Mumbai, India

Sun. & Mon., Mar. 20 & 21,2011     89 degrees                   6:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Band playing on dock when we arrived

 Mumbai Harbour is the premier port on the west coast of India.  Its fine harbor, about 14 miles long with a general width of about 5 miles, lies east of Bombay Island.  It has over 50 berths, with modern equipment for handling general cargo vessels, container ships and tankers; it also has numerous anchor berths.  Most of Mumbai is at sea level and the average elevation ranges from 33 to 49.5 feet.  Mumbai sits on a seismically active zone owing to the presence of three fault lines in the vicinity. 

Mumbai (formerly Bombay) – premium port of India located on the Arabian Sea.  Ancient yet modern, fabulously rich yet achingly poor, Mumbai is India in a microcosm.  Most populous city in India and 2^nd in the world with a population of 21 million.   The name was officially changed from Bombay to Munbai in 1995.

Bombay can be considered so different from the rest of India that it could be another country.  The rest of the country views Bombay as the city of opportunity.  It tantalizes millions with prospects of wealth and success.  Bombay is a place to build a better life. For the traveler, Bombay is both disturbingly eye-opening, and incredibly exciting.  Here in the heady sun and breeze of the Arabian Sea you can bargain in street bazaars, browse in exclusive boutiques, take a horse-drawn ride past stately old Victorian buildings, get lost in the stone-carvings of the 7^th C. Elephanta Caves, watch the sun rise over the Gateway of India, and stroll at sunset along Marine Drive’s endless waterfront promenade.

On the first day,  we took a shore excursion “Panoramic Mumbai”.  Today is a “Holi” holiday, and the young people decorate themselves with brightly coloured paint.  We are docked at Ballard Pier – Indira Dock – 2 miles to town.  We drove by the Victoria Terminus (railway station), Marine Drive past Chowpatty Beach, Nariman Point and to Malabar Hill.  Drove past the Jain Temple (most ancient tiny sect and best decorated temple).  Stopped at Taj Hotel and had a drink.  Walked across the street to take pictures of the Gateway to India.



Taj Hotel



Gateway to India



2 days in Mumbai - folkloric show in the evening

Second day in Mumbai, we took a shore excursion “Mumbai’s Religious Beats”.  We began our trip by going to the Babulnath Temple.  Climbing the steps to the temple gives a panorama of south Mumbai.  Rows of flower hawkers and very poor homes along road to temple.  Bought an offering to give to Shiva.  I was given my offering back as well as a flower and sweet.  We next stopped at Gandhi’s ashram when he stayed in Mumbai.  This is now a museum of his life.  It includes a library, Gandhi’s belongings displayed in his room, colourful dioramas and moving letters from the fight for independence.  Next to the Siddhi Venayah temple where they worship Ganesha.  Black stone idol, with Riddhi & Siddhi (wealth) on each side.  Stopped at the dhobi ghat’s where they wash the people’s clothes.  The clothes are picked up at their home, washed and ironed and returned in a week.  Our last stop was at the Mahalakashmi Temple where thry worship a female goddess.

 

Babulnath Temple



Gandhi's Ashram



Gandhi







Gandhi's room

After departure from Mumbai we set out on a westerly course heading directly for the Gulf of Oman, the body of water which lies at the entrance to the Persian Gulf.  This leg of our voyage takes us across the Arabian Sea which is part of the Indian Ocean.  During this time of year the northeast Monsoon prevails, bringing dry weather with few clouds.

Kochi, India

Friday, March 18^th, 2011  89 degrees                                      10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

After leaving Singapore we proceed through the Malacca Strait towards India.  Malacca Strait is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world due to its geographical position.  Al vessels from Europe, the Persian Gulf and India headed for Malaysia, Singapore and other Asian ports to the northeast pass through Malacca and Singapore Straits.  We move into the Indian Ocean, the third largest of the world’s oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth’s surface.  It is bounded on the north by Asia; on the west by Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunday Islands and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean.  After crossing the Bay of Bengal we approached the southern tip of India passing Sri Lanka.  The southern tip of India is marked by Cape Comorin.  After passing Cape Comorin we will adjust our course to the northwest and follow the coast towards Kochi.

