Cruise: Shanghai

Anyone who visits Shanghai would not miss to take a tour along Nanjin Road: Just to be "lost" in a massive crowd of people.

This is a photo taken in Nanjin Road which I like very much. This aptly illustrates the emerging generation of China: They are increasingly communicating less, deeply immersed in cyber world but yet very particular about look and fashion!

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Madame Tussaud Wax Museum, Shanghai.

With Albert Einstein.

Face to face with Mdm. Tussaud.

With Nicole Kidman.

Yao Ming is much bigger than I envisaged !

Shanghai World Financial centre is the third skyscrapers we visited in less than two months. The last two are the Tuntex Sky Tower in Kaohsiung and Taipei 101.

Of course China would not be outdone by Taipei 101. Shanghai Tower soaring to a maximum height of 632m is now under construction and will be completed by 2014.

Cruise: Hong Kong

I just love this photo taken at the Avenue of Stars. I believe it captures the whole essence of Hong Kong. This cosmopolitan, dynamic international financial power house is obscured in mist in the background. The cruise ship depicts the never ending streams of tourists visiting this never-sleep city. Yet, in the midst of all these, the solitary old man is a depiction of the many Hongkies who are lonely and struggling just to survive!

Cruise: Xiamen

With just two hours made available to visit Xiamen in Fujian Province, there was not much one could do. We could only take a stroll along the famous Zhongshan Road and savour some of the unique food in some of the shops.

A plate of oyster omelette costs just 15 Renminbi or RM7.50. The oysters were huge and plentiful unlike what we find in KK or Batu Pahat.

This peanut soup was good!

Cruise: A Brief Stop at Vietnam

A fleet of buses awaited at Phu My Port, ready to transport cruise passengers on a two-hour journey to Ho Chi Minh City. The cruise ship had docked at Phu My Port, which serves as the main gateway for visitors heading to Vietnam’s bustling southern metropolis.

The Reunification palace

Our Vietnamese tour guide was very proud to capture this photo for us!

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There are many motorcycles in Vietnam. Respect for traffic laws are clearly not diligently observed!

Another landmark: The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City.

Everything centres on one person in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh. He is fondly referred to as Uncle Ho by all Vietnamese. Saigon was renamed after him on 1 May 1975.

Vietnam is currently in transition from being an undeveloped country to becoming a developing country.

There are still many who prefer to enjoy the easy pace of lives rather than be caught in the rat race!

Cruise:Voyager of the Seas

We finally checked off one of the items on our bucket list - going on a cruise holiday from 23.03.2013 to 01.04.2013. The experience exceeded all our expectations, offering a perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and unforgettable moments.

Here are some snapshots capturing what we did and enjoyed on board the ship.

Among the tour group members are Philip and May.

The dinner service was impeccable. Picture above with Mr. Baiju, our waiter from Kerara India who has been serving with Royal Caribbean for over 12 years. 

24-hour cafe and the shopping arcade.

The casino.

For guests seeking an active start to the day, the ship offered a range of facilities - including a swimming pool, a fully equipped gym, and a scenic jogging track. Our friend, Philip Quak, impressively clocked 10 laps around the track each morning.

For those who preferred a more leisurely pace, there were plenty of deck chairs to lounge on while enjoying the sea breeze and panoramic views. And for the thrill-seekers, a mini casino offered a touch of excitement and the chance to test their luck.

Apart from the never-ending buffet spreads, the ship was brimming with activities that kept us entertained from morning till well past midnight - we often went to bed reluctantly, not wanting to miss out on anything.

One of our favorite routines was the nightly coffee sessions at Cafe Promenade, where we indulged in a delightful selection of sandwiches and irresistibly soft, chewy cookies. If my grandson Nathan had been with us, he would have absolutely loved those cookies - they were just his kind of treat!

The nightly stage performances at the grand La Scala Theatre were truly world-class. Featuring professional acts ranging from musicals, magic shows, and juggling acts to an impressive ice skating performance, each show could easily rival productions that would cost over 200 Singapore dollars on land.

And to top it off, we managed to catch four excellent 3D movies during the week - never before have we watched so many great films in such a short time. It was entertainment overload in the best possible way!

We were very impressed by the service of the house keeping staff. Their creativity was amazing!