Travels with Billie

Exploring Kuala Lumpur: A First-Time Cruise Experience

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.

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.

Singapore

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.

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.

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.

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.

We did make the ship on time (the Diamond Princess) and we were off to our next adventure.

The Next Adventure Starts

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.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Step into Argentina’s heart with an estancia visit. Witness gaucho displays, savor epic barbecues, and embrace the vibrant culture that makes this destination truly special.

When I think of Argentina, I think of Gauchos. To my Montana friends, that would be “cowboys.” This visit to an estancia (“ranch” to you Montanans) outside of Buenos Aires did not disappoint.

As our Antarctica cruise came to an end, we disembarked the ship and boarded buses (there were four coaches total) that took us over an hour out of the city. The idea was to give us something to do until our flights left, since most flights were leaving late at night. This turned out to be a lot more fun than anticipated.

We were greeted at the estancia with empanadas and wine (or water) and treated to a taste of the entertainment to come. We then went to an area where the gauchos competed by trying to spear a suspended ring from their galloping horse. When they did succeed, they presented the ring to lady in the crowd, as many horsemen in the past did to honor a woman in the affections.

We were then given time to wander the grounds and look at the many animals there, including sheep, ducks, emus, and peacocks. We also went shopping in their gift shop, and I ended up with a hat and a poncho, which came in handy on the chilly plane home.

Lunch was your typical Argentine barbecue: food, wine, more food, more wine. There was beef, chicken, pork, and sausages, and they just kept coming until we finally had to say “No mas!”

At the end we were treated to a performance of traditional Argentine music and dance.

Friend Carol and I showed off our new purchases with the performers.

Winemaking in Montevideo, Uruguay

Sip, savor, and create at Uruguay’s Varela Zarranz Winery. Blend wines, enjoy a feast, and forge friendships.

Our last port before leaving the cruise was in Montevideo. As soon as I saw an excursion that would allow me to do some wine blending, I said “Oh, yeah!”

We were taken by van to the Varela Zarranz winery, run by the fourth generation of winemakers in the family. We first had a tour of the winery, ending up in a room in the warehouse with our winemaking supplies before us.

We were given three bottles of their fine wines: a Tannat, a Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Merlot. Our instructions were to taste the three varietals, and then create three blends with different amounts of each wine. Once we decided on a blend we liked, we were to pour that blend into a wine bottle with our own name on the label. Needless to say, everyone was very happy by the time we got to the “put it in the bottle” part.

After our winemaking effort, we were led to the dining venue. They served a traditional barbecue with, of course, much more wine.The meal was hearty and tasty. By this time our small group was very happy, some declaring lifelong friendship.

The pears poached in Tannat wine and cinnamon, served with ice cream, didn’t last long enough for me to take a photo. Ot maybe it had something to do with the wine consumed that lovely day.

Penguins in the Falkland Islands

A stop at the Falkland Islands brings you close to penguins and some breathtaking scenery. Bluff Cove Farm allows visitors to view penguins from up close.

After leaving Antarctica and braving the Drake Passage once again, we sailed for Stanley in the Falkland Islands. This place landed on my favorites list in 2017 when we arrived there as a stop on our South America cruise. Why a favorite? Wonderful people (and not too many of them), gorgeous vistas, and….wait for it…penguins!

Evidence of the English roots of the Falklands.

The area is replete with several types of penguins: Gentoo, Rockhopper, Magellanic, Macaroni, and the pretty King. The King is the second largest of the penguin species after the Emperor.

I took a tour to the Bluff Cove farm, which includes several nesting areas for Gentoo and King penguins, besides being a working sheep farm. The also have a lovely tea shop with homemade pastries and a gift shop (of course). I was sad to learn the owners decided it’s time to retire, and they are putting the farm up for sale. I just hope someone is able to purchase it and keep the farm available to visitors.

What pattern would you want for wallpaper in the rest room? Penguin book covers, of course!

Some of the Kings had eggs they were holding on their feet.

A friendly ranger offered to take a photo of me with the penguins.

As I watched penguins entering and leaving the water, I realized there were two Orcas patrolling the area (see below.)

Antarctica!

Cruising the Antarctic Peninsula offers an unparalleled adventure filled with awe-inspiring vistas and diverse wildlife. Witness penguins ‘porpoising’ and marvel at glaciers and icebergs that leave you in awe.

How to describe a place that is beyond description?

We spent four days cruising around the Antarctic Peninsula, and every day held experiences that made me say “oh, my.” I took over 6000 photos, and there is so much variety I can’t narrow it down to two or three. I’ll add several as a gallery at the end of this post for your viewing pleasure.

The first sighting of the White Continent brought tears to my eyes. I’ve wanted to go there for so long (including applying to work at McMurdo Base six years in a row and never getting chosen) that it seemed too wonderful to actually BE there. It was all I expected and more. There were more mountains, more glaciers, more wildlife than I hoped for.

There were whales, birds, elephant seals, and an incredible population of penguins. We would see the penguins “porpoising” near the ship-swimming along and jumping as they went. There were penguins on icebergs. There were penguins on the rocks. At first I was looking at a rocky hillside that actually had some rare plant life growing. But when I looked through my binoculars I realized those weren’t rocks among the plants. It was penguins! Thousands of them. That view happened again and again throughout the four days.

