The Cruise Port of Brunei

One of Asia’s wealthiest countries with one of its highest standards of living Brunei is a beautiful place noted for its friendly people. Home to the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, one of the world’s most beautiful.

The Sultanate of Brunei

Brunei, is an independent Islamic sultanate on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is bounded to the north by the South China Sea and on all other sides by Malaysia, which also divides Brunei into two disconnected segments, with one being much larger.

It’s best known for the opulent Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, adorned with chandeliers, stained glass and Italian marble, and surrounded by a lagoon. Nearby, the Royal Regalia Building showcases a gold carriage and lavish gifts presented to the sultans. Only a little ways to the northwest is the Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, with 29 golden domes.

The port

The country is modern, clean considered very safe and the people friendly and welcoming to visitors.

Where Your Ship Docks The Brunei seaport is Muara located 20 miles away from the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan. Most visiting cruise ships will provide shuttle busses into the capital.

Language

Although Standard Malay is the official language, English is widely spoken and understood.

Transportation

Bandar Seri Begawan is a very walkable city and water taxis are easy to locate for trips and tours but be prepared for a fast ride. The country has a good bus system, but Brunei now boasts their own ride share service called Dart Brunei with apps available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Reports are that the system is safe and easy to use and reasonably priced.

Currency

Brunei has its own dollar with an exchange rate of one Brunei Dollar equal to one Singapore Dollar or US 75¢. US Dollars are not usually taken but major credit cards are widely accepted.

The Ali Saifuddien Mosque

History

At one time Brunei was the center of the Bruneian Empire, Sultan Bolkiah (1485–1528) had control over most of Borneo, including modern-day Sarawak and Sabah, as well as the Sulu Archipelago off the northeast tip of Borneo including modern-day Manila. After the Empire’s decline it became a British protectorate with the British supporting the Sultan and in 1959 a new constitution was written. In 1962, a small armed rebellion against the monarchy was ended with the help of British troops. Brunei gained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984 and the Sultan has kept control by being very generous towards his subjects ever since.

The country is a completely Muslim state following Sharia Law and allows very little immigration and only issues short term temporary work visas. Today the people of Brunei are very happy with their Sultan who provides them with the second highest standard of living in Asia (see our story about a bus ride in Brunei).

There has been some controversy involving the Sultan and “his” nations strict interpretation of Islam and Sharia Law. In Hollywood there was a call to boycott the Salton’s five luxury hotels that included The Beverly Hills Hotel. If anything this sheds light on just how wealthy Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is (his full name is Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam).

The countries wealth is based on oil. There are huge offshore deposits controlled by the Sultan and his companies. While the Sultan controls every facet of the economy and government he is a very benevolent ruler. Currently the average income in the country is US$40,000 and most everyone that wants to work has a job either in private business or with the government. The Sultan provides free college education to anyone who wants one along with heavily subsidized housing.

This area of the world is famous for what are called water-villages and Brunei is home to some large communities. A serious issue with these villages is sanitation where waste is simply flushed into the sea. To fix this problem the Sultan has been building new, modern water-villages with proper plumbing and waste treatment and has systematically been relocating his people into these new villages.

Attractions

The Ali Saifuddien Mosque opened in 1958 and cost $10 Million Dollars. The building stands 170 feet tall on an artificial lake. The opulent mosque features materials imported from all over the world including marble from Italy, granite from Shanghai, crystal chandeliers from England, and carpets from Saudi Arabia.

Tamu Kianggeh Market – Located at Bandar Seri Begawan, Tamu Kianggeh Market is a roofed street market in Brunei presenting a wide array of shopping and several restaurants.

The Light of Faith Palace is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei and is also the seat of the Brunei government. The palace is located on an overgrown garden site on the banks of the Brunei River, a few miles southwest of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei’s capital city

On A Bus In Brunei
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Bangkok Thailand – A Port of Call

Laem Chabang is the port city serving Bangkok Thailand and where most cruise ships dock. Bangkok is home to an incredible number of Buddhist temples, the Grand Palace and much more.

what to expect in Bangkok Thailand at a glance

Laem Chabang The Port of Bangkok

Cruising in the South China Sea is becoming increasingly popular which normally includes one or two ports of call in Thailand.

