GERI and RON'S NOMADIC TRAVELS

ON THE ROAD

2012-01-25T11:08:00.000-08:00

Our chariot

After disembarking Celebrity on January 5, 2012, we had a very busy week in Boca Raton. Getting ready for our 9 month circle the USA car trip necessitated appointments with doctors, dentists, car check ups and the biggie: sorting through our clothes in storage and packing the car. It was exhausting and stressful but on 1/12/12, we hit the road. (Last year we closed on the sale of our condo on 1/11/11. Wonder what 1/13/13 will hold.)

Bright white sand and lots of water along Florida's Panhandle

We made it to Tallahassee and spent the night before moving on to Destin, Florida where we rented a cute apartment near the beach for a week. We were told the oil spill did not do much damage to the beautiful water and white, white sands of the Panhandle but the media coverage destroyed the tourist industry for that period. Unfortunately, the weather was not conducive to sunning in mid-January but we caught up on a few movies, relaxed and began planning future stops.

Cottage we rented in Destin, FL

We stopped overnight in Baton Rouge, Louisiana before heading on to Houston, Texas to visit our friend Hans. It was hard to believe that 10 years had passed since we met and last saw Hans on the 2002 Regent World Cruise. What a treat it was to visit him and his friend Vuthy and stay in the beautiful guest house. Hans gave us a wonderful tour of Houston. It is a very impressive city and the 4th largest in America. Vuthy is from Cambodia and a marvelous cook. They spoiled us with good food, wine, conversation and games.

Our wonderful hosts: Hans and Vuthy

At Hans' house in Houston

One of the nicest things about traveling like this is getting to visit friends who live all over the country. As we drove across the long, long state of Texas, we were able to stop for lunch with friends in San Antonio. Then it was on the road again and another overnight stop before reaching Las Cruces, New Mexico. After several long days of driving, we wanted to settle in for 3 nights, get caught up on email and make some future travel plans before heading to Tucson where we will celebrate Ron's birthday.
GERI'S BOOK NEWS: My novel HEARTSONG and non-fiction MAKE THE BEST OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE are now available as ebooks. If you order the latter, be sure to get the latest, revised edition. It lists at $7.99 rather than $3.99. My ebook publisher has lots of great titles. Check out:
www.doctorzed.com/ebooks/nonfiction/self/makethebest.html

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2011-12-26T08:26:00.000-08:00

What a year!! We closed on the sale of our condo on 1/11/11. In the year that followed, we spent a total of 7 months at sea. Aside from the World Cruise, there were lecture engagements on the Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Celebrity plus the transatlantic crossing. We sailed out of Malaga to Fort Lauderdale aboard Seabourn Spirit on November 25. There were only 159 passengers onboard, far less than the number of crew. The food was fabulous, the service fantastic. Lots of glorious, sunny days and many pleasant, interesting people to meet. In our 14 day crossing, we only had one stop: Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese province of Madeira, 600 miles from Portugal. We have been there a number of times so we were content to spend our time walking and cleaning up some emails at an internet café.

View from our 39th floor room

Our corner room at Beaux Arts

We arrived in Fort Lauderdale December 9, picked up our car and headed to Boca Raton for a couple of days – just long enough to visit our storage area and repack suitcases. Then we headed to South Palm Beach where I had booked (through Skyauction) 5 nights at the Omphoy Hotel, a beautiful hotel right on the beach. The weather was mostly windy and cloudy but it afforded time to catch up on emails and 3 months of land mail. Plus we got to have dinner with someone we met in Italy in 1993 on Ron and my first trip overseas together. We had lost touch for years but Julie found me on Facebook. It was wonderful to see her again. I am not a big social network fan but it does have its benefits.

Then it was 6 days in Miami at 2 beautiful hotels. First we went to Beaux Arts then Tempo.
These two packages were bought from Luxurylink.com ( see below). They included 3 nights at each, breakfast, a 3 course dinner for two, massages and taxes. Beaux Arts is a new, ultra luxurious hotel atop JW Marriott. From our 39th floor windows, we looked down upon Steven Spielberg's two hundred million dollar yacht.

On Dec. 22 we boarded Celebrity Millenium where I lectured over Christmas and New Year’s. Cruise ships are a fun, festive place to spend the holidays while enjoying lovely weather and the beautiful waters of the Caribbean.

Wishing you joy, peace and love in the New Year.

Christmas 2011 on Celebrity

TRAVEL TIP: Luxurylink.com is another site where you bid for travel but it is unlike skyauction in several ways. They sell packages at upscale hotels and resorts that include 2 or more nights of lodging and are likely to include breakfasts, one 3 course dinner for 2, massages etc. They offer a buy now price higher than the bid price. If you are bidding, check with the hotel first to make sure the dates you want are available. And, of course, check out reviews on tripadvisor.com or expedia.com and always read the small print.

BACK TO TORREMOLINOS

2011-11-23T08:06:00.000-08:00

We concluded our 7 weeks on the Costa del Sol back in Torremolinos, but at a different hotel. It is about one mile to the east of the first one and also overlooks the marvelous beach promenade. You can walk it for miles -- and we have. We are closer to El Centro here; there is a long, winding pedestrian street up the hill to town or a lift that takes you part way. We only discovered that recently! In the morning, we take a long walk along the beach or go into town and wander the winding streets. On Sundays and Thursdays, there is a Mercadillo (think flea market) at the fairgrounds we enjoy strolling around.

Reminders of old fishing village

Like most of the towns along the Costa del Sol, Torremolinos was once a poor fishing village. It was the first of the beach towns to turn into a major resort. It has almost 6 miles of beautiful, wide beaches. The summer is very busy but even winter with its mild temperatures and mostly sunny days attracts many visitors from northern Europe. The only American voices we hear are from tour groups passing through.

