The Fleet Report and Daily for Thursday January 12th, 2023

[*Miss G*]

22 minutes ago, smitty34877 said:

@*Miss G*, we were at the infamous VFW hall in Torrington Connecticut but the group was the Irish side of the family. I just got off the phone with one of my cousins and we had a great time remembering  her brother's  wedding!

 

That is so awesome!  Funny how things are so similar with today’s memories.  And all because It’s Raining Fabulous Feast of Wild Men Day!  I gotta dance. 🕺

[superoma]

Good morning all. I just spent two hours getting caught up on all the threads I read. I missed a whole day yesterday! 
 

good to hear that @kazuis home. Darn that wandering suitcase! Hopefully @Scrapnanamade it to Richmond last night.  Prayers for all needing them especially Sarah @grapau27. I did get the celebratory drinks in yesterday. 
 

hope everyone has a great day.

[57redbird]

Graham, Pauline & Sarah -- you're all in my prayers!  Epilepsy, spinal fluid leak & cauda equina are all serious issues.  Hoping for the best possible outcome of this.

[aliaschief]

A beautiful day as we enjoy lunch and the views as we arrive in Dominica.

[puppycanducruise]

@ottahand7Happy Birthday!  Enjoy a long celebration!

[RedneckBob]

11 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

A beautiful day as we enjoy lunch and the views as we arrive in Dominica.

Great day and views! Could you please open the sliding door in your cabin so we can have a better view. 

And RNB has a Dominica story. We were on an island tour years ago. The tour guide mentioned that Dominica gets up to +300 inches of rain in the mountains. So it rains almost everyday. We had been on the tour for two hours and it had not rained. I asked the tour guide does Dominica ever have a drought, for which the guide replied, “The last two hours”. 😀

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

A late good morning from a sunny, chilly and very windy central Texas.  It is 52F, but the wind makes it seem colder, so it will be a good day for catching up on things inside.  I made a quick run to the store early this morning to beat the crowds, which make shopping so much more pleasant, even if they were out of a few things on my list.

 

We are waiting for the guys to come check our heat pump.  With the temperatures above 35F it should be running and not the auxiliary heat strips.  Hope it's not a big problem, but at least it's still under warranty.

 

By now, any wild men we knew have probably out grown being wild or are just to dang old to be wild.  I prefer hot tea to coffee, but I still don't drink it often.  I'll definitely salute pharmacists.  DH's stepmother was a pharmacist who his father met when getting a prescription filled.

 

Mae West was right with her quote, and she certainly knew how to live.

 

I think we'll pass on the meal.  I made HH once, and it was not well received.  We'll pass on the drink, but the wine sounds nice.

 

We were in Bali in 2000 on the P&O Oriana world cruise.

 

@grapau27  Graham, sending very positive thoughts your way for the injections to work for Sarah.  They are a good choice before resorting to surgery.  In fact, anything that works is better than surgery.  We'll be keeping Sarah, Pauline and you in our thoughts during this trying time.

@aliaschief  Bruce, thanks for the pictures of last night's outing.  It looked like a lot of fun.  And thanks for the pictures of the ship.

@StLouisCruisers  Sandi, thanks for the links and for your pictures of Bali.

@ottahand7  Nancy,  HAPPY CONTINUING 70TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! 🎂

 

I'm glad Jacqui @kazu  is safely home and recovering from her surgery.  I also hope Kathi @Scrapnana made it home last night, and that she can get some answers and a treatment plan soon.

 

Lenda

 

Edited January 12, 2023 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

We were in Bali in 2000 on the P&O world cruise.  Another couple invited us to share a taxi for the day with them.  We saw a lot more of the island than most people who took tours.  It was a very interesting and fun day.

 

I will need to split the pictures into two groups and post them separately.

 

Approaching Bali

 

Greeters at the tender dock

 

The majority of the population on Bali are Hindu, and there are personal shrines at most businesses and homes.  This shrine was at the gas station where the driver stopped.

 

There are interesting statues along the roads.

 

I think this was our shopping stop.