Thailand is one of the most developed and progressive nations in Southeast Asia, and was once known as Siam. It is bordered by Myanmar (Burma) to the north, Laos to the northeast, Cambodia to the southeast and Malaysia on the south along Thailand’s isthmus. Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, and tourists are welcomed with open arms by these friendly people.

Where The Ship Docks

Most cruise ships dock at the port of Laem Chabang on the Gulf of Thailand, a full two hours south of Bangkok, the nation’s capital.

Often smaller ships dock at Klong Toey on the Chao Phraya River, right on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Terminal facilities at Laem Chabang

This port is located along the southeast coast and serves primarily as a working industrial port. While there are supposed to be facilities being developed to include a terminal currently there is not much there for cruise passengers.

Transportation

Getting into Bangkok by taxi is estimated to cost about $40 each way with bus service costing about $7.50. We ran into some people that tried the buses and eventually gave up trying to catch the right bus and hired a taxi.

The roads and highways in Thailand are very well maintained and if you want to go it alone and see some of the countryside there are good car rental services. We’ve always been amazed with Thailands highway rest stops usually lined with a half dozen or more American franchises. One rental company near Laem Chabang that comes highly recommended is:

Take it Easy Bike & Car Rental

Address: 329/48, Soi Pattaya New Plaza, 50m off 2nd Road, Opposite Soi 7 – Soi 8, Central Pattaya, Pattaya 20150

Phone: 089 007 7804

Rental cars can be arranged ahead of arrival for pick up at the port through their web site HERE.

On our last visit we were on a cruise that spent two days in Laem Chabang. After some research we pre-booked a private tour through Travel Hub. It was a great value getting to see Bangkok, spending time outside the city visiting a floating market and the train market. They picked us up at the port and took us straight to Bangkok where we spent a busy day and that night in a hotel of our choosing. Early the next morning we headed out into the countryside and ended up at the port with plenty of time to spare. Their website is HERE.

Currency

Thailand uses the Baht at an exchange rate to the U.S. Dollar of one Baht equals about 3¢. While most credit cards are welcome if you are going to spend a day or two in Bangkok it is recommended that you exchange for local Baht for incidentals.

Attractions

The capital city of Bangkok is the big attraction, with the best place to start being the Grand Palace. This is the central sightseeing attraction in the city, and it’s overwhelming in its historical significance and stunning architecture. The grounds are packed full with royal palaces, temples, and history, the highlight is Wat Phra Kaeo, Temple of the Emerald Buddha. A relic within this temple is said to be a piece of bone from the Buddha himself. While there also visit the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn and it measures 135 feet long. Allow a number of hours to do the Grand Palace grounds but also try and visit the famous Wat Po and Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn rising above the Chao Phraya River. We would also recommend taking a water trip through canals and along the river.

Thailand is also famous for floating markets where goods are sold from boats. Originally developed when rivers and canals played an important role in daily life, most floating markets operating today serve primarily as tourist attractions. One unique market is the Famous Maeklong Railway Market. It is located in a congested town and sits right on an active train track. As trains approach vendors pull back their awnings and displays with only minutes to spare and are right back in business as soon as the trains pass. A unique experience as you stand there with train only only inches away.

Though the cruise port is a good distance from the city, venturing into the city to see the sights is something that shouldn’t be missed.

While there are tons of cultural and historic attractions to see in Bangkok and the people are remarkably polite and friendly be aware of con artists; who frequently prey on tourists. Be situationally aware, avoid crowds and keep hold of your valuables.

Cruise Itineraries In the South China Sea

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Cruise Into The Exotic Countries Of Southeast Asia

The South China Sea is being added to more and more cruise itineraries and for very good reason. There’s plenty to see and do and it offers a great opportunity to explore this exotic part of the world. From the rain forests of Borneo, the temples of Bangkok and amazing beach resorts in Thailand and the Philippines, this region has much to offer.

