Kirkbyites cruise vacation

 Kirkbyites cruise vacation

By Wan Chwee Seng

Steeped in serene silence and safely ensconced within the comfort of a cruiser’s cabin, I scanned the scene before me. It is six in the morning and my wife, Siew Leng and our son, Andrew, were still in deep slumber. Below us, beyond the balcony,  the sea was a dark blue sheet with ripples that glistened in the pre-dawn light.

My initial apprehension of getting motion sickness was soon dispelled as the only indication that we were on a moving ship was the slight ripple of water in the glass on the bedside table.

“You should consider doing the cruise organised by Emily Yap in Feb next year. You’ll love it!” our friend, Mimi had messaged me earlier. My friends Lean Aing , Jessie and others provided further encourqagement.

I was glad I had taken their kind advice, as I was beginning to enjoy the cruise.

As the first rays of the morning sun lit up the eastern horizon, the distant outline of hills and forests came into view. 

The morning sun lit up the distant horizon

A view of the sea from the cabin's balcony

A voice over the intercom announced our arrival at Phuket and those who were going for the shore excursion were told to congregate at a designated place. Guests had the option of joining a package tour or to make their own arrangement  with the staff at the information counter. Our group, comprising of Hong  Chong, Chee Eng, Chin Chin, Yut Wah, Peng Yoong, Angeline , Siew Leng, Andrew and I opted for the latter as we could choose our itineraries.

A tender boat took us across to Patong,s pier where our tour guide was already waiting for us . 

On board a tender boat heading for Phuket

A view of Phuket's shore line

A walk along the jetty

 After a brief discussion we were guided to a ten-seater van and our English-speaking guide introduced himself. 

Consulting our tour guide

He rambled off his Thai name and said , “ I think it is ‘too short’ for you all to remember, so you can just address me as Charlie’.  Charlie told us his Thai name is relatively short compared to the Thai name for Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. According to Charlie the Guinness Book of World Records named Bangkok as the city with the longest name. Bangkok is a shortened version of the city’s ceremonial name:

 Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit

I think we will just stick to ‘Charlie’ and ‘Bangkok’.

 As the van hummed  and weaved its way through the street of  Patong , which was undergoing cable-laying construction, Charlie drew our attention to the tangled mass of telegraph wires which had necessitated the construction of an underground cables.. 

A tangled mass of telegraph wires

Along the way Charlie  gave us a brief history of Phuket and his  commentary laced with local  humour and witty remarks made the trip more interesting and enjoyable.  

Charlie givng us a brief history of Phuket

A view along the way

 Besides his affable nature, Charlie went out of his way to assist us, and his kind deeds and caring concerns soon won a warm place in our hearts. 

When we thanked him for his assistance, he merely replied,

“One day , I  too will grow old and I may need someone’s help.”

Our first stop was at Wat Chalong, a buddhist temple dedicated to the temple’s abbots  Luang  Pho Chaem (isi1827-1908) and Luang Pho Chuang ( 1875-1945). Luang Pho Chaem is reputed to be endowed with healing prowess and many local Buddhists as well as Malaysian Buddhists go there to pray for good health or seek a cure for their ailments.

At Wat Chalong

Although the temple’s ground was dotted with shady trees they offered little respite from the oppressive heat of the midday sun. Perhaps, aware of the distance, the sweltering heat and the many steps that led to the temple, 

Charlie told us , “ You can just pray from here for good health.”

While Chee Eng, Chin Chin, Siew Leng and Andrew made their way to the Wats, I was content to follow Charlie’s sagacious advice. I just sat there and prayed for the health and safety of my family and friends and especially for those who could not join the trip because of poor health. 

Meanwhile other members of the group had made their way  to a nearby stall  for a drink of fresh coconut water to quench their parched throats and it was not long before we joined them for the thirst-quenching  drink.

Enjoying a drink of fresh coconut water

Refreshed by the cool drink, we were ready for the short drive to a local cashew nut factory. A wide variety of cashew nuts to cater to the different taste buds were on display at the counter. Customers were allowed to try the different flavour; natural, honey-coated, wasabi flavoured, etc before making their purchase.

