September 11, 2025

Day 3 - we were up and on the road to the GREAT WALL at 6 am! We wanted to beat the heat and the crowds.

There are two entry point to the GREAT WALL close to BeiJing. We went to Mutlanyu which is further out, but has gondola and lift chair options along with a toboggan option down. You walk thru a plaza that has a bunch of amenities and then along a road with tons of vendors selling all kinds of must have items! I liked a lot of the art installations along the way, we enjoyed these after, we beelined for the Lift Chair to get to the top ASAP. WOW those first views are amazing - it was truly a pinch me moment for me to be here!

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Sadly I was not allowed to ride the toboggan down from the Wall - they had an age limit - no one 60 and above. The operator would not budge for me, however several of my 60 + year old friends got to go, I was sad and it's the first time anyone has believed me to be that age on this trip. He never even asked to see my passport! RUDE!  I did take picks of my friends enjoying as I took the Chair lift back down.

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.