September 10, 2025

When you hear HIROSHIMA, you don't generally think Baseball!!

But that is exactly what we did! We decided to join the local home town excitement, on Saturday night 8/23, and 50 of us from the Ship all went to see the HIROSHIMA CARPS take on the CHUNICHI DRAGONS. Sadly the Carps lost by 2 but we had a great time observing all their local traditions. We bought the general admission tickets for $15 USD in the local 7 Eleven stores. They were unassigned but great seats! Lots of yummy food choices and tons to watch and observe! 

On Sunday, I did more somber tour of HIROSHIMA Atomic Bomb Site. First, I went to 7:30 am Mass - just me and about 12 other locals and a 90 + year old priest, in the Crypt. Probably because the basement space was cooler and more intimate, just took some detective work on my end to find access to the space. After Mass, one of locals walked me to restrooms and another insisted on giving me a ride, in her air-condition car, to the Bomb Site Peace Park, so we could chat. She had done a brief visit to Philly, as a school child, and she did a loop around the park, a couple of times, so we could chat more! So Sweet and generous.


At the Park, there was hardly anything left from the blast, except the remains of the Commercial Exhibition Hall which is now a UNESCO preserved site known as the A - Bomb Dome with it's distinctive green roof. There is a Museum and a bell and clock tower. From here, I took a 50 minute motor boat ride out to Miyajima Island.

Singapore - Little India

By Pat Patick • August 11, 2026
Little India is a neighborhood in Singapore that I wanted to explore becase I love Indian food and their Temple's have such unique gods and Architecture, super colorful and detailed. Below is the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Singapore's first temple dedicated to Veeramakaliammam or the Kali , a fierce incarnation of Shiva's wife and the "Destroyer of Evil" .

SINGAPORE - Cooking Class

By Pat Patrick • August 10, 2026
Other residents had a great experience at Singapore's Food Playground on prior visits, so we wanted to try it out! Our first day in Port, twelve of us signed up for a fun afternoon, where we got to enjoy our creations as a yummy lunch. Front row (L to R) is Ellie, Rick, their visiting friend, Sue, Christy and Angela. Back Row - Me, Bosco, Delia, John, Terri & Lori.

KOH CHANG, THAILAND

By Pat Patrick • July 26, 2026
We just relaxed on the Island of Koh Chang, Thailand. It's one of the largest Thai Islands in the Gulf of Thailand and it has a dense, steep jungle & National Park covering the interior of the Island, which extends off shore, to coral reefs. The coast line is dotted with beaches and villages. This was a tender port, so we decided to stay on the Island for 3 nights, to be able to experience the nightlife. Turns out, it is low season, so nightlife was pretty sleepy. However, we did find a new favorite night time activity! Any Guesses?!?