Jan 25 Tour to Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City has 9 million people and 7 million motor scooters. Our tour this morning was designed for us to see them all. Short bus ride to the Reunification Hall, formerly the Presidential Palace. This is the site where tanks of the North Vietnamese army crashed through the gates in April 1975 which ended our involvement in Vietnam. We call this the "Fall of saigon", they call it the "Liberation of Saigon". The war we call the Vietnam war? They call it the American War.
Next we went to the Post Office, a beautiful building designed by Eiffel. The French influence which is everywhere in Vietnam did produce the most beautiful architechture.
So now a cyclos ride. This is a three-wheeled pedi cab and we had a 30 minute ride through Saigon traffic (remember the 7 million motorscooters?)

We ended our cyclos ride at a museum. You know us and museums. Blah, blah, blah. There was a cute child though, and his father insisted I take the picture with his hat on.

Next best thing at the museum was a water puppet show, complete with fire breathing dragons. Very cool, the puppets were controlled by people behind a curtain and the sticks controlling them were underwater.
Last stop, laquer factory. Interesting if you like laquer. Designs made with eggshells, paint and mother of pearl. Nine layers of laquer, lasts forever, ok can we go back to the ship now it's freakin hot.
Sail away from Ho Chi Minh at 4pm. Back down the Saigon River to the South China Sea. Winding and leaning and leaning and winding.

As we approached the end of the river the pilot left us. At that point it was so rough the pilot boat was sending spray to our balcony (deck 7). It stayed a little rough through dinner and the show, it was nice to fall asleep to and when we awoke this morning you would think we were in port, it's so smooth.

Jan 24 Ho Chi Minh City

Around 4am this morning we started up the Saigon River from the South China Sea. The Saigon River winds and turns its way to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). The captain warned us that the stabilizers would be in and the speed and turning of the ship would cause doors to open and close and a back and forth leaning of the ship as we worked our way the few mile to the center of the city. Only a ship of our size (or smaller) can make this journey. the contrast of the fishermen and the city in the background as we made our way to the port was amazing.

 We docked around 9am and our Journey to the Mekong Delta started.

We took the tour bus to the Mekong Delta, a 1 hour or so drive through rice paddies and motor scooters with as many as 5 people on them, the whole family.

We boarded the boat on the Mekong Delta (that's where the swai fish we eat comes from) and were served fresh coconut juice (milk?, I'm not sure).

Our first stop was the coconut factory where they make coconut candy in various flavors. Chocolate was the only one we understood but it was very good and we bought some for everyone to try. I know....you can't wait.

Our next treat was a ride in a horse drawn wagon. This one was a surprise, the seat was hard, the road was bumpy and the poor horse didn't look up to the task but we all made it.

The locals were trying to share the road with us and it got a little congested, but they love to wave a smile. Most of the women you see are wearing hats and masks and gloves to protect themselves from the sun.

Next stop was a sort of cultural tea house. We were served tea with honey, fruit, some of which I'd never seen, and a few local musicians played and sang for us. There was also a dragon that was performing for the new year. The New Year celebrations just goes on and on. They shops and offices are closed for 6 days to celebrate. The decorations and flowers are incredible everywhere we go. This is where i got one of my best children photos. She was just beautiful and her mother was thrilled that I though so.

Ok, so we're not done yet. Now we have to get on these boats that our tour guide described as roll boats.

He said "you know, roll roll roll your boat". We knew but hoped he was having a language problem. Four people per boat, "don't stand up at once or you'll go swimming with the rocodiles" and the roller (rower) propelled the boat like a gondolier. Of course I shouldn't know that having NEVER been on a gondola. The trip was quite beautiful, through the jungle on the river, passing many empty boats as they return to pick up more tourists.

Back to the big boat back to bus. Next stop was lunch at a beautiful open air restaurant. We had the most beautiful food, delicious too. I'm beginning to think I like Vietnemese food better than Chinese food.
Returned to the ship, we're in this port overnight. We had a barbeque on the deck with a traditional group performing songs and dances of Vietnam. The weather is perfect.

Countryside by bicycle

 Little later still this morning, wakeup call for 7. Short bus ride to pick up the bicycles. Really!
Amazing ride, around 2 hours, rice paddies,

boats, everyone is home because today is Tet New Years Eve. Tomorrow is New Years day. Most things are closed but there is not much traffic which is good cause we're on bicycles and don't want to die.

