Hyundais ready for shipment filled the Port of Incheon as we arrived in South Korea this morning. It was a little chilly when we walked to our bus this morning for our tour but the sun was shining and there was no smog from China. When we arrived at the DMZ area we were surprised to see rides and gift shops near the Freedom Bridge. We used the restroom facility there and then reboarded the bus to go to the DMZ third tunnel. We were warned by our guide to take pictures only from behind this yellow line on the observation deck. The line was four feet from the wall and had view finders that were in the way. After taking our photos we approached the wall and obeyed the rule until a huge group of ... read more

Took an early flight to Beijing and after some traveling by bus, we stopped for lunch not too far from the Great Wall. Since it was my second time at the Great Wall, I was happy to see that we were at a different gate for a somewhat new experience. We had 2 hours to ascend and descend. After about 65 minutes I decided I better not go any further even though I had only another section to get to the top. Jerry only went up one flight of stairs and decided to stay below. He still wasn’t feeling up to par and the steps are of varying heights which makes it a bit grueling. Along the way, many young people wanted their picture taken with me and that was a hoot. They didn’t speak English ... read more

A couple hours flight today on Shanghai Airlines to Xi’an China. First stop was the City Wall which was created by the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Spent some time walking a small part of the 8.5 mile wall. We were then taken to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda where we enjoyed the buddhas and grounds on a beautiful Spring day. Dinner was dumplings at a local restaurant. Very interesting food - we say that frequently… Finally check in at the Hilton Xi’an for some rest and Chinese beer.... read more

Took us several hours to navigate the river into the awesome port of Shanghai this morning. Shortly after our arrival, we left for the water town of Zhujiajiao, Shanghai, China. The traffic was quite congested and although it wasn’t very far, it took us a couple of hours to get there. We found a charming village that has been preserved for tourists. Others water villages of this type have been destroyed to build new structures. Shanghai is a very modern and clean city which has the hustle and bustle of New York and other large cities. The new construction is phenomenal and fairly recent. Cranes dot the horizon as new buildings continue to be built. Back in time for dinner and to take in the same beautiful landscape at night! WOW! We have the best viewpoint ... read more

Made sure I was on deck this morning as the ship pulled into Hong Kong harbor although it was like pea soup. Fortunately, it didn’t take long before it cleared up and could see the magnificent vertical buildings with no space in between. It is an awesome sight. Our excursion today took us to Lantau Island for a visit to Tai O Village which is a fishing village with houses on stilts and lots of vendors. They dry most of the fish so as you walk through the streets, the aroma is pungent with seafood. Next stop Po Lin Monastery where the largest seated Buddha in Asia resides up on a hill top. Another interesting sight to see. A vegetarian lunch was served here and off to the cable car ride by Ngong Ping Skyrail. The ... read more