Thought I would start a thread for STUPA sea mail. Leave today with a non-stop Emirates flight DFW to Dubai in business class. Not flown Emirates before so look forward to that experience. Daughter Cindy who is coming with us ended up not using miles (lots of connections) but got a great fare on Emirates and is flying with us today. Of course she is behind the curtain in coach and in a middle seat.

We loved our trip on Emirates! They have a really interesting martini menu and the martinis are served in regular glass martini glasses. Kind of ironic I thought given who owns the airline but we loved the service and the entire experience. Enjoy!
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Helen

Have a great time! Emirates is awesome. The A380 was great from LAX - DUB. I hope the 777 that I think you are on has been reconfigured with 2-2-2 and is not still the old 2-3-2 configuration. It's still a good ride! Looking forward to the Sea Mail!

We had the 2 -3 -2. First time on Emirates, it was good. Been now on Singapore, Korean (1st class) and Qatar, BA (yuk) Qantas, Air NZ and many others. Still our favorite is Qatar. One of these days I need to go into Doha it is supposed to be an area with many new unique buildings.

We flew Qatar Business on our way to Capetown for safari and it was wonderful! The layover in Doha was more than 12 hours so they included a hotel room and transportation to and from the airport. The layover was in the middle of the night but we decided to hire a driver and take a private tour of Doha rather than sleep. Just used the room to shower & freshen up. The city was beautiful at night and we were able to appreciate the interesting architecture. One fascinating thing was that there were limos lined up outside the shopping malls and we were told that the fancy boutiques open at night for the really rich ladies who don't want to be seen shopping during the day! I would definitely recommend a visit to Doha!

We just got off the Voyager in Dubai. Wishing everyone a great trip. If any one on this sites loves to get massages while on board I highly recommend Porrat. I have used her many times over the years and she is wonderful and knows just where your body needs attention.

Been a whirlwind since we got on the ship. We managed to see Felice before he left the ship for vacation and we will post a picture. Seas super calm and my dinner in P7 first night was lovely. It was Dick and Kate's anniversary and we had a wonderful time. Will post a picture of that as well.





Won at trivia today I think we have a great team put together.

Artful traveler looks promising and ave some great sounding lectures set up for the trip. Also guests can sign up for dinners with speakers which is a nice idea

Had dinner tonight with Dave, Joan, Anne and Cindy. Good company. Enjoying being back onboard.

We spent the night before we boarded on the QE2 and really enjoyed it. The first class bar was pretty nice and this is a picture of us with our drinks.

This is the last hosted cruise of the year. So we had the drawing for all the client appreciation gifts

Free 12 nights on Regent, new guest referral to Regent and Oceania. Also our new ship review program.

The free cruise winners were Gary and Val, from Dallas.

Last night we had a lovely dinner with George and Lilly. Food was great. The picture below is when Cindy suggested putting champagne on top of our pear sorbet. A cocktail of her own making. Mixed review on her bar tending skills some loved some did not.

Today we are in Mumbai. A little delay getting off the ship but the stores do not open until 10.00 am so the timing was perfect. Found an air conditioned car and a driver that spoke a little English. Cindy and Meredith joined us on our shopping excursion.

My store DIA Where we found so much on our last trip none of us could find anything. Our driver took us to a few other stores but no luck. We decided to go into the Taj Hotel and look at the foyer and public areas. Here Meredith found two dresses she really liked. She was very happy.

Ken tried on a beaded and brocade jacket. Of course this was not on his shopping list.




Cindy and Meredith


Ken with the brocade jacket. Not his normal look.

My saga in Mangalore - falls, ambulances, doctors and nurses!!

One of the key goals on this trip was shopping at the Mangalore Mall. At 1.30 am of the arrival in Mangalore my hopes were dashed. On the way back from the bathroom I blacked out and received in a concussion and the side of my face that hit the wall the base board was banged up. I have extremely low blood pressure so this happens from time to time but I am usually aware and lay down on the floor before I fall. This time I had no warning.

The only thing I knew was my name and my Ken. Had no idea I was on a ship just very nauseous. Very disconcerting. The Ships Doctor was woken up and he pumped me full of “who knows what” and that eased the nausea.

I had to go to a hospital to have a CT scan to confirm no head injuries and that I could travel. When we saw the ambulance I had concerns. Antiquated equipment and bumpy.

