World Tour Photos
This is a listing of all the photos in our World Tour slide shows.
We arrive at Kochin harbor
Dancers entertain at dockside
Kochi traffic is a nightmare
And now the Alleppy boat tour
The canals are for bathing - washing - etc
We had a regular caravan of boats
Lunch was GREAT
Most folks get around by ferry
A band welcomes us to Mumbai
Trash is incredible all over India
Shacks of the better off - highrises are for the rich
It was the festival of the colors while we were there
Even the dogs did not escape being splashed with dye
Welcome to the hotel for lunch
Here comes Beth
The first gate - just inside are separate security lines for men and women
The second entrance
First glimpse of the Taj Mahal just beyond the entrance arch
OH WOW
We are there
The towers are inclined three degrees to seem straight
Wooden stairs with no handrails are the only way up
Semi-precious stones are inlaid in marble throughout
There is a functioning mosque next door
This arched walkway leads to the exit
A pedicab passes a political billboard in Agra
Also in Agra is the Red Fort
It had two moats - wet with crocodiles and snake - dry with lions etc
Beautiful garden in the courtyard
Another courtyard - another garden
Still in use as a court-house
The palace
Marble inlaid into the sandstone
More steps with no handrails
The Taj Mahal just down the river
The Shah who built the Taj was imprisoned here by his son
Some of the original paint and gilding survives
Monkeys live here too
Vendors are really aggressive even at the buses departing
Descendants of the stone workers who built the Taj keep the tradition
with semi-precious stone inlays into marble
Back to Mumbai and a tour of Banganga section
A spring from the Ganges is reverenced
People meet for lunch and worship
The dying are brought here and tended until their time is up
The Jains use the top of this hill for laying out the dead for the vultures
Boulevard traffic is not too bad
but you find new arrivals setting up housekeeping on the sidewalks
On to the Portugese section of town - Khotachiwadi
Catholic shrines abound
The area is enjoying gentrification
The old and new are never far apart in Mumbai
An attorney has rehabbed this house
Even here though folks set up housekeeping in the alleys
Residue from the Festival of Colors celebrations
These folks live here
Lunches from home delivered by train and bicycle - complex but efficient
The Gateway to India - surprisingly small
No time to stop here but interested
Casual labor wait for work
And sometimes get it
A couple missed the sailing and Indian officials insisted that the ship come back for them
A small boat and a Jacobs ladder was the compromise
Both of them had to clamber up to the hatch
And so did the Indian official who double checked before giving us clearance
The next night was another of the seventeen formal nights on board
Probably the largest Frankincense burner in the world at the harbor entrance
This sixteenth century fort is still in use
We went to a Souq - think flea market
The sultan sees to it that there are plenty of waterfront parks
This is the history museum of Muscat
This display was at the museum of art
This arched walkway leads to
the palace
A view of the town from the mountain behind
a dhow sails past the yatch of the sultan
Then on to Salalah
The countryside is very barren
but at the Tomb of Job the mosque and garden are lovely
the Bible says Job was fifteen cubits tall - so it makes sense that his tomb is really long
Beth wore a scarf here because Moslems are deeply offended by ladies uncovered hair
Camels forage anywhere but come home in the evening
This is the souq in Salalah
Our guide shows us the frankincense tree/bush
Beaches are for boats and Toyotas
and camels
a seaside lunch here
nearby is a park/cave/swimming beach
Those mountains are in Iran - this is as close as we got
We docked in Dubai at sunrise
In sight of the tallest building in the world
The beginning an esciting desert 4WD ride
Whee-e-e-e
now this is serious desert
pretty windy
feeding time at the camel farm
We enjoyed a brief camel ride at a bedouin camp
got to see a falcon
got to see an assortment of hookas
Bill even smoked one
henna tatooing lasts only a few days - Beth did not get one anyway
Whoops - electric lights concealed in lanterns
after dinner there was belly dancing
condos for the rich
villas for the really rich
with a private marina
Burj Al Arab - popularly known as The Sail building
where we had a late morning tea
YUM
Rolls-Royce courtesy cars for guests - as upscale as it gets
folks returning to Safaga Egypt from self-imposed exile during the troubles
Our tour to Luxor was by convoy escorted by a military truck
Irrigated fields and donkey carts along the way
A wide variety of crops are grown
