Asia Part 3 - Hong Kong and the Phillipines

 Day 18 - Sea Day

We were in thick fog. The ship kept blowing its horn. Probably good since we were sailing through the Qiong Zhou Straight, a Chinese Military Zone and we were forbidden to use cameras or cell phones for pictures. Along with that, the internet was turn off and the ship was only allowed to travel at 10 knots. We kept busy though! 

Game night tonight, we won the tulips and some pins!! 

   

Day 19 - Hong Kong  

A lot of people will be disembarking today and flying home, and a lot of new people will be embarking. Our trivia team is set for the next 2 weeks though! We are on till Tokyo. It was a sunny day in Hong Kong until we returned to the ship.

With a cityscape that seemingly juts straight out of the sea, Hong Kong blends sleek modernity with centuries-old charm. The roads are windy and narrow. We don't know how the buses don't crash into each other, but we did have some quick stops along the way.

Our day started with a ride on the world's steepest funicular, the Peak Tram railway to Victoria Peak, the highest point on the island. It is also the most exclusive area in Hong Kong.

From various viewing platforms atop this promontory, we could see the full expanse of the city, Victoria Harbor, Kowloon Peninsula and the mountains beyond. 

From there went to Stanley Street Market, which didn't compare to what we visited in Cambodia, Thailand, or Vietnam.  

Next was Aberdeen district, where skyscrapers tower over locals residing on fishing boats. We went for a short ride on a "sampan" in the harbor.

Drive back to ship.

Cemetery.

When we returned to the Noordam the fog returned.

Day 20 - Sea Day

Nothing particularly interesting today. The sun came out today and we actually saw a sunset!

 

Day 21 - Sea Day

Sunny day in the South China Sea. Eventually, we will be in another body of water.

The ship implemented special security precautions today due to pirates. What! All the passengers were surprised by that. The Promenade deck was closed, all the balconies were locked and all curtains closed. The 9th and 10th levels were ok for us. Tonight, there are light restrictions, I guess, so pirated cannot see the ship in the dark. Crazy!

We started passing some of the 7000 islands in the Philippines. I guess the pirates have bases on some of them.

The security remains in effect until we are in Puerto Princesa tomorrow.

 

Day 22- Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines

The second largest city in the Philippines, Puerto Princesa boasts a wide variety of outdoor attractions. We choose to go to its most famous park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which features spectacular limestone formations that surround an underground river. It's the longest known underground river in the world, about 8 kilometers. The day started with a van ride in a little bit of rain on not the best roads. The rain stopped a little after we arrived at the boat dock. 

We had a 20-minute outrigger ride to the beach near the underground river. Due to the waves, it was difficult getting in and out of the outrigger.

After a short hike we has a wait until we had a smaller outrigger ride through the caverns. Fortunately, there were a lot of monkeys to distract us from the wait.

The ride through the underground St John River was spectacular, as these pictures show!  Surprisingly, we made a loop through the cavern without even knowing it.

On the way back to the Noordam we took some pictures of the countryside and city. Not many though, the van was going fast through all the windy roads. Somehow, Cathy was able to take a long nap.

Back on the ship, we were able to get a picture of the cathedral. We won Trivia again! The pirate watch remains in effect through the night.

Day 23- Boracay, Philippines

This is as close as we got to Boracay, our port today. High winds kept the tenders from operating today, so another sea day😒.

Day 24 - Manila, Philippines

The charming and historic city of Manila is divided into two distinct sections, Old Manila and New Manila. Take a step back in time as you discover the "Charms of Old Manila" with a visit to the historic Rizal Park, and to the old walled city of Intramuros built during the Spanish colonial period. That's what we did. No new Manila for us. 

This was a formation of Coast Guards members as we left port.

We rode a motorized tricycle for about an hour to get an overview of the old city.

The wall around the Old City is called Intramuros. 

World War II artillery on the Intramuros.

General McArthur's Headquarters in Manila.

Casa Manila was next to the Church.

Saint Augustin Church, the oldest in Manila built in 1581is UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fort Santiago, built in 1571, fortified Old Manila.

The other Georgia.

The only thing we didn't ride on this trip!

Manila has them, also.

We went to the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica. 

We then went to the 3 Museums: Anthropology, Art and Natural History.

City Hall and Clock Tower.

This is one mural.

Carved wood.

Petrified wood.

Space rock!

Trees made from gemstones.

Always Zach's favorite.

Dinos.

A walk from the museums through Rizal Park with its statues and gardens took us back to the Noordam.  

Sail away.

Violinist, Jocelyn Ng was entertainment tonight.