September 11, 2025

We left the Great Wall and went to THE MING TOMBS - however we were disappointed to find there was nothing there except the grounds.

Their website needs some updating! All the cool artifacts are long gone from the site! We didn't a lot more walking and climbing, with nothing but this funny picture at the end, to show for it! Look at where Bob's water bottle is aimed!

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This evening we went on a Food Tour I had arranged in the Hutong neighborhood of BeiJing. This was a very pretty, residential area with lots of shops and energy. The Hutongs are some of the oldest housing areas - many down long narrow alleys and have communal living space. The four restaurants we went to on the tour, were all small owners and we would never have found some of these amazing food samplings on our own! We had to split into 2 groups of 6 to accommodate small spaces. Our guide Joe was great. Super open, friendly and answered all our questions! He even walked us back to subway to make sure we found our way back to Hotel hassle free.

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HAPPY EASTER from BALI, INDONESIA

By Pat Patrick • April 6, 2026
Easter turned out to be a travel day for Bosco and I as we were extremely limited in when we could be seen by the Australian Border Control to disembark from the Ship, for a scuba diving adventure in Raja Ampat that I have had reserved, for over 18 months! We flew from Perth to Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia on Easter afternoon.

FREO ARTS FESTIVAL AND COUSINS!!

By Pat Patrick • April 6, 2026
I have been really excited to get to Fremantle / Perth for my first time. I have had a few friends live here over the years and I have a second cousin, James Murphy, who I have only ever spoken too briefly, over the last 35 years and that I would love to meet in person. Jim is the older brother of Paul who I met up with in Melbourne a few weeks ago.

FREMANTLE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

By Pat Patrick • April 6, 2026
Greetings from FREMANTLE or FREO as the locals call it! Getting here took a long week at Sea, as we hid out and dodged wave surges from two cyclone systems. Our departure from Adelaide was timed to carefully avoid the path of Cyclone Narelle and we hugged the southern coastline of Australia, in the shallow waters of the Great Australian Bight . Later in the week we sheltered near Point Culver, before taking the turn and heading North along the western coastline.