Now to finish up on yesterday’s activities. We got back to the ship about two yesterday and were able to get a quick lunch , shower, and nap. Then we got ready and went back in busses at six thirty (all 600 +) for this leg’s Azamara Amazing Evening. This was similar to the one where we went, were entertained, and floated the candles in the pond. We went to a huge hotel and sat outside for the show. We entered on a red carpet and walked past people with flowers and candles (ladies in saris) and men in native dress holding beautiful large umbrellas. The huge stage had the chairs all ready for the show. Snacks from India and non Indian food were available. We were offered coconuts to carry around and drink There were activities for us to do while waiting for the show to start. A band was playing Indian music. People were getting henna designs put on their hands, having caricatures drawn, and having their palms read. We were in bus 15, so only had time for one activity. So I had my palm read. The first thing my reader said was”Father and Mother name”. I told him I did not understand. He said it again, but did not have the words to explain. I said “my name?” My name is Dalna . He said “Yes, your name…father and mother.” So, that really got my attention. He said many other things that I will share with you when I see you if you are interested. The show was in three parts. We had graceful lady dancers in white and gold saris first. Perfect for the harvest festival. Next , there were men dancers who danced as mock fighters like you see in oriental movies. Lots of swords, sticks, knives, jumping, rolling, somersaults, and no one got hurt! Teams of two had their own routines. Last part was men dressed in elaborate costumes and masks representing Kathakaki, a dance and storytelling art. There was a huge finale with all on the stage. These dancers were certainly professional. After the show we were able to stand around in front of huge fans waiting for our bus. Did I mention it was still exceedingly warm and humid. We got home pretty late and I slept this morning until eleven. Ship left at two, so did not leave the ship today. Two adventures a day in this heat is draining. We have a whole day at sea tomorrow. Yea! Air Conditioning!!!

At show. Could not pass up an elephant!

Chinese fishing nets drying. These were on the way going out of Cochin .

Woke up docked in India. Went through immigration routine in a building nearby. First taste of 75% and up humidity. 90 degree heat also. Took a morning tour to Cochin. This city is made up of five islands joined by bridges. A large shipping community. The Indian navy is there and there are also large ship building facilities. Ship repairs as well as well as the usual shipping activities requiring cranes and warehouses. Cochin has been a trading post since Roman times. It was the main route between Europe and China. We arrived the day that India was celebrating their harvest festival. Our tour bus bumped along streets that were practically empty and were told that very few shops were open because everyone was busy going to temples and then celebrating with their families. We went first to a Hindu temple. We were not allowed inside, but we were able to see the worshipers dressed in their best clothes going in and out. Some teenagers had put henna designs on their hands and posed for pictures. Many women were wearing off white saris with gold trim. This is traditional. Most were dressed in beautiful colorful saris. It was nice to see lots of people taking family pictures. Back on the bus to drive to a spice shop that sold betel nut, cinnamon, cardamom and other exotic spices. They had a woman there demonstrating how to weave a silk sari. She was in her late eighties. The loom was quite large and she was tiny. They had air conditioning so we were reluctant to leave. We walked next to a restaurant and were treated to fried bananas and cold drinks. Another walk (walking slower) to a Dutch Palace with beautiful pictures in the walls illustrating the Ramayana. Look it up on Wikipedia. We have seen this story in Buddhist and Hindu temples and are getting better at recognizing the highlights a little bit. The Palace had many things that the various rulers had used. I liked the litters that carried them around in. Never saw a real one in person. Looked very uncomfortable. Walked very, very slowly to the Paradesi Synagogue. This synagogue was built in 1568. It is no longer in use. There was once a large Jewish community, but it most of the population went to Israel. It was small and beautiful. Lots of lamps and bright colors. Blue and white Dutch tiles in the floor. Walked back to the bus for one last stop. A laundry! 95%in the locals do their own laundry. This is how the 5% get by. They call and get same day service with pick up and delivery. No one gets anyone else’s laundry returned to them. This is a pride factor for them. The irons are filled with burning coal to make them hot. They do have washing machines and a few dryers. They prefer to air dry. (The air was not making us dry). Amazing! No wonder they are in the tourist list. By this time we were not dry anywhere on our bodies. We got back on the bumpy bus and got back about two. Got to eat and lie down before we got back on busses (All 600+) for the Azamara Amazing Evening for this leg of the trip. I will blog that tomorrow as I am out of steam! (Steam…….iron…..laundry…..: oh, never mind!!!)