 

Our driver took us to the Scared Monkey Forest, which is a sanctuary and old temple.  The monkeys know the tourists will feed them bananas.  Our driver bought each of us a small bunch and warned us to only hold out one banana at a time as the monkeys can be a little aggressive trying to get the bananas.  We finally had to give several bananas to one monkey.

 

A mother and her baby.

 

The temple in the monkey forest.  We were required to cover our legs since we had on shorts, but they provided a cloth we could tie around our waist.

 

Lenda

[Sharon in AZ]

Good morning everyone and Happy Thursday.  After several good nights of sleep I had a bad one last night. So while I was awake I read the Daily and was finally able to get about an hour of sleep before I heard Craig leave to run errands. 
 

Craig only drinks hot tea and Earl Grey is his favorite. Pharmacists are really important and even more so now that they give us our covid boosters.  
 

I think I’ll pass on the HH, however I have made a chili Mac that is probably very similar.  Today I’m making hummus with spiced ground beef. I made the pita bread last night. First time making it and it was so easy. I hope they have the traditional pocket. I’ll try to take a picture. 
 

Happy Birthday @ottahand7!  What a wonderful cruise to celebrate your birthday.  

Jacqui @kazu, I hope your luggage turns up soon. Are you in a cast or a sling?

 

Graham @grapau27, thank you for keeping us posted on Sarah’s condition. I would have chosen the injections also. 
 

Have a great day everyone!

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Here are the remaining pictures of our day in Bali.  We were supposed to be there in 2002 on Volendam's APEC cruise.  The port was canceled after the nightclub bombing.  Captain Peter Harris sailed close enough to Bali for us to take a few pictures of the island.  It was a very grey, cloudy day, and the pictures are not good enough to share.

 

I'm pretty sure we were the only four people on the ship who got to see how the Balinese live.  Our driver took us to his family's home, which is really a compound.  His brother's job is carving masks which someone else paints before the "big boss" sells them to the shops.  We got to see the brother carving a mask out of balsa wood.  After much discussion, the brother agreed to sell us an unpainted mask.  He was afraid he would get in trouble with his boss, but in the end each couple walked away with a mask.  It means more to me than a finished one I could buy in a store.

 

Notice the chickens in the cages.

 

Our next stop was Klungkung, a former royal palace in Semarapura, Bali.

 

One the way back to the tender pier. 

 

At the tender dock.

 

Some of the girls who danced for the passengers as they shopped.  If you did not want to be hassled, you kept your eyes off the items for sale.

 

We wanted one of the large, decorative kites for sale on the island, but knew we couldn't get it home on the plane.  Ironically, we found one in Quartzsite the next winter, and it's hanging on our livingroom wall.  Good thing the ceiling is 17 feet high.

 

Our driver for the day stopped on the way back to the tender, and asked us to pay him then.  He, along with other drivers, lived with the owner of the car.  If we paid him at the dock and tipped him (which we did ), the owner would see the transaction and want all the money.  By paying before the final stop at the dock, he got to keep the tip.  We also had to get back a little earlier than necessary, as the driver had to be at the owner's house in time for the evening meal.  If he arrived after the meal, he would not be fed that night.

 

Lenda

[StLouisCruisers]

Tornado watch just issued a few minutes ago for our area until 7 pm.  Hopefully nothing turns up but we should get some heavy rain at 5 pm if the current maps are accurate.

 

Going back now to read some posts and view the photos.

 

 

Edited to add Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiserlove the photos. The baby monkey sure was cute, but boy I feel bad about the chickens kept under the small baskets in the one photo.  They need some room to run around!

 

And somehow I think I failed to wish our Daily poster Nancy @ottahand7a happy birthday this week!  Congrats on reaching 70 and I hope your cruise is all you wanted and more.🎂

 

 

Edited January 12, 2023 by StLouisCruisers

[TiogaCruiser]

Good morning all,

Were in the middle of a reprieve from the rain. Locally we have not had that much, and there has been some mud slides in the canyons, but nothing near what we’re seeing on TV from northern and central California. Rain supposed to resume Saturday through Monday.
I’m planning on getting out for a ride on the horse trails. They were designed to shed water quickly. The real trails remain closed.
 

