Asia and Australia: October 2010

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Forbidden City in Beijing

Asia-Australia 2010

“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”

St. Augustine

Sunday 10/17/2010 – At sea between Hong Kong and Viet Nam

Well, where to start… we have been gone for two weeks and I am not sure where the time has gone (it certainly hasn’t been writing on the Blog –sorry). It has been a wonderful trip to date with so many terrific sights. Just finished Sunday morning breakfast with caviar and champagne – WOW does Regent Cruises spoil you! I will start at the beginning.

We had great flights… long, but no problems or delays. Beijing was the city where we picked up the cruise. We only spent an overnight as we had been there several years ago. We had a half day to ourselves and decided to see the Forbidden City again (now called the Palace Museum – I guess the Chinese Government wants to make it sound more attainable and current). We found a great independent guide to take us around who really knew his business; not only did he know the sights but knew how to get around the crowds. It was the Chinese National Holiday and there were literally “MILLIONS” of locals on holiday wanting to see the sights. Now that people are free to move about China, the locals are very interested in seeing the sights. It is an amazing complex with beautiful buildings filled with history of the Emperors and their court. We even got to meet the last Emperor’s nephew who is now a calligrapher at the site.

The cruise left Beijing, the next day we were at sea and then our first port was Dalian, China. It is a small city being built up with large buildings (as we have seen all over China). We did a walking tour observing the difference between the “old and the new”. They have lots of beautiful parks with open space for the city dwellers to relax. Apartments in China average 300 – 400 square feet for a family of four (our suite on the ship is that large and I keep tripping on Mike’s feet). The parks have dancing waters, flower beds, statues and room for flying kites… an ancient past time in China. We did fly kites, rather badly I must admit, but we gave it a try and it was fun.

Next on to Shanghai – AMAZING!!! That is the only way I can explain it. We were there ten years ago and we couldn’t believe it was even the same place. Buildings sprout up everywhere – I believe it will dwarf New York in the future. It is an impressive sight sailing into the huge harbor, but even more impressive sailing away in the evening. The buildings are all lit up, many with flashing lights, changing colors and patterns. The harbor is constantly busy with hundreds of coal barges sailing by late in the evening. Something has to fuel all these lights and it is coal – not the best for air quality. We saw the beautiful Yu Yuan Gardens, the world’s largest Jade Buddha, the Shanghai Museum, the Chinese Acrobatic show (amazing what they can do with their bodies). We also visited an ancient water town (name is too long to even try to type). It is considered the Venice of China (no way). Interesting ride through the canals and walk through the markets to see how the real Chinese people live.

On the ship we met a delightful couple from Vancouver who are also adventurous and we decided to spend the evening on our own at Shanghai - Expo 2010. We ventured out in a cab with a map of the expo and a hand written note with the ship’s address for our return. Well, the driver looked at the map, seemed a bit leery but gestured for us to get into the cab. Next thing we know we are at the local Hyatt hotel, he talks to the bell man in Chinese, who in turn talks to us in English to find out where we want to go and then we were on our way. Very clever these Chinese!

It was a great experience, the crowds were huge but very polite and we were able to easily get into the Canadian (our shipmates are Canadian) and American pavilions by showing our passports. Each country gives priority to their visiting citizens. We were also determined to get to the Denmark pavilion to see The Little Mermaid. We were in Copenhagen in April and of course went to see her… well the Mermaid had left town for Shanghai so we only got to see the rock she usually sits on. So we finally got to see The Little Mermaid. No problem getting back to the ship and a really fun evening was had by all.

After that there was a sea day to eat, drink, eat, exercise, eat, relax, eat, see some entertainment and eat again (get the picture – no you will not see a photo of our waistlines!).

The next port was Okinawa, Japan… a port that could have been skipped, except they can’t. You are not allowed to visit Taiwan directly after visiting China due to Chinese Government’s requirements. So the cruise company added Okinawa which really has very little to offer. We saw a reconstructed Shurijo Castle (original was destroyed during WW II), it was nothing exciting but we were on to bigger and better things – Taiwan.

We started our first day in Taiwan with a visit to The Chaiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (an impressive tribute to him and his life), The Martyrs’ Shrine with the elaborate changing of the guard’s ceremony, visit to the huge Buddha overlooking the city (reminiscent of the risen Christ figure above Rio de Janiero) and then to Yehliu Geological Park. Yehliu’s terrain is composed of many layers of sand and soil which erodes differently while being exposed to the elements of water and wind. It makes for terrific natural monuments some appearing to take the form of other items. Very interesting to view and nothing like we have seen before. After seeing the cleaned up Beijing and Shanghai we were surprised to see Taiwan looking a bit worn, grey buildings (due to pollution) and more poverty than we expected. Politically it had been stagnant with Martial Law for over forty years and is finally starting to come around. Traveling is definitely an eye opener!!!

