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by Ed Reif»
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The Last Resort Rising from the deep blue of the Indian Ocean are more than a thousand islands and thousands more reefs that form the Maldives |
Archive for March 2011
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by Ed Reif»
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| ZAMM-Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance |
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| Holy Cow- Near Miss- My karma ran over your dogma, I mean Brahma cattle |
Rules of the road when driving a motorcycle-
The horn is your friend. Use it often, use it well.Lanes don’t exist. Do not pass. Wear a Helmet! Cows have the right of way.
There seem to be cows around everywhere I go. I am not sure if they have a chamed life, the ppl don't seem to worship them. It is, however, revered as the source of food and symbol of life and may never be killed. They seem to be walking neglected around Goa city streets, living on garbage from the gutters.
Sacred cows may make the best hamburgers, but I don't eat my friends. As for butter versus margarine, I trust cows more than chemists. As for milk and cheese- they are an utter delight.
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by Ed Reif»
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| Hippies, Hedonism and All Night Bollywood Booze Cruise Go Go G0a-On the Hippie Trail to India As Allan Watts, points out--Everyday you have to go out of your mind in order to come to your senses. John Lennon and The Who used to show up and give free concerts. Inspired by Kerouac, Ginsberg and the Beatles, any self-respecting hippie headed overland for Goa, especially around Christmas when full-moon parties, trance and psychedelic hell broke loose. Now An enduring haven for global nomads, Goa has been welcoming dropouts to its shores who missed the 60's and 70's. Before the hippies, however, there were the Portuguese — and it’s their long period from 1510 to 1961 of colonial influence, that makes Goa such an alluring place. This rich -- if not always peaceful -- encounter between East and West gives it a globalised-homogenised vibe enveloped by the land's pockets of idyllic landscape. |
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by Ed Reif»
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| I've heard about "the Elephant in the room" but an elephant in the road- what are the issues here? Everything Coconut "It is good to collect things, but it is better to go on walks." Coconuts-it’s not just for Pina Coladas- These folks manage to use every part of the tree- the husk for rope that they weave; the palm leaves for brooms and roofing material; the juice for kootay, a fermented drink; not to mention drinking the water- an anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal elixir. At a certain level, buying a cell phone is more representative of day-to-day Indian life than buying Shiva statue or silk scarf (though, admittedly, a cell phone would not look as good in your living room). I am so souvenired -out...the expereince, however, of going through these shops is better than the souvenirs themselves. |
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| Is he a righty or Lefty? |
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| Namaste |
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by Ed Reif»
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| The science of stress-Live life in the present like these guys |
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Voyage 6 March 29th to April 17th.
Me Tarzan. You Jane
In our privileged lives, we are uniquely smart enough to have invented stress(ers), and uniquely foolish enough to have let them, too often, dominate our lives.
Zebras don't suffer from the long-term side effects of cognitive stress. I had never planned to become a Zebra when I grew up; instead, I had always assumed I would become a flying man with a loin cloth. That's the the trouble with testosterone.
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by Ed Reif»
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| Sticky wicket= I am wearing a cricket shirt, and don't know the first thing about the sport One of the great misfortunes of traveling first class is the want of any sudden surprise, and the absence of all adventure. Everything is so well arranged on board the cruise . Once I stepped outside the gates of this safe port, it was sheer madness- cars, people, chaos. I guess this is a good warmup for India. I gave a tuk tyuk driver 150 rupees or whatever and he drove me five miles out of the way. Geo-arbitrage (Strong Dollar weak local currency) was in full effect. Going to places like India isn’t an act of rebellion these days, it’s actually a form of conformity-- when all you have is a hammer everything is a nail, and when all you have is money, life options are consumer options, and buying things is the only way to play an active role in the world, and the only way of purchasing a long-term travel experience. Unless of course you work on a cruise ship like me and "get to" go to work, and get paid for it too. Anyway, I tried to upload to Youtube my videos from Mynmar and Burma but I got blocked because of the weird location(Columbo) I was accessing my stuff from. I have some goodvideo of street footage today and a speech I gave in a Burmese temple two days agobut they will have to wait until I get a solid internet connection |
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| Discussing my personal experience with the 12th son of the lama...I jump ship in Oslo and I make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a looper at a course over in the Himalayas.So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking. |
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by Ed Reif»
People say that what we are all seeking is a meaning for life. I don't think this is what we're really seeking. I think what we're seeking is an experience of being alive.~ The Power of Myth - Joseph Campbell
This world cruise has been one of the most rewarding forms of introspection. It is one stage of my “re-entry” in Hotel @nyware, continuing my extended break from Normal Life again to travel the world on board another cruise ship. I’m living my dream of PT-Permanent Travel, also known as "Mini Retirements". I haven’t been everywhere, but it is on my list.