Beach chairs still out but no sunbathers

The weather is starting to change. Temperatures usually mid-sixties, some cloudy, rainy days. The rainy days afforded an opportunity to work on a new lecture. That always involves a lot of research, writing and Powerpoint design. Creating the blog also takes some time.

Sand sculpting is popular

Since this is now our lifestyle and not just a vacation, we do many of the things we did when we had a home. Aside from walking, spiritual readings are always part of our day. We also enjoy reading or listening to an audio book. Right now we’re listening to “The Next 100 Years” by George Friedman. Very interesting. I bought a Barnes & Noble Nook Color just before we left the States. Like the Kindle, it allows me to download and read books but it also has internet capability. Fortunately, most of the places we stayed had wi-fi. Aside from keeping up with email, it has allowed me to begin designing our travels for next year. We expect to leave Florida mid-January and spend 9 – 10 months circling the country.

Well, we say adios to Spain on November 25^th and board the Seabourn Spirit for a 14 day cruise back to Fort Lauderdale. Hope everyone has a bountiful Thanksgiving. We are certainly feeling very grateful for – among many other things – our wonderful visit to the Costa del Sol.

COSTA DEL SOL, SPAIN

2011-11-09T00:18:00.000-08:00

Our favorite restaurant in Marbella

Spain’s Costa del Sol runs for about 100 miles along the Mediterranean. We wanted to experience as much of it aspossible during our 7 weeks here so we moved several times. After Torremolinos, we headed west toMarbella.

Thanks again to Skyauction, we spent 10 days at the DonPepe Gran Melia in Marbella for a fraction of the usual cost. Melia is a worldwide hotel chain; Gran Meliatheir luxury brand. We had a beautiful room, and an unexpected bonus: afabulous breakfast buffet was included.

Like Torremolinos, Marbella has an extensive promenadealong the beach. One day we walked to Puerto Banus and back, about 4 miles eachway. I think of Puerto Banus as Spain’sanswer to St. Tropez. Upscale shops andrestaurants circle the harbor which is full of luxurious yachts even this timeof year.

Pool at Gran Melia Marbella

Long walks in the morning were followed by afternoons atthe pool overlooking the sea. At nightwe sought out local restaurants. Therewere plenty to choose from. They linethe promenade along the beach, surround the plazas in old town and areplentiful all over the city.

On October 29, we packed up and moved to Marbesa, aresidential area not far to the east of Marbella. It had a very different ambience and provideda totally different experience.

Walkway along beach from Marbella to Puerto Banus

Here we rented a bright 2 bedroom apartment with a bigbalcony overlooking the pool. Spoiled aswe were by the hotels we had stayed in, it was nice to feel ‘at home.’ Ron made great use of the washing machine andwe enjoyed shopping at the local supermercado, having breakfast and lunch athome. There were a number of restaurantsin walking distance but no beach promenade. On sunny days, it was fun to walk to them along the beach. On rainy days, we followed back roads until aside street dipped down to the beach and restaurant. Our dinners are very simple. We share a large salad, one entrée and abottle of Rosado.

Our apartment in Marbesa

Purto Banus

Another totally different experience awaited us inBenalmadena which is to the west of Torremolinos. Here we rented a very modern, comfortable onebedroom apartment at Holiday World, a huge complex with its own market, cinema,spa, restaurants. One cannot really walkanywhere from here so we take the bus into town or into Fuengirola, a very busyhub where one gets a better sense of the local lifestyle. On those days, it is likely that we will haveour main meal at lunch time and tapas for dinner. Ron has even cooked a few dinners here. I don’t want him to lose his cooking andlaundering skills just because we are homeless.

Now it is November, the days are a bit cooler and we’vehad some rainy days. They call thiswinter but for the most part the days are still sunny and bright.

Walking the beach to dinner in Marbesa

View from our balcony at Holiday World

Sunrise in Benalmadena

TORREMOLINOS, SPAIN

2011-10-17T06:26:00.000-07:00

Hotel pool overlooks beach and ocean

The ancient city walls of Ronda

In the fall of 1970, I traveled to Europe by myself. First I visited relatives in Belfast, Ireland, my mother's birthplace. But true to fashion, the weather was cold and damp. So I flew off to Barcelona where the weather was not much better. Go south everyone said. So I boarded a train for Malaga, Spain. Little did I realize it was a 24 hour ride, not 4 hours! But during that ride, I met some terrific guys who had recently graduated college in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). They were headed for Torremolinos. I followed their lead and found a studio apartment overlooking the beach where I lived for about 2 months. Here I am back again 41 years later and except for that apartment high on a cliff over the beach, nothing is the same.

Ronda has the oldest bullring in the world

Torremolinos has become the snowbird destination of Europe. The beachfront is lined with shops and restaurants, hotels and apartments. It is busy but not overcrowded in this the shoulder season (between high season and off season). The weather is magnificent. Twice a day we walk the promenade that runs along the beach for miles. Afternoons we usually spend a couple of hours at the pool.

We did take 2 day trips. One to the city of Ronda. Though there is evidence of prehistoric settlements from the Neolithic Age in the area, the town was originally settled by Celts and later Romans. Aside from its history, Ronda is best known for famous summer residents they used to entertain like Orson Wells and Ernest Hemingway who were drawn by the town's famous bull fights.

The other trip through the Andalucian countryside included a stop at an olive oil factory. With over 300 million olive trees (some as old as 1,000 years), Spain is the leading producer and exporter of olives and olive oil. Making oil from olives is not unlike making wine from grapes. Depending upon the quality of the oil, 4 - 11 kilos (kilo = 2.2 pounds) are necessary to make one kilo of olive oil.

