“I” is for Impressive (Thailand)

Posted on March 27, 2026April 8, 2026 by Debbie

I honestly didn’t think that anything could be as impressive as the day we had experienced in Bangkok, but our second day, while docked in Leam Chebang, was equally as enjoyable. The ship had overnighted and we were scheduled to take a private tour to the nearby town of Pattaya. This town has a reputation for beaches and the bawdy, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect today. Most people come to Pattaya for the nightlife and we were due to depart at 4pm, so we would see none of that. With its close proximity to Leam Chebang, it is an easy location to get to, so we were off the ship by 8am. Unfortunately traffic was very congested and the 20 minute journey took about an hour and a half. With our already shortened day in port, we knew it would be a whirlwind of the three activities on the schedule for the day,

Suan Nongnooch Botanical Gardens

We would begin the day at Nong Nooch Botanical Gardens. Anyone who knows me, knows that flowers are my passion (right up there with photography). Combine these two things and it creates a time management problem as I while away the hours! Because we are on tour, I must stay on task.

The Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (Suan Nong Nooch) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Thailand. It is one of the largest tropical gardens and the world’s largest botanical garden.There are over 20,000 tropical trees, collected from 50 countries around the world. The most distinctive flower collection consists of more than 600 species of orchids.

The land which it occupies was originally bought for the cultivation of an orchard. The initial goal was to grow mangoes, coconuts, oranges and other Thai fruits there. After a trip abroad, the owner of the land, after whom the Nong Nooch Pattaya garden was named, decided to plant a tropical flower garden instead of an orchard.

Later, having realized how attractive this place could become for tourists, it was fully equipped for a variety of interests. The complex is huge, covering over 500 acres! Besides the massive Botanic Gardens, you can find a swimming pool, restaurants, a banquet hall and hotels. There is a zoo of sorts, an elephant arena and a performance hall. There is even a hall featuring a car collection! Each section has its own entrance fee and it is a reasonable day out for families, making the site a popular tourist destination.

The garden was opened to the public in 1980 and is now run by the founder’s son. Each areas is divided into specialized “gardens”. By my count there were at least 14. We were so limited on time, we hopped aboard a shuttle, to be able to see most of what the grounds offered, which meant I couldn’t get up close and personal with the plants. This was probably good since there are 8 of us in the group. It also meant views were limited based on the side of the shuttle you had chosen.

I don’t want to do this beautiful space any disservice by saying it is also an amusement park. There aren’t rides per say (except for the elephant rides) but there are themed areas such as the massive Dinosaur Garden.

Seeking respite from the 90+ degree heat, we moved to a massive, enclosed auditorium, which was blissfully air conditioned. Here, we would be treated to the most spectacular stage presentation of traditional Thai cultural performances. The 45 minute performance included traditional and more modern dances which rivaled Las Vegas. A little Thai martial art was also thrown in for our entertainment and then the elephants were brought in for a reenactment of what is called the elephant fight (the riders battle with long poles). The entire show had me spellbound.

We still weren’t done at Na Nooch. Next we were taken to a big arena to see the elephants perform. This is a circus-like environment where the elephants pose for pictures, can be fed, play basketball, soccer, bowl and paint. They are extremely well trained but I would have preferred time at the floating market, which we then had to cut from our schedule. My fellow passengers might have preferred if I hadn’t smelled like an elephant the rest of the day, after playing with them!

I was holding out hope that we could still have some time at our final destination, the Sanctuary of Truth, which would blow our socks off. I had researched this amazing place but we were only given 30 minutes at the location, which translated to about 15 by the time we actually got to the structure.

Sanctuary of Truth (UNESCO)

The Sanctuary of Truth is another of the most popular places to visit in Pattaya.

While many people refer to it as a temple, it is actually a privately owned museum. The distinctive 105-metre structure, built on the headland near Wongamat Beach, was visuaalized by a businessman to celebrate Thai craftsmanship and it certainly does!

The intricate structure is built completely out of wood. The pieces are held together using different techniques such as lap joints, dove tails, and large wooden pins. No nails have ever been used.

