First three are in Yellowstone.  Last one is at Bear Country USA and they are hand rearing these cubs as the male kills them if left with the pack

Tuesday 29^th May

In Los Angeles now and it really seems that our holiday is almost over. Had two nights in Keystone to finish off the bus tour, three attempts to see Mt Rushmore and a long day travelling to get to Denver.    Keystone is one short street full of souvenir shops for tourists visiting Mt Rushmore.  Our first attempt to see the lighting up was foiled by fog, as was our day visit the next morning.  The sun shone however on our last day and a blue sky provided a lovely background for the carvings.  Never realized the work that went into these monuments – both Mt Rushmore’s presidents and also Crazy Horse.  First there were scale models made up, measured and these measurements transferred to the  mountain using crane structures and simple plumbobs for carving (first stage was using dynamite).

Quite glad not to have to have bags ready for early bag pulls and have our own leisurely start to the day on Monday.  It was Memorial Day on Monday and a long weekend for people.  Friends of a friend picked us up and took us for scenic drive into the mountains around Denver, before lunch at their home.  Had another drive in the afternoon, dinner with them before returning to the hotel.  Saw some beautiful scenery including a large natural amphitheatre used for concerts.

Denver is the mile high city, but they lived at 8,000 feet.  Could notice it a bit when you walked – puffed a little

Flew into LA on Tuesday morning – minor hiccup with flight bookings but all sorted by one very obliging desk clerk.

Plan to have a tour and visit Universal studios in next couple of days.

Headed off from Salt Lake City towards Jackson.  Spectacular scenery  as we went up into the Grand Teton Range.  Went for a float trip down the Snake River.  That was a little different and also quite cold.  Wind had come up and the guide had his time cut out to direct this little rubber raft/boat where he wanted it to go.  Afterwards we headed for Yellowstone National park for two nights.

It snowed lightly as we travelled, but this continued overnight too and everything was covered in light snow.  Have seen lots of bison ad elk.  Travelled around Park to many geothermal features.  More spectacular scenery, which only got better as the snow increased.  It looked just like a Christmas card scene.

Have now seen Old Faithful go off but it was so cold that the water spray was almost lost in the steam created. 

Very cold overnight – down to -3.  Snow much heavier in the morning.  Road had been closed going back to hotel the night before and road we planned to take the next morning was also supposed to be closed.  Drove out there anyway and road was open so headed across the pass towards next stop.  Top of pass is almost 10,000 ft above sea level so was a steep twisty ascent and descent.

Tonight (Thursday) we are at a ranch.  Everything very well set up for guests, good accommodation.  Had dinner in ranch house, bonfire and ‘smores afterwards.  Played horseshoes and had a sing along around fire.  Tomorrow it is fishing, horse riding or resting before going to Keystone for 2 nights.

PS    ‘smores are one cracker biscuit, a few squares of hershy chocolate, a toasted marshmallow and another cracker on top as a sandwich.  This is a campfire treat over here.  Quite tasty

Top photo is of a painting - couldn't believe the 3d effect. Middle photo is stretching one cocoon of silk to make the silk duvets and bottom one is 1000 cranes made from a single piece of paper (Nagasaki)

Monday 14^th

Seward today.  After 6 sea days, we decided that another day out on the water hoping to see wildlife was not on the agenda, so we cancelled the cruise.

Tuesday at sea, a bit warmer around 5 today.  Cruising in Yakult Bay to the Hubbard Glacier.  Impressive piece of ice!  Saw whales as we left the bay.

Wednesday was Juneau –  the only capital city in the USA with no land access – sea or air only.  Had an interesting trip to a salmon hatchery and for the benefit of those who know how I enjoy fish – I had some salmon dip and it was nice. After that we went to the glacier gardens in an area reclaimed after a landslide and then to Mendenhall Glacier – another impressive piece of ice.  Really hard to actually comprehend the size of these.  It looked huge and we were over a mile away.

Thursday – Ketchikan   They call it the rain capital of the world, the salmon capital and I think it is the tourist mecca.

