Southeast Asia Trip - Day 14

With only a few hours at the pier this morning, the passengers on Viking Venus had very limited time for excursions - fortunately, I had signed up for a tour to fill the time!  I slept better overnight and was awake (feeling rested) just after 0600.  There was time to complete puzzles, do some reading and fill out the Thailand Online Arrival Card (the latter was not easy but I managed to complete it).  At 0715, I headed down to Guest Services to ask questions about my Angkor Wat extension.  This revealed that the documentation I'd received about a 0245 meeting on November 2 (for departing Viking Venus) was accurate - dang...  I then got other questions about the Extension (visa, baggage, itinerary, etc.) answered.  Along the way, I found out that there were 59 people going with me on the trip (back) to Cambodia.  Next (0745), I went to breakfast (beans, baguette sandwich, fruit, cereal, pastries) at the World Cafe.  I was finished eating by 0810 and then headed to the gangway area so I could board the bus for my tour. We departed at 0830 - our “Sihanoukville Discovery” guide's name was Vichethur (“Jet”).  Sadly, I noticed that my tour included the annoying Boomer Shopping Ladies again...  Like a trip I took earlier on the cruise (Yen Duc, Vietnam), this excursion gave me a glimpse of the life of local Cambodians as they went about their daily lives.  It only took about 10 minutes to leave the Port and we arrived at a small fishing village by 0855.  In that area, we encountered a bustling seafood market, precarious nests of household wiring and food processing operations.  The residents of the village were clearly very poor and, for the first time, I noticed a significant of pollution.   On the other hand, the children smiled and waved, while the adults bowed and were quite friendly.  We had to hide out from a passing rain shower in a busy warehouse - they made ice, fish paste and other crafts.  Overall, it was good to experience this part of Cambodian life.  We departed on the bus at 0935 and made our way to the next stop of the tour.  Along the way, we stopped for a bathroom break at a gas station, which Jet told was was much “cleaner than the Pagoda Happy Room”.  By 1000, we had resumed our drive and soon arrived at Wat Krom Pagoda, a local place of worship that featured several instances of the Noble Wheel, a sleeping Buddha, ornate architecture, family stupas, Buddhist Monks eating their midday meal (we even got to see the local people bringing their food offer wings).  Other important sights included: a huge Stupa built in honor of the “disappeared” victims of the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields and a dancing performance by local ladies (they added an interpretation of the hand movements).  Our guide provided lots of information about life of the monks and the meaning of the many religious (Hindu, Buddhist and Animist) symbols (e.g., "spirit houses").  At one point, I spent time quietly watching the behavior of the monks and the local people who were bringing their food to the temple for the upcoming mid-day meal.  There were dogs all over the complex - Jet told us that Cambodians don't send pets to shelters and, instead, just donate them to the monks (who have to care for them).  Speaking of pets, I've noticed that there haven't been a lot of varieties of dogs or cats - they almost all look the same to me...  Before the stop was over, I was flabbergasted to hear some ridiculous (and, frankly, insulting) Boomer questions about reincarnation.  Despite this minor reminder of the USA, I was quite pleased with the temple visit.  We departed Wat Krom at 1045 and drove towards the waterfront.  On the way, I was (again) struck by the ubiquitous coughing passenger on the bus - how am I not sick?  We passed monkeys at various places on the road - they were very sociable and the local people seemed to be feeding them.  At 1050, we arrived at the famous Independence Beach, where Jackie Kennedy Onassis made a goodwill visit in 1967.  Unfortunately, the water was rough and polluted so I eschewed going in for a swim.  Instead, I sat on a bench and enjoyed a local (Angkor) beer.  It’s been so hot (high 80s) and humid (80%) that the sea breeze was very welcome.  I also explored the coast a bit and located the hotel, which was located to the west of the main beach.  The waves were big enough that they occasionally covered the walking path - I ended up returning by a different (and drier) route.  Along the way, I did some birding and checked out the Infinity Pool (it looked very inviting).  We departed for the ship at 1145 and were boarding Viking Venus about 15 minutes later.  In my room again, I spent time completing excursion questionnaires and doing some prep for my upcoming trip to Angkor Wat.  Starting at 1245, I enjoyed lunch (pizza, salad, etc.) at the World Cafe.  The ship was celebrating the approaching end of the cruise by bringing out ALL of their many (delicious) desserts.  There was s huge line for getting some when I checked but I didn't end up getting any.  Since many of the tables were already occupied and I'd taken a table for four, I ended up being joined by two ladies (Linda and Maggie, friends from Macon, GA).  We talked for a while and the conversation was enjoyable.  During this time, Viking Venus departed Cambodia - we are Thailand bound!  Back in my room (1430), I took a nap for about 90 minutes.  Upon waking, I filled out Cambodia travel visa (online) for the Angkor Wat - I hope this will be the last paperwork!  At 1800, I was able to get back to Manfredi's again for dinner (Caprese Salad, Spaghetti alla Carbonara, Parmigiana di Pollo, Chilean Cab-Sav).  I sat at a "shared table" and met couples from Vancouver (BC) and Florida.  Dan from Augusta, GA (who was at the Solo Traveler's Lunch) was there too.  I finished eating at 2000 and then spent some time walking, visiting, etc. before returning to my stateroom again.  Before bed, I watched the Bangkok Port Talk and enjoyed some of the "Beatles Tribute" performance.  The latter activity was actually a part of the Viking Farewell Reception, which I skipped because of the crowds.  I turned out the light at about 2215 while Viking Venus was entering Thai waters.  Excited to visit another country tomorrow!

Southeast Asia Trip - Day 13

First Day in Cambodia!  Viking Venus docked at the port of Sihanoukville early this morning and my first excursion in country started very early; “Phnom Penh Highlights” required a three hour drive to reach the Capital.  Unfortunately, I hadn’t slept well due to pipe maintenance going on all night long.  Somehow, I managed to wake up (with alarm) at 0600.  This gave me some time for reading, puzzles and Duolingo.  For some reason, there were internet issues - hope that doesn't last... I ate breakfast (baguette sandwich, eggs, bacon, beans, cereal) at the World Cafe (0635).  I went to get some small bills from Guest Services but learned that the ship had run out of $5 bills ("we'll get some more in Bali").  Along with the other passengers who had the same tour, I spent the next 25 minutes waiting in the Star Theater until we were told we could leave the ship.  At 0720, we went out in search of our buses (each of us had been given, like we were for each excursion, a ticket with a group number).  Once everyone was onboard, the guides checked that everyone was appropriately attired for temples (e.g., shorts not too short, ladies upper body modestly covered) and some people had to go back to their rooms to change before we could leave. As a result, we weren't able to depart until 0740 (the last bus, of four).  As we headed out of the "Wet Port" area, we got to know our tour guides: Sam (Vietnamese name was Sok Ros, which means “Stay Alive”) and “Sraeling”.  Our Bus Driver was Khet.  Sam initially introduced himself as a former Buddhist monk but then explained that he'd joined the temple in order to get an education and make a better future for himself.  What an amazing insight into the day-to-day life of a Cambodian who wanted to improve his lot in life!  We learned several phrases in Khmer: “Arun Suste” (good morning), “Ogum” (thank you), "Suesday" (hello, with "Bat" in response) and "TomTom" (very much).  Sam also provided a lot of history and explained the use of Campuchea versus Cambodia for the country's name.  Our bus ride was quite comfortable - it was the best road surface we’ve seen in Southeast Asia!  As we drove along the very smooth expressway (toll road), we passed lots of cows, oxen, crops (rice, fruit trees).  Sam began telling us (very) personal stories of his life during and after the Khmer Rouge regime.  he explained the background of Pol Pot and moved on to tell us about the Prime Minister and his family (which includes a son who recently became the new PM).  About half way into the three hour drive, we stopped at very clean rest stop exit (Mao’s).  As we got off the bus at this location (and several others), Sam was very liberal with the toilet paper ("there sometimes isn't any").  Inside, I managed to change $1 into Cambodian Rial (0925).  At this place, I first encountered outdoor urinals, which seem to be a "thing" in the entire country...  After 10 minutes at this rest stop, we departed - Sam was very liberal with the hand sanitizer...  "Sraeling” distributed a snack (croissant, tea) to everyone as we drove north.  We got into a traffic jam near the "Dry Port".  While we were getting on the National Road, Sam told us about geopolitical challenges: roads named for Trump and Xi, Thailand versus Cambodia (recent conflict).  We passed the old Phnom Penh Airport (Sam told us they'd recently opened a new one outside of the city).  Almost everywhere I looked, I saw tuk tuks and scooters.  One big difference between Ho Chi Minh City and the Cambodian Capital, though , was that there were many more cars.  By this time, the temps had risen into the low 80s - Sam said this was considered cold by the locals.  Meanwhile, I was happy that it wasn't hotter...  Our first stop (1100) was at the Wat Phnom ("Hill of Phnom") Temple.  We learned that the "phnom" (mountain) and associated tale of a "Grandmother Penh" was the origin for the city's name.  This honorable personage found a tree and some holy artifacts in the area and this generated interest among the population for building a manmade hill for the resulting temple.  Otherwise, the Capital city is very flat.  We toured the grounds and encountered a lot of interesting art.  While Sam was busy telling all the slower (and partially incapacitated) passengers about landmarks at the bottom of the "mountain", I decided to climb to the top.  There were several big stupas up there.  I made a point to go inside (sans shoes) to see the Buddha.  At about this time, the typical rain that we've seen across Southeast Asia began.  Fortunately, I had my umbrella.  While assembling for our bus pickup (1130), Sam pointed out many, many fruit bats in a nearby tree - wow!  Back in the motor coach, we drove along the outflow for Tonle Sap (“Great Lake”) and Sam told us how this river interacts with the Mekong River as they join in Phnom Penh.  During the changeover from Wet to Dry Season (and back again), the water direction of the Tonle Sap River changes direction.  This is connected with the annual Water Festival (soon to take place in Cambodia).  Sam described how the colors of the rivers are different during these changeovers and I was reminded of my visit to Passau, Germany).  When we arrived at the Royal Palace (1305), we started to encounter Buddhist monks, in orange outfits, carrying yellow umbrellas.  Sam then told us that each day of the week has a color in the cultures of Southeast Asia and that orange and yellow were colors of calmness.  During this time, Sam also pointed out other government buildings: Palace of Justice & Supreme Court.  Once off of the bus, we used the "Happy Room" (restroom).  Several other people in the group were annoyed that that there was absolutely no privacy (women could see everything going on in the men's bathroom).  Undaunted, I finished my business and rejoined Sam in a commentary about a nearby cannonball tree. which has a new flower every day for the entire year., For some reason, though, the Magnolia is the National Flower.  Next, we toured the Palace grounds - we were able to go inside the throne room (no photos allowed) and visit two exceptional stupas that housed the ashes of prior Kings of Cambodia.  The current King was actually present inside the complex - a blue flag indicates when he is at home.  Overall, the building colors, floral varieties and priceless artwork left me awestruck.  We also got to visit the Silver Pagoda (no photos), which had a floor of pure silver, a jade Buddha and a "golden god" statue weighing168 pounds and covered with diamonds.  Wow!  Meanwhile, it got VERY hot.  On the way out of the Palace, we met Sam’s mother she was working as vendor at Palace.  Since we’d earlier heard about her heroic attempts to save her children from the ravages of the Khmer Rouge, we all gave her a round of applause.  Sam was very moved, I think, and proceeded to tell us about his wife and daughter as soon as we were on the bus again (1310).  Our ride didn't last long, though, and we were next dropped off (for lunch) at Malis (a restaurant) at 1315.  This place was actually listed in my travel book as a “not to miss” - glad to get a chance to see something so world-renowned...  The menu consisted of a passion fruit aperitif, Scallop with green peppercorns; Amok Fish with lemongrass curry paste in banana leaf basket; jasmine rice steamed inside lotus leaf bag; Palm Set dessert (coconut ice cream, Fried Ombuk Cake, Sugar Glutinous rice balls) & Angkor Beer.  Everything was excellent!  We departed the restaurant at 1415 (15 minutes later than Sam wanted) and drove to the Central Market (we arrived at 1430) and were given 30 minutes for shopping.  Almost everyone was very excited about this opportunity but I only gave the market a cursory walk-through.  I found it interesting that none of the vendors approached me - what a difference from Hong Kong and all of Vietnam...  It was SO hot!  Next, I walked in streets nearby and stopped for a cold drink at 53 Central Coffee.  I ordered an iced lemon tea without thinking about the ice cubes inside of the drink - we'd been warned NOT to get those under threat of stomach distress.  Oh well - this was like drinking from the mountain streams in Patagonia...  I rejoined Sam at the bus-stop by 1455 and we departed the Central Market by 1500.  Our visit to Phnom Penh was over, unfortunately.  There was a lot of traffic on the way out of the Capital - we used Highway 4 but didn't really get moving again until we were clear of the "Dry Port" again.  Along the way, I watched as we passed lots of [Brahma] bulls and various fruit trees (rubber, mango, coconut).  About halfway back to the "Wet Port", we stopped at a rest area (1705) that had views of National Park.  I climbed up on a roof and got a good view of a nearby waterfall.  During this stop, I talked with Sam about the process of taking a ferry to the Southern Islands and he made it sound very easy.  In fact, he shared all kinds of information (port number, cost, destination and times for the outbound and return trips) and I was hopeful that I could make the trip happen (the area sounded wonderful and unspoiled).  Back on the road by 1715, we were treated to a beautiful sunset and more stories from Sam: "Life of a Buddhist Monk", tales of Cambodian elephants, snakes and foods like "KFC" (Khmer Fried Cricket).  Undeterred by talk of such things, I ate a late afternoon snack (ham & cheese baguette, soda) that was distributed by “Sraeling”.  As the excursion was coming to an end, I was convinced that Sam was the best tour guide I’ve seen so far.  His passionate descriptions of the travails of his people were almost mesmerizing and his personal anecdotes about life under Pol Pot, the heroic sacrifices of his mother, the death or disappearance of beloved family members and the long, slow process of national healing kept us spellbound during the entire drive.  We arrived at Viking Venus (1830) and, almost immediately after I boarded the ship, I tried to get information from the ship's crew about going to the Southern Islands. They were very resistant and defensive about me trying something "so unusual".  As a result, I gave up my idea...  A bit disappointed, I went to my room to relax - finally got internet working again!  I was torn about getting dinner (since we'd eaten enough during the excursion) but I decided late (2000) that I'd head to World Cafe for desserts and wine. At 2040, I attended the Traditional Khmer Music Group and was quite impressed by their skill in demonstrating dances, along with excellent instrumental and vocal expression.  I stayed for about 15 minutes and then walked around the ship to complete my 10K step goal.  I took one break for Mahjong and viewing of an animated Bayeux Tapestry cartoon. In my room again at 2130, worked on blog and social media updates before going to bed at 2245.  What a great day trip - very glad I went into Phnom Penh!  We’ve got one more day in Sihanoukville - hoping to go to the beach...

