Whorehouse in Luzern

It was the first and only rainy day during our trip. The rain really was in the middle of fog and slight rain. However I bought a small umbrella, which had a good effect for many hours to stop the rain. I walked with my new umbrella around the old town, had something to eat and drink and was happy. Then late afternoon a kind of rain started again but I did not mind to open my umbrella because I saw a bar, very inexpensive by the window prices, near to my hotel, actually on the other side of the square. A...nd I stepped in. It was a nice, rather tiny bar with efficient service. Seconds later I sat at my table, there was a very tender and lovable touch on my back and partly around my shoulders. I suddenly looked at a very attractive beauty, around 25. After a short conversation I friendly told to her that half an hour upstairs is for me to short, and for all night I do not Have Time And money. She left but soon four others followed her, all Brazilians without better success. However they all behaved nicely after my refusal. The couple of Russian and Thai collegues did not bother to react my presence. Later the girl I first met joined me just to talk, I offered her drink aqua con limon, 5 francs. We had a chat, she was 27 from Manaus, had two children at home with her mother and had been working in Switzerland for 4 years.

Bavaria and Liechtenstein

On Thursday Sept.27 we reached Bavaria to visit the castle of King Ludvig II, Neuschwanstein. However the whole castle was wrapped and I lost totally the interest to visit it. Instead I spent those two hours in two German bars. We then continued our journey to lake Bodensee where we stayed over night on beautiful Lindau island. Next afternoon we came to short visit to Vaduz the capital of Liechtenstein. A half an hour walk, and I had seen the place. Later a stop in Einsiedeln village,now already in Switzerland, before we continued to Luzern at lake Vierwaldstättersee.We stayed the night there and saturday then was free to explore Luzern.

Meeting Ernst Vettori, The Olympic Champion 1992

In Hall we were to over night in a over 700 hundred years old castle, now SChlosshotel Restaurant Goldener Engl. After dinner I took a walk, which ended in a friendly Kurd bar, where I did have interesting discussions with the Shia / Alawiti muslims, family owner of the bar. and with a local bum but a nice guy of my age with a lot of perspectives but less money. He was overwhelmed happy when I bought him a couple of beers,before leaving the place. Next morning we were in Innsbruck. I first decided to hire a "Fiakker", horse carriage for 4 persons. I soon found company from our group, and we had a one hour city tour with good guide. We then enjoyed some Austrian wine in awfully pretty old town,with very decorative baroque buildings. Later we did join the rest of the group to visit the Hofburg Castle, where queen Elisabeth, known as "Sissy" used to live. Our guide was a young lady, who had studied for years the history of that castle, and she wanted to show it to us. We went more than two hours trough that gorgeous building, and she explained the smallest details to us exactly. That was boring. Finally back in Hall, I was strolling trough the shopping area. I saw the sign "Vettori". They sold jeans and sporting outfits. I did try some jeans but it was 25 years too late. I was sweating. Two men were drinking beer at the desk. One of them asked if I would like to have a beer too. I was very greatful, and did accept the offer. Then I looked at the other guy. I was sure he is Olympic Gold Medal Winner 1992 in skijumping Ernst Vettori. So he was. the other one was his older brother, also a top sportsman from 80's. We had a long chat. Ernst wanted to know about his earlier Finnish competitions like Toni Nieminen and Matti Nykänen. When brothers told me that they always liked to compete with the Finnish ones, and that they also very much enjoyed their many visits to Finland, my day was perfect.

Around the European Alps on Sept.24.- Oct.1. 2012

A group of 17 of us flew early that Monday morning to Milan / Italy to start 8 days tour around the Alps. Our bus then brought us trough a enormous heavy rain to our first stop at a winery in Franciacorta area, famous especially of it's excellent spumanti. After several tasteings of different wines we had a nice lunch before we continued towards Dolomites. Our road went trough beautiful landscapes before arriving to a old castle, Hotel Castello Schloss Labers. In this historic building we had our dinner and first night. Next morning after breakfast we continued to the nearby city of Bolzano. Our main target was to find "Ötzi", the Ice Man , age over 4000 years, found some decades ago at the Austrian and Italian border. For years those two countries were quarreling to whom the body belongs before a satellite picture testified,that it laid half a meter on Italian side. The Ötzi Museum was nicely done explaining in details his life, the man itself was about 160cm tall, and had been killed in a fight at the age of 35-40. Next thing I did, was to enjoy the late Autumn Italian sun with very good wine at the Cathedral square in some trattoria. Soon 4 other persons of our group joined me. In early afternoon restarted to over cross the Dolomites, passing unbelievable breathtaking and fantastic landscapes like Canazei village, Val de Fiemme, Val Gardena, Val di Fassa, crossing Passo Sella at the height of 2244 meters, passing the Marmolada 3342 meters. Late that afternoon we arrived in a tiny medieval city of Hall near Innsbruck in Austria.

