ABC Adventures

This category covers the places we go, the things we see, the food we taste, the activities we do, and the ways we engage with the world we live in.

“W” is for What’s Worrying You (Pre-travel planning)

Posted on by Debbie

On February 28, 2026, an intercepted drone struck the Burj al Arab, causing a minor fire on the outer facade of the building.  The USA was suddenly at war with Iran, which has since quickly escalated to include most of the Middle East becoming involved as either ally or agent.   We worried, should we cancel our trip?

It’s easy to let worries prevent you from traveling.  Like many places we visit, things change after we have been there.  Whether man-made disasters, or caused by nature;  the politics, the safety, the infrastructure and/or the  landscape may alter quickly.

When we saw the images of the Burj al Arab, shaped like a sailboat, we recalled that we had seen the luxury hotel, while driving through the city of Dubai in 2023.   This was just one of the amazing, architecturally interesting structures we would see.  The images instantly took me back to why we were there at all.

We had an opportunity to extend our last cruise by an additional segment, for half the regular cost.  This would allow us to sail through parts of Asia and ultimately end our trip in Dubai.  We decided to jump at the opportunity.  Dubai wasn’t a country which I would likely ever have chosen to explore on our own, yet we did just that as we rented a car and so enjoyed the cultural experiences we encountered.  This is the beauty of travel, it opens your eyes and challenges your stereotypes and personal biases.    I had felt very safe in Dubai, I couldn’t imagine at the time, that the very airport which we had flown out of, would be bombed just a couple of years later. I know I am unlikely to travel through Dubai again in my lifetime, not because I don’t want to (I do) but rather  because it is not near any other place I am likely to be visiting.

As I watch the news, I am worried about the challenges which might be created for us on this trip.  We will be thousands of miles away from the fighting but terrorist attacks are arising daily. Countries are beginning to hoard their oil reserves, including some which we will be visiting.  We may experience fuel shortages which could affect both our air and sea travels.

Stateside our Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is being hampered by a government shut down.  Yesterday over 300 agents quit, since they are working without pay.  As a result, the lines are getting long at the airports.

To top things off, it looks like we may be hit with 2 snow storms, measuring in feet not inches over the next couple of days.   Today is Thursday, we leave Monday.  The first storm arrives tomorrow into Saturday and the more serious one arrives overnight on Sunday.  Our flight departs at 7a.m., hopefully.

In our last few days of preparation for our Asia trip, I do not have a crystal ball to know how this will play out for us.  I accept that I have zero control over any of it.  I have travel insurance to handle any change of plans which may come our way.  The rest of it I must leave to fate.  In the meantime I will try to stay focused on the joy I shared with Alan, as we traveled down a river near old Dubai.  I am excited to make new memories and by this time next week we should be in Singapore!

“V” is for Visas (Pre-trip planning)

Posted on by Debbie

On our Asian trip we are traveling to Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.  We received a notice from our cruise line yesterday (less than a week before we set off) that visas were required for our travel.  Thankfully I already knew that.

A travel visa is sometimes required when visiting a foreign country.  This is a document which allows you to legally enter and stay in a country for a specified amount of time.   Rules and length of stay vary by country.    There are many different kinds of visas.

A Transit Visa may be required even if you are just passing through one country to get to another country.  It will not matter if you are arriving by car, boat or plane.  These visas usually only allow from hours to days to make the transit.

Short Stay Visas, Tourist Visas and Travel Visas usually allow you to stay for about 90 days or less. These are common when you will be staying in the country for a period of time.  You may not work in the country you are visiting on most of these types of visas. Visas vary for different nationalities so be sure to check that too, if this is your situation. There are many other kinds of visas but the above two pertain most to travelers so these are the only ones I will mention on this blog.

