NHA TRANG, VIETNAM
On March 13th we docked in Nha Trang, in the socialist republic of Vietnam. Its capital city is Hanoi and population is 86 million. In 1954 it was divided into north & south and in 1975 U.S. troops were withdrawn and unification began in 1976. It is a beautiful country with hills and beaches, many rice paddies and agriculture but it is a third world country and there is much poverty. We visited a pre-school in the country and a private home. Our next port was Kemaman, Malaysia. The smell from off-shore oil and gas deposits permeated the countryside and made breathing difficult. It too is a 3rd world country but trying hard to become an important port with its rich deposits of tin, rubber plantations, lumber: teak and oak forests. Much poverty everywhere.
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE
We all loved Singpore! In August,1963 it gained its independence from Britain and the Malaysian Confederation and became an independent republic. It is a first world country in the midst of 3rd world neighbors, It has the highest income per capita in all of Asia. It is a beautiful city of modern high rises surrounded by areas of neighborhoods of different nationalities including Chinatown, Arab Town and Little India. It is a very clean city and there are many strict rules: no gum chewing (you cannot buy it or import it), no drinking, no smoking, no flammable goods, death to drug traffickers and you cannot say anything derogatory about Singpore. It is a world class financial center and important shipping port located strategically between the east and west. It is competing fiercely with Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing as a world class trading port.We stopped in the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel, the home of the famous “Singapore sling”which we enjoyed immensely.
PHUKET, THAILAND
Phuket is a resort island connected by a bridge to mainland Thailand. It is the most visited island which thrives on tourism. There are beautiful resorts on white sand beaches, lush tropical vegetation, temples, markets and Sino-Portuguese architecture. Inland there are rice paddies, cashew nut, rubber, pineapple and coconut plantations. Svata and I ventured on a Siam Elephant Safari on a 35-year old gentle elephant. The ride was rather bumpy through a narrow path in the jungle.
We also saw how rubber trees were tapped for white liquid & how it is treated to form latex and then rubber products. Further on the safari we saw how monkeys are trained to pick coconuts by twisting them with their arms & legs and letting them drop to the ground.
An exciting day in Thailand!
On March 13th we docked in Nha Trang, in the socialist republic of Vietnam. Its capital city is Hanoi and population is 86 million. In 1954 it was divided into north & south and in 1975 U.S. troops were withdrawn and unification began in 1976. It is a beautiful country with hills and beaches, many rice paddies and agriculture but it is a third world country and there is much poverty. We visited a pre-school in the country and a private home. Our next port was Kemaman, Malaysia. The smell from off-shore oil and gas deposits permeated the countryside and made breathing difficult. It too is a 3rd world country but trying hard to become an important port with its rich deposits of tin, rubber plantations, lumber: teak and oak forests. Much poverty everywhere.
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE
We all loved Singpore! In August,1963 it gained its independence from Britain and the Malaysian Confederation and became an independent republic. It is a first world country in the midst of 3rd world neighbors, It has the highest income per capita in all of Asia. It is a beautiful city of modern high rises surrounded by areas of neighborhoods of different nationalities including Chinatown, Arab Town and Little India. It is a very clean city and there are many strict rules: no gum chewing (you cannot buy it or import it), no drinking, no smoking, no flammable goods, death to drug traffickers and you cannot say anything derogatory about Singpore. It is a world class financial center and important shipping port located strategically between the east and west. It is competing fiercely with Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing as a world class trading port.We stopped in the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel, the home of the famous “Singapore sling”which we enjoyed immensely.
PHUKET, THAILAND
Phuket is a resort island connected by a bridge to mainland Thailand. It is the most visited island which thrives on tourism. There are beautiful resorts on white sand beaches, lush tropical vegetation, temples, markets and Sino-Portuguese architecture. Inland there are rice paddies, cashew nut, rubber, pineapple and coconut plantations. Svata and I ventured on a Siam Elephant Safari on a 35-year old gentle elephant. The ride was rather bumpy through a narrow path in the jungle.
We also saw how rubber trees were tapped for white liquid & how it is treated to form latex and then rubber products. Further on the safari we saw how monkeys are trained to pick coconuts by twisting them with their arms & legs and letting them drop to the ground.
An exciting day in Thailand!
Looks like you guys are having a great time! I didn't see a steering wheel on that elephant - who was driving? You or Svata?
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