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October 28 Joe's an Ginger's LogTuesday, October 28. We will be in Perth, Australia tomorrow. The ocean has been particularly rough for several days now. I am feeling fine but Ginger is slightly seasick.We are eager to see Australia after two good lectures: one on its 400,00 aborigines and the other on Australia's settlement by deported English convicts and its massive gold rush in the early 1850s.
We continue to meet interesting people. Yesterday, we met a retired professor of finance from one of Texas' major universities. An excellent American guitarist from New Orleans gave a fine performance last night and a talk this morning.
FFamily pride causes me to make these announcements: Our daughter-in-law was hired as a top administrator in a Newalk, N.J. hospital. Philip was promoted to be Associate Chief of Staff for the VA in California. I hope our children will not mind if I got their job descriptions incorrect but I am writing from the other side of their world. Good luck to both of you. October 26 Joe's and Ginger's LogMonday, October 27, 2008. We are in mid-passage to Perth, Australia. The ocean is acting badly but it is exciting. I am proceeding nicely with my DVD project. Robert, our computer expert, is knowledgeable and patient. I learned that my web page has been visited 93 times to date. Thank you.
Australia is a fascinating place. It is the largest country and smallest continent in the world. I am not sure what size qualifies land to be a continent. Australia's isolation means that there are animals there, such as the kangaroo, which are to be found nowhere else. The aborigines were the most primitive people in the world. They just hunted, fished and gathered worms and nuts. They did discover fire and invented the boomerang. We will arrive at Perth on Wednesday. Attached are some photos previously taken. Note Ginny and Joe with the Singapore sling at Raffles in Singapore. October 25 Joe's and Ginger's LogEighty-five percent of the Balanese are Hindues in a largely Islamic Indonesia. I learned some things about Hinduism. It is apparently the oldest of the world's major religions. It believes in one God with many lesser gods and has a moral code which its believers must follow. They also believe in reincarnation and the purity of your life, or lack thereof, determines your next existence. Those who attain perfect purity will enter the state of Nirvana and be with God. We also visited two undistinguished temples. The weather was equatorially hot and steamy.
Included in the above photos are pictures of carabau, which our daughter-in-law Myrna, should find familiar. She has often told us about their use in the Philippines as draught animals and for feasting.
October 23 Joe', & Ginger's LogFriday, October 24, 2008. We had some rain last night but it is a warm, sunny day and very pleasant. Actually, on this floating hotel the weather does not matter. Sometimes a storm and turbulent seas can be exciting. During our walk on deck three yesterday we came upon a mother with an 18 month-old baby girl. They would be on ship for 33 days and were doing very well. I thought of our own Paula-Marie.
I some times feel like Charles Darwin on the good ship 'Beagle' as I investigate the motion of the direction of water when the toilet flushes. To my disappointment, though we are south of the equator and not far from Indonesia, there has been no change. My dinner mate, an intelligent fellow, tells me it will change when we get to Australia. I will have to ask my friend, Dr. Ray Snider, for an explanation.
My fellow passengers are very polite and fairly congenial. Quite a few are rather dull with hardly a thought in their head and the very possibility of thinking about matters outside of bodily functions is anathema. However, we have met some delightful people whom I wish to remember on this log. Lydia comes mind. She was born in Abruzzi, Italy and is married to an Irish-Catholic surgeon. They are kind and intelligent. Rabbi Mintz and Father Gerold come to mind. They both were meant for their calling. We also enjoyed conversations with a Canadian
family court judge and beefy Olaf, a Canadian born in Estonia. I met a graduate from Brooklyn Tech, my old high school. I may see him again at the cocktail party this afternoon. I do not want to leave out Robert, our computer expert or the Phillipino ladies at the service desk and the Indonesian crew members from whom I have learned so much
Goodby, for now and remember 'goodby' means 'God be with you'. Joe's and Ginger's LogThursday, October 23, 2008. It has been a pleasant day. This morning rain postponed our fire drill. We attended a lecture by an Australian anthropologist, Dr. Gaymor Macdonald, on the world views of the Australian aborigines. They are 'surprisingly' like those of aborigines all over the world with different names.
Virginia and I enjoy reading and looking out over the vast ocean. She is reading a book by John Gresham and I am reading "Richard Nixon" a biography by a noted English author and politician, Norman Black. He paints a very favorable picture of Nixon. I never liked the man but admired his foreign policy and would have enjoyed meeting him. He is certainly better than what we have had recently. October 22 Joe's and Ginger's LogWednesday, October 22, 2008. Today was an exciting day. We took a bus tour of Singapore where we saw the Hindu section putting on a religious festival. We also went into the most beautiful Buddhist temple I have ever seen. Buddha's statue always reflects serenity which I suspect (not being too knowledgeable about that faith) to be the message he wants to send forth.The temple, which was recently built, is rich in statuary and red, gold and blue colors, just like a newly built but old-fashioned Catholic Church.
