After retiring from a career in sales and marketing, I decided to do what I really love: Travel. Photography. But I like to write, too. Well, I really like to do a lot of things, and I'm sure they'll all show up at one time or another in my blog. Happy reading!
After finishing my Southeast Asia cruise and visit to Singapore, I flew directly to Malta for a month-long stay. That trip involved two flights with a 6-hour layover in Dubai, starting at midnight. What can I say? It seemed like a good idea at the time.
I usually fly Delta Airlines since my status over the years has given me some extra perks, but the only reasonable route from Singapore to Malta was on Emirates Airlines. I had heard good things about it, so I decided to give it a try. Since I’m not flying Business or First Class, I didn’t find it to be all that different from most other airlines. Meh.
I wasn’t able to sleep on the first leg due to a couple of fussy children and the fact that I felt sticky from perspiring my way through the last day in Singapore. So arriving in Dubai at midnight found me almost asleep on my feet. Fortunately I remembered reading an article about how many airports are adding sleeping pods and rooms for travelers with long layovers. I found the desk (thank heaven for search engines on my phone) and was able to rent a pod. I was a little concerned about how cramped it would be, but it turned out great. I was able to get almost four hours of quiet, uninterrupted sleep. Therefore, airport pods are a Billie recommended option!
The recliner stretched out to a bed, and the blanket and pillow made it quite comfortable. Worth every penny!
Disembarking our ship in Singapore, I was facing a full day before my late evening flight. My friend Judy and I decided to do what I’ve done many times in the past: take an excursion that would end up dropping us at the airport in the afternoon. When I booked the excursion, however, I hadn’t counted on the heat and humidity. We did have a nice tour, although it was again a day of ending up with clothing wet from perspiration. Not the most comfortable way to begin a 22 hour trip; I’m heading to Malta from here. If you’re anywhere near as old as I am, you probably remember the TV program “Sweating to the Oldies” with Richard Simmons. Well, this was sweating WITH the oldies (fellow passengers) from my cruise.
Let me advise you from the start: the Singapore airport is a destination in itself. Had I realized this before (I arrived in Singapore at midnight and didn’t take much time to look around) I would have just gone straight to the airport. More about that later.
Our first stop was the National Orchid Garden, which, of course, was nearly all outside in the heat. The garden is big, with many winding paths. Since it is an easy place to get lost and we had limited time, our guide offered to take us through if we wished. I’m glad we stayed with him, since his knowledge of the various orchids made it more interesting. There was one place in the garden that was my favorite: the cool room. Have I mentioned that it’s hot in Singapore?
These orchids made me smile: don’t they look like they are smiling back?
Our next stop took us to Chinatown, which was great since we missed it when we were there before the cruise. We were given time to have lunch in the hawker mall, which was a maze of dozens of food vendors, all delicious. With the Chinese New Year approaching, the area was awash in red decorations and people making purchases for the coming holiday. After our lunch I went to explore the temple nearby.
We then headed to the Bay for a river cruise. We made a stop at Raffles, which was essentially an opportunity to peruse their (very expensive) gift shop. Then down to the river. It was a different perspective on the area we have visited before, with another look at the Merlion from the water. What I found the most interesting were the historic former warehouses along the waterfront. Built mostly by Chinese merchants, they were situated on the river before it was made into a bay.We were told the size of the building reflected the wealth of that particular merchant. Today they are restored buildings with shops and restaurants.
The contrast between the former warehouses and the skyscrapers show the history of Singapore’s growth.
We were finally off to the airport, and relieved that we would be in air conditioning again. When I had a long wait in the Buenos Aires airport, I got into a conversation with a fellow traveler who told me about the Singapore airport. He encouraged me to set aside some time to explore when I flew there. I’m so glad he did.
When we arrived a the airport I learned that the airline I was flying, Emirates, would allow me to check my bags up to 24 hours ahead of time. Not all airlines do this, but it’s a nice perk. If that isn’t possible, there’s a luggage storage desk right next to the early luggage drop. I checked my bags and friend Judy went to check in to her hotel room, which was also in the airport. Then we enjoyed a refreshment break at one of the many little cafes, and wandered through the gigantic shopping mall attached to the airport. And there in the middle of the mall is a lovely green space with a waterfall.
And there’s even a Disney-style ride!
All in all, this trip to Singapore and the cruise has been a great adventure. Next I’m off to Malta to hang out by the Mediterranean for a month.
The final port of call on our cruise was Leam Chabang, near Bangkok. We opted to take an excursion to the ancient city of Ayutthaya, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. While today it is a modern city, the entire area is dotted with ancient temples.
