Home at last! It was a very long return trip. Chad and Shannon picked me up at Orlando airport and I was so happy to see them; I didn't want to stop hugging them. It was hard to explain traveling back in time to Shannon, but that is what I did, so I guess that makes me a time traveler. Going west over the international date line at the beginning of the trip didn't bother me, but traveling east on the way back was confusing. I left Singapore at 5:45 am Monday and arrived in Hong Kong at 9:30 am. The 14 hour flight from Hong Kong to Chicago started out in the morning light, then went to dark for several hours and then to morning light again and I landed at 11:30 am in Chicago on Monday morning! Another 2 1/2 hour flight plus loosing one hour put me into Orlando at 5:00 pm. I'm too tired to ponder this any further tonight. After my travels, my thoughts are of my good fortune to have a beautiful family, wonderful friends, and a place to live that's safe and comfortable. My travel afforded me glimpses into the lives of others not as fortunate and consequently, I have gained a new appreciation for the prosperity and freedom we enjoy here in the United States. God bless America - I'm so glad to be home!

Package received!

Sent from my iPhone

Waiting for Mom's arrival!

Sent from my iPhone

I'll be at the airport to pick you up!!! Anxious to hear the stories!!! .....Chad

Sent from my iPhone

Arrived Hong Kong! We flew over the city, Victoria bay and Kowloon. I even recognized the bridge that Paula and I took years ago that leads to communist China. We were turned around there and sent back because I didn't have the appropriate visa. It looks like the pollution has gotten worse since then. There's a heavy veil of smog preventing a clear view of the distant mountains. Such a shame because this area is beautiful. On to Chicago!

The Singapore sojourn took us all around the city and the guide explained what all of the buildings were and a bit of history relating to each. Of course, now I don't remember any of it. What I can say is that Singapore is very clean and efficient; one reason being that people are not allowed to retire here if they are still capable of working. The older citizens become street sweepers, waiters or tour guides. Our guide is a 71 year old woman who does not yet qualify for assistance. She is so fit and spry I don't think she will ever get to "the golden years". She took us to Chinatown, little India, the Singapore river, the Merlion, uptown and downtown. She was extremely knowledgable and proud of her town. Only Singapore dollars are accepted at most of the shoppes; I only had American and Australian, so I didn't buy any souvenirs. I didn't see anything that I couldn't do without anyway. It's very hot and humid here which zaps your energy quickly. I'm ready to check into my hotel and prepare for the long journey home. I can't wait to see my family again. I won't take this long of a trip again - I need a shannon/Eva fix!

OMG - the Singapore botanical gardens are awesome. I'd pay airfare just to come and spend more time here.

Two very long days at sea make me realize that a two week cruise is a bit too long especially when traveling alone. The solo travelers have formed their little cliques and since my interests don't include "hooking up" or boozing until you're face down on the table, I'm no longer included. I've been reading a lot and staring out at the waves. I've enjoyed the company of the couples at my dinner table and have found them to be very interesting, but they go their own way after dinner. I feel too conspicuous sitting alone for the evening activities so I retreat to my cabin early and read. I will definitely make an effort to be active in the Windermere travel club so as to avoid traveling alone in the future; just having someone to go to the activities with would make traveling much more pleasurable. I've enjoyed the ports of call and my excursions were all worthwhile. Tomorrow morning, we dock in Singapore and I'm looking forward to my tour there; it is supposed to be a very clean ultra modern city with amazing botanical gardens, the largest in the world for orchids. I'll have an early evening since I'll need to get up around 3:00 am in order to make a 5:45am flight to Hong Kong followed by a 15 hour flight to Chicago and the final leg into Orlando Monday evening. I'm really looking forward to getting home and seeing my family; I've thought of all of you throughout this trip and wished many times that it could have been a shared experience. My anger with Dennis persists and has only been intensified by seeing all the retired couples on board holding hands, laughing and having a good time, making me continue to question what was so bad about our life that made Dennis choose to desert me after 45 years together? We had been through so much, the loss of a child, financial hardships, times of unemployment, surgeries, not to mention, a million wonderful times. What were his expectations? Sometimes I think I'm going mad looking for answers that can only come from Dennis and of course then the problem would be - are the answers only more lies? This trip has not helped me resolve those issues, but it has shown me that I can manage on my own, which is little consolation since I have no choice.

I thought Shannon and Eva might be interested to know that in Bali, a baby isn't considered a human being until it's 3 months old. At that time, they take it to the temple and have a celebration ceremony and give the baby its first jewelry - usually something made of silver (a very big industry on the island) because silver is considered to be very pure. The babies may have nice jewelry, but they don't have the same lifestyle that we enjoy in the United States. It's extremely hot and humid but there's no pool to cool off in and no air conditioning. I didn't see any beautiful playgrounds to play in like you have at home only bare dirt lots that looked filthy. I hope you girls give mom and an extra big hug tonight and thank them for the lifestyle they are working so hard to provide for you. I'll be at sea for the next two days and then we dock in Singapore! These pictures are from a Balinese opera which was a lot of fun to watch.