Singapore is the most popular and the largest embarkation port and it is an incredible city to spend time in. It is an ultra modern city with magnificent skyscrapers, amazing botanical gardens, beautiful beaches, a number of ethnic neighborhoods and a very efficient mass transit system. It also boasts probably the largest collection of five star restaurants anywhere in the world. The official language is English with 15 Singapore Dollars equal to about 10 U. S. Dollars. A taxi ride from the Singapore International Airport to your cruise ship will cost about US$25. More on Singapore HERE.

Thailand – Most cruise itineraries will make a stop in the port serving Bangkok and while it is over an hours drive away, don’t pass up an opportunity to spend time in city. The city is home to Royal Palaces, temples and markets. Many itineraries will also make a port call on one of Thailand’s famous beach resorts.

Lantern shop Vietnam

Vietnam – This country has made a lot of progress over the past few decades and is attracting visitors from around the world. Its developing economy makes it a great place to shop for bargains from clothes to arts and crafts (they gladly accept US Dollars). Most cruises will visit Ho Chi Minh City (originally Saigon) with its historic sites and amazing markets, but it is a bit distant from the cruise port, so add that into your planning. Two other popular cruise stops are the beach resort of Na Trang and the modern beach front city of Da Nang.

Hong Kong – While the geo-politics have recently changed it is still a world class city sitting on one of the worlds largest natural harbors. Hong Kong boasts a clean, inexpensive and efficient subway system along with numerous bus routes and a moderately priced taxi service. The city has a number of historic sites along with some incredible gardens and any visit should include a trip to Victoria Peak, a hill on the western half of Hong Kong Island. With an elevation of 1,811 feet, it is the highest hill on Hong Kong Island. It is a major tourist destination offering commanding views of Central Hong Kong, Victoria Harbor, Lamma Island and the surrounding islands.

Manila the Philippines – It’s a sprawling city of contrasts with a historic area, only a few blocks from the port entrance. Intramuros is the old historic walled city of Manila and comprises a centuries-old historic district, entirely surrounded by fortifications. The Mall of Asia is a shopping mall in Bay City, Pasay, Philippines, near the SM Central Business Park, the Manila Bay, and the southern end of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. It is a major shopping destination with a gross floor area of over 3.5 million square feet.

Brunei – One of Asia’s wealthiest countries with one of its highest standards of living Brunei is a beautiful place noted for its friendly people. Home to the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, one of the world’s most beautiful mosques. The Sultanate of Brunei Brunei, is an independent Islamic sultanate on the northern coast of the island of Borneo.

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia – Also on the island of Borneo, the area is most famous for its access to the nearby mountains and rain forests and features some beautiful beaches with some excellent diving and snorkeling.

In addition to itineraries around the South China Sea, Singapore also provides a departure port for itineraries that sail to Japan, Taiwan and South Korea as well as cruises heading west to India and the Middle East.

Avoid Alien Encounters While Traveling

There are all kinds of aliens out there. Alien hotel rooms, alien electric receptacles. It’s terrible being lost and disoriented in a strange hotel room or cruise cabin in the dark of night. It’s interesting to note that night lights aren’t a common part of American hotel rooms and traveling overseas – forget it. In your bare feet making contact with an alien object in the dark can be very painful…

That’s why traveling with a compact night light is a no brainer. Find one that’s small, is motion activated and preferably rechargeable.

Rechargeable Nightlite

A Great Nightlight This little gem is worth its weight in gold. It’s motion activated and recharges using any USB charger (cord included). It measures a small 2.2″ x 2.2″ x 1.1″ and weighs only 5 ounces.

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While we’re on the subject of travel accessories that are worth their weight in gold – how about a simple, short extension cord. At this point we have one always with us when we travel.

Extension Cord White Flat Multi Plug

A 1 Ft – 360° Rotating Short Power Cord, 3 Multi Outlet, Indoor / Outdoor 16 Gauge 3 Prong Grounded Wire UL Listed.

More often than you think you’ll find a socket that won’t accept a charger or cube because the space is just too tight or the outlets are just too close together. This twelve inch extension cord will solve those problems and provide you with additional outlets.

