Saturday 22 December 2018 - Bendigo

Joel drove us to Sunbury where we caught the train back to Bendigo.  Josh then collected us from the station and dropped us home.  Overall we had a great trip.

The staff on the ship were great and nothing was too much trouble for them.  

Was good to see Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, but would I go back.  No.  

I would return to Singapore and stay a few days if it was a stopover for another destination but wouldn't just go back there for a holiday.  There are too many other place that we haven't been to.

If we do another cruise I would have no hesitation going with Princess again.










   

Friday 21 Deccember 2018 - Singapore

Docked this morning and left the boat at 7.15 am.  We caught a taxi to the airport where we sat around until it was time to board the airplane at 1.55 pm for home.  The plane was 30 minutes late leaving.  An uneventful trip home, although Ian had a boy of about 8 sitting behind him who was playing a game on the console in the back of Ian's seat.  Unfortunately for Ian this involved the boy continuously hitting the back of the seat for about 6 of the 7 hours of the trip home.  Joel collected us from the airport (at 12.30 am Sat morning) and we stayed the night in Melbourne.

Thursday 20 Deccember 2018 - Port Kelang (Kuala Lumpur) Malaysia

Today we pulled into Port Kelang.  The tour we had booked today was into Kuala Lumpur 1.5 hours away (if the traffic was good).  As the only thing we wanted to see was Petronas Twin Towers we decided we couldn’t be bothered spending 3 hours or more in a bus to drive past and look at the Towers.  The tour also included a monument, museum and shopping.  So we cancelled that tour and instead booked a shuttle into Aeon Mall in Kelang 30 minutes away from the Port.  

We elected to do this just to get off the ship and see, at least, a glimpse of the area.

A couple of hours at the Mall was more than enough so we grabbed a coffee to kill some more time until the first return shuttle was due.

Back to the ship for lunch and starting to pack up.   Had our last evening meal and finished packing apart from the last minute things for the morning.

Wednesday 19 December 2018 - Penang - Malaysia

A strange day today as we didn’t dock until 3pm today.  Our tour didn’t start until 4.15.  We drove from the port.

Our first stop was a Chinese Temple which reminded us of our Joss house in Bendigo except larger.  

The bus left us here and we walked through George Town and then Little India and the spice shop to enjoy the smell.  Unfortunately, due to my cold I couldn’t smell anything.  

Next stop was at the markets for a stroll around before reboarding our bus for a scenic drive through the city and then out to the Botanical Gardens.  We strolled around here with our guide pointing out the different vegetation around the area.  Also at the Gardens were hundreds of monkeys running freely around.  

They came too close for my liking.  I kept putting someone between myself and them.  By now it was starting to get dark so we got back on the bus and returned to the ship for a late dinner.

Tuesday 18 December 2018 - Singapore

At 12:30 am we were woken by an announcement from the captain saying we were changing direction and speed as 3 distress beacons had be seen and we, along with another ship nearby were going to investigate.  He then said if nothing was found there would be no further announcements and we would continue on to Singapore.  Nothing more happened so I presume it was a false alarm.  We never did find out what happened.  No one we asked was able to tell us.

We are back in Singapore today.  We have elected not to do a cruise tour but to go out on our own.  We walked from the port to the Gardens by the Bay which covers 250 acres of reclaimed land.  

Supertrees (a tree-like structure) are dotted around the Gardens.  The Supertrees are between 25 to 50 metres high and there is an elevated walkway, the Skyway, between two of the larger Supertrees which gave us an aerial view out over the gardens.  

At night the Supertrees are lit up with a light and music show.  We unfortunately missed this as when we were in Singapore we didn't realise there were 2 light and sound shows and only attended the one at the Marina.

We then walked to Marina Bay Hotel.  The Hotel has restaurants, casino, conference centre, shops as well as 2,500 rooms.  On top of the 3 towers of the Hotel is a 340 metre long boat shaped area built on a cantilevered platform, which overhands the north tower by 67 metres.  It is capable of holding 3,900 people and also has a 150 metre infinity swimming pool.

As we were not staying at the Hotel we were only allowed up on a small section of the observation deck on the 59th floor.  We did get a great view out over Singapore but it would have been nice to see the rest of the floor.  

Returning to ground level we went through a tunnel under the road to a shopping centre.  We found some seats and made use of their WiFi before catching a taxi back to the wharf.  

Some people finished their cruise today and have gotten off and we have watched the new passengers boarding.  