I used www.ivisa.com to check which of the countries we would need to obtain visas for.  I required 4 but Alan only needs 3.   All will be a form of a transit visas, which can only be obtained a few days before our arrival at each destination.  While on a cruise, the ship often takes care of these,  because not all passengers have access to the internet while en-route so doing the 72 hour thing can be challenging.  A fee is often charged for the service and convenience.  As a result, we are now down to needing to procure just one visa for each of us and that is for Singapore.  We will register 72 hours before our arrival, nearly half of that will be spent just trying to get us there!, Let’s hope there will be no delays…so far we only have to worry about a war which is causing fuel to spike, TSA agents quitting after a government shutdown, which has the effect of long security lines and now a big weather system is due into town the night before we set off!  No worries,  because I can’t control any of this.  I did stock up on snacks today though, just in case we get stranded!

“U” is for Upgrades (Pre-trip planning)

Posted on by Debbie

Upgrades are a wonderful thing, they usually mean an opportunity to have a little more comfort.   They come at a cost too but here’s the thing, there are a lot of ways to go about getting an upgrade, which can be quite frugal.   For example, we booked our cruise as a guaranteed cabin.  This is generally a less expensive way of reserving a room but it comes with some restrictions.  It means we don’t get to choose our room location but there is  “guarantee” of a certain level.  I don’t generally like doing this because I am really fussy about where our room is positioned on the ship.  We don’t want to be under pools, fitness areas, smoking lounges, teen centers, laundry room or near elevators.  We want the middle of the ship because it is more stable when we hit rough seas.

The cruise we are about to sail on,  had been nearly sold out when we finally decided to change our plans from a September sailing to a March sailing.  As payment dates neared, I was watching the site like a hawk, knowing passengers often cancel around that time.  We began to notice that actual cabins were becoming available so we began checking regularly, hoping for a room in our desired location.

As soon as a room was available, I was on the phone to our travel agent, who then locked it down for us. There was no additional cost and we now had a specific room.  Sometimes patience is all which is needed.  Now we are in a wonderful location.  It is on the port side of the ship which will allow us to enjoy sunsets and be able to see every port we sail into and all the land masses as we are sailing by.  I couldn’t have picked a better location, even if I had had first choice!

Then came another opportunity.  Last week we were offered to upgrade our perfect room to a mini suite or better.  We momentarily contemplated it knowing the perks which come with it (such as more space and possibly even a private butler) but we know better than to take these offers, because there is no guarantee about where you will be placed on the ship, so while the cabin might be bigger, with many more amenities,  the view, the noise levels etc., might be less than comfortable.  We will be sticking with our current cabin.  As they say in card games, you have to know when to hold em’. so no more upgrades on the cruise side of things!

As I have mentioned before, we are pretty frugal, some would even call us tight.  We spent 30+ years working our butts off to be able to travel like we do now.   The airlines have been slowly changing the seating in planes, a little less cushioning, a little less legroom, a narrower seat.  It has become almost dangerous to fly economy anymore, We began upgrading to Premium Economy, its now what regular seats use to be.  With Alan’s height, this gives him just a little more leg room and has been worth the extra comfort.  Business Class is another level altogether.  This is not normally the way we fly, as we find it very expensive for the return on investment.  We can generally get through about 8 hours before starting to get really uncomfortable and so far, that has been our longest air time in one stretch.

We upgraded to Business Class when we flew back to England recently…there had been a “too good to turn down offer” and we paid the extra money to do it.  Sometimes the deals to Europe aren’t very much extra to upgrade, when a flight is full.  Perhaps it was a mistake, because now we have realized what we have been missing and the  comfort which this class of travel offers. The problem with taking some of these upgrades is that once you experience them, you don’t want to go back.

With the upgrade we could load 70 pounds into our suitcases instead of 50 (which we never recommend because ultimately it is you that has to pull that case).  With the Business Class upgrade we were greeted with champagne and served food on real plates. We could lay flat and turn our seat into a bed.  During our layovers, we also had access to showers and lounges, hot meals, drinks and alcohol all day. We could  use the lounge to charge our phones and enjoy free wi fi.  We could sit in oversized cushy chairs as we waited between flights. The lounges were mostly quiet, so we could rest. We were now officially spoiled.

