Bangkok To Ship

     Here we are already into the afternoon of the first sea day. We have already been on the ship for a day but with all the things needed to get done after getting here, the least of which is to get the wireless set up, we are finally able to sit down and spend a few minutes going over the last day and a half. We did have a time change last night, lost another hour but we were still a bit tired from the last few days. However, we finally got a very good night's rest.

    Yesterday started at 7:30 for the second day of touring. We had completed all the pre-boarding checks and had our luggage already picked up for direct delivery to the ship. We were on the bus for nearly 3 hours before we arrived at the Nong Nooch Village Company for a Thai Cultural show and an Elephant show. We were given 20 minutes to visit an orchard garden but were rushed back on the bus after 15 minutes. I barely had time to snap a few pictures of the beautiful flowers! We were rushed off to the Cultural show where the venue by North American standards was terrible. The place was packed because of the ongoing holiday. We had to stand through the show. As Judy said she had visions of this whole structure collapsing!

Then we rushed off to see the elephant show. It was quite amazing! You could get picked up by an elephant for a photo! (and a price). The show itself had the elephants doing various tricks – riding a “bicycle”, throwing darts a balloon dart board (they hit it), bowling, painting on shirts (trees, flowers, etc) and things like that. By the end of the show, we were feeling sorry for the elephants. Must be a natural reaction for us! After the show, back on the bus for about 1 hour to the resort where we had a wonderful buffet lunch. This was so much better than the day before. The hot Thai dishes were excellent and they did not let the serving dishes run out. Then it was the hour ride to the ship. In all we were not very impressed with the way the whole day ran.

Boarding was very easy because of the pre boarding that we completed the day before. The emergency station drill was held quite late (6:30) because of the late sailing time. As a result all dining rooms were declared as “open seating”. What that meant is that the early and late fixed dinning serving wee all into one. Then you had groups wanting to sit together. There was plenty of irate people who were “put out” because they cough not get their way. Being good Canadians, we simply went to the front of the line and were seated quickly! (No yelling from us!) The prime rib was excellent!

    Our cabin is located very close to the back of the ship (any further and we would be in a dingy!) However it has certain advantages. The food court is one deck up and the aft swimming pool is up 3 steps. Judy calls it her private pool. We did a walk and then a swim before breakfast today! Line dancing, attending various draws, ballroom dance lesson, eating sushi and just relaxing followed. Judy just decided to go for another swim before we go to the “Elite” pre-dinner hors d'oeuvers with the discounted drinks, then entertainment, then the art champagne evening (invite only) followed by dinner. Feeling tired already! Sea day tomorrow.