second stop: krabi to phuket (day 3)

again the ship anchored in the middle of the sea as there was no port deep enough. joined a tour. travelled from krabi to phang nga bay to phuket island. phuket island is connected to phang nga via 2 bridges (the old and the new lining side by side).

• sunrise at krabi... about 7 a.m.

• krabi: a hilly island made up of limestones

• tour bus

• the local's waterfall at thanbok khoranee marine national park. very clean but the waterfall was nothing to shout about
  

• phang nga bay
  

• primitive drawings on limestone
  

• james bond island
  

• koh panyee fishing village where lunch was served. so so only lah. a tribe of sea gypsies live here.

• phuket museum. quite a small one where u get to see the lifestyles of the locals and a bit of their history.
  

• the tourism award winning cultural theme park : phuket fantasea. not like genting highlands in malaysia. the focus of the park is palace of the elephants where a famous cultural show: fantasy of a kingdom, is performed every night to a packed auditorium. kinnaree buffet restaurant opposite is equally impressive. the cultural performance was quite impressive with pyrotechnics, arobatics, dances, animals performances (the hens and goats were awesome) and mock fightings. however, i find the performance lacks narration and the audience are left guessing the plot. there was only a short narration at the beginning of this 90-minute show. famous personalities have graced the show as seen in the numerous photos on the walls. most of them made up of thai dignitaries. i recognised hk personalities twins, edison chan and shawn yue among the many photos.
  

first stop: penang (day 2)

first stop for the cruise: penang. my group decided not to get off the ship as we were too lazy to do so. there are paid tours and free and easy excursions that passengers can enjoy. you just make sure you get back on the ship before the ship leaves the port. or else you will have to fly to the next stop and the crew will bring you your passport which is collected as soon as you board the ship.
there are activities planned for passengers on board so you will not be really bored. movies, mild exercises sessions, palm reading, family hunt, etc. the casino can keep you occupied too if you are in the mood to gamble. naaa...i did not go in.

• a hazy shot of penang bridge

• penang island. the orange boat there is the one which they use to ferry the passengers from the boat to the island. there is no port for the ship.

• yoga session in star lounge. led by an indonesian crew member
  

• heads of departments in the ship. chiefly from sweden, germany, the philippines, indonesia, and singapore.

• all captains in their full uniforms for the gala dinner held every tuesday on board. you have to make booking for the dinner and come in your formal wear.

• the swedish captain taking photos with all who turned up at the dinner...using the ship's camera of course and you get to purchase each 4r photo for SGD10 each. yes, that is the currency used

• the captain's gala dinner at the ocean's palace. three-course meal followed by entertainment back at the galaxy of stars. entertainment comes in the form of acrobatic performances from a chinese troupe from harbin and sexy brazillian dancers. no photo taking allowed.

overheard at gala dinner coming from an elderly englishman.

it's nice to see all ladies dressed in their fineries for this dinner, isn't it?

awwww......how sweet and appreciative. cina man will surely say something else or say nothing at all ;(

back on the land now. let me share some photos i have first before i start writing anything. writer's block now after not writing for a week. haha...still in buoyancy.

an introduction to the superstar gemini

• an access card will be issued for every passenger. that is your credit card on board. everything is charged to this card and u settle the bill when u disembark

• a cabin for four...quite small and makes u not want to stay in the cabin. the upper berth bed can be quite swayable

• the toilet..all the basic amenities are there

• the corridor outside the cabins
  

• deck 8, the highest deck where the sunbathers frolic
  

• jacuzzi tub

• the not so big swimming pool

• the mariner's: where buffet meals are served

• seafood lover's haven; prawns, scallops, fish, oysters, clams; local and western delights. my favourites: desserts ;) 6 to choose from every meal

• star lounge

• ocean's palace, the formal eatery where you have to be properly dressed before you can be seated. too prim and proper for a casual gal. plus the food choices here are the same as at the mariner's...only posher and more well presented. and of course you are served by the many waiters and waitresses

• galaxy of stars where the nightly shows take place

• forward part of the ship from deck 8

• outside the mariner's which is the stern of the ship. you are looking at deck 7, 6 and 5

• superstar gemini in its entirety

some of the places not included are the library, mahjong and card room, front desk, souvenir shop, casino, gemini bar, shore excursions counter, gym and spa and children centre.

some facts about the cruise

1. passengers: approximately 120
2. crew members: approximately 440
3. ship's width: 20m
4. ship's length: 150m
5. crew work for 10 months and rest for 2 months
6. crew from 23 nations work together 'better than United Nations' according to the captain
   

bon voyage

hum to the music of 'leaving on a jetplane' by john denver......