As I document this adventure, this a round-the-world travelogue, I say to myself "Roam Sweet Roam". Home is not where my heart is but where my computer is- I remain a digital nomad, where Anywhere becomes @nyware, location neutral, as there is no such thing as a bad piece of real estate when you use technology and social media. As I make my way to Sri Lanka, in the middle of nowhere, but the center of everything, thanks to a reliable high speed Internet connection. I am doing pretty much everything I would do in the USA, only with the economies of scale, at a less greater cost.
Consequently, I call home a feeling not a place-I’ve never confused a street address for where I actually lived. My destinations have never been places , but new way of seeing things: the journeys themselves have been the destinations.
It has never been about resources, but more about resourcefulness.We're never too poor to buy our freedom.In fact, we are all “time millionaires ”and when we who choose to use this commodity, the less we put a cash value on travel, and the less we think that money is what we need to have an adventure and live, and the less we associate money with life in general.
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| The elephant represents good luck, longevity and peace and strength; and mostly here in SE Asia, joy. A laughing Buddha riding an elephant with children on his lap is an excellent symbol for happiness and prosperity in the family. |
Surely it is the right wish that draws us to the right places. Nothing of importance happens accidentally in our life.
It is different from being a tourist- different from buying a package vacation to find a simpler life is kind of like using a mirror to see what you look like when you aren't looking into the mirror. Staging Authenticity and Encounters,The march of stupidity and the routines of tourism are even more monotonous than those of daily life.When you have taken enough of these tours, however,each additional one you may ever take again, is both unbearable and trifling.
But beyond travel, Hotel @nyware is an outlook on life. Hotel @nyware is not a lifestyle, It's just an uncommon way of looking at life — a value adjustment from which action naturally follows. And, as much as anything, Long term travel is about being deliberate. It has nothing to do with demographics — how old you are , what is your belief system, how much money you make — and everything to do with attitude...and attitude affects altitude.
If I do nothing unexpected, nothing unexpected happens. Yet I’m not simply seeking interesting surroundings, but I am continually interested in whatever surrounds me.
Hotel @nyware- Rooms Available
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by Ed Reif»
Cnn verses The Alphabet
Yangoon's analog eyes don’t see our digital world. But does it matter. Internet or InterNOT? Traveling in places with out electricity with TCN's, Third Country Nationals, are not voyages of discovery, but rituals of reassurance- "I won the lottery". As Bruce Springsteen says, "I was born in the USA". So with,curiosity, vulnerability and vocabulary, I will articulate the Myanmar sound bite.
These ppl in Burma, aka Golden land, are so sweet, Yet they are the digital homeless, who couldn’t tell you the difference between google and facebook, a laptop or an ipad. The largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had is not the internet, it's Mynmar. My conscious, however, permits me to love them.
No TV. Few cell phones-a sim card costs $500 and the phone system is broken. Few cars. There is no CNN, 24 hour news cycle, no tivoization to time shift your day, no napsterization or digital downloads-this is the "axis of evil" the millions of ppl who make less than $2 bucks a day. Countries, like ppl however, are loved for their failures. It's a shame I can't spend any money in this place and help the dam economy.
What Happened to Downtime? Deep Thinking & Sacred Space in the United States of Uncoinsciousness is extinct verses the real deal--- Living in a quasi “airplane mode.”For the uninitiated, and digital homeless- setting their lives to “airplane mode” disables phone calls, text messaging, wi-fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. It is distinct. It's their blisscipline.