Short visit to Tallinn, Estonia

On June 13. a group of 13 guys including me made a visit to Tallinn,on opposite side of Gulf of Finland. Our main target was the new Maritime Museum. The Museum was very impressive, concentrating mainly to their Sovjet history. I later left the group to meet two Estonian very good friends, Sigrid and Kadri, both 39. They picked me up from the Museum,and we then had a nice lunch together, before visiting the TV -tower and having a drink at it's sky bar. I later visited their new beautiful homes to meet their husbands and children, before joining the other guys, with some comments, onboard the fast ferry of Linda-Line.

Comments of my last World Cruise

I have been too lazy or busy to write my opinions earlier. The length of the cruise was principally ok. However my first and last that long one. The best things were absolutely great sunny weather almost all 82 days and the marvellous Philippine waitresses onboard. We enjoyed many great harbours but we had to be mostly back onboard at 4-5 pm. Only in Hong Kong, Sydney and Cape Town we could enjoy the night life. The English Kitchen was not very much of my taste. I did not gain any kilos or pounds during this trip. Too late I found out that using Room Service Menu you got good food specially made for you. Most of the passengers were my age or even from the 30's. Among the Australians were the much younger ones but they participated on short legs only. Anyhow I met some very nice English people too, and was invited to private parties. A big disappointment was that we couln't go to Seychelles because of possible threat of terrorists and pirates. However I mostly was happy and in good mood during that cruise over the Sea of China, Pacific, Indian Ocean and Atlantic .

St.Helena, Tenerife, Madeira and Vigo

On Monday, April 16. we were at St.Helena waters a few hundred meters away from fast land. One tender with Deputy Captain was sent to study the possibilities to go ashore, but unfortunately, as widely expected, the conditions at the small tender dock were too rough and for great disappointment we could not but just circumnavigate the volcanic island of about 4000 inhabitants. That took two hours,and we did continue to sail towards Tenerife of Canary Islands. After eigth days at the sea, on Sunday, April 22., we got fast land under our feet in Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife. When walking a while on a boulevard near the harbour, I found a nice cafe with a big TV-screen to watch the Formula I - race. To my great pleasure the Finnish pilot, Kimi Räikkönen finished second. Soon afterwards we had to be onboard again heading towards Funchal, Madeira, to where we arrived next morning. I only had one wish when in Funchal, to find an excellent fish restaurant. With Bill, an English-Australian friend we just strolled trough the city, and found at the seaside an old yacht, once owned by The Beatles. It was cemented on shore, and would never sail again, instead it had an marvellous kitchen and we got both a very tasty unknown fish, recommended to us with a bottle of wine, white for Bill, red for me. A couple of hours later we started to sail to our last port of the cruise, Vigo in north-west Spain.On Wednesday morning, April 25. Vigo was first a bit rainy , but when I left the ship, the sun, naturally, came out. I was walking around this medieval city until I got thirsty and found a nice place on a plaza to get a couple cold Spanish beers. Suddenly Bill and his Australian lady friend popped out behind the corner and joined me. I already knew where the restaurants for," Mariscos y Pescados ", good sea fruits were and did succesfully orientate directly trough unknown narrow streets of the old town just to the spot. After oysters Bill and I had difficulties to decide if Portuguese or Spanish fish was more delicate. Next day we had our last day at the sea crossing the Bay of Biscay ang English Channel before berthing on April 28. at the Mayflower Cruise Terminal in Southampton. I still shall later give my overall comments and impressions concern this World Cruise.