Water is pumped from the canal into cisterns
Homes are left unfinished to avoid taxes
Narrow-gauge rail transports sugar cane
Crossing the Nile
Irrigation is diminishing
Statues of Memnon erected by the Greeks in the Ptolemaic Era
Nobody knows why there are two
No photography was allowed in the Valley of the Kings
An abandoned mining town
a model of Karnak
Sphinxes line the entrance
statues of Rameses II flanks the long entry
here is another line-up of sphinxes
Remains of construction ramps show how these high walls were built
a closer look at one of the Rameses II statues
centuries old graffiti
hieroglyphs explain each day in the Egyptian calendar
two obelisks - the one on the right is really shorter
thousands of years have passed since this painting was done
the Boy King - Tut
the altar in the holiest temple
Cleopatra is engraved on the wall
The optical illusion is revealed
A sarcophogus
is beside the holy lake
the sugar cane is transported by a larger gauge railway to processing
bridges across the canals are few and far between so private cable ferries are common
Docked in Aquaba, Jordon
Heading out of the city
Black streaks in the mountains are mineral deposits
Bedouins still live in tents as they always have
This is a barren country
Moses Valley is the gateway to Petra - the Rose Red City
These caves are burial sites
they are hewn into the rocks
sometimes they are also used for religious ceremonies
guards in Nabatean war dress
this is The Siq - a very narrow passage that was easily defended
Bill walked in but Beth took a pony cart
this is called The Treasury but its real purpose is uncertain
the urn on top was targeted by Turks who thought there might be real treasure in it
this led past more tombs to the City of the Dead and the amphitheater
our guide described the construction of a tomb
this fellow does sand art
like this
the City of the Dead
the amphitheater
natural coloration in vivid patterns
this was apparently a temple but may have been a mausoleum
as we left we saw these bedouins herding goats
and these goats in the road
government provided houses are used for storage - the people live in tents
we entered the Suez Canal before dawn
it has no locks - BTW is was a gray rainy day and the photos are really bad
these soldiers patrol the canal 24-7
concrete blocks are kept ready to push into the canal if it needs to be blockaded
military compounds with watch towers are spaced regularly along the canal
more blocks
high tension lines are well above
trucks line up
for the ferries
this is the only city along the canal
these ships are anchored waiting their turn to go through the canal
there is two-way traffic through most of the Suez
dredging and construction are constantly needed
ferries get surface traffic across the canal - there is ony one bridge
near the north end
this is the end of the canal at
Port Said
which has a huge cargo terminal
After a 90k drive
first glimpse of the city
an overview from Mount Scopus
a Judas tree on the left
the walls of the Old City
the gold dome is the mosque on the site of the Jewish 2nd Temple
Church of the Ascension
entrance to the Western Wall AKA Wailing Wall
there is a male side and a female side
the men face the wall and pray - rabbis provide assistance
women have less space so seem to be more numerous
Beth leaving the area
a kosher lunch at a five-star hotel
archeological digs are ongoing
the infamous wall to separate Arabs and Israelis
irrigation has made much of Israel arable
a dance school entertained us before sail-away
the girls did a great job getting audience participation
this is Kusadasi - with a statue of Kemal Attaturk on top of the hill
the port terminal
these ruins in Ephesus have yet to be explored
this is said to be the last home of Mary - mother of Jesus
people from all over the world come here to pray and leave written prayers
security here is very tight
this valley was a harbor in Greek/Roman/early Christian times
now high and dry this is the Greek/Roman city of Ephesus
these columns have been restored to show the different styles
the end of the entrance walkway
a Greek style arch behind a Roman style
always necessary - latrines had swiftly flowing water below
restorers piece together mosaics - murals - frescoes
there are more homes to excavate further up hill
the view from the houses overlooking the forum and marketplace
this building is called The Library
the foot points the way and the woman figure is dressed as a prostitute
there is a lot of reconstruction yet to be done
entrances are at several levels
of the amphitheater
This is the temple and monastery at the tomb of Saint John
beneath the marble platform is a crypt with his remains
the grate immediately next to the platform is for ventilation - the one further away is for access