I did not get all the pictures in a row. Be prepared to jump around.

Usual activities. Last time place at trivia again. Really miss Paul, our history teacher!!! I am going to just chat a bit about this and that. Spotted some new Mazda five cars in the last few stops. Brand new. This is the car I have had for 14 years. Not for sale in USA anymore. These were in countries that drive to the left. Speaking of that, we keep going from country to country where the driving pattern changes. End up looking right and left for a while then just go and pray you make it. Getting used to bargaining when shopping. I think the sellers still make a good profit. We have a full ship and are hearing lots of languages. No Chinese though. Beginning to get ready for the land part our adventure. Sent a big bag of things we did not need or want to the crew downstairs. We have to pack up our cabin and have our bags stored while off ship. Need to pack smaller suitcase for the trip because I will be in a car and also will have to roll it around myself. Also…have to get used to not having the la ta dah service I have onboard. All this humid and hot weather can really exhaust a person. Makes me so happy I got out of Shreveport, Louisiana! My little Indian cloth umbrella ☂️I got at Volumes of Pleasure Bookstore in Los Osos gets admired everywhere even by strangers in the street. It gives more shade and is cooler than wearing a hat. It was made in India. Wonder if they will have them in India. That’s in the next few stops. We will have an excursion to the Taj Mahal while we are there. Umbrella goes too! I will see if I can find a few pictures that you can look at.

Candy store. Who could choose? So much to see. Two stories with an escalator

The southern coast of Sri Lanka is still largely untouched by tourism. We got there the day before Ramadan was over and the highway was practically empty because of last minute preparations. Eerie, but made for a quick drive. This was elephant day. Saw them in the wild by the highway, at the Natural Park, and at the Elephant Transit Home. The highway was new and very smooth. Electrified fences were erected to keep elephants away from the road. Guide said they push trees down on the wires and break the fence to cross over. People are not supposed to feed them, but we did see doing it. Guide said they are offered too many sweets and get diabetes . At the National Park, we got in safari vehicles to ride on. Very bumpy roads! Lots of birds. Saw many birds, including peacocks, a stork, and a vulture. Saw monkeys, water buffaloes, and of course! Elephants! There are 44 mammal species and 215 bird species. Weather was perfect. Warm but not hot and steamy.

After we left the park we went to a great resort hotel for a buffet lunch. Boy, was it good! We go back on the bus and went to the Elephant Transit Home to see the elephants being fed. This facility is different from the one we saw a few days ago. The elephants here are put back into the wild. They have a lot of little elephants and just a few grown ones to keep them in line. They live in their own space except for being fed three times a day. There is a viewing stand for the audience that pays for admission. That is the way they can afford to feed the elephants. They are all fed a formula milk and also have leaves and special grains that make sure they are getting all their nutrients. They gather at the fence and are admitted from little to biggest. One very little one was being pushed aside from where there were some greenery was placed eating in front the viewing stand. Two larger ones came over and protected her by standing with her between them. It was so sweet to see. She managed to tear a leaf off a branch and was trying to get it into her mouth. When she successfully did that, we cheered!

Our trivia team is now at the bottom of the heap again. I took out all the clothes I plan to take with me while we are off the ship and found they all fit in by new smaller suitcase. What a relief! Colinda and I sent a bag of various things we brought and do not need or want with our room attendant. The crew is happy to look through hand me downs .