Southeast Asia Trip - Day 12

Once again, we had an "At Sea" day while Viking Venus rounded the southernmost point of Indochina, Cape Ca Mau (just north of the Hon Khoai islands), and we entered the Gulf of Thailand.  With no in-port activities possible, I took full advantage of the amenities onboard, with a good blend of exercising, relaxing, stimulating my brain and napping.  My day began at 0630 with my regular reading, puzzles and Duolingo.  At 0715, I went to breakfast (baguette sandwich, hard boiled egg, fruit, cereal) at the World Cafe - at 0800, Returning to my room (0800), I changed for a workout in the Fitness Center and then spent 20 minutes biking (7.25 miles).  After another short break in my room, I went to the Nordic Spa (0900) and used the last jacuzzi tub I hadn’t tried - I also relaxed in the bubble pool again.  Afterwards, I went walking on Deck 2 in an attempt to work on the rest of my 10K steps.  It was windy outsides but I saw some ships passing.  After completing three miles on foot, I went back to my stateroom and rested (reading, etc.) until 1145.  At that point, I got dressed up and went to one of the Solo Traveler Lunches at The Restaurant.  The menu included Ceasar salad, grilled salmon, chocolate “mousse” - all good.  There were about 20 of us so it required two tables - this meant we didn't meet everyone.  One really awesome thing about this meal was that we were joined by Hari and Georgia (performers from the Abba Tribute performance I'd attended earlier in the trip.  There were other folks there that I knew (e.g., Pat the Vietnam Vet, Geraldine, Glenda) but I met new people (one of them looked like Mark Twain).  While we were eating, Damian (Viking Venus Cruise Director) came by to say hello.  We thanked him, since he was the force behind the meal in the first place (he had told me he liked encouraging single travelers to meet up since he was also one of us).  As the ship approached the coast, I saw islands (I think they were the Hon Khoai).  The meal lasted nearly two hours and continued for everyone else after I excused myself and returned to my room.  At first, I thought I'd just read and work on my blog.  Before long, though, I fell asleep in my comfy bed, accompanied by the Viking Venus rocking in the ocean swells (1430).  When I awoke, a few hours later, I spent time cleaning up and watching movies.  There was also time to prep for our upcoming Cambodia tours.  At 1800, I got dressed up again and tried to see if I could squeeze into Manfredi’s or The Chef’s Table without a reservation.  Sadly, I didn't have any luck.  Wanting to wear more relaxing clothing, I returned to my room to change and then ate dinner (pizza, pasta, salad, cheese & crackers) at the World Cafe.  At 1900, I went to Deck 2 and played some Mahjong (on a digital table) and worked on a puzzle (with other passengers) while listening to the violin-piano duet.  I spent an hour there and felt like I'd really woken up my brain cells.  Back in my room again, I watched the Port Talk for Sihanoukville.  Strangely, I heard no mention of my excursion to Phnom Penh (only the overnight option, which I was not doing).  Before bed, I watched Damian’s Musical Performance from the comfort of my bed (2100) - he was good but it wasn't my scene and I didn't want to be among a large crowd of people anyway...  When that was finished, I watch a few movies on YouTube, which I'd just learned was not blocked by the ship.  Bedtime was at 2330 - I was pleased to have had such a relaxing day  Tomorrow: Cambodia!