Interesting fact – there are 1.8 cars per permanent resident and only 27 kms of road!

 Went on a guided walking tour of the old town and this was really interesting.  Spent some time in the old redlight district of Creek St.

One sea day left and then it is time to disembark in Vancouver.

 Sunday 20^th

Long day yesterday.  Left the ship  just after 8, caught bus to Seattle and plane to Salt lake City, Sounds good, but there were a few waiting periods between events.

Found out we could attend a session of the Mormon Tabernacle choir this morning.  They do a direct TV broadcast and people could go as the audience, but we had to be quiet and not clap.  It was great – approximately 360 members, including the orchestra.  The tabernacle was a magnificent building with excellent acoustics.

Bought lunch in a large grocery store - choose your food (hot or cold),  pay by weight and eat in on a balcony.

Found a post office open on Sunday and sent a parcel of excess clothes home.  Surprise!!

Welcome reception tonight and tour starts in earnest tomorrow morning with bag pull at 7 am, depart at 8 am

Wednesday 9th

Weather still continues to be pleasant.  The air is cool but there is little or no wind.  If you are up on the top deck (playing shuffleboard), then the wind is a little more noticeable.  Just the mad Australians out in it though!  A pod of Orca whales passed by the ship this morning.  Close enough to see bits as they swam, rather like dolphins, but not close enough to even think about photos.

Seriously, with a jacket, gloves and a hat it is not too bad outside at all.  Noon today the temp was 5.2°, but it certainly didn’t feel that cold.  Would hate to be in the sea though as sea temp was 5°, and 4.6 km deep. Don’t think I could touch the bottom!!

Muroran, the port for Sapporo, was just a town grown up around the port and its industries.  We didn’t go into Sapporo, instead took a tour out to Mt Usu and lake Toya – an active volcano area, though nothing since a new mountain was formed in 1945 I believe.  Was pretty scenery that might have been magnificent if it wasn’t for the haze in the distance.  Went up the ropeway (cable car) to the observation deck and then climbed up to the look out.  Got warm enough to strip to shirt sleeves for a while.  Because we are in the cooler north of Japan there were still quite a few cherry blossoms around.  Not as spectacular as they would have been a couple of weeks ago, but still impressive in quantity.

Thursday 10^th May and Thursday 10^th May

What a novelty to have two days with the same date following each other.  The ship’s paper calls it Thursday Day 1 and Thursday Day 2.  Crossed the International Date Line so we have the day we  have already had!

Weather is cold – now past being cool.  Yesterday was 5°, last night 1° and today it hasn’t got over 3°.  Thursday Day 2 may be warmer!

Sunday 13^th May

Weather is still cold.  Not a lot of wind most of the time so with layers of clothes you can still go out and not freeze.  Highlight though was the snow.  Last night it snowed and they actually reached the ground.  Of course we went out and took photos.  This morning there was compacted snow (ice) heaped up on all the open decks.  Poor deck crew is busy shoveling and scraping.  I am sure they didn’t expect this as part of their duties and they are so cold, especially since the wind has picked up today.  A few of them haven’t seen snow falling before.  Another snow shower just after lunch with bigger flakes this time

Back to Busan, Korea for the second time.  This time it was a full day, but we didn’t do any ship excursions, just wandered in town ourselves.  Most of the city area with shopping is very clean.  They clean the cracks in the pavement in some areas!  Street traders add to the clutter in other tourist places, but vendors not pushy at all.  You feel comfortable browsing, and while we looked, we were not in the market for lots of shoes and socks – could buy some socks for 50c a pair.  (bought a pair of red ones for onboard scavenger hunt!).  The city really puts on a show for the cruise ships.  There is a stage in front of where ship docks and locals put on song and dance acts on arrival and departure.  A truck comes and opens up sides, drops steps and there is the post office and money exchange.

