Cambodia

The people were very pleasant and eager to please and it is easy to forget that until the late 1990s they had experienced many years of war and difficulty. The local guide, probably in his late 30s or early 40s remembered as a child seeing dead bodies left by the side of the road after the fighting. He also had malaria twice.

The evening dance performance (private for Silversea), which took place in the hotel garden, was excellent. It was different from most others in that each dance had a narrative, which was explained to the audience. One of them was quite dark – the monkey ran off with the princess.

Angkor

The World Heritage site covers a vast acreage and there are hundreds of temples in various states of preservation and decay. Archaeological teams from many countries are working on the restorations, which will take tens, maybe hundreds, of years. It is impressive because of its vastness but also because of its intricacy. Wall carvings which looked like Egyptian ones. Wall carvings with battle narratives like the Assyrian ones in the British Museum.

TSH managed to stay on the paths. Under orders from Diva, who has heard of the unexploded land mines which are said to be still present around the site.

The temples are located in forest and some of the trees are growing straight through some of the temples. When the group was getting tired and hot and wanted to go back to the hotel, all agreed that they weren’t leaving until they’d seen ‘the temple with the tree’. Well, there are several of them and all were photographed, especially by TSH. There seems to be a connection with Angelina Jolie and Tomb Raiders. TSH thought he’d seen it but then admitted he meant ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’.

The museum contains many artefacts from historic sites in Cambodia. Perhaps the most impressive gallery was ‘the room of 1000 buddhas’. All shapes and sizes. Metal and wood. Different positions.

The Silversea group is small, only about 12, and all except TSH and Diva are from the USA. At lunch time, there was a lot of interest in an upturned glass, resting on a small plate, with a flower and a clear liquid inside it. TSH immediately realised that this was an accident waiting to happen and warned the people down his end of the table that it was to be left alone. But during the course of an excellent buffet lunch, not one but two people upended a glass to see what would happen. Well, water all over the table is what happened. Mortification on the part of the meddlers and amused tolerance from the waiting staff.

Monkeys, hens, cows, horses and many large  butterflies were seen and parrots or owls heard.

In which TSH and Diva are hot and tired

An early departure as soon as Silver Shadow docked in Chan Mai. During the drive to Da Trang, TSH and Diva saw large new western-style developments as well as small traditional shacks. The stops included an embroidery workshop, a traditional market, a museum of Indian style sculptures and China Beach, where a lot of people died during the war in the 1960s and 1970s. The flight to Siem Reap was smooth – on a fairly new plane – and both airports were very modern. The hotel at Siem Reap is the Sokha Angkor resort – quite magnificent. The arrival at 19:00 was later than expected, so everyone was very tired, as well as hot and sticky. Time for a quick shower before dinner.

Embarking Silver Shadow

The taxi driver did not know how to get into the cruise terminal. He turned into the multi-storey car park, could not operate the barrier and sat there shouting at the ‘help’ panel whilst a queue of beeping motorists built up behind. Eventually he paid to be let in, there was a quick tour of the car park, and the unloading point was located.

In contrast with some recent cruises, the butler is experienced and seems efficient. The late afternoon sail away was accompanied by a dramatic red sunset. So all is well and the chocolates are excellent as ever. But the layout of the menu has changed and the New York strip steak has gone. Perhaps you can still ask for it.

Getting around Hong Kong

For those who have not been there, this is what it is like. A strip of water no wider than the Mersey between Pier Head and Birkenhead. The water is sea – one side is mainland China and the other is Hong Kong Island. A mile or two back from the water on each side are steep mountains. So all the development is crammed into the narrow coastal strips. Which is why they build up and up and up, with little space between the skyscrapers. After dark, all this is lit and some buildings have spectacular light shows on their sides and tops.

Diva and TSH are staying on the mainland and today went onto the island to visit the ‘Peak’, from where there is an excellent view across HK. The first part of the trip was along the extensive subway network which extends around most MTR (underground mass transit) stations. Then the MTR itself. Then the high level walkways which keep pedestrians and vehicles separate on the Island. Then some pavement. Then the Peak tramway, which is steep and, for Diva, white knuckle. Then the many escalators inside the Peak building, which is full of tourist shops, to arrive on its roof and survey the view.

All the above then happened again in reverse, except this time it was via Causeway Bay, a huge shopping area. Unlike in parts of the mainland, the international designer outlets are interspersed with traditional Chinese shops. A fascinating mix.

Special note: Even Diva cannot imagine why there are so many shops. She has lost count of Dior and Prada outlets. Who buys all this stuff? Way beyond any budget for these two travellers.

Bird and animal viewings: Black kites over the water, large butterflies, insects which look like UK dragonflies, a squirrel (pretty much like the ones in the garden at home but hey, this is a holiday, so this is a remarkable event).

Getting there

Getting there

The flight with Cathay Pacific went well, as the entertainment system, including the films, was easy and fairly intuitive. Is Diva the first person to watch American Sniper immediately followed by Frozen and enjoy both of them?  The only slight problem was that Diva caught a jacket button in the food tray and the button was smashed.

Hong Kong is as spectacular as ever and the waterfront is even more developed.  The temperature is high 20s C – warmer than experienced all summer in the UK this year. The room at the InterContinental has a harbour view. 

Getting ready

So the first drama has occurred. Cathay Pacific, chosen because they fly to Hong Kong direct from Manchester, have a baggage allowance by weight. BA, the normal carrier, and Virgin, who supplied the flight to Barbados for the Amazon cruise, do it by pieces. So on that last cruise there were three bags, amounting to about 65 Kg, with no excess baggage payment required. The Cathay Pacific allowance on the website said 25 Kg each. A significant reduction, especially when this is a very long cruise and many clothes and much toothpaste and mascara will be required. Diva announced airily that an extra bag (or two) could be taken and paid for. But the excess baggage charge is 60 USD per Kg. About £1000 each way for a suitcase. Even Diva does not want clothes and shoes that much.

Much research went into checking where toiletries and other heavy items could be bought in HK. TSH weighed lots of items and a spreadsheet was started. A tub of E45 weighs the same as Diva's white evening sandals. Slightly less than a pair of TSH's linen trousers. Trading positions were established.

And then the tickets arrived and there was great joy. The allowance is 30 Kg each. So not as much as last year but TSH and Diva can cope!!!