Home Again

Sorry to say, but yes we are home... I got sick on the ship-twice-and ended up having to get off in Bergen, Norway.  I had a scan there and as I had an infection as well as the Gall Bladder full of stones, they couldn't operate. It was a pity as  could have had the op done for nothing (reciprocal] and been able to rejoin the ship in Ireland. I was told to get back home and have the op, so we found a flight out of Bergen to Amsterdam. We did have three days to have a look around. It is a pretty place, the people are very friendly, but it is a very expensive place to live.  On arriving in Amsterdam we proceeded to find a Qantas office as I had booked on the first flight out-6 days later. We had to go to the airport as there is no Qantas office. Same with the travel offices-no such thing. It is all done on the net. Luckily I took my laptop with me.  Anyway it turned out that as I had booked over a weekend, the KLM people said that at 9am all the bookings would be up to date. So we went touring and had a look around the city. We were lucky in one way, as the weather had been rough when we were to have landed in Amsterdam, so we didn't get to go in. This enabled us to have a fairly good look around.  The train service was excellent-we were 3 mins from the Hotel to the City and 15 mins from our Hotel to the airport via the city. Luckily these railway stations have lifts-very important when you are lugging suitcases around.  We finally left for our flight home via Frankfurt, Singapore,Sydney.  Since our arrival it has been a lot of medical stuff. Dr-Blood Tests-Scan-Surgeon-Anathesiest-pre admit!!!!. So Thursday is the day... Our ship is due home in 15 days time!!!!!

July 11 At Sea

st pauls

We have a day at sea after some hectic days. We call them Rest Days now. Well everything we have seen and done has  been spectacular. Photos will not do them justice, but   today I will give it a try.

Taits On Line and rearing to go

Werll it has been some time, sorry about that.  It is amazing I just run out of time each day, heaven knows where the time goes.   We have had a great time seeing lots and lots of things and places. Suez was great and of course Jordan too.  Mykonos was a place to go back to one day for a holiday, wonderful atmosphere. Istanbul was a busy place, we went to a spice market in the morning on our own, then did a tour which included the Grand Bazaar. What an experience... Yesterday we were at Anzac Cove where we had a ceremony, very moving. We actually passed up and down past the cove three times!. Today we are in Athens, did the tour thing, visiting the Acroplolis and Museum then to the Plaka to do some shopping.
Ross & Brenda  I got your email last night. I reckon you have just waited to get this Blog and I have sent emails..For some reason yours do not get saved.. So from now on I will Blog...  Sometimes the internet is very slow.  Your up coming holiday to Vietnam and Cambodia sounds great. Is is overland?. Sounds as though ypu have had a busy time showing your friends around/ Hope the dogs are OK and that all at home is good.   No photos yet, they are coming.........I am getting off in Gibraltar to have a scan to make sure I am OK to travel after Ireland etc.   We do not have an excursion that day, so will fit in well.  OK thats it I am ready for tea and a show tonight.  Entertainment has been good all the way.... Cheers now to one and all

Maybe This Time

Langkawi Island

We arrived early morning 7am, we were up on deck just before dawn, it was really lovely coming into port. This is just a small island, lots of resort areas, beaches look nice. Vegetation is  very  tropical ,monkeys on the side of the road. Lots of tropical fruit trees. Our tour coach was not as nice as yesterdays one.  We went quite a few k’s before we came to our first stop-a handicraft centre along with a museum.  Next we went to the Cable Car station. Lots of people here, the queue was very long. What a ride, quite steep, the views were fabulous. At the top they had viewing platforms plus a walk over the sky bridge. This was quite long, Bob & Ross did the walk while Vanessa and I stayed at the lookout area. Later we made our way to the Rice Museum. This was not at all like the brochure told us it would be. They have a museum with all the old implements etc. A buffalo was tethered and they had models of rice workers scattered through the field. Outside the building they had stalls where they had cooked some food. We were allowed a taste, quite disappointing.