GOOD FOR A LAUGH: A blind man sat down next to a Jewish man in the park during Passover. The Jew is eating his lunch and offers a matzah cracker to the blind man. He touches it for a moment and says, “Who writes this crap?”Geri's website

FLORIDA to SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND

2011-10-07T03:08:00.001-07:00

With Kevin in New York

After Colorado, it was back to Boca Raton for a week. And a busy week it was -- in and out of our storage unit unpacking and repacking for the upcoming 3 month trip. Plus I was reviewing and running off copies of the lectures I was scheduled to give on our upcoming cruise. Once that was all behind us, we relaxed at the Riveside Hotel on Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale, a charming hotel in a great locale -- another winner from skyauction.com. (See earlier post about how skyauction works). We took long walks along the New River and on A1A beside the pristine beach. We spent a good part of one day on a water taxi meandering along all the beautiful waterways lined with multi-million dollar mansions.

Cunard's newest ship The Queen Elizabeth

On Sept. 19, we flew to New York to board the Queen Elizabeth. It was docked in Manhattan overnight so we had the opportunity to see our nephew Conor, and our friend, Kevin. On Sept. 20 we sailed out of New York harbor and arrived in Newport, Rhode Island the next day. The weather was beautiful and the town was quiet following the busy, summer tourist season.

College roommates 44 years after graduation

Unfortunately, the weather was not so great the next day in Boston, but that did not put a damper on my reunion with 3 college roommates. All four of us had not been together in over 20 years, but we talked and laughed as if we were back in the sorority house.

The great thing about this trip was the opportunity it offered to see some special people along the way. That continued with our stop in Portland, Maine. Our friend Perry met us at the pier and we spent the better part of the day talking, lunching and being shown the highlights of Portland.

Quebec city, Canada

Last stop in the USA was Bar Harbor, Maine. Then on to Canada where we spent one day in Nova Scotia and two in the charming city of Quebec. The massive Hotel Fontenac dominates the city overlooking the restored buildings along the waterfront.

Last chance to step on land was in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Finally, we saw a few trees turning color, but our cruise was just a bit early to enjoy the height of fall foliage.

Fall colors in Newfoundland, Canada

Five sea days after Newfoundland delivered us to Southampton, England which happened to be my 65th birthday. 65 years old??? 44 years out of college??? Can it be? I like what Sophia Loren said about aging: "There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age."

We spent the day in Southampton. The weather was damp and chilly as it often is in England. Next morning, it was off to the airport for our flight to Malaga where we will spend the next 7 weeks enjoying the Costa del Sol.

TRAVEL TIPS: If you are looking for a cruise, www.vacationstogo.com is a great site for checking the sailing dates and itineraries of all the major cruise lines. No obligation to book your trip through them but their prices are competitive.

CRESTED BUTTE & PAGOSA SPRINGS

2011-09-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

The route we chose to take from Glenwood Springs to Crested Butte took us primarily on a dirt road over a mountain pass. The views were well worth it. Colorado is gorgeous this time of year.

Driving over Kebler Pass

Crested Butte is a real old west town set against the magnificent backdrop of Mt. Crested Butte. We stayed at the Elevation Hotel at the foot of it. It's a beautiful hotel with a fantastic gym and spa -- another winner from Skyauction! The weather was a little cooler here and we enjoyed leisurely mornings, time for the gym and the indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam. The town is small and easily walkable from one end to the other.

Crested Butte

The highlight of our time here was doing the Zip Line Course. We were well and safely outfitted for the 5 various zip line crossings and walking the rope bridges. After the first time of stepping off into thin air (literally at this elevation) it got easier. It was great fun and definitely thrilling.

The zip line & ropes course at Crested Butte

With Alan in Pagosa Springs

For the final segment of our trip, it was on to visit our friend Alan in Pagosa Springs. He was a fellow world cruiser and we often wonder where we would be right now if it weren't for the friends we met on the Voyager who encouraged us to visit them this summer in Colorado. Thanks Julia, Frank and Alan!

HEALTH TIP: We picked up and have been reading THE CHINA STUDY. It is the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted. Forget all the conflicting reports on health, diet and nutrition. I think this book has the facts backed by extensive research.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLORADO

2011-09-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

Geri's Website

Biking along the Colorado River

Whitewater rafting on the Colorado River

In preparing for our month in Colorado, I came across a town called Glenwood Springs. Sounded like there was lots to do there, so I booked a week. Shortly thereafter, Glenwood Springs was named the most fun town in America by a Rand McNally/USA Today survey. And they're right!

We rode bikes along the beautiful Colorado River one day and went white wafer rafting on it the next. Then we rode segways up Red mountain. We visited the Adventure Park and rode the alpine slide which is actually a very high speed roller coaster. Perhaps nothing took more courage than boarding a giant swing that sent us soaring out 1,300 feet over the valley. One minute we were looking at sky and the next straight down at earth.

After all the activity, we were happy to take a leisurely drive to Aspen the day before we headed off to our next adventure in Crested Butte.

Riding segways up Red Mountain

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: You can tell a lot about a person by their belongings. (from the book BLINK by Malcolm Gladwell)

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA - FORT COLLINS, COLORADO

2011-08-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

Queen Mary 2 docked in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Geri's website

Keystone, Colorado

We are officially homeless now! We sold our condo in Boca Raton just prior to the World Cruise, but the deal was contingent upon being able to rent it back for 2 months. So, after disembarking from the Regent Voyager in Southampton, we flew back to Florida. Even though we sold the apartment fully furnished, there was still so much 'stuff' to sort, give away, throw away, pack away and move into storage. Fortunately, right in the middle, we had a brief reprieve. I was asked to lecture on the Queen Mary 2, a round trip

cruise from New York City over the July 4 holiday. Then it was back to work. In addition to packing and moving, I was developing a couple of new lectures and laying out our schedule for the next 5 months.