We began to reconsider our trip to ASIA, which involves 29 continuous hours of travel.  Even Premium Economy was going to be uncomfortable.  We decided to figure out how to make the upgrade to Business Class work for ourselves but we still didn’t want to spend much money.   We are not (yet) masters of using mileage points for upgrades etc., but our particular card lets us purchase tickets with our points, 1 mile= $1.  When we realized that we still had mileage from our last cruise and we had just used the same card to pay for our current cruise, we also realized we could make this work to our advantage.

After our 2023 trip, we had learned to always book a changeable ticket, so when we asked to upgrade, there was no problem.   We had actually booked our Premium Economy seats nearly a year before the trip, but the best international fares generally come out about six weeks before a travel date, so again Alan had been monitoring the fares, always hoping to restructure to save a little more money.  The day after we returned from England, the best fare finally hit.  It was a couple thousand dollars less than just the day before!   The Business Class fare was now within our reach.  This is when we knew to make use of our points.

For just a few hundred dollars more, we are now traveling to Singapore, in style! The bench like seats are about twice as wide as normal Premium Economy seats, they convert to a full lay flat bed so we will be able to sleep on the plane.  The “room” on All Nippon Air (ANA)  allows us to cocoon ourselves completely away from others and is considered one of the most unique features of the airline.

Even as early as today, we are still watching the fares, they have since risen to astonishing rates and have almost doubled from where they were when we booked!   Nothing feels better than feeling like we got a super bargain!  Our best advice is to consider your “why” when deciding if an upgrade is worth it, then make it work for you.    When we arrive at 1am after a 29 hour travel day we hope to be touring just 8 hours later.  With the upgrade, we will arrive refreshed and ready to enjoy our adventure, from the first hour we set foot in Singapore.

Once again we are counting our blessings.  We are humble enough to recognize this is a luxury.  We are wise enough to realize that some opportunities only knock once.  We are so grateful to have the opportunity to travel at all. Our Golden Years are about grabbing life by the horns!

T is for Travel To Do Lists (Pre-travel planning)

Posted on by Debbie

I have been actively packing for nearly two months! The week before departure,  I can announce that I am about 98% prepared to walk out the door.

Planning for an extensive trip like the one we are about to take, requires months of preparation.  There are many moving parts, especially when doing land and sea travel.  We will be moving from high temperatures to cool.  We will be snorkeling, trekking volcanoes, boating, visiting temples and more.  Each activity requires careful clothing decisions. There are visas to order, reservations to be made and transportation to be arranged.   How do I keep track of it all?

The super list stays in a travel folder on my computer and gets modified after each trip.  Sometimes we add more details, sometimes we subtract tasks.  I change the font color to green when a task is complete, red for those things which still need to be finished. This helps me keep a running list for everything which still needs to get done.

As we get closer to the journey, I also keep a daily to do list, in the notes section of my phone, making it easy to tick each project off one by one, as I get things done.  I also keep a “to buy” list on the phone, so that I can make purchases if needed, as we are running other errands.

Here is our general “To Do” List:

TRAVEL TO DO LIST

S is for Stories (Pre-travel planning)

Posted on by Debbie

 

We are preparing to depart for a 35 day tour of Asia.  With 10 days of land travel and 25 days on a cruise, the planning has been intense.   Originally this trip had been planned for two weeks after our youngest sons wedding day.  By January, I knew how stressed I was going to be by the August wedding, so we postponed the trip by  months.  This worked to our advantage with a better itinerary and better weather in the areas we would be traveling to.

We are just  days away from leaving.  We have changed our flight a couple of times, first to upgrade to business class when we realized  how difficult sitting for 27 hours was going to be, thank goodness for travel miles!  We changed the tickets again a few days ago, to allow more time for our connections, because we can see that a weather system may be moving in and we only have a two hour connection. This had the effect of cancelling all of our connecting flights, ten days before we set off!  Headache number 1,000 in the planning process of an extended journey! There have been hours spent on the phone with agents, as we finalize the details of our flights, accommodations, excursions etc but we are now sorted out, with seats assigned, a plan in place and suitcases packed.

I am a planner, which means that I am still trying to think about steps B,C and D if something goes wrong.  With just a little more than a week before we leave, I still feel like there are things to do.  I am printing out travel packets, downloading useful apps and trying to think through every little challenge we might face, its just my nature.