It was lunch time when we left the factory and Charlie said he would take us to the newly open Central Floresta Phuket for our lunch as the van could drop us right at the main entrance of the mall. The moment we stepped into the Mall, we were greeted by the sound of traditional Thai music .

The sound of Thai traditional music greeted us

 Most of the restaurants were located on the ground floor and one of the most eye-catching features of the place was a man-made canal which   was meant to depict the khlong and floating market in Bangkok. The canal was tastefully adorned with boats which were laden with baskets of succulent mangoes. Perhaps, it was meant to tempt the food connoisseurs  to the nearby stall that sold the traditional Thai dessert of glutinous rice with mangoes and coconut milk.  

A massive sculpture towered over us

After we had our fill of Thai food , we headed for Jungceylon mall  in Patong, as Angeline wanted to try the Thai foot reflexology. We took a leisurely stroll around the mall and then parked ourselves on a circular bench in the mall’s courtyard. 

Taking a leisurely stroll in the courtyard

 Floral decorations 

Taking in the sight and sound of the place

 Hoards of busy shoppers and sightseers were milling around the place. A group of youngsters were performing a hip-hop to the blare of music. We watched, fascinated, as the deft fingers of a balloon vendor magically transformed colourful balloons into various shapes.

A balloon vendor

While others took in the sight and sound of the place, I  took the opportunity to reflect on our cruise on board the Super Gemini.

The morning of 24^th February 2019 found  thirty  seven Kirbyites and a few family members waiting in the vicinity of the Amcorp Mall to board the coach which would take us to Port Klang. 

Waiting to board the bus

Boarding the bus to Port Klang

  Once our luggage were safely stored in the luggage compartment and our ever reliable Hong Chong had made a head counts we started for our destination.

On board the coach , Dato Kandan briefed us on the procedures for embarkation and we were all issued with lanyards with plastic card holders for us to store our Access Cards .

A quick briefing befrore embarkation

Stdying the itinerary

On arrival at the Port Klang jetty we had to wait for immigration and custom clearance before embarking. Luckily, there were ample seats outside the building for us to rest while waiting for the clearance process. 

Waiting for immigration and custom clearance

The immigration and custom clearance process went on smoothly and we soon found ourselves lugging our luggage along the long jetty that led to the ship. 

The wooden benches placed at intervals along the jetty were a welcome sight and they provided me the opportunity to rest my weary legs and take a breather.  Young, happy smiling faces greeted us as we made our way towards the ship and the moment we stepped on board there were more smiling faces to greet us. During the cruise we found out that the staff was friendly and ever ready to lend a helping hand.   

 Once we had checked into our rooms and before the ship departed for Phuket, all the guests had to attend a muster drill, a mandatory emergency exercise to familiarize guests where to assemble in the unlikely event of an emergency and  to provide information on  how to don a life jacket.

Getting ready for the muster drill

At our muster station C2

Once the ship left the port, it was time to indulge in our favourite activities and enjoy the facilities that are available on board.

Guests would not go hungry on board the ship , as breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner and supper are included in the package and they can choose from a selection of dining venues which serve global culinary delights. 

At night guests can head for the Stardust lounge where they can sit back, relax and enjoy a live show or make their way to the nearby Resort and try their luck. For the health conscious and exercise-oriented individuals they can go for a swim or go for a stroll or jog along the ship’s jogging track.  Andrew recalled how he had asked the direction to the jogging track from one of the ship’s staff. The guy beamed him a smile and politely pointed to the deck located  outside the door. The expected jogging track was nowhere to be seen. However, the view of the open sea and the caressed of the sea breeze compensated for the shortcomings.

A view of the ship's deck

Enjoying the sea view

With so many activities to keep us occupied, we only went back to our cabins to catch on our beauty sleeps or for a brief rest.