1 hour ago, aliaschief said:

A beautiful day as we enjoy lunch and the views as we arrive in Dominica.

@aliaschief @DWAliaschief Looks a tad like the Chilean fjords. Have a great trip!

 

Have a great day everyone!

[JazzyV]

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily and to all contributors.

Hmmm, Fabulous Wild Men 😗? I occasionally have hot tea, and certainly pharmacists are deserving of lots of praise. Good quote. Interesting meal. I'll pass on the drink and yes to the wine.

I haven't been to Benoa.

 

We've been having all day rain, with thunder. It's grey and dreary out. As the temps drop, the rain is supposed to change over to snow overnight; I don't think much accumulation is expected. I've been busy sorting through papers to start to get ready for tax season. Of course I don't have much in yet from banks and the like regarding interest and dividends. I'll send it all to my accountant once I have everything. The debarkation port on the TA has been changed from Amsterdam to Rotterdam; supposedly due to construction on the docks.

 

@Seasick Sailor Beautiful flowers.

@grapau27 Continued prayers for Sarah and her medical team, as well as you and Pauline. I hope the injections and rest fix her up. Wow on that usual wait for the injections; at least he is getting them sooner for her.

@aliaschief That looks like a great time! And wonderful views of Domenica.

@ocean sounds Thanks for joining in today.

@StLouisCruisers Great Benoa photos. Stay safe from the weather!

@Quartzsite Cruiser Thanks for the Bali pictures.

@ottahand7 Happy Birthday month!

@kazu I hope you're resting and that your wayward luggage makes it home soon.

 

Prayers for the Care List. I hope Kathi @Scrapnana made it home safely. Cheers for the Celebration List. Stay well everyone.

[grapau27]

8 hours ago, Seasick Sailor said:

Good morning Daily-ites! 

 

We are at sea today on the lovely Rotterdam. 

 

Dinner last night was rock fish, Allen had prime rib. My fish was pretty strong tasting but managed to eat a bit and Allen shared some of his prime rib. Made it to Trivia. The place was jam packed with standing room only.

 

Prayers lifted for Graham and Pauline's Sarah. 

 

Thankful Jacqui and Kathi are home and safe.

 

Hoping our little friend Blue feels better today.

 

Sending Birthday, Get Well and Congratulation wishes.

 

Hmmm. Feast of fabulous wild men..

 

Our flowers a sweet couple left for us are in full bloom. The lilies are quite fragrant. I put them in the shower last night..

 

 

Have a blessed day!!

 

7 hours ago, puppycanducruise said:

@grapau27Thanks for the update on Sarah.  I'm sorry she has to have surgery.  Prayers for her and the surgeons.

 

7 hours ago, summer slope said:

I make homemade hamburger helper in the pressure cooker all the time.  So yummy.  @grapau27prayers for Sarah and her doctors.

 

7 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Good morning friends!  It is a warm morning here at 60F, and it will be cloudy with a high of 69F.  Rain should begin around tea time and possibly continue until bedtime.  

 

My prayers sent out for dear Sarah this morning.  Graham @grapau27I think I would make the same decision as Sarah did with what the surgeon explained to her.  Prayers that the injections help and that the extended period of rest helps considerably.  I'm sure you and Pauline will do everything you can to help her.  🙏❤️

 

Thanks for the Daily today Rich and Roy!  What a nutty feast day we're celebrating!  I don't know any wild men thankfully.  Hot tea is a comfort to many.  We all love our pharmacists.  My next door neighbor is a retired pharmacist so I would feel comfortable asking him any questions that come up about our medications.  What a great quote from Mae West!  Making your own hamburger helper seems like an interesting menu suggestion so can't wait to see what Debbie @dfishsays about it.  Thanks Dixie @summer slopeand Ann @cat shepardfor your drink and wine descriptions.  Three cheers for all the Celebration list people today.  Hoping all are enjoying their cruises, too.  So glad Jacqui and Kathi are home and hope they get the help they need to recover and heal.  Also, prayers for everyone on the Care list and let's not forget the people of Ukraine still under attack. 🙏

 

Today's port is Benoa in Bali which has been our destination of the day twice before...Nov. 7, 2021 and April 13, 2022.  Below are the posts from that date in order to retrieve your photos.  I'm sure we have new people reading the Daily all the time and they might not have seen any photos before so be sure to post yours for their benefit.  I'll post mine next.

