R and R Cruisin Best Of Volume II

 Xylosynth player, David Meyer, at last night's show.  It is a xylophone synthesizer that can produce the accurate sound of every mallet instrument and much more.  Combined with an awesome light show and good story telling, David's performance was mesmerizing and like nothing we have seen.

While Ruth Ann packs, I am writing another Best Of with her contributions.  

                                                                            Viet Nam

Viet Nam has been chosen as our favorite overland tour though we thoroughly enjoyed each overland adventure.  We settled on Viet Nam for its high level of exciting and volume of experiences from the Vespa rides, rickshaw rides, food, people and seaplane trip.  It was also the best overall group of people we traveled with on an overland tour.

                                                                            New Zealand

Cape Kidnappers and Gannet Safari in New Zealand was our favorite ship based excursion.  The scenery was breathtaking and the bus ride to the mountaintop was frighteningly exhilarating.  

                                                                             Hong Kong

Melanie and Becki were the best people we met on this cruise and we consider them our friends.

 Coconut ice cream was our favorite food on the ship.  The variety, quality and presentation of meals has been outstanding

 Kobe beef in Kyoto, Japan is what we settled on for the best food away from the ship. Though, there was so much delicious and culturally significant food, ask us tomorrow and our choice will be different. 

        Best drum experience was joining a drum circle with the locals in Raiatea, French Polynesia.

            Kool and the Gang on board in Miami was the best show as we danced the night away.

Sydney, Australia was the best shopping experience part of which was in the Queen Victoria Building.

                                      Newcastle, Australia was the best wine experience for me.

                            Fresh coconut in French Polynesia was the most refreshing beverage.

Expensive tea in Shanghai, China was our impulse purchase which made us second guess ourselves.  After a terrific private tea tasting, the fast talking tea expert persuaded us to buy better and more tea than we needed.

                                                Shanghai, China was the most beautiful city.

The most easily explained funny thing that happened was the sock on the right I bought for a dollar at a market in China.  This it what it looked like after it was washed compared to my regular socks on the left.

Photograph with the boys at the Muslim market in Surabaya, Indonesia was the most touching moment.

Hanoi, Vietnam was the site of our most unusual encounter, sitting on a folding chairs within inches of this passenger train as it rushed by us.

Even though it might not look that good, matcha shaved ice in Miyako, Japan was our favorite food to taste for the first time.  It was both refreshing and flavorful.

Two more sea days until we dock in Kodiak, Alaska.

“Globetrotting destroys ethnocentricity, helping us understand and appreciate other cultures. Rather than fear the diversity on this planet, celebrate it. Among your most prized souvenirs will be the strands of different cultures you choose to knit into your own character. The world is a cultural yarn shop, and Back Door travelers are weaving the ultimate tapestry.” 
― Rick Steves, Rick Steves Vienna, Salzburg & Tirol