Fishing Nets in Cochin, India

Some things are still done in an old fashioned way, and this is one of them. The nets are lowered into the water and left overnight. In the morning they are retrieved, full of fish!
People lined up on both sides of the water as our huge ship passed in the early evening.
In just 9 days, this trip will be over, and I think every so-called "world passenger" feels just as I do, namely: we would like it to continue! It's truly a wonderful and delightful experience!

Party time, and another beautiful sunset!

This was a surprise non-birthday Party for Morty Geisler, who will be 90 on May 17th, but Irene ( pictured next to him) was only here for two segments, so the party took place early.
I have taken many pictures of the sunrise and the sunset on this voyage, and one is more spectacular than the other.
I am just back from a wonderful day of visiting both the seaside and the alps surrounding Monaco together with Fred and Karin Sotirovic, who was a wonderful hostess.
Yesterday, Marlyse and family were here on the ship to visit and enjoy! They went swimming, played ball, came for high tea, etc. and we topped it all off with dinner at the Silk Road (a Nobu Restaurant here on board). Now, we are under way again, heading for Valencia, Spain.

Cochin, India: Jewish cemetary and stores on Jew Street

Typical building scene in Myanmar and a spice market in Cochin

Sunset over Myanmar and pie eating contest on the ship

Catching up

It hardly seems possible that so much time has flown past! It is already April 24th, and we will be landing in Sicily very shortly, but my last entry was from Singapore, and that was weeks ago!
Since then, we have been to Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar , and India (Cochin & Mumbai ) plus Egypt, and Crete. I do have pictures to post, but not today, since I have to get ready for today's tour: Sicilian style, Cooking and Gardening. Tomorrow is the port of Naples, with a tour to Pompeii. Although I have already been there years ago, I thought it couldn't hurt to revisit. In fact, all of the tours that are offered are things that Marcel and I did a long time ago. On Friday, Fred invieted me to join him for a private tour of Rome; seems he hired a car and driver before he even started the cruise. Tomorrow night, the ship offers us a special dinner and entertainment in Rome and then, it's on to Monte Carlo on the 27th, where Marlyse and family will join me for the day. Is it any wonder that I have had no time to keep this blog up to date! Every day is packed full of activities. Last night, we went to Karaoke, but that wasn't quite as much fun as the night before, when the ship offered a "Holiday in Rome" party! There will be lots to remember from this trip, and I imagine I will be truly sorry when it is over.

The Queen of Heaven; info on the Chinese Temple

The little man is holding up the roof; seems there was a disagreement between the architect and the builder, and this was the way the builder got his revenge! The central figure on the dias, pictured below is the Queen of Heaven... see story on the right, above.
This is all for today; now I go for a steam bath, music lesson, bridge lesson, Spanish lesson lunch, and today, we decided to skp bridge and go to the Mozart Tea, with typical pastries from Austria, and music of the period. Then comes the rest of the day, and evening entertainment!
Do you wonder that I am too tired to write in a diary at that point?!

Singapore, the famous Raffles Hotel & its drink

We ended the day at the Raffles, in the long bar. The peanuts are all over the table, only because we had not yet thrown them on the floor, like everyone else does. The drink is as famous as the hotel, but amnesia/ senility has set in, and I can only remember "the .....sling" with the adjective missing!

Singapore, Chinese temple

Unfortunately, it is now three weeks ago since we were in Singapore, and I have forgotten the story of the central character on the dias. There have been so very many new experiences and sights almost every day, that it has become almost impossible for me to keep everything in order. Unfortunately, also, I was always too tired at the end of each day to keep a diary! It is amazing to me now (April 15th) that after three months, Iam still enjoying each day and not at all anxious for the trip to be over!

Singapore, Botanical Garden

Heidi, I took oodles of pictures here that I will show you once I am back!

Singapore, lion symbol and in back of waterfall

Singapore

some of you in ZIwa will remembrer Judy; we had a lovely day together, and went for a delicious Chinese dinner of dim sum.

On our shopping tour

Ko Samui, typical scenes

1. Note the exposed wires, and the back alley. That's Fred, my bridge partner, who went with me to shop that day.

Myanmar, Typical scene (probably rice field)

Myanmar

In order to approach the ship, one has to pass through security (as in every port), but in Yangon the security people were really far away from the dock, and when we visited Shwedagon Pagoda at night, the taxi couldn't go beyond the security station, which meant that we (4 of us) were going to have to walk! First, we didn't manage to take the right road, and ended up behind a closed fence which meant backtracking, etc. It was late and we were really tired! but we had to keep going, of course. Finally and fortunately, a shuttle bus appeared that was returning to the ship, and we were able to hitch a ride the rest of the way!

Typical scenes in Yangon

Yangon

Although the Shwedeagon Pagoda is elaborate, ornate, wealthy, rich, and beautiful, the rest of the area is poor, shabby, in need of repair, neglected, and sad looking. There are few cars on the roads, and then only rather old looking. However, there are throngs of people in the cafés in the early evening. During the daytime, there are fewer people, but they all sit at tables and chairs that look like they should be in a doll house, or for children's use, as they are so low and small.

Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar

Leaving Phuket

Thai dancers

Phuket , Thailand

This is part of the Chelong Temple on the right.