 

 

 

 

Today's port of Benoa, Bali Indonesia was on a B2B2B cruise in November and December 2013.  We started the cruise in Singapore in early November and ended up in Auckland on Dec. 23.  We stayed overnight in Auckland and began our flights home early on Christmas Eve.  Auckland to Sydney, Sydney to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Atlanta.  We arrived home late on Christmas Eve (yes, still!) and slept late on Christmas Day.  A couple days later we drove to our DD's house in Ohio to celebrate the holidays late.  When we started the cruises in Singapore we had been staying at our DS's apartment in Singapore with his family for 8 days.  He was on his university sabbatical for a year, and that was the reason we booked all the cruises - so we could see them and do some interesting cruising.  It was great fun!

 

 

November 23, 2013 on Diamond Princess. 

 

Welcomers

 

 

We were lucky this trip to have a couple from Australia on board whom we'd met in 2010 on a Princess ship.  He had hired a driver for this port who would drive them around to see the sights, and they asked if we'd like to go along.  Yes!  First we drove to the Pura Gunung Kawi temple.  Here, the cliffs flanking the Packerisan river feature shrines carved into stone honoring kings and queens from the 11th century. 

 

 

 

 

It was beautiful!

 

 

 

It was so peaceful there.

 

Then we went to Tirta Empul temple.  The sacred spring there provides holy water for priests and bathing for ordinary Balinese, who believe that a dip here can bring good fortune and health.  An offering must first be made at the temple before you can climb into the long main pool to bathe and meditate.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photo was taken from the car on the way to the volcano.  The Balinese prepare and decorate a penjor made from a long bamboo pole hung vertically in front of their home.  They can be up to 10 meters high and they droop and hang over the roads making a beautiful sight.

 

We didn't get real close to the volcano, Mount Batur, because it's active.  Instead we viewed it from the village of Penelokan.  Here is a misty view of the Mount Batur and Lake Batur.

 

 

That's all for today.  I hope this gives you a glimpse of Benoa and the surrounding area.  

 

7 hours ago, ocean sounds said:

@grapau27, prayers for your Sarah. 

 

7 hours ago, cat shepard said:

Praying that the injections help Sarah, so she can avoid surgery. 
 

Double prayers that Sarah, you and Pauline can quickly put this worry behind you. 

 

6 hours ago, cunnorl said:

Good Morning from a bright and sunny day at the beach

    I really enjoy a nice cup of tea but I am still partial to “Salada”. My family sends a few boxes at a time necause it is not available here. 
   @grapau27Graham, my prayers will continue for all of you. I do believe she made the right decision to try the injections first. It will probably take time and rest. 
     @StLouisCruisersSandi, thanks for the great pictures. Both of our ports in Indonesia were cancelled. 
        Off to a library board meeting this AM.

Slay safe and enjoy today

 

Charlene

 

6 hours ago, mamaofami said:

Prayers for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery.

 

6 hours ago, puppycanducruise said:

@grapau27I think I would do what Sarah is doing by getting the injections and avoiding the surgery.  Praying that it helps her.

 

5 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Graham. Just wanted you to know your Sarah is in our thoughts concern and prayers

 

5 hours ago, ottahand7 said:

Graham and Pauline @grapau27 prayers for Sarah and I am glad her surgeon recommended the injections. I hope they can begin soon. 

 

We ran into Linda in Manta yesterday toting a brand new aqua suitcase to replace her ruined one caused by luggage direct. So nice to make contact with a fellow Dailyite. 

 

Roy thank you for the Daily and the Care reports. Prayers for all who need them, Kathi, Jacqui and the people of Ukraine. 

 

We are off the northern coast of Peru with a day at sea. A great Pinnacle Grill dinner last night as the wine for my on going 70th birthday celebration continues. We tasted this wine out of barrel when we visited Cos in 1996.  Our first of our carried on wine with dry aged Delmonico for me. John had a filet.  Our sunrise this morning.  

