Tenth Post - 10/17 to 10/22
Still trying to catch up on my journal of events . . . .
Oct 17th - At Sea - Warm and Sunny, calm sea
Exhausted from our long day yesterday in Seoul. Went back to bed after breakfast and slept til lunch,
After lunch, we went to shoot baskets - met Robert again. He helped me clear the Pickleball players from the court - they were in the basketball time slot! ha ha
I sank about 14 shots right away, but not in a row. It was fun. But, we had to say goodbye to Robert and his wife, Karen who were getting off the ship in Shanghai tomorrow. They are staying there 4 days to visit Walt Disney World. They have visited every one of the Disney parks in the world, with Japan being their favorite, I told you he was FUN! He loved my Mickey ring, and promised Karen he would get her one!
Formal Night tonight - wore my 18-year-old wedding dress and still got lots of compliments. Had delicious Veal Cordon Bleu for dinner with Danette and Lloyd. Tomorrow - SHANGHAI! What a trip!
Oct. 18th - Shanghai, China - coolish
Early breakfast, and then onto the tour. John and Suzie are on the same bus - makes it more fun. Our guide is very knowledgeable, but not very helpful or eager to answer questions.
Started at the Temple of Jade Buddha - very uneven ground, lots of walking and many steps. Everyone offers to help with the walker.
Jade Buddha was stunning, but no pictures were allowed. We also saw a magnificent Porcelain recline-ing Buddha and did get a picture of that.
On to Yu Gardens - many trees, Pagodas, Bridges, Koi Ponds, and lush greenery and flowers.
We then took a short drive and a loooong walk through back alleys, with hanging laundry and many twists and turns to get to a very large market area. Bought 2 small stuffed Pandas for our waiters, Freddie and Michael, who were very touched that we thought of them.
We were unable to post anything online as China blocks all access to Wi-Fi and does NOT have Facebook at all.
Oct 19th, Day At Sea - warmer and sunny
A typical day at sea - Breakfast- Trivia - Suduko, movie, lunch, nap, dinner, show!
Tomorrow, Okinawa, Japan.
Oct 20th - Okinawa, Japan - warm, then very hot!
No tour was of interest, or was too long, or was too expensive, so we took a walk after breakfast to a nearby town. It was very HOT, used the umbrella for shade, and met people on the way back from town who said it was not worth the walk. So, we turned back to the ship. There was no Wi-fi access on the pier.
Took a nap, had a nice dinner and saw a production show that was very entertaining.
Oct. 21st - Taipei, Taiwan - HOT
After early breakfast, we met the group for a "Highlights of Taipei Tour". The guide was a 70-year-old, very short woman who is also a docent at the Museum. The tour included:
1. The martyr's shrine, a monument honoring 330,000 men who fought in Chinese battles. Was lucky enough to be there for the "Changing of the Guard" ceremony. Very stiff military bearing and very impressive.
2. A long (2 hours) visit at the Palace Museum, which has many ancient and valuable pieces of Jade and Porcelain. Finally found a western toilet! I'm obsessed with this!
3. Stopped for pictures at the world's 2nd tallest building - Taipei 101. Very impressive.
4. Visited Chang Chi Shek Memorial which has a very large statue of him in a huge empty room. Saw another Changing of the Guard ceremony. We asked our guide why Chinese people talked and moved around a lot during the ceremony - told her that our ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery requires silence and respectful reverence. She said it was simply a matter of cultural differences. Chinese do not consider their behavior disrespectful.
It was a long ride back to the ship, the guide was very grateful for the tip, we had a light lunch at 4 PM and then a nap, which meant we MISSED DINNER again, Had some food in the buffet, went to show - Taiwanese dancers, who were very lively and colorful. Slept well.
Oct. 22nd - At Sea - Warm and humid.
Have very calm seas and crowded sea lanes. Always 12 or more ships and small boats in view.
Breakfast, Suduko, and trivia. Met a threesome - Diane, Barbara and a man (forgot his name) who were originally from Jersey City and now live in Clifton and Pequannock NJ. Barbara knows Beverly Vroegindewey, and her family from Clifton, with whom I worked at Travel Institute for 9 years. Yet another small world story.
At 4 pm, I went to play basketball with Skyler, who is with the entertainment crew, and Tex. We played "Around the World" twice and shot best out of ten foul shots. Tex won all three games, BUT I kept up with these younger guys and we all wound up in the same spot on the last game until Tex sank a shot to win! I was proud of myself! AND NO MORE FALLING!