Singapore was started by Thomas Raffles in 1819. He also built Raffles Hotel, a tropically-styled 19th century edifice rich in charm. We enjoyed lunch and had a Singapore Sling, a gin based tropical drink which was invented there. Virginia thought that was the highlight of
the day.
The city-state of Singapore has an authoritarian government. Freedom to criticize the government is curbed and the law comes down hard on crime. Drug dealers are put to death by hanging. October 21 Joe's and Ginger's LogTuesday, October 21, 2008. Another calm day at sea. The food is good, the Manhattans are great and Joe is enjoying the challenges of the computer.
Tomorrow we arrive at Singapore. This ia a small, but very prosperous country. It was immensely important as a British naval base during World War II and its capture by the Japanese in their drive to conquer this area as they headed for Australia was traumatic. The country thrives on trade and high tech. Its government is authoritarian but effective. You can be fined for chewing gum in public. In 1994 an American teenager was caned for vandalism. It created a fierce dispute in the West and, by the way, did not change his behavior. October 19 Joe's and Ginger's LogSunday, October 19, 1980. It is warm, as usual, in this part of the world. This is the rainey season and we experienced a severe downpour this morning.
Today was a shopping day. I bought a very expensive pair of pure silk pajamas and assorted silk items. The bargains I saw in the 1990s did not seem to be here. I could have done better in Shanghai.
The pollution we saw in our first visit has been reduced but there still is a great gap between rich and poor. I find Asians to be basically kind and decent. As one travels the differences between people begin to vanish
The port that leads to Bangkok is the largest in Thailand and it is very busy as these pictures will illustrate.
October 16 Joe's and Ginger's LogThursday, October 16, 2008. It was an uncomfortably hot day. This put me into an irrascible mood and colored my reaction to today's experiences. We took a trip called 'The Best of Ho Chi Minh City'. What we saw was the old presidential palace, a fifth rate history museum and a puppet show notable for the absence of creativity. Virginia reminded me that we saw the same puppet show when we were here more than ten years ago.
Saigon, as the city is also called by its inhabitants, is a decrepit place. Poverty is everywhere. The government has make work projects. Our bus has an unnecessary second driver. We have also seen people cleaning curbs with hand brooms. Any architecture worth the name comes from the French period. Many of the people in the south have not reconciled themselves to communist rule. It is amazing to me (Joe) that neither Viet Nam nor China have a safety net for their people (medical care, social security, unemployment insurance), but the leaders love power.
I wish to end on a light note. The night before last the comedian told the following: On his ninetieth birthday a man disrobed before his bedroom mirror and, looking at himself, he admired that he had lived so long. Looking at his hands he said, "You have served me well for 90 years". He gazed at his feet and said the same thing. Then, looking at his private area, he said, "You would be 90 years old if you had not died years ago!" Later that night I realized that I had heard that story more than 50 years ago.
October 15 Joe's & Ginger's LogWednesday, October 15, a quiet day at sea (the China Sea) on our way to Ho Chi Min City. Dr. Jay Wolfe, a retired dentist, gives splendid history lectures on board., While he does not have the depth and broad view of a trained historian his lectures are always well researched, illustrated with pictures and spoken in a fine voice. He is very popular with the passengers. Today's lecture was on the Tet offensive during the Viet Nam War in February, 1968. Although we won that part of the war the U.S. media gave a one-sided interpretation which thoroughly misled the American people. There were other aspects of those woeful times such as ending the draft deferments for college students, Viet Namese nationalism, the unpopularity of South Viet Nam's government, etc. All these, and more, contributed to the debacle. I have often wondered why we succeeded in Korea and failed in Viet Nam.
Reading my e-mail tells me that family and friends are following our journey. I must take Virginia to have her hair done. In order of her priorities her hair dresser comes just after her doctor.
See you later!
October 14 Joe's LogWe are in the port city of Da Nang, Viet Nam. In 1963 the American Marines came ashore on China Beach to help the South Viet Namese. They also built two major airfields here; one for helicopters and the other for B-52 bombers. Interestingly, these bombers are still being used by the U.S.
The highlight of the day was a rickshaw ride through the city. Virginia seemed to enjoy it tremendously. All around us were 'zillions' of bicycles and motor scooters. There is extreme poverty in this country. The average income is $1800 a year.
October 12 Joe's & Ginger's Log Sunday, October 12 2008.