Traveling is a Life Sentence--We yearn for journeys like prisoners dream of rooms without bars. And we all want time off for good behavior.
What Happened to Downtime? Deep Thinking & Sacred Space in the United States of Uncoinsciousness is extinct verses the real deal--- Living in a quasi “airplane mode.”For the uninitiated, and digital homeless- setting their lives to “airplane mode” disables phone calls, text messaging, wi-fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. It is distinct. It's their blisscipline.
Traveling is a Life Sentence--We yearn for journeys like prisoners dream of rooms without bars. And we all want time off for good behavior.
Raman Noodles 2.0 Choosing between the digital and the analog.
I visited today one of the seven wonders of a shrinking planet-Google, and came up with this comment, Iw rote on my 1995 trip to Cambodia, where I made the astute comment--Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day-Give him Raman noodles and you don't have to teach him anything!
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| Be Brave And Shave! |
The fact that there is no refrigeration and everybody is hustling to eat someting for the day, Yangoon will stick with you like gum in your hair until you get it out with peanut butter.
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| Eat Your Colors |
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| Cuteness |
Tune in Turn on Drop Out! and Be Here Now.
Freedom is what you do with what has been done to you. As I said, I was born in the USA, and being born there-my life has to be my message-Star-spangled happiness,: because love is a responsibility and I love America, and its A list language, American.
Hugs and Drugs
The joke goes, you call a person who speaks 3 languages trilingual, 2, bilingual, 1, American. What is the most powerful drug known to mankind? American English. I used to have a "drug" problem but now I make enough money, and found my voice.
Write? Right.
Blogging is literature in a hurry. People climb mountain because they are there. In blogging there is no there there. Why do bloggers blog ? Because it isn't there. It's always shifting and changing and the searching that makes it fun.
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by Ed Reif»
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What's cooking? The menu is not the meal In Burma, where this is the season for electricity-well brown outs occur at 4 hour intervals, the family's menu consists of two choices: take it or leave it. They curry things up because of their borders with India and spice things up because of their trade with China, but Hunger is the best sauce in these parts, and ppl will eat just about anything with wings except airplanes and anything with legs except tables. In Burmese, they we have a word for sushi: bait. They like to heat things up- not only with spices but fire They cook with charcoal, but here I am "cooking with gas". The food was fresh veggies, and prawns. . In the United States of Unconscious eating, we are all dietetic sinners; only a small percent of what we eat nourishes us; the balance goes to waste and loss of energy. |
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| Graduation Day |
First there were the options, the three month monk, the three year monk, I took the three minute monk. Once again, another crash course, this time a day trip to a local resturant for some authentic Burmese cuisine. I am now a bonofide chef. Next, I will be getting my surgical degree at the hospital tour tomorrow as well, followed up by a Ph.D. in Physics, hosted by Mynmar's university facilty.
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by Ed Reif»
Buddha Boy: We will need to make an offering.
Ed: What kind of offering?
Buddha Boy:That would depend on how much good karma you want for your next life.
Ed:Hmm, I can't plan that far ahead.
Buddha Boy:Then some fresh fruit from the market will do.
Promises Promises.
How do these monks pray? They don't ask or talk to god, they listen to god inside themselves. That's taking your meditation, cultivating the witness, and Namaste, the god in me says hi to the god in you.
Buddhists are taught that suffering is one promise that life always keeps. So that when happiness comes we know it is a gift, and it is ours only for a brief time.
The elephant represents good luck, longevity and peace and strength; and mostly here in SE Asia, joy. A laughing Buddha riding an elephant with chiIdren on his lap is an excellent symbol for happiness and prosperity in the family.
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Buddha Boy: We will need to make an offering.
Ed: What kind of offering?
Buddha Boy:That would depend on how much good karma you want for your next life.
Ed:Hmm, I can't plan that far ahead.
Buddha Boy:Then some fresh fruit from the market will do.
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My childhood was typical: summers in Rangoon ... luge lessons |
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How do these monks pray? They don't ask or talk to god, they listen to god inside themselves. That's taking your meditation, cultivating the witness, and Namaste, the god in me says hi to the god in you.
