November 4 - Bali

We didn't drop anchor this morning until 9am - everyone waiting to take tenders to the shore and get on with their day/tours etc.  There were local as well as ship's tenders which made it a little quicker.  By then it was very hot, people were out paragliding, skiing and jetski riding.  

Our driver picked us up and we set off on a tour of Bali as neither of us had been before.  Stopped at a coffee plantation, there were some coffee trees as well as cocoa trees and a selection of spices such as vanilla, lemongrass etc and there were also mongoose in cages.  These are the animals that eat the bean which then passes through their poo and is processed to make the most expensive  coffee in the world.  We were treated to a selection of teas and coffee as well as a spicy cocoa drink.  

On to lunch at a restaurant recommended by the driver and which proved to be very good.  

We drove all around Ubud which definitely has a character of it's own.  Saw some cheeky monkeys outside the monkey enclosure.  We stopped at the markets for a while but not enough time to really see everything.  Traffic was incredible but we had no difficulty getting back to the shore in time for the last tender at 5 pm.  However,, there was a huge line of people and it took me nearly an hour to get on the tender.  

We didn't share at dinner tonight, the dining room was quiet until late as people returning from excursions were late back on the ship and we actually didn't sail until around 8pm.  

George was tired and wanted to go to bed (8.30!) so I decided to  go to the show alone, again. Sat in the piazza for a while listening to a violinist and decided to have a cocktail!!!  The waiter asked if I wanted a 'Virgin cocktail' - I said 'absolutey not, thanks!!!! Make it real'!!

The quality of shows on the cruise has generally been abysmal! Last night they produced some old bloke from Sydney - he was in his 70's, probably, dressed in a double-breasted suit & carrying a small suitcase.  As a singer, (and accompanied by the excellent Princess orchestra) he was OK, but did he have to put on a wig, or a pair of sunglasses or use a puppet to tell us who he was trying to be?  And his jokes were something else!!!!! 

 

November 3 - At Sea

Really nothing exciting much  today - although they did lay new carpet in our suite this afternoon.  Guess they are  gradually working through the ship, unfortunately we didn't get to choose the colour!! 

As well as mahjong I played scrabble with a nice lady from Sydney - she had wandered along to ask if she could play mahjong but as we already have our numbers she asked about scrabble.  

Joined a couple from Yorkshire (everyone is from Yorkshire!) who spend their time going to horseraces so there was no lack of conversation at the table.  

Went to the show afterwards which was a production by the singers and dancers and quite good.  

Tomorrow - Bali 

November 2 - At Sea

The Emerald Princess is now on a west, southwesterly course in the South China Sea.  Some facts about this sea:   The South China Sea opened around 45 million years ago when the 'Dangerous Ground' rifted away from southern China.  Extension culminated in seafloor spreading around 30 million years ago, a process that propagated to the SW resulting in th V-shaped basin we see today.  Extension ceased around 17 million years ago!!!  Another bit of trivia.  

Today we were meant to have the King Neptune celebrations at 11 am but the weather was lousy - wet and windy so has now been postponed for a few days.  Didn't worry me or the other mahjong players, we're all too old for that these days!!! 

As one day follows another, so too does breakfast, lunch,  dinner 😂 & then the show.  Of course there is the walking, reading & occasional cocktail too. Jon Darsk, the pianist, was in the Princess Theatre again for the 2 shows (8 & 10.15) and so we ate early in order to go to the early show.  It was so good we stayed for the late one! He is a marvellous artist, had a standing ovation each time. 

November 1 - At Sea

Overnight the ship proceeded with a southwesterly course into the South China Sea which is a marginal part of the Pacific Ocean.  It encompasses an area from the Karimata and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan.  The area's importance largely results from one third of the world's shipping sailing through its waters and that it is believed to hold huge oil and gas reserves beneath the seabed.  We did see many oil rigs this morning from a distance. A bit of trivia!!

A busy day as the telecast for the Melbourne Cup began at 8am!  (We are 4 hours behind until tomorrow morning). After breakfast we secured some deck chairs on deck 16 but for the first couple of hours there were intermittent showers so some of us went for cover.  It was great on the big screen, just like being in Melbourne only warmer!  Neither of us had a win in the sweep though.  I reckon if there'd been an SP bookie on board he would have made a fortune! 

Not sure who'll make the cocktails when we get back but it is very nice to have a couple at happy hour, 3-4pm on sea days!!! Margaret & Richard are characters and great company.  

Lots of entertainment around the ship tonight, after dinner we sat in the cafe & enjoyed some classical music then a very bright 5 minute routine by the dance troupe.  It was a tribute to Princess and the dancers were dressed as waiters, chefs, cabin attendants, etc, very Disney like.  

