Pirate Watch!!!! Not Kidding!!!

Well, we are officially on Pirate Watch.  During the next 10 days we have been given specific instructions as to what the ship is doing and what we are supposed to be doing.

Every evening at dusk we get an announcement telling us to close our curtains and turn off any unnecessary lights.  Curtains cannot be opened until dawn.

Yesterday we had a passenger pirate drill.  Anyone who has a balcony or outside cabin had to close their curtains and move into the hallway away from the doors.

You have to stay away from the doors in case a rocket propelled grenade is launched into your room!  As soon as I heard about that I told Bonnie I was going to be her new roommate if we have a problem since she has an inside room.  She said fine with her because she wouldn't want to be alone if we got in trouble.

We picked up a naval officer in Singapore.  I was happy to find out he was on board since he is the next commodore of the European Union fleet responsible for keeping all ships safe.

Then at 4AM yesterday morning we picked up a security team with weapons.  It was dark when they came on board and the weapons are stored on the bridge.  They are scheduled for round the clock watches.

At dusk each night, the crew pulls out all the fire hoses on the promenade deck and that deck is closed to passengers. We close our curtains and only use lights we really need.

The ship turns off some of its exterior lights at dusk so it is easier for them to see if anything is approaching us.

There are large acoustic devices on the exterior that can be pointed at intruders that apparently cause a great deal of discomfort.

We are traveling faster through these waters to make it harder for pirates to keep up with us.

We are considered a low priority for pirates but the ship is taking no chances which is fine by me!!!

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.... the New City

Kuala Lumpur has experienced explosive growth in last few decades.  There is so much new construction going on in the city that our guide explained that if you owned a home or property there  you became instantly wealthy due to the demand.

 

 

 

This picture of the downtown with the Petronas Towers is an optical illusion because the tower to the right is much shorter but built on a hill.

I was very interested in this kind of palm that looks like a fan, have never seen one, but thought it would be a great addition to our landscape at the beach.

Kuala Lumpur has a combination of modern buildings and Islamic buildings throughout the city.

This is an Islamic school and their students....

 

 

 

This is the former railway station and administration building.....

And here are more pictures of the Islamic influence everywhere......

This is called Big Ben recalling the early British influence.

Kuala Lumpur is a combination of old and new with very little old.....

It, like Singapore, is highly landscaped but not as beautifully (but a lot prettier than home).....

And I was quite impressed with these light poles that are found throughout the city!  Very pretty, very Malaysian......

The city boasts the world's tallest flagpole......

And of course our final photo stop was a view of the Petronas Towers which were the world's tallest buildings until Dubai surpassed then within a year.  The skywalk, although not in the original plan, can be accessed with a ticket and over 1300 people a day take in the view. That would not be me!

Singapore, What a Beauty!!

I don't know what I was expecting when visiting Singapore but I sure wasn't expecting this!  Singapore is very strict and has a lot of rules about no littering, crossing streets only at crosswalks as well prohibiting the eating of some fruit because it smells bad.  And they mean it, you can be fined on the spot.  It is this strict code that I think makes this one of the most beautiful, modern and clean cities in the world.  My pictures do it absolutely no justice......

It is the most beautiful large city I have ever seen and I have seen a lot!

It's a modern city with incredible and unique architecture...

 

This flying saucer building being built is the new Supreme Court Building....

And this is their Convention Center.......

But what makes it truly special and different from anywhere else I have ever been is the beauty of the landscaping.  It is a landscapers paradise....

Plants and trees are everywhere, all throughout the city......

Even the overhead crosswalks are ALL gorgeous.....

 

 

And it is not just a few blocks, it is everywhere. Even 10 stories up on this building had an exterior green area.....

 I have never seen such a beautifully landscaped large, thriving city AND it is immaculate, very clean.

Our first stop after touring the city was the world famous Botanic Gardens of Singapore, another stunner.

I headed straight for the Orchid Garden and was not disappointed.....

The variety was endless, all types and colors.  Here are just a few more.....

 

 

 

Not only are the orchids beautiful but the area is dotted with wonderful architectural elements....

 

 

 

Then we went to see the iconic symbol of Singapore, the Malay Lion.  This fountain is found on all the souvenirs and most photographs of the city......

We are starting to transition from Buddhist temples to Hindu ones although both are found in the city.

And here is one of the few nods to the past, the British Cricket Club founded over a hundred years ago.....

Of course there's Chinatown.....

To give you some idea of the architecture, I saved this picture until last.  This HUGE three tower building has a a gigantic architectural element spanning the three towers that looks like a giant boat.

This is one unique and beautiful city!