860 miles south of Bombay.  One of west coasts largest and oldest parts.  Its proximity to the equator, the sea, and the mountains, provide a rich experience of a moderate equatorial climate.  Vibrant city on southwest coast of the Indian peninsula.  Kochi is in the province of Kerala rated in the top 3 touring destinations by the World Travel and Tourism Council.  It is comprised of Fort Cochin and Mattancheri.  Believed to be the first European settlement in India.  The flag was raised in 1500 by the Portuguese, and Vasco da Gama arrived in Cochin in 1502.  Agriculture is the chief economic activity.  Kochi with its naval base and shipbuilding industry, is the primary training center for the Indian Navy.



Portugese Museum





Church of St. Francis




Fans made out of fabric (Punka Valla)



Snake charmer




Chinese fiahing nets





Mattancherry Palace

We went on a shore excursion “Cultures of Kochi”.  Visited the Portugese Museum.  We then drove to the Arabian Sea to view the Chinese Fishing Nets and the fish market.  Our next stop was the Church of St. Francis where we saw for the first time Punka Valla fans which are made out of fabric and used to cool the church.  Someone has to go outside the building to pull the ropes to operate the fans.  This was the original burial place of Vasco de Gama.

Our next stop was Mattancherry Palace  (Dutch Palace).  We saw many beautiful murals and coronation robes as well as weapons.  Next we went to the Jewish section where the streets are crammed with stores selling curios, saris, jewelry, handicrafts and souvenirs.



Jewish section - shopping



Singapore, Republic of Singapore

Sun. & Mon. Mar. 13 & 14, 2011  88 degrees                      7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

During our voyage towards Singapore we will pass Malaysia.  Malaysia is a country that consists of thirteen states and three federal territories in Southeast Asia.  The country is separated into two regions Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo by the South China Sea.  Malaysia borders Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. 



Fuel being added to ship

The port of Singapore is one of the busiest ports in the world.  It is a major port  complex formed within the islands and the mainland mass which comprise the mainland mass which comprise the Republic of Singapore.

The Merlion is a figure with the head of a lion and the body of a fish.  Its name comes from a combination of mermaid and lion.  Supposedly, the lion head and fish body of the creature recalls the story of the legendary Sang Nila Utama, who saw a lion while hunting on an island, en route to Malacca.  The island eventually became the sea port of Temasek, the precursor to Singapore.  In 2002, the statue was relocated to its current site that fronts Marina Bay with the completion of the Esplanade Bridge in 1997.

With myriad ethnic groups crammed into its 263 square miles, Singapore is a city of many faces.  All in the same day, you can tour Chinese shophouses offering everything from ginseng to frog porridge, eat fiery South Indian curry, sit down at a sushi bar or pizzeria, listen to a bit of Bach by a Western-style orchestra, or shop for Gucci handbags and skin-tight jeans in chrome-and-glass malls as a Malay muezzin beckons Muslim faithful to prayer in the distance.  With so many different voices and languages, and such diversity of religion and culture, Singapore is understandably a city of contradictions” a multicultural, ever-changing metropolis that still nods to its colonial beginnings; a bastion of capitalism sustained by an energetic people, an orderly city that champions the indulgence of simple pleasures, while simultaneously creating safety valves for those who like to walk on the wilder side.

A true melting pot.  Singapore is a city of ultra modern high-rises.  Chinese shop-houses with red-tiled roofs.  Victorian architecture.  Buddhist temples and Arab bazaars.  Take a trip to the top of Mount Faber for a great view of the city and its surrounding area.

Singapore’s rules are tough, but clear.  Jaywalkers are fined on the spot.  Drop litter – and you pay.  Convicted drug traffickers can expect a death sentence.  The literacy rate is 96.3 %.  The walls of Singapore’s buildings are clean – assuredly cleaner than they are in any Western City.  Media is scanned at the state level for content and “inappropriate” websites are blocked.  There is no denying the system’s icy effectiveness.  Unlike most large you can walk in Singapore at any time, day or night without fear.

Jeff and Kim picked us up at 11 AM and took us to the Botanical Gardens.  We then went to a Mexican Restaurant for lunch with them.  Next we went to their condo and met their 3 dogs and their parrot.  After walking the dogs, Kim took us to the Arab District.  We saw the sultan mosque and visited many shops.  Before bringing them on board the Amsterdam for dinner we stopped at the Raffles Hotel which is was made famous by such writers as Rudyard Kipling and Somerset Maugham.   Noble Raffles Hotel continues to ooze tradition and gentility today. It was wonderful to see Jeff and Kim and we thoroughly enjoyed our day.

