PHOTOS SAILING SAIGON RIVER

Photos taken March 29th after leaving Saigon and sailing for 4 hours down the Saigon River back to the South China Sea.

          Silver Seas cruise ship will pass under the bridge.  Our Captain said ours would not fit under it.

Note they paint eyes on front of these boats to ward off evil spirits.

                                    Not certain, but think this is sugar cane on way to refinery.

                                                Good shot of the eyes on front of this boat.

                                                            High speed "ski" boat

                                        Fishing boat with nets between the floating barrels

Boat cruises on skis

                                                      Some sugar cane fields

                                     Building or house (not sure) made of thatched material

                                Very dense jungle with canopy of I would guess, 70 feet high.

                                             Tiny building-not sure if it was a house

A family heading down river in evening.

                                                   Fishing boats with nets ahead

Fishing boat

Cut & paste to view

https://goo.gl/photos/QgAcj4y814gB29DP7

BANGKOK, THAILAND--DAY 1

HAPPY EASTER!!

March 31st
     We had a great dinner last night with Goren (F&B), Anna, (Head of Housekeeping), and two other couples.  The crew show was fantastic and maybe one of the best we have seen.  You cannot believe the talent of some of the crew members.
     We are going down for the Sunday caviar breakfast in Compass Rose shortly followed at 9am by our Easter Sunday worship service.  We leave the ship at 10:30.  I am taking my laptop along and will try to get photos I took sailing down the Saigon River uploaded on the blog.  Hotel internet should be MUCH faster.

                                              This was on our ship's TV this morning.

CRUISING GULF OF THAILAND

Saturday, March 30th
     WOW!  The ship's internet has been driving me crazy today as it is just about worthless.  None at all this morning and this afternoon I could not do much.  Seems everyone on the ship is trying to use it and as a result, it is VERY slow and will not upload anything.  Everyone getting ready for dinner now so finally can use it.  I had written for an hour earlier but lost it so now starting over.
     It was a smooth day of sailing in Gulf of Thailand with high temperature of 91 degrees and humidity down to 41% under mostly sunny skies.  The sun worshipers up on pool deck were happy.  We worked out and went to Sandra Bowern's lecture on Thailand this morning.  Great one as usual!  Theme for lunch was Seafood Extravaganza.  This afternoon I have been wasting my time with this silly internet.  We also organized what we will be packing for our exclusive event for the 78 day cruisers.  Regent is taking us to the super nice Peninsular Hotel in Bangkok for an over night event.  We will be doing tours and tomorrow night be wined and dined.  Will return to the ship the following afternoon.  Bangkok is a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from where we will dock at 10am tomorrow.  We were in Bangkok 3 years ago when on our world cruise.
     Tomorrow is Easter Sunday but also our 29th anniversary.  First time that has happened.  Guess we will celebrate in Bangkok.  Ship will send us champagne and a cake upon our return.  Tonight we have been invited to dine with Goren, the Food & Beverage Manager.  I suspect there will be at least two other couples also.  It is formal optional tonight as is Captain's Farewell Party and crew show so I better get my tux on.
     Not sure if I will be able to post while in Bangkok.  Internet is not free and not sure how much time I will have anyway.  Probably get something on before we leave tomorrow morning.
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!

SIAGON--DAY 2

Friday, March 29th

     Good Friday!!  We had no tours planned for our second and last day in Saigon.  After our room service breakfast we both went to the gym for our workouts.  At 11:15 we caught the shuttle bus for shopping trip in downtown.  I am looking for a new watch as I have the crystal super glued on mine now.  I want another Seiko.  Found one (not a fake, Bjorn) but did not get it.  Wanted to come back later to get it but ran out of time.  Maybe I'll find one in Bangkok.  We did get some lacquer ware we wanted and some t-shirts.  I have fun bargaining with the girls.  Feel kind of bad though as they price things cheap in the first place.  We will be sailing at 4pm which is 30 minutes from now.  I have been taking some photos this afternoon of the different types of boats here on the Saigon River.  All sizes, shapes, and colors.  Some do not look to be very sea worthy??  

     We have enjoyed our visit here in Saigon despite the 95 degree and 80% humidity days.  Nothing much has changed since we were here 3 years ago.  The city is not very clean but it is colorful and vibrant.  The Vietnamese people here in the south are very nice.  They certainly are poor but seem to always be clean, happy, and well fed.  I have not heard of any passengers being mugged or having any problems at all when walking on the streets.  I felt safe.  

     On the dock next to the ship are temporary shops and restaurant they set up while cruise ships are docked here.  Last night I think most of the crew was down at the restaurant after midnight when they had completed their duties on board.  They were eating Phillipino food, drinking beer, and letting their hair down.  They sure deserved it.  Luckily our suite was on other side of the ship so we were not disturbed.  They work so hard so glad they had some fun.  Every crew member I asked today said they were down there.

     Ok, tomorrow is a day at sea and tomorrow night is formal optional dress.  We have been invited to dine with Goren, the Food & Beverage Manager.  He has also invited two more couples to join him.  Will be fun!

                                     Building behind this new one is highest in Vietnam--68 stories

  

    Taken by the Cathedral.  There we several brides and brooms getting photos taken.  There are not brides.

                                             He is sifting hulls from some type of nuts

                                                              "Meals on Feet"

                                                 Utilities above the streets were a nightmare

                                                   Here comes the bikes!

                                                    I think these were herbs

Cooking right on sidewalk

                                                 Waiting for the light to change.

                                   There were just as many women as men in the motor bikes.

                                                 She was washing her feet

                                                 Shopping stands next to our ship

                                                   Poor lady is loaded down

                                                        Opera Hall in distance

                                        We bought some t-shirts from them.  Hard bargainers!

                 Ray, our cruise director, hired a bike to take him back to the ship.  Brave man!

                                              Boat that just took the ship's garbage away.

https://goo.gl/photos/WyoVf58z6GvbAZ8h7