All in all a good day!
Oct 17th - At Sea - Warm and Sunny, calm sea
Exhausted from our long day yesterday in Seoul. Went back to bed after breakfast and slept til lunch,
After lunch, we went to shoot baskets - met Robert again. He helped me clear the Pickleball players from the court - they were in the basketball time slot! ha ha
I sank about 14 shots right away, but not in a row. It was fun. But, we had to say goodbye to Robert and his wife, Karen who were getting off the ship in Shanghai tomorrow. They are staying there 4 days to visit Walt Disney World. They have visited every one of the Disney parks in the world, with Japan being their favorite, I told you he was FUN! He loved my Mickey ring, and promised Karen he would get her one!
Formal Night tonight - wore my 18-year-old wedding dress and still got lots of compliments. Had delicious Veal Cordon Bleu for dinner with Danette and Lloyd. Tomorrow - SHANGHAI! What a trip!
Oct. 18th - Shanghai, China - coolish
Early breakfast, and then onto the tour. John and Suzie are on the same bus - makes it more fun. Our guide is very knowledgeable, but not very helpful or eager to answer questions.
Started at the Temple of Jade Buddha - very uneven ground, lots of walking and many steps. Everyone offers to help with the walker.
Jade Buddha was stunning, but no pictures were allowed. We also saw a magnificent Porcelain recline-ing Buddha and did get a picture of that.
On to Yu Gardens - many trees, Pagodas, Bridges, Koi Ponds, and lush greenery and flowers.
We then took a short drive and a loooong walk through back alleys, with hanging laundry and many twists and turns to get to a very large market area. Bought 2 small stuffed Pandas for our waiters, Freddie and Michael, who were very touched that we thought of them.
We were unable to post anything online as China blocks all access to Wi-Fi and does NOT have Facebook at all.
Oct 19th, Day At Sea - warmer and sunny
A typical day at sea - Breakfast- Trivia - Suduko, movie, lunch, nap, dinner, show!
Tomorrow, Okinawa, Japan.
Oct 20th - Okinawa, Japan - warm, then very hot!
No tour was of interest, or was too long, or was too expensive, so we took a walk after breakfast to a nearby town. It was very HOT, used the umbrella for shade, and met people on the way back from town who said it was not worth the walk. So, we turned back to the ship. There was no Wi-fi access on the pier.
Took a nap, had a nice dinner and saw a production show that was very entertaining.
Oct. 21st - Taipei, Taiwan - HOT
After early breakfast, we met the group for a "Highlights of Taipei Tour". The guide was a 70-year-old, very short woman who is also a docent at the Museum. The tour included:
1. The martyr's shrine, a monument honoring 330,000 men who fought in Chinese battles. Was lucky enough to be there for the "Changing of the Guard" ceremony. Very stiff military bearing and very impressive.
2. A long (2 hours) visit at the Palace Museum, which has many ancient and valuable pieces of Jade and Porcelain. Finally found a western toilet! I'm obsessed with this!
3. Stopped for pictures at the world's 2nd tallest building - Taipei 101. Very impressive.
4. Visited Chang Chi Shek Memorial which has a very large statue of him in a huge empty room. Saw another Changing of the Guard ceremony. We asked our guide why Chinese people talked and moved around a lot during the ceremony - told her that our ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery requires silence and respectful reverence. She said it was simply a matter of cultural differences. Chinese do not consider their behavior disrespectful.
It was a long ride back to the ship, the guide was very grateful for the tip, we had a light lunch at 4 PM and then a nap, which meant we MISSED DINNER again, Had some food in the buffet, went to show - Taiwanese dancers, who were very lively and colorful. Slept well.
Oct. 22nd - At Sea - Warm and humid.
Have very calm seas and crowded sea lanes. Always 12 or more ships and small boats in view.
Breakfast, Suduko, and trivia. Met a threesome - Diane, Barbara and a man (forgot his name) who were originally from Jersey City and now live in Clifton and Pequannock NJ. Barbara knows Beverly Vroegindewey, and her family from Clifton, with whom I worked at Travel Institute for 9 years. Yet another small world story.
At 4 pm, I went to play basketball with Skyler, who is with the entertainment crew, and Tex. We played "Around the World" twice and shot best out of ten foul shots. Tex won all three games, BUT I kept up with these younger guys and we all wound up in the same spot on the last game until Tex sank a shot to win! I was proud of myself! AND NO MORE FALLING!
All in all a good day!
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