February 18, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand - Monday, Day 43

February 18, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand - Monday, Day 43

After our early rising and breakfast, we went to the theater,  our meeting point for the overnight tour departure. We were not called for the face to passport inspection until 7:20. We were at the mercy of the local officials. On the way to that clearance the Hotel Director met us at the gangway and thanked us for the letter as well. That went smoothly and we were on the bus and leaving a 8:50. That was just 5 minutes later than scheduled. 

There were 27 of us on the bus. 6 were on the Gold overnight. They paid a premium for upscaled rooms, dinner and entertainment. Otherwise we were all touring the sights as one group. Alice and I opted to save the $150 premium each and go with the silver package.

We had a 2 hour plus ride into Bangkok. The city sprawls for 20 miles and the traffic is very slow despite efforts to encourage mass transit. One interesting feature is a separate 2 lane roadway for motor bike that parallels the highway. That is a big assist to the flow.

On our way out of the port we passed several large lots full of thousands of new cars awaiting Roll On Roll Off ships for loading. The largest industry in Thailand is vehicle assembly. I never would have guessed. 

We also passed a large used truck lot. Many gf these trucks were covered in dust. None were shiny. Sylvie, our guide, explained that this is where river boatmen come to by machines for their boats. Machines are engines. They buy them out of the trucks and modify them to use as motors for the long tail boats that operate on the river throughout 

Bangkok. We would better understand this later.

After driving past the old flower market, our first stop was a visit to Temple Wat Pho, the temple of the reclining Buddha. This gold leaf Buddha is 130 feet long and 45 feet high. It is beautiful. The temple enclosing it is respectfully large and impressive. The workmanship is pretty incredible. The grounds include many out buildings as well.

As we drove to the Grand Palace, Sylvie explained that this visit had to be moved to today from tomorrow because tomorrow is a holiday in celebration of the full moon. The Palace would be closed. As a result the grounds were mobbed today. Sylvie very efficiently moved us around and through the tWat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This Buddha guards the sovereignty of the Kingdom.

The Emerald Buddha sits high atop a golden throne. Murals, golden spires and fantastic architectural designs pay homage to this Buddha.  My hope is that the photos I am including can somehow convey the magnificence of the structures here. The effort and expense that past generations  have poured into honoring their gods and their kings demonstrates extraordinary dedication. The Palace is no longer the King’s residence, but serves for hosting royal ceremonies and welcoming visiting dignitaries.

Next we drove through Chinatown on our way to the river. There we boarded a boat to be ferried up and across this busy river. Restaurants, hotels and malls line both sides of the river. Large numbers of boats of varying serve as  ferries sightseeing boats. It is hard to imagine how the Chicago River could support this level of activity.

We were served an excellent lunch in a very nice restaurant with excellent views of the river. The menu consisted of all local dishes. Sylvie warned that the green curry chicken dish would be spicy. Hah, she must think we are wimps. I found it to be very good but rather mild. Vegetable and fish dishes were all tasty. Everything was served family style in abundance. While Alice and I enjoyed the meal we thought of Bangkok Cafe in Arlington Heights where we often dine It is owned by 5 Thai sisters. They have introduced us to Thai food in an authentic way.

After lunch we boarded a boat to cross the river and meet our bus. After a drive past the old and new downtowns, we arrived at the Royal Orchid Sheraton. Checkin proceeded slowly. We do not know why. When we got to our room on the 14th floor we were amazed. We looked out over the river and the skyline. We just stood and gawked a while before freshening up and changing for dinner.

We met Sylvie in the lobby for dinner. She led us out to the river where we boarded another ferry for the ride across to an upscale restaurant. Here we were served a 7 course meal accompanied by traditional music and with a dance program added between courses. Everything was excellent. When desert came it was accompanied by a wooden case like a cupboard with clear door. On several shelves were small sweets. Each one was different in texture and taste. This complemented the ice cream we were served.

At 9:30 we were ferried back to the hotel. Alice and I crossed a skybridge into the adjoining River City Mall just before it closed at 10:00. This was a small mall with a variety of shops primarily featuring shoes and clothes. Back in our room we turned off the lights and just watched the river below us for a while. Traffic was slowing down as the hour was late, but the lights and activity proved a fitting end to a wondrous day.

What will tomorrow bring.