Buddhists are taught that suffering is one promise that life always keeps. So that when happiness comes we know it is a gift, and it is ours only for a brief time.
The elephant represents good luck, longevity and peace and strength; and mostly here in SE Asia, joy. A laughing Buddha riding an elephant with chiIdren on his lap is an excellent symbol for happiness and prosperity in the family.
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by Ed Reif»
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| As familiar as Jesus on the cross, ubiquity, though, has voided Siddhartha, aka Buddha Boy of mystery and meaning. |
For stylistic simplicity makes it all too easy to miss the refinements of expression that convey the essence of Buddhist cosmology. no fairy tales of salvation or a paradisiacal afterlife, no cosmic drama, no creation myths. No pomp, just circumstances.
About to step on dry land, and slip not only into the 14th century but also the slip into the zero experience, an awareness of the insignificance of our prosaic wants and passions, as I see first hand the locals recreate "The Human Condition" like some backdrop to a movie set.
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by Ed Reif»
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| Juxtaposition Travelers never think that they are the foreigners, unless they aree in South East Asia. It doesn't inspire me to want to set myself on fire and start over here. This part of the world is a JV, a joint venture between China and the natives. Expecting interesting things to happen to us, we go "sight-seeing." Trip Wolf is not holwling about this place. I am looking for a wilderness to do that. |
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by Ed Reif»
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| If you Build it, they will get you there |
Money is Singapore's first language, English their second; or in the case of taxi driver's, their third or forth one. When I asked him how long he had been driving a taxi, he said, "Dree mouse.” (3 Months)
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| See: The Geirangerfjord-Mother Nature and Father Time Are Effing Special |
There's nothing special about "going shopping" or eating at a fine resturant-BTDT(Been There Done That) Orginality is an unexplored territory in places like Singapore. You get there by carrying a kayak -- you can't take a taxi.
Nevertheless, taking a cab to Orchard Street, the epicenter of retail and colonial life as it was and in many ways still is, is like walking the painted line. Traffic moves in orderly fashion through streets that are wide. Everything here is clean, functional and neat- No chaos, not even a unit of chaos, a chao (porunced COW, my nelologism)-- that a typical city like Bangkok or Bejing might offer. I spent most of the time on the subway, the MRT, another cheap and easy way to get around-went to Little India and Chinatown.
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by Ed Reif»
Voyage 5 March 15 to March 29th (14 Days)
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| Life Off The Leash |
Singapore to Mumbai on Crystal Serenity
Date | Port | Arrival | Departure |
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| Mar 15, Tuesday | Singapore » | 6 pm | |
 | Singapore blends the contemporary splendor of a sparkling modern city with influences from throughout the Orient. Its history is one of riches and romance, spice trading and piracy, colonialism and growth. This island state has grown from a small fishing village to one of Asia's greatest success stories. Temples, mosques and churches stand as serene reminders of the varied collection of migrations that have graced its history. Discover the mansions and polo greens of colonial Singapore, the mystique of Chinatown and the heady aroma of spices and curry along Arab Street. You will quickly come to understand why Singapore is acclaimed as the "Crossroads of the East." | ||
| Mar 16, Wednesday | Kuala Lumpur/Port Kelang, Malaysia » | 8 am | 9 pm |
| Bustling port Kelang is the principal port of entry for Malaysia. The country's capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a suprisingly modern city of domes, minarets and spacious, tree-lined avenues. Her symbols of faith are visible at the Jamek Mosque, the city's birthplace. | |||
| Mar 17, Thursday | Cruising the Strait of Malacca » | ||
