Norway - Bergen

This colorful and lively city is one of those I look forward to when we go North. Maybe it's because after seeing the life off the city in Norway, you just feel so immersed that seeing a place full of people, shops, traffic and food seems sooo surprising.

This was the only Norwegian city I've been to but I love it!

We went off early and were so happy of the weather! This is quite a good exercise from the terminal - around 1-km walk.


The flowers are in full bloom and walking farther, we met the Bryggen again!

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the must-see places in Bergen. It's historical, colorful and just amazingly preserved that everytime I go past it, I can't help but take pics for the nth time! Haha

I haven't told you that the reason we went out was to eat Bergen pizza which we always do when we visit. But then, the call to the city fell on a holiday sooo, change of plan as the pizza parlor was closed (we actually waited for 10 am then 11 am but still no).

Actually, before going back to check if it was open, we went to the food market just a few walks away. We were thinking of trying the mouth-watering seafood they serve but then, we ended going back to Bergen Pizza which we later on realized to be still closed.

I was kind of happy because opposite it, there was a sausage corner that I have been planning to try as I was eating my pizza on our last Bergen call. And viola! I just fulfilled it! I ate a Norwegian sausage. Mind you it's not your ordinary sausage - it's Reindeer sausage!!! And it was goood! Woaah!

We were eating along the way to a deli cafe we just saw when we went to the market earlier. We had an unexpected discovery - they actually sell noodles! And rice boxes! And they just have best-tasting coffee flavors from the vendo!!!

We were on our way back and saw Bryggen again. This time, we explored it inside! See, my first time to go up and really felt how old the structure was!

So, that's how we spent the few hours we had. It was not according to plan and that was the fun part!

Scotland - Fort Williams

This was not my first time to visit this place as I was able to kind of explore this last year before I went home.  However, this year when we docked again, I opted to stay onboard. Maybe I had fever or what but I did not have the heart to go out. Haha

Comes another Scottish cruise and viola! I fould myself waiting in the gangway for several minutes and was ashore by 10 in the morning. Now, I have the heart. Hehe

So, what I did in my second visit? The same thing but not EXACTLY the same thing (whatever is happening to me).

We took pictures of the busy main street of Fort Williams. The shops were wide open, people busy doing their thing and mind you, the sun was up. There were no drizzles whatsoever, it was a very fine day, unlike last year.

in full bloom!

Entrance to the main shopping street

High Street!

Timber building!

too big and too sweet!

Just a refresher from wiki, Fort William ("The Garrison") is the second largest settlement in the Highlands of Scotland with around 10,000 inhabitants – and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.

Along the way, there were bagpipe players entertaining the passersby.. So Scotland!

Walking past the cute shops, we arrived in this beautiful park. It's Alexandra hotel and Duncansburgh Church in the background. What a lovely day!

After taking pics (as what we usually do), we went farther - going through the undepass

 to Morrisons, a huge supermarket..

then to this particular spot that was something new to me!

Then we went farther to the left of Morrisons straight to Lidl to look for Kinder Chocolates but to no avail, we went back with choco wafers and very yummy pastries instead.

We ate along the way as the sky started to look gloomy and a few drizzles coming down. We visited Boots and Superdrug to find a conditioner but nothing of the scent I was looking for. Then, we looked for a place to eat. We were supposed to go to the place we tried before but I suggested to go somewhere new. Hence, we settled in this Fish and Chips corner in the main street. They served us 1/4lbs burgers for £3 each. It was a nice try actually and I was sooo full I wasn't able to finish it all.

If you are a philatropist at heart or a fan of second-hand shops, there are various hospice and charity shops where you can buy quality clothes for just a few pounds. Surely, sooo much of your time will be consumed as there are several of them. It feels good though knowing you have helped the community.

I had 30 minutes left so, we went back to the tender boat bidding Fort Williams goodbye as the tender slowly sailed to Boudicca. See you again this June! :)

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 - Aqaba, Jordan Day 1

From the sunny Salalah, we headed to another city in the Middle East, Jordan!

We will be staying here overnight. And what am I most excited about? Visiting a wonder of the world, THE LOST CITY OF PETRA! That would be for tomorrow.

But for now, I'm gonna tour you around the city of Aqaba with the little time I had. This is not a boring place, ya know. This was the only place in all our travels where I saw most of the officers getting off at night but I didn't know why as I was on duty. Haha

There was a free shuttle service from the ship to the city center.

I was accompanied by one of the security officers who planned to go gold shopping! Hence, my pic here. Hehe

Maybe because it was a weekend, I didn't really know but most of the jewelry shops there were closed though some shops selling other goods were opened.

They said it opened during the night. My gosh, I just couldn't imagine going there and seeing yellow glitters all around! Haha

There was a mosque opposite the market.

Anyway, continuing our journey, I bought biscuits because I was just craving for salty biscuits. It has been several weeks already since I've last eaten skyflakes. Haha

Pistachio nuts are everywhere and coffee as well! I just regret why I didn't try it. :(

There were various colorful shops and markets which really made the ambiance sooo alive!

That's it for now! Will continue our journey tomorrow! :)

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!