Cruising Zambezi and leaving Africa

That same afternoon after lunch and a couple of relaxing hours we left with two speed boats for Zambezi river cruise. Very soon our guide spotted a group of big African elephants. We drove slowly near the the river bank to look and to make photos of those great animals. Suddenly we could hear a strong noise from the bushes, and a huge old masculin leader of the herd came trough to our sight, cutting the trees maybe just 20 meters away. He did not care of us, and ate peacefully the leaves of the trees. We then continued with full speed up and down the river with a series of 2 grade rapids, seeing some more elephants and funny looking old steam boats like "African Queen". Those ships were on their daily sunset cuises. We as well enjoyed the fantastic sunset before returning to our lodge to have some cocktails and delicious dinner. Later we still sat in the beach bar at two log fires until midnight Next morning we left for two and half hours safari before heading to the airport. We wanted to see some rhinos, but then we were informed that they were some miles away in the bush and the jeeps couldn't get there. We were too lazy or too exhausted and decided not to try to walk there. Then our visit at Sussi and Chuma Lodge was finished but with beautiful memories. I can recommend to anybody this gorgeous place, its very friendly people and the total character of this part of Africa. During that afternoon we had a nice flight to Johannesburg, where we spent the evening with great dinner, and the night in luxurious five star " THe Westcliff Hotel" overlooking the city. Next afternoon after a flight from Johannesburg and our great adventure, we arrived Walvis Bay in Namibia, where we boarded m/v Arcadia again to continue the cruise.

Victoria Falls in Zambia

On April 11. we decided to go in very best time of the day to the mighty Victoria Falls, not far away, in the morning, after a very nice breakfast at Sussi and Chuma. By the way, Sussi and Chuma were the two young faithful servants of Dr.David Livingstone, who carried his body from the jungles, after his death, back to England. We were lucky with the beautiful weather and with the owerflowing Zambezi river. We walked about 2,5 km along the river banks looking the water masses "the Smoke that Thunders" falling down about 100 meters to lower Zambezi. Without waterproof ponchos we had been soaking wet. Because of the sunshine we also got fantastic photos of rainbows over the falls.The trip took around three hours, and was a fantastic experience. On the way back to our lodges, we followed some safari routes seeing a lot of impalas, baboons, giraffes and other animals and one crocodile.

Sussi and Chuma Safari Game Lodge at Zambesi river in Zambia

Very early on Tuesday, April 10. a small group of us (9) flew from Cape Town via Johannesburg to Livingstone in Zambia. We arrived early afternoon at Tambo International Airport from where we were transported to our very fantastic Sussi and Chuma Safari Game Lodge. A nice lunch with perfect personal service was waiting there for us. I had a beautiful round tree cottage including everything you could wish for ,standing on poles about three meters high with a large balcony facing the Zambesi river. All meals and drinks even laundry was included. We had then time about three hours to relax before leaving for a evening safari. I spent those hours alone at the beach bar just a couple of meters away from the river banks, looking the strong current of the partly one mile wide Upper Zambesi and sipping some good South African red wine. Later on the safari of three hours we went with two cars different routes, and our guide found more different animals than the other one.Lots of impalas, a group of buffalos, huge giraffe just a couple a meters away, a hippo, some zebras, lots of baboons and other apes and many other animals, whose names I cannot remember and a array of strange birds. When back at Sussi and Chuma we had a delicious dinner with drinks ,of course. Afterwards I joined two German couples at the beach bar with open fire under African stars until midnight.

Durban , Port Elisabeth and Cape Town , South Africa

On Friday April 6. we were in Durban, which is a very important harbour city. We were warned by ships guide to be very careful there when moving independently around. I had met earlier a very nice Swedish couple Gunnar + wife, who had joined the ship in Sydney until Cape Town, and we had agreed to go together to explore the city. We took ship*s shuttle to a huge shopping centre from where we with the help of a friendly parking attendant got a cab to downtown. After sightseeing we left the taxi at the magnificent beach front and strolled along to find ourselves very soon thirsty and hungry. We enjoyed very good lunch in a nearby hotel restaurant with fantastic service. Our young waitress kept us laughing all the time. We then satisfied returned by taxi to the ship. After one day at the sea we were early in the Sunday morning in Port Elisabeth. Our shuttles brought us to a amusement and restaurant park, where I with my Australian/English friend Bill from Sydney soon found a great place to dine and enjoy the wine. After very many sunny and warm days we now had a slightly rainy and cooler day, which did not disturb us a bit. Next day, late afternoon we saw Table Mountain and Lions Head from the sea, when nearing Cape Town. There were no clouds in the sky and I got very good pictures of the city profile. The evening I spent by myself in a nice steak house at the Water Front preparing my self to a very early wake up call, to leave for Zambia.