Southeast Asia Trip - Day 11

This morning, I was awake by 0530 (before my alarm) and spent time reading and doing puzzles.  Excited for a final excursion in Vietnam, I got ready and then went to breakfast (eggs, bacon, egg/ham sandwich, cereal) at the World Cafe (0630).  At 0645, I departed Viking Venus and boarded a bus for the "Scenic Ho Chi Minh City Tour".  The bus was nearly empty (I learned later that a lot of people were tired of the drive from/to the Port) - there were only 20 people in the seats around me.  We got on the road at 0700 with our tour guide, Mr. Long, and driver, Mr. Gihu.  Unfortunately, traffic on the way to the city was horrible - things were so bad, in fact, that I became convinced that scooters are likely always faster than buses or cars during the commute.  During this time, we got to watch traffic police in action.  Not surprisingly (after all we've seen with people in the country complying to government rules), the cops were quite effective - they were definitely a kind of order within the underlying chaos.  It was funny, though, to hear that the locals call the police in yellow uniforms "Pikachu"...  Meanwhile, our driver followed same way of driving through the city streets (in order to make turns) as we saw last night.  As a result, we were stuck at one intersection for over 10 minutes.  To pass the time, Mr. Long tried to keep us entertained.  We learned that trees in City have numbers (so they can be identified if maintenance is needed).  The guide pointed out the turquoise scooters, which he said were manufactured by the Vung Company (owned by the richest man in Vietnam).  It was a bit annoying that most of the other passengers (Boomer ladies) were completely (and loudly) ignoring things the guide was saying.  Perhaps I have chosen the wrong kind of Viking Cruise...  In the end, it took more than 90 minutes to reach the downtown areas of Ho Chi Minh City.  Soon after arriving, I noticed that we passed the Water Puppet Show venue from our first night in Port.  Meanwhile, the rudeness and pushy behavior of the Boomers rode to new heights.  By the time we reached the Reunification Palace, the questions were all about women's rights and other social justice concerns.  We were (thankfully) given a chance to get off the bus for photos - we didn't have tickets to go inside the grounds but it was possible to see tanks, A-5 aircraft and other memorials of the Vietnam (or "American", to the locals) War.  Through our QV listening devices, we heard stories of famous spies and learned about the building itself.  Next, we drove a short distance to the area where the Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral were located.  I was able to get better pictures of these buildings and even got to go inside the Post Office.  There was also time to photograph the 1975 "Helo Evac Rooftop" building better.  Even though it wasn't too far away, we actually rode the bus to visit the Opera House and then got an impromptu bathroom break (Boomers very concerned about these) inside the halls of the city subway system. Back on the bus again, we ended up having to listen to the bus driver and guide having an argument about how we were running late.  As a result, we just drove by the City Hall (no stop at all) and immediately proceeded to the Ben Thanh Market.  Before reaching the latter stop, a heated debate began between the shoppers and non-shoppers over the "20 minutes only" limit there.  The result of this kerfuffle was that the guide relented and gave everyone 30 minutes.  Still the Boomer shopping ladies weren't satisfied (they wanted an hour).  When the driver would no longer compromise, the Boomer ladies raced off the bus.  Since I was in no hurry (and, frankly, would have skipped the whole stop, I waited in my seat until there was no one else left.  (Note - this was commented on (with a mild disapproval) by some of the more relaxed passengers but I told them "I'm on vacation").  To pass the time, I went walking in/near the Market, which was a gauntlet of shopping stalls.  When I was polite to older ladies, got a pat on the belly (not sure what that was about).  After about 10 minutes, I'd had my fill of this environment and did some walking nearby.  Wanting to be left alone, I could not avoid the many persistent tour guides (offering to take me around the city).  I passed a LOT of busy coffee shops and eventually found a small park with an area with LOTS of scooters.  As I wandered, I watched the locals (away from the tourists) and soaked up a bit more of the culture before we had to leave the country. Soon, it was time to return to the Ben Thanh Market.  Since I'd already had to cross a few busy streets where my entire life flashed before my eyes, I decided to walk back to the Market through the subway tunnel.  One benefit of this decision was that the environment was much cooler.  Outside, near the bus rendezvous point, the air temps were sweltering and I was unable to prevent the sweat from flowing, even though I'd spent the whole morning drinking lots of water.  Before meeting up with my group, I saw Mr. K from the Ho Chi Minh City by Evening tour - he enthusiastically shook my hand.  When I met up with tour guide at 1010, it was not shocking to learn that some of the Boomers were late.  I was ready to leave them (and said so) but the guide was unwilling to give up on them.  Meanwhile, he had us walk through the entire Market to reach our motor coach.  We ended up waiting for late passengers for over 10 extra minutes (grrr).  Because of this, Mr. Long said we’d have to choose between visiting the Jade Pagoda and going to the lacquer painting exhibit.  This annoyed me, since I really wanted to see the pagoda - fortunately, general consensus pressured the guide to take us there.  On the way, we passed the US Consulate and some other diplomatic offices/residences.  As if it wasn't enough that they were late, the (late) Boomer shopping ladies talked loudly all the way...  We got off the bus near the Jade Pagoda at 1030 and had to walk for a little while to reach it.  Then, we only got about 15 minutes to explore.  There were worries (on the part of other passengers) about lost shoes outside temple but I took my chances.  Inside, we found artistic conceptions of Hell and Heaven - the imagination and presentation were stunning. For some reason, the Boomer ladies continued wearing their hats and taking photos inside - both actions were prohibited (signs were everywhere) but they didn't seem to care.  Mr. Long herded everyone quickly back toward the bus before I had a chance to really digest what I'd seen at the pagoda (too bad) and we were on the road again (we thought we were going directly to Viking Venus) before 1100.  The guide started giving us descriptions of local superstitions (e.g., unlucky number 4, methods of praying in the temple, benefits of fortune tellers, celebration of funerals and burial anniversaries).  Suddenly (1105), we stopped at the Lacquer Workshop - not surprisingly, this turned out to be the "sales racket" of the day. I must admit, through, that the artwork was quite beautiful.  Unfortunately, so many tour buses emptied out there (including some from Viking Orion, which had just arrived in Port).  I spent time looking around but then got back on the bus (other people were there too).  The Boomer ladies spent extra time haggling with vendors on the sidewalk but we managed to depart by 1125.  The bus ride back to the ship was a bit faster than it had been in the morning but it rained all the way there.  For some reason, I noticed far more trash in the trees/bushes - and homeless people - during this particular drive.  During this window, it was clear that we'd be getting back later than planned (or allowed?).  Meanwhile, I opened my fourth water bottle of the day.  We arrived at ship by 1230 and, as I was boarding Viking Venus, I returned the Vietnam "landing card" to Guest Services.  Recapping: the itinerary of the excursion today was nearly identical to my previous two visits to the downtown area but I do feel that I learned many new and interesting things.  Next, I went to lunch (cheeseburger, fries, pasta, fruit, beer) at Pool Grill.  I sat by myself but, within the next 30 minutes, three different couples (people I've eaten with before) asked me to join them at their table.  That felt good.  Afterwards, I went walking on the Sun Deck and then on Deck 2.  From several different positions, I was able to watch the gangway and bus loading area - several excursions got back VERY late...  Along the way, I got my 10K steps.  At about 1415 (later than we'd been told), Viking Venus started to throw off all mooring lines.  I spent about 20 minutes watching the ship depart the port - some of the dock workers even waved to me.  For the next few hours, I rested in my room, watching movies, filling out excursion questionnaires and doing laundry.  For the last activity, I got some help (for adding soap, which I hadn't figured out the last time) from older English gentleman.  I made one more trip to Guest Services (to turn in my Cambodian Customs Form) when I was on my way to Teatime - I showed up very late (1655) but the staff still gave me the full treatment.  Along the way, I did some socializing with new friends I’ve made since arriving onboard. Back in my room again, I finished my laundry, read some more and watched movies.  At 1930, I went back to the Pool Grill to check out the Viking Barbecue event and ended up eating dinner (brisket, Mac & Cheese, corn on the cob, mini burger, different salads).  There was also time to try a few new beers while listening to a life musical performance.  Afterwards, I did some reading in a secluded area of Deck 7.  After returning to my room for the last time, I watched movies until I was ready for bed (2200).  Everything I saw, did and learned in Vietnam this week was inspiring and uplifting.  It’s hard to believe that our country was once at war with the people here - the evidence is almost invisible.  The Vietnamese people may be some of the most forgiving and pragmatic souls on the planet.  We’ve got another “At Sea” day coming up and I fully plan to enjoy it!.

