May 20, 2025

MANZANILLO, MEXICO

We were the first ones off our Ship when it docked in Manzanillo, on 5/12/25 because I had booked our group a private charter fishing and snorkel trip. Our agent was waiting for us in Port and he quickly transported us over to the Captain and Firstmate Fernando waiting for us. We were under power quickly and the fishing lines were all cast. Within minutes we were all pulling in fish. We were not even using bait,  just flys and the catches were continuous, the first hour as we traveled out to our snorkel spot!

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Next we snorkeled for over an hour in this great protected cove. There was tons of fish, so many different species.

On the way back to the Port we were all chilling in the sunshine, singing along to music, when a whole group of dolphins popped up alongside us and were racing to stay up with the boat. They were so close and the small ones were giving us a show!

We posed for a group shot before leaving the boat but didn't realize how in the shadows we were. We went to a restaurant down the pier from the dock and they were short staffed, so I jumped in to help the waitress, but our Chinese / Mexican dishes still took along time. Regardless, we all had a great day and enjoyed the Margaritas, Pina coladas and conversation.

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.