3rd and final port: Hong Kong

admin July 8, 2018 0 Comments

The plan was to dock in Hong Kong for one day then continue on to Taiwan but the weather had different plans. Super typhoon Maria is scheduled to hit land in Taiwan at the same time our boat was scheduled to arrive so they are delaying the departure from Hong Kong until later tomorrow. That delay would cause us to miss our flight from Taiwan back to Hong Kong and then from Hong Kong back to the states, so we’ve decided to get off the ship and stay an extra day in Hong Kong starting tomorrow.

For our first day in Hong Kong, Kenzie decided to stay on the ship in the kids club. We took the hop on hop off bus and found that the city is just huge! There are so many tall and modern buildings – it’s difficult to describe!

2nd Port: Nha Trang, central Vietnam

admin July 6, 2018 0 Comments

Because we had to take the shuttle boats from the ship to the dock, it took several hours to get into town. We weren’t interested in the traditional tours offered by Princess, so Brad found a taxi driver willing to take us to a few stops that looked most interesting. Our taxi driver didn’t speak any English so when he had a question he would call a translator and have Brad talk to him on the phone, and that person would translate for the driver. We definitely felt like we were on an adventure!

Our first stop was a rural home where the women made mats (floor mats, place mats, etc). It was interesting to watch but then they quickly got us involved! I think they were just as interested in watching us as we were with them!

our next stop was at a home where they were making rice paper. Again, interesting to watch but the women there were just as interested in Kenzie and liked to touch her hair.

After our personal taxi ride tour we took a few minutes to play at the beach. We didn’t really cool off much – it was 88 degrees but felt more like 100 with the humidity and the ocean felt like bath water! There was also a ton of trash on the beach and in the water so we didn’t stay long.

1st Port: Phu My, Ho Chi Minh Vietnam

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We took a full day tour from our port in Phu My to Ho Chi Minh city, formerly known as Saigon. The best part of the trip was ridding the cyclo… like a rickshaw but with a bike. Traffic was crazy and had NO rules!!! People on motorcycles or mopeds would zip by all around going in any direction. Our guide gave us a tip for crossing a street.. “go slowly and don’t take a step backwards!” He said the drivers will recognize that we’re tourists and go slower around us.

We stopped at temple, had Pho at a very popular restaurant where Bill Clinton ate (Pho 2000), walked through a market. One section was run by the government so prices were fixed but a second section was for private sellers and prices could be negotiated. Kenzie was a natural at the art of negotiation!

Off to Cruise In Southeast Asia!

admin July 5, 2018 0 Comments

After almost 24 hours of flying, including a 16+ hour flight from San Francisco to Singapore we finally arrived. It was early morning in Singapore so we powered through to try and get ourselves on local time. After checking into the hotel we headed out to see the town.

On our first day, we wandered the streets getting our bearings, rode the subway, shopped in Chinatown, saw a Boodhist shrine, and ate at the local “Hawker Market” (a big outdoor food stand market) where the food was AMAZING!

By the time we called it a day we’d all been up almost 48 hours with just a couple of quick naps (Kenzie included). As we were walking back to our hotel at the end of the day we were all pretty tired. I was talking with Kenzie and I said that even though it’s a lot of fun, sometimes traveling is very hard like when we are this tired. She looked at me without missing a beat and said “yeah, but I love it…” For being 6 years old, this kid is a trooper!

Marina Bay Sands

admin July 2, 2018 0 Comments

Check out this amazing pool at the top of the Marina Bay Sands… more than 57 stories tall!!

Day 1 in Singapore

admin July 2, 2018 0 Comments

After being on the plane for 17 hours, we were ready to move! We checked in to our hotel, the Marina Bay Sands, and then walked around the bay to Chinatown. We had great chicken rice, ramen, prawns, and edamame.

Flight 108 from Portland to SanFran, then flight 109 to Singapore!

admin July 1, 2018 0 Comments

Flammable Gas Training

admin June 21, 2018 0 Comments

Tonight was flammable gas training with DPSST. Makes for good pictures as the sun starts to go down.

Kenzie’s Big Buddy

admin June 8, 2018 0 Comments

Kindergarteners are paired with 8th graders at MRA. Every Wednesday is buddy day and they get to spend time together. The 8th graders also show their little buddies around the school and look out for them during free play times. Kenzie had two buddies: Wyatt and Kayla. During the eighth grade graduation, all the little buddies from Trillium said some encouraging words to their big buddies as they go off to high school. During the eighth grade graduation, all the little buddies from Trillium said some encouraging words to their big buddies as they go off to high school. Most of the 8th grad buddies came back today to share some encouraging words as their little buddies graduated from kindergarten! Here is Kenzie’s buddy Wyatt. Her other buddy, Kayla couldn’t make it today.

Kindergarten graduation

admin June 8, 2018 0 Comments

Kenzie’s graduation from MRA’s Trillium Kindergarten class… she’s a big first grader now!