The Virtual Lounge

[blissgirl]

Anyone here ?

[Please see related discussion about "The Virtual Lounge" here]

[Cleoriff]

Sounds lovely @jonsie @TallTrees.

Wish I'd visited those sort of places.

Never really on the cards though.

I refused to do a cruise which my other half would have loved....

...so he pretended no interest in the exotic places I preferred 😂

(Yes, I know I could have seen them on a cruise... but never fancied 80% time staring at the sea with the occasional day, rushed drop off at some exotic location)

[TallTrees]

Yes I can understand that @jonsie 

No doubt you know "by now" 😄

that I am a foodie.  Bali breakfast at hotel included spring rolls 😋  

As well as the wonderful places nothing like a fabulous spring roll 😂 to set me up for the day.

I saw a golden palace covered in 24ct real gold.  Also the boat people this was great.  Taking their fruits vegetables and mountains of garlic!  in these long boats paddling along to market.

On the board walks near this river, shops and paintings on leaves by the local artists.  

[TallTrees]

I am definitely not a cruise person @Cleoriff 

Getting on some sort of vessel with (in some cases 1000's of passengers) no thanks.  Not saying vessel cruise ship not beautifully done out or could be very expensive, just no.  It does have the advantage that it is a floating hotel which arrives at different places usually overnight, then you are there..but still no for me. 

[Cleoriff]

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@TallTrees wrote:

I am definitely not a cruise person @Cleoriff 

Getting on some sort of vessel with (in some cases 1000's of passengers) no thanks.  Not saying vessel cruise ship not beautifully done out or could be very expensive, just no.  It does have the advantage that it is a floating hotel which arrives at different places usually overnight, then you are there..but still no for me. 

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It's just the regimentation of it all @TallTrees. Eating seems to be the be all and end all.

Stepping off the ship for a single day exploring and 'Be back for 5pm else the ship will go without you' Pffftt.

Also the claustrophobia. (I would need an outside cabin with it's own balcony (costing £1000's more than prices you see advertised)

The dressing up for all meals (far too many meals imo) ie If I have a large breakfast, it's very rare I want to eat anything else.

The evening meal when all the women are dressed up in posh frocks....a different one every night. UGH!

I don't mind dressing up for a special occasion but not every night. I'm far happier in shorts, t shirts and flip flops. 😂

We had friends who owned the next apartment to ours in Spain and they used to cruise every year. She spent most of the year buying expensive new dresses for the evening meal on board. I can't think of anything worse!

Also, as you say, the 1000+ passengers on board.

I'm someone who likes their own space and if I have a good book, can't bear the thought of having to make conversation with a stranger lying on the sunbed next to me. 😖

Then the problem of not being able to use your phone on board due to the phenomenal cost!

Having to wait until you dock to find somewhere with Wifi.

(thus wasting the limited time you have off board. )

No, I'll stick to holidays where I have my own balcony, pool, sun, plenty of books, wearing casual clothes and eating when I like. Thanks. 🤣

[jonsie]

My wife loved cruises and the whole concept of meal times and evening dress code

I always said I would never go on a cruise but she persuaded me to try it one year

We went Mediterranian : Spain France, Turkey ,Greece, Italy and Venice

We had to have a balcony cabin

There were around 3000 people on the Costa Whatever...all cooped up, Germans claiming all the beds round the pool and queuing up for meals

Drink packages optional but the Maitre D had a begging bowl and expected a big tip at the end of the cruise

He got sod-all from us!

I quite liked the idea of waking up in a different country but it was like being in the army, raleigh call every morning and then a sort of sprinkle shower that you had to move around in to get wet, dress and dash for breakfast

Then you wait and queue up for the tenders to disembark, go through passport control on and off the ship

Have your bags scanned coming back aboard to ensure you aren't smuggling wine or beer to consume on the ship! BIG TIP: Buy white wine and a few bottles of water, drink said water and refill with white wine!

I had my arm twisted to go on further cruises around the Caribbean twice, obviously leaving from Florida, until I decided that was it. Never again!

That was when I persuaded my wife and kids that travelling around the States by car and stopping where and when we liked was the way forward. We did that for years - across Route 66, Up and down both coasts which we enjoyed for three weeks at a time.

But as ever, costs rose and we moved onto package holidays before deciding Thailand for a couple of months after retirement was what really appealed. 

Shame I had to be incarcerated on a cruise ship 5 times - hated it with a passion by the end!

[TallTrees]

All of that @Cleoriff 

Awful to us .....

As said some love it🙄

[BobM]

I feel fortunate that in my life I've travelled to most corners of the globe and I'm probably similar to @jonsie in that I have a love of Thailand.  In fact a love of that whole area of the world.  My daughter lived in Singapore for a number of years and of course her dad had to visit as often as possible.  While there we would travel quite a bit including spending a week in Kuala Lumpa while attending the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang in 1999.  I wondered why spectators were handed ear protectors on entry, but soon realised why.   Couldn't believe the sound, a brilliant experience and my one and only time at a Grand prix.    Been to Bangkok twice, absolutely love Thailand and the people and just like @TallTrees, I experienced the Bangkok boat trips, the river markets and the golden temples, not forgetting the fantastic food.  I even ventured to Patpong in Bangkok, but we'll leave that there 🙄.   

I found the Far East to be a part of the world with lovely friendly people.  I wish I could return but sadly it won't happen.  I have some great memories which I'm unlikely to forget.

[TallTrees]

That is some adventure @jonsie 

and is exactly what I thought it would be but your extra experience re the on off passport controls etc.  Loved the sprinkle shower! Queue for this queue for that. 

The military was a perfect description and so funny, if you are not paying for it!

Car cruise in the US ...  much better sounds absolutely fantastic. 

Big Country big cars plenty of space.

[TallTrees]

Thank you so much for sharing your Far Eastern happy times  @BobM 

Singapore.. daughter there couldn't be better !  so fantastic.  A lovely place.  I remember Orchids in a garden there.

Yes so lucky to have good memories Bob.

[TallTrees]

A really heart-warming real life story.

This is OLIVE a beautiful Airedale Terrier

        Rescued this is her fantastic story

 

A lifeboat crew member carried out resuscitation on a dog after it was pulled unresponsive from water.

A family-of-four had been walking with Olive the Airedale terrier on the beach at Wells-next-the-Sea when they all got cut off by the incoming high tide.

According to the RNLI inshore lifeboat team, the family waded to safety, but their dog attempted to swim across the channel to the beach and got into difficulty.

The owner managed to retrieve Olive and bring it onshore, before crew member and nurse Simon Parkes administered chest compressions and ultimately helped save her life.

"I am used to resuscitating humans but never a dog," said Mr Parkes.

"It was a huge relief when Olive started slowly breathing.

"Then a great team effort, both inshore and shore crew, getting her back to the boathouse to warm her up. What a relief when Olive was able to walk out with her family.'"