Another medical emergency late this afternoon - an announcement asking for a blood donor for an urgent transfusion.  Never a dull moment!

After dinner I went to the show and saw Chantelle Delaney perform.  She is an International singer, songwriter and guitarist and hails from Melbourne. Actually she was really good, sang some beautiful songs including Hallelujah & Tennessee Waltz!  

31 October - Bangkok

Last night's entertainment was the best yet - a pianist called Jon Darsk.  Jon is an Aussie, born & went to school in Tasmania but the family moved around Australia as his dad was a conductor of symphony orchestras and his mother was a piano teacher.  He attended the Brisbane Conservatorium and has lived in Melbourne and Adelaide.  Anyway, his music was fantastic, he played everything from Beethoven to Billy Joel,   Country to Rock & Roll and was a high energy performer!  

Today we are in Laem Chabang, the port for Bangkok.  It is about a two hour bus ride to BKK and a 40 minute drive to Pattaya.  George has gone to BKK on an un-organised tour but I opted to remain on the ship!  There are some stalls on the wharfside and I wandered around there for a bit but no real shopping closer than Pattaya which I didn't wish to visit again.  Maybe it has been cleaned up in the past few years but was pretty grotty last time we were there.  

Speaking of music, it is interesting to note that all the pianists and musicians in the various lounges seem to be using ipads to read their music.  

I had my hair trimmed this afternoon by a very nice Parisian guy, Christian.  He's doing a 10 month contract with Princess before returning to Paris in December. 

George returned from Bangkok hot & tired and a bit cranky - once again I am enjoying some entertainment by myself in one of the lounges.  Too early to retire as is not yet 9.30. 

The ship is decorated for halloween and many people have dressed up accordingly.  They take it pretty seriously!!! The pics below are proof of that and our Thai waiter Niran looked a treat at dinner!  

  

30 October - Koh Samui, Thailand

Aother day - Sunday, Koh Samui, Thailand!  It was raining when we arrived, is now raining as we prepare to depart!!!  But has been mainly fine and humid during the day. We were tendered off the ship & as we had no plans decided to share a mini bus with two others, Margaret & Richard, from Yorkshire.  Left the port just after 9am, - cost about $20 each from the port to the beach area Chaweng Beach (a 40 minute drive) and the driver waited for us until 3 pm for the return to the ship.  Margaret & I enjoyed some retail therapy although she has more to show than I do.  Being a beach area there wasn't much to interest me, rubbish really, but there were some good handbag shops which is where Margaret spent her money.  We dipped our feet in the ocean to cool down & while standing there a guy came along with a monkey - I thought I had  got a pic but he wanted 100 baht & moved the monkey before I prssed the button!!

We did find a very good restaurant for lunch and I'm pleased to say I've satisfied my need for some authentic Thai food - Tom Yum soup and a deep fried spicy fish which was excellent!!!  Washed down with a beer.  

Back at the port we had to wait a while but finally got on a tender and now enjoying a gin & tonic in our room.  

29 October -At Sea

We are transitting through the Gulf of Thailand, heading towards Koh Samui.  Formerly the Gulf of Siam it is a shallow inlet in the western part of the South China and Eastern Archipelagic seas, a marginal body of water in the western Pacific Ocean.  The gulf is surrounded by Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. 

Well,  the show last night confirmed that the entertainment has generally been woeful on this cruise.  Once again the comedian was a tired old has-been from Canada and his 'jokes' were sleep inducing and boring.  The cruise director is probably the worst we've ever had on a ship and I can only assume that he makes the final decision with the choice of entertainers. Never mind, there are plenty of other ways we get a decent laugh - only have to sit still for a half hour and watch the people.  Enough said.  And they are no doubt watching us too!!!!!

Today has been iffy weather-wise - rain and sunshine.  But the sea is like a millpond - hope we might get a bit of rock  & roll between Perth & Melbourne!   The talk this morning was on Koh Samui where we will be tomorrow.  We don't have any plans yet, will decide in the morning.  The beaches look lovely so we may take a cab to a resort area. 

 Mahjong again and we have a new player, Dale from Bendigo. It was bliss without the voice from WA and her puppet husband.  Am sure they were trying to test me by their strange habits of calling the tiles by the incorrect names and throwing the dice as if they were playing Craps in the casino but as in games such as bridge, golf, tennis, etc, so too does mahjong has it's own etiquette.  

It was a formal night again and so we dressed accordingly - dined with a Scottsh couple and it was almost impossible to understand her with her skittish, high pitched 

voice.  Nice people though but rather difficult with background noise and being deaf!!

Tonight's show in the theatre was very good, probably the best yet.  Beautiful costumes and excellent dancing routines by the Princess singers and dancers - it was Disco-Blame it on the Boogie'.