Last night we saw a laser show where lasers from several skyscrapers threw beams of green and white light across the sky. The view from the eighth deck was quite good. Although we did not 'oo' and 'ah' as we did with fireworks when we were youngsters everyone enjoyed it. As we depart for Vietnam this evening there will be a lighted dragon display on the pier. October 11 Joe's and Ginger's LogIt is Saturday, October 11, 2008 and we are in Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong. The weather has been superb. We enjoyed a tour this morning of the city, rode the funicular up a high mountain and sailed the harbor in a sampan. This is a fantastic city. When the British came in 1841 it was almost completely undeveloped. Today it is a region of 7 million bustling citizens who do not wish to give up their democratic heritage. The Chinese communist party is paranoid. Anyone wishing to have a public meeting must get permission from the authorities. I am amazed that both in Hong Kong and in mainland China there is no safety net for the people, as we know it in the west. Enough social analysis for Ginger and I are having a splendid time. I am especially proud of what I am learning about the computer.
October 08 Joe's & Ginger's LogWednesday, October 8, 2008
We have been very fortunate for the weather continues to be favorable. Shanghai is a spectacularly beautiful city. Today we went to the 88th floor of the world's tallest building, the World Financial Center. The building, soon to be eclipsed by a building in Dubai, is som 1,600 feet tall. Every where you look building is going on. The leaders of the ruling communist party apparently made a decision to drop the social welfare net and devote all their resources in a hell-bent effort to at least catch up with the rest of the world. It seems to be working.
We road on the Maglev train this morning.I believe Maglev stands for magnetic levitation. The train is about 10 milimeters above the rails and reaches speeds of 256 miles per hour. The idea began in Britain and was developed by the Germans who built this one. It is the only maglev train in the world because it is too expensive to operate.
We are enjoying this trip immensely and look forward to the next two days at sea where we can relax. These days begin with a leasurely breakfast in our room, some time in the library, a lecture or two, lunch, afternoon activity, 5 p.m. Mass, dinner, entertainment and to bed. This is not a bad life. October 04 Joe's and Ginger's LogSunday, Oct.5, 20
It has been a quiet day at sea as we sail languidly at 16 knots per hour towards Shanghai. We enjoyed a chamber music performance last night at Kobe. The weather today has been a mixture of sun and showers. It does not matter for we keep busy. I am diligently practicing my computer skills until my brain becomes weary. Tonight the captain has his cocktail party and special dinner. I keep thinking that we are on an elegant hotel that floats on water. October 03 Joe's and Ginger's LogIt is amazing! The days aboard the ship zip by. We arrived in Kobe, Japan at 8 a.m. this morning. At 9:30 we boarded a bus to visit a beautiful area. This is our fourth stop in Japan. I am disappointed because we have seen a lot of the countryside but have not learned much about the culture. When we fill out the evaluation forms I will let this be known.
This afternoon we rested and read in the library. At 5 p.m. we went to Mass and dinner after that. I miss the news at home. What we get is a "NY Times" digest and CNN. It appears that Sarah Palin did better than expected but that Joe Biden was the superior debater. I believe Obama-Biden will win and that Sarah will return to the obscurity she so richly deserves. No one discusses politics since everyone is here for a good time. The day after election should tell how people voted by the expression on their face October 01 Joe's and Ginger's Log Today, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 is our 13th day aboard ship. We are sailing into Kobe harbor where we will spend the next two days. The waters have been calm and the stark rock outcroppings we see have been spectacular. Ginger is now doing what she likes doing best - having her hair done. I am enjoying keeping this little diary. At 4 p.m. we will attend a cocktail party. Some of our friends wonder how we can take a 65 day sea journey. Believe me, it is a wonderful way of life. Even when aboard ship I cannot find sufficient time to do all I want to do.September 30 Joe's & Ginger's Log Today is Wednesday,September 30. We spent a leisurely morning aboard the ship. After lunch we took a bus tour of Aomori. It is a clean and attractive city whose economy is based on fishing and farming. Like many Japanese cities it hugs the coast and is surrounded by mountains. We saw a bronze Buddha who was the size of a seven story building. I learned that Buddism teaches we go through seven incarnations before our spirit reaches eternal bliss.
September 29 Joe's & Ginger's LogJoe's and Ginger's Log Thus far we have done nothing and have done everything.We have been aboard the M.S. Amsterdam for 9 days sailing the North Pacific Ocean from Seattle to Japan. The waters have been excitingly rough causing the ship to rock sideways and from stem to stern. Last night, as we went to our cabin (M1877) on the first deck ,I heard a repeated boom as the ship hit tremendous waves. Earlier, the captain told us the ship was built to withstand such conditions. Thus far he is right.
I am typing this on my web page,gingerrubyohnmachteulie,which I have just learned how to create.
Goodbye, until tomorrow.
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