Usual activities. Won the big bingo. $80.00 this time. Some people are beginning to give me the stink eye. Booked our apartment in Split, Croatia. Did laundry. Nothing exciting, but it was wonderful to be in air conditioning. sending a few odd left over pictures

This was another small island and was a good rest from the big cities we have been in. I noticed the locals coming by in their scooters to look at us and our ship. Turns out, they do not get many ships there. Our tour was in a convoy of black vans and I felt like the president! No police escort though. Our driver did not speak English, and got lost for a little bit. After he made a call, ,we went to a school and were entertained by student singers and dancers. We got there in time to see the girls do a rope dance They kept time to a drumbeat and a flute like instrument. They wove a net. Fascinating!! We walked through the Dutch colonial part of twin that also included the city park. Everything else was closed. We are still in Ramadan where we go, getting towards the finish, and people are getting ready for the celebrations that come at the end. We went on a long drive up to the Jaboi Geothermal, a volcanic valley. We saw and smelled rising steam. Some of the fumaroles had hot water in them and I also saw yellow sulfa in the side of one hole. Last, we went to a local beach where some went swimming. We had snacks of local rice based sweets and our own coconut. I am really beginning to like fresh coconut water. We were glad to sit around for a while because the morning had been steamy hot. A big thunderstorm came by with lightning as we were boarding the ship. Wet again!!! We are just about a week before the rainy season.

What a wonderful day! We had a private tour where with a fabulous guide. He was very knowledgeable and spoke clear English. The first few place we went was to the Batu Caves. These caves are over 400 million years old and are currently being used as a Hindu temple. The upper caves are accessible by 272 steps some 330 feet above ground. Luckily, there were two caves at ground level also. We visited the newest Hindu temple there and and were able to go in and see the bright and colorful inside. Our guide said this temple is a depository for seeds in case the crops fail. Stopped at a batik shop and were able to meet the artist who draws the designs on silk. We were invited to put some ink on silk ourselves. It is harder to do than I thought it would be. Next, we drove back to the city and saw a variety of English, Chinese ,Indian, and Muslim areas. He said the various religions and cultures get along well and just go about their own business. He said after Singapore broke off to become a city state that things have been better for the country. We went to the kings palace and could not go in the grounds because a yellow flag was flying that meant the king was in residence. Next stop was a huge shopping center with instructions to eat in 25 minutes. Turned out, we had reservations to go to the top of the Petronas Twin Towers attached to the shopping center. Only 22 people are allowed at a time, so if you miss, tough for you! We did get there in time. First we were let off at the walkway between the buildings. Then, we were sent up two more elevators to the top. We were allowed 20 min up there. The view was great, and I had only a few deep breath moments!Towers are over 900 feet tall and once were the tallest in the world. After all this, we were happy to get back to the ship!

Saw the sights of Singapore today. We went on a tour that started at the summit in Mount Faber. Well, certainly a very tall hill that had spectacular views. Lots of buildings. Mostly apartments. There was a lovely garden there and we noticed several people who were meditating in a shaded area. Very peaceful. We went to various neighborhoods and ended up at Gardens by the Bay. This large area had a tram with a recorded tour guide. We were glad because the ship was leaving in the afternoon and time was limited. We saw beautiful flowers, plants, and statues. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Singapore has very strict laws. If you are caught dealing drugs, you are put to death!

Singapore is one of the three city states in the world. The others are Monaco and Vatican City. Good trivia info to know! We had a nine hour trip to the zoo in very hot and humid weather. Left at one and home at ten. One hour ride each way as it is out of town. The zoo is very large and well laid out with much greenery and short walks between the various animals viewing sites. Many sites had covered sitting spaces with fans. There were no cages with bars.

The habitats were large and clean. We were there when many of the animals were being fed and so we got to see them up close. There was a show in an amphitheater with a sea lion. Sort of a mini Sea World . We went around leisurely and got to see it all. After the zoo closed for the day, we went to another part where we were signed up for the Zoo After Dark Tour. We ate what we thought would be the least spicy food. Luckily there was an ice cream shop next to us that helped us get back to normal. The night tour was done by riding on a tram with an oral commentary. The animals were being fed near where the tram stopped so we could see them closely. The last thing we saw was the animal show in a large amphitheater. They had birds, and other animals that were trained to do tricks for food rewards. We were delighted with the whole day and are glad we got to see this beautiful and well designed zoo.