We then travelled back to the ship, time running short, but we made it. Not the last bus load. Got on board and had a lovely cuppa. The show we went to tonight was a singer, he had the loudest voice, Bob & I sat with our fingers in our ears for ¾ of an hour.  We had a cappa then went to another show, an instrumentalist. He was really terrific, so made up for the other.

Sea day..Washing and ironing done early, then just a lazy day.                                                                           

Tonight we went to a show, unfortunately we had seen this fellow before. After this we went to a ‘White Hot Indian Dance Party’ on deck 12,poolside. It was very well patronised, went till eleven. Clocks changed back tonight another hour, so it was still early..

Sea Day.  Weather was blowing gustily and water had lots of white caps. Went to the lecture on Mumbai. Still not worried about missing it. Had a change announced today in schedule for abu dhabi, not calling in now, but they will take us there from Dubai.  Casablanca is cancelled, we go to Gibraltar now instead. Oman port now changed to Salalah.

11 June   Cochin Port

Arrived approx 9.30am. Looks like t will be a fine day after the showers earlier, plus they said yesterday that there was a low up here, so the people getting off to do their Taj Mahal trip will be happy.  Must get this away today, Mumbai tomorrow- two ports we are not getting off.Our trip proper will start after that...

Margaret: can't remember how to send the pics.Help

Cochin Sat June 11

Still not having the satisfactory results from my little computer, so will just have to wait until I can see the experts down in the internet room.
Having a great time on board. Today is Cochin, India-tomorrow at sea then Monday at Mumbai.
Will remember to bring the new itinerary with me next time. have been a few changes.
Hope all are well, until next time  Luv to all.......Happy Birthday Nathan

Kuala Lumpur June 6th

Singapore wasn’t very kind to us, it rained really heavily most of the day.After getting some money changed I went shopping, had my feet doctored by the fish in a tank had lunch, then went back to the ship.These little fellows do  a marvellous job, feels really weird for the first few seconds....  Our engine is still not fixed, but we are going along ok. Just checked to make sure they have Life Buoys..photo

Bob is keeping up with his Alcohol Free diet, lots of walking around the deck, good food and plenty of cold water.  1 Capachino every  night after the show. He really is good.  

Monday we were in Kuala Lumur. Weather threatened once again, but we got our excursion in ok. We went to the top of the communication tower, it was a really good view. School  holidays on at  this time, so there are plenty of families doing their thing as well. We also went to a handicraft centre, viewed a  Mosque, visited a Cultural Museum . The buses they have for us are pretty special. Really colourfully decked out with carpet everywhere, lovely curtains with tassels etc, . Very comfortable.

The traffic was pretty hectic, lucky we weren’t driving.   Although it was humid, it wasn’t that hot.  A few of our fellow travellers were feeling it though. Wait until they get a bit further along-India will test them.

While I am on the subject  of India- we are not going ashore, have been told in no uncertain manner that We Will Not Be Able To Get Off The Ship. We said, we didn’t want to anyway-we have no visas. This is a touchy subject, as everyone says they had  to have it even if they weren’t going ashore.

At m.   A very clean city. We enjoyed luncheon at the Federal Hotel, a very old hotel. The food wa erybusy with all the tour parties and tourists.

Our coach was first to arrive, so I was able to get photos of the food before the other vultures arrived on the scene. Doesn’t  it look lovely. Tasted nice too. We were treated to some lovely spicy hot dishes, pastas etc. .Scrumptious .

We made our way back to the boat by a different route, so we were able to see a bit more of the city. The gardens are very nice and well taken care of.

Saw some older parts too and lots of factories and car builders etc, lots of them.

Our times into ports have changed, some are going to be much shorter stops,some have been changed for others. Will notify later as we get to them.

Singapore wasn’t very kind to us, it rained really heavily most of the day.After getting some money changed I went shopping, had my feet doctored by the fish in a tank had lunch, then went back to the ship.These little fellows do  a marvellous job, feels really weird for the first few seconds....  Our engine is still not fixed, but we are going along ok. Just checked to make sure they have Life Buoys..photo

Bob is keeping up with his Alcohol Free diet, lots of walking around the deck, good food and plenty of cold water.  1 Capachino every  night after the show. He really is good.  