Keystone, Colorado

On August 7, we said our final goodbye to the Yacht & Racquet Club of Boca Raton and, feeling free as birds, we flew off to Colorado for a month. First stop: Keystone, Colorado. What an idyllic place to relax and unwind. The scenery is gorgeous, the weather was magnificent. We took the chairlift to the top of the mountain and hiked the loop trail. A little more strenuous than walking the beautiful trails that run along the Snake River.

At Frank & Julia's mountain home

On Aug. 12, we drove up to Fort Collins to spend a week with dear friends. We met Frank & Julia during the World Cruise. They were on the first 2 segments and we hit it off from Day 1. They could not have made us feel more at home, and a gorgeous home it is. Lots of laughs and good conversation while Julia spoiled us with her fabulous cooking. We also visited their beautiful mountain home.
TRAVEL TIP: I love and have had great success with www.skyauction.com. It's like ebay but you bid on hotels, flights, etc. Aside from the bid price, hotels charge a daily tax & service charge, usually $39 or $49. Skyauction charges a one time $20 processing fee. Be sure to: 1) read the small print for dates of availability or any extra charges i.e. valet, resort fees. 2) cross check expedia/orbitz or the hotel's site for specials and promos. 3) read traveler's reviews on tripadvisor or expedia.

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ROME - SOUTHAMPTON 5/24 - 6/7/11

2011-06-05T01:26:00.000-07:00

It is so good to be back In Europe. After seeing so much of the world on this trip – from the very poor in Cambodia to the very rich in Dubai, I can say that there is nothing like the history and charm of Europe. In Italy, France, Spain, we visited medieval towns, modern cities and harborside villages.

Spending 2 days in Bordeaux, France was a real treat. The weather was perfect. We were docked along the Garonne River and could follow a marvelous bike/skate/walk way for miles along the river’s edge. The historic part of town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and was in easy walking distance. The surrounding wine country dotted with chateaux is idyllic. The Bordeaux area has 287,000 acres of vineyards, produces 960 million bottles of wine a year and brings in 14.5 billion Euros a year. Not far from the city of Bordeaux is the 13^th century city of St. Emilion. Cobblestone streets are lined with wine stores and French cheeses. In the center is a gigantic underground church carved out of limestone.

Well, this brings us to the end of our 145 day world cruise. It has been exciting, educational and fun. But we are ready to get on with the next chapter of our lives. As many of you know, we sold our condo in Boca Raton and closed on it the day before we left on this trip. We sold it furnished and fortunately, can rent it back for 2 months upon our return. Then it is off to Colorado for a month to visit friends, a quick trip back to Boca to change suitcases and fly to New York to board the new Queen Elizabeth. I will be lecturing onboard as it sails up the New England coast to Canada and across the Atlantic to Southampton. So check back now and then to follow our upcoming adventures as nomads.

JORDAN – ROME 5/14 – 5/24/11

2011-05-23T00:13:00.000-07:00

Ron at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

Ruins below old city & mural of the way Jerusalem was

The Red Sea has become a popular vacation area and we got to enjoy 2 beautiful days of sun and sand at a beautiful beach resort in Safaga, Egypt while some of our ship mates went off to visit Luxor and Cairo. Fortunately, we did an extensive tour 3 week of Egypt several years ago so did not feel the need to make the long trip from the port. Tourism is down 70 – 90% in Egypt. Sharm El Sheik, our next stop in Egypt was like a ghost town. Miles of beautiful beaches lined with hotels and outdoor restaurants were virtually empty.

Then it was on to Israel and 3 days of 11 hour tours. Tiring but well worth it. We saw many of the highlights. In Jerusalem, we visited the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. Entering the Old City through narrow walkways, we went first to the Holy Sepulcher perched on Golgotha and believed to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Afterwards, we visited the Wailing Wall. In the afternoon, we drove to Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity built over a grotto where it is believed Jesus was born.


Believed to be spot Jesus was born in Bethlehem

The Dead Sea

The next day we drove to Masada where we saw the ruins of an amazing fortress and palace built atop a mountain under the direction of King Herod. We were able to take a cable car to the top but slaves had to carry large cisterns of water up the winding mountain path. Here Herod enjoyed a palace built on 3 levels where he could look out over the Dead Sea. The surrounding city had baths and homes for thousands of citizens as well as store houses with stocks that could last for years.

After lunch at a hotel, we were able to go swimming in the Dead Sea. What an incredible feeling to be so buoyant. On our drive back to the ship, we passed Qumran where a Bedouin shepherd boy found the Dead Sea scrolls in 1947, the oldest known Biblical manuscripts in the world.

On the third day in Israel our ship moved from Ashdod to Haifa and from there we were able to visit many of the sites where Jesus lived and traveled: Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee, Cana, the River Jordan and Nazareth. The final port on this segment was Sorrento, Italy. Italy never fails to enchant.

Qumran: where Dead Sea scrolls were found (the little holes)

DUBAI – JORDAN 5/3 – 5/13/11

2011-05-14T06:10:00.000-07:00

6 star Burj Al Arab in Dubai


Barefoot at Grand Mosque Oman


The Treasury at Petra, Jordan

Our first visit to Dubai and all I can say is: Wow! This former Bedouin fishing village discovered oil in 1961, and the financial windfall that followed quickly transformed it into an ultra modern city. The city is now home to over 2 million people but only 17% are natives. Indians and Philippinos make up the bulk of the residents from other countries who come to Dubai to work as cheap labor for the 500 hotels, restaurants, residences etc. Recognizing that the oil would eventually run dry – and it did – the government turned its attention to creating a worldwide financial/commercial hub and glamorous tourist destination. The construction of Palm Islands – manmade branches of land reaching into the sea and filled with high rise condos -- has slowed down with the global financial state of recent years. But on the drawing board if not already started are Airport City, a huge sports complex, the world’s biggest Disney World and much more.


