Nah Trang, Vietnam - March 22nd, and Bangkok, Thailand - March 27th

Andrea has left us and we have heard the WONDERFUL news about the arrival in the Hattler family.  Welcome to Emerson Eloise who photographs beautifully for such a young lady.  Congratulations to her proud papa and momma, especially the latter, who seems to have had to work quite a bit to convince Emerson to arrive.  I understand that they finally went in and got her!

Now Carl and I will relax for a couple of weeks, as befits grandparents of 16, until the anticipated arrival of Hilary and Ricardo in Luxor.

The last few days with Andrea on board saw us in Nah Trang (Vietnam) and arriving in Bangkok.  Andrea and I did the Pedicap ride through Nah Trang which was rather hair raising but uneventful in the end. 

I am posting a picture of Andrea at the start and hopefully one which shows our long line of pedicaps, about 30, which went through any and every red light on the way around the city.  In Bangkok, Carl and I took a tuk-tuk ride (sorry no pictures, I was too terrified to let go) . 

Think of it as a glorified golf cart with a more powerful motor which runs in the middle of city traffic.  On the schedule for later in the voyage is a rickshaw ride.  It will be interesting to see which scares me the most. 

Nah Trang is a very pretty city by a beautiful bay and it has fantastic snorkeling and diving, according to our guide. We were each issued walkie-talkies and he spoke as we were pedaled around.  It is still undiscovered by a Hilton or Sheraton etc. as far as I could see.  It also has the longest cable car (funicular?) system I have ever seen.  It leaves from one side of the river and crosses to a resort, and  goes about two and a half miles. There are around 12 cabins swinging over the river at any one time.   The system stopped as we sailed out in the evening and it was quite a sight to see the lighted cars just stopped in place for about half an hour as we went under the lines.  I would not like to have been in one for that long a time, just stopped.

The day we arrived in Bangkok, we got the email saying that Kirstan was in the hospital and BGH was on her way.  Unfortunately, we could not wait to hear the news that evening as we were taken into town with the rest of the World Cruise group for an overnight at the Shangi-La Hotel.  We had a lovely tea time there, cocktails and a special dinner complete with entertainment.  Of all the places we have been, these local dancers and musicians were the most enjoyable for me.  If the ship’s hotel director forwards me a photo which I can use, I will pass it along.  That night, the batteries in my camera died. We returned to the ship the next day after a huge DIM SUM Chinese lunch at an elegant restaurant and after some pocketbook and watch shopping.  Carl is assured that he has an EXCELLENT GENUINE Rolex copy.  (He was looking for something to wear while he sends his real watch off for its bi-annual checkup.) 

Then I ran around like a nut trying to get someone to explain why I could not get on the Internet so I could find out about the BIG EVENT.  Finally, about three hours later, the internet assistant helped explain (delicately) why I seemed to have no minutes left.  There is ALWAYS some little circle I forget to click on!  But we got the GREAT news and pictures and everything.  The only thing I am still awaiting is an explanation about her middle name.  I am assuming it may be her other grandma’s middle name.

Today, I went on the river tour and to the flower market, one of the temples and the museum of the royal barges.  I’m glad I went and I am sure Carl is equally glad he did not.  There was much getting on and off of the bus and a boat. He is less than fond of that. Pictures are not great , but you get the idea.

Hue - March 22, 2012

Hello again from ME, the original blog author.  Are you enjoying my “guest columnist, Andrea”? Actually, her computer and photography skills are far superior and I am happy to have had her posting these reports.

A gentleman who p0osed for me

I went to HUE by myself! Andrea and Carl/Daddy were on the Marble Mountain, “China Beach” tour, where I understand a major souvenir purchase was made.  Wait until you see our fishpond…eventually.  Something is supposed to be shipped which will have a place of honor amongst our (still hopefully surviving) gold fish.  I think Andrea got a good photo, so perhaps the secret will be previewed.

