. Think I was spoiled after our wonderful day in Bangkok.