Southeast Asia Trip - Day 10

When I woke up during the night, I figured out that the water was not working - hmmm.  I ultimately got myself out of bed just before alarm (0535) and got ready.  After getting back from my Ho Chi Minh City tour at 2200 last night, this early wake-up was very difficult...  At 0615, I went to breakfast (eggs, bacon, fruit, beans, cereal) at World Cafe.  The early morning hurry was worth the effort because I had a tour called “Monuments of Vung Tau” (11.5 hours) that departed at 0700!   I left Viking Venus at 0645 - the weather was nice (dry, 70s, less humidity) and the bus was just over half full when we departed the Port (0700).  Our tour guide's name was Lam and our driver was Mr. Huong.  We drove north towards the edge of Ho Chi Minh City - it was rush hour and this, coupled with the horrible condition of the pavement and queues at the Toll Road toll booths, made for very slow going.  The funny stories about life in Vietnam from our guide did help to pass some of the time...  We crossed the Saigon River on a huge suspension bridge and then changed direction (gradually) toward the south.  Along the way, I saw more Subarus on the highway.  Another interesting feature was the countdown timers at each intersection, which provided situational awareness for lights changing.  One downside: I was surrounded by many coughing passengers.  During this phase, Lam told us about the oil industry of Vung Tau, the large number of ex-pats (mostly Russian) and how some of them had founded highly successful donut shops.  We had to cross another big bridge on the east side of Ho Chi Minh City and then it took a full hour to reach the expressway toward Long Thanh.  We got on and off this road, though, and the speeds stayed closer to 35 mph for a lot of the drive.  It was interesting to watch the driving behavior of the trucks/buses - they used the left lane at all times.  On the other hand, roads that allowed scooters provided a large right hand lane for them to use.  We stopped for a bathroom break at Bo Sua 3+ (a large warehouse type building).  Inside, the staff were selling snacks and local food (Bao Cakes) but the biggest feature appeared to be something called “Lothamilk”.  After we departed (0905), Lam told us a story of a retired Doctor who started selling this unique kind of milk and, once the business became very popular, how many more roadside businesses became copy cats. Meanwhile, we did even more meandering (on/off highway).  There was a lot more traffic but we got a good look at a beautiful Catholic Church (Song Vinh / St. Anthony).  By the end of our three hour drive across difficult roads, we reached Vung Tau, which was located on a peninsula near the delta for the Saigon River.  Looking back, the time we had on the road gave us a real feel for life in Southern Vietnam. Lam told us that Vung Tau means something like “ship port”.  At 1010 and made our first stop at Thang Tam Temple, which was built in 1824 and memorialized the special relationship between fishermen and whales.  From our Guide, we learned about the annual festivals that pay homage to the whales, protectors of local fishermen.  The Buddhist monks are so certain of the power of this believe that they have preserved several groups of whale bones in little shrines inside the temple.  There was also a lot of beautiful artwork that portrayed the way the locals felt (according to Lam) about the "Whale God". We were back on the road by 1035 but only drove a short distance to visit the Villa Blanche (White Palace), a French Colonial building that once housed the Vietnamese King in the early Ninetieth Century.  Unfortunately, after we got off of the bus we learned that it was closed ("because it is Monday").  Lam called an audible and we next went to the Robert Taylor Worldwide Military Museum instead.  The building was packed full of military weapons, national uniforms, flags, artwork and memorial plaques for almost two thousand years of history.  What a collection.  When I was finished with my tour of all the displays, I sat down for a break in a covered atrium.  While there, I met a Vietnam War veteran (Pat, an Army helicopter pilot) who was visiting familiar sights from when he served in-country in the late 1960s.  He told me he'd been stationed quite close to Vung Tau (and Hue, earlier).  He had many interesting flying stories and it helped to pass the time before our scheduled departure. Until today, I’d only just read about the struggles of our Vietnam Vets but he brought much of the past to life - very glad to have met him.  After everyone was back on the bus (1155), we drove to a local fish market, which was full of many interesting (live) fish and crustaceans.  Lam told us that if we had arrived earlier in the morning, we could have bought stingray.  By that time, though (1220), the market had already sold out of that local delicacy.  The smells and sounds of the market gave us quite a good feel for the area and I began to feel pretty good about my choice of excursions.  When we resumed our drive down the coast we passed huge statue of St. Mary and the Christ child.  Due to the guide's commentary and speed of the bus, though, we missed getting good photos of this landmark and other things that looked interesting (e.g., gondola up the mountain).  I guess we needed to stay on track in order to make it back to the ship in time but there were a few moments where I wished I was on my own... Instead, we went to the Gann Hao Seafood Restaurant (1230), where we were treated to a special, seven course meal: coconut tuber salad with shrimp & pork; mixed vegetable soup with pork; deep fried baby squid (or octopus) with fish sauce; shrimp with Hong Kong salt; deep fried (tilapia) filet with tomato sauce; garlic fried rice; dessert (mixed fruit).  I found myself sitting on the waterfront (water was only about 50 feet away!) with and older Indian couple (Babu & Susan) and my new friend, Pat.  All of the food selections were very good and I very much enjoyed the ambiance of sitting on the rocky beach.  From our table, we could see LOTS of huge tanker ships.  There was also good evidence of a major rain storm coming up from the sea side - fortunately, it didn’t affect us because we had a cover over us.  Still, the downpour caused disruption for other patrons and the staff had to lower big awnings and curtains to calm things down again (reminded me of one visit I made to the Cafe du Mond during a storm).  The bus was very close by and we barely got wet when we departed the restaurant (1330).  Once again, our drive was very short and we soon found ourselves exiting the bus again at the "sister pub” of the place where we ate lunch (it was called Gann Hao 2).  Outside, it continued raining hard...  We each got a drink (I had a Bia Saigon Chill) and we spent time stalling until the weather improved.  During this break, I did have some nice conversations with other passengers, including Lou & Debbie (from Hilton Head).  I also got some photos (from under a big awning) of the local fishing fleet.  As the rain slackened, we reboarded the bus (1430) and drove a short distance so we could visit Christ the King of Vung Tau, located on Mount Nho.  Lam told us the story of the man who started building the huge statue of Jesus in 1974 - he fled the country when Saigon fell and the statue was only finished (apparently by the government of Vietnam) only in 1997.  Lam added that only 6% of the country is Catholic but this still equates to six million people.  After arriving, we were informed that there were lots of rules (e.g., no shorts, no water bottles, no hats, umbrellas or ladies with uncovered shoulders) that must be followed to visit the landmark.  Lam said something like "penitence can't be easy".  When he told us that it would take at least one hour to climb up the 900 steps and another hour to descend, I was dubious.  But then (1445), he only gave us “20-25 minutes” to visit at the site.  This ticked me off a little bit - he clearly wanted to start heading back to the Port.  But I had come to see this statue and make the climb.  So, I left the bottom and started up the steps, giving myself 15 minutes to see how high I could get.  After I reached the 600 mark, however, another passenger (Blake) caught up with me.  Now a team of renegades, we agreed to stick together for the last 300 steps.  Together, my new friend and I got lots of photos, including of each other and the spectacular views of the ocean.  After that, it was a mad rush back to the bus.  In the end, though, I achieved the 900 steps and I felt awesome!  Meanwhile, very few other guests even got off the bus and one was Blake's wife (Maryam), who ran interference for us.  Regardless, we returned to the bus in time.  For this reason, I don’t think our tour guide believed we’d accomplished the feat but we did have photographic evidence.  Later, I exchanged emails with Blake and Maryam that included photos (in both directions) of our adventure. Next (1615), the Guide maneuvered us towards a "consolation prize" stop (in lieu of the Villa Blanche) - a commune of the Ong Tran Community on Long Son Island.  Lam represented the Long (or Big) House as some sort of "cult-like group home" and most people seemed disenchanted with the offering.  Our guide must have sensed this so he offered to let everyone vote on whether to skip this stop and the result was about 20-5 to go back to the ship (I abstained).  However, we then proceeded to go to the Long House anyway - I figure this was a good lesson from Lam on Vietnamese Communism... When we arrived (1545), only seven of us got off the bus with Lam - everyone else remained onboard and waited for us.  In the background of the location, we got a good view of Long Son, which means "Dragon Mountain" in Vietnamese.  It turned out that there was a major festival approaching for the Long House.  Lam told us that a man named Mr. Jeong had founded the religion observed by the residents in 1910.  By the new theology, everyone is a god but heroes are especially worshipped.  Adherents help the poor and live by a philosophy of simplicity: "we are born nothing and die nothing."  The believers wear simple clothing and are buried in unmarked graves.  They apparently are also provide a very welcoming home for indigent people and a mecca for believers in a synergistic local religion.  I'm not sure I understood everything but Lam hinted that the faith was a melding of the teachings of Jesus, Buddha and Confucius (i.e., Christianity, Buddhism and Taoism).  When we arrived, the residents gave us tea and then took us on a tour of the grounds (altars, sleeping area, kitchen(.  Several old ladies kept shaking my hands (for luck?).  When it was time to leave, we were invited to eat lunch with the group (food was being prepared).  Politely declining, we departed at 1630 after getting an interesting insight into communal living in rural parts of Southern Vietnam.  On the bus, I changed my shirt and settled in for the long drive back to our ship (via Ho Chi Minh City).  On the way, Lam told us that Vung Tau is now part of Saigon (there was a reorganization of provinces). To reach Viking Venus, we mostly used roads on the island and then got back on the Expressway we'd taken in the morning.  I noticed even more churches and Buddhist temples on the way.  As we made our way north, we started to encounter SO any trucks and the going got very slow.  Meanwhile, it was getting dark.  We stopped at Bo Sua 2 (Long Thanh Rest Stop), across the street from the one we saw earlier in the day, at 1720 but were back on the road 15 minutes later.  We used the Expressway for a short time but then took a series of slow roads with rotaries.  About halfway back, I realized I'd drank from five water bottles during the day...  I’ve been yawning all day and really wanted to doze - unfortunately, the stopping and starting didn't help.  Next, we got on another Expressway and crossed a big bridge.  Traffic was still bad in this area but I got some great views of Ho Chi Minh City skyline lit up for the night (including a purple skyscraper).  Still in traffic, we crossed a second big bridge and got very close to the Southern Palace.  When I saw that, I realized we were using a completely new way to get through southern part of the city.  We actually passed through a tunnel (hadn't seen that before) and the driver then had to turn around, using the same tunnel in the other direction.  After that, we literally continued in circles until we were finally going the right way.  We arrived at the ship at 1930 - all told, we spent 12.5 hours on the road today!  When we reboarded Viking Venus, we found Deck 1 to be extremely busy.  At Guest Services, I tried to get change for a $20 bill (so I would have money for tips) but learned that there were no $5 bills left onboard.  I'll admit that I got a little annoyed to hear this...  Back in my stateroom, I took a shower, got my wet belongings drying and prepped for the next day.  Not feeling hungry for dinner, I went to the World Cafe to only get desserts (I managed to stay on target for this goal).  For the rest of the evening, I read, worked on puzzles and completed a survey for my recent tours.  Bedtime was at 2230.  Gonna get some much needed sleep now...

Southeast Asia Trip - Day 9

This morning, I was awake (on purpose) at 0430 and got to watch the ship arriving at Ho Chi Minh City (I believe the place where we docked was called Phu My Port, AKA Saigon Port) from my stateroom.  I was saddened to see that the Saigon River, which we were using to access the interior of Vietnam, was very polluted and dark brown with mud.  Didn't look like a good place to rent a kayak...  Along the way into Port, I read, did puzzles and dozed a bit more.  Eventually (0730). I went to breakfast (eggs, sausage, beans, fruit, croissants) at the World Cafe.  My initial goal for the day was to stay onboard until my afternoon excursion - I’d planned to work out in the gym for most of the later morning.  Suddenly, though, I noticed that the weather was much better than expected - rain had been forecast - and decided that it would be a good idea to go into the city on the ship's shuttle bus,  Practically racing back to my stateroom, I got ready and left Viking Venus at 0900.  I'd heard stories from my fellow passengers but was still rather shocked to learn that the ship was docked more than an hour from the city because my Google Maps seemed to indicate that we were probably only 10-15 miles away.  (Later, I learned that we could have had it far worse if we docked on the other side of the river...).  On the shuttle bus, we all had to sign our name and birth year ("for the driver's records") and then settled in for the long drive.  Part of the reason for the large amount of time was the very poor road conditions in the Industrial Port - the effects of the Typhoon didn't help...  We made our way into the suburbs of Ho Chi Minh City and the bus was soon making its way down narrow, busy streets.  I noticed a good amount of pollution (although most was hidden by tall trees and thick bushes).  We passed lots of open air markets, were surrounded by mopeds/scooters that fearlessly took on our motor coach, had to dodge careless pedestrians and were just generally in the middle of lots of chaos.  At one point, I noticed a funeral home (or casket store?) that shared a wall with a tattoo parlor.  Overall, there seemed to be no sense of order.  Meanwhile, I got to witness yet more Boomer rudeness (among themselves, with the driver, etc.).  At 1010, we finally arrived at Bitexco Tower and I spent the next 90 minutes walking (4+ miles) and visiting many local landmarks, including the Ho Chi Minh statue, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office, Municipal Theater (Opera House), Ben-Thanh Market and Reunification Palace (Independence Palace).  I’d hoped to attend Mass at the Cathedral but, sadly, the guards wouldn’t let me because the last morning service had already started.  Oh well.  Fortunately, it was relatively easy to find my way around the city and my situational awareness improved after I found a map.  Crossing the street was often required and I soon discovered that crosswalks were “advisory” for the scooters.  Near the end of my exploring, I had a few near death experiences while crossing the road to view the Saigon River.  Fortunately, I missed every motorized vehicle and they missed me too… Before heading back to Viking Venus, I bought a ticket to climb the Saigon Skydeck, located on the 49th Floor of the Bitexco Building.  From there, I got some wonderful views of many places I’d seen while walking.  Hoping to get on the 1230 shuttle, I returned to the assigned stop (at the base of the Bitexco Tower) by 1215 - immediately, though, we learned that the next bus was delayed for at least another 30 minutes.  I spent some time talking with passengers who live near Vancouver, WA but was also feeling concerned about how I was completely out of water.  I thought about purchasing another bottle but then started looking nearby for a place where I could get a local beer.  At "Rice Field", I ordered a "Bia Saigon Special" (I learned later that this only cost me about $3).  I tried to relax and cool down but this was hard because the bar had all their windows open.  The temps were in the high 80s and the humidity was well about 50% - as a result, I was fully soaked with sweat by the time I boarded the return shuttle at 1300.  After the delay, the bus was mostly full - there were a LOT of sick passengers all around me.  We made our way back towards the Port and I passed the time watching little vignettes of Vietnamese life: busy markets, crazy moped drivers, dogs in the street, school kids riding home, a funeral, building construction, moped repair, couples walking (hand in hand), bartering, churchgoers (including funeral attendees on the way to a cemetery), etc.  We arrived at Viking Venus at 1355 and I hurried to World Cafe - I was, fortunately, in time for lunch and I ate some "tide me over until dinner food" (pizza, pasta, fruits, gelato).  It was nice to be there at that time - the restaurant was almost empty.  Even so, I shouldn't have been surprised when two older couples from New Zealand asked me to join their table.  This kind of thing has happened a good bit since I got onboard.  Nigel and Marjorie were very interested in the story of my trip (2023) to NZ and we had a nice conversation.  Afterwards, I showered and changed clothes in anticipation of my afternoon excursion.  At 1545, I left Viking Venus again and got on the motor coach for my evening excursion called “Ho Chi Minh City by Night”. This return visit to the city included stops at several of the landmarks I’d seen in the morning.  Our guide asked us to call him “Mr. K” - he was a young man who grew up in Saigon (that's what he called it) - and our driver was Mr. Vinh.  To reach the downtown area, we took a different route to city, one that was much more commercial.  I'm not sure if this was the reason the drive was shorter or if we were heading into town when everyone else was leaving for the day.  In any case, we arrived at the Opera House by 1650.  Our guide pointed out a lot of old French hotels and then took us on a short walking tour close to the City Hall and the Promenade I'd walked through in the morning.  Mr. K told us that this area used to be a canal from the Saigon River but it had been filled in to create the impression of a Grand Avenue.  We continued on past Notre Dame and the Post Office.  Darkness had fallen by then and the temps/humidity had dropped - as a result, the experience was somewhat different.  Our guide pointed out one thing I’d definitely missed earlier: the building with the famous rooftop with a Huey chopper ("last helicopter out") from April 30, 1975.  Wow!  We got back on bus at about 1800 and made our way to Pasteur Street (where I’d been earlier in the day).  This next phase of the excursion was to eat dinner at a restaurant called Hoa Tuc (1815).  The Viking Venus Shorex Team had arranged a seven course meal: fish cakes, fish & pork “street tacos”, chicken salad, sea bass, watercress salad, fried rice and custard.  I also got another Saigon Special (beer). What a meal!  At my table, I met two couples from Oahu - one of them, Don, was very friendly and made all kinds of offers for me to join him and his friends for dinner if I return to Hawaii.  We;ll see if I actually get to share any contact information before the trip is over...  We were finished eating at 1920 and the evening wrapped up with another entertaining Water Puppet Show.  The differences between my experiences of this pageantry in both the North and South were striking but it was clear there were also some common themes.  For my part, I liked the local, rural flair of the performance by the residents of Yen Duc Village...  The performance finished at 2045 and we all had to wait while three buses loaded up underneath the narrow portico - it was raining but those bus driving whizzes managed to keep everyone dry during these evolutions.  They also managed to back out of the venue and on to a busy street - wow!  Meanwhile, the passengers around me were coughing like crazy.  On the way out of Ho Chi Minh City, we drove by the Independence Palace and passed through neighborhoods with brilliant lights shining on every building - too bad there was no chance for photos (glare, rain on windows, no real stop)...  We then made the long, monotonous slog to the Port.  We arrived at Viking Venus by 2200 and I quickly raced to my room in an attempt to settle down for bed in anticipation of my early morning excursion.  Fortunately, I was asleep by 2245.  Overall, the "Ho Chi Minh City by Night" tour was quite spectacular, with great food, interesting history and a wonderful performance.  It was a great day!  Hoping I can get another respite from the rain for tomorrow morning’s excursion