Obelisk Tomb at Petra

We cruised the Arabian Gulf from Dubai to Muscat, the capital of Oman and then Salalah. Oman has made great progress from a feudal state to an economically sound, modern country under the guidance of the Sultan who has been on the throne for 40 years. Here Sunnis and Shites live peaceably together and worship in the same mosque. Like Dubai, Oman will eventually run out of oil and is pursuing development as a tourist mecca.

Fossilized animal bones within Petra canyon walls

We were ready for some leisurely sea days but these were particularly active ones. Twice a year Regent sponsors PTV (Public television) at Sea. We had the pleasure of hearing political commentator Charlie Cook, journalist Jackie Lyden and Washington Post’s top photo journalist. But the highlight for us was actor Michael York’s presentations and the great pleasure of having dinner with Michael and his wife Pat, a world renowned photographer. We look forward to seeing them again the next time we are in Los Angeles.

One of the main reasons we decided to take this world cruise was the stop in Jordan and opportunity to see Petra, considered the eighth wonder of the world. Around 600 BC, Arabs settled here and carved a massive city out of rock and limestone. A one mile walk through a magnificent canyon with 240 foot high cliffs opens upon the Treasury, a massive building that was actually a mausoleum. An open Roman style theater seats over 3,000 people. Petra flourished as a center for spice trade and was once the home of as many as 30,000 people.

BANGKOK - DUBAI 4/10 - 5/3/11

2011-04-28T22:23:00.000-07:00

This beautiful python weighed close to 20 pounds

Not all of Southeast Asia is as described in my last blog. Indeed, Singapore is just the opposite: Exceedingly clean, well run and economically successful. With a population of 5 million people, Singapore is highly controlled democracy and one of the busiest cargo ports in the world. Our Round Island Tour showed us parts of the island we had not seen before.

Tiny fish nibble at our feet to clean away dead skin

Another Asian success story is Malaysia. Our first ever visit to Kuala Lumpur was a happy surprise. It is not quite as clean and pristine as Singapore but it too is thriving economically and is actually much more reasonable to live in. The country has about 28 million people, a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian people. Like Singapore, it was invaded and occupied by the Japanese during WW II. It was fun to be driven around the city of Penang in trishaws. We had tea at the Eastern Orient Hotel -- designed by the same architect who did Raffles in Singapore.

The beautiful Eastern Oriental Hotel in Penang, Malaysia

Sri Lanka is finally at peace after years of civil warfare. (Although we heard some fighting broke out after we left.) It is crowded and poor like most of Asia, but thanks to a government led initiative, the sidewalks and streets are very clean.

Life on Kerala backwaters Cochin, India

India is quite a different story. What a country of contrasts! Some of the richest people in the world are Indians. Yet 900 million of the 1.2 billion population live on $2 or less a day. Everything about India is colorful and chaotic. Two of the most fascinating things about India we discovered in Mumbai. The Dobi Ghat laundry employs 10,000 people. They pick up your laundry, wash, iron and deliver it back to you. No item has ever been stolen and it is rare that items are sent to the wrong home. Then there are the lunch trains. This defies the imagination…


Dhobi Ghat Laundry Mumbai, India

First of all, imagine over 5,000 people crowding into trains meant to hold about 1,500 people. These workers may travel up to 3 hours each way to work in Mumbai. There is not a spare inch on the train to carry lunch buckets. So laborers pick up their lunches from home in the morning and put them on a later train. Other laborers pick them up at the train station in Mumbai and deliver them to the work place. Then the lunch buckets are picked up from the work place around 2pm, put on a train for the journey back, picked up at the station and delivered to the home from whence they came. The lunch buckets may be handled by up to 15 people in a single day. How many times has the wrong bucket been delivered? Once in millions and millions of deliveries. One can’t help but think these illiterate workers at the Dhobi Ghat and who deliver the lunch buckets could run India better than it is presently being run.


Our wonderful cabin steward

Nonetheless, India’s economy is growing at the rate of 8.8%. It has come a long way in recent years, but still has a long way to go. One reason China surpasses India in virtually every area is that India is a democracy and cannot be as easily governed and controlled as China. But the place is fascinating and the people are wonderful. I feel very fortunate that we were able to spend 5 weeks here in 2007 to see and experience so much of Incredible India.

Our first stop in the United Arab Emirates on the Arabian Peninsula was Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman. It is a dry and barren land but very clean. We did a Desert Safari. 4 wheel SUVs drove us out to the desert, up, down, over and around the beautiful dunes. It’s quite a thrill. The weather now is extremely hot and will continue to be as we make our way into the next segment.

HONG KONG – BANGKOK 3/28 – 4/9/11

2011-04-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong real estate: $300,000 and up

As you will see from the pictures, Asia is an over-populated, extremely polluted area with a few very rich people at the top and multitudes of exceedingly poor at the bottom.

Vietnamese street vendors

Typical Saigon street corner

In Hong Kong -- which continues to thrive as a capitalistic paradise even though returned to Chinese rule in 1997 -- a 500 square foot apartment in an old, shabby building costs $300,000 or more. When the average Hong Kong citizen makes only $48,000 a year, owning one’s home is a fantasy. Nevertheless, that is far more than the $6,000 yearly income of the average Asian.