February 19, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand - Tuesday, Day 44

February 19, 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand - Tuesday, Day 44

 We slept well, and woke well rested at 7:00. We do not meet Sylvie until 9:00 so we have plenty of time for breakfast. The breakfast room was up a few stairs. The hostess seated us at a table for 2 looking out at the river. This was a very large room. There was more space for the buffet tables than the ample dining tables. Down a few stairs were juices, fruits and sweets. On our level were every kind of food imaginable. Eggs, Meats, cheeses, sushi, potatoes, rice and soups. The condiments included things we had never seen before. We controlled ourselves, and ate moderately but amply. After all we did not know how long it would be until lunch. :)

When we gathered at 9:00 it was back to the Chao Phraya River. Now we boarded a long, low, covered express boat. We had to climb over the side, step on a seat and then down to the floor before selecting a seat. All boarded without incident, but not without some contortions. I am sure that 20 years ago we all would have done much better.

We sped off into the flow of traffic and headed up the river. Our destination, Wat Arun, The Temple of Dawn, was over 30 minutes away. We left the main river at one point and cruised past some of the many Klongs, canals. Bangkok is also known as the Venice of the east. These canals were built years ago when the area was agricultural. This provided the irrigation and transportation necessary to farm. 

Along the way the pilot stopped to let us take pictures of a 6 foot monitor lizard sunning on a dock. The Komodo Dragons we saw on Komodo Island are also monitor lizards. They become large because they have no predators. We think these do not grow to that size because their predator is man. We wonder what these taste like, but not enough to find out.

Sylvie talked about the great flood they experienced in 2006 when they had 5 cyclones and it rained far longer than ever before. The accumulation of water behind a main dam necessitated that it be opened to release water. Down river the water was already from the rains. This release caused the river to rise and inundate houses along the banks. Sylvie experienced 6 feet of water in her house and lost everything. Nothing was covered by insurance and it was too expensive to build a new home. They made do and stayed in the house. She pointed out the high water mark on the many wooden homes we passed.

We reached Wat Arun and clambered out of the express boat. I am sure some of us will feel the effect of this for days. It was worth it. The towering pagodas are beautiful. The decoration with colored stones and pottery is gorgeous. We climbed to the second level of the main pagoda to walk around and inspect the artwork app close. The work is fine and the designs are precise. The stairs up to this level were the steepest we have encountered in any temple. We negotiated them with care and succeeded handily.

At the close of this visit we once again boarded the boat. We reversed direction and headed back toward city center. Soon we stopped at a riverside temple. Sylvie explained that when someone dies it is custom to bring something alive to the temple. This celebrates the life of the deceased and asks for long life for the donor. At this temple live fish are deposited in the river. The survivors bring bread to feed the fish whenever they visit. We were each given to buns to tear up and toss into the river. The fish knew this game and swarmed to intercept the prizes. There must have been well over 50 fish that responded. The action died as the bread ran out.

We moved on to visit the Royal Yacht Museum. These yachts are actually long row boats built in the tradition of hundreds of years ago. The workmanship in the decorations is as precise as the decor of the temples. Photos were not allowed in the museum. 

The king’s yacht is propelled by 270 oarsmen. There are 6 similar yachts. The oarsmen are primarily navel men. They train for 6 months and rehearse for 2 weeks just prior to the parade on the river. 50 security vessels accompany them. The river is closed to all traffic for 1/2 a day.

We proceeded to the restaurant for lunch when we left the museum. The buffet was a Thai delight. I limited myself to fish curry with spicy rice and prawns with noodles. Delicious!

The bus met us here and we returned to the ship. We thanked Sylvie for a marvelous tour. Kudos to EXC Tours for a terrific In-Depth experience. This is one we will not soon forget.

As we entered the dining room for dinner Dolly, our wine steward, greeted us with great big hugs. Our letter had been forwarded to the cellar master. He read our comments about the three wine stewards who have served us at their daily staff meeting. Allan and Yvette also came by to thank us.

The stewards have not said anything. That is their culture. They just smile wider and serve us even better. we know that their reviews are also impacted by passenger comments.

All of these folks have done so much to keep us happy. The time and effort it took to tout their service to their highest superiors has come back to us a thousand fold in their smiling and gracious care.

The pictures added here represent the opulence of the temples in Bangkok as well as the Palace, some of the local housing, the beauty of the new architecture and life along the river. Sorry for the randomness.

February 17, 2019 - Sea Day - Sunday, Day 42

February 17, 2019 - Sea Day - Sunday, Day 42

We had a light breakfast in the dining room. On sea day Sundays brunch is served from 11:30 to 1:00. We have tried this  twice before, and we have concluded that it is just too much food. Today we will had a light lunch in the Lido.

