Fracture

I have not been able to blog for the past months. In late August, I fractured my left elbow. It had to be in a cast for a month. There were so many complications, and I saw a total of three doctors. Quite sad for such a simple thing. Anyway, I tried very hard to look at the bright side, which is that I am alive. Had I hit my head instead, things would have been way worse.

The down side was that I grew tired easily, and typing was a chore. When the cast was finally taken off, I had to undergo therapy. Fortunately, my niece Peach is an Occupational Therapist and she has a PT friend who did house calls three times a week. Thanks to her and to my religious self-therapy (I did additional sessions on my own so that I had therapy three times daily), I regained movement of my arm and fingers. For quite a time they were frozen, as in I could not turn my arm.  I am still in pain and the pain has transferred to my shoulder, but I take it all one day at a time. 

The good thing is that despite the pain and the discomfort of typing, I finished the first draft of a major project! 

I will complete my cruise posts and hopefully continue writing on a regular basis.

Legend of the Seas Cruising 101- What I Learned From My First Cruise Day 3: Elephant Safari

After another  leisurely breakfast at Windjammer, we explored the ship. There were a lot of interesting sculptures and paintings around the ship. We chilled at the Solarium because we did not like to soak in too much sun. The sea was calm, its deep blue hues quite relaxing.

Taking in the sun and sea in airconditioned comfort

Day 3: Shore Excursion to Phuket

After lunch at Romeo and Juliet, we went to Patong Beach. Since the bay was not big enough for a cruise ship, we transferred to what they call tender boats. No, they were not soft.  Couldn’t resist the corny aside. These double decker boats took us to the beach.  The sand was off white, the shoreline dotted with beach chairs and umbrellas. 

Patong Beach in Phuket: Very close to Leo Di Caprio's Beach?

I saw a couple of beach-side massage tents, and food carts from where whiffs of roasting meat wafted. 

That's me with the shoulder tattoo (in my dreams)

Its pretty impressive how the place had been rebuilt after the Tsunami  of a few years ago.

Great to know there's a Tsunami Evacuation Route

 The highlight of the excursion was the visit to Island Safari for an elephant ride, something we had not been able to do during our previous trips to Bangkok.  It was an interesting experience, the site being in a jungle-like setting.

At Islands Safari

What was it like to be a golden girl riding on an elephant for the first time? Well for starters, it was good that I brought my hat and fan because it was hot that afternoon. This, coming from someone who lives in sun-scorched Manila. I had to hold on tight to the railing of the elephant seat because the ride was quite bumpy. Other than that, it was kind of fun. I collect elephants, and it was nice to finally experience riding on one. We were at the tail end of the “safari”, so we could see the others in front of us, and it gave me a kind of a nice feeling, seeing all those pachyderms ambling down the path. Whenever I travel, I buy an elephant figurine. But for this trip, my souvenir is our picture and the experience of the ride itself. I think it’s even better that the Thai elephants I have at home from previous trips. 

We took pictures of our co-travelers during the ride

Of course, I am so grateful that my daughter was with me, and she volunteered to hold the umbrella for the two of us. However, she said that she was never going on another elephant ride again because she pitied the elephants. We were told to step on the head of the elephant the moment we mounted what looked to us like a baby elephant. We were supposed to use the elephant head as a footstool during the ride that wended through a rough path lined with trees and shrubberies! Instead, we tried our best to keep our feet on the air during the ride. Quite tiring, but at least it was a good isometric workout.

A small temple in the Chalong Complex

Next, we visited  the Chalong Temple, the largest and most sacred temple in Phuket. We also went to the Cashew factory. The Nori flavored cashew was very tasty. My daughter liked the wasabi flavored variant.  The ribbon of well maintained roads around Phuket impressed me a lot. I know I should be more patriotic, but I could not help but feel sorry for the miserable roads in Metro Manila. To think that Manila is our country’s capital, while Phuket is merely a province of Thailand.

At the Cashew Factory

My daughter and I had looked forward to the Ballroom Dancing Show on Day 3 which we considered to be the show of shows.  She is an avid viewer of Dancing with the stars, and I, for one go ballroom dancing with friends occasionally. That was why we hurried back to the ship after the Phuket excursion, instead of staying behind to shop. Can you believe, two women passing up the bargain delights of Thailand? We had a quick dinner then went back to our cabin to freshen up and rest. We set the alarm to 15 minutes before showtime so we can leave early and get good seats.  Imagine our surprise when, on our way to the Theater, we met people leaving! Had the schedule been changed? Would there be a second show? Alas, No, and No. We missed the show of shows because we used my daughter’s Iphone as an alarm clock., and while in Thailand, it automatically shifted to Thai time, which was one hour behind Singapore time which was the one used in the ship.  Better luck next time. Sadly, Learning No. 11 is check your watches and alarm clocks. Beware of time differences.

We were so disappointed, but hey, we were on vacation. So we tried to make the best out of it, and watched an aerial performance. Then, as usual, we went to the Solarium to vent our frustration on cheese pizza: hot off the oven, with gooey mozzarella.

