Author: wolfesbuketlistscom

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES…..

THE CITY IS BLESSED WITH WIDE AND BEAUTIFUL BEACHES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS GRASS HUTS SERVING COOL BEVERAGES EACH WITH LITTLE UMBRELLAS.

WE WENT ASHORE VIA THE SHIPS TENDERS. THESE WERE THE RESCUE CRAFT CAPABLE OF HOLDING 80…IN A PINCH.

WE ENJOYED PEDI CAB RIDES THROUGH THE CITY. IT WAS A SAFE ROUTE BUT WE GOT TO SEE A LOT OF THE CITY.

RUSSIANS MOVED INTO THE AREA AFTER THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR AND ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES. THERE IS A LARGE RUSSIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY IN NHA TRANG. IN COOPERATION WITH CHINESE AN ELABORATE ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX HAS BEEN BUILT. AFTER DARK ALL OF THE BUILDING ARE LIT UP.

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES…

DOCKED IN HUE, VIETNAM AND BOARDED BUS TO HOI AN. A HISTORICAL CITY. IN THE 16th AND 17th CENTURY HOI AN WAS INTERNATIONAL TRADING CENTER FOR JAPANESE, CHINESE, DUTCH AND INDIAN TRADERS. THE OLD TOWN HAS BEEN PRESERVED INTACT.

THIS IS A BUSY TOURIST DESTINATION WITH YOUNG AND OLD. THIS VIBRANT CITY COMES ALIVE AFTER DARK.

OUR CRUISE COINCIDES WITH THE LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATED ALL OVER. THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON. THERE WERE LARGE DISPLAYS OF FIREWORKS AND RED LANTERNS

OUR JOURNEY WENT PAST MARBLE MOUNTAIN. THEY PRODUCE BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYS OF CARVED GOODS. DIFFICULT TO FIT IN OUR CHECKED BAGGAGE!

THIS IS THE CAPITOL CITY OF THE PHILIPPINES. IT HAS A REPUTATION OF A CROWDED CITY WITH BAD TRAFFIC.

WE ARRIVED ON SATURDAY AND WHILE THE BUSINESS WEEK WAS OVER THERE WERE NUMEROUS SCHOOL GROUPS CROWDING THE SAME HISTORICAL SITES ON OUR ITINERARY.

ELECTRICAL WIRING IN THE CITY WAS ‘INTERESTING?

THE COLONIAL FORT IN THE CITY CENTER HAD BEEN IN USE IN THE FRENCH COLONIAL AS WELL AS WORLD WAR II. WE VISITED THE MANILA HOTEL WHICH SERVED AS THE RESIDENCE FOR GENERAL GEORGE McCARTHUR.

WE TOURED THE BEAUTIFUL SAN AGUSTIN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

OUR TIME ASHORE WAS LIMITED DUE TO SCHEDULING ISSUES IN THE BUSY PORT. I COUNTED 15 CONTAINERS BEING LOADED ONTO SHIPS HEADED TO FOREIGN PORTS.

THAT EVENING THE SHIP PUT ON A DANCE PARTY BY THE POOL. IMAGINE 300 PEOPLE AGES 70+ ROCKING AND BOPPING…..YOU GET THE IDEA. IT WAS A ‘HOOT’.

THIS WAS OUR ONLY STOP IN MALAYSIA. WE OPTED FOR A DAY OF REST AFTER THE PREVIOUS DAYS LENGTHY VISIT TO BRUNEI.

THE SHIP HAS SOME GUESTS WHO DECIDE TO SPEND THEIR VACATION TIME ON THE SHIP AND SELDOM GET OFF AND TOUR. WE ENJOYED A LEISURELY BREAKFAST IN THE GRAND DINING ROOM. AFTER LUNCH I ENJOYED A SWIM IN TH SALT WATER POOL.

AT EVERY PORT THE SHIP HAS SHUTTLE BUSES STANDING READY TAKE GUESTS AND CREW INTO TOWN FOR SHOPPING. WE WANDERED THE LOCAL PRODUCE MARKET, NOT FOR SOUVENIRS BUT TO OBSERVE LOCAL PRODUCE AND TO SEE WHAT FOOD LOCALS EAT.

THIS CRUISE LINE HAS A REPUTATION FOR GOOD FOOD. IN ADDITION TO THE MAIN DINING ROOM AND THE MORE CASUAL BUFFET ON DECK 12 THERE ARE 4 SPECIAL DINING OPTIONS – FRENCH, ITALIAN, ORIENTAL AND THE POLO GRILL. WE DECIDED ON THE POLO AS ONE OF THEIR SPECIALS IS A WHOLE LOBSTER. IT WAS EXCELLENT. WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CHECKING OUT THE OTHERS.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF THREE STOPS IN THE PHILIPPINES. AS THE SUGGESTS THERE WAS A SPANISH INFLUENCE. EARLY SPAIN BROUGHT CHRISTIANITY TO THE POPULATION IN CONTRAST TO ISLAM IN MALAYSIA/BORNEO.