First, though, we made a stop at the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace. On the long drive north, our guide schooled us in the history of the Rama line of Thai kings…and made it interesting!
The palace grounds are quite large, with man-made lakes, monuments, elephant topiary, and various buildings used for the King’s palace, visiting dignitaries, ceremonies, and one small gingerbread house that was used by the king to get away from everyone. Our guide told us that when the king went to that little house, no one was allowed in: no servants, no family, no officials. This was his place for “me time.”
After a stop for another delicious Thai luncheon at Kantary Ayutthaya, we were off to visit the temples. A note about the meals we had in Thailand: I love Thai food. Interestingly enough, my favorite Thai restaurants are in Alaska-go figure. There’s a Thai food truck that operates in the summer near a hotel just South of the entrance to Denali National Park, and I always make it a point to visit whenever I’m in the area as I lead tours. But I always wondered just how authentic the food really was. Two years ago I had a Thai couple who told me they approved of the food from the truck, which I took as a good sign. I now know that the Thai food in Alaska is absolutely authentic. And yummy!
I couldn’t resist a photo of another unique vehicle for tourists. There are benches in the back and you just hang on for the drive!
Next we were off to visit the whole reason we took this tour: the ancient temples. The first stop was at Wat Yai Chaya Mongkoi (Wat meaning temple.) As soon as we neared the temple grounds, my friend and I said at the same time, “THIS is what we came to Thailand for.” Well, that and the food.
There was again the opportunity to climb up to view the complex from the main temple, and I again decided to be smart and not go there. I did climb a few steps, but with uneven and ancient bricks, no handrails, and soaring temperatures, we both decided a few steps was plenty. Oh, to be twenty again and able to scramble up to the top! The entire area was amazing, however, and there is a feeling of serenity about it, even with the many visitors.
Our next stop was Wat Maha That. This temple complex was even older than the first, and our guide explained how to tell the difference based on how the towers were constructed. The older ones look like corncobs! By this time the heat was getting brutal, and the park provided umbrellas to help keep the sun from beating on our heads.
The Buddha above is the only one in the complex that is complete. When the area was invaded by the Burmese they destroyed the many images of the Buddha, and when the Thai people tried to restore their temple the found most of the Buddhas had been destroyed and the heads smashed. The Buddha above was reassembled from the pieces.
The only other Buddha head that survived has become a symbol of the temple: it became encased in the roots of the tree above.
The final stop on our tour was at Wat Phra Is Sanpet, the oldest of the three sites we visited, and there are no photos to show you. It was truly so hot that several of us on the tour were becoming the worse for wear. After climbing around and up and down ancient steps and being literally drenched in perspiration, I was beginning to feel faint. Several of us on the tour opted to stay on the bus and look from afar. Hailing from Montana and Alaska, I just don’t have the ability to function in the heat and humidity. My usual coping mechanism of taking it slow and not going out in the hottest part of the day just doesn’t work on a sightseeing excursion!
Another island, another port, another excursion. After two sea days, which we were grateful to have so we could relax a little and stay cool, we headed out to explore the island. Our route took us completely around the island and gave us a sampling of the temples and shrines that dot the island.
Our guide was funny and irreverent, and explained the variety of cultures that live together on the island. There is a mixture of Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Malay, and Indian cultures that create a rich mixture of food, language, and customs. He explained that in his language the same word is used for “happy” (if it’s a verb) and “toilet” (if it’s a noun). His name means “Happy,” but he claims his mother named him that because she has a great sense of humor! At each stop he would point out the “happy place” so we would know where the toilets were.
Our first stop was at Plai Laem Temple. This stop actually had several religious sites at the same place. Our guide explained the significance of each area, and then allowed us time to explore on our own.
Right next to the temple above sits a statue dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy.
The area was a feast of sights and colors, and I couldn’t resist capturing all the details in my photos.
Next we were off to see The Big Buddha, a huge gold-plated statue that sits atop a high platform with steps leading up to it. What is the penchant for making everyone climb steps? I decided to view the Big Buddha from the bottom, given the heat and humidity. Have I mentioned that it’s very hot in Thailand?
Our next stop was the restaurant in a beautiful resort hotel on the coast: Nora Buri. Actually, on Koh Samui pretty much everything is on the coast! We had a buffet lunch that Polly approved of, and then took time to enjoy the view. Polly was more interested in the food.
One more stop before heading back to the ship. This was a memorial to Guan Yu, a general from nearly 2000 years ago who is revered as a God of War. He is respected for his integrity and loyalty, and apparently is known around the world in the Chinese community.