Southeast Asia Trip - Day 8

At Sea Day on Viking Venus!  For the second time in a week, we didn’t have a port call and it gave me time to supremely relax. I spent the overnight hours rocking peacefully with the waves raised by Typhoon Fengshen.  At some point, I woke up but decided that I could use some more sleep - as a result, I wasn't out of bed until very late (0730).  After that, I worked on puzzles, games and reading and then decided to take advantage of the onboard pools and spas.  A few years ago, I read a Danish book on the concept of “Hygge” (n. “something nice, cozy, safe and known, referring to a psychological state”) and went off in search of this ideal when I left the room.  My first stop was at the Main Pool, which was located on Deck 7.  Fortunately, there was hardly anyone else there when I arrived and was actually able to do some lap swimming (0.25 miles) for a short time.  Next, I soaked in the hot tub for about 15 minutes and talked to a few other guests who had recently arrived.  It was sprinkling and there were some interesting water patters developing on the glass roof overhead - that added to the relaxing feelings.  My next destination was the stern of Viking Venus, where I found the Infinity Pool completely empty.  It was still sprinkling but the outside air was so warm that it felt good to be in the pool.  I just floated for a while and then moved into the adjacent hot tub.  No one ever joined me during this window so I reached my fill of the outdoors.  After putting my robe and slippers back on, I made my way to Deck 1 so I could check out the Nordic Spa area.  Upon arrival, I was reminded of my 2024 experience onboard Viking Polaris.  However, not everything was exactly the same - the Viking Venus spa was smaller.  Fortunately, it did have the ice bucket room and I was (again) brave enough to dump the water over my head.  Next, I visited the Snow Grotto ("snow bath" for a short time), Steam Room (as long as I could stand it) and Experience Shower.  By this point, I'd tried every amenity I could find in the open areas.  So, I got in the pool and turned on the bubbles - they felt great on my lower back.  While I was relaxing, many other passengers began to arrive.  As a result, I was not able to go in the jacuzzi tub (too busy).  Instead, I went into the locker room and discovered a Sauna and Cold Plunge pool - I tried both (only made it half way into the pool) before I was done with my (overall) 90 minutes of Hygge.  After returning to my room, I changed into comfortable clothing and made my way to the World Cafe (0945).  By then, I'd worked up a big appetite and my breakfast consisted of pancakes, samples French toast, eggs, sausage, beans, fruit.  From the window of the restaurant, I saw several different kinds of birds and got a glimpse of the coastline of Vietnam.  After finishing my meal (1010), I went walking on the lower decks (1-3) that were pare of "The Atrium" - at one point, I watched a "Baggo" (Cornhole) match between the Crew and some Passengers.  At 1030, my tour of the Bridge began and I joined one of the junior officers (and energetic young man) as he walked us through the life of the Bridge Watch crew.  We got to see all of the whiz-bang equipment that the ship has for navigating, avoiding obstacles and monitoring passenger safety.  Here, again, Viking Venus was different than Viking Polaris - no dynamic positioning available in this case.  The hour we got on the Bridge learning about navigation, propulsion and Norwegian seafaring precision - along with a chance to sit in the Captain's seat - were big highlights of my day.  Before departing for my stateroom, I noticed a dry erase board that showed there were 837 guests onboard (more than 100 less than "fully booked").   Afterwards (1130), I went back to my room and started a load of laundry.  While waiting for the clothes to finish, I got to do some reading, filled out excursion survey and watched movies on the ship's entertainment system.  Along the way, I skipped lunch.  With laundry complete (ahh, that feels good), I decided to check out a full Teatime in the Wintergarden (1600) - more relaxation!  Next, I attended (in person) the Port Talk for our upcoming visit to Ho Chi Minh City (three days) in the Star Theater  (1630).  As soon as that was completed (1720), I went walking on the exercise loop (AKA "jogging track") on Deck 2.  The weather was hot and sticky, with a stiff breeze at some points. Even though I wasn't finished with my daily pedometer goal, I went back to my stateroom and changed clothes again.  Hoping to avoid the early dinner rush, I watched more movies, read books and sat out on my personal veranda deck.  At 1945, I went to dinner (pizza, lumpia, fried rice) at World Cafe.  Afterwards, I did some more walking on Deck 2 (reached 10K steps) before returning to my room for good.  I thought about going back out, possibly to check out Thorshavn (jazz lounge), but ended up reading and relaxing until bedtime (just after 2215).  What a great day of relaxing and recharging - life is good! 

Southeast Asia Trip - Day 7

There were heavy seas again during the night and the weather conditions (likely the effects of Typhoon Fengshen) were rainy & misty.  Once again, I was up early (0430) so made the best of things - I caught up on my blog, social media and some reading.  At 0600, I went walking on the Sun Deck - by that point, there was still no land visible.  The rain clouds, however, were VERY noticeable...  Before long (0630), I sat down to breakfast (eggs, sausage, croissants, beans, etc.) in the World Cafe - about halfway through my meal, I ended up joining Holly & Paul when they sat down nearby.  We had a good conversation - that's been a nice part of the cruise.  By 0730, Viking Venus docked at a port called Chan May so that we could take excursions to Hue or Danang.  While the crew was completing their post-docking procedures, I walked some more and then returned to my stateroom to relax.  Throughout this time, it was still very misty, with steady rain at times, and temps were in the 70s.  After what seemed like an eternity, I left the ship to join my excursion: “Hue Forbidden City” (it began at 0945).  With the rainy conditions, I was very glad to brought my rain gear.  Unlike yesterday, the tour bus was packed today and this made the drive of more than 60 minutes quite uncomfortable.  Initially, I sat with a couple from Utah and a couple from Arizona.  Near the front of the bus, there were a few other solo travelers (including Glenda, who I'd met the night before).  Tthe close quarters among the passengers and the resulting complaints that arose ultimately led me to meet Damian, the Cruise Director on Viking Venus. He was from the UK and I found him to be quite engaging and interesting.  He assured all of us that he would resolve the crowded conditions.  Before we could get some personal space back, though, we had to avoid getting stuck in mud on roads that were covered with water from the Typhoon.  Even when we found routes around the flooding, it was clear that water levels in all creeks and rivers were very high.  We eventually reached Vietnam Route 1 and the driving conditions got better.  Our tour guide called himself “Mr. Happy” and he spent most of our drive talking about the Ho Chi Minh Trail and Agent Orange.  Meanwhile, I looked out the window at the passing scenery.  I saw several churches on the way.  After reaching Hue (1115), we got a bathroom break at the Hotel Saigon Morin.  There was a bus swap of passengers (with another Viking group) and the seats opened up a little after that - Damian was true to his word.  Once we were back on the bus, we drove for another five minutes until we arrived at the district where the Hue Forbidden Purple City was located (1145).  The royal complex contained a citadel and several reconstructed buildings (most had been earlier destroyed during the Vietnam War).  We spent lots of time with "Mr. Happy", crossing the moats, learning about trees, visiting the throne room of the king (no photos allowed), marveling at artwork, touring the palaces, walking around the temples and generally getting drenched.  I noticed that our guide was very protective of his passengers but he also seemed to be skipping things like providing background on sights, showing people where there were available bathrooms (I found my own) and giving us time for photos.  His "my way or the highway" approach led me to stray farther and farther (although I kept within range of the QV).  Most of my exploring was in an attempt to find access to the Perfume River but I eventually concluded that it was too far away.  At one point, I noticed hundreds of birds rising from the trees growing in the moats and asked the guide what they were (he called them cranes).  Throughout our time in Hue, I went off on my own to get better views or explore interesting areas.  Eventually, though, the rest of the passengers practically revolted with the desire to return to the bus. "Mr. Happy" didn't seem to be in any particular hurry and we wandered back out of the Forbidden City by a strange/circuitous route.  With everyone onboard the bus again, we departed at 1330.  For my part, I was feeling very waterlogged...  We drove for another 15 minutes so we could tour the grounds of the seven level Thien Mu Pagoda, which is located on a bluff above the Perfume River.  To visit the iconic structure, though, we had to run a gauntlet of very pushy vendors.  I was using my umbrella but my whole body was SO wet that I felt like I might as well peel off my rain gear.  The views of the building and the river below were well worth the climb and wetness, though.  While "Mr. Happy" talked longer (keeping us in the rain), I decided to return to the bottom of the hill (where the bus was parked) and explored the edge of the river.  I saw an interesting “Dragon Boat” shuttle (might have been fun to hire) and then paid to use an antiquated bathroom.  Everyone else returned from the tour of the Pagoda but promptly got swept up in the vendor net - most people bought a cheap-knockoff item or two... We finally departed Hue at 1430 and began our return journey to Chan May.  The trip was supposed to be 60 minutes but we didn’t end up reaching the ship when we expected.  Instead, we detoured (though a mountain tunnel with a lot of traffic) to a jewelry business, Lagoon 2, located on the northwest corner of the An Cu (or Lap An or Lang Co) Lagoon.  The guide called this a bathroom break but it was all about sales - another tourist racket.  It was already 1600 by the time we arrived and most of us pointed out that we should have been back on the ship - "Mr. Happy" assured us that we'd make it to the Port before Viking Venus departed.  And, since Damian was with us, that reassured the crowd a bit and they began shopping.  Since I had no interest in buying anything, I walked along the shore of the Lagoon.  It had actually stopped raining by then and I got some great photos of the mountains, ocean and some traditional Vietnamese boats.  We finally got back on the bus after 20 minutes and then headed back through the mountain tunnel to reach Chan May.  Along the way, we passed lots of water buffalos and domestic cows.  After arriving at the ship (1650), I boarded and went straight to room so I could attempt to dry off - I was moderately successful.  I had time to worked on my travel blog and to call Geraldine (following up on her suggestion to get together for dinner) but had to leave a voicemail.  Before Viking Venus left the dock (1730). I completed a pre-tour questionnaire (food order) for Sihanoukville, Cambodia and dropped it off at guest services.  At 1800, I went to The Restaurant and got a solo table - before going inside, though, I told the staff at entrance I might be joined by Geraldine.  They actually knew who she was (I guess she's been a frequent guest since she got on the ship in Tokyo, weeks ago).  For dinner, I ordered the latest iteration of Destination Menu, which was comprised of three courses: Bo Tai Chan, Glazed Pork Tenderloin & Belly, Regal Black Truffle.  I had some good Cabernet Sauvignon with my meal, which I consumed rather quickly.  Actually, I was just about finished when Geraldine showed up (1945).  I'll admit that I was very surprised to see her but we had a nice chat, more wine and caught up on each others’ days.  Geraldine ordered some soup and I waited for her to finish before I had my dessert.  Everything was delicious.  Afterwards (2015), we departed for The Atrium and chatted in some relaxing chairs until the doors of the Star Theater opened for the scheduled performance of an Abba Tribute (2045).  Starting at 2100, we watched a good show - the young people replicated the Scandinavian band's look and sound very well.  Geraldine and I stayed for 30 minutes and then said goodnight.  After returning to my room, I spent the rest of the evening reading and watching a movie - bedtime was at 2230.  Despite the wet weather, it was another great day in Vietnam! Next stop = Ho Chi Minh City!