Dawn, the next day , found us approaching the island of Phuket and as soon as the ship docked, we were ready for a tour of the island. Dusk had set in when we finished our sight seeing and now as we sat on a bench at Jungceylon and waited for Angeline to finish her foot massage, dusk had slipped into night. I remember someone had asked our guide if we would be on time to catch the last boat to the ship. Charlie replied with a smile,

“No problem. If you are late you can swim to Langkawi. Stay the night there and the next morning swim to Penang”.

We all returned safely to the ship and in time for our dinner. 

A glimpse of the Gemini from the tender boat

In time for our dinner

As soon as the ship left Phuket and set sailed for Penang we were ready to resume our favourite nocturnal activities. The next morning at breakfast we were greeted by a buzz of lively chatters as our friends at a table shared their night experiences.

“ I was on a winning streak until that old lady disturbed me”.

“I stayed until  two in the morning to recoup my loss”.

 I am sure there will be something on the cruise which we will remember and cherish: the   excitement of watching a video slot machine spewing virtual coins; watching spell-bound at the dazzling illusions of a magic show; enjoying a relaxing massage to sooth and rejuvenate our aching muscles; savouring the scrumptious fares at the different dining venues; or just relaxing and enjoying the cool breeze at the pool side.

Besides enjoying the facilities on board the ship, what I will  treasure most about the  cruise is the opportunity to meet new friends  and strengthen the bond of existing friends and acquaintances.  

Hopefully, the short cruise is not the end but the beginning of a much longer cruise.




Below is a short video of the cruise

Writer's Notes.
My sincere thanks to Emily Yap, Dato Kandan, Chong Hong Chong, Siti Rohani and others for organizing the memorable cruise.
Thanks also to Hong Chong, Mrs Jagjeet and Joanne for sharing the photos. To all Kirkby cruisers and families , a big thank you for your wonderful company.

A trip to New Zealand:

A trip to New Zealand: Part 1 North Island

In June of 2004, my wife, Siew Leng and my son, Lenny, joined a group tour to New Zealand. Below is a slideshow of their trip to the North Island

A trip to New Zealand: Part 2 South Island

Trip to Bangkok and Ayutthaya, Thailand

Trip to Bangkok and Ayutthaya, Thailand

By C S Wan

Seated on the tiled floor of a pavilion and sheltered from the heat of the morning sun by an ornately carved roof, I watched the scene before me.

 A group of Chinese tourists jostled and pushed their way through a bustling crowd of tourists as they followed doggedly behind their vociferous guide. Another group of western tourists, strangely garbed in colourful Thai sarong, gathered round their guide who was busy explaining something to them in French.

 Like all these tourists, we too had come to see for ourselves the renowned and splendour of the Grand Palace complex. While my wife, Siew Leng; elder brother, Chwee Guan; younger sisters, Teck Neo and Boon Neo; and our niece , Joon  and our tour guide, Anan Sanohsot,  made their way up the steps to see one of the wats in the palace grounds, I was content to sit and admire the multi-tiered roofs of the wat,  gilded chedi and reflect on our trip. 

Our four days trip to Bangkok was organised by Joon who assured us that it would be a leisurely trip. Our son, Lenny did the online flight bookings for my wife and I, while Joon did the online bookings for her father and two aunties. She had also booked a hotel through Staydilly.com and I am sure managed to get a good deal from her cousin Eu Jin. She had also hired a van from Tour with Tong and an English-speaking guide. We arrived early at KLIA and so we had  breakfast at the Old Town White Coffee before heading for the boarding gate. 

At Old Town White Coffee

At the Old Town White Coffee. Work cum family vacation

Joon advised me to bring along my walking stick as she said it could be a long walk to the boarding gate at the Suvarnabhuri International Airport in Bangkok. However, my initial apprehension was soon dispelled at the sight of the walkalators at the KLIA and subsequently at the Suvarnabhuri airport.

Waiting at the boarding gate

Our flight number

It was just a brief wait at the Suvarnabhuri airport before our van arrived to take us to the Aphrodite Inn which was located in the city centre and within walking distance of shopping malls, food stalls and money changer kiosks.

At the entrance of Aphrodite Inn

 The Aphrodite Inn was clean and cosy, tastefully decorated with fresh orchids and the staff was pleasant and helpful. 

