Bingo

Feeding frenzy

Some of the staff who kept us well fed and watered....including Head Waiter Miguel from Portugal, Senior Waiter Ferenz (from Bosnia?) and Waiter Adem (from Budapest)

Post prandial Perrier

Looks like a good night was had. Thank goodness the Perrier was included in teh ticket price. But by trips end we were Perriered out!

Freshhhh

Kevin's seafood alergy was no longer a problem ...

A lot of polyster and viscose

The Connoisseur Club was a place to get away from 99.9% of the guests and have a smoke without all the palaver that went on with smoking in the designated areas. Don't get those dinner jackets too close to a naked flame though!

On board at last - San Pedro

It wasn't that pretty ...

Travelling lite

Packed and ready for the trip to the San Pedro passenger terminal. But not before the shopping expedition to Camarillo Outlet mall so the boys could get kitted out for the trip. With Kevin at the wheel and Graham and Mike competing with the SatNav for directions it was a real riot getting to and from Camarillo. 10 hours of shopping later (who was the biggest spender?) and we returned to the Airport Hilton to greet Donald who had to delay his trip from KL due to Mrs D's ill health in Harare.

Hula girls

Diamond Head in the background ...

Food, glorious food

The first formal evening - and the process of Crystalisation has begun.....

Obstructed view

The view out the cabin - obstructed by the lifeboat winch and rafts. We were'nt complaining.

Seeing IS believing

Is that Graham playing a poker machine???
Yes!

Cruise magic

It's a wonder what a few days at sea can do - especially on 6* luxury.

Phuket - James Bond Island

Otherwise known as Khao Tapoo Island in Phang Nga Bay National Park. A great day out!

Hong Kong II

Food - did someone mention the food??

Hong Kong

Two days sure wasn't enough time to revisit this city that never sleeps. The light show was spectacular, not to mention the shopping, the food, the friendly people etc ...

Cruising along - Crystal Symphony March 2008

There were several formal evenings - this one in the Italian Restaurant Prego..

Good morning vietnam

We decided to take it liesurely in Vietnam and only visited Saigon and Hanoi. The weather wasn't too crash hot to enable a visit to Balong Bay but that is a good reason to make a rturn trip. Saigon was facscinating - here we are with our guide Mr Huy outside the town hall in central.

Style

We visited friends Franco and Robert in their new bali Villa home(s).

Beautiful !!

You dirty rat

James Cagney is often attributed with this line, but he never uttered those words.

Oh well - happy new year in the year of the rat.
That is one cute rat !!

Fresh faces

As some depart, new faces join the group. Here is Jack (centre) our friend from Gartow in Germany who arrived only yesterday, with Henry from Melbourne who has been here a week. Old friends and hopefully new friendships being forged ....

Farewell dinner

Matthew and Mark from Tassie depart today so we had a cheap and cheerful dinner - not so cheap but very cheerful in a swish restaurant just around the corner from the hotel.
L->R are Brent, Steve, Jack, Henry, Matthew, Mike, Marc, Donald

Bali hi

Last night the hotel owner put on a BBQ around the pool - all very civilsed. Tonight we dine out on french cuisine prior to greeting our friend Jack the dentist from Germany who arrives late this evening.
As a welcome pressie Donald sent me of to the beauty parlour for massage, body scrub, and a rinse through the hair! I'm not convinced by the new look - I know how a poodle feels now.

Boarding call

Owing to technical difficulties with dear old aunty Pauline's probate application the departure to Denpasar on Monday 4th February has been delayed until Wednesday 6th. Hopefully it won't be one of those 'fickled finger of fate' changes. Fingers crossed for Jetstar flight JQ37.

Sick boy

Since arriving in Bali Donald has been struck down with a bad dose of flu followed by Bali belly. We are hoping that he'll be back in action soon - that's himself on the left.

Ahoy

We will be cruising aboard the Crystal Symphony - one of only a few 6 star ships sailing today.

Hope the gap between expectation and reality isn't too great.

Anyway that doesn't matter - the trip is a celebration of 25 years of friendships!

Celebration

To farewell Donald on his trip we got together with fellow travellers Kevin and Graham.

Hopefully we didn't keep the new neighbours awake with the 'deep and meaningful' discussions that followed.....Did Kev keep his hairdresser's appointment? ....did Graham make the 50th wedding anniversary?? How bad was the damage to Nancy Nissan...

Welcome

We are about to set out on our pre retirement holiday. Bali -> Vietnam -> KL -> cruising from LA to Hong Kong, then a few days in Phuket ... and maybe Myinmarr.

Hopefully you can follow our journey and keep us updated on what's happening with you.