Another temple - extraordinary detail

Bali is an island of extreme contrasts. The entrance to the port was littered with abandoned boats that looked like they had been damaged by storm and then deserted. The port was clean and we were greeted by exotic dancers who looked to be 9-12 years old. The tour bus goes very fast through areas that look third world mixed with modern hotels. I think they go fast so we can't take pictures. We passed many beautiful sculptures but I couldn't get the camera up in time to snap a photo. On the other hand, we stopped for 45 minutes at a silver jewelry making facilities where we could buy their wares. I couldn't stay inside because the inscence was too strong and started giving me a headache. Im sure everywhere we stop today will also have inscence burning. Im in trouble. A bottle of water on the bus is $10.

The moped drivers are fearless, coming straight at these hugh tour buses and swerving out of the way at the very last moment. They are everywhere and are the common mode of transportation

Odd, on an island overgrown with tropical vegetation, there are numerous nurseries.

Ha, there was a Ralph Lauren clothing shop surrounded by rubble and waste!

Alsaks cruise

Wil and I want to take a cruise to Alaska this summer for our 25th anniv. We better get on the planning or it wont happen. Any suggestions? Thought I would contact Chad and see if he has any ideas of where to start.

Love Ya,

Debra Sue

 

We humans are a silly bunch; they had a ten dollar sale at the shoppes and I watched as a mass of people descended on the tables like a horde of locust on a field of wheat. You would have thought that they were selling the last merchandise available on the planet. I had just wasted $2 on the slot machines as I walked through the casino on my way to the trivia games, so I was in no mood to join the shopping madness. Trivia has been a big hit on this cruise; lots of fun without feeling stupid. Last nights entertainment was a female singer/comedienne who did equally great impressions of both Cher and Pavorotti. She was amazing. (I think she was a she.) Tomorrow is the cultural tour in Bali which should be very interesting. Many Australians have decided to stay on the ship due to warnings from the prime minister that they may be targeted by terrorists. What a world we live in.

I just went to a cupcake demonstration and couldn't help but think of Shannon. It was funny - someone asked for the recipe they use on the ship -something like five pounds flour, three dozen eggs, four pounds butter etc.

I've met so many interesting people on board; acquaintances of the moment, because you can visit with them over a meal and not again for the remainder of the cruise. I met one couple whose goal is to visit all 7 continents; they have one to go - Antarctica. Another lady from England had a goal with her husband to see each of the United States. They had seen all except Tennessee and Michigan when the husband died. Most of their travels were by "Winnebago" caravan during which they became good friends with the other campers. Upon learning of the husbands passing, the "others" got together and made arrangements to meet Margaret and travel with her to those two states so that she could fulfill the dream. see - there are compassionate Americans out there. I don't know how they manage it, but most of the people I've met have been everywhere. One man said the only place his wife hadn't been is miramar and she won't be going there because he doesn't want to go! I think in theUSA we are making a mistake of not doing more worldwide travel. Today I had lunch with an Australian who was recovering from prostate cancer when his wife of 42 years decided to walk away. Hummm - that story has a familiar ring. Then I went to a presentation about Alaska cruises. I think we need to start making plans for that trip as a group - who is in? Family, friends, children, grandchildren; I'll bet we could get a good group rate! I'm ready - I'm in!

Wallabies

This is Paula ….so of course, I had to look up some info on Wallabies.

 

There are 30 species of wallabies that are native to Australia and Tasmania.

 

An adult wallaby weighs about 15 – 26 kg. The males are 77-88 cm in height and the females are about 70-84 cm tall. Their tail is 80 cm long, which is almost the length of their entire body. (hmmm….so what’s that in American?  My metric converters tell me somewhere around 50 pounds & 3 feet tall.)

 

Wallabies are herbivores and eat mainly roots, grass, tree leaves and ferns. They rest during the day and are active mainly at night.

 

The collective name for a group of wallabies is a ‘mob’. (Ha!  Mom saw the Australian Mob!!  I LOVE this!!)

 

And they’re ADORABLE. 

 

Tonight I say goodbye to Australia and head for Benoa, Bali. It will be sad to leave this beautiful country knowing that I most likely will not pass this way again. There is so much more to do and see here, but, I am so fortunate to have experienced the parts that I did and to have met some very interesting people. I will be out of communication for the next two days at sea but I will be thinking of all of you and wishing you were here too.

We were very happy to see a bunch of wallabies along the roadside; they are smaller than I thought they would be and they can really move! It was funny to watch them hop away. Only one remained stationary and stared at us as we passed. He was just as curious about us as we were of him. So cute! Too bad we couldn't stop in time for pictures.

Tolmer Falls - another gorgeous site just a short hike from the road. The lower drop is about 500 feet into a black pool at the bottom which is walled by black and rose colored cliffs. It was breath taking and we just stood there taking it all in. I met a couple from Houston on this tour. The man is an environmental engineer who worked in Minnesota one winter. He told the story of a coworker who went to the outhouse and actually sat on the toilet. They had to call 911 to get him off. Ouch! We're headed back to Darwin which will take about two hours. The guide says we may see some kangaroos as dusk sets in. I hope I can stay awake - the heat has drained my energy.

