Singapore March 13/14

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Singapore is the smallest country in Southeast Asia located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.  An interesting fact is that half of the population uses the public transportation system daily.  As a result of the control of motorize traffic, natural greenery, and strict industrial emissions regulations Singapore has one of the lowest pollution levels around.  Singapore is also known for the very strict laws concerning spitting, loud noises, graffiti, smoking and other anti-social actions.  No chewing gum at all!!  There are signs attesting to this with fines, jail, and canning as punishment.  

We had a quick day and a half in Singapore and it was a real whirlwind.  To start with let me give you a quiz.  Look at this picture.

Now, do you think we went to the Heritage Centre or the Chinatown Market?  Did you say market…………… You are correct!

This is a store devoted entirely to Chop Sticks

Although it looked like just stalls and such, there were some very nice shops buried within the market.  Here Noreen is working on the balance of payments in support of international relations.

In this picture the shopkeeper is working on a custom “fit in the purse” piece for Noreen.  If you look close you can see Noreen sitting behind her and supervising.

We also spent some time looking at the various sights around the area.  These are some pictures of the Sri Mariamman Temple entrance and inside.

And this is the Lucky Tooth Relic Temple and Museum.

Some doors to a government building that looked very interesting.

Singapore also has a very modern subway system similar to Hong Kong.  The trains and layout maps are very easy to understand and use.

Two of the famous Singapore dishes are Chili Crabs and Black Pepper Crabs.

On day two we only had a few hours so we decided to try a Singapore specialty….Garra Rufa flesh eating fish.  Basically you put your feet (or other parts of your body) into a tank and the fish eat off the dead skin and callouses.   I think you can read the sign.

Noreen getting ready for the nibble.

Yes I did it too.  It feels like just a little pick on your skin.  No pain or pulling.  After your feet a very smooth and soft.  You should try it given the chance.

Singapore is a modern city constantly erecting new and interesting buildings.

A cable car system ran over our ship out to Sentosa Island.  Sentosa is home to the Hard Rock Hotel and Universal Studios Theme Park.

On leaving Singapore we passed a holding area for ships waiting to be loaded.  We counted 52 ships that we could see.

A view of the Singapore skyline as we left.

A fond farewell to Singapore and on to India.  We hope you enjoyed this visit.  Post your comments or send us a text e-mail.

 

Ken & Noreen

Phu My, Vietnam March 11

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Our visit was a little different than in the past.  Since the ship docked in a port two hours away from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and an hour from Vung Tau we decided to stay close to the ship.  We just weren’t up to a long, hot bus ride.  The temp was 97⁰f and high humidity.  Here are some pictures from our port area.  Hopefully next time we visit this area we’ll dock in Da Nang or Hanoi.

The view from our veranda.  You can see how low and flat the costal area is.

We were in a very busy port.

These sampans go throughout the port selling fresh vegetables, fruits and other items to the ships’ crews while they load and unload.

Local fishing and transport

What do you use for a scaffold to wash windows when you don’t have one?

I did ask our table companions for some of their pics since they went to HCM city. Some local area shots.  A mix of traditional and modern city.

Since I didn’t have much to report on our adventures I’ll add another thing we did.  Noreen is on a first name basis with the jewelry store manager.  They had a featured items fashion show and he asked Noreen to join as a model.  Here they are picking out her matched set of ear rings, necklace and ring to wear.

A little champagne preparation.

Showing her collection to the ladies.

The bottom line was that Noreen had just under $225,000 worth of jewelry on for the show.  They had guards on the lifeboats to make sure she didn’t take off.  All in all it was a lot of fun though I don’t know if she sold more than she bought……just kidding.

Now on to Singapore.

 

Ken & Noreen

Hong Kong, March 7-8, 2011

Our visit to Hong Kong was too short for all the sights and adventures we could experience.  We arrived very early in the morning and sailed through the very busy waterways of Victoria Harbor.  We docked in  Kowloon, across the harbor from Hong Kong which is an island.  A picture of the Hong Kong skyline taken from our ship.

On our first day we decided to visit the Giant Buddha on Lantau Island.  Most of you know we don’t do organized tours so we set off on our own for a combination subway and Ngong Ping Cable car.  The subway system is very modern, easy to use and clean.  This is an entry way to the station.  Note the lane control signs on the ceiling.

A picture inside the subway.  It is one long articulated train, not individual cars as in the US.  You can walk form one end to the other with no problem.   In the upper right you can see an electronic map that shows where you are and the next stop.  You also get very clear multi-language announcements

Some pictures from the train.  A major cemetery.

One of the sampan towns you hear about in Hong Kong.

You may have heard of Disney Hong Kong.  Our train passed though the transfer station to the dedicated Disney train.

We didn’t realize what they meant when mentioning a cable car.  You know how Noreen likes heights…..NOT!  It is a 25 minute, 5.7km ride that goes kind of high over land and water.  Some shots of the trip.

  Climbing up showing Hong Kong International Airport, town of Tung Chung, and the Tung Chung Bay.

Noreen smiling and “enjoying” the trip.  She made  me sit down and stop rocking the car.  We could have taken a car with a clear floor but that was a real no go.

Finally the Giant Buddha comes into view.

On arrival as we get ready to start the long walk to the Buddha. 

Information on Giant Buddha at http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/attractions/outlying-giant-buddha.html
The town area supporting the Buddha and the Po Lon Monastery.

Noreen getting her sense of humor back after the cable car ride.

Directions are easy to find.

It’s a long way up to the Buddha, at least 200 steps.

Finally at the top looking back.

The Buddha is an active religious site and photography was limited.  We went inside the Buddha which has two floors, a museum, and prayer alcove.  No pictures allowed inside.

The pedestal had  a number of status signifying different aspect of the religion.

Heading back I understand the pets but I wonder who brings livestock on to the cable car???

You may ask what made Noreen willing to get on the cable car to return.  Well, after our cultural trip it was time for the markets.  Our first stop was the Kowloon Night Market.
Restaurants at the start of the market.


Note the Circle K




The next day we were only in Hong Kong until early afternoon when the ship sailed.  We decided to go to the Stanley Market which was located on the other side of Hong Kong.  We first had to take one of the famous Star Ferries which have served the Hong Kong area forever.  This is a picture of one of the ferries passing our ship.  The sign on our ship reads, “Security Warning – Stay 50 Meters Away.”

We also had the more traditional Junk ship design passing by.

This is a Junk going around cleaning debris from the Harbor.

By the Central Star Ferry Station on Hong Kong.

After crossing the Harbor by ferry we had a 45 minute bus ride to get to Stanley and the market.   All the busses are modern and double decker.

Pictures from our bus trip.  Where the average worker in Hong Kong lives.


The hole in this building is based on Fung Sway.  People who live there will have health, wealth and happiness.

Our arrival at the Stanley Market.

As a discerning shopper Noreen says she can see the difference between the various markets.   It all looks like the same stuff to me.




On our trip back to the ship.  A usual Hong Kong Street.


Another cemetery.

We took the more traditional ferry but you can see there is a tunnel back to Kowloon.


Very wide modern avenues and many over passes for pedestrians.


Some Yuppie type housing on the outskirts.

The famous Hong Kong Clock Tower.

Land is very scarce and they build up not out.  I’ve never seen office and apartment buildings as tall as is normal here.

The convention center if you ever come here for a conference.

The Hong Kong skyline at night as we get ready to sail away.

Onward to Vietnam.  Hope you enjoyed this trip to Hong Kong.