Coming up: Day 4 Sailing in the open Seas

Legend of the Seas Cruising 101- What I Learned From My First Cruise/ Day 2: Memories of KL

Day 2- Shore Excursion To KL

        

My daughter and I woke up early on Day 2, as the itinerary included an 8am departure for our shore excursion to KL. We booked all our shore excursions on line. This gave us a small discount, plus we did not have to queue up during the cruise itself to book the excursions.  That’s Learning No. 6 : buy shore excursions ahead of time. After a leisurely breakfast, we were off to KL.

We visited the usual sights such as  Petronas Twin Towers, Independence Square,  and Central Market.

Petronas Twin Towers soar over KL

Central Market has maintained its charm

I remember my daughter was only about five when we last visited KL. It was nice to know that KL was still as clean and even more progressive than we remember. The iconic Central Market has been meticulously maintained. The toilets have been refurbished and now boast of mirrors mounted on wooden frames with carvings.

Hainanese Chicken Rice, succulent with just a hint of spiciness

 We also went to Sungei Wang Plaza. I recall buying Queen Anne silver plated serving dishes at the Parkson Grand in Sungei Wang more than twenty years ago. They are still good as new. For lunch, we went to the food court at Sungei Wang, where we had Roast Hainanese Chicken Rice. It was as succulent as we remembered. We bought some chocolates for pasalubong, and not much else. We wanted to travel really light. The guy who sold us the chocolates asked us where we got our    Lonchamps  bags. We told him where and he insisted we could have gotten it way, way cheaper downstairs or at Central Market. He even volunteered to accompany us downstairs.  We thought, maybe he meant the place with the walking shoe store? Fortunately, the chocolates he sold us were the real deal, and not knock-offs.

"Walking Shoe Store" in KL

Back at the ship, we went to Park Café first. We saw one of our tablemates who reminded us that our dinner was at 6pm. At first we thought that he was just reminding us because we would have to dress up as it was formal night. Then we realized he must have meant it was so close to dinnertime and we were still stuffing ourselves with chips and ice cream.

Carbo- loading at the Solarium before dinner. We're on vacation!

After dinner at R and J, we went to the Captain’s Reception. Like most baby boomers, I watched “The Love Boat” growing up. So, I was thrilled to meet the ship Captain, Kjell Nordmo when he received the cruise guests during the Captain’s party on the second night.  The party began with an aerial show- a pretty woman on a sparkling swing suspended from the ceiling poured champagne for the guests.  It was nice, sipping champagne and mingling. We spotted an adorable little girl in a Cinderella ballgown.

 

Girl on a Swing

Like other guests, we had our pictures taken with the Captain. Only official ship photographers were allowed near the picture taking site. One picture mounted on a cardboard frame cost $19.00. (The Ilocana in me hesitated to spend almost a thousand pesos on a single picture, but the Filipino fondness for "kodakan" prevailed). The ship had a facial recognition application, and so you can view all your pictures from a monitor in the photo kiosk by simply swiping your sail pass.

For a golden girl like me, the Disco Inferno dance party after the Captain’s Reception was one of the highlights of the trip. We danced to 70’s music, led by the Cruise Director, a wise cracking American named Dan-dan Mian, and his staff.  A dance group called the Legend Village People spiced things up. My daughter indulged my trip down memory lane by taking a video of me dancing away, missteps and all. Learning No. 7- Participate in the things that make you feel young. I still smile when I look at my disco inferno dance moves.

Disco Inferno!

We capped the night by watching a magic  show. An Australian magician entertained us with tricks, notably his Houdini-like escape from a straight jacket bound with chains.  Learning No. 8- Show appreciation for the performers. Before our cruise, I visited cruise chat sites, and there were people who commented on the poor performance of ship entertainers. “So far below Broadway, or Vegas,” they would say. Come on, if you want to watch a broadway show, go to New York, or if you want to see a Vegas show, go to Las Vegas.

Run with the wind on your face to burn off calories.

Before going to bed, we had snacks at the Solarium (again!). We wondered why we got hungry so often. We figured it must be because of all the walking. The ship, which is the smallest in the Royal Caribbean Lines, is still quite large. Plus, we took the stairs more often than the elevators.  Learning No. 9- Gaining weight on a cruise is not a given, as long as you burn up all those extra calories. By the way, there is also an onboard gym. You can exercise with a nice view of the sea, or better yet, hit the track on above deck 9. This brings us to Learning No. 10- bring flat shoes or slip-ons for maximum mobility.

Flat shoes recommended for exploring the ship

Next up, Day 3 with a Shore excursion to Islands Safari in Thailand.

Legend of the Seas Cruising 101- What I Learned From My First Cruise / Day 1: Leaving Singapore

Now that I am on the other side of fifty, I told myself that I would keep on trying new things. Research shows that engaging in new activities helps prevent the onset of Alzheimers and helps keep our brains healthy. I have ridden on camels and eaten frogs. I have climbed a few hills –Petra and the Foothills of the Purple Mountains.  I have even gone on a Mac Tutorial! But all these years, I have not gone on a cruise. Well, an honest to goodness cruise, anyway, not the river cruises that take only a couple of hours. 

