Friday 25 March 2015

Sailing from Hong Kong to Nha Trang

The overnight sea passage was not as bad as the captain predicted and I enjoyed a really good night’s sleep.  This morning I have breakfast in the Grand Dining Room and then attend a presentation on shore excursions available in Vietnam.  Later this morning the guest lecturer, Professor Teofilo Ruiz, offers the first in a series of lectures on the development of human civilization in Southeast Asia, covering the development of pre-hominids into humans as the world changed from societies of hunter-gatherers to societies based on agriculture and language.

Even though I enjoy an excellent Italian lunch on the outdoor deck of the Terrace Café, I still indulge in high tea at 4:30pm.  The highlight of tea is the Australian Lemington layer cake (which I have enjoyed on other cruises--I must get the recipe); the scones, unfortunately, were not very good at all.  After a relaxing day I have a light dinner in the Terrace Café, deciding that four meals a day is really way too much.

Saturday 26 March 2015

Sailing from Nha Trang to Saigon, Vietnam

Happily I awake to bright skies and sunshine this morning as we sail into the beautiful harbor of Nha Trang.  This is my second visit to the city and since I did the city highlights tour last year--again, there are pictures on the blog--I opt for a different tour today.

Since the tour begins at 9:15, I indulge in room service breakfast.  The Nautica docks at exactly 9am as scheduled and soon I am off on a tour of "Rural Nha Trang."  The bus heads north from the cruiseport through the heart of the city, along the beautiful beachfront boulevard.  Nha Trang's beaches are known as the best in Vietnam and the bus ride allows for spectacular views.  We are heading for our first stop at a local Buddhist Temple and school where we can watch (and listen) as the youngsters learn their ABC's (I think they knew we were coming).  

NHa Trang Beaches and High-Rise Hotels

Sailing into Nha Trang Harbor

 Nha Trang Harbor

Nha Trang Beachfront

                       Nha Trang Beachfront Parl

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Local Buddhist Temple and School

The temple is still within the crowded metropolis, but we are soon driving into the countryside for a visit to a local market that is the primary shopping stop for residents.  There is an enormous display of fruits and vegetables and smaller stalls where fish and meat are prepared for sale.  From the market we take a short walk to the Community Hall, where civic and religious events are celebrated.  In the courtyard we see a demonstration of mat weaving by three generations of one family:  79-year old grandfather, daughter, and grand-daughter all help weaving the mats from the abundant bamboo strips available all over Vietnam.

The next stops on the tour are the most interesting.  We first visit a private home--estate is more appropriate--along the banks of a small river.  We are serenaded by a three-piece band playing traditional instruments, while we enjoy platters of fresh, local fruit.  The estate has a large swimming pool and several guest houses.  The next visit takes us to a more typical house, with three rooms, including a small but utilitarian kitchen.

Further out in the countryside we ride along beautiful rice fields, with the grains swaying gently in the breeze.  We stop for a rather Disney-like demonstration of rice-harvesting, but are rewarded with more realistic views of the local animals used to help with the hard work.  The last stop of the tour is a small rice-paper workshop where we witness the transformation of the small grains into sheets of fine writing paper.

It's a relaxing 45 minute drive back to the pier where we arrive at 2pm.  Fortunately the dining venues have been kept open later than usual so folks out on tour can still enjoy a good lunch--I have a wonderful surf and turf sandwich (lobster and steak) from the Waves Grill on the deck near the pool.

After lunch is a good time for some rest to prepare for tonight's dinner in the Polo Grill, another one of the specialty restaurants on board the Nautica:  jumbo shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, NY strip steak with battered onion rings, and vanilla ice cream.  I start a bottle of Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir Carneros (2013), which I will finish at another meal.  The captain has indicated that we will have a rough night at sea, but he promises to be another bright day when we get to Phu My, the port of Saigon tomorrow.