Fortaleza, Brazil to Fort Lauderdale, Florida

This picture was taken on ANZAC Day just after the captain had the ship turned to put the sun off the starboard side. We were headed directly West and the sunrise was right in the attendees' eyes. Seated at the table l. to r. are Pastor Doug (Protestant chaplain), Robert (Tai Chi Instructor) and the Captain.






This picture of Fortaleza, Brazil was taken with my video camera. The resolution is not nearly as good as my Nikon but I didn't take it up on deck with me.









This hybiscus was growing in the garden at the Theatro de Alcanar in Fortaleza, Brazil









The father/daughter stilt instruction takes a break. They were having so much fun I wanted to stay and watch, but the tour had to more on.











These windows of Moses and Aaron in the Se Cathedral, Fortaleza, Brazil are made of Murano glass.










When we visited the Old Jail in downtown Fortaleza, this band was playing in one of the courtyards. They had CDs for sale as well as the flute and leather hats they are wearing.









At least in Fortaleza, Antarctica Beer is the big thing. Signs were hanging outside every restaurant and bar. I have to admit, with that cool blue background and the frosty looking bottles, it was very tempting in the heat of the Northeastern Brazil.










Here I am with Randall Powell (r), the lounge pianist on the Prinsendam. I was mistaken for him by quite a few people. I always made sure to pass on the compliments I accepted on his behalf.










The storm in the background and the sunlit ship in the foreground make an interesting picture. Although, as I explained in my journal, the water may be different colors in the Amazon. the difference here is caused by sun and shade.








This is the buffet tray that displayed Diana's white chocolate swan with Mandarin oranges.








The MS Prinsendam at the dock in Santarem, Brazil.








This is our Amazon Cruise Boat. We traveled down the Amazon and along the Jari Canal.









This police checkpoint on the Amazon River is a mandatory stop for all tour boats on the Santarem section on the river. First they had to load all the tourists and then stop here for inspection and turn in a list of passengers.






Here's Diana on the bank of the Amazon carrying some treasures (flotsom or jetsom) gathered on the shore.







This sunset on the Amazon River just kept getting better and better. This is the yellow stage, I put a picture of the blue stage in the journal along with a picture of the yellow stage that caputred a green flash on one of the lens elements..






We had dinner in the Pinnacle Grill on Diana's birthday. She ordered the "Chocolate Volcano" desert and they decorated the dish with a happy birthday wish.








Diana and our waiter, Wedodo. That's HALs traditional last formal night desert, Baked Alaska.









This is our assistant waiter, Yonathan. When they serve Baked Alaska they have a big parade around the dining room with all the waiters carrying the desert with sparklers providing the light.











Well you hung in there 'till the bitter end. Hope you enjoyed the additional pictures!

(c) Rod Longenberger - 2005

Victoria, Seychelles to Georgetown, Ascension Island

This is the fruit of the Octopus Tree from the National Botanical Garden, Victoria, Seychelles.











I just couldn't resist another Seychelles beach picture. This island rivals my all time favorite place, Bora Bora in French Polynesia.










This tiny flower is in the National Botanical Garden in Victoria, Seychelles. That's about half of my index finger in the background. The flower is about 2 inches across.












Diana likes to have her picture taken with our guides. Here she is with Jacquiline in the Seychelles.







This lotus blossom ceiling decoration in a Tamil style Hindu temple in Port Louis, Mauritius has an ususual figure in its center, an elephant/cow. The heads of the two animals are merged to symbolize the intertwining of strength and holiness.






I just couldn't get enough pictures of the colorful Hindu Temples. Port Lewis, Mauritius








Here I am with Mary Ann sailing into Cape Town, South Africa. From left to right in the background, Devil's Peak, Table Mountain and Lion's Head. We have sailed over 150 days with Mary Ann and her husband, Bill.





I'm still amazed that the Captain and Pilot got the Prinsendam into the inner harbor at Cape Town. After we cleared this small opening we docked on the opposite side of pier to the right in the foreground. A very sharp trun indeed. As I mentioned in my journal, we are the largest ship ever to dock in the inner harbor.






In this picture from Table Mountain you can see the ship at the pier in the V & A Center. You can also see the small entry way to the inner harbor.







This is the city of Cape Town and Table Bay taken from Table Mountain.









Here we are at the Cape Point Lighthouse, South Africa. The sign gives direction and distance to seveal large cities. Some point in unexpected directions because we are so far south. For example, the two signs you see above Rod's head point to New York and London and as you can see they point in almost exactly the same direction.







These proteus in the Kirstenboch Botanical Gardens are the national flower of South Africa.








