We’re back on the Voyager after an amazing 3 nights away. We did so much while away! First we went to Xian where a guide picked us up at the airport and took us to see the Terra Cotta Warriors, now considered the 8th Wonder of the World. What amazing ongoing expedition this is. It’s massive and hard to believe the excavation is on going and will be for many many more years. Late afternoon on Tuesday we then flew on to Beijing where we stayed for 3 nights. We hired Jane Yeo, the same guide Ngaire & Ken and Anne & Gary used. She was just great and certainly gave us our money’s worth seeing all the sites of Beijing. On day one we went to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. On day two we went to the Great Wall and the Emperor’s Summer Palace. I feel like we did 4 days worth in 2 days but it was all so worth it. I even bought a tee-shirt “I climbed the Great Wall”. It was cold in both Xian and Beijing. We didn’t get any snow in Beijing though there was lots of snow patches through out the city from snowing the days before. On Thursday we even squeezed in some shopping at the Silk Market. Tom got a beautiful black Armani suit for such a cheap price!! He also stocked up on Polo shirts and sweaters. We stayed at a very nice hotel in a perfect location, The Jianguo Hotel.

We flew from Beijing to Hong Kong Friday and reboarded the Voyager around 5:30pm (the ship arrived around 4:00). It really was the perfect get away with the flights, guides, hotel, transfers all going perfect! All this for a fraction of the cost the ship charged for a 2 night excursion to Xian only.

While in Shanghi it was me who made all the purchases…..lots of purses, sunglasses, shoes, and watches! BTW, in case no one has mentioned it. The old outdoor Day Market in Shanghai is shut down. (Joanna, Tony, Tom and me got to know it all so well 2 years ago!) It has all moved to a nice multi level indoor building but has the same knock off shops inside. I don’t think there is any designer brand that isn’t sold in Shanghai or Beijing!

Yesterday was such a special treat when Marc & Arlene arrived. It’s so fun having them here….just wish they could stay onboard. After breakfast in LaVeranda, Marc & Arlene, Betty & Al and me took the Star Ferry and then a taxi to Stanley Market for shopping and lunch. We 3 girls bought very similar tops and matching jackets to wear to dinner. At 6:30 we had cocktails in the Observation Lounge (Frankie Holiday was playing the guitar) with Ardis & Stan joining us followed by a great dinner for the 8 of us in Compass Rose. Marc and Arlene are staying at the Hilton but will be joining us for LaVeranda breakfast shortly.
I think today we’re all headed for the Jade Market. The Voyager sails away at 7:00 pm tonight and we’ll be off to Vietnam.

Here are a few pictures to share.
Our fun dinner group last night
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/DinneronVoyager-1.jpg?t=1173574580[/img]

Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/China-2.jpg?t=1173574962[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/China-1.jpg?t=1173575077[/img]


The First gate to enter the Forbidden City
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/China-3.jpg?t=1173575163[/img]

Emperor’s Summer Palace
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/China-6.jpg?t=1173575293[/img]

The Great Wall is amazing!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/China-4.jpg?t=1173575372[/img]

To get to the bottom of the Great Wall we rode toboggans to the bottom
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/China-5.jpg?t=1173575396[/img]

Wow Marcie...your photos are wonderful! Those of us on PANDA have so much to look forward to. So glad you were able to spend time with Marc and Arlene, and that you had such a great time!

Fabulous pictures Marcie. Beijing is such a great city I cannot wait to return. I LOVE seeing the pictures and seeing the one of Marc and Arlene was really special.

Wonderful pictures, Marcie. You make it so easy to "travel along" with you! I love reading your reports.

Thanks again, Marcie, for your photos & report. You are having so much fun, and thank you.....so are we!!!!!!!

Finally :app: :app: :app: :app: we were getting nervous we had not heard from you two - Great pixs and you make an adventure so real!!! I am missing my regular, from Fullerton, delightful, daily, descriptive emails Marcie!!!! Loving your trip and Tony envious of Tom's polo shirt shopping - tell Tom to watch his laundry on Fjords - J

I am with Joanna- glad that you are back on the ship. I am so happy that Arlene and Marc made it there and they look well. <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

Marvelous pix and report, Marcie! You've been missed! So glad you checked in with us and shared your latest adventure!

Wonderful seeing Arlene and Marc, who look right at home!

Great seeing you all, Marcie. Love seeing Marc & Arlene, Betty & Al, and Ardis & Stan with you & Tom. Your experience on this 3 day excursion is wonderful to read. Thanks for posting the photos :) Editing to add: Yes, Marc & Arlene definitely look right at home!!

I LOVED seeing Marc and Arlene!!!

I did not comment as I forgot, for a minute, they were not on the cruise!!!!!! Marc and Arlene sooooo good to see your happy faces!!!

Once again Marcie - loved it all. Glad you are back in a place you can keep in touch, but I know those shopping bags full of goodies are very important. The photo of the LCT group is wonderful. And the slide down The Wall is priceless.
Miss you. Enjoy Vietnam.

So great to hear from you; have been anxiously awaiting report from your "excursion!" Pix are great and how fun that Marc and Arlene were able to join you all!

Arlene looks very relaxed - apparently the business class flight agreed with her!

Great photos, Marcie as always!

Masaki

Marc & Arlene just got off the ship :mecry: :mecry: We are so happy they were able to come see us!! They even got to play trivia today! We will sure miss them! :mecry:

Here's another picture taken after dinner last night...

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/dinneronVoyager-1-1.jpg?t=1173606014[/img]

We are back at the hotel after another wonderful trip on the Hong Kong subway system. We ate at a small restaurant in Pacific Place and already miss the Voyager.