Southeast Asia Trip - Day 6

With the ship tied to the pier in Ha Long, Vietnam, I slept very well (only woke one time during the night and ended up needing my 0600 alarm).  I spent some of the morning doing puzzles and reading before getting ready for another day of excursions.  There was rain in forecast and some of the other tours got moved later in the day; however, mine stayed on schedule.  At 0700, I went to eat a quick breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, baguette, beans, fruits) at the World Cafe before leaving the ship at 0725.  After my epic sightseeing adventure yesterday, I opted out of another journey into the 2000 islands of Ha Long Bay and, instead, took a bus ride into the interior of (North) Vietnam for a tour called “A Glimpse of Yen Duc Village Life”.  I boarded the tour bus (not very full) and we departed the port by 0735.  At that point, the weather was quite pleasant (70s, overcast, sprinkles).  Our tour guide, Nam, was quite funny (driver = Phuc) and talked constantly about his bad “Vinglish”.  We drove for 60 minutes to the village of Yen Duc, which was located in a very rural area.  Along the way, I saw lots of interesting scenery, including mountains, rice paddies, cemeteries, a Catholic Church and several Buddhist temples - the latter locations were distinguished by five color flags in front of the complex.  The guide's (political) commentary was also interesting and there were times that I wondered if someone in the Vietnamese government might object to things he said about them...  Upon arrival at Yen Duc, we had to walk for about 200 yards because the bus couldn’t fit in the narrow town streets.  For those who were "mobility impaired", there were golf carts - several people used them.  We arrived at the Yen Duc Water Puppet Theater by 0850 and were greeted by friendly villagers who gave us cups of rice tea.  We then settled into a delightful performance (a traditional pastime of the local rice farmers and fishermen) which consisted of short vignettes of villager life enacted by (fig) wood puppets.  There were various human characters, fish, dragons, ducks, oxen and a pair of Phoenixes that acted out scenes for rice planting and harvesting, fishing with wooden baskets and “animal courtships”.  I very much enjoyed the presentation and was impressed when the puppeteers (all local women) came out for a bow.  Next, our guide explained the background of the conical hats that women have traditionally worn in Vietnam - each has 16 rows of rings around the middle to signify the "perfect year" of a woman’s life.  There were plenty of pretty flowers and artistic displays in the Puppet Theater complex.  We then walked about 100 yards to reach the local temple (Chua Canh Huong) and toured the grounds there while the Guide provided additional commentary.  He explained that Buddhists are not allowed to pray for money, which is a temporal, earthly reward, but pray for almost anything else they desire.  While wandering away from the group, I found several areas (grotto, bell tower) where I was the only human visible - it was nice to experience the temple in some kind of solitude...  After this, we walked through rice paddies to the home of a local family and they gave us a fishing demo, which consisted of catching carp with baskets in the family pond.  Some of my fellow passengers got to try the fishing themselves (that as pretty funny to watch).  As we were leaving, I asked one of the family members some questions about the “fish farm” and was told about the distinction between harvest (all fish the same) and the family pond (random fish breeding).  The young woman of the family, who must have liked my questions, offered me some "mini bananas" - they tasted pretty good.  When we departed from her home, I captured several memorable images: mountains, rice paddies, glass shards embedded in wall (for security), roving plant salesman on a motorbike.  After we reached the Water Puppet Theater, we got a demonstration of  traditional rice processing (milling, pounding, sifting).  When I asked the young lady who was providing this glimpse of local life whether she learned the skills for work or if her family had taught her, she responded that she needed the skills to get married!  Once our visit to Yen Duc was completed, we walked the few hundred yards back to the bus.  As we began our drive back to Ha Long (1110), I reflected on the excursion and concluded that the people in the little village of Yen Duc were very friendly - they showed their enthusiasm in every daily task they demonstrated.  I'm very glad that I’d ventured away from civilization to learn more about the citizens of Vietnam.  During our return journey, it was interesting to watch the many motor bikes and school kids in their uniforms.  The surprising political commentary continued and I was blown away by the apparent honesty we were receiving.  An example included Nam's belief that the protection of tourists was much more important to the government than the protection of its own citizens.  We arrived at Viking Venus just after noon and, after dropping my belongings at my room, I went to lunch at the Pool Grill.  This was my first visit and (after I figured out how it worked) I ended up ordering a Viking Burger with fries.  The food was very good and one of the activities managers gave me a special (apple) smoothie from the Pool Bar.  During my meal, I found myself sitting in a tall chair, right next to some tall glass, high above the water - not a place for someone concerned about heights to sit!  Since my lunch didn’t include a dessert and I still had a full beer, I went to Mamsen’s and got a "Napoleonscake", relaxing in the bar area there before returning to my room.  Feeling a bit tired, I tried to take a nap but wasn’t really successful (I might have dozed for about 30 minutes).  Meanwhile (1330), Viking Venus departed Ha Long.  Once I'd given up on sleep, I spent the afternoon reading and watched movies. Then, at 1730, I attended a Viking Explorers Club event in The Atrium - as a former traveler with Viking, I was entitled to some Champagne!  During this event, I was wearing my Notre Dame shirt and this attracted the attention of a lady named Geraldine, who I later learned was also a solo traveler.  She explained that she was a widow who was trying to completed all the items on the Bucket List she’d shared with her husband.  We had a good conversation until we both had to depart for dinner reservations.  She suggested we meet up the next day and I agreed.  Next, I headed to The Restaurant, where I met serval other guests at one of the “shared tables” they offered passengers.  One of them was an older lady named Glenda, a solo traveler from Australia.  Later, I learned there were 19 solo travelers - to this point, though, I’ve only met three...  For dinner, I enjoyed a traditional Vietnamese meal (Pho Ga, Cha Muc Ha Long, Secola Cuon Chuoi Mua Xuan).  Everything was very exotic and delicious.  Afterwards, I went walking (finished my 10K steps).  Back in my room, I discovered a traditional Vietnamese fan, which turned out to be a gift from Guest Services.  With the time I had left before bed, I competed an excursion survey and watched the Port Talk recording for Hue / Chan May.  After updating my family about my activities on social media, I watched a movie - this caused me to stay awake until 2215.  As I closed my eyes, Viking Venus continued south along the Vietnamese coast - we were still dodging the effects of Typhoon Fengshen.  Crossing fingers that my day in Hue won't be too wet or windy!