Jeff and I in the Botanical Gardens



Kim, Chris and I




Outside Jeff and Kim's home




Beautiful pool at their home




Shopping on Arab Street with Kim



Jeff and Kim at Raffles Hotel

Jeff and Kim in our stateroom on the MS Amsterdam



Having a drink in the bar before dinner




Dinner on the Amsterdam



After dinner with one of the beautiful flower arrangements



Jeff - casino closed because we are in port



Outside the Microsoft lab

Kim in one of the lounges

The next day, Monday, Chris and I set out and took the MRT (metro system) to Chinatown.  We visited the Thian Hock Keng Temple which was built in 1839.   This is Singapore’s oldest Chinese Temple.  We visited many shops in Chinatown and then took the MRT back to the ship.


On the MRT




Singapore - Chinatown



Sri Mariammon Temple

Phu My, Vietnam

Friday, March 11, 2011     92 degrees                                     6:00 AM – 6:00 PM



Cyclo on street

In 1804 King Gia Long planned to use the name Nam Viet for Vietnam but the Qing dynasty  of China disagreed and changed it to Viet Nam.  From 1839 to 1945, Emperor Minh Mang renamed Viet Nam to Dai Nam, meaning “Great South”.  Viet is the name of the largest ethnic group in Vietnam (the Kinh) and Nam means “the South”, affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty from China.

Phu My is the deepest river port in Vietnam.  The port of Phu My (pronounced Foo Me) is the gateway to Ho Chi Minh City and the seaside resort of Vung Tau.  Vung Tau located in the south of Vietnam, situated at the tip of a small peninsula, is the only petroleum base of Vietnam where crude oil and gas exploitation activities dominate the city’s economy and contribute principal income to Vietnam’s budget and export volume.  To most tourists it is known for over 6 miles of fine sand seaside.

We went on a shore excursion to Vung Tau.  It was known as Cap St. Jacques during the days of the French occupation and has always been a popular beach resort for residents of Saignon.  We stopped at the White Villa, the former Royal Residence of Bach Dinh.  Beautiful views over the bay and frangipani scented gardens of the villa.  We next stopped at the Bay of Boats where numerous colourful wooden fishing boats are anchored.  We drove along the coast and took pictures of the 100-foot-tall statue of Jesus.  We next visited a hillside Buddhist temple where we were offered incense by our guide to offer up a prayer.  I always find it very peaceful in a Buddhist Temple with incense burning.  Our next stop was at a fisherman’s Whale Temple.  Inside the temple there was a skeleton of a whale in a glass case.  The fishermen pray to the whale for safety in case of a storm at sea.

White villa - former royal residence of Bach Dink



Bay of Boats from villa



Statues at foot of mountain with Jesus



Statue of Jesus 100 Ft. tall




Buddhist Temple




Monk in temple



Fisherman's temple



Whale skelton in temple



Sign outside temple



The Earth’s Atmosphere Information

The earth’s atmosphere is composed of distinct layers.  The troposphere extends upward from the earth to a height of about 8.1 kilometers at the poles, to about 11.3 kilometers in mid-latitudes, and to about 16.1 kilometers at the equator.  The air in the troposphere is in constant motion, with both horizontal and vertical air currents.  Throughout the troposphere, temperature decreases with altitude.  Above the troposphere is an atmospheric ozone layer, which is also the lower layer of the stratosphere.  Temperature changes little with altitude in the stratosphere, which extends upward to about 50 kilometers.  Above this layer is the mesosphere, which extends to about 80 kilometers above the earth.  The temperature sharply decreases at the base of the mesosphere before it begins to rise at the top of the mesosphere.  The next layer is the thermosphere, which extends upward from the mesosphere to about 640 kilometers; its temperature increases rapidly with altitude because of the absorption of shortwave radiation by ionization processes, although, because of the thinness of the air, little heat energy is available.  The final layer is the exosphere, which gradually gets thinner as it reaches into the vacuum of space at around 700 kilometers; the atmosphere is so attenuated at this altitude that the average distance air molecules travel without colliding is equal to the radius of the earth.