Travel with Art

Before leaving Bali a local gamelin (music) and dance troop put on a show on board. Quite entertaining and at times funny. It gave us a feeling for what a full gamelin performance would be. The onwards sailing was just a short hop over to the island of Lombok. Once again at tender as the waters become shallow as you approach the island. Lombok is building its tourism industry but reminds people of what Bali was like 30 years ago. We did take the tender for the 15 minute ride in to the dock but then only stayed around the area for a bit of shopping from the local stalls that were there. Not much in that docking area other than a few ferrys and other boats. We then back on board and reading, jogging, and relaxing. The weather was nice on arrival at Slawi Bay, Komodo but headed up to a hot muggy/humid day. In the waters around the ship three enterprising sets of boys had headed out from the village in their skiffs to yell up to onlookers “throw money, mama, pa

We flew into Singapore and jumped into a taxi for the Singapore Cruise Center. Dropped off 25 minutes later – but unfortunately at the Marina Bay Singapore Cruise Center! Complete emptiness except for 2 guards, one of whom tried to flag (without success) the taxi before it departed. The other guard called a new taxi and we did not have much of a wait before it arrived (in the meantime another couple of people showed up in a taxi but were given instructions to go to the correct center). Finally another 15 minutes later we arrived at Singapore Cruise Center @ HarbourFront! And joined a very small queue checking in and boarding. This cruise is on the Holland America Line, aboard their flagship Rotterdam. Not as large as the Celbrity ships I have been on but of good size. When we joined the ship it had already been underway for about 35 days sailing from Southhampton UK to Dubai and on to Singapore. It does that return voyage after we do the 14 days around Singapore. We have met a