St. Denis, Reunion

Next morning, April 4. we were already at a port in Reunion, which is a French overseas department. As a curiosity I can tell you that here in this tiny island in the Indian Ocean, the new currency, then over 10 years ago, Euro was introduced as first in the world. I had booked an excursion to the capital of the island, St.Denis.
After arrival there I however as always did choose my own ways, leaving the group.
I was after getting map criscrossing the city of 120,000 inhabitants ( whole Reunion about 800,000 ). I fell in love with St.Denis. Here I could live the rest of my life !!It just was so symphatetic and nice. I then found a fine looking restaurant
" Roland Garros ", which was named after a local WWI pilot hero. His bronce statue of 1;1 size about was standing nearby. I ordered a boef de tartar, a great delicasy of mine, and got the best ever. Very pretty young lady served me, and I hoped I could have stayed longer. The whole thing with chips, salad and a garaffe of red wine
was all together 19,80 euros.
Goodbye St.Denis ! Maybe we'll see again ?

Mauritius, Ile aux Cerfs

Mauritius was all about I had been thinking. Beautiful island, lots of possibilities to try to do, great hotels, gorgeous beaches and friendly people. We were there just at the end of Summer season but were lucky with the weather, which still at the arrival in the morning did not look very promising with heavy rains. But when we reached our excursion goal Ile aux Cerfs, said to be one of the most beautiful beaches of the world, the sun was gayly smiling from the cloudless sky. We, a part of the cruise guests, about 100, enjoyed these moments of our life absolutely fully.
We stayed there for five hours having also a marvellous barbeque buffet with exotic salads. Then back to the ship againa.

Bali,(Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi (Malaysia)

After leaving Australia we had three sunny days at sea before mooring outside Bali
on a slightly rainy day. I spent a couple of hours at Sanur Beach, which had changed
again a lot since my last visit four years ago.
We also made just a few hours visit two days later to KL, where I spend my time walking on the streets, which I did not know. And of course I found a nice place with magnificent view over the city in the "Sky Bar" at 33rd floor of "Traders Hotel".
Next days short visit at Langkawi was pleasant with a couple of cold beers at a beach bar.
Now we have seven days at sea, before Mauritius.
Most probably I continue my blog first when back at home. I've spent until now over 300 English pounds into this very slow machine. And it's enough.
I'll be back in Helsinki on April 28.

Adelaide and Freemantle, Australia

On March 13. I spent 3 hours in Adelaide . First with the train from the Outer Harbor
to the center, a couple of glases vine, some walking and back to the ship.
Two days later we arrived to Freemantle, which was a charming town.
There I was much more active, visiting beautiful Maritime Museum. There I saw "Australia II", which after heavy fight did win "Americas Cup" 1983, and some other famous sailing boats.Later I found The "Shipwreck Museum" where a part of Dutch merchant ship "Batavia" from 17th century with a lot of silver coins and other found articles were on show. A lot of walking and a absolutely sunny day.

Melbourne, Australia

After Sydney one day at sea, and then a typical day in Melbourne. I took a tram ride to city center from quite near to the ship, and jumped out somewhere at Collins street and took correctly my way to the South. I arrived to Melbourne Aquarium and decided to get in. It was partly as The Great Barrier Reef added with some sharks and stingrays around and above you. I then crossed river Yarra. It did not take long before I was sitting at a nice river bank bar looking at people strolling by.
Later in the evening I had a wonderful evening with my new friends from Adelaide.

Sydney , Australia

Last Friday morning we were passing very early in the morning Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge at sun rise to get our place at the center of everything, at the quay of the Rocks. I started my own tour on the streets of Rocks to find the Billich Gallery, where I did buy 1998 some beautiful graphics of women bodies with personal greetings of the artist Mr. Billich himself. I found their new much bigger gallery of three storeys, the whole old house. Mr. Billich was in China, where he is very succesful being the official artist of Beijing 2008 Olympics. His exhibition was marvellous but so were the prices too. He is at moment one of the most famous painters of contemporary art in Australia.
I then enjoyed a pint of beer at a local German restaurant, walked to the other side of the bay to visit the Opera house. I took some pictures before stopping in a nearby
harbourview restaurant for excellent oysters and vine.
Later I decided to take a ferry to Darling Harbour. When waiting for the ferry and later at the ferry I was talking with two very beautiful young girls from Sweden, Lisa and Mimmi, whose roots were in Porvoo, Finland.
When strolling in Darling I was invited to join in a bunch of young people in their thirties, and one lady said "yksi, kaksi, kolme" 1,2,3 in Finnish and I did ansver "ett, tva, tre" in Swedish the same. And she really was orginally from Sweden but living 14 years in Sydney.
Later on board at the Globe bar ( my favourit ) I got company of two younger Australian couples from Adelaide, who wanted me to celebrate with them the birthday of one of the ladies. We had a happy dancing night, the best on the trip until now.

Brisbane, Australia

After one day at sea we today arrived to Brisbane. I left the ship when I could, and took a free shuttle to the city. It took 45 minutes to the commercial center. The day was sunny 26C, ideal to stroll on the streets and to stop for some drinks at the street bars. I liked the city very much, and the time (5 hours)went very quickly before I had to be back on board again,

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Day before yesterday I finally could realize my dream for over 40 years. I was snorkeling at Great Barrier Reef. Corals, fishes and one Green Turtle even it's colour was brown. Parrot fishes, bright blue, about 70cm and fat, were most beautiful even ugly. All different shapes and colours were to see in fishes, but not so much in corals. But anyhow a wonderful experience.

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea

We passed five days at sea before arriving this morning to this beautiful natural harbour. After Japan we first had a couple of cool days, but then over night we were in soft tropical climat around the time we passed Guam Islands. Yesterday we crossed eqvator with some festivities.
Today we drove here around with small busses of 10 passengers for four hours and did visit some war memorial places of WWII. Ship's guide named Papua New Guinea "not to be a third world but a fourth world country". Rabaul was last time destroyed year 1994 by the neighbouring vulcan but has been partly rebuilt. Friendly smiling and laughing people, who live in most simple huts and eat bananas in different forms.

Nagasaki and Kyoto, Japan

I really did not know if I should visit Nagasaki. Even I was only 4 years old I somehow remember the news of atomic bombs to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
I am sure that my generation all over the world have had difficulties in many ways to understand what was going on in late 30's and early 40's in the whole world.
Anyhow I was now in Nagasaki, almost in Southern tip of Japan. I stand at the Hypocenter of the explosion only 500 meter above the place, and visited the Atom Bomb Museum, where you could see all kind of pieces left behind of excisting life before the explosion.
The Peace Park nearby with artworks of many sculptors from all over the world was very effective.
Nagasaki city itselves was very nice and sympatethic.
A couple a days later we arrived to Osaka, but I did not stay there but participaid on whole day bus trip to Kyoto. This historical city was over 1000 years the capital of Japan and had still something left from the past. I was a part of the group but went alone my routes. I saw Kinkaku [the Golden Pavilion},Nijo Castle and Heian Jingu Shrine with their most beautiful Japanise Gardens.
Today we have had our first sunny day after Shanghai but much warmer, +25C.
We are on the way the way to Papua New Guinea. Now about 1000 sea miles south of Japan.

Shanghai

After Hongkong we spent two days at the sea before arriving to Shanghai. It was a cool but sunny Sunday when I walked along the Yangtse river banks looking at the architecture of the early 20th century on the other and early 21st century on the other side of the river. Maybe the whole population of Eastern China did the same because the streets were crowded. I had the earphones on listening my own jazzy music from my newest iPOD Classic, when a young Chinese lady stopped me, asking politely, what kind of music I am listening to. After having listened a while she said this is very nice, what is it? Then she introduced herself, being a University student studying English, and her name was Zhi Zhi, 22 years young. She was very funny and talkative and we walked together maybe an hour before I decided to walk back to world famous Peace Hotel for a drink or two. There I then met a nice couple
from Edinborough,who I already knew from the ship, and we then later took taxi together back to the ship's shuttle.

Following old memories in Hong Kong

Yesterday morning brought us to Ocean Terminal of Hongkong. The weather was lousy, almost raining and foggy. But it did not disturb me because I was going to walk and look for places and bars, where I had spent unforgetable moments during my over 60 visits since 1972 to Hongkong.
I left the ship at 10am and was strolling trough the city to East Tsimshatsui. Especially Mody Road had changed almost totally, new luxory skycrapers instead of old rotten houses. I ended to "Bulldog" bar, where I sat for a while with a glas of red wine. Then I decided to go to German restaurant "Schnurrbart" to have my lunch.
There I sat in 1989 with German business friends when Berlin wall came tumbling down. After a huge portion of "Frikadellen mit Kartoffelsalat", I decided to go with MTR to Wanchai to visit those lady bars, where Suzie Wong once lived. I spent some US$40 for ladies drinks, and had a company of four Pilippina beauties for a while.
I then walked to Central to " Mandarin Oriental". In this hotel I always stayed between the years 1972-1986. The "Capten's Bar had practically changed at all from my days there, and it was as lively and fun likje in the old days. So many beautiful memories came vividly into my mind. Around 8.30pm I wanted to take a Star Ferry to Shimshatsui but could not find the terminal because it had been removed. I then took a taxi to "Ned Kelly's last stand" , a famous Jazz local since 1972. During the years I spent a lot of times with friends down there and had a lot of fun.
Yesterday I found a place at the table of a bunch of men, who accidentally happened to be our crew members, partly musicians from ship's orchestra. They then later joined to play together with house band, and we all had a great time.
I was back onboard after midnight exhausted but happy, having made during the day 21155 steps.