the monastery
a school for preserving the art of carpet weaving
they make their own silk from scratch
and these are some of the carpets they create
this resort hotel on the beach is under construction
The Ephesus Museum in Selcuk has a Roman or Greek marble backgammon game
storks nest throughout the area
The other museum we visited did not allow photography of its collection
the Isa Bey Mosque welcomes tourists
women are seated behind the screen
the shoe rack for every worshipper
a great lunch at the Artemis Restaurant in Sirince
followed by a visit to the one of 120 columns that remains of the Temple of Artemis
and a leather maker who uses sheep skin
We arrive in Greece
in the Port of Piraeus
Going to Athens
Look what they found when starting to build the Acropolis Museum
they also built the museum around this 18th century building
this is how they solved the problem
and this is the plan for the future
first view of the Acropolis
view from the top floor of the Acropolis Museum
down the hill from the temples is the amphitheater
this is the Erectheum with Caryatids statues
Beth at the Parthenon
the Parthenon is being reconstructed with original stones
the Greek Parliament meets here
detail from another building
the National Archeolgical Museum
has Minoan gold death masks - might be Agamemnon - and spear points
and a bull head
and bronze statue of Poseidon
and a later bronze of a child on horseback
The labor union hall spattered with paint from protests
The stadium built for the first modern Olympics in 1896
Through the Strait of Messina - left - Sicily on right
Naples
A US warship raises the flag at dawn
A medieval fort
Arrival at the Genoa airport
A view of Genoa
and on to Portofino for lunch then to Cinque Terra
Our 4-star hotel in Portovenere was once a monastery
The view from our patio
A short boat ride to Palmaria Island for dinner
Over-looking Manarola - note the trail along the cliffs to the left
we enjoyed our walk along the Path of Love
Olive trees and Stations of the Cross on a hillside
Workers maintaining a terrace retaining wall
The villages like this in Manarola have easily defended accesses - pirates and invaders
in Vernazza the top of this old castle is now a five-star restaurant
where we had lunch
Waste marble from Carerra is used for rip-rap
We waited below for a ferry which gave us a
view of the one town of Cinque Terra we did not visit
We passed the Carerra marble quarries
on the way to Pisa
Formerly a harbor the valley is very productive
Our first glimpse of the leaning tower of Pisa
Voila
the church for which the bell tower was built
The baptistry behind the church
Replica of the famous bronze wolf suckling Romulus and Remus
Some of the stones used to construct the church were salvaged from Roman works
The walls of the old city - a corner of the mortuary is at the right
Sarcophagi and murals are inside the mortuary as well as tombs under the floor
Tilting our wine glasses at lunch after the tour
Arriving in Spain
at the port of Cartagena
We left Cartegena on the Network of Roads of Andalusia
Fertile fields of the valley
Marble quarries
Solar power farms
Windmill farms
Snow-capped peaks
3 hours later we reach Granada
Lunch first
and then to La Alhambra
which is still being excavated with new finds frequently
Our hotel was inside the complex
This is the palace of Charles V
Secluded courtyard with orange trees
Balcony overlooks the reflecting pool in one of four palaces courtyards
View of Granada
Flameco Cave performance
On to Seville the next day
passing many mines and quarries
and so-called white towns
Statues of the apostles decorate this church
We were there on Palm Sunday
The cathedral is an interesting mix of Moorish
and Christian architectural styles called Mudejar
Because of the holiday streets were closed to motor-vehicles
First stop was the Alcazar
Beautiful gardens
Interesting architecture
Lush courtyards
Mixed architectural styles - Mudejar
Intricate carving
Another courtyard
Tilework all over the place
Fountains
with statues on top
The private chapel of the king
Roses in bloom
Frescoes in niches
Private residence which cut a balcony through the wall
Left the Alcazar to visit the cathedral
Penitent heading for a procession
Private courtyard along the way to
the palace of Pontius Pilate - copied from the one in Jerusalem now gone
which is more Mudejar architecture with Roman statuary
Wrought iron surrounded by ceramic tile
Returning to the plaza
to go to Cadiz and meet our ship
A side street in Cadiz
The city wall
and into the port
Fishermen in the harbor
of Funchal - Madiera Island - Portugal
which must be constantly dredged
View to the ocean side of Pico do Serrado
and to the inland side
View of our ship after a cable car ride to Monte
