Here are some wonderful pictures of the Terra Cotta Warriers:

Xian, China

Wow, those are some great pics, Andrea!

BTW, did you guys hear about the person who disguised himself as a terra cotta warrior and hid himself amongst them?

http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?at_code=360965

Masaki

I did Masaki - too funny!

I think he was lucky that he caught the guards on a good day when they apparently had a sense of humor.

So for my third post (still in lurking mode) - Dena and I plan to join the group for PANDA, as long as Mitch & Bert don't steal our breakfast table again. :D It sounds like fun and I have a brother living at each end of the trip (Tokyo and Hong Kong). I think Dena spilled the beans to Andrea, but that's ok because she is part of the Wheel of Fortune team. Not so sure about all the formal nights - maybe Ngaire could start a movement to get the PG dress code on all the ships!

{this note was published from the Verso page}

YEAH!!!

verso yep ;) ; but can you do a haka?

Great, Grant and Dena!!

Masaki

YAY Grant & Dena!!

Yes, Dena told me yesterday, but I kept quiet on the board (I did mention it to Mitch - didn't know anything about the breakfast table theft). Another defection from GREECE - Joanna & Marcie, it's your turn!!

Well Andrea, never say never! PANDA is looking more and more like MUSH...which is great. :app:

There are several reasons why the Mondaes & the Matassas haven't defected....one big reason is none of us have ever been to Istanbul before. Also, the flights for PANDA are gruelling (especially for Joanna & Tony), and the price of PANDA. In the meantime, we're perfecting GREECE with 3 nights pre-cruise in Istanbul, the 7 night cruise, followed by 3 or 4 nights in the Lake District of Italy (maybe Bellagio) and fly home from Milan.

Marcie, your plan for GREECE sounds wonderful! I understand the concern about flights and the cost - but having the Matassas and the Mondaes on PANDA would be wonderful. Just showing you the love girlfriend! :hug:

Great news Grant and Dena! I won't steal your breakfast table if Andrea promises not to eat our crab legs!

Panda sounds great - we will have come off of Fjords and then renting apt in Rome with Matassas after Fjords and then on Greece - I, too, am dying to see Istanbul and Tony has always wanted northern Italy lakes - hope 2008 is Shanghai and Hong Kong, again, for us - if I don't start "cooling" it with cruises I won't be "cruising" - promise to share Marcie and Tom with Donna, Alan, Jim and Mary Ellen on Greece!!!! Joanna

So many wonderful cruises, so little time and $$. Only wish we could be 2 or 3 places with LCTers at once!

Amen, Marcie! We considered PANDA but opted for Greece because we thought it was a good deal. We are signed up but not totally committed to it. FJORDS and ROAR 2 are my main focus right now. If there's enough moola then we'll do Greece. Too soon to tell right now.

Don't know if anyone else saw that great special on HDNet last night "Inside China" narrated by James Spader. Beautiful HD cinematography and culturally fascinating. I am sure they are replaying it so check the listings. Highly recommended for anyone going on PANDA. By the way, Karen-I think it's time to set up a separate page for PANDA-we are less than 1 year out!

Mitch, thanks for the recommendation. I recorded Inside China (non-HD version) on Tivo and haven't watched it yet. I figure I've got almost a year! Will definitely watch it soon.

Dena

We will be there all the way from Alaska - Suite 821

If you look at the itinerary for the cruise, the ship sails from Tianjin, the port for Beijing, at 18:00 (6 PM) on Tuesday, Oct 2, 2007, calls at Dalian 8AM-2PM the following day, spends a day at sea, and then arrives at Shanghai at 7 AM the following morning, Friday. Pat and I are more interested in Xian and the TerraCota Warriors than in exploring Dalian. Also, we (at least one of us) is a train buff, and would like to try a train trip in China, such as the overnight Z trains: 'Z' category trains are the fastest and most modern long distance trains in China, running on routes such as Beijing-Shanghai and Beijing Xian. They are composed of the very latest air-conditioned sleepers, plus bar and restaurant. Traveler Jim McCorry reports: "The train journey was exceptionally good; the sleeping accommodation was first class as was the service. We also had the opportunity to meet and enjoy conversations, sometimes only in written form I may say, with a number of Chinese people sharing our compartment both going and returning." for more information and pictures, go to http://www.seat61.com/China.htm#What%20are%20Chinese%20trains%20like. We're going to check this out with the new Regent "Concierge" service while on our Nov 4-20, '06 Reunion crossing on the Voyager next month. PLEASE NOTE: there is an extra day in the Tianjin (Beijing) to Shanghai portion of the cruise next year, for the port call in Dalian. Anyone interested in taking the train for part of the Xian excursion please post here or send me an e-mail (e-address in my profile). Thanks

Mitch - watched it the other night - forgot to let you guys know about it. It'll be interesting to see if that little girl makes it onto the Chinese gymnastic team for the upcoming Olympics!

