Sihanoukville – Cambodia

Monday March 7th

This morning we took a tour of Sihanoukville a port city in Southern Cambodia. The name ‘Sihanouk’ is formed from two Sanskrit words : Siha and Hanu. Siha means Lion and Hanu means Jaw so therefore it means Jaws of the Lion and we saw many statues of lions around the city.

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We visited a local school that is provided free by the city for the kids and also a village house to see how the locals live. We also visited the Wat Krom Temple which depicts the life of Buddha. Afterwards we went to the Sokha Beach Resort where we had a barbeque lunch after which we swam in the clear warm waters. Vance then had a beach massage – typical!!

We should have set sail at 5:30pm but one person had left their passport at Angor Wat and the ship had to send a courier all the way back to collect it which delayed the sailing till 10:30pm – the Captain was none too pleased!!

World Cruiser’s Ice Cream Party

Sunday March 6^{th -}

Day at sea cruising the South China Sea on our way to Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

We world cruisers have been invited to an ice cream party hosted by the ships officers held at the outer desk of the ships spa at 3:30pm. We arrived to find the officers dressed in large white aprons which they had decorated with pictures and words of their own choice.

We were then given our own blank white aprons and felt tips pens to decorate and annotate our own apron in any way we choose. We were also given lampshade hats that they wear in Vietnam to keep off the afternoon sun – and keep the ice cream from melting too quickly!!

Huge choice of ice creams with decorations like nuts, chocolate sauces, fruits…etc…you name it they had it.,,,delicious.

I decorated my apron by getting the officers including the Captain to sign their names or write a message – keep it clean gentlemen please!!

Vance get Melissa, the assistant cruise director to decorate his with the wording ‘ Wish I Had A Big Scoop’ – some of the officer’s aprons were more original but just as saucy!!

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Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam

Friday March 4^th

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Arrive Ho Chi Minh City also known as Saigon and is the largest city in Vietnam.

Went shopping in the hot and really humid market and managed to buy some good bargains – real authentic copies – a Jimmy Choo bag and a pair of flattie shoes for me and golf shirts for Vance. Didn’t get the watch I haggled for – more haggling lessons for me: Note to self – ‘Must Do Better’

This evening we went to the Rex Hotel made famous by the American high command who used it as a base in the Vietnam War. The hotel was built in 1927 during the French colonial rule and is very ornate and opulent.

We had cocktails and local delicacies on the roof top terrace – with sweeping views of the city at night – followed by a performance of Vietnamese music and dance.

Saturday March 5^th

Still in Saigon and back to the market again to practice my newly honed haggling skills and they worked!! More shirts and a pair of ‘Converse’ shoes for Vance and for me a lovely white cotton top with Vietnamese lettering down the front – hope it doesn’t say anything rude!

Back to our home from home for our 12 o’clock beer and lunch ready for our 3pm sail away on route to Cambodia.

Cruising To Vietnam

Monday February 28^th

First day with our new bridge teachers as Pat and George Bettes left us in Hong Kong. Only four of us continuing so we have started a break away group as the ‘newbie’ beginners are starting from scratch.

We are starting the home journey today as we are now heading westward at 55 days into our ‘Sojourn’

Clocks back one hour tonight so we are now 7 hours ahead.

Tuesday March 1^st

Arrived in Cai Lan in the north region of Vietnam and took a tour to Halong Bay which literally means “Decending Dragon Bay” and is a UNESCO world heritage site. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts in all shapes and sizes. We sailed around  the bay in a traditional junk which was interesting but not very comfy on the bum!!

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Wednesday March 2nd

Day at sea today on our way to Ho Chi Minh city – the old Saigon. Tonight we danced under the stars – only the second time since LA as all the others were moved to The Club due to being “rained off”. We danced all evening on deck – the old legs will pay the price tomorrow morning.

Thursday March 3^rd

Still at sea so we will be having a lazy day on deck and catching up with the gossip.