Then a ride on a wicker sleigh
The sleigh drivers and sleighs return to the top by bus and truck
WHEE-E-E-E
Back in town we have a wine tasting - four types of Madiera wine
The terminal is building a new reception center
and a replica of the Santa Maria gives tourist rides
We see some of the vineyards as we sail on
First stop after departing Fort Lauderdale at the Cayman Islands
Water is scarce here and collected in cisterns
Chickens roam
The Turtle Farm preserves endangered species
like this very young Ridleys
Land iguanas are also guests of the Turtle Farm
Then on to the village of Hell
and this lava landscape from which it is named
See what I mean about the chickens
A visit to the Tortuga Rum Company
gave us a chance to sample a variety of rums
Back to the ship by tender
Next stop was Costa Rica
where our guide showed us how banana plants grow
on our way to the Tropical rain forest
which is best seen from an aerial tram through the canopy
Near dawn we entered the Panama Canal
Lines are delivered by row boat
and attached to the mules
which will pull us through the locks
Clearances are too tight to use the ship power
Ours was follwed by another cruise ship
Up one level
Pelican takes advantage of the turbulence in the locks
The ship behind is almost ready to enter the first lock
Mules keeps us straight
while we move into the second lock
Up level two by water pumped from level one to two
Leaving level one at sea level for the ship behind
And so on until the end of the first set of locks
A freighter waits in Gatun Lake for its turn to go through
There is a new bridge across the canal
After crossing the lake we enter the down locks
Once in
the gates close behind us
the water is pumped out and the ship goes down
We are pulled into the second lock
An observation building with viewing platforms and restaurant
lets locals watch the Miraflores locks operate
Now the mules hold us back as water levels decline
The ship behind can enter
The locks pilot can now leave and return for another ship
An expansion of the canal is under way
There is another bridge connecting highways across the canal
Panama City has a unique sports complex
A new pilot comes aboard to get us through the channel out of Panama
Many ships are backed up on either side of the channel
We fly from Manta, Ecuador
to San Cristobal in Galapagos Islands
then take a bus to
the pier where sea lions enthusiastically greet us
Zodiacs take us
to the Galapagos Explorer II
After lunch we visit our first stop on the islands
Just before dinner there is this view of the Lion Rocks
After dinner the crew welcomes us
The next day starts with a look at the Galapagos Mockingbird
marine iguanas litter the landscape
lava lizard
Galapagos quail
Masked Booby with chick
and courting Masked Boobies
Blue-footed Boobies were also nesting
Albatrosses abandoned this egg
A spectacular blow hole
Darwin finch
red crab
Back aboard the 2nd officer gave tour of the bridge
A glass-bottom boat ride let us see many species included these fish
Towel art and itinerary for the next day greeted us after dinner
A land iguana welcomed us to
Ecuador National Park of the Galapagos
which had cactus
chameleons
with a display of the shells of the species of Galapagos turtles
The endangered species are raised here until big enough to not be prey
However Lonesome George is the last of his kind
He has a mate of a different species provided but there have never been offspring
A little rest - he is over 90 years old after all
Marine iguanas are also propagated here
The village near the park
More towel art that evening
Sea turtles get it on by the ship
Luggage is loaded on a Zodiac
and taken ashore
Towel art on the Amsterdam and newsletter welcome us back
Our ship was Holland America Lines flagship MS AMSTERDAM
The World Cruise had its own logo
We embarked on January 5
Our cabin was on Main Deck - 2
Bill had his deck wear on posing the cabin hall - bathroom on his left - closets on his right
Bill filling out the boarding forms sitting on his bed
One channel on the CCTV in the room was devoted to ship information
This old binnacle was in the Crows Nest Lounge on Sports Deck - 9
The pool on Lido Deck - 8 would slosh in rough seas
Explorer Lounge on Upper Promenade - Deck 5 - has a library and computers and Wi-Fi
The duty-free shops were on Deck 5 too
The resident string quartet entertained in the Ocean Bar every sea night
Queen's Lounge on Promenade Deck 4 was the gathering point for tours
Front Office and Tours desks were on Deck 4
The Planeto Astrolabium, a commissioned sculpture in a three-story atrium
La Fontaine dining room - Deck 4
One of the several gangways when docked
One of several gangways when tenders were used
Ambulances and tour buses were at nearly every port