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As an alternative you should at least carrying a short 6″ extension cord. Trust us, you’ll never know just when you need these but when you do you’ll be sorry if you don’t have one!

Power Pigtail

A Small Piece of Insurance. Every once in a while you’ll find a socket that won’t accept a charger or cube because the space is just too tight or the outlets are just too close together. This six inch extension cord will solve those problems.

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The Whole World Is Full Of Aliens

Alien electrical receptacles that is. If you’re traveling out of the country, you absolutely must have a set of international outlet adopters. Get the whole set but you only carry one or two adaptors for the area you’re visiting.

International Power Adopters

Don’t Go Without These. This set of adaptors should meet all your travel needs. Select and carry only those needed for the countries you’re visiting. Ultra Compact Size only measures 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.75″ with a Max Load Rating: 10-15A/250V. Includes 11 Grounded Types of International Adapters – AE (Type C), UK (Type G), AU (Type I), EU (Type E/F), JP (Type A), Switzerland (Type J), Israel (Type H).

While it doesn’t include a voltage converter most modern electronic devices will auto switch to use the available current.

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Our Disclaimer: We need to let you know that many of these items are linked to Amazon, and should you click and purchase it could provide us with a small commission. It will have no impact on the price you’ll pay with Amazon and would greatly appreciate it.

Ravenna, Italy • A Port Of Call

Ravenna, A Jewel On The Northern Adriatic

Cruises are now adding Ravenna to their itineraries more often, but don’t just rush off to visit Venice. This city is a treasure not to be missed, especially if you have an interested in art, architecture and history.

Ravenna in the northern Italian province of Emilia Romagna hasn’t been a major cruise destination in the past but now that Venice has closed its port to most cruise ships Ravenna is getting more interest. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are now using Ravenna as a port to visit Venice as well as a new embarkation port. Located only two and a half hours from Venice by tour bus and with frequent train service starting at €12 it is gaining popularity for day trips visiting Venice.

Ravenna itself, often overlooked, is an incredible treasure trove of art and history with its basilica containing the worlds most extensive collection of Byzantine mosaics. The city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire from 402 AD until the Western Empires collapse in 476. Today, Ravenna is home to eight world heritage sites, is known for its great food and is located on good beaches on the Adriatic coast that include some great beach resorts.

Where Ships Dock

The Ravenna pier capable of accommodating several cruise ships is about 5 miles outside the city and shuttles are normally provided. To catch a train to Venice you also need to get into the station located in the center of town. There is no cruise terminal or regular facilities near the pier.

Wheelchair Accessibility

Disembarking – This port has a developed cruise ship pier but the ease of disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with. Getting into Ravenna will require using a bus.

Port City Characteristics – This city has a well developed wheelchair friendly infrastructure. The port area is flat or has few inclines. Intersection crosswalks may have few issues with curbs or other wheelchair obstacles like street and sidewalk pavers.

Old city gate

Transportation

Getting into Ravenna usually is by a shuttle bus and there will probably be very little in the way of taxis available at the pier. With Venice no longer providing access for cruise ships Ravenna is becoming one of the gateway ports for visiting Venice. Expect bus tours to Venice to become common and train service takes about 2 to 3 hours each way.

Currency

Italy uses the Euro and Ravenna requires you to change some money as Pounds, US and Canadian Dollars are not usually accepted. The are ATM’s readily available and credit cards are welcome.

Must See Attractions

Eight Unesco World Heritage Sites

  1. The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia meant to be the resting place of Galla Placidia, the sister of the Roman Emperor Honorius who had transferred the capital of the Western Roman Empire from Milan to Ravenna in 402 AD.
  2. The Neonian Baptistery and…
  3. Arian Baptistery with both including plain octagonal shaped brick exteriors with lavish interiors.
  4. The Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo with its 26 mosaic scenes from the New Testament, being the oldest mosaics in the world. It is the the only chapel of the early Christian era that is still fully preserved.
  5. The Mausoleum of Theodoric built in 520 AD by Theodoric the Great, King and unifier of the Ostrogoths.
Flying buttress on the Basilica of San Vitale
Dante’s Tomb

The city is also the site of the Tomb of Dante Alighieri the author of The Divine Comedy. He was exiled from his native Florence to Ravenna in 1318, where he completed Paradise, the final section of his famous three part work. Dante is buried in the graveyard beside the San Francesco Basilica.