But the Indian hospital was amazing. Fabulous attention. So many doctors and nurses taking care of me had a handsome plastic surgeon to do my few stitches. I even had a brain surgeon who was delightful and read all the tests. He knew I wanted to go back to the ship. I found out he wrote his permission for me to TRAVEL BY SHIP, I assume so the ship would not send me home.

While we were there Ken leaned back in his chair and it crashed to the floor with him in it. Shocked us all. I was worried he would hit his head on the bed next to us. Immediately doctors and nurses surrounded him and fortunately he just had a few cuts and bruises on his arms. In the end we both found that quite funny – they must think CRAZY Americans!

All these doctors and nurses, three heart tests, two different type of readings on the CT scan, IV, drugs, and ambulance total cost just $157.
So all things considered "life is good". I went to dinner last night complete with Hollywood large sunglasses, quite styling. Eye looks bad but really pretty easy to contend with. My reading eye is affected so hard to read and write but I am managing. It was a concussion but no real aftermath.

Cindy and Meredith bought amazing clothing at the Mangalore Mall. Which was what I REALLY wanted to do. So he said no long shore excursions but I am going shopping today (that’s not a shore excursion) to a mall here and it will be air conditioned and I will sensible and take it easy but thrilled to be going.




Most of these people cared for me plus the doctors.

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Oh no! I’m glad to hear you are feeling good enuf to go shopping! I’m sure you appreciate how much worse that could have been. Take good care of yourself.
( I have also spent some time in a hospital in India and was similarly impressed by the care I received)
————————
Helen

One of the nurses spoke perfect English. We found out he was born in Houston but can get four years training in three years in India. He has two months to go and returns to the USA to sit the exams, Much less cost to train and saves one year of training. But you must be able to speak the language. Super nice guy.

Oh my goodness. So glad it wasn't worse, and that you received such excellent care and got back to the ship and not sent home. Hope you are feeling better and get some shopping done.....agree. shopping is not a shore excursion....haha.

So today we went to the LULU Mall in Cochin.

Negotiated a taxi that held five people on a roundtrip fare with as much time as we wanted to shop.

Both Cindy and Meredith bought stunning saris. Too much trouble for me but I did buy a long dress. An amazing mall we saw a tiny part of it. Will post a picture of the sari my daughter Cindy purchased the detail work on the fabric is superb. The bodice at the back looked great also like it was painted on her back. They did cut some of the fabric off to make it fit better. Not seen the sari since that was done.




When we returned we shopped on the pier. Of course the girls found more to buy and I did buy a silk top. Very hot today. Now a day at sea with a rack of lamb lunch and then Sri Lanka.

So glad you're ok and back on the shopping circuit! I'm sure this is one part of travel in India that you & Ken didn't want to experience! Beautiful sari for Cindy & so nice that she can be on the trip with you. Looking forward to seeing you in S. America! Travel safe!

Good Grief -- is your life not exciting enough;-)? Stay well and enjoy the rest of the trip.

Oh goodness! Bless your heart! Glad you are okay

Wow Ngaire, I just saw the picture of you!!! That looks like it hurt quite a bit! I am glad you are ok.

Wow what a time you have had Ngaire! So glad Cindy is with you! There is a reason she is on the trip with you! Would have been quite something if both you and Ken ended up as banged up as you appear. Take care!

Oh my...glad you are ok Ngaire.

Take care...

Oh geez Ngaire, what a scare to both you and Ken !! I'm sure glad that you're both OK. That was scary !!!

Please take it ez so you'll be ok for the rest of your cruise and good to go to Antarctica right around the corner. No more scares, please.

So today we arrived in Sri Lanka. I remember last time I was here I did not go ashore. This is a city of contrasts. The old and the new. Lots of money being spent here on big hotels and modern buildings. The Chinese are reclaiming land from the sea and building what we were told will be a small city. We did a short 2 1/2 hour tour round the city. Parts look so clean and new and parts were all the old small shops selling all kinds of things. One area sold Second Hand Luggage. Not upscale by any stretch of the imagination. It was long enough and we saw most of they city. At the Hindu Temple there was a cobra charmer. The Hindu Temple was very ornate and the brand new buildings such a contrast.

Ngaire et al:

Will be interested in seeing the pictures of your boat(s) submitted for boat building competition.

Marc

Ngaire, just now reading of your and Ken’s “adventures”. Oh my I am so glad to know Cindy is with you!!! Feel better and do take it easy. You have a lot of travel ahead!