Life on the Mekong River Delta

Even in Vietnam which is about 40 years behind China in development, it is shocking to see new, high rise condos listed in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to over 1 million US dollars. But the biggest difference we saw in Vietnam since our visit in 2002 is that bicycles and pedicabs have been replaced by motorbikes. In Saigon alone with a population of 8 million people, there are 5 million motorbikes.

In this segment, I have tried to let the photos tell the story.

BEIJING – HONG KONG 3/20 – 3/28/11

2011-03-28T02:39:00.000-07:00


Olympic Bird Nest Stadium Beijing

China’s population is now at 1.4 billion people – 20% of the earth’s population. Cities, high rises and the economy are also growing at a staggering rate. In most parts of the world, developers design and build high rises, resorts, shopping malls, sports complexes. In China, they create cities from the ground up. Actually, I should say from the sea up. On March 20^th, our ship docked in Tianjin, China. As we drove out of the port, we rode over reclaimed land in the process of developing into a city that will sustain 48 million of people. However, due to the one child per couple policy, China’s population may soon begin to decline. Consequently, a new a new policy allowing 2 children per couple will soon be implemented. The irony is that China’s quickly emerging middle class cannot afford 2 children! One guide told us he is spending thousands of dollars a year to send his son to kindergarten in addition to music lessons and special classes to learn English. Outside the cities, many people still live in abject poverty.


Ron at the Great Wall of China

Courtesy of Regent, in-transit guests were bused to Beijing and treated to tours of Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and a night at the beautiful China World Hotel. Having been to those sites in the past, we skipped the Forbidden City to spend a few hours at the Beijing Silk Market. In spite of the name, it is a 6 story building that sells everything imaginable: luggage, purses, clothes, shoes, jewelry, watches, electronics and more. When you tire of shopping, you can get a manicure, pedicure or massage on almost every floor. If you can tolerate the hard sell of the Chinese merchants, it’s great fun and you can find great bargains.

City of Shanghai

From Beijing, we sailed to Shanghai. What began as a fishing village has emerged into the “Paris of the east.” It is difficult to describe. Looking out over the city from one of the new super tall high rises, the city appears to go on forever. In just 15 years, 8,000 high rises have been built and 2,000 more are in the planning or building stages. That is why the “crane” is said to be the national bird of China. At 23 million, Shanghai has 3 million more people than the capital Beijing. Two highlights of our time in Shanghai were a visit to the Acrobatic Show and a ride on the high speed train. It runs from downtown to the airport in just 7 minutes, and reaches a speed of 431 kilometers, about 260 miles per hour.

Shanghai at night

We enjoyed a sea day after Shanghai and then arrived in Xiamen, China. With a population of 2.5 million, the Chinese consider this a small city.

Xiamen was one of 5 ports opened to the British by the 1842 Treaty of Nanjing following the First Opium War. Hong Kong, where we are now headed, was actually ceded to the British in perpetuity. But, as you may recall, it was returned to China in 1997.

BALI - BEIJING 3/8 – 3/20/11

2011-03-19T00:36:00.000-07:00

Manila: American Cemetery surrounded by high rise condos

This was our first time in the Philippines which consist of over 7,000 islands. We were there for 2 days, so we were able to take 2 different tours. One showed us modern Manila and the other Old Manila. The Philippines are highly populated with 5 babies born every minute. Salaries are low, and billions come into the country from the 10 million Philippinos who work abroad. Slums were anticipated; what I was not expecting to see were so many modern high rise condos selling for one million dollars and more. It is indeed a city of contrasts: the very rich and the very poor.

The horrific earthquake and tsunami hit Japan

Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Taiwan

while we were in Manila. Though our departure was slightly delayed, we suffered no effects and soon continued on to Taiwan. Though the shipboard lecturer suggested that mainland China and Taiwan are living in peaceful harmony, our tour guide for the day in Taipei had no hesitation in saying the two are enemies. Actually, both perspectives seem to be true at the moment. Taiwan is very proud of its independence and seems to be thriving, in part due to trade with China that is benefitting both. Nevertheless, the mainland has 21 missiles pointed at Taiwan. We visited their museum, famous for holding precious artifacts Chang Kai-shek brought to Taiwan when and he and his followers fled the mainland and Communist forces. His memorial is a breathtaking structure. The religious practices of the Taiwanese people are influenced by Tao, Confucius, Buddhism and Christianity. The temples are colorful structures overflowing with offerings of fruits and flowers to various gods. We were overwhelmed with the variety of food offered at the buffet lunch at the Grand Hotel. Fish, chicken, pork, dim sum, noodles, sushi and more. Much as everyone enjoyed sampling the many dishes, the biggest line was at the Haagen Das ice cream freezer.

Folk Village depicting 19th century life in Korea

Cooler weather does not quite describe the drastic change in climate that greeted us in Inchon, South Korea the morning of March 18^th. The temperature reached freezing in the early hours but the sun was out and the day warmed up progressively during our 8 hour tour. We visited a Folk Village that depicted life in 19th century Korea. It was very well done and included a traditional Korean lunch. Then we stopped at the massive street market in Seoul, a bustling city of 12 million people.

For all the wonderful sights and experiences of travel, the most fulfilling aspect of it is meeting interesting people, making new friends. We have been so fortunate on this trip. The staff and crew of the Voyager are like family. Of the

Captain Mario and his adorable wife Mariana

approximately 100 world cruisers, many are successful entrepreneurs who are making the most of early retirement. 10 world cruise couples -- at least half of each being Irish -- had a cocktail party in one couple’s suite on St. Patrick’s Day. Everyone had to share something Irish. The hit of the evening was from our host. He had put the faces of the girls (and I use the term lightly) on a video clip of women dancing the Irish jig. The laughter and great conversation continued at dinner in the dining room where the 5 men sat together at one table and the 5 'girls' at another. It was great fun. Now it is on to Beijing and more cold weather.

