January 17, 2025

JIM MAAS BIRTHDAY PARTY

Jim Maas one of our favorite, sweetest, super great guy residents through his own Birthday Bash Dinner and Dance Party. About 80 of attended in our fancy dining room. The chef provided a nice steak dinner and Jim had Champagne flowing ! Fellow resident Paul Fishman approached me earlier in the day to help him execute a surprise for Jim. He wanted to borrow some stuff from me to give Jim a Marilyn Monroe type moment! I solicited a few other ladies to help me and we pulled together the dress, wig, sparkly sandals and my special touch, custom undies for Paul to flash Jim! Paul & I slipped out between dinner and cake and got him all dolled up. Jim had no idea! Paul later returned to dining room in his regular clothes and present Jim with the undies! Don't think I will see them be returned - just happy i got another use out of them after New Years Eve. I love putting my craft skills to use!

Stark beauty of desolate dunes
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2nd YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SAILING THE WORLD

By Pat Patrick • October 1, 2026
WOW!! I can't believe it has been two years of sailing around the World already for me and my fellow shipmates on the Villa Vie Odyssey! We left Belfast, Ireland back on September 30, 2024 and it has been such a great adventure to date! We have been to 201 different ports, some more than once, during those two years, with much more to come!

APOPO, SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 29, 2026
Before coming to Cambodia , I sadly have to admit I was unaware of the landmine problems they face. On our first night in Siem Reap, where we hiked up the hill to try and see the sunset views, there was a small band of men playing instruments and our tuk tuk driver explained to me they were victims of landmine explosions who had lost limbs or their sight and were trying to make money via donations to support their families.

Ta Prohm Temple ( AKA Lara Croft: Tomb Raider), CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 28, 2026
I rallied for our last temple of the morning, because I heard this one was unique and I think it was my favorite. Ta Prohm was built starting in 1186 by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university dedicated to the king's mother. It was left mostly un-restored so that huge banyan and silk cotton trees grow directly over and through the walls. In 2001, the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie was filmed here.