As I went to bed last I thought about some advice I was offered by a fellow passenger, while on tour in 2023.  Our bus to the airport, sat in a hot parking lot in Dubai.  We sat there for an hour after we had disembarked, with no air conditioning.  We were waiting for 2 people to join us but they seemed to be stuck in customs.  This had the effect of causing the bus full of people to worry about getting to the airport in time for their flights.  The heat made everyone grouchy and uncomfortable, except for one elderly lady.  I asked her how she stayed so calm.  She stated she has been a traveler for years and learned to take each segment of a journey in bite size pieces.  If something is falling apart, she said, she simply looks at that segment and determines what she can do about it.  In this case, several people had finally gotten off the bus and hailed a taxi to ensure they made their flights, problem solved.

Yes I was hot and uncomfortable on the bus, but I had no important place to be since we were renting a car at the airport and that could wait for a moment.  I finally realized I had options.  I grabbed a bottle of water and stepped outside of the bus where it was cooler.  I passed much of my time standing under a palm tree,  watching with admiration as people with far more brave than myself, were parachuting from planes circling overhead, likely a high adrenaline tour being offered.   They were landing in an open space across from the port.  Relaxing was the solution to my first piece of the puzzle.  I simply slowed down and trusted that everything would fall into place and it did.  In the end, the bus left without the 2 passengers, apparently they had gotten on a different bus a couple of hours earlier! It made for an interesting story and we went about our plans to tour one of the most fascinating places we have ever been.

So today I am packing and planning.  It is likely we may encounter challenges as we embark on this big journey but I am armed with a new attitude as I once again hear the advice of this fellow traveler…”just take everything in bite size pieces” which reminds me,  I think I will pack my snacks today.

“F” is For Fern Grotto-Our Hawaiian Adventure

Posted on by Debbie

Today marks the 8th day of our 55 days of world exploration. Since leaving home on January 17, 2023, we have already played in Los Angeles and on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Alan and I would begin the day early again, so we started the morning with a breakfast on our balcony. The sunrise was beautiful as we arrived in our second port of Hawaii, the island of Kauai. We were Malahini, or newcomers to these lands and we were once again refreshed and ready to explore.

Kauai is a small island at just 33 miles wide by 55 miles long. There is only a single road which only accesses about 1/3 of the small island. After much studying I had learned that the best ways to view this island was by boat or plane, so I had booked tours for us to do both. Our first stop would be the Fern Grotto.

A grotto is a cave which occurs naturally or is man-made. The pictures which I had seen of the Fern Grotto were spectacular and I was very excited to see it. The tour was touted as a visit to a geological wonder of Kauai promising an ampitheater, where ferns grow upside down from the roof of a grotto, which had formed millions of years ago.

There is only one way to get to the Grotto and that is via boat! In fact, The Wailua River is known as “the only navigable river” in all Hawaii, which would make the adventure even more exciting. I felt as if we were discovering hidden places.

There are a couple companies which offer tours on the 22.5 mile long river. We would be traveling with the Smith family for just two of those miles. This family has been navigating the river since 1946. Our boat for the day was called the Whitney K. She was one of several on the river that day.

Besides the few boat companies, the only other way to get to the grotto (which is owned by the Smith family) is by kayak. These could be rented or one could take the half hour journey up the river in their own kayak. Except for the rain which was falling off and on, I think we would have preferred this mode of travel.

Instead we had chosen what I affectionately refer to as a cruise ship “Granny tour”. These are the kinds of trips which are sedate and slow. perfect for the elderly, which we are not yet quite there. This was a float trip down a winding river, while relaxing, it was boring. Don’t get me wrong, the river is pretty enough but the view doesn’t vary much and powering under our own efforts would have at least given us something to do.

The saving grace to our boredom was that we were treated to a pretty spectacular rainbow, which spread across the river as the sun peaked out for a moment after one of the many showers on this day. It was a short lived reprieve from the gloomy day and we soon found ourselves back in our soggy conditions. Thankfully we could remain under cover on our boat while being regaled with the history of the river, as we made our way to the Fern Grotto.