WE CHOSE A PLANNED TOUR TO AN UNDERGROUND RIVER IN AN ELABORATE CAVE. THE RIVER STARTS FRESH WATER AND DISCHARGES INTO THE OCEAN. IT’S INHABITED BY THOUSANDS OF BATS HANGING FROM THE CEILING OF THE CAVE. WE WERE LOADED INTO LONGBOATS POWERED BY MOTORCYCLE ENGINES ALL WITHOUT MUFFLERS! TO ENTER THE CAVE WE WERE TRANSFERRED TO GONDOLA STYLE BOATS EQUIPPED WITH OUTRIGGERS. MOST OF THE BATS WERE SLEEPING. HOWEVER WE WERE ADVISED NOT TO LOOK UP AS THEY PRODUCE GUANO WHILE AT REST. UGH! THE FORMATIONS IN THE CAVE WERE AMAZING.

TRAVEL FROM THE DOCK TO THE CAVES WAS A 90 MINUTE ORDEAL IN EACH DIRECTION. THE ROADS WERE WINDING AS WE ASCENDED AND DESCENDED THE ISLAND MOUNTAIN. DRIVERS IN THE PHILIPPINES FIND IT CHALLENGING TO GO FAST. OUR GUY WON THE RACE!

BRIEF HISTORY: LOCATED ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF BORNEO THIS SMALL COUNTRY AT ONE TIME CONTROLLED ALL OF BORNEO. THROUGH BATTLES IT LOST ALL EXCEPT THE SMALL AREA IT NOW CONTROLS. IN 1939 OIL WAS DISCOVERED. THEY COULD EXTRACT BUT UNDER BRITISH CONTROL IT HAD TO BE REFINED IN SINGAPORE. THIS CHANGED IN THE 50’S. THEY RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CHINESE TO EXPAND THEIR REFINING FACILITIES.

THE COUNTRY IS CONTROLLED BY THE 7TH GENERATION SULTANATE. THE BENEVOLENT SULTAN MANDATES EDUCATION OF ALL INCLUDING COLLEGE, HEALTHCARE, RETIREMENT STIPEND, ETC. THE SULTAN MANDATES STRICT MUSLIM ADHERENCE INCLUDING NO DRINKING, SMOKING, DRUGS. THE SULTAN HAS AN ENORMOUS COLLECTION OF AUTOMOBILES INCLUDING 2 GOLD ROLLS ROYCE. ALL ARE STORED IN THE PALACE AND WE WERE NOT INVITED.

OUR GUIDE WAS PROUD TO SHOW US 4 GOLD CROWNED MOQUES. THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL PARKS. I LIKEN BRUNEI TO A 2ND CLASS COUNTRY WITH WEALTH CONTROLLED BY THE FEW. THE COUNTRY IS TOO SMALL TO PRODUCE RICE. THE SULTAN PURCHASED AREAS IN THAILAND TO SUPPLY THEIR RICE.

WE OPTED FOR AN ORGANIZED CITY TOUR. BIG BUS BUT COVERED A LOT. THERE ARE 4 MAJOR ETHNIC GROUPS – MALAY, CHINESE, MUSLIM, INDIAN AND. LAST – ENGLISH

FORMULA 1 RACES RUN THRU THE STREETS OF SINGAPORE. EXCITING TIMES.

WE SPENT TIME AT THE NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN. THE ORCHIDS WERE IN BLOOM

THIS WAS THE TIME FOR CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR – THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON. THERE WERE COLORFUL DRAGONS EVERYWHERE. WE DINED AT A RESTAURANT WHERE PATRONS WERE CELEBRATING THE EVENT.

WAKING UP IN A NEW CITY IS ALWAYS FUN AND CONFUSING. WHERE’S THE RESTAURANT? WHERE’S THE COFFEE? MORNING STUFF. WE WERE STILL GROGGY FROM THE FLIGHT. AFTER BREAKFAST I NEEDED TO GET SOME LOCAL CURRENCY. I INQUIRED AT THE DESK AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A CASH MACHINE ON ORCHARD ROAD. SO OFF I WENT ON AN ADVENTURE!

THAT AFTERNOON WE DECIDED TO TAKE A BOAT RIDE ON THE RIVER. FIRST WE HAD TO NAVIGATE THE SUBWAYS. DURING OUR PREVIOUS VISIT WE FOUND THE SUBWAYS CLEAN AND EASY TO USE. THIS ENCOUNTER WAS THE SAME. WE TOOK THE RED LINE AND TRANSFERRED TO THE PURPLE LINE. WE GOT ON A ‘BUMBOAT’. I NEVER DECIPHERED THE MEANING OF BUMBOAT. AT ONE TIME THEY FERRIED GOODS AND WORKERS AROUND THE ISLAND.