Along the way around the island our guide pointed out the Four Seasons Hotel where the third season of the “White Lotus” was filmed. He told us to look carefully through the trees and we could see the hotel…then he laughed as he said “Sorry, you can’t see it from the road!” He said they closed the hotel for several weeks during filming, and they laughed all the way to the bank.
When I grow up I think I want to be a scout for filming sites. Oh, wait, I’m already grown up…and retired. OK, so I want to do that in my next life. My luck I’ll come back as a frog. Or they would send me to scout a site for a remake of “The Thing” or “Mosquito Coast.”
I do have to share one more photo of the day. In keeping with the sense of humor of our guide, I want to share the decor in our bus. Equipped with huge speakers and decked out in red, it brought to mind a courtesy shuttle for a brothel. Maybe it would make a great filming site for my first effort.
Our final stop was at Chaweng Beach, where we were given time to walk along the beach or browse the many shops in the area. There was also a mall. By this point my friend Judy and I were shopped out and feeling the heat. We discovered a Starbucks, and while I prefer to sample local cuisines while traveling, an iced tea in an air conditioned store won us over.
Penang was the one port we decided to explore on our own. The ship docked right next to the island’s capital, George Town. Since it was just a short stroll into town we set off on our own. Our first challenge was to get past the dozens of taxi promoters offering to drive us around the area. Once we got out of the port area we thought we were safe, but we continued to run into hawkers for several blocks!
We found the town decorated with red everywhere in preparation for the coming celebration of the Chinese New Year. We just wandered wherever our fancy took us, which was fairly successful. We spent some time in the Little India area, wandered into a shop that made custom notebooks, and found a shop that sold fabrics, saris, and other clothing.
Pretty fancy entrance for a fabric store!
I promised to bring back Thai silk fabrics to my crafty friends at home, and really hit the jackpot here. They had silks and cottons in so many gorgeous colors I wanted to take them all home.
We ran across some of our fellow cruisers taking advantage of the local transportation option. After walking around in the extreme heat I was a little jealous, but not enough to climb aboard.
We finished our day with a walk around a park and along the waterfront. We also took a little time to view some of the buildings showing the influence of the colonial era.
I have to admit that there was much more to see in Penang, but the heat and humidity were beginning to make it hard to keep walking around. By the time we returned to the ship my friend and I were both ready for a cold drink and a shower!
We continued to sail North in the Malacca Strait to the island of Phuket. I’m going to admit my ignorance of the entire area: I didn’t know Phuket was an island. For that matter, I didn’t know Lankawi was an island either!
We again took a ship’s excursion by speedboat into Phang Nga Bay. This area contains the Ao Phang Ngo Marine National Park, with dozens of limestone islands filled with caves and rock formations.
If you look closely you’ll see a rope hanging down from one of the rocks on the underside of this island. Our guide explained that fishermen come out and use these ropes to catch fish.
The next destination was “James Bond Island,” which was used as a location for the “The Man with the Golden Gun.” I now know for sure that they didn’t really blow up the island in the end. Apparently the James Bond franchise is still popular, judging by the number of people flocking to this island. After shedding our shoes and jumping into the (shallow) water to walk to the shore, I stood there with my shoes in my hand and looked around the small beach surrounded by rocky cliffs, wondering what the attraction was. We were given nearly an hour to explore what looked to me like nothing more than a tiny beach. I saw a few people walking up some stairs in the rocks, and decided to find out where they led. First I had to get my shoes back on my damp feet, sand and all.
I gingerly started up the stairs, wondering where they went. A little higher, a little more, and around a corner was a view of the pinnacle rock that was so visible in the movie.
I continued along the stairway, and coming around a corner discovered we were not alone! The stairs led into a larger open area with another beach access for more boats. And as always, enterprising locals were taking advantage of the number of tourists coming to pay homage to 007.
Our next stop was Koh Panyee, a floating fishing village. This was advertised as an opportunity to meet the locals, see the village, and browse the shops. We were not impressed. The village is a confusing warren of buildings on pilings, and our guide warned us to stay close to him so we didn’t get lost. It became a march through narrow walkways with nearly every home having an assortment of wares that were clearly of the “Made in China” type. Stopping to purchase anything was nearly impossible, as our guide was on the move. We were hoping for local crafts and wares, but it was t-shirts and toys and keychains. The town was interesting, but has been converted into a tourist trap.