Reception counter at Aphrodite Inn

Real fresh flower. Bukan bunga plastik.

Hotel's rating

The dining area. A nice place to relax or work

Joon had picked the ideal hotel for us, as unlike some large hotels with its spacious and intimidating lobbies, endless rooms and large number of guests, the Aphrodite Inn was quiet and  the waiting and dining area, the lift and our  rooms were just within walking distance of each other. 


According to our itinerary, on Sunday the 6^th of August we would visit Ayutthaya, the old capital of Thailand, but there was a slight change of plan.  Our tour guide, Anan, suggested we visit Ayutthaya on Monday as the temples there would be less crowded on a weekday. It was decided that we would visit the Grand Palace on Sunday and then go to Ayutthaya on Monday.

So a Sunday morning, the 6^th of August found us on the grounds of the Grand Palace. We had visited another wat earlier and Anan had pointed to us the two demon guards who stood guard at the entrance of the wat. Above the entrance, the gable was embellished with intricate designs of a garuda and serpents. All these bore testimony to the significant presence of Hindu elements in the Thai religious culture. 

As soon as I saw our guide and the others descend the steps, I left the comfort of the pavilion and rejoined the group. We followed Anan along a paved pathway bordered on one side with well-manicured shrubs and trees and adorned with sculptured animals. 

Manicured shrubs and animal sculptures

 We were able to keep pace with Anan as he had accidentally injured his toe during the night and now had to tread slowly and carefully along the hard surface.  We made a brief stop at a signboard which showed the location of the various buildings on the 64 acres palace grounds and Anan pointed out some of the sites we would visit. 

A map of the Grand Palace complex

Our path took us past well -manicured field adorned with animal topiaries, plots of colourful blossoms and concrete bridges decorated with potted plants and statues and guard posts placed at strategic positions.

Animal topiaries

Statue and flowers

The morning sky was overcast, but the oppressive heat and humidity made us  stop at intervals  to rest our weary legs and take a swig from our water bottles .

Resting under a gazebo

Most of our shirts were already drenched with sweat and so hand fans  were dug out from sling bags and even brochures were used to fan ourselves. Our guide helped to fan  us with his umbrella.

Anan helping to fan us

Behind a clump of trees we could see a tower and we were told it was just a water tank disguised as a Neo-gothic tower. 

The water tank 

As we made our slow way along the grounds of  the Grand Palace ,  Anan showed us the different architectural designs of the various buildings and provided some interesting accounts of past Kings and Queens who used to live in the Grand Palace . I was impressed with his profound knowledge of the Thai culture and architectural designs. Later I learned he had graduated from the Silpakorn University with a Master Degree in Art History with Architecture.

One of the well known buildings in the palace ground is Wat Phra Kaew (or Temple of the Emerald Buddha ). 

Legend has it that lightning struck a chedi in Wat Pa Yia ( Bamboo Forest Monastery) in Chiang Ra revealing a Buddha image covered in stucco. The Abbot took it back to his residence and one day noticed the stucco at the nose had flaked off revealing a green interior. Curious, he removed the stucco and discovered a Buddha image fashioned from green jade. 

After being relocated to many temples it was finally housed in its present temple. One of the most important and auspicious ceremonies conducted in the temple is the seasonal changing of the gold robe which is performed by the King of Thailand. 

We followed Anan as he led us to PHRA THINANG WAROPHAT PHIMAN which is one of the palaces which is opened to the public. Before entering the building the ladies were told to put on the Thai sarong. 

All garbed in Thai sarong before entering the palace

Phra Thinang Warophat Phiman

The Royal residence is a Neo-classic, one storey mansion built by King Chulalongkorn in 1876 as his residence and throne hall. The mansion is divided into three sections: the front section is the audience chamber, the middle section is the ceremonial hall and the rear section is occupied by   the king, his consorts and daughters.  Anan told us whenever the court officials and visitors wanted to seek audience with the King they had prostrate themselves in the Thai traditional style when the King made his grand entrance.