We learned that the water which feeds the river comes from Mt. Wai‘ale‘ale, one of the wettest spots on the planet receiving about 465″ of rain a year! Kauai is the forth oldest of the Hawaiian islands. I was interested to learn that lands along the river were the sacred capital of ancient Kauai and the birthplace of the island’s ali‘i, or royalty.

After about half an hour we reached the dock to disembark for the short walk to the grotto. Normally there would be a performance of The Wedding Song and a hula dancer at the Fern Grotto where they would perform The Wedding Song at the amphitheater, but the rains were preventing it on this day, so the musicians performed on the boat, as we waited out yet another shower.

I had seen spectacular images of the Fern Grotto, so it was disappointing once we finally arrived. There was a lot of greenery but I was very disappointed to realize much of the old grotto had collapsed leaving only a fraction of the original glory. A little creative photography and I was able to capture a piece of the former glory.

In fact, the decline of the Fern Grotto’s began when it was hit by Hurricane Iwa in 1982. It was then nearly destroyed as Kauai was hit by Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Most of the ferns hanging from the grotto were torn from the rocks, With nothing to hold the ground together, the roof of the spectacular amphitheater began collapsing. In 2006 a woman sued the Smith family after being injured by falling rocks. The grotto is no longer accessible by foot and may only be viewed from a distant wooden platform. Although much of the plant life has rebounded, the grotto has had a difficult time recovering as new plant life has sprung up with increased light which now floods the gully.

All was not lost on this tour. After viewing the gully we were able to return to the boat via a flower lined walking path. My camera clicked from one flower to the other, as I attempted to capture the beauty of the native Hawaiian plants which surrounded us. Walking among the colorful exotic tropical plants sproting from the floor of this rain forest I realize I am in my most perfect element of serene peace. It was in this way that I would come to continue recommending this tour for others to enjoy. Perhaps the float trip had been more fabulous than even I had imagined it could be. Perhaps “Granny trips” are exactly what my soul needs as I learn to relax into this sixth decade of my life.

“E” is for Eternal Flame-Our Hawaiian Adventures

Posted on by Debbie

While on our Pacific Island Tour, our first stop after departing Los Angeles was the island of Oahu in Hawaii.  The cruise ship docked at Pier 2.  We would be in port until 11pm.  Our first tour wasn’t scheduled until noon, where we had a 10 1/2 hour exploration at the Polynesian Cultural Center planned to fill our afternoon and evening hours.   Never ones to waste time, this meant we still had a couple of hours available to explore the capital city of Waikiki, before the tour began.

A scout around the internet had given me a historical/architectural walking tour, which I figured we could complete in a couple of hours. After being at sea for four days, we were more than ready to explore.  Waving over our shoulders to the ships camera, with the hope of our family seeing us, Alan and I were off the ship by 9am.  With the time changes, we had already been up for several hours as we had watched the ship pull in.

Hand in hand we began walking, our goal was to see any of the 8  historical landmarks in Hawaii.  Many of these are Heritage Sites. These locations provide cultural explanations and the history behind them.  Today we had a goal of seeing the Kawaiahao church, the Capitol Building, the beautiful Iolani Palace, the Parliament building and the King Kamehameha Statue and finally the Eternal Flame monument. This is how the Eternal Flame Memorial became our letter “E”.  It was a 30 minute walk and we had a lot to see before getting there, so we stepped up our pace.  The flame is located directly across from the Capitol Building at 420 So. Beretania St.

The original Eternal flame has burned since 1944, in memory of the attack on Pearl Harbor, but this sculpture was re-dedicated in 1972 to all the men and women of Hawaii who have bravely served.  A palm lined path gently guides the visitor past the homeless population which often hangs out in the area.  It makes sense that they find the area inviting as this area overlooks the beautiful land which is Hawaii.  With the capitol of Waikiki behind us, the Eternal Flame lends a quiet, contemplative air in contrast to the hustle and bustle of the busy city.

The flame is protected from the elements by an interesting metal sculpture which shields it from the wind, ensuring that it burns non-stop.  Perhaps this is the same embrace we should offer to all our vets.