After returning to the island of Phuket, we were treated to lunch in a lovely Thai restaurant. The food was just what I had been looking forward to. Authentic Thai food! Yay! I was actually delighted to find that my favorite food truck in Alaska truly was Thai food on a level with the food in Thailand. The restaurant in Thailand was a lot fancier than the food truck, though. I spent some of our allotted time there wandering around the property taking photos of the beautiful facility.
Our second Malaysia port was Langkawi, where my friend and I took a ship’s excursion called the Geopark Day Cruise. I should note that I usually prefer to do my port visits on my own, but since I’ve never been to this area and don’t know the language or the challenges we might hit, we both preferred to take the ship tours for most of the ports. The last thing we wanted was to find ourselves unable to get back to the ship in time and stranded in the port.
Anyway, off we went on the Geopark Day Cruise. Now, with a title like that and the mention of dolphins and flying fish, we were expecting some commentary on the natural environment. Not so much. This was basically a booze cruise. It was fun, but certainly not what we expected. As soon as we left port the bar was open. On the way to the island where we were to have lunch, the crew put out a net behind the boat and allowed passengers to sit in the water and enjoy the view. I took one look and decided “NO.” I could just see myself struggling back up the net into the boat like a beached whale, needing the crew and passengers to drag me aboard. I just sipped my mango juice and enjoyed the view.
We stopped at a small island and were treated to a nice lunch at the edge of the jungle, with tables and chairs and wine. All the necessities of life. It put me in mind of the Jurassic Park movie where the family is having a fancy lunch on the beach and the young girl encounters some little dinosaurs. We saw no dinosaurs. But we DID see a bunch of wild boars! They smelled the barbecue and came around hoping for leftovers.
After lunch we were given time to enjoy the beach (having been advised beforehand to wear our swimsuits), and I went into the water with everyone else. I’d forgotten how much fun the ocean is to hang around in. I’d also forgotten how fast I burn, and how careful I should be about getting sunscreen everywhere. I did put on sunscreen, but I did it before I took off my shirt and ended up quite red on my shoulders.
My friend Judy and a couple of others we met on the tour were hanging around in the water, and they said they were getting a tingling feeling and wondered was it was. I felt nothing, but all three of them said they felt it. A little later the gentleman came over to us with a large leaf and something that looked like gel sitting in it. He had captured the creature; it turns out they were feeling the tentacles of a jellyfish. Apparently these aren’t terribly poisonous, but they did have enough of a sting to make my friends feel the tingling. Fortunately, it didn’t leave a mark!
Not many photos for the day, since this was mostly scenic cruising, and I didn’t want to take my phone ashore and get it wet. So you’ll have to settle for a quick shot of our cruise ship, barely visible between the islands.
Discover the dynamic allure of Kuala Lumpur, where skyscrapers overshadow ancient temples. Experience the fervor of Thaipusam, and savor the artistry of Royal Selangor Pewter. Your journey just begins!
Our twelve day cruise on the Diamond Princess started with a flurry of activity. We hit three ports on the first three days! Since we did excursions in all three ports, I’ll do separate posts for each.
First up was Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This being my first foray to Southeast Asia, I had some expectations to overcome. Jungle, maybe rice paddies, exotic temples, monkeys? Kuala Lumpur disabused me of that idea immediately. Busy city, skyscrapers, and traffic! Somehow the Petronas Towers never lodged in my brain.
I took a tour that led me to a religious site, a modern factory with historical roots, and a museum, with a quick stop to see the Petronas towers.
We first headed to the Batu Caves, a limestone complex outside the city that is a major Hindu worship spot. It turned out that we were going there the day before the Thaipusam festival that takes place on the full moon of February. Worshipers make a pilgrimage to the caves, climbing 272 steps and usually carrying a pot on their head for offerings or a heavy, elaborate structure decorated with flowers and gold. I rethought my original idea of climbing the steps for two reasons: first, there were hundreds of pilgrims crowding the steps, and it would be nearly impossible to turn around if I found it to be too hard. Second, I realized the heat and humidity was going to be a big factor, both for this stop and the entire rest of the trip. After all, I live in Montana and work in Alaska in the summer. That day it was 88 degrees with 90% humidity.
272 Steps!Lord Murugan statue and pilgrims.
I was relieved when we headed off to the Royal Selangor Pewter factory. It was air conditioned! I found the demonstration interesting-there were three women demonstrating different facets of the artistry that goes into their pewter products. And the products, everything from jewelry to dishes to elaborate art pieces, were beautiful. Yes, there was a gift shop. Of course. And yes, I succumbed.
