Can't keep a good Dame down. Encore trip on the QM2.

[Pushka]

The photos are of excellent resolution but a larger size reproduction of the cakes and the (salads, I can't quite make it out?) in post 104 would be terrific.

Here you go. It's a looong bus ride











More to come

 

[Pushka]

All of the food in all these photos is free of charge.

 

[Pushka]

And one more

 

[Pushka]

More beating.
I've not been a great fan of pewter but some of the items in the gift store were beautiful. Damage done to credit card.










We thought the prices were excellent. And Dame O and I held the bus up but we were not alone.

And we just got back to port.

 

[RooFlyer]

So, the jumbo ketchup dispensers are to make sure no-one misses out on their roast chicken, right?

I thought I was a fan of pewter until many years ago during a house move I 'discovered' a set of 6 wine goblets in pewter packed away that I was given after I left my first mining posting about 20 years before. I hadn't missed them; they were put back and are still in the bottom of a cupboard.

Hey, I just got them out - Selagenor

 

[JessicaTam]

And here I was thinking the Spanish Inquisition was over.

And here was I thinking there might have been a 'please'.

 

[ellen10]

Great trip report ladies!
Enjoying every post with envy!

 

[Pushka]

Just berthing in Penang. It's around 7.30. Woke up a few times last night as the coat hangers in the closet started random rattling. No rats so I guess it means it was a little bumpy.

Dinner last night was pleasant and I was seated next to the lady whom I thought was Indian Malaysian but was originally from Tanzania and her family had been brought across as labour generations ago. Some of her family went to Canada and she came to Australia. A familiar story. We had a lot to talk about. She mentioned that she and her husband were going to wear full traditional Indian garments on Night of the Raj. He will wear the black silk 'Nehru' style garment and she will be in Sari. I've never thought that people not of that cultural group look appropriate in some other cultural garment so I'm not wearing similar.

 

[Pushka]

Going back to the past. I realised I didn't post these yesterday.

Behind heavy glass plates contains the treasures of Selangor. These are the dies, moulds and patents of their original designs.


(We found this function on my camera that has a special function for taking pictures behind glass and it's fabulous. I think it takes away all the glare and reflection!)

And some beautiful silverware designs







Which reminds me that my silverware at home needs a bit of spit and polish

Every time an employee reaches a five year employment with Selangor their hand is stamped on the wall.

 

[Pushka]

Last night I snuck in some photos of the food at dinner. They were nothing spectacular to look at but were nice and tasty.

First course - appetiser - baked mushroom with blue cheese dressing.


The two little blobs <insert technical term> were super tangy and I would have liked more.

Then entree. Which in ship language is the term for main. Beef rendang and rice. Which is exactly what it was.



My Indian lady friend is served a full on Indian banquet each night. I tried to get the Maitre D to serve me the same but he flat out refuses to do so. My Indian lady friend was very upset at his attitude and is an acquaintance of the Maitre D at Kings Court buffet and reported him.

Anyway last night she gave me some papadum as well.

One lady had two entrees. . Sooo much food. That was all eaten.

Desert was chocolate and vanilla mousse. I enjoyed it but some who had eaten two entrees declared it an awful dish quite loudly and pushed it away. I'm seeing a pattern of behaviour.



I do love having a kettle in the stateroom.

 

[love_the_life]

Dame O had the same dishes as her companion except that she was incredibly self-willed and did not partake of sweets, having eaten a rather nice toffee eclair at afternoon tea time, when we returned from the excursion. Once again I am in awe of the speed of Dame Y's posting ability and her keyboard dexterity on her phone. Leaves me in the dust.
I think today we may not even bother leaving the ship, both having visited Penang before. Perhaps a day in the spa area is on the agenda. We paid up up day 1 for unlimited access to the thermal suites and relaxation area and I think it's just what this elderly Dame needs. She seems to have acquired a runny nose - not a cold, not sick but more like hay fever. Hope it's not an allergy to the champagne:shock:

 

[Pushka]

Oh. Dame O has surfaced this morning. We are meeting for a leisurely breakfast in the dining room shortly.

Dame O is on ship Internet so her speed will be reduced. I'm on an Optus travel plan until Sri Lanka so am saving my wifi plan for later.

I expect the spa area will be deserted so will take some pictures of that for those interested.

Some snaps from this morning berthing.

Under the care of a watchful tug as the thrusters are deployed as we move into the berth.


This poor ship needed some extra nudging as the large Dame (QM2 ) takes up a lot of space.


Oops. An unfortunate event has clearly arisen on the ship. Each night we are delivered a daily schedule of events for the next day. Excursions etc etc plus Harbour times, performances etc. Mine was delivered quite early yesterday so you can get a bit confused.

As we are heading east then we will get quite a few time adjustments. Yay. Extra time. Last night's Daily programme said that we were to wind the clocks back overnight. Which means - tonight! Not the night you receive the bulletin.

So clearly this morning there has been a kerfuffle and they've had to announce the correct time as excursions were already due to leave and people aren't showing up. They adjusted their clocks already.

Such is life on a ship. Wait - what time is it?

 

[Pushka]

The daily programme. Tonight's performance sounds excellent.

 

[Pushka]

Room service. Again no charge.
Full breakfast


General Dining

Beverage - these are chargeable.




Chocolate menu. But you get two free every night as well.

 

[Pushka]

Everyday dining breakfast. (Sorry about quality as I'm taking these quickly and as discretely as possible. Which isn't really discrete)




My choice today


Plus a pink grapefruit and coffee. You can have as many dishes as you want.

 

[love_the_life]

From my side of the ship this morning.

 

[love_the_life]

Not sure if DameY posted our 'gold' pins for sailing with Cunard for a requisite number of cruises (not many to be honest).
Thought they would add a certain something to our formal gowns

 

[Pushka]

A bit of an explore this morning. Weather very threatening and it did rain.

It turned out the noise in the night was not rough seas but Grumpy cat up to mischief with the coat hangars.

So - he is in the dog house. Literally.





The kennels are not used on world cruises but they are heavily booked out for transatlantic ones. They've just added more and some cat kennels.

Hopefully he's worked out he needs to quieten up at nights.

For those interested we also visited the spa and relaxation areas. Very quiet.

The dressing rooms




The therapy pool which is painfully strong

 

[Pushka]

Various steam rooms and foot therapy.








And the relaxation lounge.

 

[Pushka]

More food outlets (free). Carinthia lounge again today.




And this is the up top Boardwalk cafe only open at lunch time in nice weather.



Burgers and hot dogs