I blame my cruise aversion to Hollywood, with its blockbusters such as “Poseidon Adventure” which was the “Titanic” of my generation, and recently, “Life of Pi”. 

But because of my newly minted attitude of trying out new things, my daughter and I went on a South East Asian cruise. It was going to be an adventure for the two of us--- okay, mainly me, because I don’t swim and am prone to motion sickness.  After four nights and five days of bliss both on water and land, we are so glad that we went.

Day 1- Leaving Singapore

Two good omens blessed the trip from the get-go: For one, our ship, Royal Caribbean Cruise’s Legend of the Seas had just been refurbished a few months earlier, and secondly, it would set sail from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Center,  which opened only late last year.

Legend of the Seas  waiting for us at Marina Bay Cruise Center

 The check-in procedure was smooth as silken tofu.  A porter took our bags the minute we stepped into the airconditioned coolness of the Cruise Center.  In a few minutes, we had our set sail passes and were ushered into the ship. The set sail pass is like an ATM card that serves as a key card for our cabin as well as electronic wallet.

We had lunch at the Windjammer Café, the ship’s casual dining outlet which serves buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The cabins are usually not yet ready when you check in early, so it was good that we carried the bare minimum with us when we boarded the ship. That was Learning No. 1, and so, we were able to roam the ship at leisure.

Windjammer Cafe: Eat red meat and fried food guilt-free! 

Beyond being on a floating hotel with a rock climbing wall, cruising gave us a choice of activities. We could just lounge around at the pools, gazing at the gently lapping waves and the vast, tranquil sky, or actively participate in ship activities.  These activities came in an endless stream. To name a few, there were themed parties, dancing, yoga, and craft classes, trivia games, movies on the humongous outdoor screen, karaoke nights, and for those who are feeling extraordinarily lucky, gaming at Casino Royale. Excited as we were, it was physically impossible for us to join in all of them  we  had to pick our favorites. That’s Learning No. 2- You’ll never get bored on a cruise. You may have an activity overload, so it makes sense to prioritize.

Open Deck with Giant TV Screen, the site of many activities

 We attended the Sail-Away Party at the Poolside where we line- danced amidst the backdrop of the Singapore skyline slowly receding in the horizon.

Sailing away from Singapore. Cranes and the Singapore Flyer

 All that dancing whetted our appetites for dinner at the Romeo and Juliet. A pair of curving staircases  dominated the dining area. Beside the stairs, a pianist played soothing music on a grand piano, while a huge chandelier rained lights on the guests. Nothing could compete though, with the view of the sea at dusk as seen through the wrap- around glass walls.

Romeo and Juliet: Like having a buffet served at your table

 The Miso Pesto Brushed Atlantic Salmon I ordered melted in my mouth in a burst of fresh flavor.  My daughter said that the Slow Roasted Prime Rib she had was succulent and tasty.  Learning No. 3 You can order as many entrees, salads, etc. as you want at R and J. It was like having a buffet served at your table. The variety would not be as wide as the buffet, but the dishes were well chosen.

My dinner- Yummy but too large!

 Cruises are quite well known for the abundance of food. My travel agent told me , “Ma’am, you won’t get hungry on a cruise.” She was right.  Aside from the Windjammer and Romeo and Juliet, there is the Park Café in the Solarium (covered pool) which served snacks round the clock. (There are three specialty restaurants that charge a fee for dining- Chops Grille, Izumi, and Chef’s Table). The Poolside was the place to go for soft serve ice cream. My daughter had a lot of fun not just eating the ice cream but serving it up herself.  For a minute, I was afraid she was going to take orders from the other passengers. This brings me to Learning No. 4- There is nothing more enjoyable than eating red meat, fried food, and decadent sweets without feeling guilty. We  simply said, “We’re on vacation!”

A Carnivore's delight: Slow Roasted Prime Rib

 After dinner, we watched a show at the “That’s Entertainment Theater” which was billed as “Transforming People”. It featured dancers performing high-octane dances while changing costumes at lightning speed.  We had a light snack of cheese pizza at the Solarium before going to bed.

That's Entertainment Theater

 At the end of Day 1, I had one of the best learnings. Learning No. 5- the ship is rock solid. I just took a Bonamine before embarking, and I felt fine throughout the day. Just to illustrate how stable it was: there was not even a hint of movement on the water in my goblet whenever we ate. If someone prone to motion sickness like me could enjoy a cruise, anybody can.

Night night, towel elephant of white

 We went to bed eagerly anticipating our shore excursion to KL. My daughter and I have fond memories of KL.

 Next entry will be on Day 2, with KL Shore Excursion.

An article on the  entire cruise was published in the Lifestyle section of the Business Mirror, May 30, 2013 edition.