 

 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, smitty34877 said:

Good morning. I had a post disappear mysteriously  so I will try again.It is raining but going up to the fifties today. I plan on a decent walk in the neighborhood  when it stops later.

I met my DH at a hospital where we both worked.He definitely  had "wild man" characteristics  back then .We have amused our children with stories of those times over the years.We waited until they were older to tell such tales.Nowadays we seem content to have a good laugh about some silly thing going on and  I guess the wildness decreases with increasing age.

@grapau27, I continue to send Sarah and the two of you my prayers and hope the treatment gives her some relief from pain.I am sure all three of you are exhausted. 

Thanks to all for the Daily

 

5 hours ago, dfish said:

Good morning, everyone!

 

I'm a little late today because I had to go to the lab for blood tests.  The tests had to be done before 8:00 am.  I got there in plenty of time, but so did a lot of other people.  Still, they drew the blood at 7:53 am, so we made the time constraint.  

 

@grapau27 I hope the injections help Sarah.  I would have made the same decisions.  Surgery is a last resort.

 

I'm happy @kazu Jacqui and @Scrapnana Kathi are home and hope that Jacqui's errant suitcase finds its way home.

 

I loved hamburger helper as a kid.  Mom liked it too because it was quick and easy and economical when feeding 6 hungry kids.  HH and some tender tiny peas made a good meal.  I think because of the memories, HH is definitely a comfort food.  We'll start with this one, a cheesy hamburger dish.  https://www.saltandlavender.com/homemade-hamburger-helper-recipe/

 

 

This next one uses shells for the pasta.  How fun!  Seasonings are different as well.  https://thenovicechefblog.com/homemade-hamburger-helper/

 

 

This one uses milk to help make the sauce creamy.  https://www.aheadofthyme.com/homemade-hamburger-helper/

 

 

This next one is often referred to as Poor Man's Stroganoff.   https://damndelicious.net/2015/11/08/homemade-hamburger-helper/

 

 

This next one includes some zucchini, making the dish a bit healthier.  The nice thing about not using the box is that you can control seasonings, especially salt.  And, you don't get all those preservatives.    https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/one-pot-hamburger-helper/

 

 

Wishing you all a wonderful day!

 

 

 

4 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

Hugs and prayers to Sarah as well as you and Pauline.  {{{ }}}

 

4 hours ago, rafinmd said:

I'll pass on the Wild Men, like tea but mostly drink coffee, and depend heavily on pharmacists, both for medicines and innoculations.  I love the Mae West quote but have never had Hamburger Helper.  I have been to Bali just once, embarking on a 2014 string of cruises, Crystal Symphony to Singapore, Crystal Serenity on to Cape Town, and finally Amsterdam back to Fort Lauderdale.  I arrived late the night before embarkation and really have no photos.  My alternative menu suggestion is Watermelon Cocktail, Chef Rudi's Classic Southern Fried Chicken, and Cherry Crisp as served on MS Prinsendam January 12, 2019 (looks like I was a little too eager when the entree arrived) :

Today’s care list:

 

Grahaam’s Sarah in pain and waiting on needed injection
Crusin Terri with pain flarup
Marshhawk DH eye issues.
HAL Sailer DBIL in final days and family squabbles
Scrapnana starting over on treatment
From the rotation:
Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney
Status of St. Louis Sal (7/1) and JAM37 (7/7)
Ominous scan for Marshhawk
Kazu with elbow fracture

 

Celebrations and Shoutouts:

Belated Happy Birthday to Ren
Demar Hamlin HOME
cruszn single in Hawaii until 1/31
Cruisin Terri home ready for furniture
GTVCRUISER(1/14), DeeniEncinetas, Victoriann(1/14), crystalspin (1/14) , sailingdutchty   (Koningsdam  to 1/31), Damcruiser (Nieuw Statendam  to 1/14), Aliaschief (Onward  to 1/17) Seasick Sailor and ger_77 (Rotterdam  to 1/25), lindaler and ottahand7(Volendam  to 3/18), and Cat in My Lap, Gail&Marty,richwmn and HorizonChaser1957 (Zuiderdam  to 5/12) at sea

Roy

 

 

3 hours ago, superoma said:

Good morning all. I just spent two hours getting caught up on all the threads I read. I missed a whole day yesterday! 
 

good to hear that @kazuis home. Darn that wandering suitcase! Hopefully @Scrapnanamade it to Richmond last night.  Prayers for all needing them especially Sarah @grapau27. I did get the celebratory drinks in yesterday. 
 

hope everyone has a great day.