Wangi for alls - beautiful!

Litchfield National Park
Amazing territory with scrub brush mixed in with palms and eucalyptus. It's not exactly pretty because it is in constant renewal after brush fires which play an essential role in the life cycle of the ecosystem. The weird element of the area is the termite mounds - see photo.

1/19/15 Darwin
Darwin is the last Australian port and is in the north just south of Indonesia. It is extremely hot here and I am on an eight hour tour! I hope I survive! This is the port bombed by the Japanese in 1942. It's Australia's Pearl Harbor, something I never learned about in school. The town was wiped out again in 1974 by a cyclone. Homes are expensive because of codes regarding cyclones and termites.

Thinking of you!

Hi Melody! Thank you for the birthday wishes! I think of u everyday and am happy to be able to follow you on your adventures. I know how difficult it can be to be alone but stay strong and remember that u deserve to enjoy your life.

Sent from my iPad

It just noticed that I missed Teri Herbster's birthday yesterday 😒. Teri, I hope you had a good one!

Another day at sea. Very relaxed atmosphere. I'm currently in one of the lounges having a glass of wine before going to dinner. A nice Asian band is playing American music and doing a very nice job. People are dancing and having a good time. Today the ocean was so calm that the waves didn't break the surface. It was like watching semi-soft jello. Tomorrow we arrive in Darwin. I'll be on an 8 hour excursion which will probably be exhausting but interesting. It goes quiet a ways inland. I hope to see a kangaroo or a crocodile. I miss all of you back home and think of you constantly. Wish you were here!

Girls Pics

Miss you, Mom - got the pics from our Christmas photo shoot today - just thought I'd send you one in case you are able to see the blog posts!  Love you so much!

I did take that walk and am glad I did. The port at cairns is beautiful with wonderful gardens and playgrounds for the kids. I haven't seen that at any USA ports. I had a nice walk along the wharf area and down the esplanade in town. There was a pool area in the middle of town and the locals were enjoying the water too cool off from the heat. I went wading. On my return to the ship, they greeted us with iced towels - it was heavenly! I was dripping with sweat, red in the face and overheated. Those towels provided wonderful relief. The heat took all my energy so I went to bed after dinner.

We did Kennedy Space Center today! Hope you're having a blast on the cruise!!!!

Sent from my iPhone

I was going to take a walk into Cairns (pronounced Kane's) but it was so hot when I got on deck, I thought better of it. Besides, my eyes got sunburned yesterday at the reef. I'll just relax and read today. I'm worried because I have tours scheduled in Darwin and Bali and it is even hotter there. I'm finding it awkward to be traveling solo. The ship is filled with retired couples. They hold hands and sit close, smile and dance. They are sharing life. This has a depressing effect on me as I thought my retirement years would be similar. I can't help but think about how Dennis has a travel companion and has left me with no one to share my life. It angers me that his despicable actions can invade my vacation and bring me down. The solo travelers seem desperate to connect. An old guy named Alan keeps following me around. He is stooped like Dennis, has bad teeth and bad breath. I'd rather be alone.
Cairns is a beautiful little port city, surviving on tourism like Airlie Beach. The Aussies tell me that their economy is still down after the recession and they want more cruise ships to dock. The guide at Arlie was angry that his tour was rushed because the ship had to leave earlier than planned. He was doing his best to provide everything as advertised on his tour and was concerned that he would be given poor ratings resulting in the cruise ship dropping his business - all through no fault of his own. We've all heard that story before in one form or another. Maybe I should brave the heat and walk into Cairns and spend some money to do my part to help the Aussies.

1/15/15 Great Barrier Reef

At this very moment I am sitting atop the Great Barrier Reef, one of the biggest natural wonders in the world. It is everything I ever imagined and more. We are about two hours offshore of Cairns. The water is calm and perfect for snorkeling. I've taken some pictures from the tour boat, but my cell phone simply cannot capture the grandeur of this reef from out of water. I will purchase the DVD. Tell Shannon and Eva that I saw Nemo up close. He is a very friendly little fellow. It's like swimming in a fish tank. There are about 450 species of hard corals and 150 species of soft corals. The soft ones are mesmerizing as they move with the currents. So many sizes shapes and colors! Everybody should experience this place. The islands out here are idyllic and so beautiful, but I'm told it is because of recent rains. It was all brown a couple of weeks ago. Australia has been in a drought for a few years. Most of the homes are modest and have a huge tank that collects rainwater from the roof. On another note, tell Ross Stauffer that it looks like Australia could use a few more dentists - dental hygiene and care is definitely lacking.

Sent from my iPhone

I toured Airlie Beach today. It,s a beautiful quaint port that survives exclusively on tourism. We took a tender from the ship and then a bus up into the rain forest. It was reminiscent of other places like Hawaii and Puerto Vallarta. The guide was very knowledgable and made it a fun day despite the extreme heat.

Hi there!