SYDNEY - BALI 2/23 - 3/8/11

2011-03-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

Undoubtedly, one of the highlights of world travel is cruising into the port of Sydney, Australia. As we sailed in on the morning of February 23^rd, the Queen Mary 2 and the new Queen Elizabeth were showcased in Sydney Harbor along with the unique and majestic Opera House. Having been to this city several times, we took a ride into the country to visit a wildlife park filled with 2,200 animals native to Australia including koalas, dingoes, reptiles, birds, free roaming kangaroos, and the ugliest animal you ever saw – the Tasmanian Devil.

Next stop was Brisbane, one of the cities in Australia that recently suffered extensive flooding. Fortunately, we had a bright, sunny day to see the city and ride into the countryside where we followed a skywalk into the rainforest. After a delicious luncheon served under a tent top overlooking valleys and mountains, we wandered through an arts and crafts town that could have been transplanted from North Carolina.

Townsville, Australia is home to the Reef Headquarters and largest living coral reef aquarium in the world. It was a good place to visit the day before our trip to Cairns where we boarded boats to the Great Barrier Reef. After about 90 minutes, we disembarked onto a huge pontoon filled with aluminum picnic tables, diving and snorkeling equipment. We took a ride in a glass bottom boat while most people went directly into the water. We waited until after lunch when hardly anyone was in the designated swimming area. We never saw so many fish of every shape and color imaginable or so much living coral in our lives. It was truly an unforgettable experience.

In Darwin, the northernmost city in Australia, we encountered some of the fierce rains that have been pummeling much of Australia this year. Fortunately, the weather cleared by the time we arrived at the Adelaide River for the Jumping Crocodile cruise. Fresh meat is dangled over the edge of the boat luring the crocs out. Just as they are about to clamp their massive jaws on the meat, the crew lifts up the bait so that the croc has to jump to reach it. They propel off their tails which are all muscle and some can jump almost their full body length. It really is something to see. Then it was G’day Australia and on to Bali.

Bali is one of 17,000 islands making up the archipelago of Indonesia. Unlike the other islands which are largely Muslim, Bali is predominantly Hindu. The people are warm and welcoming, the countryside is covered with rich, green foliage and dotted with temples. Having been here before, we opted for the opportunity to visit a beach resort with a beautiful pool and spa. Ron enjoyed 3 hours of massage for less than one hour would cost in the States.

AUCKLAND - SYDNEY 2/8 - 2/23

2011-03-07T00:31:00.000-08:00

On the morning of February 8, we docked in Auckland, New Zealand, the country’s largest city. Out of 4 million total population, 1.4 million people live here including the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. Auckland is a beautiful city and a delight to visit. It ranks #4 out of 50 major cities in quality of life. On the first of 2 days here, we did a tour entitled Taste of New Zealand wherein we got to sample local wines, beers, cheeses, honey and other foods.

On the 2^nd day, we toured city highlights. Upon leaving Mount Eden where we had a superb view overlooking the city, a group of Maori college boys asked our bus driver for a ride back down into the city. The Maoris are the native peoples of New Zealand. Today they consist of only 5% of the entire population. Our bus driver, Maori himself, urged the boys to do a native dance for us which they quickly and enthusiastically performed. Then the young men boarded the bus, stood in the aisle and sang beautiful Maori songs to us all the way down. It was the highlight of our day.

The next day we docked in Tauranga and took a bus trip through the beautiful countryside to the Wai-o-tapu thermal wonderland where we followed a boardwalk through collapsed craters, boiling pools of mud and steaming fumaroles the result of volcanic activity dating back 160,000 years. From Tauranga we sailed to Wellington passing the White Island Volcano where you can see steam rising continuously from New Zealand’s only active marine volcano.

Wellington is New Zealand’s capital and located on the south island. Here we drove out of the city along the harbors and bays known as the Storm Coast. Eventually we followed an unpaved road through a remote area that delivered us to a sheep farm where we enjoyed a traditional morning tea followed by a sheep dog demonstration. One dog had been trained to be silent as it ran behind the flock of sheep herding them toward their master. This was the dog preferred by sheep thieves – for obvious reasons. The other dog barked continuously as it ran behind the sheep driving them across the range.

In Christchurch, we visited the International Antarctica Center where those on expedition to Antarctica train and are outfitted. If a visit to the sub-zero blizzard room doesn’t deter you from spending months in Antarctica, I think the 10 minute ride in the Hagglund all terrain snowmobile over an adventure course would. (We were in Christchurch NZ 9 days before the earthquake.)

The following day we got to enjoy the beautiful inland scenery of New Zealand during a six hour train ride across the plains, cliffs, rivers and gorges outside Dunedin. We spent a day cruising the fjords of southern New Zealand and then 2 sea days crossing to Hobart, Tasmania. There we did what will surely be one of the most unforgettable excursions of our whole journey – a bike ride from the top of Mount Wellington down 4,000 feet into the town of Hobart. Fortunately, the rode was paved but so steep and curving that we had to hold the brakes almost the entire time. But it was a real thrill. That afternoon we enjoyed a city tour after visiting an oyster farm and winery.

On February 20, we arrived in Melbourne, Australia. This is the first time we have been to this beautiful city so we marveled at the parks, gardens, old historic buildings and towering new condo and corporate buildings throughout the city. Now it is on to Sydney and the end of the Segment 2 of our world cruise.