Each elaborate carving tells the stories of Thai mythology and philosophy. It’s a tribute to traditional craftsmanship and spiritual values. Talented craftsman work daily to repair the building and/or to add to the structure. Since it is a working construction zone, visitors are required to wear hard hats.

We didn’t have enough time to partake but beyond the temple, there are boat rides, cultural shows, and scenic viewpoints of the coastline.

On our last day in Thailand, we reflect on all we have experienced in this country and conclude the memories have been absolutely incredible!

“D” is for Different (Singapore)

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Debbie

We are often reluctant to repeat visits to the places we enjoy. We never want to tarnish the experiences we have already had. When we decided to spend extra time in Singapore, before the cruise set sail, we were determined to see new things, to have different adventures, so that those favorite experiences remain unique to the journey we are on..

This is what led to Day 2 of our Asia tour being a full exploration of Marina Bay Park. We hadn’t had time to see this amazing area of the city the last time we were here. This was a very active day for us and I would have preferred it to take place on day 3, due to our long travel days but much research had led me to discover that one of our “different” list experiences, that of riding a Sampan boat at the Marina Bay shopping area, took place only on Thursday, (March 19) of the time we would be in Singapore. So it was, that we had planned the entire day around a $10 boat trip!

The moment we began walking today, I knew it was going to be a challenge. Our feet were still recovering from yesterday, when we had walked 10.5 miles. My back, hips and knees were groaning too. It was a two Aleve type of day! Alan was only moderately impaired after having irritated a toenail yesterday. Our schedule called for another 6.5 miles of walking today. I was a little less enthusiastic to get moving this morning. We only made it to the Fullerton Hotel , which was just a short walk beyond the subway exit when we we spotted boats. Noting they covered a similar path to the one we wanted to walk, we chose to start the day this way, while letting the medicine kick in. . By 11a.m., the weather was already in the high 90’s and humidity was nearly the same. We had to wait for the 12:15 boat which meant we had some time to kill.

The boat docked outside the famous, Fullerton Hotel.Alan’s mom always says if you can’t afford to stay in a high end hotel, have dessert there, so we did! Rooms at this historic hotel start at $1,000 per night! The hotel sits nestled in the hug of skyscrapers among the developing city. The first Governor of the Straits Settlements gave his name to this monument. The current building dates from 1924, though it was built over a fort which once guarded the mouth of the river with a large gun, from 100 years earlier,

After our dessert and coffee, we hopped on the boat where we observed amazing architecture all around the waterfront. First up was The Cavenagh and Anderson Bridges dating from 1869 and 1910 respectively.

The massive Marina Bay Sands Casino towers over the bay. I have always called the structure at the top a boat, but it is more commonly referred to as a spaceship. There is a huge observation deck at the 54th floor and for a cost of $36-$48 you have the privilege of riding an elevator to look out over the bay. Be sure to make reservations in advance, this sells out quickly. There is also an infinity pool at the top but this is a luxury only available to hotel guests.

Next on our boat ride was The Esplanade. This is an arts complex and contains the Theaters on the Bay. The spiky design of the building has led locals to call it the ‘durian’ – a local fruit with a similar spiky skin. When riding on public transportation this fruit is banned to carry as it is nicknamed “the stinky fruit”. Another item on my “different” set of experiences was to actually try this fruit this time, which I will likely do tomorrow when we are in Chinatown.

The boat continued up the Singapore River to reveal the various “Quays”, full of colorful shop houses turned restaurants. At the end of our boat trip I had responded well to the pain meds and was now ready to walk the same path for a more up close and personal look at things. It was now sweltering outside. My hair has become a giant frizz-ball!. For a second day we had forgotten to carry water. My recommendations for a visit to Singapore;…fast drying clothing-,you’re either going to be drenched by sweat or the frequent showers, or both at the same time; bottles of water and sunscreen, oh and good shoes!

I wanted to see the Merlion up close. Surrounded by Instagrammers , it is very difficult to get a photo without people posing, pretending to catch the water flowing from his mouth.but patience and persistence usually pay off.

Next on our walking route was the Helix Bridge which connects the Singapore Flyer with Marina Bay Sands (MBS). The design of the bridge represents the double-helix structure of DNA. There are green and red letters on the floor (c&g, a&t), they represent the four bases that join together to form the helix of DNA.