 

2 hours ago, 57redbird said:

Graham, Pauline & Sarah -- you're all in my prayers!  Epilepsy, spinal fluid leak & cauda equina are all serious issues.  Hoping for the best possible outcome of this.

 

1 hour ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

A late good morning from a sunny, chilly and very windy central Texas.  It is 52F, but the wind makes it seem colder, so it will be a good day for catching up on things inside.  I made a quick run to the store early this morning to beat the crowds, which make shopping so much more pleasant, even if they were out of a few things on my list.

 

We are waiting for the guys to come check our heat pump.  With the temperatures above 35F it should be running and not the auxiliary heat strips.  Hope it's not a big problem, but at least it's still under warranty.

 

By now, any wild men we knew have probably out grown being wild or are just to dang old to be wild.  I prefer hot tea to coffee, but I still don't drink it often.  I'll definitely salute pharmacists.  DH's stepmother was a pharmacist who his father met when getting a prescription filled.

 

Mae West was right with her quote, and she certainly knew how to live.

 

I think we'll pass on the meal.  I made HH once, and it was not well received.  We'll pass on the drink, but the wine sounds nice.

 

We were in Bali in 2000 on the P&O Oriana world cruise.

 

@grapau27  Graham, sending very positive thoughts your way for the injections to work for Sarah.  They are a good choice before resorting to surgery.  In fact, anything that works is better than surgery.  We'll be keeping Sarah, Pauline and you in our thoughts during this trying time.

@aliaschief  Bruce, thanks for the pictures of last night's outing.  It looked like a lot of fun.  And thanks for the pictures of the ship.

@StLouisCruisers  Sandi, thanks for the links and for your pictures of Bali.

@ottahand7  Nancy,  HAPPY CONTINUING 70TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! 🎂

 

I'm glad Jacqui @kazu  is safely home and recovering from her surgery.  I also hope Kathi @Scrapnana made it home last night, and that she can get some answers and a treatment plan soon.

 

Lenda

 

 

1 hour ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Good morning everyone and Happy Thursday.  After several good nights of sleep I had a bad one last night. So while I was awake I read the Daily and was finally able to get about an hour of sleep before I heard Craig leave to run errands. 
 

Craig only drinks hot tea and Earl Grey is his favorite. Pharmacists are really important and even more so now that they give us our covid boosters.  
 

I think I’ll pass on the HH, however I have made a chili Mac that is probably very similar.  Today I’m making hummus with spiced ground beef. I made the pita bread last night. First time making it and it was so easy. I hope they have the traditional pocket. I’ll try to take a picture. 
 

Happy Birthday @ottahand7!  What a wonderful cruise to celebrate your birthday.  

Jacqui @kazu, I hope your luggage turns up soon. Are you in a cast or a sling?

 

Graham @grapau27, thank you for keeping us posted on Sarah’s condition. I would have chosen the injections also. 
 

Have a great day everyone!

 

 

18 minutes ago, JazzyV said:

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily and to all contributors.

Hmmm, Fabulous Wild Men 😗? I occasionally have hot tea, and certainly pharmacists are deserving of lots of praise. Good quote. Interesting meal. I'll pass on the drink and yes to the wine.

I haven't been to Benoa.

 

We've been having all day rain, with thunder. It's grey and dreary out. As the temps drop, the rain is supposed to change over to snow overnight; I don't think much accumulation is expected. I've been busy sorting through papers to start to get ready for tax season. Of course I don't have much in yet from banks and the like regarding interest and dividends. I'll send it all to my accountant once I have everything. The debarkation port on the TA has been changed from Amsterdam to Rotterdam; supposedly due to construction on the docks.