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Day before yesterday, on Tuesday Feb.15, our cruiser m\v "Arcadia" anchored at Ha Long Bay. We were transported ashore by ships tenders,where a group of us hired a junk to get to those famous, spectacular and steeply-rising limestone islands, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. Those islands often have names given depending their shapes like tortoise, walloving buffalo etc. The name Ha Long means, where the dragon descends into the sea. Local fishermen still believe that a giant dragonlike creature, called Tarasque lives in the bay. Our trip took 3 hours, costed US$20 for each, plus $1,5 for any can of beer consumed. Even partly foggy weather it was very enjoyable to be with and also to follow the lifes of the people living on their floating villages.
Later I walked with my new friends John and Ann along the coastside to a nice garden cafe to have late lunch with some good Australian wine.

Vung Tau , Vietnam

I always prefer to go alone or almost (when you can share the costs)to most excursions. The ship had arrived to some South Vietnamise port, where a shuttle delivered those so called independent travelers to a certain collect point outside of a local market. I had been several times in Saigon and did not want to go there.
Instead a local resort city Vung Tau did interest. After looking for some partners I
found Ed and Elly, an English\Dutch couple who were having same kind of ideas.
My car did offer a much better price (US$50\80)than theirs, and it was done. 17 dollars each.
We spent 3 hours in the beautiful garden city of Vung Tau, did have a nice lunch for US$7 and very good time together. Later I heard from some other people that Ed is in England a very well known radio personality "Stewpot".

Pattaya, Thailand

Yesterday the ship did spend some hours in a port between Bangkok and Pattaya. I rather took a shuttle to Pattaya, where I had to make some shopping but most important I needed a good massage and pedicure. I do not go to the details but in a private room two very pretty Thai girls gave their best to please me. Afterwards I really was happy, and still 24 hours later feel good.
Today we have a day at the sea to arrive tomorrow morning to Vietnam.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia

The first morning onboard had brought me to Sihanoukville, which I rather soon found a city with many poor people and some very rich. It was just a place in Indochina, rather uninteresting but the largest harbour in Cambodia. I took a Tuk Tuk for Sokha Beach Resort, and enjoyed the luxory hotels fantastic beach for a couple of hours and had my first bath in the Ocean this year.

Singapore now

After 25 hours travelling I got to Singapore tired but happy last Sunday. After all checkings etc. in London and Hongkong, I decided next time to fly directly with Finnair even more expensive instead of choosing the cheapest route. There was nothing wrong with Cathay Pacific but those airport controls took a lot of time and trouble. However I was lucky in timing as Heathtrow was closed few hours later because of a snow storm. Then as a curiosity between Hongkong and Singapore there was only 67 passegers instead of about 480. A chinaman and me, we devided the last compartment for about 100, and had both our private stewardess. I had a lot of time to chat with that of mine, who promised a first class service to me.
Singapore is absolutely not the same city it used to be during my last visit over 20 years ago, not to mention my first visit in 1972. Huge skycrapers and wow-buildnings at Orchard Road and elsewhere have changed the character of the city totally. It is still very tidy and friendly to tourists and Hotel Raffles' Longbar is selling more Singapore Slings than ever. I was not studying any sights excatly, just walking a lot to stop sometimes for a refreshing Bavarian beer. A couple of nights in Singapore went quickly, and I was ready board the cruiser P&O's "Arcadia".

Happy New Year!

Best wishes to all my readers around the world for 2012!
Since I wrote last time in October there has not been very much to report. We had here in Finland a record warm Autumn but also very rainy and stormy December. First snow here in Helsinki (for one night)on Jan.2.
In exactly one months time I'll fly to Singapore to start a World Cruise of 80 days and 30 harbours. I then shall have more to write.