MAUI - AUCKLAND 1/23 - 2/8/1

2011-03-06T01:05:00.000-08:00

January 27 was Ron’s birthday and a wonderful one it was. We had lunch with Frank and Julia (our new friends from Fort Collins, Colorado) and Kevin Spirtas, the singer I mentioned in my last letter. Dinner was in one of the specialty restaurants with our dear friends from Florida, entertainers Rodi and Mark. We were also thrilled to have the cruise director and his wife with us. We have known Jamie & Dana since our first Regent world cruise in 2002 and it’s wonderful to be with them again. (See attached pictures)

Kevin was the headline entertainer that night and had Ron stand up while he and the entire audience sang Happy Birthday. When we got back to our room, we had another surprise. Deepak, our darling cabin boy from India, had decorated the room with a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner, balloons on the ceiling and an adorable monkey made from a towel hanging from a hanger. Truly a birthday Ron won’t forget.

5 beautiful, sunny days at sea delivered us to Moorea, our first stop in the Society Islands. It is only 12 miles from Tahiti but 1/8 the size. We rode an open air, 4 wheel drive truck up and over and around the majestic volcanic peaks. The land is lush and bountiful with pineapples, mangoes, bananas and avocados and much more. Then it was on to Tahiti and a tour entitled “In The Footsteps of Paul Gaugin.” Ron had to go alone as I was suffering from a cold circulating around the ship. We have been to Tahiti before and frankly, it is dirty and poor so I didn’t feel I was missing anything.

Fortunately, I was up for visiting the Lagoonarium on Bora Bora the next day. The weather was picture perfect. We circled the island in an open boat stopping at an out island where part of the ocean has been fenced in. We were able to swim with stingrays, sand sharks and gorgeous tropical fish. The stingrays feel like velvet as they slide past your arms and legs.

On February 1, we crossed the International Date Line and went directly into February 3. On February 4, we stopped at the island of Tonga and spent the day at a beach where a luau type luncheon was served followed by local music and dancing. 2 more sea days and we arrived at the Bay of Islands in New Zealand. This is a series of 144 islands dotting the northern tip of New Zealand. Absolutely beautiful. Very reminiscent of the lush greens and hills of Ireland and England. We visited Keri Keri, where the very first house in New Zealand was built. It is made entirely of Kauri wood and looks as sturdy today as when it was built in 1822. Kauri wood comes from the Kauri tree, the 2^nd largest tree in the world. We saw them up close in the Puketi Forest. What remains of these towering trees that once covered the islands is carefully protected. We enjoyed following a curving boardwalk through the forest where we saw Kauris of all ages. Some live for over 1,000 years old.

Now we are on our way to Auckland where passengers from this first segment will disembark and we will pick up about 500 new passengers for circling New Zealand and crossing to Australia. By the way, Jamie our cruise director has a terrific blog wherein you can see pictures and read about everything that happens onboard. www.sameshipdifferentday.com/blog

SAN FRANCISCO - MAUI 1/13/11 – 1/23/11

2011-03-05T15:50:00.001-08:00

IOLANI PALACE

We are 10 days into our World Cruise and it is already going too fast! The weather was not great on the 4 day crossing from San Francisco to Hawaii. Cool and overcast, but we needed that time to settle in and relax (more like collapse) after the hectic 9 days that led up to our condo closing and departure.

Our ship, the Regent Seven Seas Voyager, has been refurbished since we were on it last and it is beautiful. There are less than 150 total world cruisers and about 530 passengers altogether – a bit short of the 700 the ship is capable of carrying. Many passengers will be getting off in Auckland or Sidney, and new groups getting on. We have met many lovely people. A bonus for us is that our good friends from Florida are guest entertainers and will be on until Tahiti. Mark Friedman is an incredible musician/arranger and his wife Rodi Alexander is a dynamic singer and dancer. We get to spend more time together on ships than at home where we live only an hour apart. Through Mark & Rodi, we have become friends with the other guest entertainers. Comedian Sal Richards just got off and Kevin Spirtas got on. He is a terrific singer but probably best known for playing the handsome doctor on Days of Our Lives for 7½ years. Terry Waite is one of the enrichment lecturers. He hasn’t done a talk yet but I am very much looking forward to that. He is rather a giant of a man, makes Ron look petite. (Okay, a bit of an exaggeration.)

On Jan. 19 we arrived in Hilo on the Big island of Hawaii. A unique and wonderful perk of cruising with Regent is that port excursions are included. The one we chose that day included a visit to a macadamia nut factory, a tram ride through botanical gardens and a walk to the highest unbroken waterfall in the state. It plunges 442 feet over a volcanic cliff into a gorge.

We cruised overnight to Honolulu, the 12^th largest city in the US. On our first day in port

we did the Waterfall Hiking Adventure, trekking up and down over narrow, muddy trails

through the rainforest of the Pali Cliffs to a waterfall. One of those things you were happy you
did but glad when it was over! That night a reception for World Cruisers was held at the Iolani

Palace. Built in 1882, it is the only royal residence in the USA. Adorable Hawaiian children were

lined up to greet us with leis and dance for us. It was a lovely evening with cocktails, hors

d’ouevres and entertainment. Best of all a chance to meet fellow world cruisers. I am thrilled

that there is a great variation in ages.

The next day we took a Panoramic Honolulu tour which included Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, The Pali Lookout and the Punchbowl. We got to see a few things we had not seen before. That evening we had our first deck party, then set sail for Lahaina on Maui where we visited the Iao Valley State Park, site of the battle that determined the unification of the Hawaiian Islands. Next we spent some time at the Maui Ocean Center, the western hemisphere’s largest tropical aquarium. It has the largest live coral display in America.

The next 5 days will be spent at sea. It sounds like a long time but the days fly by filled with fine

food, trips to the gym, lectures, entertainment and various activities. Plus we will now be able

to relax on deck and get some sun!