 | Your Day at Sea Enrich. Entertain. Escape. Adjust the compass of your mood and design your day exactly as you wish: pamper yourself at the Feng Shui-inspired Crystal Spa, work-out at our state-of-the-art fitness center or Walk-on-Water along our 360o Promenade Deck; teach yourself something new with complimentary language lessons by Berlitz or piano instruction with Yamaha; enhance your computer skills at our Computer University@Sea or learn about art, history and worldly destinations with our engaging lecture series; sneak away to watch recently-released movies in the Hollywood Theater, shop our luxury boutiques, or simply relax by one of our tranquil pools. From Tai Chi and yoga to PGA golf instruction and paddle tennis on full-size courts, today is all about you. As evening arrives, dine on the inspired cuisines of Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio and Crystal’s own acclaimed chefs, enjoy special wine-makers dinners, lavish Broadway-style productions, intimate lounges, a pulsing dance club or our action-packed Crystal Casino. The choices are yours. | ||
| Mar 18, Friday | Phuket, Thailand » | 8 am | 6 pm |
 | Residents call Phuket "The Pearl of the South," and one visit to this green, sun-soaked island in the Andaman Sea will show you why. The coast is a succession of magnificent beaches, the forested interior boasts virgin rain forests and numerous plantations-cacao, pineapple, rubber. The culture is a distinctive blend of Portuguese, Chinese and indigenous Chao Naam, a proud seafaring people. | ||
| Mar 19, Saturday | Cruising the Indian Ocean » | ||
| | Your Day at Sea Enrich. Entertain. Escape. Adjust the compass of your mood and design your day exactly as you wish: pamper yourself at the Feng Shui-inspired Crystal Spa, work-out at our state-of-the-art fitness center or Walk-on-Water along our 360o Promenade Deck; teach yourself something new with complimentary language lessons by Berlitz or piano instruction with Yamaha; enhance your computer skills at our Computer University@Sea or learn about art, history and worldly destinations with our engaging lecture series; sneak away to watch recently-released movies in the Hollywood Theater, shop our luxury boutiques, or simply relax by one of our tranquil pools. From Tai Chi and yoga to PGA golf instruction and paddle tennis on full-size courts, today is all about you. As evening arrives, dine on the inspired cuisines of Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio and Crystal’s own acclaimed chefs, enjoy special wine-makers dinners, lavish Broadway-style productions, intimate lounges, a pulsing dance club or our action-packed Crystal Casino. The choices are yours. | ||
| Mar 20, Sunday | Yangon/Rangoon, Myanmar (overnight) » | 3:30 pm | |
 | Through its decades of self-isolation, the unspoiled country of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) has retained its charm, fascinating traditions and the irresistible politeness of its people. The colonial capital of this timeless land is Rangoon, "Yangon" to the Burmese. Although the initial settlement dates back over 2,500 years, the city itself is not particularly old. It features few high rises, little traffic and vehicles dating from the '50s and '60s, all giving the visitor an impression of a town from the past. | ||
| Mar 21, Monday | Yangon/Rangoon, Myanmar (overnight) » | ||
| | Through its decades of self-isolation, the unspoiled country of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) has retained its charm, fascinating traditions and the irresistible politeness of its people. The colonial capital of this timeless land is Rangoon, "Yangon" to the Burmese. Although the initial settlement dates back over 2,500 years, the city itself is not particularly old. It features few high rises, little traffic and vehicles dating from the '50s and '60s, all giving the visitor an impression of a town from the past. | ||
| Mar 22, Tuesday | Yangon/Rangoon, Myanmar » | 3:30 pm | |
| | Through its decades of self-isolation, the unspoiled country of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) has retained its charm, fascinating traditions and the irresistible politeness of its people. The colonial capital of this timeless land is Rangoon, "Yangon" to the Burmese. Although the initial settlement dates back over 2,500 years, the city itself is not particularly old. It features few high rises, little traffic and vehicles dating from the '50s and '60s, all giving the visitor an impression of a town from the past. | ||
| Mar 23, Wednesday - Mar 24, Thursday | Cruising the Bay of Bengal » | ||
