by Bob Sparrow
First, let me give a snappy, albeit tardy, salute and a “Thank you for your service” to all those VETERANS out there – who are mostly not given enough credit for their willingness to put the ultimate sacrifice on the line for our country. It was a most interesting blog that Suzanne wrote last week about our grandfather’s time in the Army during WWI and WWII. If you missed it, it’s definitely worth going back to read.
My next blog will come to you, assuming there will be adequate connectivity and sobriety, from the South China Sea. Linda and I will leave L.A. on Saturday, Nov 23rd, change planes in the Philippines and ultimately arrive at one of the world’s most beautiful airports on Monday afternoon, Nov 25 in Singapore. Yes, we will entirely miss Sunday! We will shake off the jetlag and spend three days exploring Singapore, hopefully seeing things like the Gardens by the Bay, Flower Dome & Cloud Forest, and the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. All the while enjoying some amazing and very different, possibly spicy, food.
Then we will be boarding the Celebrity ship, Solstice on Thanksgiving Eve. Thanksgiving Day will be ‘at sea’, but because we’ll be on the other side of the International Date Line, it will still be Wednesday back here, so perhaps I’ll let you know how this years’ turkey tastes a day before you get to taste it.
Our first cruise stop will be at the small Thailand island of Koh Samui – Yeah, I’ve never heard of it either, but it’s known for its stunning beaches, its iconic Big Buddha, the colorful Wat Plai Laem temple (what ever that is), as well as some interestingly and probably spicy food. We then head into Bangkok, where we spend two days and have set up tours to see the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, the world’s largest reclining Buddha, not to be confused with the world’s largest ball of twine, which is in Kansas, just west of Manhattan. Never mind, I guess you wouldn’t confuse those two. Meanwhile, back in Bangkok, we’ll probably have some more spicy food and get back on the ship for another ‘day at sea’.
We will be traveling north to Vietnam. Our first port of call there is Ho Chi Mihn City, or as many of us
remember it, Saigon, and we certainly didn’t want to Miss Saigon. We have a tour for exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels, well, I have a tour to explore the tunnels, Linda gets a bit claustrophobic so, given her interest in opera, she may be visiting the Saigon Opera House; it’s probably best that I’m missing that as I’m ‘opera-phobic’! Back on the boat and heading north to Nha Trang. Hold it! We just received word that due to port construction issues, we will not be visiting Nha Trang, so we get another ‘day at sea’ before stopping in Danang and Hue (pronounced ‘whay’). We have one more Vietnam stop in Hanoi, where we will spend two days, and have set up tours to visit the ‘Hanoi Hilton’, where captured U.S. soldiers we held as prisoners of war. We have also scheduled a tour of the military museum there. We have heard that it is a bit bias in their presentation of the war, but, as they say, winners get to write the history. So we’ll try not to act like ugly Americans and just eat some spicy food, and get back on the boat.
We have another ‘day at sea’! OK, we will now have had four days ‘at sea’ and we should have explored every nook and cranny of this boat, which essentially means we’ve been in every bar and by now they’re probably out of pina coladas! Now that I think about it, we could probably visit the gym, although web will have no idea where it might be.
Our final port of call is Hong Kong, where we originally had only about a day and a half before leaving for home, but we added another day to see more of the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, and have set up daytime and nighttime tours of this magnificent city.
Then a short 12.5 hour flight home in the back of the bus.
THANK YOU BOB & A Vietnam US Veteran🫡🇺🇸✝️🤗. Gratitude is Never Forgotten 😇🙏
So many of these locations are fresh still, Blessings of abundance and peace, and sweet new memories ⚜️☀️💞💞
As always enjoying your travel itinerary knowledge and wit’😅
Thanks Flo, hope you enjoy the journey!
Wow what an amazing adventure you guys will have. So happy for you!! Safe travels my friend.
Thanks Liz, always good to hear from you. Hope you can follow along vicariously over the next few weeks.
Wow, sounds like an awesome trip! Have fun! And Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks Dianne, and happy Thanksgiving to you. Hope the trip is a fun as it sounds.
You two are the luckiest and happiest travelers on earth!!!! Enjoy!!!! Need to see pictures!!
We are envious!! SOOOO FUN!!
Great to hear from you guys – we feel very fortunate to be able to get to a lot of places. Hope you follow along via the blog.
Sounds like a great time! Be safe and enjoy every minute (and bar) !!!🥂🍾
Thanks Marie, I’m pretty sure we’ll enjoy ourselves and the bar!
Bob: I admire your courage in visiting Viet Nam. I do not have particularly fond memories of the Peoples Republic and have no desire to go back.
Singapore and Hong Kong are two of my favorite spots in the far east. While in the Navy, I bought a bunch of stereo and photographic equipment in Hong Kong (cheaper there than in Japan). Seven years after I got out of the service, I visited both cities on a trip around the world. Both had changed, but in many ways, for the better.
HK was still a Crown Colony. The weather turned nasty and we had to leave early. I remember having dinner in the HK Hilton while they were covering the windows with plywood. The next morning we crossed Victoria Harbor in near gale winds enroute to the airport. Great memories.
I enjoy reading about your exploits.
I hear you – I understand that ‘they’ aren’t too fond of us either. Hope we get good weather, but whatever happens, it will be an adventure. Always good to hear from you John!
I will look forward to every detail of another one of your fabulous trips. Thanks, again, for taking me along!
You are so easy to travel with!!! Thanks Pam, I hope it’s an adventure for all of us!
Bob you don’t know me but am a friend of Suzanne’s
Have been to VN twice one 19 years ago and last Dec Jan. First trip I did the tunnels and it was a fabulous experience however I am 5’2” tall and was able to duck walk through them. I believe you are a big guy and it might not be enjoyable. Also the tunnel is full of bats and creepy crawler things.Justwanted you to know. If you can one of the most fun things to do in Saigon is the 4 hour vespsa night tour. Even though both vespas and their traffic are two of the scariest things you will see that was the highlight last Jan Saigon at night changed so much since last time they now have 80 story office apartment buildings And by the way no where you are going has spicy food unless you ask for it so don’t worry. Have a marvelous time I’m jealous it’s my favorite area of the world
It will be a wonderful trip, Bob! I have been to most of the ports you are visiting, but haven’t had additional time in many. Will be excited to hear your impressions. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks Janet; any recommendations for places we should see or not see?
Such a fabulous itinerary!!!
Singapore and HongKong are two of my favorite destinations…..go to Stanley Market in HK for some fun market shopping (you must barter) and then lunch in one of the great little local restaurants by the water…bit of a California vibe☺️
Enjoy every minute!!🍾🥂