Southeast Asia Trip - Day 5

Overnight, the rough seas continued.  I'm not sure it is related but I woke at 0200 (feeling fully rested) and didn't really sleep again.  As a result, I had started my day in earnest by 0430 and spent over an hour reading, catching up on puzzles and making blog entries.  At 0600, I went up to the Sun Deck and got photos of our arrival in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.  Ancient legends claim that the nearly 2000 islands on the edge of the Gulf of Tonkin were deposited by a dragon.  The many distinctive limestone cliffs stand out of the water like moss covered mushrooms - passing through them on Viking Venus this morning in the morning mist was quite surreal.  It was still very windy but the seas were calmer.  While trying to do some birding, I found out that the I Merlin App was only 24% accurate - oh well.  At 0620, I got breakfast (eggs, bacon, baguettes, beans, fruit) at the World Cafe.  The place was a madhouse and I'm really starting to miss Viking Polaris...  With my meal completed, I did some more walking before returning to my room (0700).  During my wanderings, it became clear that there aren't a lot of solo travelers.  While I’ve only met a handful of the other 850ish passengers, almost all are older couples.  With the time I still had before the excursions began, I reviewed more info about Ha Long Bay in my guide books.  At one point, I noticed that my landing card had been delivered to my stateroom - we've been told we must carry it whenever we are off the ship.  Before 0800, I did my best to pack for the day.  Before the cruise began, I’d planned three excursions for this Port Call: paddling and two boat (“junk”) rides.  Changes in the ship’s excursion schedule, however, forced me to make adjustments.  Fortunately, I'd had some help (from Guest Services) to getting on a full day cruise among the pretty islands but the following day was up in the air.  Viking Venus docked at Long Pier 0810 and, at 0830, I went down to Deck 1 to get some small change (for tips) from Guest Services.  Fortunately, I also got water from the bartender at “The Living Room”.  When the ship's crew gave the word, the passengers started disembarking to the waiting tour buses.  By 0845, I was onboard a large motor coach.  When we started moving, I thought we had a long way to go to reach the tour boats - however, we only traveled about 200 yards to where the Ha Long Bay cruise tours departed.  I guess everyone needs to get paid...  After a short walk along the pier, we boarded a Junk for our tour of the bay (0920) and met our local tour guides, “Angela” & “Ken” (they claimed their Vietnamese names were too hard for us).  From them, we learned how to say hello (sounds like “Shin Tao”) and thank you (sounds like “Komun”).  Meanwhile, we were pushed to buy lots of local goods from the crew on the boat - this was another racket that I guess will be commonplace for the entire cruise.  One interesting part of the tour was that we could only drink canned water; the rules restricting plastic (of all kinds) were very strict in this UNESCO Heritage Area.  For some reason ("the Captain is not on the ship" might have been part of it), we had a long delay in getting started and only departed from boat pier at 1000.  During this time, I met Randy, the first solo traveler I’ve encountered on the cruise and learned that he'd been a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.  Once we departed land, we crossed Ha Long Bay in the direction of the island where Sung Sot (AKA Surprise) Cave was located.  Sadly, we got no assistance from the guides on the names of the different islands that I'd read about in my books about Vietnam...  I spent time walking on the upper deck of the junk - there were many, many tankers and fishing boats to see (and avoid).  The weather was windy, overcast and comparatively cool (70s).  After jockeying for position among many other, similar, boats, our junk pulled up to a long pier so we could disembark (1115).  Entry into Sung Sot Cave required a huge climb (lots of stairs) and waiting in a long queue of people.  Throughout the tour, it was hard to stay with guides - we tried very hard but the group kept getting spread out among the many other visitors.  After our climb, we then had to descend into the cave on more steps.  Inside, we were treated to a lot of cool formations (e.g., monkey, lion, turtle, phallus, etc.) made from the limestone falling from the roof of the cave.  The huge rooms actually had a lot of natural lighting and this made it easy for us to walk (probably a mile) inside.  We were informed that this cave was used by the NVA as a hiding place during the Vietnam War. For the first time, we got to hear how the locals felt about that conflict and their opinions were quite mixed and nuanced.  To exit, we again had to walk up lots of steps and then down more steps to water level.  Once I'd lost the rest of the group (many of whom were struggling to navigate the steps), I was one of the first to arrive at the pier.  I was able to board the junk at 1215 but then had to wait for 20 minutes before the rest of the group were onboard.  By then, I was quite hungry but discovered that no food (or even extra water) would be provided.  For free, that is...  Knowing we would miss lunch on the Viking Venus, I ordered fried noodles ($7 USD) & Halong Sapphire beer ($2 USD) from the “Lady of the Boat” (that's what they called her).  After departing the island, we rode on the junk for 15 minutes to reach Titov or Titop Island.  As before, there were lots of other boats waiting to land their passengers.  Once we were on land, we were told we had about 30 minutes to explore the beach and, if we wanted, climb a tall hill on the island.  Hoping to see the legendary view I'd read and heard about, I joined a few hardy souls from our tour group in climbing the 432 steps to the top of the island.  Sadly, the hike had a queue.  Once I reached the top, the views of the many surrounding islands were spectacular.  I also enjoyed the breeze at the higher elevation.  Unfortunately, I had to follow another huge line of people on the way down to the shoreline.  Upon (finally) reaching the bottom, I walked on the beach - the place was very commercial (even bathrooms cost money).  With the overcast and limited time, I didn’t end up going in the water (although I did touch it).  Instead, I got back on the boat (1345) and we headed back towards the Port.  I was very pleased to be able to get fully immersed in the natural “wonder of the world” today!  During the ride back to Viking Venus, I spoke more with my "table mates": Randy and Ayal & Lemur (originally from Israel but now living in California).  At around this time, I exchanged $1 for some Vietnam Dong.  This must have inspired our hosts because then I got a request of the “Lady of the Ship” to exchange five $20 bills for one $100 bill - hope that doesn’t bite me later... We arrived at the pier by 1500 and I tipped our tour guides - we then had to do same drill (a 200 yard bus ride) to reach Viking Venus.  After boarding the ship (1530), I visited Guest Services and signed up for my next day’s excursion.  By then, almost everything was sold out but I was able to reserve a spot on the Yen Duc Fishing Village tour.  Sadly, kayaking fell off the calendar for me but I'm OK with that.   Back in my room, I relaxed for a while before heading to Teatime in the Wintergarden venue (1630).  They offered me scones, hand sandwiches, mini desserts and some delicious peppermint herbal tea .  During this relaxing interlude, I had time to consider what I wanted to do for the rest of the evening.  I'd started to formulate a plan to the cable car (gondola) that crosses the head of the bay and and decided to take the complimentary shuttle into Ha Long.  So, at 1700, I boarded one of the buses and rode it through busy, crowded and narrow streets.  We soon crossed the giant bridge, which paralleled the path of the cable car, and I got clear views of Viking Venus and the massive Ferris Wheel on the highest point of land nearby.  Overall this turned out to be a very interesting (and unexpected) route but, unfortunately, it dropped me off VERY far from the cable car entrance (1725).  With the bus stop in Ha Long City Center (VinCom Plaza), I wasn't sure what to do next.  I asked the on-site Viking Rep, a young man named Loc, for help and he first told me that I could not access the cable car from the east side of Ha Long Bay.  When I explained that I was interested in views of the bay and, maybe, visiting a stunning Buddhist Temple complex that I'd seen on a high cliff above the city, Loc spoke to a cab driver about taking me to the top of the hill - he even set up a rate in US dollars ($10)!  Armed with an assurance that my shuttle bus ride was not wasted, I was happy when the cabbie drove me to the top of the hill.  At one point, he appeared to be trying to convince a security guard to let me inside - fortunately, he was successful,  By the time we reached the summit, the sun had set.  However, this made the temple, Chùa Bảo Hải Linh Thông, even more beautiful and interesting!  In the dim light, I took many pictures.  Nearby, the Ferris Wheel was brightly lit, the cable cars were colorful and the city skyline looked very cool.  Viking Venus was also well lit at its berth in the harbor.  Meanwhile, the cabbie was very patient and gave me all the time I needed for a wonderful experiene.  Once we departed the temple, we drove back downhill, stopping in a few places so I could take more photos of Viking Venus.  Back at VinCom Plaza (1815), I paid the cabbie double the agreed fare (he was VERY surprised) and then checked out the inside of the Mall.  While getting ready to get back on the bus, I spent some time getting to know Loc a bit better.  He told me that about 100 passengers had used bus to the VinCom Plaza Mall during the day.  After thanking him (with a tip too), I got back on the Viking shuttle bus (1830) and headed back to the ship (following the reverse route of my outbound leg) to the Port.  I was the only passenger... One big difference in this (20 minute) ride, though, was that the driver stopped to get some takeout from a lady on a scooter.  Along the way, I saw several dogs wearing red jackets - not sure what that was about.  After getting off the bus, I located Loc’s boss and told her about his superior service (she was very pleased).  Once onboard the ship (1855), I remembered that the World Cafe was still open so I went to eat a light dinner (turkey, various green beans, white bean soup, pasta, chocolate fountain, beer).  Finished with my meal (1920), I returned to my room and I completed an online excursion survey, did some blogging and updated my family on social media.  There was even a bit of time for watching a movie before I felt tired enough (2145) to go to sleep.  What a day full of spectacular views!

Southeast Asia Trip - Day 4

Viking Venus was "swaying" all night but I mostly slept alright until I woke up unexpectedly at 0330.  Fortunately, I was able to fall back to sleep relatively easily.  While transiting, our ship moved into a new time zone (clocks "fell backwards") and I woke up for real at the “new” 0600.  As usual, I spent time reading, doing puzzles, etc. Along the way, I watched the rather big waves that were visible through my balcony window - we were still on the fringes of Typhoon Fengshen.  The good news, though, was that we were approaching Hainan Island, which I assumed would provide some cover from the wind and waves.  With this hope in mind, I went to breakfast (meats, beans, roll, croissants, potatoes) at the World Cafe (0700).  While there, I met some new people (Valerie & Richard and Cheryl, who were part of a group of eight friends on a cruise together) and watched tanker ships that were paralleling our course.  The Captain made an announcement that we had to keep to a strict schedule in order to transit through Qiongzhou Strait (AKA Hainan Channel).  Fortunately, the sea conditions began to improve almost immediately after he was finished talking and land came into sight.  Back in my room, I changed into workout gear and headed to the gym, where I biked for 20 minutes (7 miles) and enjoyed some good views out of the windows there.  Next, I returned to my stateroom and got ready for my meeting with the cruise coordinator, Wes.  This meeting, scheduled for 0900, had initially been planned for me to sign up for a new Viking Cruise to India in 2027.  Unfortunately, this was sold out and I had to "settle" for a British Isles cruise during the same timeframe. After saying goodbye to Wes, I visited Guest Services to set up another tour (Bayeux Tapestry).  Once again, I returned to my room and did more reading, completed some cruise customer satisfaction surveys, watched the Port Talk Briefing for Hong Kong (just to see if I’d missed anything) and watched an enrichment video about Trade in Southeast Asia.  At 1215, I went to lunch (meatloaf, veggies, meat & cheese, red wine) at the World Cafe.  I should mention that I encountered many seasick people everywhere I went - there were also that apparently had respiratory illnesses that they were trying to share with me (SMH).  Throughout the day, I attempted to do some birding on the Sun Deck - I even used binoculars but never saw a single bird.  That ends a pretty long streak (over 80 days)...  Instead, I watched lots of fishing boats, channel markers and activities in the cities on both sides (Hainan Island and Mainland China) of the Qiongzhou Strait.  Overall, we had a relatively easy day in Chinese territorial waters. At 1330, I took a Bayeaux Tapestry Tour with Tom Maca, the Ship’s Historian.  On each deck, there was a 10X blow up of a section (about 20 total) of the 230 foot embroidery - the Historian gave background on the overall story and guided us through all the panels.  This tour was very interesting!  I later returned to my room (once again) and spent time resting, watching movies and keeping up with social media.  Departing my stateroom again (1530), I took a Galley Tour; our guide was Chef Love.  We visited the kitchens for the Chef’s Table and Manfredi’s - we also met some of the Sous Chefs and learned about shipboard culinary management.  Afterwards, I tried some ginger candy (it is supposed to help people with nausea) - it tasted OK.  Before dinner, I walked some more on the Sun Deck.  By then, we'd started to exit the Qiongzhou Strait and the wind, drizzle, swells had resumed.  The wind farms we passed as the land receded in the distance seemed appropriately placed... During another visit to my room, I saw that I had a message from Guest Services - they helped me fix the schedule for my first day in Halong Bay (with suggestions for resolving issues on the second day) and it made me feel better than I had yesterday.  Next, I watched the Port Talk (live) for Halong Bay.  When this ended (1800), I made my way The Restaurant, a place I'd learned required "smart casual" dress but didn't require a reservation.  As I entered, one of the servers asked “is your wife feeling better?”  After I responded that it would have been a surprise if I arrived without a wife but found one on the ship, the server responded that I had "one of those familiar faces."  This is NOT the first time I've heard that so I smiled and sat down at the table they provided (empty seat across from me).  For dinner, I had a good Caesar salad, red-wine chicken casserole and baked Alaska (capped off with beer).  Meanwhile, the sea state picked up significantly... Finished with dinner (1845), I walked around the ship (attempting to finish my step goal).  Along the way, I enjoying some beautiful orchestral covers of pop songs in The Atrium.  My final stop at the room (1930) gave me time to read up (in my travel books) on the upcoming port visit (Ha Long Bay).  I also watched movies and did some blogging before finally going to bed at 2045.  Today was a very relaxing day but I'm excited about waking up in Vietnam tomorrow!