Many of the homeless here are former vets.   As they huddle beneath the statue, I can’t help but be honored to be in the presence of those who have protected us.  After all, isn’t awareness the real reason that this flame burns endlessly?

 

 

“D” is for the Do’s and Don’t of Visiting Dubai-Our Middle East Adventure

Posted on by Debbie

Our cruise came to an end in the city of Dubai.  As we left the ship, we were happy to have completed two of the five legs along the 2023 Island Princess World Cruise. After 55 days on board, this was actually the halfway point of the 110 day cruise and nearly double the length of time we had originally planned on being on board.

It was before 7am as our ship pulled into the port.  The day began with a spectacular orange sunrise.  Normally a red sky in the morning would be a warning for rain or stormy weather ahead, but Dubai sits in the middle of the Arabian Desert. With an annual rainfall of just 4 inches a year, there was little chance of seeing any moisture on this day.  The sunrise was more likely being affected from the permanent haze caused by the blowing sands.

As we sailed past the “Atlantis Dubai”, an all inclusive resort and waterpark reflecting the “Lost City of Atlantis”, it quickly became apparent that we had arrived in a country of opulence.  It is difficult to imagine that this city started as little more than a fishing village.  It has now grown to be the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates Republic (UAE).

Most would assume that Dubai’s wealth was the result of oil.  In fact oil and gas only account for about 2% of all exports!  Real estate and construction are the largest contributors to the economic growth of the country. When 85% of the population is made from expats, it is easy to see why this is one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

Truth be told, I was a little nervous about visiting this city.  This is a country with deep traditions and customs, many of which are quite different from our Western way of life.  Mostly my concerns stemmed from my own ignorance about what to expect.  A little research solved that problem.  Perhaps by sharing our observations, we can help to dispel any concerns about visiting this amazing location.

1. The majority of the population is Muslim.  This is a deeply rooted religion with different rules than those of Christianity.  The most important “do” is to respect this.  Part of being a world traveler is to immerse yourself in new cultures.  Each new location presents an opportunity to learn, embrace it.

2. Muslims pause to pray 5 times a day. Prayers are before dawn (Fajr), afternoon (Dhuhr), late afternoon (Asr), after sunset (Maghrib) and evening (Isha).  There are loud speakers throughout the city which call worshippers to prayer at regular intervals throughout the day. Don’t be alarmed when you hear the calls. Unlike in Christianity Holy day is Friday.  This means many businesses offer limited hours on Fridays, if they open at all.  Do plan accordingly.

3. Do take public transportation or use a taxi.  We rented a car to explore the city and stressed ourselves out completely.  Traffic on the seven lane highways is fast and a bit difficult.  Our GPS had trouble distinguishing from when we were on a highway verses a frontage road, meaning we were often off course, which cost us precious time.  Since we were only in the city for a little over 24 hours, we couldn’t spare any.  The city is beautiful and there is much to see.  Traffic is so busy you will not want to take your eyes off the road which means you will miss some of these spectacular sights.  Take a taxi or take the Metro.  If you choose to ride the train, it will be busy during rush hour.  There are a few cars for women only.  if you are male, don’t ride in these female only cars or you will be fined.  Speaking of fines, do not eat or drink on the Metro, it is prohibited.

4. Dubai is spread out with several distinct districts.  Some are more difficult to access without transportation.  Do know the district your hotel and/or desired activities are in.

5.  With the exception of smoking cessation gum, you will not find gum for sale in Dubai so do bring your own if you need it. Don’t spit or throw your gum on the sidewalk, both are punishable crimes.

6. You are going to be hot, so do dress accordingly.  Dubai is warm year around.  The most comfortable time to visit is during “winter” months of December, January and February.  You can still expect temperatures to be in the high 70’s (25C).  At the opposite end of this spectrum it is up to 113F (45C) during the summer months!   Light, loose clothing will keep you comfortable. Speaking about clothing, do remember you are a guest in these lands.  Different from the western world it is expected that men and women both dress modestly to observe Islamic traditions,  Knees and shoulders should be covered by both sexes.  Don’t forget your sunscreen!