We made our way across a covered bridge and Anan told us the bridge  which connected the Inner Palace to the Outer palace was used by the court ladies from the Outer Palace whenever they were summoned by the King. A louvered wall along the bridge allowed the court ladies to look out without being seen themselves. 

After a short walked we arrived at PHRA THINANG WEHART CHAMRUN , another palace which is opened for public viewing. The two-storeyed  Chinese style mansion was built and donated to King Chulalongkorn by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in 1889. 

Phra Thinang Wehart Chamrun

The roof ridges were decorated with concrete designs and the fish-shaped rain spouts on the roof caught our attention. 

The floor was covered with ornamental glazed tiles and we were told a close examination would show every three tiles had a slight change in the designs. 

The  wooden doors and windows were covered with geometric lattice-work designs. The palace was furnished with massive ebony furniture. The ground floor contains a Chinese-style throne while the upper storey houses an altar with the name plates of King Mongkut and King Chulalongkorn and their respective consorts. A manually operated lift was also on display.  

Near the mansion we could see a  structure which resembles a lighthouse. We were told it was a watch tower used by King Chulalongkorn to observe the surrounding countryside.

The observatory in the Grand Palace complex

The sun was already high up in the sky when we left the mansion.  Perhaps, knowing we were already hungry and thirsty, Anan said,
" We can go for an ice-cream on the way out."
We quickened our steps at the thought of the cool and refreshing drinks.

The ice-cream shop and gift shops were ingeniously located before the exit as visitors are compelled to pass through these shops before they can exit the palace grounds. We had some ice-creams, tried the well known Thai savoury of mango sticky rice pudding ( khao naow ma maung)  and bought some gifts before proceeding to the nearby Wat Pho or Temple of the reclining Buddha.

Looking for gifts

Like the Grand Palace, visitors must be properly attired before they are allowed to enter the buildings and are forbidden to take photos of the interior. Founded in the 17th century Wat Pho is the oldest temple in Bangkok. The colossal , gold plated reclining Buddha is forty six meters long. Using his laser pointer pen, Anan, pointed to us the Buddha's feet which are inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting the 108 auspicious signs.

Resting under a tree in the garden of Wat Pho

Tired and thirsty we made a brief stop at a shop for more refreshing drinks before boarding the van for our lunch at Sala Restaurant_ a surprised treat from Joon. The first floor of the restaurant was already packed with early customers and so we were directed to the second floor. We had to creep carefully up the dimly-lit and winding stair-case. However, it was a worthwhile climb as the air-conditioned room offered a stunning vista. Relaxing in the cool and comfort of the room and relishing the various traditional Thai cuisine, we let our eyes feast on the scene below us. In the distance the spires of Wat Arun rose against a backdrop of a grey, cloudy sky, while below us river boats trailing white foams plied the murky water of the Chao Phraya River.    

Wat Arun 

After a good rest and shower we were ready to take in the sights and sounds of the city. Dusk had set in when we left the hotel and most of the shops were about to close for the night, but street vendors had set up their stalls and the eateries had already opened for business. We stopped at a bridge that straddled the Chao Phraya River and leaning against a concrete railings we watched boats ferrying passengers up and down the river. 

We watched, fascinated at the speed and agility of the commuters who boarded and alighted from a boat as soon as it glided to a halt at the pier. 

Boat coming in to berth

Passengers alighting from a boat

We then proceeded to one of the eateries which offered noodles and chicken rice besides the traditional Thai dishes. The next day we had our dinner at another nearby eatery which sold Thai satay.   

Enjoying the Thai cuisine

After dinner while others decided to go shopping at the nearby malls, I decided to have a good rest in the comfort of the hotel's room. Joon accompanied me back to the Hotel before joining the rest. 



Monday, the 7th of August dawned bright and clear. We were up early for the trip to Ayutthaya and when we went to the dining area for our breakfast, I  thought we were the early birds. However, while enjoying our western breakfast, we learned that my brother and Joon were even earlier and had  gone for their morning walk and 'exploration'. 

Anan, our guide, had arrived before the appointed time and briefed us on the itinerary for the day. 

Founded in 1350 Ayutthaya is the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom after Sukhothai. It was raided and razed to the ground by the Burmese in 1767. 