We stopped for a soft drink then began by boarding the Sampan boat in the lowest level of the hotel/casino, which is also the mall area. Sampan boats are a flat-bottomed boat, traditional in China and Malaysia. The ride itself is meant to be similar to a Venetian Gondola. The ‘canal’ runs along one aisle of the mall. We were actually here for the incredible history of how Singapore recovers its water. The indoor waterfall/vortex was a delight to witness. It only runs every couple of hours. There was no education on the boat tour which ended up being a disappointing tourist trap.

The observation deck at the top of Marina Bay Sands was sold out, so that will wait for another opportunity. By 5p.m. we were simply spent for the day. We chose to skip the light show tonight. We enjoyed a nice meal along the waterfront and went to bed by 8pm. Jet lag is catching up to us!

Day 3 will see us revisit Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam, where we will take a much more immersive dive into the cultural part of this country.

Day 4 in Singapore will be all about exploring the Colonization of Singapore. We will view more amazing architecture as we walk along the waterfront in Clark Quay and finish the day off with a river cruise to see the light show at Marina Bay Sands.

Since we are on an ABC journey I can’t fit fit everything in this post, but don’t worry, you will soon be able to follow the links to learn more about how we explored each location in Singapore.

“Q” is for Quirky-Our ABC Adventure-Charlevoix

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Debbie

Have you ever dreamed of walking through Hobbiton featured in the Lord of the Rings?

Believe it or not, you don’t need to travel to New Zealand to find Hobbit houses, the USA has our own charming town which attracts tourists from around the world.

Charlevoix is a tiny Northern Michigan town located just 4 hours north of Detroit.

Self taught builder, Earl Young built the eleven homes during the depression era, these buildings are creatively known as Gnome Homes, Mushroom Houses, or Hobbit Houses and they stand ready to transport you to middle earth.

Earl Young’s houses feature his signature designs which include wide, wavy eaves, exposed rafter tails; cedar-shake roofs; and a horizontal emphasis in design.

As an architect, Young fashioned his structures, using indigenous materials. His works are made mostly of stone, using limestone, fieldstone, and boulders that he found throughout Northern Michigan.

In all, Earl Young designed 30 unique homes over a 54 year period, 28 buildings are still standing in Charlevoix and in recent years, visitors have been drawn to the area to take a tour of the unique structures.

The self guided tour allows for easy viewing of the homes and parking is readily available on the street.

It was in this way that we set off on our own Hobbit inspired adventure.

One of the first “mushroom houses” we came upon is called the Thatch House – Formerly called Sunset Villa (pictured above). With its distinctive oversized thatched roof and lovely stonework, you can’t miss the impressive structure, located at 304 Park Avenue.

Thatched cottages are not common in the USA but with our roots in England, they are very familiar to us. There is a certain comfort which comes with seeing this particular home, which reminds me so much of the English cottages, on a grander scale.

The home was significantly remodeled in 2015, to reflect a more “mushroom” like character but it was originally built by Mr. Young in 1918. The new rendering was first drawn on a napkin. When a passerby exclaimed, “wow that looks like a mushroom”, the new owner realized the mission had been achieved. The massive home now boasts 6 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths as well as a media room. It is used as a vacation rental and is often the setting for weddings.

Located next to the the Thatch House is the Half House.

This lovely little home appears to have been cut in half. It is said that this home was built by the imaginative Earl Young as a wedding gift for his daughter. Can you imagine receiving such a charming gift? Built in 1947, the half house remains the same as it was in its original design.

Although this house isn’t as impressive as the remodeled mushroom, it is a very large home. Viewing the house from the back reveals terraced steps which lead down from the hill above. The layers of stone have been carefully set to blend seamlessly with the landscape. This house is located at 306 Park Avenue.

The eleven mushroom houses can be found along a triangular block in the Park Avenue area consisting of Grant Street, Clinton Street and Park Avenue. This is a self guided walking tour. Parking is available along any street. The homes are now private residences, so care should be taken to respect the privacy of the owners but it is a great way to pass an hour or so.

I will leave the remaining homes for you to discover, but I’m guessing it will be easy to see why we chose “Q” as our letter to represent these “Quirky” homes.