7. Do exchange some money.  When using cash, only local currency (Emirati durham) will be accepted.

8. The best don’t is don’t worry about your safety (within reason of course).  Dubai has an incredibly low crime rate.

9. Do not miss visiting the popular tourist spots!  Be sure to see the Burj Khalifa,  The tallest building in the world is an architectural wonder.  The views from the 124th floor are slightly nauseating and completely awe inspiring. Do expect the lines to be long.  If time is limited most of the tourist hot spots offer a “skip the line pass”.  As an added bonus, the Burj is attached to the Dubai Mall which is another one of the must see locations in Dubai.  We also suggest a visit to the Gold and Spice Souks, Old Dubai and the Miracle Gardens (which we completed all in one day).

10. Alan and I are very affectionate with each other,  There is rarely a time when we aren’t holding hands.  Public displays of affection are frowned upon in Dubai.  In fact, if you are not married, even holding hands is frowned upon. It was a tough don’t for Alan and I to remember.   Along these same lines, unmarried couples should not plan on staying in the same hotel room.  Doing so, could lead to fines and/or deportation.

11. As a traveler it is fun to photograph different cultures.  People can be so different but do be polite and ask permission before taking someones photo.  Alternately you could take photos of other things and just happen yo capture the environment.

12. Don’t take pictures of Government Buildings.  As we were cruising down the above waterway, there was a cool bridge just before our boat turned around to return us to our starting point.  Shortly after taking this picture there were also numerous signs warning no photography beyond a certain point. I am not sure what lay beyond that bridge but if the Emirates might consider your photo an issue of national security, you really don’t want to be in trouble with the law in foreign lands. Do follow the rules, punishments may be strict for seemingly minor (and perhaps innocent) infractions.

13.  Speaking about laws, Alcohol is available in most hotels, licensed restaurants and clubs. One thing is certain, the U.A,E does not tolerate public inebriation. Do not ever drink and drive, the legal limit is zero.

14.  Finally, do not try to carry prohibited items.  It is especially important to remember that you packed a pen knife in your carry on luggage before you pass through security at the airport.   Failing to do so might bring a search of your bags and a very serious security agent to your side!  Thankfully I wasn’t carted off to any back rooms.  Do expect that you will be questioned and asked to surrender your “weapons”, if you forget.

Dubai is one of the most liberal countries in the Middle East.  With the large expat community there is a tolerance for most differences.  With these few simple guidelines you should have enough familiarity to feel comfortable in this amazing country.

“K” is For Korean Friendship Bell-Our Los Angeles, California Adventure

Posted on by Debbie

Arriving two days before we would set sail on our partial World Cruise Adventure, afforded us the opportunity to explore the Los Angeles area. With an eye toward nature, scenery, history and culture in all of our research, I had feared we would have to spend the day by the hotel pool. How very wrong I had been! My sleuthing had uncovered a plethora of activities which would meet our desires and keep us busy from morning until night. Our first stop on Day 2 of our trip, would be the Korean Friendship Bell.

We were momentarily lost as we looked for the entrance to the bell. Indeed, we soon discovered that many locals have never even been to this beautiful location. The GPS had given us the location only as far as old military barracks. As we looked out over the San Pedro harbor, we realized that the Korean Friendship Bell was actually the next entrance over and up a steep roadway which lead to the most beautiful open park and stunning views of any area that I have seen.

A plaque at the entrance describes how the US had acquired such a gift. The pavilion took ten months to be built by Korean craftsmen “to celebrate the bicentennial of the U.S. independence, honor veterans of the Korean War, and to consolidate traditional friendship between the two countries”. From the tree which had been planted by the Korean President himself, to the carefully curated landscaping, and the concrete circles which once held cannons, I wanted to explore everything.

I also felt the spiritual connection of this special place and the friendships which had been born between two nations. This seemed to be a location for quiet contemplation. I witnessed a quiet reverence as many approached the bell.

Build atop old bunkers and resting peacefully on a high knoll, overlooking the sea gate from which U.S. troops once sailed into the Pacific, the bell site affords an unsurpassed view of the Los Angeles harbor, the Catalina Channel and the sea terraces of San Pedro hill.