 

@Seasick Sailor Beautiful flowers.

@grapau27 Continued prayers for Sarah and her medical team, as well as you and Pauline. I hope the injections and rest fix her up. Wow on that usual wait for the injections; at least he is getting them sooner for her.

@aliaschief That looks like a great time! And wonderful views of Domenica.

@ocean sounds Thanks for joining in today.

@StLouisCruisers Great Benoa photos. Stay safe from the weather!

@Quartzsite Cruiser Thanks for the Bali pictures.

@ottahand7 Happy Birthday month!

@kazu I hope you're resting and that your wayward luggage makes it home soon.

 

Prayers for the Care List. I hope Kathi @Scrapnana made it home safely. Cheers for the Celebration List. Stay well everyone.

Thank you so much everyone for your kind words and support for Sarah, Pauline and myself.

It means a lot that so many people are so lovely.

I will update when Sarah has her injections.

Graham x

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Here are the remaining pictures of our day in Bali.  We were supposed to be there in 2002 on Volendam's APEC cruise.  The port was canceled after the nightclub bombing.  Captain Peter Harris sailed close enough to Bali for us to take a few pictures of the island.  It was a very grey, cloudy day, and the pictures are not good enough to share.

 

I'm pretty sure we were the only four people on the ship who got to see how the Balinese live.  Our driver took us to his family's home, which is really a compound.  His brother's job is carving masks which someone else paints before the "big boss" sells them to the shops.  We got to see the brother carving a mask out of balsa wood.  After much discussion, the brother agreed to sell us an unpainted mask.  He was afraid he would get in trouble with his boss, but in the end each couple walked away with a mask.  It means more to me than a finished one I could buy in a store.

 

Notice the chickens in the cages.

 

Our next stop was Klungkung, a former royal palace in Semarapura, Bali.

 

One the way back to the tender pier. 

 

At the tender dock.

 

Some of the girls who danced for the passengers as they shopped.  If you did not want to be hassled, you kept your eyes off the items for sale.

 

We wanted one of the large, decorative kites for sale on the island, but knew we couldn't get it home on the plane.  Ironically, we found one in Quartzsite the next winter, and it's hanging on our livingroom wall.  Good thing the ceiling is 17 feet high.

 

Our driver for the day stopped on the way back to the tender, and asked us to pay him then.  He, along with other drivers, lived with the owner of the car.  If we paid him at the dock and tipped him (which we did ), the owner would see the transaction and want all the money.  By paying before the final stop at the dock, he got to keep the tip.  We also had to get back a little earlier than necessary, as the driver had to be at the owner's house in time for the evening meal.  If he arrived after the meal, he would not be fed that night.

 

Lenda

Thank you for posting all of your fabulous photos Lenda.

Graham.

[Oceansaway17]

7 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Good afternoon.

Our Sarah is on a ward in the hospital and it seems she might have her spinal operation today.

Thank you everyone for your kind concerns yesterday.

Thank you Roy @rafinmdfor keeping this amazing thread going while Rich @richwmnis on a well deserved fantastic world cruise.

Thank you Dixie,Ann and Debbie for all your amazing food and drink descriptions.

Good collection of days and excellent quote.

Take care and stay safe friends.

Graham.

 

yes best of luck on your Sarah who I assume is your daughter.

[0106]

23 minutes ago, JazzyV said:

The debarkation port on the TA has been changed from Amsterdam to Rotterdam; supposedly due to construction on the docks.

I wonder if embarkation for the Fall of 2023 cruises will change from Amsterdam to Rotterdam too?  We are on the October transatlantic.  Hotels in Amsterdam are ridiculously expensive.  Guess I’ll check to see if Rotterdam is cheaper just in case.  Also,  is it easy to take a train from Schiphol to Rotterdam?  I found a good price on a nonstop flight I’ll probably keep.  Appreciate all your insights and advice.  

[grapau27]

Just now, Oceansaway17 said:

yes best of luck on your Sarah who I assume is your daughter.

Thank you.