Monday we were in Kuala Lumur. Weather threatened once again, but we got our excursion in ok. We went to the top of the communication tower, it was a really good view. School  holidays on at  this time, so there are plenty of families doing their thing as well. We also went to a handicraft centre, viewed a  Mosque, visited a Cultural Museum . The buses they have for us are pretty special. Really colourfully decked out with carpet everywhere, lovely curtains with tassels etc, . Very comfortable.

The traffic was pretty hectic, lucky we weren’t driving.   Although it was humid, it wasn’t that hot.  A few of our fellow travellers were feeling it though. Wait until they get a bit further along-India will test them.

While I am on the subject  of India- we are not going ashore, have been told in no uncertain manner that We Will Not Be Able To Get Off The Ship. We said, we didn’t want to anyway-we have no visas. This is a touchy subject, as everyone says they had  to have it even if they weren’t going ashore.

At m.   A very clean city. We enjoyed luncheon at the Federal Hotel, a very old hotel. The food wa erybusy with all the tour parties and tourists.

Our coach was first to arrive, so I was able to get photos of the food before the other vultures arrived on the scene. Doesn’t  it look lovely. Tasted nice too. We were treated to some lovely spicy hot dishes, pastas etc. .Scrumptious .

We made our way back to the boat by a different route, so we were able to see a bit more of the city. The gardens are very nice and well taken care of.

Saw some older parts too and lots of factories and car builders etc, lots of them.

Our times into ports have changed, some are going to be much shorter stops,some have been changed for others. Will notify later as we get to them.

Singapore wasn’t very kind to us, it rained really heavily most of the day.After getting some money changed I went shopping, had my feet doctored by the fish in a tank had lunch, then went back to the ship.These little fellows do  a marvellous job, feels really weird for the first few seconds....  Our engine is still not fixed, but we are going along ok. Just checked to make sure they have Life Buoys..photo

Bob is keeping up with his Alcohol Free diet, lots of walking around the deck, good food and plenty of cold water.  1 Capachino every  night after the show. He really is good.  

Monday we were in Kuala Lumur. Weather threatened once again, but we got our excursion in ok. We went to the top of the communication tower, it was a really good view. School  holidays on at  this time, so there are plenty of families doing their thing as well. We also went to a handicraft centre, viewed a  Mosque, visited a Cultural Museum . The buses they have for us are pretty special. Really colourfully decked out with carpet everywhere, lovely curtains with tassels etc, . Very comfortable.

The traffic was pretty hectic, lucky we weren’t driving.   Although it was humid, it wasn’t that hot.  A few of our fellow travellers were feeling it though. Wait until they get a bit further along-India will test them.

While I am on the subject  of India- we are not going ashore, have been told in no uncertain manner that We Will Not Be Able To Get Off The Ship. We said, we didn’t want to anyway-we have no visas. This is a touchy subject, as everyone says they had  to have it even if they weren’t going ashore.

At m.   A very clean city. We enjoyed luncheon at the Federal Hotel, a very old hotel. The food wa erybusy with all the tour parties and tourists.

Our coach was first to arrive, so I was able to get photos of the food before the other vultures arrived on the scene. Doesn’t  it look lovely. Tasted nice too. We were treated to some lovely spicy hot dishes, pastas etc. .Scrumptious .

We made our way back to the boat by a different route, so we were able to see a bit more of the city. The gardens are very nice and well taken care of.

Saw some older parts too and lots of factories and car builders etc, lots of them.

Our times into ports have changed, some are going to be much shorter stops,some have been changed for others. Will notify later as we get to them.

Sailing Along June 4th

Hi All....Just trying this way of posting, so hope it works.

Our trip so far has been lots of water, but very smooth going. I am writing this as we make our way to Singapore, where we arrive on Sunday 7am.

Our ship is having some engine problem, they tried looking at it in Darwin, but more to be done in Singapore.  It is not hindering us, maybe a little slower, but  we still get to places so far on time.