We were resupplied at many ports
These shipping containers were filled with stuff for us
After security inspection
Head Chef Bernie opened and inspected the fresh produce before taking it aboard
Windows were washed when water and cherry-pickers were available
Pilots and immigration officials came aboard this way
During the day in dangerous waters
on-board security watched for pirates
At night
they used infrared video cameras
Sirens were available as deterrents
and so were water hoses
Formal nights came about once a week - this is the first one
Beth celebrated her birthday
We celebrated our 51st anniversary in the Pinnacle Grille
Tropical night formal night
Australian barbeque on the Lido Deck - one of several
Low Tea in the Crows Nest Lounge every sea day at 3pm
with the resident string quartet to entertain
King Neptune hosts Crossing the Equator ceremony - KISS THE FISH
Another Formal Night
Black-and-white Formal
Captain Olaf had his fiftieth birthday
Passover Dinner was led by the resident Rabbi
Easter buffet was an extravaganza
Dutch night
with caps and ethnic food
The crew farewell in the Queens Lounge where Mitzi Gaynor and Wayne Newton had entertained
Bon Voyage gifts - bouquet times 2
The marvelous Planeto Astrolabium in the atrium of decks 3 - 4 - 5
Sunrise at sea
Watching for pirates with infrared video
Tea at three every day at sea
Our guide almost disappears 20 feet away in the tropical rain forest - Costa Rica
Panama Canal tow lines are delivered by rowboat
The Lion rocks at sunset - Galapagos Islands
Nesting Blue-footed Booby - Galapagos Islands
Blow hole - Galapagos Islands
Auckland waterfront with Sky Tower in orange - New Zealand
English style garden - New Zealand
Telling a Maori legend - New Zealand
Tranz Alpine Express Train - New Zealand
Time Tower - New Zealand
Cape Raoul - Australia
Sydney Opera House at sunrise - Australia
Our room overlooking the desert at Ayers Rock - Australia
The end of the Kaniya Waterhole Walk - Australia
Praying Mantis in the Butterfly Garden - Papua New Guinea
Side trip from the Long Corridor in the Summer Palace - China
The Great Wall snaking up the ridge - China
Saigon traffic - Vietnam
The Taj Mahal - India
The Banganga quarter of Mumbai - India
The entrance to the Sultan*s Palace - Oman
The coast of Iran - Strait of Hormuz
The port at sunrise - Dubai
King Tut statue at Karnak - Egypt
Bedouin herding goats - Jordan
Ashdod School of Dance gets audience participation - Israel
A street in Vernazza - Italy
Flamenco Cave performance in Granada - Spain
Bougainvillea at the Palace of Pontius Pilate in Seville - Spain
Welcome aboard gifts - champaign from the Captain and flowers from our travel agent
Our stewards Hendro - left and Zul - not only cleaned our cabin every day but did
turn-down service and chocolates every night - and sometimes towel art - swans
rabbit
butterfly
sea lion
penguin
sea ray
shrimp
We got the dreaded GIS and had special cleaning of our cabin while quarantined
Our dining room server Eko
dining room supervisor Herco
assistant server Ferdi
All the Indonesians enthusiastically sang Happy Birthday then their national birthday song
Our wine steward Maverick
Bird Rock at Easter Island
water too rough for landing in the harbor
alternate anchorage had moai
half the population of Pitcairn Island came to the ship to visit
all 45 or so islanders live here
Welcome to Papeete - Tahiti
welcome twice
tour of the home of writer of Mutiny on the Bounty James Norman Hall
coconut tree in the yard
a black sand beach
a tiki in the courtyard of the Gaugin Museum
view through the restaurant where we lunched
breadfruit tree
tiki display in the Museum of Tahiti
outrigger canoeists enjoyed the wake of our tenders at Bora Bora
there is child on that scooter too
above-ground burial in the front yard was a common sight here
Polynesian food
on a buffet
our tour bus rode like the truck it originally was
green sand crabs
the tallest mountain on Bora Bora has never been scaled
the dock at
Bloody Marys bar
Rarotonga Island
Welcome to Tonga
the ceremonial palace of the king
park around the tombs of kings
traditional welcoming ceremony
takes several hosts
Tonga National Cultural Center has many exhibits
demonstrations of local crafts indoors
and out
more stuff at the Tonga Royal Institute
blow holes along the coast
flying foxes are really fruit bats
Reproduction of Scotts cabin at the south pole in Aucklands Antarctic Experience
Auckland waterfront
A giant rubber duck celebrating Waitangi Day
The old customs building and ferry catamarans
No photography allowed at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves
nor at the Otorohanga Kiwi House Zoo of nocturnal creatures
Lunch was at this English style country house
We were challenged by warriors before entering the Maori Arch of the Ancestors
