May 7, 2025

CARTAGENA - DAY 2

Scott and I had a loose or fluid plan as we like to say here on the ODYSSEY  to go to the ROSARIO ISLANDS but we were not clear on the the transport modes and their varying cost ( ferry, private or group boat) nor their schedules and we had to be back  by 5 to depart. So plan B was just to go to local Cartagena Beach, over near the High rises and Hotels. We got a late start and then further delayed in the aviary of the Port - there were albino or white peacocks! Never seen or heard about that. And we were also looking for evasive slothes. Time and cost were not on our side to go to Rosario, so Plan B was put into action. We ordered an Uber. When we got to beach we rented a tented area and lounge chairs. Shortly after settling in, a parade of services and vendors started. It got quite comical, at one point, when I had one guy making me a custom blue beaded ankle bracelet and then 2 ladies, which the jeweler said was his wife and her friend, appeared out of nowhere and started giving us both foot and leg massages.Then a rapper showed up and made a custom song  for us all to enjoy. All kinds of food and drinks were also being offered. We had to say firm no thank you and no gracias to get them to subside.The rest of the afternoon was relaxing and Callie came by to join us - my last time to see her before she traveled home.

ENTERING HONG KONG HARBOR

By Pat Patrick • September 1, 2026
On Saturday August 29, 2026 we achieved another historic milestone on this circumnavigation of the World , we cruised into Hong Kong Harbor. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. The land encompassed by Hong Kong is confusing. It includes part of the southern coast of mainland China, just below Shenzhen, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories . Looking at a map helps, but the rules changed so many times! I asked my buddy Chat several times, to tell me if what I was looking at was the Hong Kong that the British had owned for years. The answer was never straight forward!

HA LONG BAY, VIETNAM

By Pat Patrick • August 31, 2026
Ha Long Bay in Vietnam is one of those bucket list places I have had in my sights for years. It's the iconic picture in my mind's eye, whenever I think of Vietnam . We had made plans to go with 8 others on a brand new, swanky Red Dragon Junk boat for a harbor cruise and overnight stay, but sadly the weather did not cooperate the whole 4 days we were in port. No ships were permitted to sail, per the local government. Many of us were bummed! This is typhoon session and there was a lot of rain and high winds our first couple of days - we were hoping it would blow out the last day and we could at least do a day trip but no luck! 

HAI VAN PASS to HUE, VIETNAM

By Pat Patrick • August 30, 2026
To get to the final stop on our Vietnam FUN Tour in Hue, we had our driver take us on the scenic route called the Hai Van Pass. This 3 hour drive took us back through Da Nang and then into mountains and along coast for what is generally a very scenic route. Unfortunately for us, it was mainly covered in clouds and fog.