We had a great lunch in a restaurant on the 54th floor of a skyscraper. I was determined to try something new at every opportunity, and here it was fruit. Check out the photo of Polly checking out the unfamiliar fruit. It turned out to be delicious, and I’m so glad a fellow traveler showed me how to eat it.
The last stop was the National Museum. By that time I was flagging from the heat, and only made it through half the museum before giving up and looking for a cool place to sit.
Embark on a Singapore adventure with The Quincy Hotel as your gateway. Marvel at Little India’s bustling temples, lush Marina Bay gardens, and the Cloud Forest’s Jurassic Park wonders.
I arrived in Singapore at 2 am local time after 22 hours of travel. How wonderful it was to have a driver waiting to meet me and whisk me off to my hotel!
My reservation was at the Quincy Hotel, just a couple of blocks off the famous Orchard Road shopping street. I originally wanted to stay in the Marina Bay Area, but the prices were more than I wanted to pay. The Quincy was a good option, since there is a metro stop within walking distance. The Metro is so easy to use: just tap your card or your phone going in and out. Signage is good, and the staff was always willing to answer questions.
The lobby of The Quincy
A big shout out to The Quincy. The staff was responsive, answering my email questions before arrival very promptly. They were friendly and accommodating, and the breakfast was exceptional. When we got ready to leave, I asked if I should use my Grab app (like Uber for Asia) or have them arrange a taxi. Not only did the desk manager arrange a taxi, he told me it was no cost to me!
My travel friend arrived in the evening of the first day. While waiting for her to arrive I decided to explore the Orchard Road shopping area. It really is a shoppers paradise, with dozens of designer stores and shopping malls, all interconnected.
Singapore is famous for its hawker malls, and Orchard Road is no exception. I ventured into the basement of Tangs, a long-established department store, and found several dozen hawker stands offering a wide variety of foods from different cultures. I chose a delicious noodle dish and a yummy drink made with lime and mint.
The next day we tried to fit in as much of Singapore as possible. First we took the metro to Little India and visited a temple that was quite busy, as the following day was a holy day. As we walked around the area we realized most of the shops were selling gold jewelry-a lot of it!-and clothing-mostly saris. We did browse one area of clothing shops but realized their idea of a large size is quite different from ours.
Then we again took the Metro to the Marina Bay area to visit the beautiful gardens that were created on reclaimed land. We visited the domed Cloud Forest, with the highest indoor waterfall in the world. They had a special exhibit that incorporated Jurassic Park creatures into the gardens, so you never knew when you might come across a dinosaur.
Vegesaurus
Then we went across to the Flower Gardens, which were all dressed up for the coming Chinese New Year-the year of the horse. Actually, signs of the coming new year celebration were everywhere-beautiful decorations and lanterns, and red clothing to bring good luck.
Singapore is such an interesting meld of cultures, and it makes for a fascinating city. British, Chinese, Indian, Malay, Japanese-they all contribute to the culture of Singapore.
After walking through the Supertree Forest, we headed to the Marina Bay Towers for our dinner reservation at Lavo, a lovely restaurant at the top of the hotel. The views were incredible, the food delicious, and the service great. I’m so glad my friend Judy had the foresight to make reservations well ahead of time. We had hoped to be able to see the evening light show from the towers, but our timing was off and we didn’t think they wanted us to camp at our table for another couple of hours. Note to self: next time look up the time of sunset.
SupertreesMarina Bay Sands Hotel
The next day we had a few hours before boarding our cruise ship, so we again took the Metro down to the bay. We wanted to visit the Merlion, the fountain/statue that has come to symbolize Singapore, and then go to the Long Bar at the historic Raffles Hotel for a Singapore Sling. Unfortunately, we weren’t the only people with that idea, and there was a line at Raffles. We were told it would be at least a half hour before we could enter. After doing the math and realizing we had to return to our hotel for our luggage and get to the port before our ship sailed at 3 PM, we decided to save it for another time.
Merlion
We did make the ship on time (the Diamond Princess) and we were off to our next adventure.
After two weeks back in Montana (mostly-but that’s another story) I’m off again. I’m sitting in the Delta Sky Club in Salt Lake City waiting for my flight to Seoul, Korea, connecting to Singapore. This is my first trip to Asia and I’m looking forward to getting warm after minus temps in Montana.
I had to fly in to Salt Lake yesterday, since it’s impossible to connect with this flight on the same day. But it gave me the opportunity to have dinner with my son Josh’s fiancée DeeDee. We had a great time while Josh was home in bed preparing to go to work at midnight. We solved all the problems of the world over a glass of wine.
Travels with Billie 