Ultimately we were permitted to enter through the arch
A second welcoming ceremony
with welcoming prayer
and welcoming song
An exhibit of the eels - they were a primary food source of the Maoris
This musician played a variety of pipes and flutes from the old days
Craft demonstrations
Legends were told
Fighting techniques included listening to the spirits through the spear
Our visit ended with a farewell song
1930s cars and costumes
and jazz band were the sail-away entertainment
The unique Byrd memorial atop Mt Victoria in Wellington
View of the harbor from Mount Victoria
We took the cable car from downtown Wellington to Kellburn
where there in an excellent botanical garden
especially the roses
from all over the world
as well as many other plants
Old Saint Paul's church was restored after falling into disrepair
Wellington railway station
From Christ Church we took the Tranzalpine Express across the country
Bill photographing Beth through two double-pane windows of the train
Jet boats ply the river along the sky high railroad
Entrance of the Arts Centre
Canterbury Museum
Downtown
Christ Church
Stylized Olympic torch
One of only 4 Time Towers left in the world in Lyttelton
Albatross research center on the Otago Peninsula near Dunedin
Entrance to the harbor
Seals and gull at Natures Wonder - a private preserve
Argo vehicles took us on these trails
Nesting Yellow-eyed Penguin
Beth only thought the bus steps were difficult
A village on the Otago Peninsula
View of Dunedin from the Otago High Road
Mosaic floor in the Dunedin railway station
and a train not taken
Sail-away bagpipers
Tenders were needed to visit Oban in Half Moon Bay
Entering Fjordlands National Park with
waterfalls
research vessel
private sail boat
Leaving the first fjord
Another cruise ship passes going the other way around
Mountain peak in the clouds
Kayaks below another waterfall
and smaller tour boats experience the falls
We approach the village at the end of Milford Sound
behind the tour boat
Other gorges take off from the sound
Entering Hobart - Tasmania - Australia
Welcome ashore
First to Bonorong Park Wildlife Center
echidna
Eastern Quoll
kangaroo
Cape Barren Goose
Emu
Koala
young Tasmanian Devils
wallaby
wombat
Blue-tongued Lizard
Kookaburra
Then to Richmond and Saint Mary's church
and the oldest bridge in Tasmania
Next stop - Port Arthur
Our guide waits for us all to gather at the next point
main prison building
guard house with keep above
Church of England
Residences for prison high-ranking personnel
Roman Catholic chapel
The keep
Chief Warden residence
Village of Port Arthur
World Heritage Site Cape Raoul is just outside the harbor
Entering Sydney harbor before dawn
Closer view of the harbor
Locals call it the coat-hanger bridge
The opera house
The sun comes up behind us and the opera house
Welcome to Sydney
Yes!
The first tour is of the opera house
Six million tiles cover it
We went back that evening for a performance
Chinese protesters are out
A tour of Victoria Park led to this shot of the opera house and bridge
from the Fleet Steps
Famous Bondi Beach
Early next morning a flight to Alice Springs
where we visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service
with a mock-up of one of their planes
and a historic pedal-powered radio
with explanation
On to the School of the Air for outback children
which covers a huge area
and now uses satellite TV instead of radio
Afternoon at the Alice Springs Desert Park
and the ANZAC memorial
with a butcher-bird at the bottom of the hill
Tracks of The Ghan railway
Camels were abandoned and have become wild
dingo
Always dry desert
Good road all the way
Lunch with our guide - ship host - driver at Ebeneezer Junction
Parrots in the yard
Connor Rock
Ayers Rock
Ayers rock in the distance
A road train
Our hotel room facing the desert
On to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Getting closer to Ayers Rock
Parakeelya hadn't bloomed for 8 years
at the Olga Mountains - Kata Tjuta
Another view of Ayers Rock
the road we were on was paved - most are not
Olga Mountains late in the day
Fly protection hinders enjoying snacks and champagne while waiting for the sun to set
Still broad daylight
15 minutes later
another 15 minutes goes by
and another quarter hour passes
The red is turning grey as the group watches
It has been an hour and a quarter
one and a half hours
one and three-fourths hours
Next morning we get to the observation point to be greeted by this dingo
Before twilight Ayers Rock is barely visible
Then the sun starts peeking
but the rock is still almost impossible to see
15 minutes later the outline is clearer
The red begins to show
Now the general features can be seen
Cloud cover reduces visibility temporarily
AH-H-H-H!