ANOTHER SUBWAY RIDE TOOK US TO MARINA BAY SANDS HOTEL AND CASINO. THIS IS THE ENORMOUS THREE 42 STORY PILLARS WITH A CONNECTING STRUCTURE AT THE TOP THAT RESEMBLES A BOAT. IT’S ACTUALLY AN INFINITY POOL WITH A VIEW. ADJACENT TO THE HOTEL COMPLEX IS THE GARDENS BY THE BAY. THIS MANMADE ATTRACTION CONSISTS OF INDIVIDUAL LARGE DOMES FOR DESERT GROWTH AND A DOME FOR HUMID GROWTH. EVERY TWO HOURS MAN MADE MIST KEEPS EVERYTHING HAPPY.

THE EXCITEMENT OF A JOURNEY IS GETTING READY, PASSPORTS UP TO DATE, VISA’S CHECKED, TICKETS IN ORDER. WHAT’S THIS ABOUT PLANE BOARDING PASSES ON YOUOR IPHONE? SO YOU’RE READY TO LEAVE, SAY GOODBYE TO THE DOG AND THE NEIGHBORS. WHAT THE…? THE UBER DRIVER TO THE AIRPORT IS 15 MINUTES LATE. HE’S ALWAYS ON TIME. A TEXT REVEALS THE TRIP WAS ORDERED FOR 2/13, NOT 1/23. PANIC!

NO WORRIES WE MADE IT TO THE AIRPORT WITH MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO SPARE. THE ATLANTA AIRPORT IS INTERESTING AS DOMESTIC FLIGHTS ARE ON ONE SIDE OF THE FACILITY BUT TO REACH INTERNATIONAL YOU NEED TO HOP ON A SHUTTLE BUS THAT CIRCLES THE RUNWAYS TO A SEPARATE INT’L TERMINAL. NOW WHERE’S OUR CHECCK-IN COUNTER. I’M TIRED LUGGING THESE SUITCASES! WELL, IT OPENS 3 HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE. SO WE FIND A PLACE FOR LUNCH. NO WORRIES.

MARGARET HAS PERFECTED THE PROCESS OF GETTING WHEELCHAIR ACCESS. IT GETS YOU SPECIAL TREATMENT AT TSA SECURITY INSPECTIONS AS WELL AS EARLY BOARDING. HER SECRET IS A COUPLE OF $5 BILLS.

WE BOOKED OUR FLIGHT TO SINGAPORE ON TURKISH AIR. GOOD REVIEWS ON THE INTERNET. WE CHANGED PLANES IN ISTANBUL BOTH FLIGHTS WERE VERY GOOD, IF YOU CALL 2-10 HOUR FLIGHTS AS GOOD. WE NEEDED TO STOP SOMEWHERE AND STRETCH. A SINGLE FLIGHT LASTING OVER 18 HOURS WITHOUT A BREAK WAY TOO LONG.

THE NEW ISTANBUL AIRPORT WAS SPECTACULAR. WE SPENT TIME MUNCHING OUR WAS AROUND THE BUSINESS LOUNGE AS WELL AS WALKING AROUND THE AIRPORT. MARGARET HAD BOOKED A WHEELCHAIR TO GET HER FROM THE GATE TO THE LOUNGE. FOR SOME REASON THEY BOOKED ONE FOR ME TOO. SO WE HOPPED ON THESE ‘SCOOTERS’ AND ENJOYED THE RIDE. MORE $5 GRATUITIES.

36 HOURS AFTER LEAVING PAWLEYS ISLAND WE WERE IN BED AT OUR HOTEL. TRAVELING WAS EASIER WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER…

WELCOME TO THE LATEST WOLFES BUCKET LIST ADVENTURE. AFTER COVID LOCKDOWNS, KNEE SURGERY AND REHAB WE DECIDED TO RESUME OUR TRAVELS

ON TUESDAY JANUARY 23 WE FLY HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD TO SINGAPORE. WE’RE STOPPING IN ISTANBUL TURKEY HOPEFULLY TO DO A LITTLE SIGHT SEEING DURING A 9 HOUR LAYOVER. AFTER 2 DAYS IN SINGAPORE WE BOARD OUR CRUISE SHIP, THE OCEANIA RIVIERA. THE SHIP VISITS BRUNAI, PHILIPPINES, CAMBODIA, VIETNAM AND ENDS IN BANGKOK. AFTER TOURS AT EACH AND OF COURSE SHOPPING, WE HEAD NORTH TO SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. THE WEATHER WILL BE MOSTLY SUB TROPICAL SO WE ENJOY LIGHT WEIGHT AND EASY WEAR. THE CATCH IS BOTH ENDS – ISTANBUL AND SEOUL WHERE IT’S PREDICTED TO BE IN THE 30’S.