Romancing the World Travel

02/04/2025

Feb 1st we toured life on the Mekong river via tender boats and saw floating fishing houses and fishing boats that all have eyes painted on them. Next we visited the home of a Vietnam veteran and was shot during the war and American troops saved his life. He was so grateful. He and his wife were so welcoming. Next, we walked through the village where we went to see how ratan mats are made, and along the way, it is so fun to see how they use their motorcycles!

01/31/2025

We spent the morning yesterday in the small village of Kampong Tralach riding in an ox cart past their home improvement store, school, and their version of a 7/11 convenience store! Then, we were back on board and returned to Phnom Penh for an afternoon city tour by tuktuk! We saw their Independence monument, bought peppercorn at the Kompot pepper store, and walked past the Prime ministers house. Back on board, we were treated to a performance by a young adult theater group. After another delicious dinner, we hired tuktuks to take us to the Rosewood Phnom Penh's rooftop bar to enjoy the panoramic view of the city. It was a very fun day!

01/31/2025

We started the day with a New Year's lion dance performance on the ship, then we visited the Roal Palace, and some of us received a fresh flower wrist corsage. The afternoon was insightful and hard as we visited the Killing Fields and the Genocide Museum. We met an adult and child survivor, where I was reminded of the resilience and tanincity of the human race. They lived through horrific torture and things no one should ever have to endure.

01/29/2025

We are docked in Phnom Penh on the Mekong river, and the sunset was magnificent on the Lunar New Year's Eve!

01/29/2025

In the afternoon, we did a walking tour of Oknhatey past many Stupa's - gravesites, visited a school that AMAWaterways sponsors, and then had a tour of a local silk farm. We saw the entire process from moth to finished beautiful woven silk items!!

01/28/2025

Our first stop this morning was in the village of Angkor Ban. The climb up off the ship was steep. It's dry season, so the river is low right now. We did a walking tour, and we were invited into the home of a retired couple. Everyone is preparing for Lunar New Year with lots of food and festivities. They were so kind and inviting! Buddhism and Hinduism are the main religions here. Then we walked through a celebration for a 72 yr. old lady, they sure know how to throw a party!!

01/28/2025

Yesterday we boarded the beautiful AMADara! What a gorgeous ship! We are excited to sail the Mekong River the next 7 days!

01/26/2025

Heres the fill picture!

01/26/2025

01/24/2025

This morning, we headed early to the largest cave in Ha Long Bay. We climbed a total of 813 steps! The cave has 3 different rooms with the 3rd being the largest. Rose, pictured with me has been our amazing guide on the first few days here in Vietnam. She was been with AMAwaterways for 13 years and was so knowledgeable and a joy to spend a few days with here. We are headed to Cambodia this afternoon.

01/24/2025

Hạ Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. Junk boat tours and sea kayak expeditions take visitors past islands named for their shapes, including Stone Dog and Teapot islets. The region is popular for scuba diving, rock climbing and hiking, particularly in mountainous Cát Bà National Park.

We took an excursion to a cave lagoon, saw monkeys, and a few folks tried their hand at rowing. It was much harder than our captain made it look!! On the Bay, we were anchored by so many varieties of boats. Some out for the day, some for several days!

Back to the ship for Vietnamese spring roll making class, a wine tasting and delicious dinner of surf and turf - lobster and beef filet! Yum!!

01/24/2025

Today we departed Hanoi and headed to Ha Long Bay for an overnight cruise on this beautiful Unesco site. We stopped at a cultured Pearl factory and learned how they make these pearls! Grabbed a mocha, and off we went. We arrived at the port and saw the King Kong amusement park as we drove by. This is a popular vacation destination in Vietnam! We made it to our ship, got settled and had lunch on the ship.

01/23/2025

We had a fun afternoon with a ride through old Hanoi in a rickshaw, which was exhilarating and terrifying in the same breath!! Lol! Hanoi is a city of a point 5 million people, and there are 6.5 million motorcycles and mopeds, and traffic laws are just suggestions. Our last stop of the day was at the Hanoi water puppet theater, where we watched a show for an hour with live musicians and puppets performing in the water.

01/23/2025

The next stop was hard - a visit to the Hanoi Hilton prison where American military POWs were incarcerated during the Vietnam war. A Franklin family dear friend - Jack Tomes - was imprisoned there for 6.7 years from July 1966 to March 1973. It was hard, but also an honor to walk where our US military heroes walked and touch the walls they undoubtedly touched as they endured torture and confinement at the hands of their captors. Jack's wife Sue never said, "If Jack comes home...," but always, "When Jack comes home..." ...and we are eternally grateful that he did. Just as Sue's strong faith kept her positive throughout the ordeal, Jack's strong faith helped him endure what he suffered and press thru to come home to his wife and kids. That's the reason we were able to smile...sort of...at the end of the tour. Those walls were NOT the end of the story. Google "Jack, Will You Sing Again?" to learn more of the story of this American hero...

01/23/2025

Our first full day with AMAwaterways pre cruise program. We visited the oldest pagoda in Vietnam and then went to the Temple of Literature.

01/22/2025

We explored the city, walked around the lake, went to the National Museum of History, and had afternoon tea at the hotel. Everyone is preparing for the lunar New Year celebration! We enjoyed a historic tour of the hotel and saw the bunkers below, had dinner with live jazz music, and called it a night. A wonderful first day in Hanoi!

01/22/2025

We are staying at the historical Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel in Hanoi. What a gorgeous property. After much needed sleep, we ventured out to find an ATM. The exchange rate is 25,000 D**g to $1 US dollar.