| | Your Day at Sea Enrich. Entertain. Escape. Adjust the compass of your mood and design your day exactly as you wish: pamper yourself at the Feng Shui-inspired Crystal Spa, work-out at our state-of-the-art fitness center or Walk-on-Water along our 360o Promenade Deck; teach yourself something new with complimentary language lessons by Berlitz or piano instruction with Yamaha; enhance your computer skills at our Computer University@Sea or learn about art, history and worldly destinations with our engaging lecture series; sneak away to watch recently-released movies in the Hollywood Theater, shop our luxury boutiques, or simply relax by one of our tranquil pools. From Tai Chi and yoga to PGA golf instruction and paddle tennis on full-size courts, today is all about you. As evening arrives, dine on the inspired cuisines of Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio and Crystal’s own acclaimed chefs, enjoy special wine-makers dinners, lavish Broadway-style productions, intimate lounges, a pulsing dance club or our action-packed Crystal Casino. The choices are yours. | ||
| Mar 25, Friday | Colombo, Sri Lanka » | 8 am | 6 pm |
| Sri Lanka’s capital until recent times, this fascinating city is filled with an intriguing blend of cosmopolitan buildings and ancient temples. Enjoy the effects of Colombo’s melting pot of cultures, as Portuguese, Dutch, and British trading companies from earlier times have left behind churches, monuments, religions, and costumes, as well as smatterings of their languages, that have been incorporated into the speech and daily routine of the local Sri Lankans. | |||
| Mar 26, Saturday | Cruising the Indian Ocean » | ||
| | Your Day at Sea Enrich. Entertain. Escape. Adjust the compass of your mood and design your day exactly as you wish: pamper yourself at the Feng Shui-inspired Crystal Spa, work-out at our state-of-the-art fitness center or Walk-on-Water along our 360o Promenade Deck; teach yourself something new with complimentary language lessons by Berlitz or piano instruction with Yamaha; enhance your computer skills at our Computer University@Sea or learn about art, history and worldly destinations with our engaging lecture series; sneak away to watch recently-released movies in the Hollywood Theater, shop our luxury boutiques, or simply relax by one of our tranquil pools. From Tai Chi and yoga to PGA golf instruction and paddle tennis on full-size courts, today is all about you. As evening arrives, dine on the inspired cuisines of Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio and Crystal’s own acclaimed chefs, enjoy special wine-makers dinners, lavish Broadway-style productions, intimate lounges, a pulsing dance club or our action-packed Crystal Casino. The choices are yours. | ||
| Mar 27, Sunday | Cochin, India » | 8 am | 9 pm |
 | Cochin, the commercial hub of the Indian state of Kerala, has a magnificent natural harbor which has attracted overseas traders for hundreds of years. Ancient mariners from Arabia, Holland, Britain and Portugal have all left their mark on this cosmopolitan city, which is often called the "Queen of the Arabian Sea." This diverse influence has generated Cochin's uniquely cosmopolitan atmosphere and interesting architectural styles. Crystal Serenity's premier call at this city of peninsulas and islands will introduce you to a region rarely visited by cruise ships. | ||
| Mar 28, Monday | Cruising the Arabian Sea » | ||
| | Your Day at Sea Enrich. Entertain. Escape. Adjust the compass of your mood and design your day exactly as you wish: pamper yourself at the Feng Shui-inspired Crystal Spa, work-out at our state-of-the-art fitness center or Walk-on-Water along our 360o Promenade Deck; teach yourself something new with complimentary language lessons by Berlitz or piano instruction with Yamaha; enhance your computer skills at our Computer University@Sea or learn about art, history and worldly destinations with our engaging lecture series; sneak away to watch recently-released movies in the Hollywood Theater, shop our luxury boutiques, or simply relax by one of our tranquil pools. From Tai Chi and yoga to PGA golf instruction and paddle tennis on full-size courts, today is all about you. As evening arrives, dine on the inspired cuisines of Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio and Crystal’s own acclaimed chefs, enjoy special wine-makers dinners, lavish Broadway-style productions, intimate lounges, a pulsing dance club or our action-packed Crystal Casino. The choices are yours. | ||
| Mar 29, Tuesday | Mumbai (Bombay), India » | 6 am | |
 | India contains a bewildering variety of tribes, religions, cultures and languages-and most are present in Mumbai, one of the world's most densely populated cities. Remnants of British rule along oceanfront Marine Drive stand alongside the thought-provoking former home of Mahatma Gandhi, and the cave temple at Elephanta with its second-century Hindu gods. | ||
