Nationa Museum of the Philippines

I know I have been gone for more than a year. Everything was just sooo overwhelming. As I continued my profession onboard a floating hotel where I get to see places I have never imagined going, I was not able to document everything in this blog. I just thought it would have been great to share with you every experience I had. However, I got busier and too indulged with where I was.

I promise this year will be more than just that. I will try to be reliving this blog as much as I could. Hopefully.

And for the first entry this year, it would be from the Philippines! I stayed for a weekend in Manila and for the very first time, I visited the National Museum. It's just so ironic how I explored museums of various countries but my own.

This visit is totally free. You just have to sign their guest book. The visit was soooo educational. They have 4 levels and each level houses various galleries. Here's a glimpse of it.

If you have time and wonder what to do with it, make it more interesting by visiting our very own treasure. 

Norway - Flam and the Fjords in Between

The next Norwegian town we were heading to was Flam! As I really decided to do more scenic cruising the time I come back here, well, I stayed onboard (though this was one of those rare times we docked alongside) and was just sooo happy when we departed. Yes happy! Or was I too harsh?

I didn't mean to say I would love to leave but I was just sooo excited for the next few hours after leaving the port. You would understand me. I would love to explain my point! Haha

Leaving Flam means seeing settlements in the middle of nowhere. I mean, just imagine seeing human life in between vast and ice-capped fjords! So unbelievable how they, in the first place, thought to settle there? Amazing!

Next up, it was a drizzling afternoon and I just love seeing the smoke as it covered some parts of the fjords..

And that thrilling moment as the ship glided through the narrow body of water - which makes me sooo thankful to be in a not-so-big ship..

It was sooo cold and the passengers seemed to be so concern as I was not wearing anything aside from my usual uniform. Honestly, I just forgot it was freakin freezing!

So, after a few more minutes, when the cold sank in, I made my way to the cabin and continued to appreciate the view outside. Oh God, Thank You!

Norway - Olden and the Fjords in Between

One of the best places on earth blessed with soooo much natural beauty is this country lying in the northern part of the world - Norway!

I know this has not been my first time to visit but in all honesty, coming back over and over does not make it less beautiful. It makes you wonder more and every single time you open your porthole to see what the heck is outside, you will either stop and stare with great awe or make yourself out the deck and see it in full glory.

So when we had our first ever stop in Olden, I did not go out to eat chicken. I preferred to stay onboard and luckily, as I had my break, we set sail. I don't know how to really describe what I saw but I'm going to give you a glimpse and I hope I would give justice to it. Enjoy!

Oh Norway, I hope we will never stop visiting you!

Scotland - Greenock

Here we go again! We went out around 10 in the morning and started our day in Greenock's main shopping street. We had no plans of going through the charity shops but they are just sooo inviting and they are filled with people! I ended up with 2 dresses for £2 each and 3 books for £1. I don't know if those fits (I have many girl cousins though should they not). I'm more than happy to find 3 nice books anyway. I have loads of them already in the cabin and I don't know when would I be able to open them all up. Hehe After the charity shops, we went straight to KFC. This was actually the goal for today - to eat out in KFC. So, we went left of the mall and at the back of Tesco. We had a bucket meal and ate to the full of our stomachs. I don't know why I was able to survive in these kind of meals where rice is not available. Just getting used it, maybe. Haha just a quick stop for the only photo of the day From KFC, we went to Oak Mall and started to shop - groceries, toiletries, clothes, etc. before heading back to Boudicca.

Iceland - Eskifjørdur - høfn

The last port of our Iceland adventure is the charming seaside town of Eskifjordur.

Taking this description from our Tour leaflets, this town is located in the middle of the East Fjords and takes its name from the fjord on which it sits .

I had the choice to go out because we were docked alongside but here I go again with my unpredictable personality. I did not explore it. I was looking outside the port hole and saw waterfalls running from the top of the very large fjord. I don't know what went wrong or right, I just felt I saw what has to be seen already. Haha

Well, just to give you a glimpse of this very simple fishing village, I braved the cold weather and went to the outside deck. Here's what I saw..

Maybe the next time I'll be here, I'll hop on a tour and see more and explore what this town has to offer. :)

Around Africa - Salalah, Oman

After successfully passing by the Gulf of Aden, we docked in one of Oman's cities and the capital and seat of the governor of Dhofar, Salalah.

I never ever thought of ever been stepping into this place I only hear from OFWs. It's already part of Asia, the Middle East to be specific.

As this is an Arab country, I thought of deserts, camels and hot weather. And they didn't disappoint me.

I went on tour and really explored it the best I could!

After boarding the bus, we passed by the famous Mughsayl Beach.

Before heading to Marneef Cave..

where we enjoyed a spectacle of the popular blowholes!

After all the picture-taking, we went straight to Job's Tomb. Nobody can really tell if this is the real one as there are other tombs of Job in the world. But seeing this is quite an experience already!

Along the road, this is just a normal sight.

And they have that practice of honking the incoming vehicle if they have passed by a camel along the road to serve as a warning.

Camels are just everywhere!

The tour guide told us that all the dry land we see along the way become lush green comes the rainy season between June to September.

After our visit to Job's tomb, we dropped by the Government's Palace. We could not go inside. Hence, just these pics.

Then to the Old Market and bought souvenirs!

It was a fun-filled exploration!