Wow, Ngaire, I am glad you are ok. I have done the exact same thing, and yes, most of the time, you know it is coming on, and can just lay down. But once, I totally blacked out and hit the hardwood floor face first. Got a broken nose and multiple stitches. So I feel your pain.

Enjoying these three lazy sea days, sleeping in the morning and nice relaxed lunches and then cards and trivia in the afternoon. Amazing how quickly you get in a rhythm. Looking forward to my 2020 crossings now.

Boat Building Marc, not sure any of our group engaged in that activity and the sea trials are this afternoon.

We did a familiarization trip to Myanmar with the Burnside's and Bailey's a few years back with a land portion and river boat trip as well. We ultimately decided it was a bit too challenging to do a group for various reasons but enjoyed seeing Myanmar. We are both really looking forward to returning to Myanmar.

We get there tomorrow night at 5.00 pm. So many are doing the night tour there were openings in Prime 7 so we are going to have a family dinner with the two of us and Cindy. Been very nice to have her along. Some quality Mom and Daughter time. Meredith (of Bo and Meredith) and Cindy have really bonded. They are in tune on many issues to the extent that one of the staff thought Cindy was her daughter. Two Moms are always better than one!

Nice Thanksgiving on the ship. Had a nice dinner with both Margaret (Cruise Director) and Gudrun (Cruise Consultant) so it was nice to have this time with them both. Cindy was all swanky in one of her new Indian outfits (still cannot believe I missed shopping in Mangalore) she looked great. Got a little bumpy during the day but nothing bad.

Coming out of dinner we saw a lot of decorating inside the Voyager lounge. It was for a private party for the crew. I thought that was great. Was looking pretty nice in the lounge.

Things are going well - I am the mysterious woman with big sunglasses - definitely must a celebrity in disguise!! Not planning on repeating this situation but really has not slowed me down at all.

We Arrived!!!

A wonderful greeting by a very ornate elephant.



Many people are doing a night tour of the Shwedagon Temple and I bet it is beautiful at night. Regretting not going a bit but we got into Ptime 7 tonight.

Pictures from Shwedagon pagoda

So much fun with the locals. We wanted pictures of them and they wanted pictures of us.











Buddha bath time.




Had to take our shoes off of course and no socks allowed.

Next was the giant 217 feet long reclining Buddha. Beautifully done the drapery of the dress was so perfect. At least this was carpet and tile for our bare feet and it was inside out of the sun.










There were stunning murals around the walls.

Downtown Yangon some of the group.

So nice to see Meredith and Bo! Lookin’ fine!

So we did not clear for our shore excursion wait list for the last day but I was so tired last night I was happy we did not clear. Slept for 11 1/2 hours from 8.30 pm to 8.00 am. So guess I needed the sleep.

The people that went to the cultural show and dinner last night really enjoyed it. They said the show was good and food was surprisingly tasty.

The people who went to the Noviciation Ceremony to see young boys initiated as Monks loved their tour. Big parade and celebration in the town and the young boys becoming monks rode horses. It was all held in a school with tons of kids watching. Children is always fun!! Cindy was over the moon about the experience. Meredith enjoyed her tour of a small village and rides on various types transportation. The four that went to Mandalay were happy as well - said it was terrific. So the tours were very successful in Myanmar. It is a very interesting country and the people are all very friendly.

Day at sea and then Phuket and one more day at sea and we arrive in Singapore and fly home. The cruise seems to have passed very quickly.

Trivia has been fun with Margaret and Mark asking the questions for most sessions.

We were in Myanmar last year and I agree it is a fascinating country The most memorable for me was how friendly the people were and how warmly welcomed we felt!
———————
Helen

Tell Cindy that the Clarks heartily agree. We were also " over the moon" about the Noviciation tour - one of the most emotional and satisfying of any we have every taken.
Jim & Mary

We went to the Yangon cultural show and dinner last February on the Mariner. It was a spectacular event and the food was delicious and plentiful. One of my photos from the event was used by Regent in the Seven Seas society newsletter.

Cindy and Meredith bought saris in India. Used the ships female butler to dress it is very complicated held together by safety pins. They looked great.

Pictures from the tour where six young boys became monks. The celebration was paid for by the tours from the ship. Everyone that went loved the experience. They cut the boys hair and the hair is saved by the parents.

All I can say is WOW....those are fabulous pictures Ken. That must have been so special so see their life changing event. How fantastic to see this live. Thanks for sharing.

That's my idea of a great excursion, thanks for capturing it, Ken!