Here you can see how the Prinsendam was berthed in Cape Town's inner harbor. The bow of the ship is 25 feet over the warf.








This is the Nabib Desert from the top of the Musical Rocks outside Walvis Bay, Namibia.






This rock from the Lichen Forrest in the Namib Desert shows how the lichen expand when moisture is present. In the center the lichen is flat and appears dead. On the right side, where I poured some water, the lichen is standing up and you can see some of it standing up.







The city of Jamestown on the island of Saint Helena, a British protectorate, is in the bottom of a steep valley. I had a picture of the upper part of this valley in my journal. This is the lower valley.





This is HM Prison, built in 1827 and still in use. In the background you can see Jacob's Ladder from the bottom heading up to Ladder Hill Fort.









This c. 1800 pipe organ in St. James' Church is built intirely into a self contained box , no installation required. I'd never seen one quite like it. The pipes are all decorated in blue, grey and gold. The design makes me think it might be of French manufacture.









This is the Exiles Building in Georgetown, Ascension Island. Ascension is essentially a cinder cone volcano in the middle of the South Atlantic. There are two military bases there, one USA and one UK.







Deadman's Beach, Georgetown, Ascension Island. While the island may be pretty stark, the ocean around it has abundant life. Sea turtles, a wide variety of fish and other denizens of the deep call the island home.






To see the next page of pictures click this 'Older Posts' at the bottom right.

(c) Rod Longenberger - 2005

Bangkok, Thailand to Colombo, Sri Lanka

These fifteen-foot tall warriors guard each gate into the Royal Palace grounds in Bangkok, Thailand
















You can see the colorful supporters from page 44 of my journal at the base of the gold tower to the right. They are apparently holding the tower up. Royal Palace, Bangkok, Thailand









Worshipers anoint themselves with holy water using lotus blossoms. This is done just outside the entrance to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. You can see two girls anointing a friend just outside the frame to the right. This was very unusual. Most do it for themselves like the girl on the left. Royal Palace, Bangkok, Thailand







This is the poolside service I mentioned seeing at the Shangra La Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.













This is a prime example of the offering flowers used at Hindu shrines. These flowers are hanging from a modern statue in the Lobby of the Shangra La Hotel. Bangkok, Thailand














Mary Ann, Bill and Diana in the Lobby of the Shangra La Hotel. One thing about Thai hotels, they all have beautiful, large orchid displays. Bangkok, Thailand










Here's a closeup of the wax pen I described in my journal. They use it to outline the batik designs prior to painting. Hot wax is put in the top and it only comes out when they touch the cloth. Thailand







These wax outlines are then hand painted and the cloth is boiled to remove the wax. The lightweight, breathable batik fabric is ideal for the hot, humid climate of Thailand.









You cannot say that Hindu temples are drab. This one in Kuantan, Indonesia certainly isn't.








The mosque in Kuantan is much less colorful, but much larger. Indonesia









This charming fellow is Sri Muruga, Lord of War in the Hindu pantheon. He resides in the Sri Mariamman Temple in Singapore.













This is the Raffles Hotel, Singapore. The hotel opened in 1887 and was totally renovate in 1991. The 'Singapore Sling' was invented in the hotel in the 'Long Bar'. The Long Bar is still there and a Singapore Sling can be purchased for the princely sum of $18 US.






Many movie stars have had a drink at this outdoor bar, both on and off screen. Raffles Hotel, Singapore







This is a closer shot of the Wat Tham Suwan Kuha Cave Temple entrance. If you click to make it larger you can find four monkeys climbing on it. Thailand










This is the view back towards the entrance from as far as I could go without a flashlight. The small flash on my new camera did a pretty good job of illuminating the monument at the back of the large room. Wat Tham Suwan Kuha Cave Temple, Thailand









This in Panyee Village on Phang Nga Bay in Thailand. The granite rock here are so sheer to the water that over 95% of the village is built on stilts. From this view all the buildings you see are on them.








As you can see, even this little fishing village has a Mosque at it's center. Panyee, Thailand









These colorful dancers welcomed us to Chennai (Madras), India










This temple is the Nakula Ratha, one of the five Rathas, in Mamallapuram, India. It's carved from one block of granite. Check the people in the lower right side of the picture for scale.









The stone carvers here in Mamallapuram produce some wonderful carving using only hand tools and traditional techniques. Most are too large and heavy to get home but I did buy a small set of three elephants as a momento.










This is the tea served to us in Sri Lanka on the Victorian era Viceroy Train from Kandi to Colombo. Sri Lankan tea is very good.






To see the next page of pictures click this 'Older Posts' at the bottom right.

(c) Rod Longenberger - 2005