Our cabin is a little smaller than previous ones, and no porthole, but otherwise nice and dark to get to sleep-sleeping in if you get the opportunity. Laundromats are pretty busy, did mine for the third time this morning.

We had a formal night last night-dress ups. Went to a show last night and another after that one finished. Every night we have gone to one show so far.

We haven’t booked excursions for Singapore, so we will do our own thing.

Hope all is going okay at home for Ross & Brenda, and that this finds all the family safe and well..Cheers till next time.

Had trouble...seems the sattelite wasn't good enough..new one now and all well.

Big thunder storm and rain..hope it is dry in Singapore.

Bye

Goodbye family, see you in 3 months

Our Princess In Darwin

One Week To Go

Goodness me.  The time is now going pretty darn quick.   I have started to pack, suitcases feel bloody heavy. Might have to sort a few of the clothes out to a smaller wardrobe.   The paperwork is now all complete, excursions booked and looking forward to a nice flight early hours of Wednesday morning
We get into Sydney around 6.30 and Princess pick us up and take us to the wharf.  We should have an easy time getting the paperwork done shipside, as we know what to do now.  Hopefully we will be on board pretty early, settle in to our cabin and unpack and have some lunch.
Yes we are excited!!!!!.    Cheers now to all those we leave behind.

ALZEIMERS

Just remembered to tell you that I may not get into this while away, but we do have a few days at sea when I can do catchups, then of course I have to be able to get my internet connection...I will try

COUNT DOWN

WOW    I knew the time would be going quickly about a month ago, Well, It is only two weeks and we will be flying off to Sydney to catch this big ship.   There have been some hiccups along the way with the state of the world as it is-hopefully they will be nice as we pass them by.
Really excited about what we are about to see, some I have seen on a previous trip, but things change and it will be lovely to see Rome again.     I don't think Bob realizes the extent of all this, but he has been working really really hard the past 3 months in particular, so he needs the break.  3 1/2 months will be quite a journey.
We have excursions in each port, except India's two. They wanted us to get a Visa at great cost and we weighed it up and said No.  We have kept the excursions as booked, maybe the cruise line will arrange something like a group visa-can't imagine how many people would feel as we do.
Harry is glad that the wait is almost over, with a small trip to Perth now. By the time he gets back it will be TIME.   Raelene and I are busy now starting to pack to see what we may get in just a suitcase each , will really have to be conservative with shoes. At least we will not have to worry about the cool weather clothes as it will be Summer all the way, except maybe Bergen,Norway.
I will sign out now.  We will be thinking of you......

Excursions

We have excursions booked now for all but-  Cairo, Mykonos and Istanbul. We hope somebody pulls out of their Nile Cruise and Pyramids. Gee they get in early... Not worried about the other two so much, as the port is not far from the main area-will catch cabs.    I just changed the colour of the blog, comments?

Itinerary-World Cruise

6June    -Kuala Lumpur   7Jun-Langkawi                  11June  -Cochin India

13June-Mumbai               16June-AbuDhabi            17June-Dubai

18June-Dubai                    19June-Muscat                 25June-Petra Jordan

27June-Transit Suez        28June-Cairo                      1 July-   Mykonos

2 July-Istanbul                   3 July Anzac Cove             4 July-Athens

6 July-Naples                     7 July-Rome                       8 July-Florence

 9 July-Monaco                  10July-  Barcelona            12July-Morocco

13July-Lisbon                     16July-France                    17July-Dover

18July-Amsterdam          20July-Norway                  22July-Edinburgh

23July-Dublin                     24July-Cork                         30July-Bermuda

2 August-Fort Lauderdale      5Aug-Cartogena      6 Aug -Panama Canal

8 Aug-Costa Rica               11 Aug Acapulco               12 Aug-Manzanillo

 15Aug-Loas Angeles      20Aug-Honolulu               26Aug-Tahiti

27Aug-Bora Bora              30Aug-Apia         4 Sep Auckland                 7Sep Sydney