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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Apr 09, 2017 08:00 PM Landing in Shanghai
After 23 days on the slow ship I disembarked my "slow boat to China" in Shanghai - huge and exotic city on Huangpu River. Regarding the weather it was a big disappointment - it was foggy in the morning and we experienced also little rain.
Shanghai cruise terminal luckily is located very close to the center of the city - just opposite the famous Pearl Tower. Chinese built here nice building but immigration formalities go slowly - we were waiting in the long lines to get the stamp. Just let you know, that if you do not want to go out of the province and stay more then 144 hours - 6 days you can now get here free visa on arrival. Only the onward ticket out of China is obligatory...
Most of my fellows took taxis or excursion buses to get to their hotels or airport. But I am the budget traveller. I went from the hidden terminal building to the street. City bus 37 took me for just 2 yuans to Tianjin Rd in the centre where I booked before single room in Chuangshengjiang Hotel. Tiny room with bath cost here 30 $ per night and as for huge Shanghai is is very good price. Print the confirmation with the Chinese name of the hotel since nothing in English is written on the building :)
Welcome to China!
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Apr 06, 2017 08:00 PM Foggy Hong Kong
It was thick fogg in the morning when we arrived to Hong Kong. For the first time I am approaching this exotic city by ship and I must tell you that the view is unforgettable. We are docking just near Star Ferry on the Kowloon side. Free wifi in the terminal. I believe that the fogg will come down before I will reach Victoria Peak for panoramic view...
later:
Yes, it is possible to avoid long queues and save on the tickets - I went by old Star ferry to Hong Kong island (2,50 HKG each way - like 30 USD cents). Then I was walking to the Peak Tram station, where the path along the tram rails starts. It took me about an hour (very sweaty hour) to climb to the uppr station of the tram on the Victoria Peak. The view was still imposing regardless the cloudy and foggy day! They built there huge tourist complex - I do not like it.
Back on the ship in the evening I expect a great night illumination of the city.
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Apr 04, 2017 08:00 PM Da Nang - Vietnam
Neptune was angry yesterday and our ship was rocking on the waves in the strong wind. As a result we came to Vietnamese port of Da Nang 3 hours later then it was scheduled. Socialist Vietnam is the only country on our way who require visa from cruise passengers - it is easy to get it on the ship but you have to pay extra 8 USD for one day visa.
Port of Da Nang is located opposite the city, so you have to go around the bay to reach the town. They provide shuttle bus, but it is another 6 eu cost for the round trip. To far (15kms to walk) Once you are in the city the rickshaw drivers offer 1hour city tour for 5 USD.
I went to the Han Market on the bank of the huge Han River. A lot of colors, exotic fruits, stalls with textiles and souvenirs. Catholic catedral and Cham museum is also worth to see. People are nice - smiling, but tge knowledge of English is limited.
Tourist info office on the riverside offers free wi-fi!
Hot and hazy weather. In the evening we will sail to Hongkong.
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Apr 01, 2017 08:00 PM Singa, Singa, Singapore!
I have been to this scrap of Europe in Asia three times within 30 years. But it changes fast and I have good opportunity to refresh memories.
From cruise terminal where we are docking it is like 4 kms to the centre of the city. Cruise line offers shuttle bus for extra fee - 4 euro each way. But I decided to walk - just turn right from the terminal and then follow Central Blvd. On the upper floor of the terminal there is info office with good maps and free wi-fi...
Walk was not easy regarding the temperature and high humidity, it seems that I was the only walker :) - my fellow prefere to walk around the ship...
Well, for the first time I saw this extravagant Marina Bay hotel - saying the true I do not like such a architecture... Merlion still is surrounded by the crowd of tourists. Streets perfectly clean... I crossed Singapore River to Bencoolen Street - once it was oasis of the cheap accommodation for backpackers. No longer! The little Chinese hotel where a stayed during my first visit to SIN does not exist...
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Mar 30, 2017 08:00 PM Steamy Phuket - Thailand
I have been several times to Thailand, but never to Phuket Island... So it is new place to me... Our old ship anchored in Patong Bay (zero info about this from the ship - they want you to buy expensive excursions they sell onboard) Such a excursion around the island costs 59 euro.
They took us by mororboat to primitive jegtty on pontoons. Then we were welcomed by the crowd of the smiling taxi and tuk-tuk owners.
They offer same tour for 20 $ per person or if you decide to take open-z air tuk-tuk you can bargain to 15 $ pp. That's what I did with the 5 Italian friends.