I managed to get my walk in this morning. In the afternoon we attended a port lecture and a presentation on Thai culture. We also packed for our overnight in Bangkok.

Captain Arno Jutten had expressed his philosophy regarding crew treatment and morale when he addressed the ship at his welcome toast. He believes strongly that when management appreciates the crew, they go the extra mile in serving the passengers because they are happy. Alice and I have felt the impact of this philosophy, so I spent a good deal of time this afternoon composing a letter to the captain and the hotel director to express our thanks to them and to compliment by name the many crew members who have served us so well. We dropped the letter off at the front desk before dinner.

This is the first Gala Night for this cruise. Dinner was very good. The dress is a notch above last cruise. The progression has been first cruise Aussies very casual, second cruise some Aussies and many Europeans a definite uptick in formal attire for both men and women. This cruise has more Europeans, fewer Aussies and fewer Americans. There is another uptick in the formal wear. We have become a more sophisticated group.

We were treated to the humor of an Irish comedian tonight. He was excellent. He may be the best comedian we have ever seen at sea. Sure hope he gets a return engagement.

When we returned to our room there was a phone message from the captain thanking us for our letter.

We went to bed right after the entertainment at 9:30. Tomorrow we will be up at 5:00 in preparation for our 6:45 gathering for the face to passport inspection by Thai immigration. 

We had a light breakfast in the dining room. On sea day Sundays brunch is served from 11:30 to 1:00. We have tried this  twice before, and we have concluded that it is just too much food. Today we will had a light lunch in the Lido.

I managed to get my walk in this morning. In the afternoon we attended a port lecture and a presentation on Thai culture. We also packed for our overnight in Bangkok.

Captain Arno Jutten had expressed his philosophy regarding crew treatment and morale when he addressed the ship at his welcome toast. He believes strongly that when management appreciates the crew, they go the extra mile in serving the passengers because they are happy. Alice and I have felt the impact of this philosophy, so I spent a good deal of time this afternoon composing a letter to the captain and the hotel director to express our thanks to them and to compliment by name the many crew members who have served us so well. We dropped the letter off at the front desk before dinner.

This is the first Gala Night for this cruise. Dinner was very good. The dress is a notch above last cruise. The progression has been first cruise Aussies very casual, second cruise some Aussies and many Europeans a definite uptick in formal attire for both men and women. This cruise has more Europeans, fewer Aussies and fewer Americans. There is another uptick in the formal wear. We have become a more sophisticated group.

We were treated to the humor of an Irish comedian tonight. He was excellent. He may be the best comedian we have ever seen at sea. Sure hope he gets a return engagement.

When we returned to our room there was a phone message from the captain thanking us for our letter.

We went to bed right after the entertainment at 9:30. Tomorrow we will be up at 5:00 in preparation for our 6:45 gathering for the face to passport inspection by Thai immigration. 

February 16, 2019 - Kuantan, Thailand - Saturday, Day 41

February 16, 2019 - Kuantan, Thailand - Saturday, Day 41

My walk this morning did not start until 5:50. I was tired and we had decided to sleep in today. The decks were already starting to dry from their washing. The brisk wind was helping that. It also kept me dry. a nice change. Another nice change was the light traffic. I only encountered 5 other walkers. Some are still finding their way even walking the deck. Two oriental ladies were trying to open the door to on elf the Lanai Suites. These open onto the deck and have their own lounge chairs. They are stainless steel doors the entry doors are beautifully varnished teak. I directed the ladies to the entry. They sheepishly thanked me. No problem.

I have started to cut back on my food consumption. The first cruise was free ranging. This next 41 days I will be more disciplined. I have been trying to recall my approach on last year’s cruise. It was very successful. I should be able to replicate it.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, Alice and I decided to skip excursions today. The one offered for a ride to town and 1.5 hours on our own before returning was $85 each. We decided to take the free port shuttle to the gate. This is a working industrial port. Walking is not allowed except from the gangway the buses.

Fortunately for us we were able to listen to local musicians play in greeting when we went on deck after breakfast. When we walked off the ship we passed a few vendors booths on the way to the shuttle. We would take the shuttle to the gate to see if other vendors were there.

The shuttle was air conditioned and comfortable. The ride was fairly short. The scenery was nonexistent. At the gate passengers were standing in the sun waiting for taxis. There were no vendors. We stayed on the shuttle.

When we returned we shopped at the booths. Our goal was to spend our remaining Malaysian currency. We accomplished this handily as we found some very nice souvenirs at one man’s stall. He was agreeable to negotiating. We all were satisfied with the transaction.