Monday 17 December 2018 - At Sea

Today was a rest day at sea.  Much appreciated as I have come down with a cold.  Ian did a tour of the galley.  I thought it wise not to go coughing and sneezing into the food preparation area.  I had a little nanna nap while Ian was away.  In the afternoon we went to a concert put on by passengers who had learnt to play some songs on the ukulele or percussion instruments during the cruise.  A bit of fun.  I had told Ian to join the ukulele group but he wouldn’t.  We had intended to go to the concert that night but we sat with a strange couple, unfortunately from Australia, for dinner.  There were 8 of us at the table.  We all placed our orders and when the entree comes out Mrs. Aussie says that it is not what she ordered.  The waiter said it was abc (I can’t remember what it was) which is what you ordered.    No I wanted the shrimp cocktail.  The waiter takes away the entree and gets a shrimp cocktail sent out for her.  She finished that and then says to the waiter.  You were right I did want abc I will have it now.  The waiter says he sent it back to the kitchen, she replied but I want it. So he had to send down to the kitchen for another abc which Mrs Aussie then proceeded to eat.  We all wait while she eats it so the main course could be delivered together.  We all start eating our main course and Mrs Aussie announces hers is horrible and too tough and she is not eating it.  She calls the waiter over and says she can't eat it.  He tells her that steak is tougher if you ordered well done.  She tells him to take it away she will order something else which she does.  We finally get to dessert ordering and she says she wanted something but I can’t see it on the menu.  The waiter tells her that was on yesterday’s menu.  The menu changes each day so it is not available tonight.  Mrs Aussie then tells the waiter the menu doesn’t change and she wants it.  The poor waiter is trying to be nice and stay calm.  The rest of the table are hiding behind their menus embarrassed by her behaviour.  The meal is finally over too late for the show so we just returned to the cabin.

Sunday 16 December Ko Samui - Thailand

A bit later start today as we didn’t have to be ready until 7.30.  Today we had to use tender craft for a 20 minute ride into port before boarding our bus and heading to Wat Phrayai being home to the massive 39 foot Buddha.  On our drive there the skies opened and the rain teemed down.  The roads flooded and there was mud everywhere.  We pulled up at the Temple and the rain stopped.  How lucky.  We spent 50 minutes here.  You had to climb 70 stairs to reach the level the Buddha sat on.  Returning to ground level we looked through the stalls around the area.  

Back on the bus and off to Funny Days Safari.  We left the bus and went to the area to ride the elephants.  Before the elephants came over the rain started and it poured for probably 20 minutes.  We all had on rain ponchos so looked a treat.  The rain started to ease so we boarded our elephant.  

Normally it is a 30 minute ride through the jungle but the track was too muddy and the rain commenced again so we went out on the road and through a paddock before returning to our starting point.  We had to pass under the electricity wires which were so low our elephant driver had to lift them up with a stick so we would fit under them.  No health and safety here!  We all only had a 15 minute ride because of the weather.  

We then moved to the arena to sit on wet concrete steps for the elephant show.  They had a 2 year old and a 5 year old elephant performing tasks.  Dancing, stand up on their hind legs, then a hand stand, twirling a hula hop around their trunk, giving volunteers from the audience a massage with their trunks, kicking soccer balls.  It wasn’t bad although went on a little too long.  We then trudged through the mud and rain to another arena where a monkey came out and showed us how they are trained to pick coconuts.   We re-boarded the bus, all of us looking like drowned rats.  The trip back to the dock took 15 minutes longer due to the flooded roads.  I was watching a motorbike travelling in front of the bus and the water came up to the seat of the bike.  Our guide said it would take about 2 hours for the water to drain off the road.

Caught the tender craft back to the ship for a late lunch.  We got talking to the waitress.  She has a contract with the ship for 9 months.  She works everyday for the 9 months.  She has to do breakfast starting at either 5.30 or 6 am and finishing around 10.30 am.  Then she waitresses in one of the restaurants at night from 5.30 pm until they close.    She then has 3 months off before repeating it again.  She has done it for 7 years.   

Seeing we had such a late lunch we went to the show, an Australian singer Karen Beckett, before having dinner.

Saturday 15 December 2018 - Bangkok - Thailand

Up at 5.30.  Ahh a relaxing holiday.  

New Cars waiting to be loaded onto a ship

After getting ready we find our tour bus on the dock and off we go for the 2 hour drive to our comfort station stop.  Buses and cars everywhere and the ladies has 1 western style toilet and at least 10 squatty potties.  Now as you can imagine 95% of those waiting wanted the western style toilet.  This stop probably took a good 20 minutes.  Back in the bus and into Bangkok.  

The first stop was Jessadabordin Ground to see a Thai architectural styled open pavilion and the Golden Stupa Mountain Temple, the highest Temple in Bangkok.  While here they were watering the gardens by using a water canon and shooting the water over the lawns and gardens.  

Next stop Wat Po which is home to more than 1000 Buddha images as well as the Reclining Buddha the largest single Buddha image.  

Wat Po is one of the largest and oldest Temples in Bangkok.  In 1832 King Rama III turned the Temple into a place of learning creating Thailand's first university teaching Thai Medicinal art of massage. 

Our final Buddha for the day was at Wat Suthat which has a 25 foot bronze Buddha.  

Next up was the highlight of not only the day, but our trip so far, our tuk tuk ride.  

This is a motorised rickshaw and we went from the temple to a local restaurant travelling around the inner streets of Bangkok.  There was about 13 tuk tuks and we travelled in a group.  All the traffic gave way to us as we raced around for 15 to 20 minutes.  Great fun.  After a smorgasbord lunch we boarded the bus for our last stop a shopping venue.  We all thought we were going to a market but it ended up being a high end jewellery and bag shop with a few souvenirs thrown in. Complete waste of time.  Back in the bus for 2 hours to return to port. 

The wiring once again took Ian's fancy

Arty Farty shot - learnt at the Photo Seminar

Luckily the traffic was light for Bangkok on our return and we managed to cut 30 minutes off the trip.  Back on the ship in time to shower before dinner and tonight’s show, Joey Yates singing Billy Joel songs.  Another enjoyable show.