Me in front of Imperial Something

Anyway, I went to HUE. (Pronounced way, or whey as is curds and whey,..you get it!!!!) There I saw the Imperial Tomb (but they are not exactly sure where the king was buried…you know that whole Pharaoh thing…kil lthe guys who constructed the tomb… and also the Imperial Palace and Citadel.  It was interesting to see but not so impressive when you reflect that this was only since the mid 19th century.  I’ve seen older buildings in New York…granted, without such a colorful history.  The drive itself, an hour and a half from the ship was the usual hair-raising Asian trip. The views were spectacular, as we passed rice paddies and went up through the mountains.  My souvenir collection is growing.  Did you know Vietnam is known for its pearls?  The vendors will put a lighter to the pearls to show you that they are not plastic!  Tonight, the dress code on the ship is for wearing something purchased in China or Vietnam.  I plan to wear pearls!!!  O yes, and a shirt and slacks.  I got a tee shirt for Daddy/Carl which has a golden dragon and VIETNAM written on it! 

Dragons

Now we have two days at sea and I fully expect to catch up on my tanning.  We have left the fog and cold behind and are sweltering happily once more!  We will “lose” Andrea in Bangkok, but I know that Hilary and Ricardo are already in preparation mode.  Andrea has NOT been indoctrinating the crew that “Andrea’s sister and her husband” will be joining us.  William, your efforts were quite successful but Andrea has carved out a niche for herself. She is even going to try water volleyball today.  I warned her that Amy had done it already and found it was not for “shorties”, but Andrea is soooooo much taller.

Stone Horse and Elephant

Love and kisses,

ME

Chan May - March 21st

Cruised all night and docked in Chan May noonish on the 21^st.  Chan May is a humble port, and with 30 mph winds, the captain was challenged to “parallel park” but finally got it done.

                                                                     Docking in Chan May

Mommy and Daddy have seen this so many times it is somewhat ho-hum, but the wind made this one a little more exciting.  We got off the boat and separated ways. Mommy went to the ancient city of Hue and Daddy and I went to Da Nang.  Daddy and I saw the Cham museum, which houses archeological artifacts from a dig begun by the French at the turn of the XX century and continued for a few decades.  The artifacts were most interesting to me because of the similarities I saw with Mesoamerican artifacts from the Aztecs and Mayan cultures.  The facial features of the sculptures were also varied and included full lips and noses, as well thinner features more easily associated with Asian heritage.

Cham? Aztec? Inca?

Facial Features

 We re-boarded the bus to go to the Da Nang market, and were dropped off at an ocean front plaza where there were impressive marble sculptures.  Daddy, still smarting from a remark by the Colleton River architectural review board, threatened to buy the below and put him at the entrance to 14 Inverness drive.  I am partial to the standing warrior behind him.  Either one though, will get their attention.

                                                    THIS is the one for the entrance

From there we went to the Da Nang Market, a space crammed with goods of all sorts side by side.  The butcher was within yelling distance of the open air hair salon, which was right behind the lady selling… um, well, I don’t really know WHAT she was selling, but she WAS selling it!  The upstairs space had dry goods (clothes, shoes, bags, household goods) and when we walked through we must have hit the Da Nang version of siesta as many vendors were simple asleep in, on, over, under or around their stalls. 

                                                                 Da Nang Market

We walked from the market to a store where we saw the Vietnamese silk embroidery, which is at times lovely and at times reminiscent of Elvis on velvet.  We didn’t buy anything.  I DID however, love the roof tiles, which I have not seen up close anywhere else.

Roof Tiles in Da Nang

We then got back on the bus and drove two minutes to Marble Mountain – which was really a street with lots of shops where there were marble sculptors, selling marble sculptures.  This could have been ho hum, but noooooo, I think I hear a click when we got off the bus and Daddy started to walk around.  Marble Mountain is adjacent to Marble Beach, which meant nothing to me until the guide said “you might know this place as China Beach.  When the Marines landed here in the mid 60’s they found pieces of pottery and called it China Beach.  Vietnamese have always called it Marble Beach.

           Marble sculptures, and above, sculptors                                                                        

The guys doing the hard work were impressive to watch. Notice the fisherman peeking over the top above, more on him later.  The girls doing the selling were equally impressive.