Sarah is Pauline's sisters daughter but she has been like our daughter all of her life.

Her mam and dad have not communicated with Sarah or us for 7 years.

 

 

[Oceansaway17]

Just now, grapau27 said:

Thank you.

Sarah is Pauline's sisters daughter but she has been like our daughter all of her life.

Her mam and dad have not communicated with Sarah or us for 7 years.

 

 

well then it sounds like she is lucky to have you both.

Hoping you are planning a cruise soon.  I see a new P&O ship has arrived.  

[Cruising-along]

Good afternoon all!

Yesterday DSIL got caught up in the airline mess but we're thankful she wasn't flying home the night before.  She did get home and only 2 hours later than she would have, and the best thing was her suitcase also made it home to Savannah.  Quite an experience for a novice traveler, but she came through with flying colors.  I know she's tired, it was a long day.

 

Now I need to get the house put back together.  I'd left all the Christmas decorations out for DH's party.  It will be nice to have the furniture back in place.

 

Graham @grapau27prayers for Sarah.  I think she made the right choice too.

Nancy @ottahand7Happy Birthday!  

[JazzyV]

15 minutes ago, 0106 said:

I wonder if embarkation for the Fall of 2023 cruises will change from Amsterdam to Rotterdam too?  We are on the October transatlantic.  Hotels in Amsterdam are ridiculously expensive.  Guess I’ll check to see if Rotterdam is cheaper just in case.  Also,  is it easy to take a train from Schiphol to Rotterdam?  I found a good price on a nonstop flight I’ll probably keep.  Appreciate all your insights and advice.  

I do know there is a train from Schiphol to Rotterdam. There's lots of discussion over on the Celebrity roll call for this April TA. Many had plans to stay a few days in hotels in Amsterdam. Supposedly there may be a bus provided by the cruise line to Schiphol, for a fee, due to the change. The train station is about 2km from the cruise port, and there's a subway close to the port that goes to it. But some are worried about schleping suitcases on the train, and are looking into renting vans and going in groups to Amsterdam. I can't find anything online about the work on the docks in Amsterdam; it was just reported on the roll call. I know last year there were issues due to low water levels.

Edited January 12, 2023 by JazzyV

[grapau27]

18 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

well then it sounds like she is lucky to have you both.

Hoping you are planning a cruise soon.  I see a new P&O ship has arrived.  

Thank you.

P&O new ship Arvia is currently doing her second voyage which is a TA from Southampton to the Caribbean.

Edited January 12, 2023 by grapau27

[Oceansaway17]

Just now, grapau27 said:

P&O new ship Arvia is currently doing her second voyage which is a TA from Southampton to the Caribbean.

aw okay I guess you missed the boat (ha ha)

So to divert, I am reading the BOOK from a certain Prince who lives in USA and for the most part enjoying it.  Learning some stuff about Windsor Park burial grounds as well as Balmoral.

How is the book being received in your area?

 

Oh and if you get to Edinburgh, visit the Britannia if you can.  It was really great to walk around

[grapau27]

19 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

aw okay I guess you missed the boat (ha ha)

So to divert, I am reading the BOOK from a certain Prince who lives in USA and for the most part enjoying it.  Learning some stuff about Windsor Park burial grounds as well as Balmoral.

How is the book being received in your area?

 

Oh and if you get to Edinburgh, visit the Britannia if you can.  It was really great to walk around

We visited The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith Edinburgh in 2012 and I'm happy to hear you have visited Britannia too.

Harry's reputation has plummeted in the UK and the Royal family is loved here by a massive proportion of our population including ourselves.

 

Edited January 12, 2023 by grapau27

[Oceansaway17]

1 minute ago, grapau27 said:

We visited The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith Edinburgh in 2012 and I'm happy to hear you have visited Britannia too.

Harry's reputation has plummeted in the UK and the Royal family is loved here by a massive proportion of our population.

 

yes we over here in the colonies known as USA also love the RF.

Hard to know what stories to believe, but is a shame Harry is at odds with his family the way his wife is with her's.

 

One last question, will you go down for the coronation?  Also what new ships for Southampton are coming in 2023?