We stopped at the house of a former Viet Cong, although we are now in South Vietnam. He was very proud of his water buffalo and the Ho Chi Minh shrine in his living room.

There was a wooden plank that apparantly became the bed at night with the addition of a rice mat. Quite stark. The cooking (and a lot was going on because of the holidays) is done in the back of the house on an open fire in a shed type building. They were preparing meat and chicken and vegetables.
Many places on the streets there were small fires where they burned offerings like phony paper money and paper pictures of items like boots, as well as flowers. All for prosperity in the new year.
We all survived the bike ride and the bus took us to Hoi An on the river.

 Beautiful city with an incredible market and a temple with incense coils hanging from the ceiling that burn for a month when they are lit. We had lunch in a restaurant there and it was really very good, Lots of lime and lemon grass, we had beef and chicken and shrimp, rice and dumplings and clam broth soup (well I didn't have that but Jo really liked it). Dessert was fruit and a wonderful mango, maybe papaya sorbet.
Stopped at marble factory number 3. I'm beginning to think they import all this stuff from China. Marble statues 15 feet tall. Jade jewelry and figurines and clean Happy Rooms which is why we stop there.
Walked on China Beach, put my feet in the South China Sea.

 It was a little chilly.

Ship sails at 7pm, tomorrow is a sea day then Ho Chi Minh City.

Halong Bay

Little better this am, wakeup call at 6:30. Short tour because the ship leaves at 1pm for the next port.
Quick bus ride to the boat landing to get on our junk. Bob says it not a real junk, not sure when he became a junk expert. Anyway, ours was one of many.

 Local families with small children come alongside the boat and the children jump from their small boat to ours and hang off the side, stick their heads in the windows and try to sell bananas. We were warned and asked not to react to them because it is dangerous and the hope is that if the tourists ignore them they will stop putting the children in danger and send them to school where they belong. Do you know how hard it is to ignore someone who jumps on your boat and sticks their head in the window? You probably don't....it's hard.
Sailed in Halong Bay (Bay of the Descending Dragon) which became a cultural heritage site in 1994. Jo-Anne thinks we should make a plan to visit all the cultural heritage sites in the world. I like it. It was cool and so damp it was like rain when it wasn't raining. There was an inside to the boat but was very cold to go out and take pictures. It was beautiful though.

We sailed through a floating village where they actually have a school (floating) for the 16 children that live there. I think they said total 80 people,. They don't have to pay taxes.

We stopped at an island with a huge grotto, hang dau Go. Difference between a grotto and a cave? Cave has only one opening. Grotto has more than one and usually has water. Up a ton of stairs to get in, lots of stairs inside and a treacherous climb down stone stairs of all different sizes. Then a final leap to the boat (felt that far) and back to land.
Vietnam has a two child policy unless you live in the country, then three. They want boys as badly as the Chinese do, and like the Chinese many generations live together in one house, they build these tall thin (one room wide) homes where each generation has a floor.

Hanoi in a day

Wake up call at 6am, feels like China. Had breakfast delivered and then we were off for a 3 1/2 hour bus ride to Hanoi. Interesting countryside, like China but different. Lots of rice paddies but many more beautiful vegetable gardens with things like cabbage and other green stuff.
Our guide talked a lot about communist Vietnam and how great it is. The government gives them land and they can grow whatever they want. The Vietnamese flag is red with a yellow star in the center. the points of the star represent the "levels" of people, the worker, farmer, fisherman, intellectual and businessman.
First stop was the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and surrounding gardens.
Then we had lunch in a traditional Vietnamese restaurant.
There are 88 million people in Vietnam and 37 million motor scooters. We saw them all in Hanoi and they were trying to run over us. We went for a walk through the old quarter of Hanoi and a few of our group weren't sure we'd make it. Crossing the streets was a feat of daring and bravery. the motor scooters were coming from all directions. You've never seen so many.

3 1/2 hour ride back to the ship with a coffee break in the middle. Stopped at a marble carving factory where they also made silk clothing and the most incredible silk needle work pictures. There were a number of women sewing at machines and ironing the clothes they made as well as making the silk things.
Returned to the ship around 8:30, had something to eat and called it a day.