                                                           “Me give you good price!”

Because I am dense as dirt, and not a good shill, I did not catch on.  Daddy saw the fisherman, and asked me if thought he would be good for the fish pond in front of 14 Inverness.  I almost did a happy dance, which would have made it even MORE difficult to bargain.  Note to self – learn to better bargain.

Fisherman

Luckily Daddy put on his best “I drive a hard bargain little lady” face and finally got the piece.  Of course, there was more…

Measuring the catch

 

So there are an additional two white marble fish to flank the spa, as well as jade and marble bowls that are mine all mine I tell you, as long as mommy does not appropriate them when they get through customs.  It’s all really good looking stuff and it is going to be fun to see how the Colleton River Architectural Review Board reacts.  Film at 11.

Sealing the deal

We took so long with the marble transactions that our tour bus left us.  Happily, though, they representative from the cruise had arranged for us to get a ride from the marble store people, and we then met them at a resort on what we know as China Beach.  Of course, we could have been delivered anywhere, but then they would have had to deal with my whining, and we KNOW they would have thrown (at least me) back happily. 

The beach is amazing.  It could have been South Beach, it could have been Palmas, it could have been any gorgeous, tropical, sunny, uncrowded, turquoise blue water beach.  I would have loved to spend more time there, but we moved on quickly to return to the ship. 

                                                        Marble Beach (aka China Beach)

Marble Beach   

                                      Marble Beach

We then went on the bus back to the ship.  Past a fishing village that is overseen by the tallest female Buddha in Vietnam.

                                                    Tallest Female Buddha in Vietnam

 The small fishing vessels are the cutest thing!  They are about 10 feet across, 3 foot deep baskets that are water proofed and hold one or two people and they nest.  In some places they are everywhere, drive a few more miles and they are now where to be found.  This image is of a guy, sitting in his basket/boat, fixing his net.  There is a Hyatt, a Crowne Plaza, and some 5 star Chinese resort a mile away.  The juxtaposition is impressive.

                                                                        Fixing the net

Female Buddha and the boats

Driving back to the ship we see all sorts of thing to include whole families on mopeds.  The youngest sandwiched between protective parents, no one wearing a helmet; many traveling too fast for me to capture digitally.

Hanging On

We travelled through a 3 miles long tunnel on our way over to and out way back from Da Nang.  The tunnel is an impressive accomplishment for any country, much less a developing one.  We do not know what toll it took on the citizenry, but it appears to function very well now.  We are told it took 5 years to build.

As we arrived back at the ship in Chan May we saw immigration packing it in.  Still no sure WHAT they were supposed to do cause they never looked at our landing cards or any other thing.  All the same they looked official, until they just rolled themselves off the dock.  I guess we can all be glad they are mobile, so they can immigrate you anywhere you need immigrating.  If nothing else, the sunset was wonderful.  While we were in Da Nang mommy went to Hue.  Those pics are subject of another post.  We now move on to Thailand

 Immigration has left the dock

                                                                 Sunset at Chan May

Buddhist Temple, kinder garden, and a farmer

Posted by Andrea

 Today mommy and I went on a tour to see a Buddhist temple, a kinder garden, and a countryside farmer’s home.  The children were adorable, squealing, pushing shoving, laughing, generally being cute and energetic.  A class of 5 year olds sang a cute song.  The younger ones were enthralled with seeing themselves on a screen albeit the small one on the back of my camera.

Adorable children

                                                    Kids seeing themselves on the screen

We then went to a temple – one of about 20 in the area.

                                                                        US at the Temple

The temple grounds were huge, the gardens were lush, and the statues were impressive.  Originally built in the 13^th century, the pagoda had fallen into disrepair and has been rebuilt in the last 20 years.  Some buildings only completed in the last four months.  While there an 80 year old monk demonstrated how to mediate.  It took him about 10 minutes to explain and demonstrate, then he left.  I can only assume it was a cliffs notes version, as no one specifically said it was speed meditating. I will try it someday, but don’t plan on wearing the mustard colored robes. 