Southeast Asia Trip - Day 3

Overnight, I'd been kept awake for much of the night be crew doorways opening/closing and had actually stayed up (reading) from 0200 to 0400.  Fortunately, I was able to get back to sleep again and made it all the way to 0600 before my alarm told me I needed to get out of bed.  I spent some time organizing and getting ready for the first excursion of the cruise.  Also did some reading and puzzles.  Even though I had some lingering indigestion from the previous few days, I went to breakfast (eggs, breakfast sandwich, sausage, beans, fruit, etc.) at the World Cafe (0700).  The venue was so crowded that I ended up eating my food on aft patio (outside) of Deck 7.  One side benefit of this, though, was that I had a great view of Hong Kong.  Afterwards, I went to Guest Services and made a reservation at Manfredi’s for my evening meal.  Since I'd brought my mini backpack with me when I left the stateroom, I was able to leave the ship by 0735.  Throughout the morning, there was chatter about how Typhoon Fengshen (T3) was approaching - hopefully, it won't affect our trip...  At 0745, I met the tour bus (#36) on the ground level of the Ocean Terminal - Angie was tour guide for the "Postcards from Hong Kong" tour.  During this window, I accidentally signed up for another day of AT&T International Plan.  Our tour departed Kowloon, which means "nine hopping dragons", at 0800.  We drove to HK via the Cross Harbour Tunnel and learned about the surrounding Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China.  There are as many as 250 islands in the area and we got a real feel for the history and architecture of the city.  Before long, we were parked at the Victoria Peak Tram, the quickest way to the top (via a 30%ish grade) of the city.  There was a lot of confusion among the older couples in my group about use of the QuietVox (assists in allowing the guide to talk to everyone through an earpiece) but I could hear Angie just fine.  We were encouraged to use the restroom before boarding the tram and then got onboard.  On the way up, we were serenaded by Mickey Mouse Club music.  Upon arriving at the Peak, I went walking around on the trails (including Pok Fu Lam Country Park) while everyone else took romantic-style photos from the viewpoints.  We all had to assemble again at 0940 so that we could board the tour bus again.  We made our way down the mountain but the bus had to stop repeatedly due to narrow streets.  We learned that the whole area is comprised of granite hills.  We had great views of city on the way down and Angie pointed out landmarks, including a “purple donut” that houses a sports stadium built on site of the old HK airport.  I learned that the city's name comes from the Chinese for "fragrant sandlewood (Hong)) and "harbor" (Kong).  Our next destination, Aberdeen, was the original settlement on Hong Kong Island.  It featured a busy wholesale fish market, fancy yachts and messy fishing boats.  After parking at a business building (Hing WaI Centre) along the waterfront, we rode the elevator to the 23rd Floor.  On the way, I had to listen to the Boomers correcting the guide’s English - this could be a long trip... The Aberdeen Jewelry Factory turned out to be the "daily racket" that I've heard about before; the tour guides and bus drivers take a captive audience of shoppers to a place where they obviously get a cut.  Most of the other passengers were in heaven, though, since they apparently came on this trip to shop.  For my part, I took advantage of the free drinks that were offered.  We finally moved on at about 1100 and drive a short distance to the harbor (located on the south side of HK Island), where we rode in a Sampan for 10 minutes.  The ride was simply a closer look at what we'd seen from the road but I found it fascinating to make our way between the slips and wharves.  At one point, I started wondering about a castle-looking building on a nearby hill but no one said anything about it (I figured out later that it was probably the Holy Spirit Seminary).  During this time, I met a few of my fellow passengers, including Anthony & Ruth, who were convinced that Viking cruises (including the Antarctica Expedition) were for "older people who weren't in shape."  I tried to disabuse them of this notion but don't feel I was successful...  At 1130, departed for Stanley - on the way, we passed Repulse Bay beach and Deepwater Bay.  When we arrived at our destination, Stanley Market, I once again blew off the shopping opportunity and went walking on beach.  While I was experimenting with the Merlin app, I learned that it was only 40% reliable in HK.  It's too bad because there were several interesting looking (and sounding) birds that I couldn't identify.  While exploring the old town, I found a few temples (including Tin Hau and Pak Tai), marveled at the many old (Banyan) trees and stopped for photos along the waterfront, Ma Hang Park and George Murray House.  After working up a sweat, I sat down for a beer at Somersby/Spiaggia (1235) because of persistent manager who accosted me on the street.  The tall beer was good and I managed to exchange some dollars for HK coins.  My last 20 minutes was spent with a quick trot through Stanley Market.  It was an interesting place, filled with lots of strange-looking wares and busy shops.  I was surprised to find a Christian store (it also had a church upstairs) and spent some time talking to the clerk.  By  this time, it had gotten very warm (80s) and my shirt showed the evidence...  I met my bus at 1300 and we backtracked towards the ship.  After mostly passing familiar landmarks, we took the Aberdeen Tunnel.  This route took us past the old cemetery that had burials of people from seven different religions.  We also passed the Happy Valley Race Track.  Using the Cross-Harbour Tunnel again, we reached Kowloon and were at the Ocean Terminal by 1345.  After I cleared security and reboarded Viking Venus, I made it to the World Cafe in time for lunch (pizza, meats, cheeses, fruits, etc.) - got some beer too.  I noticed that the “China themed” meal selections continued in the dining venue.  During this time, I learned that my paddling excursion in Halong Bay had been moved and this caused a conflict with another event I had scheduled on the same day.  Hoping to easily sort out the situation, I sat down with Guest Services to try to fix things.  Unfortunately, I got bad news on the logistics and, in frustration, ended up canceling all of my events for the two days in the hope of going on standby for one or more of them.  After this delay, I was finally able to leave the ship for some more exploring by 1445.  I first headed through the Harbour City Mall until I could access the Tsim Sha Tsui.  Along the way, I saw the Kowloon-Canton Clock Tower.  After that, I walked along the Avenue of Stars (Jackie Chan hand prints, and Bruce Lee had a statue).  The harbor was busy with boats and the walkways were filled with Fine Young Things who seemed to be posing for their social media accounts.  I turned around before reaching the Kowloon Promenade and then went walking on surface streets until I could access (via a flag & statue lined staircase) the eastern gate of Kowloon Park.  It was a beautiful place, with lots of greenery, a China Garden, Aviary, etc.  Everything was so interesting and different from home and I ambled casually through quiet halls and around garden ponds.  Eventually, I found a way out of the park on the west side.  Almost immediately, I found Dolphin Plaza and good views of the harbor.  After this, I had trouble getting down to Canton Street.  All told, I logged about 8.5 miles!  It was still very warm (80s) but I walked quickly until I reached the Ocean Terminal (1600).  Unlike before, I had to clear Immigration with an "eyes on" check - fortunately, the ship's crew had my passport handy.  I learned later that I was one of only about 50 (of the nearly 900 passengers) who hadn't yet finished the check.  Back on the ship again, I headed to my room and got the tickets for my canceled excursions - I took them to Guest Services.  Once again, I encountered many pushy Boomers (line cutting, bothering the staff who were helping me, etc.).  Fortunately, I'm in relax mode and just let it all slide.  While there, I scheduled tours of the Galley and Bridge for upcoming "At Sea" days.  After finally feeling ready to take a real break, I showered in my room and then relaxed until 1730, when the ship started running required drills before the embarkation.  At 1745, I tried to attend an Enrichment Lecture related to the launch.  When it was delayed, I had some bread and wine in the World Cafe.  We finally started moving and I sat in a deck chair so I could enjoy the scenery.  The well-lit receding city skyline was beautiful - everything was alight and those lights were literally "dancing".  While we were heading east through the harbor, I was struck by the almost silent traffic on the highways paralleling our course.  I had a few WhatsApp exchanges with Steve and thanked him for the nice visit.  He was quite concerned about our ship's path because of the impending Typhoon but I assured him that I had faith we'd be OK.  At 1845, I went to Manfredi’s for my special dinner.  After sitting down at one of the "shared" tables, I met two other couples (Holly & Paul from Bend, OR) & an older couple from New Orleans).  For my meal, I ordered pasta e fagiole soup, risotto funghi and grilled veggies.  Everything was delicious and I enjoyed some red wine with the food.  For dessert, I had a tasty tort.  Along the way, Viking Venus started moving a lot (with the big waves and wind).  We lost at least one person from the table queasy feelings) and I started to make comparisons between my Viking Expedition and Viking Ocean cruises.  When dinner was finished, I went to join the Departure Celebration in the Theater (2100).  The crew offered Champagne and introduced themselves.  I was surprised that the event devolved into a lounge act - I didn't think Viking had those but I guess the Ocean voyages do.  I left the celebration (before it was over) at 2130.  Back in my room, I worked on my blog, did some reading and watched some of the “Sand Pebbles” (filmed in HK).  Bed time was at 2300.  The only sad thoughts I had while turning off the lights was that I never got to see my childhood friend, Tim T.  Oh well.  The motion of the ocean was quite vigorous as I drifted off to sleep - this should be an interesting transit to our first Port Visit: Vietnam!