Azamara Quest January 19

Love this boat. There are only 450 passengers on board. Usually 600. Feels very private and intimate. Came onboard yesterday at 12:30, took about 10 minutes to get thru registration. Our cabins were ready at 1:30 so we were able to move right in and then have lunch. View from the balcony is gorgeous.

Sailaway from Hong Kong was incredible!

Had an early night last night and this morning woke up to a blanket of fog. There is nothing to see and apparently will stay that way until after we arrive in Hanoi tomorrow morning at 5am. The captain suggested we stay in bed, we won't miss anything, we can see it when we leave.

Today is a sea day so it's very relaxing. Attended a digital photography seminar and played "where in the world" trivia. As soon as the fog lifted a little we were able to get on the internet so I bought some time.

We'll be in Hanoi (Halong Bay) from tomorrow morning until  Saturday afternoon. We have a tour scheduled both days. Very excited to see Halong Bay, it should be beautiful. 

Returned to the cabin this afternoon to find Happy Birthday balloons hanging from the ceiling. Thank-you Jo and Sue!!

We all had dinner in the dining room, the food on the ship is really good. Jo and Sue ordered a cake for us so we got the happy birthday song.
After dinner Bob and I went to the show and the captains reception. The captain wasn't there because he was on the bridge blowing the foghorn no less than every 10 minutes for 30 seconds (or something like that). The captain probably doesn't actually blow the horn or push the button or whatever. Anyway he showed up later to say hi and tell us how difficult it can be to sail the boat through Halong Bay with all the limestone karsts (little mountains sticking up in the water) although we can't see anything but fog. He was supposed to tell us as we went through some strait that we couldn't take pictures but there was no point. He introduced the crew including someone in charge of accounting who he described as the woman who sends out the bills for the free wine. Did I mention we have free wine at lunch and dinner?

Hong Kong

Remember the challenge was to stay up until bedtime? We didn't even come close.
The airplane for the flight to Hong Kong was changed to a 747 (repositioning I guess) so we were all in business class. That made the flight go really fast. We arrived in Hong Kong and Benny met us at the airport. Ends up there are 14 of us going on the cruise. Checked in to the hotel but our rooms weren't ready so we went for a walk in the neighborhood. We were able to check in at 1:30 and decided to take a nap (bad decision) before dinner. We all slept from 2:30 until 7:00 this morning. Really refreshed though.
After breakfast at the hotel, we went on a tour with Benny that he arranged for us. It has been very cloudy here but this morning was apparently the most beautiful day all month (maybe he says that to all the tourists) and it was very clear with great visibility at the top of Victoria's Peak. That was our first stop, we took the tram up and drove down. Then to a temple near Repulse Bay, a really pretty beach. The temple had the money Buddha (rub him from his head to his pocket, take his money and put it in your pocket and make a wish); the good luck Buddha (rub his belly 3 times clockwise for good luck);

and the baby Buddha (rub the head of the baby boy or the baby girl to determine the sex of your next child (or grandchild)).
After the Temple there was a little shopping and some lunch at the Stanley Market, again on a beautiful beach. We had burgers and fries, the local speciality.
On to Aberdeen for a sampam ride among the local houseboats and fishing boats and yachts. Our sampam driver spoke only a few words of English that he cared to share. "Hey!!" was one. That was to get our attention. Then an explanation of what we were to look at, like, "Houseboat!!" or "Dried fish". This was accompanied by pointing when he had a free hand. Mostly his hands were steering the boat, answering the cell phone and smoking a cigarette. Then a further explanation such as "air conditioner!" or "washing machine!". Apparantly houseboat life in Aberdeen is good.

Near the end of the sampan ride the driver yells...."Hey!! Enjoy?" He then tossed a tip jar into the middle of the boat and slowed to a crawl. It was clear we weren't returning to the dock without leaving tips.

Quick stop at a jewelry store and back to the hotel.

Met for dinner with Jo, Sue and one of the couples from our group, Tony and I forget her name. Great restaurant a few doors from the hotel.

The four of us (Jo, Sue, me and Bob) walked to the waterfront to see the light show at Victoria harbor, Nicer than last time I saw it cause it's a clearer night tonight.

Check out tomorrow morning and transfer to the ship.