Vladivostok was next port of call. This has only been opened up to public since 1992, so is still very much in throes of building and trying to develop a tourist trade.  City is certainly more of a frontier type town than other places.  Wharf is almost third world – rough surface, narrow and not very inspiring.  Terminal building is modern with shopping facilities.  We attended a children’s performance which was in a theatre at an Arts School (very well equipped), and then went on a home visit.  Interesting!  Two bedroom apartment up three flights on a dingy poorly maintained staircase.  Olga was very welcoming and had prepared some tasty food to sample, including as much vodka as you wanted to drink.  I declined the vodka but think the berry alternative was just as strong!

Had student guides with excellent English.  Wish Australians were more open to having that second (or third) language. 

Weather is staring to turn a little chillier and today at sea, we needed coats to play shuffleboard.  Bit put out in this sector of cruise as the Japanese hog the table tennis tables!!!

Nagasaki always means the Atomic Bomb when you hear it, so of course we went to the bomb site, the museum and the Peace Park. Certainly some graphic images in the museum and I guess the truth lies between the story we read there, what our history books tell us and our own gut feelings.

Japanese immigration was painfully slow and very exacting.  Temperature checked, fingerprints and photo taken.  A bit of overkill for a few hours!

The visit to Busan, Korea,  meant another temple visit, but this time our guide was a catholic and didn’t push any religion.  (She said her mother and father loved each other too much and she was one of eleven! What a nice way to say it.)

Wouldn’t happen in China with the one child policy.

More markets to visit – enough Buddhas and markets to last for a while I think.

Took some photos and have a few fund raising activities in mind for Lions.

Two days of heavy sea fog, one at sea and one in Beijing.  Latter threatened our tip to the Great Wall.  Took a detour and 4 ¼  hours to get there.  Other buses managed it in 2 ½ hours.  Trust us to pick a slow bus in China (not a boat!)

Washrooms leave a little to desired, but getting better at squatting!!  Trick is to have short pants and tissues handy.

Last stop in China was Dalian.  Attended a senior cits show (ages 58 – 78).  This was quite spectacular.  Dalian is a nice city with only 6 million people.  Not sure about purchasing some of the items seen in the market.  Think I will draw the line at chrysallids, duck’s heads, necks and feet.

Weather continues to be very pleasant but have been asuured this will change.

Shanghai was interesting.  Visited the museum and a silk factory where we almost bought a silk doona – very light and supposedly quite warm.  Reasonably priced but another thing to carry! (and we convinced ourselves that we didn’t need it.)

Went to the museum in a new building shaped like a cooking pot, and up to the 88^th floor of a tall building (in 9 secs).  Hyatt hotel is in the building, and from the viewing platform it is possible to look down to hotel reception 88 floors below.

Another temple and another Buddha but a delicious Chinese banquet lunch.  Traffic very heavy and delayed return to ship but they waited until all tour groups were back.  Last one was ¾ hour due time for sailing, so in my mind that justifies using ship excursions not trying to do things privately.

Tour around Saigon was interesting, as saw some of the points of interest that we have heard about over the years.  Went into the Rex hotel, a gathering point for journalists during the Vietnam war, because the US military weekly updates were conducted here.  Is a five star hotel now with granite and glitz everywhere.

Walked through the museum in Reunification hall and of course went to a factory!  Lacquer ware this time, all very nice and very expensive. 

Went to a performance of the Vietnamese water puppets.  These were great.  Very clever puppeteers.

In Nha Trang, we visited a temple, where our shoes were put back on for us and then a tip requested of course.  The visit to the silk embroidery factory was interesting, and how the girls manage such fine work is amazing.  Must be very hard on the eyes.

On sea days, we manage to find plenty to do – table tennis, shuffleboard, cards, trivia and eating.

Hong Kong was a wander day.  Having been there before, and having our visit to Macua mucked up because of visa problems before we left home,  we just filled in time with shopping, walking and looking.  Think Hong Kong must almost be a 24 hour city.  Work never stopped in the docks and up to time of leaving around 11pm, there was hustle and bustle everywhere.

Wonderful Anzac service.  Barrie conducted this but Princess fully supported it.  Many people attended as a big Aust & NZ contingent on board but also some US vets so some of those came.  Threw a large wreath overboard as that is part of Navy tradition.