Ruminations from the Silver Muse.

[drron29]

Lunch was in Kaiseki.

 

 

 

Rojaan's plate.

 

Mine is a little more cluttered.

 

The wasabi is reconstituted as needed.

 

and the restaurant.

 

[drron29]

So I now have a routine for sea days. breakfast in the Arts cafe. As soon as I have finished it and the Soduku it is up to deck 11 and do 24 laps. Then recover until lunch time. Though sometimes Rojaan will come up to 11 and we share a pizza.

After lunch it is another 16 laps to make 40 laps to make 8KM/5m. My walking has improved markedly since I increased the amount of walking I do which started before we left home. According to my iPhone my walking stability has improved, my step length and speed also. I now do 8 laps in 15 minutes consistently with a very occasional 16 minutes.

 

Then of course after I rest it is Trivia then putting. Not doing badly at both. For putting though I am much better if consuming another G&T.

But now another try with Indochine.

The menu.

 

 

 

Rojaan had the teriyaki chicken thigh and beef char siu plus noodles.

 

 

 

I had the rice paper roll and the Rogaan josh Kashmiri puloa.

 

 

 

 

We both had the Creme brulee this time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Aussieflyer]

Only a few weeks till we are on board - you are whetting my appetite!

 

And hoping you have recovered from your bug drron and rajaan has had no more 'wobblies'.

Edited October 30, 2023 by Aussieflyer

[drron29]

I've recovered from mine but 2 days later Rojaan came down with it. starting to improve today. apparently it has affected many of the passengers.

[drron29]

There was a second sea day before we reached Taiwan. Lunch was at Spaccanopoli. Funghi for Rojaan and Diavola for me.

 

 

 

Dinner in Atlantide. It was once again a demonstration of one of the most disappointing changes in cruising since the pandemic. And it is in no way the fault of Silversea. We again said we would be happy to share a table. So this is what happens now.

 

You end up dining alone but at a bigger table. An indication of how unsure the pandemic has made some people.

So to the menu.

 

 

my wine.

 

Rojaan started with the scallops and I the "new" Nicoise salad.

 

 

We both had the veal shank for mains. It was quite reasonable.

 

For desserts Rojaan had the pavlova and I the lemon meringue pie.

 

 

 

[drron29]

The next morning found us in Keelung, Taiwan. We were given a copy of our passports to always carry when we were ashore. So here is Keelung. the views from the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now off to the tour of the Confucious Temple and old Market street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then in sight of Taipei.

 

 

 

And off the bus at a nice looking eatery.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 30, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

The Confucius temple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

The Tour was interrupted by a demonstration of a Zen performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

And now off to the market street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

The last of the market street.

 

 

 

 

 

A blind mandolin player.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now a drive to the Veteran's village near Taipei 101.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

Now we are at the Veterans village. Built after 1949 for military that came to Taiwan with Chang Kai Shek. One was the father of our guide and he lived here as a boy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

And now the drive back to the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Back in time to have lunch at Kaiseki.

 

The happy staff.

 

Dinner again at Atlantide. didn't take a picture of the night's menu. But here is my red wine.

 

Unfortunately this wine doubles the number of regular reds that I will ask for a substitute. Not a bad wine I simply don't like it.

So to the food. Rojaan had the scallops and a small serve of mushroom risotto.

 

 

I had my little vegetable delight and it was nice.

 

I went with the filet. Again I liked it.

 

 

Though I initially forgot the horseradish.

 

 

[drron29]

When we left the ship at Keelung most of uswere given a bag of goodies.

 

 

 

The rice cookies and tempura cookies.

 

 

 

Tofu rock pancakes.

 

The seafood noodles -might take these home.

 

And a little gift.

 

 

[drron29]

Sail away from Keelung.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

The next day was a late arrival into Kaohsiung. Plenty of ship traffic.

 

 

And time for lunch in Atlantide before arrival,

 

 

Rojaan had the spinach and mushroom salad. There were a lot more mushrooms than it looks.

 

I had the minestrone which wasn't the greatest.

 

But we both enjoyed the veal Marsala.

 

[drron29]

An interesting trip into this very large harbour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Aussieflyer]

22 hours ago, drron29 said:

I've recovered from mine but 2 days later Rojaan came down with it. starting to improve today. apparently it has affected many of the passengers.

That's such a shame but good to hear a) you have recovered and b) Rojaan is on the mend (hopefully). Lots of bugs out there lurking! Hope you both stay well.

[drron29]

Impressive new Terminal/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Busses ready.

 

 

 

And off the ship a nice wecome.

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Now I was meant to be on an excursion to Shou-Shan mountain which had been recommended. However a tourist bus crash the day before made that trip impossible so basically it became a city exploration. The extra stops made to replace the mountain quite frankly were pathetic.

So off we go to drive to what the guide called the lotus pond. First past Kaohsiung tallest building which for a while was Taiwan's tallest until the 101 tower in Taipei was built.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

We arrived at the Parking lot for the Lotus Pond.

 

 

Shades of Angkor Wat.

 

 

And then the Pond turned into a Lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Sensory overload.

 

A bicycle tour goes past.

 

 

As suggested we are going to enter the pagoda being renovated by the dragon's mouth and out the tiger's mouth. Inside some artwork.

 

 

 

 

Now we cross the road to the temple.