Far East and Philippines
01-02-2025 to 02-03-2025
Phu My (Viet Nam)
8th February
Our excursion today is to Saigon. (Ho Chi Minh City).
This is the History Museum.
Next we went to see lacquer wear being produced.
Men sanding lacquer wear between coats.
There can be up to 17 layers of lacquer.
The Saigon Central Post Office.
A combination of neo-classical European architecture and Asian decorations.
From outside the post office the top of the embassy where the helicopter evacuated people from the roof can be seen.
It is the yellow building in the middle.
At lunch time we went to a hotel for a splendid Vietnamese lunch.
Colleen's lunch.
My dessert.
The view of the Saigon river from the hotel dining room.
There are still decorations up for the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
The Year of the Snake.
The Saigon Opera House.
Finally we went to the former Presidential Palace now known as Independence Palace.
One of the tanks on display in the palace grounds.
The palace dining room.
The conference room.
A radio room and a teleprinter room in a bunker under the palace.
Crossing the Saigon river.
Rice growing in a field.
Da Nang (Viet Nam)
11th February
Our Excursion today is to My Son. Pronounced 'me sun". My Son is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Shiva Hindu temples, constructed between the 4th and the 13th century by the Kings of Champa, an Indianised kingdom of the Cham people.
When French explorers came upon the temples at the end of the 19th century, most were intact. Unfortunately, many were later destroyed in 1969 by bombing raids during the Vietnam War.
This is one of the craters.
I was not in a good position to take photos of the cultural show.
These dancers came on stage cloaked. They dropped their cloakes and danced.
People heading back to the coaches after seeing the temples and show.
Rice growing in a field.
On our way to lunch we had a toilet stop at this marble statue merchant.
Our lunch restaurant.
Soup to start.
Spring Rolls to follow.
Mushrooms and Bok Choy.
Rice noodles, shrimp and vegetables.
Forgot to photograph the rice before we ate it.
This is chicken in a coconut curry sauce with chips. And my can of beer.
Watermelon and pineapple for dessert.
I had to wait at the table while Colleen took a photo.
After lunch we had a rickshaw ride through the streets of Da Nang.
These are some of the drivers waiting for everyone to get ready to start.
I tried to take a photo of Colleen taking a photo of me but it didn't take.
Although Colleen left after me, being lighter her driver was able to catch up and over take me.
Colleen in front now.
Da Nang (Viet Nam)
12th February
The Dragon bridge across the Han river.
A selfie of us infront of another Chinese Year of the Dragon display on the river bank.
More of the Chinese New Year display along the river bank.
Our visit to Da Nang today was to look for a flower shop.
Colleen with the flowers she bought.
Sea Day
13th February
Today Colleen was awarded her Silver Medallion for more than 300 actual sea days.
The flower arrangements that Colleen made from the flowers she bought yesterday.
Halong Bay (Viet Nam)
14th February
The Noordam on the left. We are waiting for the Hop-On Hop-Off bus for a tour of Halong.
It was very windy on the top deck so we put our rain jackets on.
The cruise terminal at the end of the jetty.
Below are some photos snapped on the tour. On a HoHo bus you have to snap what you can.
The colonial French influence can be seen in some of the architecture.
Boats in Halong Bay.
About half way along the sea front drive the bus does a U turn and travells back on the other side.
A narrow street leading down to the dock area.
From here, outside the terminal, we chose to take the long walk back to the ship moored at the end.
Sea Day
15th February
During the night the staff made towelling animals to go round the Lido Pool deck.
Hong Kong (China)
16th February
Early morning view of Hong Kong from our balcony.
We did not take a Hong Kong tour. Instead we went for a walk on the roof of the cruise terminal.
The roof is level with Lido deck 9 of the Noordam.
The terminal roof from the Noordam.
I went for a walk round the decks just as the flags were being taken down.
The boys removing the flags.
The Lido deck before the Sail-Away party.
At Sea
18th February
Early this morning the Captain informed us that we were entering an area where pirates operate.
And as a precaution the promanade deck would be closed from 10am till we reach our next port tomorrow morning.
The fire hoses were set up on deck to repel any pirates.
There is no real threat. The Captain is being cautious.
Tonight we dined in the Italian themed Canaletto Restaurant.
I forgot to take a photo of the bread dips and a couple of olives before we started.
Our mains. Colleens Sea Bass and my Ossobuco.
A photo of my plate with a large cross-cut veal shank.
And finally Dessert. Tiramisu and Baked Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake.