Whisper WC.5 HK to Singapore

[duct tape]

Still in HK eating our way through the Terminal. Out last evening for Peking Duck. Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, even French cuisine...bring it on! Interesting lobster salad with peaches and green apple and radishes at Joel Robuchon. Yum.

We remain pretty full. About 100 on, 100 off. Most of them did the 1st 1/2 of the WC. I will miss most of them!

[mysty]

It has been a busy time here. We booked three shore excursions with the ship - one for each day in port. They were excellent! The guides, the itinerary and the pacing worked beautifully for us. Here are just a few pictures - one from each tour.

 

Hong Kong Old and New on Foot - we visited many markets selling things like dried mushrooms, dried worms, deer antlers, dried fish etc. We went up the gigantic escalator, visited Man Mo Temple and rode the Star Ferry back to the Kowloon side. Here is a picture from the Man Mo Temple.

 

 

Highlights of Hong Kong - we took the tram up to Victoria Peak. Unfortunately it was foggy so the views were not clear. Then we went to Aberdeen for a sampan ride followed by a trip to Stanley for the market. Here is a picture from our sampan ride.

 

 

Kowloon Culture - we visited the Bird Garden, Flower Market, Chi Lin Nunnery and Temple and the Nan Lian Garden. The Nan Lian Garden has over 2,000 Bonsai trees. Beautiful place! Here is a picture.

 

 

Today is a sea day.

[57 varieties]

Thanks, mysty, wish we were there.

 

 

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[duct tape]

Today we cruised around misty, magical, mysterious Halong Bay on a junque. It never gets old! Sailing this afternoon. Will be a good sail out.

[mysty]

We are now sailing for Ho Chi Minh City after an over night stay in Halong Bay, Vietnam.

 

On our first day in port we took a tender ashore then a shuttle bus into town. We wandered about for a few hours then headed back to the ship. Here are a couple of pictures from that visit.

 

 

 

On our second day we we lucky enough to enjoy a complimentary Silversea Experience - Junks of Halong Bay. We boarded junks (sampans) and cruised through fragmented limestone outcroppings, sheer cliffs, huge rock arches and coves. This is a World Heritage site and our guide told us there are about 2,000 boat trips per day through this magical area. Myster and I sipped strawberry bellinis as we savoured the beauty. Here are a couple of pictures.

 

 

The picture below is the symbol for Halong Bay. It apparently resembles a rooster and chicken kissing.

 

 

Next stop - Ho Chi Minh City.

[duct tape]

Cruising up the Saigon River into Ho Chi Minh. The landscape changes over the years. I am still in Awe that the U.S. Thought they could "fix" it!

[57 varieties]

You lucky things. Loved HCM City.

 

 

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[duct tape]

Lovely "Dinner Under the Stars" evening. Kudos to Chef Ann-Mari for a menu that exceeded expectations! The local show was enjoyable, music not too atonal. Mario and Remon in the Bar, creating much energy. Life is good!

[mysty]

Yesterday we docked in Ho Chi Minh City and promptly set off for our ship excursion - Life in the Mekong Delta. We drove for 2 hours to Cai Be where we boarded a sampan for our trip through the waterways. Here are a couple of pictures.

 

 

 

It was a wonderful experience! We didn't get back to the ship until well after 9 pm so we missed the dinner under the stars unfortunately.

 

We are just now sailing away en route to Bangkok.

[duct tape]

Enjoying the sail down the Saigon River back to the South China Sea. HCM/Saigon and the river activity have changed so much over the years. No more little "piglet" boats loading rice from individual villages, barges. More efficient. There is a piece of me that would like it to remain"unique and charming", too selfish!

4 folks left today for an overland to Laos, 42 to Cambodia! Pool is mine![emoji4][emoji568][emoji474]

[duct tape]

Both overlands received rave reviews! Quite a Welcome Home greeting for Fernando yesterday. He was truly touched. He looks great, is walking well. The Reds last night (steak & wine) will take care of that weight loss in no time! A nice party for him last evening, on deck. We celebrated Irish also!

We are anchored off Ko Samui right now. There are 5 naval ships (Thai) doing maneuvers and whatever. Our anchorage was in their way. We had to move further out. The tender ride is about 1/2 hour. We are only here for a few hours. Not much "beaching" will be done today.

[les37b]

We are anchored off Ko Samui right now. There are 5 naval ships (Thai) doing maneuvers and whatever. Our anchorage was in their way. We had to move further out. The tender ride is about 1/2 hour. We are only here for a few hours. Not much "beaching" will be done today.

 

My only visits to Koh Samui were 1984 and again 1985. No airport and only "bungalow" style accommodation on the island. Arrival was via a crossing from Ban Don (sp?) after a train journey to Surathani. The overnight crossings were sometimes interesting as the boats sometimes were boarded by pirates! Lol I expect you'll be safe DC with all the battleships about!

 

Brings back great memories!

[WesW]

Thanks again duct tape and mysty for your reports & pix. So nice to hear Fernando is back, healthy and warmly received back home on the Whisper. Loved your Irish spirit & green Irish costumes & on the pool deck.

[Master Echo]

Hello Duct Tape

 

Have tracked you down! We have finally returned from our Shadow cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong and we had replied to your questions re the condition of the Shadow and wondered whether you had disembarked in HK or were sailing on?

 

We now see you are writing under WC 5!! Many thanks for your ongoing posts, brings back so many memories of HCM, in particular our first trip sailing up the Saigon River in February 1996 with the "piglets" and then to return in 2011 to see industrialisation alongside the river. I feel fortunate to have seen it originally and mourn the commercialisation.

 

Glad that Fernando is looking better and I am sure his continuing convalescence will be enhanced by meeting old friends.

 

Look forward to your next report - Singapore? And whether you are to be berthed at the old Singapore Cruise Centre or the new Marina Bay terminal? If the former a new huge Mall opened close by, just over a year ago!! Perhaps a good place to while away a few hours?! If the latter there is always the upscale Marina Bay Mall on the doorstep. Have fun in shop till you drop City, where there appears to be more Malls per head of population than anywhere else.

 

Kindest regards

 

Master Echo

[wripro]

duct tape,

 

Do you know how long Fernando will be on board the Shadow?

 

Keep enjoying!

 

Thanks.

[wripro]

Duct tape,

 

Please ignore previous post. I now realize you are on the Whisper.

[Silver Spectre]

Looks like we will be boarding at the old Cruise Centre.

[duct tape]

I guess it is "the old cruise terminal". We are under the cable cars to Sentosa. Off to the pool and dinner at the Marina Bay Sands! We sail for Dubai tomorrow. The Hub is happy that I am not a shopper!

[mysty]

It's been busy here! Just to catch you up here are some pictures and short notes on the places we have visited since Vietnam.

 

Bangkok - We did a ship excursion to Ayutthaya (a World Heritage site). It is about an hour's drive north. We visited Bang Pa-In (the summer palace of the king). Here is a picture.

 

 

We visited a few Wats (temples). Here is a picture from Wat Maha That.

 

 

We had a wonderful meal at a hotel restaurant there. Yummy but no pics.

 

Bhutan - We left the ship on the second day in Bangkok at the ungodly hour of 4:30 am to get to the airport for our 6:45 am. Flying into Paro, Bhutan over the Himalayas was amazing. We spent the first night in the capital city of Thimpu. The hotel was spectacular! We spent the next two night in Paro - once again spectacular. On the morning of the second day in Paro Myster left early for his climb to Tiger's Nest. He took the camera. Here is a picture.

 

 

He survived the climb! :) Bhutan is a magical place! Scenery is gorgeous, the people are wonderful and the culture is fascinating! I highly recommend a visit!