Phuket island is lush and hilly. After the night rain it was sunny, but I felt like in the team bath. We visited thwo beautiful thai temples and some nice beaches. And this was the best solution because local transport is scare and it is hard to hitchhike on the roaring motorways - the island is well developed... The end of the trip was on the southern cap of the island where you can see great panorama of the rocky islands from the platform near the fancy lighthouse.
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Mar 26, 2017 08:00 PM Back in Colombo - Sri Lanka
For the first time I arrived to Colombo by ship. The view of the port is miserable... We are docking in the middle of commercial port with industrial landscape around. On the pier there is no cruise terminal, no information desk - just few souvenir stalls taxi rank (they ask 80 USD for 4 hours city tour) and a stop of the complimentary bus taking independent travellers to the port gate no 3. It is a long way - more then 3 kms and they do not allow to walk...
Once you are at the gate 3 you will be attacked by the crowd of taxi and tuk-tuk drivers, guides and similar guys. Be resistant and wath your pockets! They accept payment in USD (1 USD is worth 150 local rupees).
I took a walk to the colonial Fort quarter. Gently and elegant man started talking with me - introduced himself as ministry office worker. He offered me a tuk-tuk ride with him to the lake temple I wanted to visit. OK. Then at the temple... he wanted to be my payed guide... You never know... I think I am experienced traveller, but maybe I trust the people too much...
The temple is worth to see - they charge from foreigners 2 USD entry fee and you will see there 1001+ Bhudda statues - some very valuable - like ruby one...
Cloudy but still very hot day. In the evening we are departing to Thailand... What a trip! (Aboard I like most Italian ice cream!)
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Mar 24, 2017 10:00 PM Sunday on Maledives
After some 20 years I am again on Maledives. It is Ismamic Republic and the main mosque -see pictutr - is still the most impressive building in the capital city. On the small public beach ladies swim fully dressed... Main island changed a lot - more concret buildings and they still build new ones on this little piece of land. Big traffic and pollution in the narrow streets of Male. It is extremely hot and humid here and not easy to find internet access - it seems they are undeveloped. The next port on my route will be Colombo in Sri Lanka - maybe I will be able to upload few pictures...
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Mar 20, 2017 10:00 PM Island tour for just 1 dollar
Yes, I am already on the Seychelles, living in the last expensive cabin of my slow boat.
On Mahe island I used public buses to go around the island. Each bus ride costs just 5 rupees. For 1 USD you can have 3 rides to enjoy paradise beaches like Takamaka and to get to the panoramic view points. Hitchhiking also works. In the evening I depart to Male Maledives - it will be 3 days at sea. Hot, humid, sweaty but happy - Wojtek
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Mar 17, 2017 10:00 PM Again on tropical Mauritius
They did not care about the weight of my carry-on baggage when I was embarking Eurowings flight in Cologne. OK. I made the right choice of the seat 41G on their airbus 330-200 plane - this seat gives you little more space. The plane was almost full. And there were another unpleasant surprises: you have to pay extra not only for the movies but also for the musis. Bring your headphones! 11 hours on flight.
It was still dark, when we landed at 5 am on Mauritius.
Fast immigration and health control. Customs just say -go on! Then there are money exchange counters. No commission. But the clerk was surprised when I changed jus 1 dollar = 35 local rupees. It should be enough for the public bus going to the distant (43 kms) Port Louis - the capital of the island.
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Mar 16, 2017 10:00 PM Will they check the weight of my pack?
It was cloudy morning when, after 20 hours on the bus I arrived to CGN airport. I am first time here. CGN is well- organized. From the long bus platform you walk just 50 m to the terminal building. I have award ticket for Eurowings flight to Mauritius. They have their counters in the wing C. Eurowings is an inexpensive daughter of Lufthansa. But I did not expect that that award ticket from Miles and More program is so poor... It does not cover any meals except poor water. Bring your sandwiches with you! And it covers only 1 piece of cabin luggage up to 8 kilos. Yes, I have just one piece, but it has 12.... I printed my boarding pass on-line This did not give them a chance to check the weight at the check-in counter. Will they check it at the gate? So far at the security control they sent me to the special, separate line for detailed screening. Why just me? I passed through. Okay, In the waiting room I prepared for me a big pot of coffee (do you know how?) :) and I am ready for 11 hours flight. Please, keep your fingers crossed!
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