It’s fascinating to watch the dynamic of the ship. There are some people who are like magnets (Vance!!) and other people naturally gravitate towards them, wanting to speak to them and be part of a group….then others just sit alone or in their pairs and hardly seem to mix at all. Guess it’s a good thing we are all different or life could get very boring!!

Hong Kong

Saturday Febrauary 26^th

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Today is another change over day so it’s time to say goodbye to more friends that we’ve made on the cruise. Sad to say goodbye but that’s what holidays are about but amongst the 250 new guests (newbies) boarding today hopefully we’ll make a few new ones.

Walked the Nathan Road this morning looking but not buying…yet…then back for the ritual 12 o’clock beer which was waiting for us on the strike of 12!!

After lunch we intended to go to the Ladies Market but didn’t quite make it but instead spent the afternoon on deck ‘chilling’ – bliss!!

Sunday February 27^th

We went out shopping for ‘real’ copies. Vance bought an iPhone 4 for 400 hong kong dollars – about £35 – hope it works when we get back home. He’s hoping to write an ‘App’ for our theinternetgolfclub.com website when he gets home and told me needs the phone to practice on – yeh right!!

Caviar sail-away party this afternoon at 5pm with all the new excited guests and we say goodbye to the beautiful Victoria Harbour and HK Island.

Cruising The Sula Sea And South China Sea To Hong Kong

Wednesday February 23rd & 24^th

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We have two days at sea and guess what??? – yes it’s sunny hip hip hooray!! – good to just relax on deck after all the touring and walking we’ve done over the past few days…It’s time to top-up the tan.

Friday February 25^th

7am Pyjama Sail-in Party on the front lower deck for World Cruise guests only - not the Seggers (that’s what we call the guests who are only doing segments of the cruise. Great fun in the early morning sunshine. Bucks fizz, tea, coffee and English muffins but we will of course go for our usual breakfast later at 8am.

Dentist for Vance again (boo hoo) but this time the dental practice is in the arrival terminal’s shopping mall on the 11^th floor – a private practice (no NHS here!!) and really posh which was reflected in the cost!!

This afternoon we did the city highlights tour to Hong Kong Island – Victoria Peak, Aberdeen Bay and Stanley Market. We started with a coach ride to the funicular lower station and rode the train up to the Victoria Peak (1805 feet high) where we had stunning views of the Island and mainland Kowloon.

From there we went to Aberdeen Harbour and boarded a junk for a trip past the old houseboats and one of the floating restaurants that looked like an Imperial Palace. After that we travelled on to Deepwater Bay & Repulse Bay where the beaches are protected by shark proof nets!! We finished with a shopping trip to Stanley Market – mostly tat but Vance did manage to get a Greg Norman golf shirt for a few dollars….original of course!!.

Re-Crossing The Equator & Cruising The Sulu Sea To Sandakan Borneo

Sunday February 20th

Happy anniversary to us. Today we celebrated our 3^rd wedding anniversary but as you all know we have been together for 28 years!!

Executive chef Graeme (from Scotland) told us he’d like to prepare a ‘special’ meal for us so what would we like…Lobster Thermidor, Filet Mignon etc etc…but guess what????...we chose the following:

No Starter

Main Course: English style roast chicken (skin on) with roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, peas, carrots & gravy.

Dessert: Apple pie & custard. ……Bliss….

We also re-crossed the equator going north today but as I am now a ‘shellback’ not a pollywog (see previous blog) I could enjoy the other pollywogs going through their rite of passage ceremony.

Monday February 21st

Vance broke the side off another tooth today….poor old bugger…so we’ll need to get a quick visit to the dentist when we get to Hong Kong.

Tuesday February 22nd

Sandakan – which means Orang Utans sanctuary visit day at last. Have been waiting for this since we joined the ship in LA and although it was wonderful to see the animals in an almost natural habitat it was also a bit disappointing as we only saw a couple of mothers with little babies and we were not allowed to touch them.

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Took some great photos but also cheated and supplemented them with a few poster shots. Following the wildlife sanctuary we visited a Buddhist temple at the top of a 180 steps (phew!!) apparently these temples are built at the highest point possible so they are closer to HIM!!