Archive for October 2009

Asia 2009: Day 21 (The voyage home)

Oct 28th

Posted by Jeff Keller in Asia Trip 2009

On Tuesday it was time for the long flight home to SFO. I left Hong Kong at 12:30pm local time, and arrived at SFO 3.5 hours before I left (well, you know I mean). I stayed up for as long as I could, and then went to sleep at around 6pm. Today is going to be a tough day, for sure.

On this flight I had the new United business class seat. While it’s leaps and bounds above the old seat, there’s not enough room for my big feet, and climbing over the legs of the person in the aisle seat (especially when they’re sleeping) requires Olympic strength.

The house is one piece, the kitties were happy to see me, and I have a stack of a bills nearly a foot thick to go through. It was a fun trip, but now it’s time to get back to reality.

Total distance flown: 12,327 mi
Total distance sailed: 3,384 nm
Total distance walked: Too much
Pounds gained: I don’t want to know

: HKG airport

: My ride home

: New UA biz class seat

: Seat controls

: Games!

: Map of our route

Asia 2009: Day 20 (Hong Kong, Part 2)

Oct 26th

Posted by Jeff Keller in Asia Trip 2009

2 comments

We were off the Volendam at 9:30am this morning. I headed toward the Intercontinental Hotel, which may very well be the nicest place I’ve ever stayed. The guy at the front desk said that check-in wasn’t until later, but he’d try to find a room for me. I sat down and a few minutes later he came over and said I had a junior suite! They escorted me to my room and I find a panoramic view of Victoria Harbor on one side, and part of Kowloon on the other. It has an actual entryway, a large sitting area, flatscreen TV, nice bed, and huge bathroom. Sweet!

After that it was off to the world’s largest outdoor seated bronze Buddha (they really qualify these things), which took a lot longer than we thought. The ride up there was worth the price of admission — it’s a 6 km long gondola ride over the mountains. After that we headed to Mong Kok for a very quick shopping trip, and then back to the Ocean Terminal to say goodbye to the Volendam, have dinner, and then watch the light show again.

Tomorrow morning: to the airport for a long flight home…

: Part of my junior suite at the Intercontinental

: Quite a view out of the main window

: A Canon sign out one window

: Work area

: Old clock tower just down the street from the hotel

: The ticket prices for the Ngong Ping 360 gondola ride, or Buddhism for profit

: If you pay extra, you can have a cabin with a clear floor

: You turn three times on this journey

: Great view of the airport

: Fake old Chinese village

: The world’s largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha with a Starbucks down the street

: Getting closer

: Naturally, the sun was in the worst possible place

: Bodhisattva, I think

: Side view

: Gate to a *real* monestary

: I needed one more Buddhist temple to finish off the trip

: Nice inside

: Love the dragon carvings outside

: Back down we go

: I didn’t tell my friends about the accident that occured in 2007 until we got off

: Crazy shopping street

: Saying goodbye to the Volendam before it leaves for Vietnam

: Night view from my room

Asia 2009: Day 19 (Hong Kong, Part 1)

Oct 25th

Posted by Jeff Keller in Asia Trip 2009

1 comment

We arrived in Hong Kong at about 9am, and I was on the bus for a 5 hour tour at around 10:30. Our tour went to Aberdeen, Stanley Market, and Victoria Peak, with lots of scenery along the way. I came back to the ship at 4, made a quick run for the “happy room” (Hong Kong speak for bathroom) and then I went back into town. Hong Kong reminds me of Manhattan, but ten times crazier.

Here are my photos from the first of my two days in Hong Kong:

: Approaching Victoria Harbor

: Pilot boat

: Entering the harbor

: Not everyone lives in high rises here

: Looking back the way we came in

: Hong Kong Island

: The famous Star Ferry (which I rode later)

: Quite a mix of old and new in Aberdeen

: Apparently this place isn’t known for its food

: And after seeing the back of it, I’m not sure that I’d want to eat there

: Mostly government housing

: Sampans

: Guard dog

: Our sampan driver

: Couldn’t resist taking this one

: Stanley Market – tourist madhouse

: Nice location on the water though

: Lots of European restaurants

: Is this Monte Carlo?

: Repulse Bay (from the bus)

: Peak Tram station

: Quite a view from the top

: The station sticks out like a sore thumb, and it can be seen from almost anywhere in HK

: Our tram arrives

: Sun setting behind HK island, with the Volendam in the foreground

: Still THE place to stay in Kowloon

: Flower Market Road

: Flowers

: Pitcher plant?

: Bird market

: Birds

: More birds

: Many of the birds come in nice cages with fancy bowls

: At least they don’t eat them (I think)

: Bird chow

: Cool bird

: Lots of markets in this part of town

: Goldfish market

: Poor things

: Yes they have cats (and dogs) too

: I hope none of these are cat or dog

: Wan Chai seemed a little seedy

: Artsy shot for the evening

: Hong Kong skyline from the ship

: Light show

: Lasers

: I was underwhelmed

Asia 2009: Day 18 (Last day at sea)

Oct 24th

Posted by Jeff Keller in Asia Trip 2009

1 comment

Today was sort of bittersweet. First, we didn’t stop in Taipei, as originally planned (see previous entry for the reason why). Second, it was the last day of actual cruising before we dock in Hong Kong. While the Volendam has started to feel like home, I miss the real thing. While it’s been quite an experience, part of me can’t wait to get off the plane in SFO and see my family and Zoe and Flame again.

Only one photo for today:

Sunset on our last day at sea

Asia 2009: Day 17 (Okinawa)

Oct 23rd

Posted by Jeff Keller in Asia Trip 2009

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After a rather rough day at sea, we arrived for a very brief stay in Naha, also known as Okinawa. I took a shore excursion to Shurijo Castle, which was disappointing. The weather wasn’t great either — hot, very humid, with occasional heavy rain.

On our way out of the harbor, the captain announced that due to Typhoon Lupit (which is actually just a tropical storm), we were going to skip our next port of call (Taipei) and go to Hong Kong a day early. I’m disappointed that I won’t see Taiwan, but more time in HKG is definitely a bonus.

Here are some photos from Naha: