Golden Princess - April 2016 - Post 3

Ko Samui, Thailand 21/4

Another tender port.

 

Giving one of the emergency boats a run.

Not much in the township, bit of a dump.

I just had a few beers and a couple of curries in one of the restaurants here.

Laem Chabang, Thailand 22/4

This is the port for Bangkok and Pattaya and is a very busy cargo port.

Sister ship Sapphire Princess berthing just ahead of us.

Sunrise over the port.

On the wharf.

View from the nightclub.

Sapphire Princess sailed just before us.

Golden Princess - April 2016 - Post 4

Phu My, Vietnam 24/4

This is the port for Ho Chi Minh City, about 2 hours each way by bus. I stayed on the ship.

Good Morning Vietnam! Approaching the berth on the Saigon River.

Other shipping in Phu My.

Melbourne vs Richmond screened live on the ship.

This coaster is trans-shipping bagged rice from Thailand.

Captain Sagani (R) and the Staff Captain, a fellow Italian (L) on the bridge just prior to departure,

Vietnam seems to always have gorgeous sunsets.

I had dinner and drinks on deck as we sailed downriver. Next port, Nha Trang.

 

Golden Princess - April 2016 - Post 5

Hong Kong 27/4 - 28/4

The ship berthed at Hong Kong's new cruise terminal, built on the runway of the old Kai Tak airport.
After disembarking, I caught a shuttle to the Sky City Marriott hotel, located next to the new airport, then caught a train back into Kowloon for a walk around. The next day I caught up with Geoff and Keith, friends from two previous Dawn Princess cruises who happened to be in HK. We had a very enjoyable day together, first taking the cable car to a Buddha statue and park then had a delicious, authentic Chinese lunch at a restaurant at Tai O fishing village on the western side of Lantau Island. That night I flew home with Cathay Pacific. An excellent trip throughout.

Early morning arrival in Hong Kong, the only rainy day of the whole trip though it cleared up in the afternoon.

Ever more cramped apartment buildings everywhere.

Next morning in my hotel room and over breakfast, I'm indulging in some plane-spotting (dorky, I know).

Good friends of mine, Keith and Geoff on the cable car to the Buddha statue park.

Even on a cloudy day the 5.7km cable car ride is spectacular.

The new Hong Kong airport, paid for with British funds before the handover, is huge.

 

Burning joss-sticks as part of ceremonial tributes to ancestors.

One of the Buddhist temples at the park.

Me having a cup of Chinese green tea with Geoff and Keith.

A display at a chopstick shop.

Tai O fishing village.

The restaurant we had lunch in is at the far end of this lane.