Oooooh, count Florida is on as well!!

Masaki

Tried to find "Inside China" on our listings but didn't see it. I'll keep looking though!

Count - glad to hear you're joining us!

Sorry Andrea, it's Discovery Atlas: China Revealed. Welcome aboard Count! Roberta and I had planned on taking the 2 day Xi'an excursion from Shanghai to see the terracotta warriors , missing the last half-day in Shanhai and the last sea day before rejoining the Mariner in Hong Kong, but let us know what the Concierge says. We might be interested.

I've been debating whether to take the Xian trip from Beijing or Shanghai. Right now I'm leaning towards Beijing since Dailan doesn't hold much appeal. The train sounds very interesting.

Lauri, There is nothing in Dailan & everything in Beijing/Xian. I don't understand why they keep stopping in Dalian. None of the shore excursions were that great in 2004. We took the kite flying excursions. Some people just went shopping at a big state store. Maybe they are offering better ones now.

This is a long way from home & Xian was the highlight of the trip. The terra cotta warriors are amazing & very well displayed.

Jackie

Lauri-
I think if you take the excursion from Tianjin (Beijing), you will essentially miss Beijing entirely. If you leave from Shanghai, you will still spend 2 full days there and leave the last morning, missing only a half day and a sea day. Skipping Dailan and taking the train sounds fascinating, but, as everyone on MUSH remembers, there are risks to independent travel, so we should definitely consider using the Regent Concierge service so we will not have to worry about connections, etc.

I was under the impression that if you took the trip from Beijing, you still participated in the RSSC tour and overnight then you left for Xian from Beijing, skipping Dailan and a sea day and meeting up with the ship in Shanghai.

The web-site is kind of confusing since the current Asia cruise is going on now.

Lauri - that was my understanding as well and what we're planning on participating in.

Masaki

That's great! I think Andrea is considering it as well.

I heard from Ngaire that Linda who currently in New Zealand has been working on some sort of Kyoto pre-Cruise trip. Details are still being worked out.

Now I just have to figure out if I will spend any time in Hong Kong post cruise. Time and money are both crucial factors.

Lauri, have you talked your husband into the cruise yet?

Still working on it. He really wants to go, but there is the problem of who would watch our daughter for almost 3 weeks. Not sure we can talk grandma into coming to Texas for that length of time. My sister is another possibility. Or maybe I'll just have to suffer in a suite all alone ;)

Lauri, Me, Me, Me, Pick me to babysit your little girls. I am dying to be a grandmother but neither child is married yet.I will work for Texas bbq.

References available upon request.

Jackie

Jackie: If it is that easy?? .... I will offer you better deal for JUST housesitting - 2 cats that never appear, no children, ocean across the street -you can have our club card - come on down!!! plus Chicago sooo cold in winter - :3smile: :3smile: Joanna

Joanna, You're on. This will do as our winter vacation home with the added luxury of live in virtual cats. I will bring our two cats in a can (their ashes.) This sounds as good as a Regent cruise. Shall we book thru Ngaiare or go direct?

Again, sterling references available upon request.

Regards, Jackie

Joanna,

I got the first offer...

Jackie,

Seriously???
Just one 9 year old girl, two very mellow cats.
Lots of fantastic Texas BBQ!

Sorry Lauri - this is war - kids are darling but???? Do you have a pool?? ocean breezes???

Now, now ladies. Lauri - who would have thought it would be this easy to find a babysitter??? :D

Masaki

Lauri: Masaki is right how easy???....I say Jackie might be a cranky disciplinarian - believes in spanking??? Sterling references needed....for my cats :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy:

Joanna - geez! I have the car all loaded up to housesit in PVB. Go to Turkey for two stinkin' weeks and there goes the side job. :3smile:

Cheers, Anne

I stand corrected regarding the excursion to Xi'an from Beijing-thanks! I think we have to set up a new business providing pet, house and child-sitters for those of us on LCT who like to travel. Lauri-try to spend at least 1 more day in Hong Kong. I am not speaking from experience, but you will miss the shopping. It is s-u-c-h a long distance that it would be a shame not to see what is important.

I have a pool; no ocean breezes but all that humidity messes with your hair.

Hmmm. Cute toddler in Hawaii; sweet 9 yr old in Texas wih her own pool; 2 invisible cats in Florida on the ocean. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Jackie, Inc. House/baby/cat/ sitter extraordinaire

Jackie, pick me, pick me!! 2 friendly dogs, 3 easy going cats, NO pool to clean, NO ocean breeze or humidity to frizz your hair...you'd love it here in SoCa!! EZ choice!