More detail now
Folks are getting tired of it and leaving
But the colors intensify and more detail is emerging
Nearly everyone has gone but it is still getting better
We just can't tear ourselves away
Not even yet
But now even we must admit that is the whole show
After the sunrise we take the Kuniya waterhole walk
Ancient aboriginal art is found along the trail
The stream-fed pond is an important site at the end of the trail
Aboriginal survival skills demonstrated by an Anangu woman at the Cultural Center
There is a legend for each of the formations in the rock
Many animals and plants have been imagined in these formations
Entire stories are built around them
Even Mick Jaggers lips
The white line is a chain to help walkers to the top keep going
That evening we went to the Sounds of Silence dinner with a digereedoo
The Olgas at sunset
Dinner at the quietest restaurant in the world followed by a star talk
The last view of Ayers Rock
We rejoin the ship at Cairns
Entering the harbor at Paupua New Guinea
Greetings from the beach
Greetings from the pier
Light house
Banyan tree
Welcoming dance at the Madang Museum and Cultural Center
Crafts for sale
and more crafts for sale
Interesting posting from Japan
Flying foxes - really they are bats
Typical homestead in the rural area
Privately owned butterfly garden
also had Praying Mantis - one the 2000 or so species
and this - maybe a dragonfly
Pottery making demo at a rural village
which of course is for sale
Farewell dance
The band at the dock entertains for sail-away
Manilla Phillipine pulls out all the stops as we azrrive - 3 bands, 2 dance troups
maybe because about half the ship service folks are Phillipino
City skyline in the background
Executive Chef Bernie shows off his hand-built Jeepney
Typical traffic downtown
Apparently there is no telephone cabling code in Manilla
If not a Jeepney it is a horse or motorbike - even Yellow Cabs are motorscooters
Independence memorial park
Amazing what a motorbike can do
Sail-away entertainment was just as lavish as arrival
Complete with balloon launch
Arriving in Hong Kong harbor
Summer Palace in Beijing
Many bronzes and elaborate decorations
Every sculpture has deep meaning
Temples abound
17 arches in the bridge leading to a summer house on an island
A re-enactor dressed as the emperor - no idea what the man beside him is doing
Another restored building
Long Corridor
has four side sites representing the four seasons
and is beautifully decorated
Another temple
gateway
A restaurant on the grounds is open for those wealthy enough
Marble Boat - no it does not float
Another gateway
The exit
Great Wall of China
Some of our group went all the way to the top of this section
Beth made part of the climb
Decorations abound
The first guard house
A clerk in the souvenir shop was taken with Beths pin-hat
We were together part of the time
This is our tour group - Bill kneeling far right - Beth 3rd from right standing in first row
Trash disposal is a huge problem in Beijing
We were surprised by bilingual road signs
Not everyone has a car or motorbike yet
Our last stop was for lunch at the Roast Duck Restaurant
which serves Peking Duck as it was originated there
Welcome to Vietnam
Motorbikes are the preferred mode of tranport in Saigon
A Buddist temple
Walmart not allowed here to protect these small businesses
Agriculture is thriving and modernizing
A Hindu temple
Flea market - Vietnam style - with buses
The cargo port is busy
Millions say "Yes!" to "Do you have a Honda?"
Lacquer products are made in this factory
Bicycles are widely used
and pedicabs are for hire
The Presidential Palace left over from South Vietnam days
Traditional music is played in a hallway
54 ethnic groups are in Vietnam
distributed as shown on this map
Water Puppetry has been an entertainment since 1121
The performers take a bow at the end of the show
Is this camera working
A street corner food stand
Hovels and trash all over the place outside downtown
A house of worship for the combination religion - Buddist - Hindu - Christian - Moslem
Singapore shore pass - with WARNING
The seamen's temple
with many joss stick locations
is in the middle of modern buildings
with locations for Hindu
Confuscian
in use all day every day
Another Hindu niche
Coke machine near the entrance/exit
Singapore zoo has a night tour that was interesting
Next day was boat ride
Condos for the wealthy
The ship-like topping on these apartment buildings is a casino
The Singapore iconic Merlion is only visible to guests of the hotel
Statue of Raffles - the founder of Singapore
Flowers decorate street dividers in many parts of town
Historic dhow
The oldest mosque in Singapore
incorporates glass bottles donated by members
A market street gets a lot of window shoppers
until it rains
The 5-star Raffles Hotel
has almost as many dining venues as our ship
and the hotel bar where we enjoyed the drink invented there - Singapore Sling
A cable car passes over our ship
and right through a building on the other side