The jewel of the city is the “Basilica of San Vitale“, one of the most important examples of early Christian Byzantine art and architecture in Europe. Built in the 6th century it is especially noted for the colorful mosaics of Christian icons that decorate the interior walls and ceilings.

The Roman Catholic Church has designated the building a “basilica”, the title bestowed on church buildings of exceptional historic and ecclesiastical importance, even though it is not an architectural basilica form.

The Basilica of San Vitale was begun by Bishop Ecclesius in 526 AD, when Ravenna was under the rule of the Ostrogoths and completed by the 27th Bishop of Ravenna, Maximian, in 547.

The church has an octagonal plan with the building combining Roman elements: the dome, shape of doorways, and stepped towers; with Byzantine elements: polygonal apse, capitals, narrow bricks, and one of the earliest examples of the flying buttress. The church is most famous for its collection of Byzantine mosaics, the largest and best preserved outside of Constantinople. The church is of extreme importance in Byzantine art, as it is the only major church from the period of the Emperor Justinian I to survive virtually intact to the present day. Furthermore, it is thought to reflect the design of the Byzantine Imperial Palace Audience Chamber, of which nothing at all survives. The Church also inspired the design of the church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Constantinople, and also was the model used by the Emperor Charlemagne for his Palatine Chapel in Aachen in 805. Centuries later the San Vitale dome was the inspiration for Filippo Brunelleschi in the design for the dome of the Duomo of Florence, Italy.

Besides the history and good food the city is also a very easy place for walking. It features a number of wide pedestrian malls lined with good shops, cafes and restaurants.

Outside the city towards the Adriatic beaches you will pass a number of canals dotted with interesting fishing huts. They use huge and elaborate fishing net contraptions that don’t seem a very sporting way of fishing. Even at the beach there is a long pier also with a number of these fishing huts and nets.

Of additional historic interest is the lagoon just north of the Ravenna pier. At the time that Ravenna was the capital of the Western Roman Empire the lagoon was the home port of the Roman fleet, the largest navy in the Mediterranean at the time. Excavations are exposing piers, shipyards and associated ruins from the period.

Farther north just beyond the archeological site is the resort area of Marina Romea featuring one of the best beaches along the coast and was founded in the the 20th century. The town itself is a green oasis with a small boat marina, a riding school, sports facilities and beautiful paths running through the pine woods out to a golden beach.

Old Spanish Sugar Mill, A Florida Tradition

The Old Spanish Sugar Mill, A Griddle House Restaurant

Located ten miles north of DeLand Florida and only twenty five miles west of Daytona Beach is a Florida park named De Leon Springs and inside the park is a truly unique restaurant.

The Old Spanish Sugar Mill must be doing something right since they have been open for almost sixty years. Originally the location was a private resort at one of Florida’s amazing fresh water springs and when the state added it to its parks the restaurant remained open on the property. While it sells a menu of sandwiches and snacks to visitors at the springs, its real claim to fame is breakfast. If your family includes children this is a must if you are visiting the area.

The main attraction is pancakes, griddle cakes or flap jacks, if you prefer. Each table has a griddle built in and when you order pancakes you get two pitchers of pancake batter, a spatula, butter, syrup, honey and molasses. The batters include are made with stone-ground flours and include unbleached flour and five grains. If you order eggs they come in the shell with a bowl to help scramble or just slide them on the griddle. The basic plan is you cook your own eggs and pancakes and you guaranteed to have fun if you are seven to seventy.

To visit the The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill House you need to pay the park admission but that’s actually a bonus. After breakfast spend some time around the springs, walk the nature trails or take a boat excursion. All-in-all a great family outing.

De Leon Springs State Park