“LIVE FROM” 2019 Oceania Insignia World Cruise, Jan. 11-July 11

[Damicom]

On 3/22/2019 at 12:50 AM, Mura said:

Which is something we all do.  I was just wondering if it was a time consideration ... since we found our visit to Wadi Rum such a highlight.

 

Others don't need to be guided by OUR choice, of course.

 

Mura

 

I agree. Wadi Rum was such an unanticipated thrill. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

[bob brown]

I really enjoyed the King's wharf area...besides all that Beagle5 mentioned, there are a variety of excursion/dinner boats leaving from there.  And also a nice aquarium.  And just over a bridge is the world-class maritime museum...😎

[roothy123]

14 minutes ago, Beagle5 said:

 

This is correct. The Captain Cook ferry that Orv took from Circular Quay now operates from King's Wharf at Barangaroo.

Barangaroo is an urban renewal area with lot of cafes/restaurants/groovySydneypeople, and worth a look in itself. From Barangaroo you can take ferries to Circular Quay and elsewhere in the harbour on the Sydney ferry service . Or you can follow the new pedestrian path/escalators right up to Wynyard in the heart of the Sydney CBD . I have also done the walk from Barangaroo, following the shoreline up under the Harbour Bridge, through the Rocks, to Circular Quay to the Opera House. It is a bit of a hike, but very pleasant if you like walking.

 

Yes, I just checked this out a little while ago, including the Wynward Walk (looks nice!)  I want to go to Watsons Bay and Luna Park, each for a short visit, and Captain Cook goes to both.  Since I'll be there on an embarkation day, the ferry should be running.  I'm still wondering exactly where it is at White Bay, but since I won't be embarking or disembarking and have no luggage, I'm not worried about too long of a walk to get to it.  

[Paulchili]

1 hour ago, Damicom said:

I agree. Wadi Rum was such an unanticipated thrill. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

+2

First visit to Aqaba we only did Petra but second time we included Wadi Rum. I wasn’t expecting much but was very pleasantly surprised by Wadi Rum.

Vive la différence.

[bob brown]

Pilot’s aboard.🙂

[Paulchili]

6 minutes ago, bob brown said:

Pilot’s aboard.🙂

Where are you - the ship, not you 

 

[bob brown]

Alongsiide, Kaohsiung.😎

[bob brown]

Spectacular entrance to the harbor...

[bob brown]

[bob brown]

[roothy123]

Now THAT is a very interesting building!!!  And of course I like the lighthouse as you came into port....here's what it (apparently) looks like close up: 

Edited March 24, 2019 by roothy123

[CintiPam]

On 3/22/2019 at 8:44 PM, Paulchili said:

+2

First visit to Aqaba we only did Petra but second time we included Wadi Rum. I wasn’t expecting much but was very pleasantly surprised by Wadi Rum.

Vive la différence.

Going to Egypt in late November for two weeks with a college alumni group followed by five days post-tour in Jordan, including both Petra and Wadi Rum.  Very much looking forward to this trip.  Now that spouse really has retired, we are traveling as much as we can while we can! 

 

I originally anticipated taking an automobile trip around Turkey after his retirement because we so enjoyed our visits to Istanbul (and Ephesus) in 2008 and 2014 but we now are unwilling to visit that country due to its current political environment.

Edited March 24, 2019 by CintiPam

[See_More]

Mar.24.2019, Kao Shiung, Taiwan, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple.  Central Buddha statues are 26 feet high surrounded by towers that house 200 smaller replicas.  You leave the temple with the blessings of peace and tranquility.

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Mar.24.2019 Koa Shiung, Taiwan: Light of Buddha mountain... sit down vegetarian lunch, 12 dishes.

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Mar.24.2019, Kaoh Shiung, Taiwan: Confucius Temple 

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Mar.24.2019, Kaoh Shiung, Taiwan: Chiming Tang Temple.

Across the street, lily pads and dragons to explore.

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Regarding, Aqaba, Jordan ; a couple of thoughts.  Petra is a must.  Wadi means valley; wadi rum is a sweeping ocean of red-orange sands.  Ride a camel or engage in the most common activity - 4 wheel driving through the dunes.  Your guide will deflate the tires about 60% to maximize the surface area of the tires.  Visiting a Bedouin camp is often included.  If you have done both, an alternative is to visit Eilat in Israel.  Again time dependent.  But if you visit Israel make sure you get all your immigration stamps or their agents will track you down at dinner on the ship, and try to take you back to Israel for a face to face grilling. 

Edited March 24, 2019 by See_More

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Mar.24.2019  Yes, absolutely.  You can walk through the dragon end to end, about 150 meters of winding tiled wall reminiscent of Anton Goudi, and it’s free.

[Go-Bucks!]

On 3/22/2019 at 7:42 AM, h2so4 said:

 

In 2017, Insignia docked at White Bay.  There was a complimentary shuttle bus that took us to King’s Wharf and dropped us off there.  King’s Wharf is at Darling Harbour.  From there we walked over to the ferries that operate between Darling Harbor and Circular Quay to go to the Opera House / QEII Gate of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

 

An alternative means is to take the Capt Cook ferry (operates from White Bay only when there is a cruise ship there) and dropped us off at King’s Wharf.  This ferry used to take pax to Circular Quay, but my notes say that it stopped doing that in 2017.  Things might have changed again since then.  If you plan to use the ferry to get from White Bay, then check out schedule and stops on the Capt Cook ferry website.  This would be at your own expense as it is not associated with the shuttle offered by the cruise line.

 

This is exactly how it was a few weeks ago when we stopped in Sydney.

[bob brown]

“Mission accomplished”...

[bob brown]

[Go-Bucks!]

As our butler, Sid, said "today was holy day." Our tour took us to a Buddhist temple, a Buddhist museum, a Confucian temple and a Taoist temple. We walked 4.5 miles and climbed the equivalent of 13 flights of stairs!  Whew...definitely didn't need the gym.

 

My favorite pics were of daily life in Taiwan. The children are so adorable and give a smile and a wave.The couple in red had just gotten married!  Street food donuts...vegetarian lunch...Buddhist monks...Hello Kitty...a gardener...had to take your shoes off to go in some temples. 

 

 

[bob brown]

Keelung pilot’s aboard.🙂

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Mar.25.2019  Keelung, Taiwan;  Morning has added some liquidity but it has not dampened enthusiasm aboard the ship.  Even visiting master chef Simon Olivier could feel home sick with this breakfast replica of the Eiffel Tower.  The harbour is fascinating in comparison to the lego stacks of containers cars that have infected the modern world.  Arguably, retired FBI special agent Richard Eggleston (quoted in the manual on Serial Killers) looks better with his head on! (LOL).

Edited March 25, 2019 by See_More

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Mar.25.2019 Keelung, Taiwan; Yehliu Geo Park.  We were not the first bus but we managed to blend in.  The market had everything from exotic dishes to trinkets.  The ocean view was spectacular and the ever changing landscape felt like an alien world.  Again experience and imagination chiseled out familiar shapes ready to file away.  Rain added to the interest and stopped many times to permit photos.  Perhaps you can see the queen, the impossible dream or a mushroom, ripe for the picking.