November 14, 2026

I don't know why, but I have always made great and lasting friendships with my nail & hair stylist people. Maybe because I see them regularly,  we chit chat the whole appointment and share deep confidences quickly and with great respect, it's a safe zone! Stacy Derby from Mauritius was that for me on the Odyssey. She was Spa Manager from the beginning in Belfast and took only two short vacation breaks over the two years. 

We text & video chat regularly, I met her family when they came to visit in one Australian port and visited them again later at their home, when we docked at the port nearer them.  We have cried and laughed a lot together. Especially when Stacy's Mom suddenly died last year. The Ship was suppose to be taking us to Mauritius next March and we had been planning for me to fly ahead from the Seychelles, skipping sea days, so I could explore the island with her longer. So when the Ship ceased operations and we were talking  (she had left back in August, to come home and care for her Dad) she invited me to come to Mauritius now. She was about to take a new 6 month ship contract in South America, at the end of November.The timing was perfect - Bosco was back in States for a wedding and we needed time to get our new multi entry tourist visa's for Thailand processed outside of the country and Singapore ( it takes 15 business days and they have lots of holidays now). The flights were fairly direct and reasonable. So off I went on November 2nd to what is known as Paradise in the Indian Ocean.

When I arrived I got a surprise greeting, Mihah ( the Bar Manager from the Ship and Stacy's Fiance) greeted me at the airport too! He was on the South American ship and they ended up canceling a bunch of there sailing due to operational issues! See it is more common than you hear / know - that many ships in the cruise industry have problems / cancelations. So now we have a party going here - we also got to spend time with Dr. Kevin, who did two earlier stints on the ship and Sandaya who took over Spa when stay left.

Stacy lives in Pointe Aux Sables where pin is on map above. The green dots are all the areas we have checked out so far!

Flic en Flac Beach Day.They are suppose to have pink pigeons here - this one kinda mauve.

A night out in the North of Island,  Grand Baie, a large tourist area, at a Club called N' Joy

All the yummy new foods I am trying. Stacy is a really good cook!

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Day trip we took with Dr. Kevin in his Jeep checking out the more rugged scenery of the southern coastline of Island.

Speed boat day trip we did out of East side - Trou D'Eau Douce. Waterfall, Monkeys, BBQ lunch, swimming and speed boat FUN!!

SINGAPORE & DUBAI AIRPORTS

By Pat Patrick • November 13, 2026
I have wanted to see the famed Singapore Changi Airport for years to see the world's largest indoor waterfall. Turns out the waterfall is in a part of the airport, outside the Departure Terminals, so I still have yet to see it! The Terminal does have some interesting architecture and houses a huge shopping mall, with some very high end stores and Christmas decorations are up everywhere, the day after Halloween ( which sadly, they don't celebrate here ).

SINGAPORE - Katong -Joo Chiat area

By Pat Patrick • November 11, 2026
While I was in Singapore this time I was on a mission, downsize my belongs and pack my life into hopefully four or less 50 # suitcases! The only time I took a break, was for meals and thankfully we were in a new area of town, for me, so I got to see some of Joo Chiats charm as we walked to restaurants. The area is Signapore's first heritage town known for it's vibrant Peranakan culture, pastel hued shop fronts and diverse food scene. Built in the early 1900's by Chinese families, they blend Chinese, Malay and colonial influences that reflect that area's rich multicultural roots. The land was once owned by Chew Joo Chiat , the King of Katong.

CAMBODIA - SIHANOUKVILLE - Eviction city

By Pat Patrick • November 10, 2026
Sihanoukville, Cambodia is a city I will long remember! On first look, you really wonder what is going on here. There are over 350 unfinished "ghost" buildings in the skyline and another 170 completed, but empty structures and it's not that big a place - so you really wonder! Apparently there has been a mass exodus of Chinese Real Estate and Casino investors. Back in 2019 the Cambodian Government banned online gaming and this collapsed the City's casino driven economy. Then Covid hit and the resulting slump in China's Real Estate funding stream has hit this coastal town hard. You would never know the hard times from the people. They are friendly, energetic and so happy to help.