The next day we were at sea (see three paragraphs above for a repeat). Our next stop was Hong Kong but haven’t edited the pictures or even thought about adding to the Blog. Anyway by now you probably have had enough… so till next time. See pictures below.

Pat & Mike

Chicken in China

Shanghai at Night

More Shanghai Skyline

Shanghai Old and New

EXPO 2010 in Shanghai

What's She doing here?

Yehliu Geo Park - Erosion at Work

Yehliu Geo Park - Mushroom Caps

Dragon

Shuziju King's Throne

400 year old Temple

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

Venice of China

Jade Buddha

Asia & Australia – 2010

“We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment”

- Hilaire Belloc

Monday, October 25, 2010 – departing Bangkok, Thailand in route to

Ko Samui, Thailand.

When we last posted to the Blog we had just left Hong Kong but not written about it. So here goes….

We had been to Hong Kong several years ago so decided to tour one of the areas other than Kowloon or Hong Kong Island. We spent a day touring Lantau Island and it was great. The main two islands have no remaining land for building and I am not sure the buildings can go up any higher – check out the pictures. Hong Kong is bustling with building (see the cranes photo), they are putting up buildings everywhere. Land is being reclaimed from the sea so Kowloon and Hong Kong Islands might end up meeting at some time if they keep land filling.

Lantau Island is being built up for residential housing and there are many, many buildings. It’s also home to the new airport with rail transportation going to the main island. They have built impressive bridges linking the islands (and we still only have the George Washington Bridge after 80 years). The island goes from the very progressive apartment building cities to ancient villages. We toured a fishing village with houses built on stilts where people live directly over the river. It is very primitive and fishing is still the mainstay of their lives. Then on to the largest sitting Buddha and Monastery… the Buddha atop the mountain can be seen for miles. We viewed the beautiful countryside from a 4 mile long cable car ride.

We spent the evening at Victoria Peak at a cocktail party watching the beautiful lights of Hong Kong and then back to our ship to watch the Laser Light Show in Hong Kong Harbor – it is lit up like Disneyland – just beautiful!!! The next day we were on to highlights of Hong Kong (local markets with many interesting items we would never see or eat!) then SHOPPING on our own. Terrific port and we were ready for our next relaxing and eating day at sea.

Viet Nam

– now that is different!!! Definitely a third world country trying to act like it is not. Housing is booming with individual residences doubling as an entrepreneurial work place. Everywhere you see houses being built, very narrow (as you pay taxes on the frontage) and several stories high. The extended family lives together, parents on one floor and sons with their families on higher floors (daughters go to live with their in-laws). On the street level almost every house has some type of store or business in the front. So much for communism, it is truly capitalism at work. Motor scooters are everywhere and their drivers are fearless and crazy. I am not sure how we got out of Saigon alive… you just walk and PRAY!

Traveling is such an eye opener, how your prospective is so different from others even when you think you have the same facts. We visited the prison where Americans and South Viet Namese were held during “The Viet Nam War” except here it is “The American War”. The Ha Noi Hilton, as it was referred to by the prisoners, was disturbing to see but part of the history. America was definitely not portrayed in a positive light. But the locals consider the war a thing in the past and are very welcoming and kind.

We visited little villages and watched rice being harvested, fields being plowed by water buffalo, visited a farm house (very primitive), barber shops on the street, visited Ho-Chi Minh’s tomb (but he was out for re-embalming so unavailable to see – strange concept) and had some evening gowns custom made. Now how was that for a change of pace, rural farm houses and evening gowns. What an experience, we went out with our onboard friends Petra and Alan, the other adventurous travelers we went to the Shanghai Expo with. They had heard that you can get eyeglasses made cheaply ($45 a pair for progressive glasses including the frames) and I was determined to have a mandarin style evening dress made (of course I couldn’t resist and had two made). We ventured out into the city, dodged scooters, overcame the language barrier, met nice people and our friends ended up with their glasses and I got my dresses made. They measure you (those tiny Vietnamese were shocked by my measurements), you pick out the fabric and style and by the time we left a day and a half later I had two dresses. It is truly amazing what they can do in such a short time… and how cheaply.

This journey is really fantastic and we are loving every minute of it. Time for bed so that is it for this Blog… behind in reporting but having a terrific time!

Pat & Mike