All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go

...but i won't be hopping onto a jet lah....me going on a cruuuuuissssseeee.............yeah....really excited because it is my first time on one. my friend has been telling me i am going to enjoy myself. there are a lot of activities going round on the deck. sunset and the stars at night are not to be missed! well, i just want to keep my fingers crossed now and hope that weather permits all these to go without a hitch. the weather has not been promising these few days. but a search on the malaysia meteorology station states otherwise.
so i will be out at sea from 27 nov till 2 dec. take a cruise round the ship if u like. i think it is quite a nice one. a friend experienced seasick in his entire journey from kuantan to sarawak before. gulp...that was horrifying i am sure.
ok...escape going on her first escapade since the creation of this blog. photos will come as soon as the liner docks.

SuperStar Gemini - Capture the wonders of Southeast Asia
Season: April 2006 to December 2006


SuperStar Gemini - Capture the wonders of Southeast Asia
KUALA LUMPUR - PENANG - KRABI - PHUKET ISLAND - LANGKAWI ISLAND CRUISE (7-Night)
Day Destination Arrival Departure
Mon Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) 0900 1900
Tue Penang 1000 1800
Wed Krabi 0800 (0700) 1700(1600)
Wed Phuket Island 1900 (1800) -
Thu Phuket Island - 1900(1800)
Fri Langkawi Island 0900 1900
Sat Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) 1300 1500

confessions...

of a bookworm...
dun ever leave me without a book. i will be like a fish without water. i have traversed the whole world and galaxy albeit not physically. there are still so many wondrous doors to be explored. shhh...dun disturb...i am going back to my books.

of a workaholic...
my office, my home. meals...1300 *** *** lah. why waste time. exercise...where got time. kick chair away, do squats in front of desk can also mah. social life? cyber chats count or not? okok lah....got work to do. ka ka cau cau.

sunday at k selangor

ok..these photos are long overdue. due to the lagging computer, i can only upload my photos from the phone to another computer. phone canggih, but pc software ancient (win 98).
not a bad place for an idylic sunday. good and cheap seafood...hehe..no photos of food because all gobbled up as soon as put on the table. friendly 'locals' and nice view from bkt melawati.


one of the more famous prawn crackers sold here...yummy...good snacks for the tv


river view from the riverview restaurant ;)..that is the name of the restaurant ok


view from the top of the hill


your friendly locals coming out in troops to greet you especially if you have offerings


a common scene here...the evolution of man. from simian to sapiens minus the jersey please.

a fixation for rainbow

took these photos in 2 days...from the car using my cybershot ;)... different journeys. a rainbow always lights up a day. i still think of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow whenever i see one. guess the myth stays on despite the age catching up. i love colours....let your life be infused with colours and i am sure you will be a happier person.

confessions...

of an ugly gal..........
i am ugly. people turn when they see me. they never see what is inside me. only those willing to discover will find the real beautiful me.

of a shopaholic....
i maxed my credit card. my room is my wardrobe and my wardrobe is my bedroom. what the heck... i have winter, spring and summer's attires all set out.

home sweet flowers

whenever i see these flowers wherever i go, i will think of home. there flowers are associated with home. our house's pride...when all the flowers are in full bloom like now la. ;)
the ground outside is strewn with yellow petals now. it feels like autumn under the tree or spring because all the leaves are in light green.
as for cars parked under the tree...u know what will happen to them.
aaahh.....a sight for sore eyes.
p/s: anyone knows the name of the tree? still ??? to me

hello...hello...post...post...

indeed...hello hello and what is there in the post for me??? taraaaaaa.......... the latest Oral-B ProfessionalCare 8850 DLX - Tower
oohhh lala...i am indeed impressed...trust me...the tooth brush looks much better and the glittery silver...gosh...my favourite! i am not sure about the benefits of electric toothbrush...but since it even comes with a timer (2 mins), i will be brushing more now i guess. 4 brush heads for different functions! imagine that!! gila berus gigi ni..hahaha
the price tag is US$80++ online....but i got it free...err....technically lah. exchanged my credit card reward points for the toothbrush. i posted the form last month, and it came to my doorstep this week. that was very fast....
happy brushing to me i guess...hehe..wait till it is fully charged first

the big H

i just can't stop from dropping this big H word....yeah....you have to bear with me....it is the HOLIDAYS again!!
i switched to hols mood and at resting mode as soon as i took the first step into the house. aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh........bliss. everything about work (what work?) seems to have drifted into thin air along the journey home. the mind is totally erased!
how can one let go so fast? LOL

COFFEE,
CHOCOLATE,
MEN.
SOME
THINGS ARE JUST
BETTER RICH