As we gazed at the remains of the towering prang ( reliquary towers ) and marveled at the remains of  the gigantic monasteries we could picture the splendour of the city during its glorious past.  

Ayutthaya is about an hour drive from Bangkok. Along the way, using his newly purchased microphone, Anan gave a running commentary on some of  the historical sites in Bangkok and also a brief history of Ayutthaya. 

Anan giving a brief history of Ayutthaya

Founded in 1350 Ayutthaya is the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom after Sukhothai. It was raided and razed to the ground by the Burmese in 1767. 

As we gazed at the remains of the towering prang ( reliquary towers ) and marveled at the remains of  the gigantic monasteries we could picture the splendour of the city during its glorious past. 

One of the chief attractions at the site is the sculptured stone 
 head of the Buddha which had fallen down and was now embraced by the overgrown roots of a
 Bo tree.

As we made our slow way along the uneven ground Anan drew our attention to the cultural influence of Cambodia and Persia . 

Buddha's image with Cambodian influence

Conservation work was still in progress and Anan showed us how to distinguish between the old and new bricks and mortar that were used in the construction of the buildings.





As soon as we boarded the waiting van for our trip to Wat Panan Choeng, the van driver handed each of us a refrigerated packet of face towel and a bottle of cold water. It was such a welcome sight and relief after our walk in the blazing heat of the mid-morning sun. 

Anan and our van driver

After half an hour drive we arrived at Wat Panan Choeng and were just in time to witness and participate in the robe offering ceremony. The ceremonial hall was already packed with pilgrims and visitors and we were told during weekends the place would be packed to capacity.The participants were already seated on the floor and  accompanied by the the sound of chanting, religious officers threw the donated robes with perfect accuracy that all landed on the lap of the sitting Buddha's image where other officers hoisted and draped them over the  image's shoulder. We marveled at the skill of the officers as they were able to throw the robes across a swirling ceiling fan without even looking at the image. The trailing ends of the robes were then draped over the heads of the participants and a monk blessed everyone presence with good health, happiness and prosperity. We could not help smiling when the participants began to hit repeatedly at their wallets in order to be blessed with prosperity and we joined in the fun. 

Image of sitting Buddha at Wat Panan Choeng

After the stifling heat in the crowded hall and the long walk, we were all thirsty and hungry and looking forward to another refreshing drink and delicious Thai dishes.  We were glad to find out the Ban U Thong Restaurant, our lunch destination, was only a short drive from the temple. Customers at this riverside restaurant had the option of dining in its air-conditioned room or on the wooden deck where they could enjoy the sun and fresh air. We chose a table in the air-conditioned room with a good view of the river and while sipping fresh coconut water and other thirst-quenching drinks,  we watched long tug boats transporting sand and other building materials toward an unknown destination. The service was fast and efficient and we were soon  savouring the tom yam soup, Thai curry, fresh vegetables salad and other delectable Thai dishes with our bowl of rice. 

Relaxing at the Ban U Thong Restaurant

Tuesday, the 8th of August found us waiting at the lobby of the Hotel for the van that was due to pick us up at 8am for our scheduled flight at 11.30 am.  We waited and waited. The appointed time came and went but there was no sign of the van. Joon found out there was some miscommunication. The rental company thought we had arranged for the van to pick us up at 11.30 am. Fortunately, with the help of the Hotel receptionist, Joon managed to get a seven-seater taxi to take us to the airport. The moment the taxi arrived our luggage was quickly bundled into the rear seat and we scrambled into the taxi. The city streets were already choked with the morning rush-hour traffic.The taxi had to weave its way  in between cars, taxis, motor bikes and tuk-tuk. Thankfully, we managed to arrive on time for our flight . 

The trip to Bangkok had given us the opportunity to experience a new environment, new culture and new cuisine. But what made it more enjoyable  and memorable was having the wonderful company of family members and the opportunity to reconnect and strengthen our family bonds.  

KHORB KUN NA to Joon for organising the trip and taking good care of us during our stay in Bangkok. 


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