                                                                                     Garden

                                                                                   BUDDAH

                                                                                     Monk

While at the temple there were many other visitors, one of which took particular interest in the taller women of our group – I am sure you are on pins and needles about who garnered the interest of the local populace.  This lady was, to put it mildly, unconcerned with niceties, and flat out asked, through our tour guide, how old mommy was.  The answer was whispered to the tour guide who in turn whispered it to the questioner. The lady then told us she is 80 years old, we all smiled and we all went on our way.

                                                                          How old are you?

Of note also was the large granite ball at the entrance to the temple.  It is a Ball of Happiness; it is Vietnam’s largest Ball of Happiness.  On special occasions it is showered with water which makes it turn/roll in place.  Yes, seems the bigger the ball the more happiness.  I refuse to write more on this subject, my sophomoric sense of humor gets away from me and I am sure to insult some of our gentle readers.

                                                                       Big Ball of Happiness

We were told the government encourages the practice of Buddhism, but does not contribute any funds; the entire complex is privately financially supported.  Of note is the fact that the tallest statue on the grounds is a female Buddha.  She looked graceful and serene, and is apparently the Buddha that is credited with the care of all seafaring believers.

                                                                             Female Buddha

 The farmer and his wife have a humble home, and they seem happy.  They welcomed us with green tea and boiled sweet potatoes.  As evidenced by our presence on their property exploitation is alive and well and living in Vietnam.  Mommy asked if we could have our picture taken with the lady – she was very gracious and allowed us to do so.

                                                                           With farmer’s wife

                                                                    Farmer’s wife working

                                                                        Farmer’s rice Paddies

We saw tons of rice paddies, water buffalo, pineapple for sale, and every bit of bric a brac possible.  From our bus we saw lots of folks on mopeds, dogs, kinds, mud, and a seeming endless number of hotels for the tourist season, which is in the summer, i.e. not now.  Seems everyone (but us) knows the weather is foggy and not good this time of year, we should have called ahead.

                                                                                  Rice Paddies

The tour guide was a cheerfully brain washed girl who was happy to speak to the 1964 ‘liberation of North Vietnam’ which was followed in 1975 with the ‘liberation’ of South Vietnam.  She was just as happy to speak of Ho Chi Minh as the father of Vietnam, whom they all adore/worship; nothing like revisionist history.  Most of the people in Vietnam were too young or were not alive 40 years ago, so what they know is what they have been told, and what they have been told is that there was a liberation.

Once we completed the tour we returned to the ship where we had lunch and started editing photographs.  Before we knew it we were off to play trivia (a shipboard version of Trivial Pursuit) and then watched the boat prepare for departure from Ha Long bay.  We are now underway to the next stop, where we are scheduled to arrive tomorrow midday.  Daddy and I will go to Marble Beach and Da Nang, while mommy goes to another place, name of which currently escapes me.

What happens on the boat, stays on the boat!

Posted by Andrea

Back on the big boat we got ready for dinner which was held outside, and sat with a fun crew of folks, many also on board for the world tour.  The evening ended with raucous dancing. 

                                                               Daddy dances with cougars

                                                          Mommy shakes it with Fernando

                                                    The dynamic duo discos til Dawn

                                                                 The Dynamic duo Dances -MORE

Although we all said that what happens on the boat stays on the boat I decided you guys all have the right to see that mommy and daddy have it going on and are clearly the leaders of the pack.  A good time was had by all.

                                              Mommy beats a hasty retreat, almost unnoticed

Daddy bolted first, then mommy tried to leave without being noticed.  I hung out a little longer.  Rumor has it the cruise director (Fernando) feared the party would last until 2am!  It might have, but when the tables were cleared, they turned the lights up, played ‘Last Dance’ and stopped serving booze we all got the message.  It was, however, a good thing, it was almost 10:30 and waaaaay past our bedtime!

                                                    Vietnamese Officials Let their hair down

PS – Oh yeah the Vietnamese immigration officials, they had fun too, although there was MUCH less dancing where they were involved.  I HAD to have my picture taken with them since they would not let me keep one of their hats.