LANGKAWI TO COCHIN

COCHIN – our first visit to India and we were very apprehensive but were pleasantly surprised with all we saw here and the heat was bearable. Our first private tour booked with our brilliant organiser and fellow cruiser, Joanne (woman of many talents) who even got us off the Ship before their tours began,  met with our friendly guide and were then driven for well over an hour along the main highway to our ‘Backwater Cruise’.  This drive was simply amazing with all kinds of stalls and markets along the entire route and fortunately, although extremely poor everyone looked quite clean and we didn’t see any begging!!  Our wonderful houseboat for the cruise was just delightful and we traversed the canals in comfort, watching the locals going about their daily chores – from bathing to washing dishes all in the same canal water of course.  Between the rice paddies, were the little shanty homes along the narrow strips of land - so bright and colourful, although in need of much repair.  For lunch we were treated to a lovely selection of vegetarian delights, with rice, fish & chicken, topped off with fresh pineapple and fried bananas.  After a quick return on the bus and drive through the old Fort Cochin, we just made it ‘home’ in time.

Photos above are:     Having a beer on the houseboat;  similar houseboat to ours;   a little pink house;  women in the canal;  a typical scene on the canal;  road stalls;  and the fantastic ‘fishing nets’ of Cochin.

 

KUALA LUMPUR TO LANGKAWI

LANGKAWI – an overnight sail and still in Malaysia, we took a Ship’s tour into this city and visited another cultural museum and the LamanPadi (rice museum) but the highlight was taking the Langkawi Cable Car to the top of Mount Mat Cincang.  Unfortunately because all the tour buses arrived at the same time, and it was a public holiday, the queues were like “Disneyland on a long weekend” weaving forever and taking us over an hour just to board the cable car. The trip up and back was rather scary but the views were incredible, sadly we only had time to take a few photos and then back into the cable car for the long, steep trip back to the bottom and of course no time for souvenir shopping!!

We had some good fun entering our horse “Simply the Best” into the Melbourne Cup and ‘dressing’ the horse (the glue gun I found when we arrived on board in the side pocket of our shoe bag!!! actually came in very handy).  The champagne was flowing and our jockey was well primed, but we came last!!

Photos above are:  Langkawi Cable Car;  Judy at ‘the top’;  pretty lake at base of mountain;  sweet treats at the Rice Museum;  dining with Joanne & Garry;  late night snacks at Island Party on deck;  owners & trainers of our entry “Simply the Best” into the Melbourne Cup – Ray, Dennis, Garry, Arnold & Colin;  and their better halves – Paula, Ros, Judy, Anthea & Joanne

 

SINGAPORE TO KUALA LUMPUR

KUALA LUMPUR – arrived at Port Kelang and joined a Ship’s tour into Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia.  With a convoy of very colourful buses, inside and out, and cheery guides, we set off for a great day, stopping for photos first of the magnificent Blue Mosque and then onto the War Memorial and its beautiful gardens.  It was here we discovered their ‘restrooms’ were quite “different to ours” – hole in the ground and no loo paper – you have to pay for that before you enter!!  Next stop was the National Museum and then onto a brilliant Craft Museum which was hosting a Bridal Expo – the materials/batiks, cakes, clothing and decorations were breathtaking and very elaborate.  We stood in awe and took photos of the Petronas Twin Towers (a sky bridge connecting the buildings making them the tallest twin towers in the world) and then topped off our day by going to the top of the Kuala Lumpur Tower, with a 360deg. view of this massive city of skyscrapers as far as the eye could see.

Photos above are:  Ladies restroom;  wedding cakes;  craft museum – beautiful batiks;  view from Kuala Lumpur Tower;  and the Petronas Twin Towers

 

DARWIN TO SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE – our first rain and it bucketed down on us most of the day!!  We spent over an hour queuing for an all day Tourist Train Pass ($18 - & were refunded $10 for returning the ticket).  A quick train trip took us to Little India which was colourful and interesting, then had a long coffee at Starbucks whilst we skyped the family and did some emailing. We found our way to Orchard Road and some fabulous shopping centres.  Fortunately, we’ll be back to Singapore later in the year to explore this lovely city and do it justice with hopefully better weather – and ‘shop’!!  It appears we have a stowaway on board – “Birdie” made a raucous appearance at dinner & has been showing off ever since!! 

Photos above are:   Ray with his “Birdie”;  Singapore shop window;  Orchard Road;  and sailaway.

 

OUR JOURNEY BEGINS

Better late than never and with help from our friends on board we are now up and running with our Blog....  We’re really enjoying our wonderful sea voyage from Sydney to Dover, England (53 days) on the “Dawn Princess”.   Our sea days are very busy and are spent either relaxing by the pool, walking  the Promenade Deck, playing table tennis/cards/bingo/trivia, going to dance lessons/destination lectures/great shows and of course EATING morning, noon and night, with lots of great friends.

It’s been fairly smooth sailing with a few ‘wobbly’ days along the way, a little slower than normal as on Day 3 we had a generator malfunction, which the experts are still working on....   Due to this problem, we have unfortunately missed a couple of ports so far (Abu Dhabi & Muscat – went to Salalah in Oman instead) and spent less time in others but we are still seeing new countries and having a great time.

DARWIN – our first port of call after 5 days at sea, we tied up alongside their new port complex, comprising of apartment blocks, restaurants, shops, a beach area, as well as a separate wave beach – all very impressive.  Having been there before and seen the sights, we stayed in town catching up with emails, friends, shopping and having lunch at the Speakers Cafe, Parliament House.

Photos above are:   our cabin;  towel art by our fabulous cabin steward, Irma;  a lucky pic. with our Captain Todd McBain;  Darwin Wave Pool;  Arnold with his harem (we have a great table of friends dining together every night);  pre dinner drinks with Joanne & Garry;  and ‘FOOD’!!

 

Hi Colin & Judy

Hi Colin & Judy,

Wonderfulhearing all your EXCITING news--bad luck re the engine etc.
Pirates sounds exciting but also scary!!--stay safe & keep enjoying.
We are off to Queensland for 1 month from tomorrow--we're chasing some sun--it has been 3 degrees in the Mountains--snowed for quite a while yesterday.
Love--Barb & Ken

This is a test to see if we have it right!!

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