Burj Khalifa in the Morning Haze

Shop Till You Drop, Just Don't Drop From Here!

Ships Along Dubai Creek

On Pirate Watch In the Gulf of Aden, a Turkish Frigate in the Distance

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Route of QM2 Through Mideast

From the Suez Canal into the Red Sea and then the Gulf of Aden, (pirate alley), stopping in Muscat, Oman, and in Dubai.  No pirates were sighted, but more about pirates later.

Muscat, Oman--Everyone Loved This Port

Our arrival at dawn was greeted by fire boats, giving us a nice salute.   It was great fun watching as the ship squeezed into the tiny harbor.  The old city is compact,  capped by a fort built by the Portuguese, and ringed by rugged mountains.   Muscat  has been important since Biblical times, as here is where grows the frankincense tree.  It's been a stop ever since between Europe and the Far East.   Of coarse now it's fabulously wealthy from the oil trade.   It's friendly, super clean (they mop the sidewalks!), has a great souq (marketplace), and it's ruler is Sultan Qaboos (say caboose).   I hear he's single!      That's odd..., in the mid east , land of many wives.   Just had a fun, easy day wandering around, taking photos and checking it all out.   I did buy frankincense from the two gentlemen in the photo.  Departure was really cool with the fire boats following us out to sea, whistles blasting.

Taking Baby For a Stroll at the Souq

The Frankincense Vendors

I Love a Fireboat, Evening Departure From Muscat

Meanwhile, In The Cool, Grey City of Love, The City of Saint Francis

Otherwise known as San Francisco, the line is from poet George Sterling, and the city is indeed cool and grey this morning.  The same temperature as Hong Kong--60 degrees or so.   The flight was enjoyable,  I was seated in a row with a chatty man from India.  After a good dinner, I claimed an adjacent empty bank of three seats and fell asleep to tunes from India on Singapore Airlines excellent entertainment system.  An entire magazine describes its content-- hundreds of movies, music from all over the world, language lessons, city maps, games, you name it, it's probably there.    I think I managed some version of sleep for half the twelve hour flight.   As we flew a great circle route over the Aleutians there was only a few hours of daylight-- and the cabin shades were kept closed for that, it seems like the night has been two days long.   I"m always glad when the wheels touch down, because I have recurring airplane crash dreams!   My friend Mick picked me up at the airport.   I'm lucky I can spend a few days in his and his partner Chris' guest room.   We went out for a couple of drinks, after which I was happy to go to bed.    Slept great--I think I've cheated jet lag!  

Second Dinner Yesterday

Second Sunset Yesterday, From 35,000 Feet

Greetings from Hong Kong International Airport!

This is one beautiful terminal building.    I arrived here early, via the fast train from Kowloon.   Checked the bags in town (Denver's train to the airport better have that feature or I'll complain).   I just finished an excellent tandoori chicken dinner,  with a three piece band playing in the background.    I'll tell you one thing,  they sure seem to do things right here in HK.    I'll have lots more to report in the coming days from San Francisco.      I still need to cover Muscat, Dubai, Cochin, Malaysia and Singapore, so keep checking in.    Time to board now,   I'm excited to fly on Singapore Airlines!

The Old and New Meet in Hong Kong

Monks Praying at Po Lin Monestary