We weren't even Segment Passengers otherwise know as "seggies." We were sub-seggies, just getting a taste of the Voyager. However, it was wonderful meeting up with friends and meeting more of the travelers. We saw Mike and June from Mush and many of the rest of the passengers.

Now, I am having a drink in the lounge looking out through the fog at the Voyager awaiting her sail away. This has definitely been a wonderful weekend.

Many thanks to Marcie, Tom, Betty, Al, Ardis, and Stan!

edited to add:

I just saw the Voyager sail away. It is such a sad sight to be here looking down at the ship leaving you behind. :(

Love the jackets you three bought! Sounds like fun to be a sub-seggie, Marc!

So good to see Marc and Arlene and Betty and Al. Great pix's Marcie! Thanks for a glimpse of faraway places and I'm drooling over the shopping!

Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures Marcie! It brings back terrific memories of our Mariner cruise last October. It seems odd to see snow on the Great Wall as it was warm when we were there. Did you end up staying at the Crowne Plaza in Beijing?

It really was great seeing Marc & Arlene -- I was so sorry to see them leave this afternoon. It seemed like they just fit right in and ought to stay! And we so appreciated their making the trip from Tokyo just for the weekend -- we had a great time.

Lots of new 'segment people' on board -- the training has to start all over again!!

Thankfully, tomorrow is a sea day. We need more of these!

Betty

Betty

I really did love your "matching outfits". Seeing all THREE of you together strutting your new "stuff" was great. These are the memories that stay with you forever. Sure wish I was there with you. About 4 years ago we joined the world cruise for one segment in Hong Kong. I really enjoyed Hong Kong, it is always great that first time you go somewhere new when it was all so exciting, the Jade Market particularly.

I went to Stanley Market but did not see anything as nice as you three bought. I know I am not much of a shopper so I guess I have to have a professional shopper with me next time!!

Sounds like it was a great time on the Voyager for you and Arlene, Marc. Those jackets the ladies purchased are really lovely! :)

The outfits are terrific, ladies! How great to see the Gang of Eight together for dinner.

Marc, it'd be heartbreaking to watch Voyager sail away with me. So glad, though, you were able to spend some time with the LCT buddies.

How long is it until PANDA???

Cheers, Anne

Hi Marcie,

What an interesting trip! Really enjoyed the pictures and report. Thanks for sharing!

Great posts, great pix! Thanks, Marcie!!

Did you book the Beijing/Shanghai/Xian 'excursion' yourself, Marcie? So glad to hear that shopping in China continues to be so wonderful!

marcie
thanks for the great photos
i so miss the ship so so cold here in canada

at least my wife got 12 hours on board
did you know she stayed up all night then took a 6am flight to detroit and now is on the way
to argentina great business!!!

and my courier who fixed the newspaper machine
is over the moon on joust being onboard !!

and i am stuck in canada !!

but we may see you in suez!!

victor

Great hearing from you again Marcie. Everyone looks great, Marc and Arlene looked like they were so glad to be onboard, even if only "day visitors". The jackets are fantastic - you girls sure know how to shop!

Sounds like your wonderful adventure just keeps getting better and better.

Enjoy your sea days.

Cute photo of three lovely ladies!

Great sharing, Marcie-thanks!

Bonnie, We did book the flights, guides and hotel ourselves independently. It really was a piece of cake. We stayed at the Jianguo Hotel (loved their patios and balconies) and it included breakfast...we loved the hotel!

When Tom bought the Armani suit our guide was with us. (silk market in Beijing where they have all the knock offs). They originally said they wanted $500 USD for the suit. Our Chinese guide did ALL the haggling with the gal and they went back and forth for what seemed like a long time. Both raised their voices as we just stood there not understanding one word of what was being said. After all was said and done the final price was $39 USD and this included the alterations!!

Victor, I was with RoseAnn (and Patrick). We closed CR down. I finally went to bed as this was the day we had returned from Beijing and I was tired. She had to get off the ship at 4:00am so as far as I know she was just staying up all night. Hope we see you later!

Great stories, Marcie! Your guide definitely earned her fee for the day and then some. We have a lot to look forward to on PANDA.

Just wondering, what website did you use to book your China flights? We're considering possibly arranging a post-PANDA trip to Xian out of Hong Kong.

Thanks for your updates and photos!

Dena

Marcie...your China adventures sound like fun! It must have been a nice reunion with Mark and Arlene too - thanks for posting - the photos are great (as always).

Margo

So glad you enjoyed China, Marcie. Loved your reports. Thanks!

Thirty nine dollars!?!?! Incredible! If I hadn't been to Shanghai I would have thought you were joking, Marcie! In any case, your guide sounds absolutely wonderful. Almost makes me want to book her before I even book flights! Ahhh, that's a long way off. For now, I'll just relish every wonderful post you send our way!!

Marcie, thanks for another great installment. Your China trip sounds great. so glad Marc and Arlene were able to join you and the rest of the gang in Hong Kong.

Nancy

Great report, M! Awesome photos too. Thanks for sharing.

Marcie - I am really enjoying your seamail! I never would have put China as being very high on my list of places to see until reading your posts.

Dave

The countdown to PANDA continues. I've been looking forward to our trip, but after reading your travels, I REALLY can't wait to go!

Bert and I can't wait! Love reading your posts, Marcie.

Hi Marcie -

Have really enjoyed your posts but the tobaggon ride down the Great Wall blew my mind. My daughter and I were there in August and I could not begin to describe to you how HOT it was. Just miserable. Ir reminded me of your description of Iguaza Falls. How wonderful to see snow on the Great Wall. You are one lucky lady but I have a feeling you know that. Have Fun and we look forward to meeting you on ROAR.

Jan