So, the details for those of you who are thinking of traveling there. What was the day to day experience?

First we had to cross the Drake Passage, renowned for being one of the most difficult ocean passages in the world. Having tried to go around Cape Horn on a previous voyage, I was ready for anything. That trip ended in our turning around due to high seas and 90 knot winds. The ship was literally leaning several degrees. This time, however, the trip was comparatively smooth and I breathed a sigh of relief. The passage took an entire night and day, arriving at Paradise Harbour on the Antarctic Peninsula in the afternoon. That afternoon was mostly icebergs and mountains and I thought they were spectacular. It was only a pale hint of what was to come. I admit I was out on desk a short time, because we had 30 knot winds and the wind chill was in the minus numbers. We were constantly reminded to take care to keep everything under control, because Antarctica is a protected environment that doesn’t need random scarves and cell phones flying off the ship.

On the second day we sailed the Neumayer Channel to Port Lockroy, where the staff of the UK Port Lockroy station came aboard. The station is a UK Heritage site, and is manned only during the Antarctic summer. They spoke of life at the station, the history of the UK presence in Antarctica, and sold us post cards and stamps so we could send mail home from Antarctica. I was tickled to hear that they loved it when cruise ships invited them aboard, because it meant they could wash clothes and take hot showers!

The third day started at Deception Island, which is a collapsed caldera. It was snowing and quite cold, but still we went out on deck to take in the view and take pictures. I admit I was out a fairly short time, because we had 30 knot winds and the wind chill was in the minus numbers.

That afternoon we went on to Admiralty Bay, where we viewed several more research stations and thousands of penguins, both on land and in the water. The weather there was much nicer, with the water being calm and reflective.

On the fourth day we sailed completely around Elephant Island and spent some time at Point Wild in the bay where the Shackleton Expedition sought refuge after their ship, The Endurance, was crushed by the ice in 1915. The story is an amazing one and I want to do more research on it. There is a monument on the spot where the stranded crew lived through the winter, featuring a bust of Captain Pardo, who rescued the crew.

As we left the island, we headed back across the Drake Passage and brought to an end our Antarctic adventure. It was four days I’ll always remember in awe.

Penguins!

About Antarctica

I just finished four days of cruising around the Antarctic Peninsula. I’ve started working on a real post about it, but I realized this was a post that needed time and reflection. I have so many photos, so many experiences, so much wildlife to share, that I want to take extra time to do it right.

So for my family and friends who are wondering: yes, I’m still alive. I’m still delighted with this amazing opportunity. And I’ll be working on my Antarctica story over the next few days.

Ushuaia, Argentina

One more port at the farthest South city in the world before heading to Antarctica.

The port has grown since my last visit-or maybe it just seemed like a sleepy city before because it was Christmas Day. I took a tour called Flavors at the End of the World, and it was great. We walked up to the main shopping area and made stops at a wine shop for a wine tasting and individual charcuterie plates, a restaurant with a sampling of local foods, and a chocolate shop with excellent chocolates.

Ushuaia was originally a town that held a prison that made certain escape wasn’t an option. They have a sense of humor about it, shown by the cops chasing the escapee who is trying to climb out of the window above.

By the way, there is a Hard Rock Cafe in town. American commerce infiltrates everywhere.

I did a little shopping ( of COURSE I need a hat and a t-shirt that brags about Antarctica) and on the way back to the ship discovered a local crafts market. Always attracted to shiny things-I must be part raven-I ended up buying a beautiful ring from the man who created it. He even resized it for me while I waited. He and his wife were so gracious, and we managed to communicate with a translation app despite not sharing a common language. No matter where I go in the world, I always seem to find kindness.

Punta Arenas, Argentina

Discover Punta Arenas: From penguin-filled adventures to a charming Pisco Sour experience.

The first port for our cruise was Punta Arenas, Chile.

I didn’t do an excursion for this port. My last visit was nine years ago, when I took a ferry to Magdalena Island, which is a nesting ground for penguins. It was such a memorable experience, and I got so many amazing photos, that I decided it couldn’t be topped. Instead, I took the ship’s tender shuttle to town and explored.

I had a delicious lunch in a hotel bar , with a glass ceiling and lots of plants. Not to mention a handsome waiter who had a great sense of humor. It was a good opportunity to have a Pisco Sour, a traditional Chilean drink. There were two versions of the drink on the menu, one simply a Pisco Sour, the other a Chilean Pisco Sour. I asked the waiter what the difference was, besides the higher price for the latter. He assured me the Chilean version, made from Chilean alcohol, was much better. 😃

A stroll around the city took me to a lovely park (above) that despite the chilly wind was a pleasant visit.

The visit to the park gave me the opportunity to touch the toe of the statue that is supposed to bring good luck and a return to Punta Arenas in the future. You’ll notice his toe is pretty shiny!

The wind was very strong, making it hard to maintain my balance on the pier as we waited to board the tender shuttle back to the ship. The ride was pretty exciting, too!