drron29

We sailed quite late so I was able to capture the changing lights on the bridge. Now we are sailing out of Busan.

That night was a casual night. I decided a bit of decorum was warranted. Rojaan had the foie gras and I the pho. Rojaan had the rump steak and I the chicken Aloo. She then had the coconut rice pudding but I stuck with the ginger and kaffir lime creme brulee.

A couple of shots whilst waiting for the shuttle bus. Their bus system seems well organised. On the main streets often bus lanes in the middle of the road with bus stations usually at an intersection. Then back to the ship and a walk around the top deck after golf. Several ship building yards. People camping at the port.

Then out to the stalls and back to the main road. A candy store. I'm not sure this is an accurate name. I then set out to look for a restaurant to eat. Unfortunately even though this was a Tuesday it was a public holiday because the next day they were having elections for their National Parliament. Saw some interesting places. I don't think I wanted to try a dung house stir fry. I settled on a BBQ place. Pretty pricey in the evenings relatively speaking. But they had lunch time specials. Now that is just over $A14 but it was for 2 people. It was though less meat for the 2 people than the serving size for 1 at night. so I thought why not. This is what they served first. However more was served and when I finished the Kim Chee they brought me another bowl. These were the bowls at the end though they had removed 3. I had been looking at some of the street food at first but although it looked good I was full.

We donated libraries to schools in Laos as our way of giving back. We hope that by encouraging education lasting benefits can occur to those communities. I spent a day at a library donation to a school in a rural village outside Luang Prabang. It was the most beautiful day with every emotion possible. I felt happy, sad, grateful and guilty. But there was so much laughter and crying. A day I will never forget.

Tiki is an example of wonderful Kiwi marketing. It is produced in NZ by Tiki Wines. It appears not only on the wine list of SS but also BA. It has been extensively marketed in the USA. So they can ignore the Australian market. It is also not a Marlborough wine which are extensively marketed in Australia so they would have plenty of competition in Australia. It is produced in the North Canterbury region. Of course when you look at lists of the best Sauvignon Blancs in the world you will rarely see a New Zealand one. Top countries are Austria, France, Argentina and the USA.

Outside and back to the bus to go to the fish market. Now we are at the fish market. Had done the trip here before but I knew it was close to where the shuttle bus goes from and is in an area with lots of restaurants. So I went through the markets again. luckily the guide wasn't that interested in fish so a quick visit and then off to the general markets which hold no interest for me so I took my leave. And the penis fish which is really a worm.

Snippets of Busan up until the beginning of the 20th century. The lead up to the Korean war. This was fascinating for me as my knowledge of Korean History was minimal. Again I liked that this was in the excursion.

Now we are at the Busan Museum. Interesting. Burial mounds.

That Kaiseki menu on the Nova looks much better than the Moon and Dawn. We won’t pay the supplement for dinner on those ships The Muse is different being Teppanyaki for dinner so we do have dinner there occasionally.

Another warm welcome to the Cooler. November is a good time to visit Australia except for the far north as it is very hot and humid as well as being cyclone season. Don’t forget Tasmania. A lot less rush and bustle which means more relaxing.

QF only have wifi on selected International flights and then only when over the Australian mainland. https://www.qantas.com/sg/en/qantas-experience/onboard/wi-fi.html And the 2 longest flights that QF has are DFW-MEL and LHR-PER and neither of those are over Australia for very long.

Unfortunately not as many of them. In fact on this cruise for the first segment very few from the USA so we had a Canadian couple instead. They were very good. In the past there has been a European or two on the team we are in.

I really thought this was part of a good excursion. Educational and a little emotional.

Can't remember all the gins I had to help my putting but there were at least 10. I do suspect I went through some of the premium labels as well. I remember Tanqueray, Bombay sapphire, aviation gin and Roku gin.

Australian troops being entertained by Helen Reddy's father. Helen reddy was a singer who was born in Australia but lived in the USA. A singer known for the song I Am Woman. Interestingly her granddaughter has now released her version of the song. We were in time to see the raising of the flag.

The next morning had us arriving in Busan, South Korea. Rojaan still wasn't up to an excursion so I went on the one to the UN War Cemetery, Busan Museum and fish market. First from the parking lot at the cemetery. Then the cemetery. Now I thought I knew a bit about the Korean War. I was educated here though. Didn't realise how many countries fought under the UN flag.

That night it was again Indochine. You are served a complimentary cocktail first. A couple of the appetisers. Chicken thigh on a skewer and water paper rolls. Tom Yum soup. Aloo chicken Pork ribs. Noodle side dish. Char sui beef. And their cheesecake.

Inside they had a display of their major festival. Then time to catch the shuttle. A last look at the tulips. Just before we left the open top bus tour returned. What a fun ride they must have had.

Some really good flower displays. You could even buy a Zen Garden.

I decided not to go to Nishi Park as the rain was getting more constant. So back down the Main Street and back to the Fukuoka Town hall. The Ritz Carlton. And a Catholic Church. At the Town Hall they have a map of the City on the floor. And out the back the Garden Department was having their Spring Show. Nurseries and supply businesses there but whilst I was there only 2 other ladies walking around.

Sorry I am far from live on this report. Too many cherry trees to see! I was in Fukuoka on April 8th. As for rain it was only this day and April 3rd that rain was any problem on the cruise. A couple of cloudy days as well but they are not really so bad.