The 17 ton bell sits inside a beautifully painted pavilion.

Also known as an Emille Bell, the bell is patterned after the Bronze Bell of King Songdok, which was cast in 771 A.D. and is still on view in South Korea today. This bell remains among the largest of its kind in the world.

With a height of twelve feet and a diameter of 7-1/2 feet, the bell is made of copper and tin, with gold, nickel, lead and phosphorous added for tone quality.

Four pairs of figures, each pair consisting of the Goddess of Liberty holding a torch, and a Korean spirit , are engraved in relief on the body of the bell. Each of the Korean spirits holds up a different symbol: a symbolic design of the Korean flag; a branch of the rose of Sharon, Korea’s national flower; a branch of laurel, symbol of victory; and a dove of peace.

The bell is rung each year on: Independence day, July 4, National Liberation Day of Korea, August 15, 9:00a.m.-12 Noon and New Year’s Eve, September 17 to coincide with bell ringings around the country to celebrate Constitution week, also on January 13 for Korean-American Day. The Bell is also rung 13 times on the 1st Saturday of the month at 11:30 a.m. There is no clapper inside the giant bell, instead a large wooden log is pulled back and allowed to strike the bell’s side.

The bell is set in a magnificent pagoda-like structure which was constructed on the site by thirty craftsmen flown in from Korea. It took them ten months and costs $569,680. Everything about the pavilion is symbolic. There are twelve columns representing the twelve designs of the Oriental zodiac. Animals stand guard at the base of each set of stairs leading to the pavilion.

Bring a picnic, revel in the beauty of the open ocean and plan to spend some time exploring the walking paths which surround the pavilion. Be warned though, it is always windy at this location.

Korean Bell of Friendship and Bell Pavilion
Angels Gate Park
3601 S Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 548-7705

“C” is For Crown Plaza-Our Los Angeles, California Adventure

Posted on by Debbie

We originally booked a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport in preparation for our cruise departure. After reading extensive reviews, I switched our hotel booking to the Crown Plaza,

Once I realized that we were due to sail out of San Pedro, about 30 minutes south of the airport, it seemed easier to get ourselves there for our two night stay.

We arrived later in the evening on the first of a two night stay, too tired to explore the amenities but a fresh room awaited our exhausted bodies.  Forgive the photo of our room, I forgot to take the picture when it was all put together.

We wouldn’t realize how very close to the cruise terminal we were, until the light of the next morning. Many of the upcoming World Cruise passengers were also staying there.  It was a great way to meet them before setting sail.

We chose to rent a car so we could do some sightseeing on the way to the hotel. There was a drop off point just outside the hotel, which made it easy for us to have a one way car rental.  It is also possible to get an Uber or Lyft from the airport for about $35 USD.

The main draw of this hotel is the approximation to the cruise terminal.  We could walk a mile to get there if we chose,  but handling 6 pieces of luggage across several roads might have been a challenge.

Even though the cruise terminal is within view and walking distance, it is far easier to take the shuttle. I knew that we ourselves had 6 suitcases to handle for the trip, so I imagined how challenging luggage was going to be for the many passengers who were doing the entire world tour!

When cruises are in, it is highly recommended to book your time slot the evening before or as soon as you check in.  You will be given a departure time if the shuttles are very busy. The cost of the shuttle is $5 a person and runs every 15 minutes.

When I asked about handling all of the luggage, I was told the 35 passenger busses had had 10 seats taken out to accommodate the extra bags.  There was plenty of room for all of us and since the cruise terminal is only 1 mile away, the shuttles make quick delivery of passengers to the terminal.

There are many amenities within walking distance, including a great restaurant called the Green Onion.  How could I say no to some of the best Mexican food ever?  Especially when it was only 350 feet from the door of the hotel! The area appears safe both day and night. Of course for those guests who don’t want to venture out, there is also on-site dining in the elegant hotel restaurant if you so choose.

All in all, this was an adequate hotel for our needs for the couple nights before we set sail.

If you are interested in this location, I would suggest booking through booking.com.  We were able to get our room for under $200/night (including taxes).