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Ruby Belles Holiday Adventures

Princess Poppy Celebrates in New York

Our trip started at 4.am Thursday 29^th October, when the car picked us up to take us to Heathrow airport.

The flight was okay landed on time; we took a yellow cab to the hotel in Manhattan. The hotel was very good, Rowena and Leo left their hotel and moved into ours after a couple of days, as it was much better than the one they had been in.

That evening we met with the rest of the group, our daughter and her husband, his parents, sister and her husband and a couple of friends.

Off we went for an Italian meal, back to the hotel for an early night.

Breakfast in the hotel was an eye opener everything tray, plates cups, bowls knife/fork spoons, was disposable. But the food was very good.

Only four of the places where we ate at used proper china and cutlery, every where else it was polystyrene and plastic even the serving trays were disposable.

We all went to the marathon registration hall. It was decided that Rob would run in place of Leo’s injured sister. So he had to buy running shorts and a tee-shirt and new trainers, (which he did not wear on the day because they were too stiff still.)

Next stop was Empire state building; we queued for 2.5 hours to get to the top. The views were fantastic, but to get in and out was a nightmare!!

Over the following days, we visited Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island where the immigrants all landed before being allowed in New York. Very interesting museum.

A gospel service in the Bronx, a walk thought Queens and Harlem, The Moma museum, Natural History and Guggenheim museum, a stroll down Wall Street passed the American stock exchange.

Also I watched the marathon, at the 12 mile mark and 22 mile and then back to central park and I did not see anyone!!!

Met up with a rather tired Rob, but he was chuffed with himself!!!!!

Dinner that night was in an Irish pub, everyone wearing their medals.

We all visited ChinaTown where we had lunch with proper cutlery (chopsticks) and china plates and real glasses and tea cups.

Walked round Lt. Italy very expensive shops.

Strolled across the BrooklynBridge, didn’t realise how far it was across.

The subway was an experience, found it very complex.

Broadway and Times Square was where we all needed sunglass for the bling, was quite dazzling.

For our anniversary meal we dined in a very posh restaurant called Gramercy Tavern, Very nice it was too!!!

Bloomingdales, Macys, JCPennys, street markets all were visited.

We went back to Central Park to see the Dakota building where John Lennon was shot back in 1980, also Strawberry Fields the area of central park where Yoko Ono hold a memorial service for John Lennon every year. A very impressive building, like FortKnox at the front with huge gates and a man on duty.

Finally we rode the subway back to the airport to catch our much delayed flight home!!!

Pat Countess Coordinated

Pat Countess Coordinated has recently returned from her much look forward to cruise to Mexico
However Pat flew out to California the week-end the restrictions came in respect of the Mexican Swine Flu outbreak, so a change of itinarary was implimented by the cruise company

Pat enjoyed a cruise along the Californian coastline visiting Ports and areas of the State she was not expecting to visit and though not as planned she enjoyed her cruise very much and hopes to get back to do the 'Mexican' cruise in the near future

Pat writes :
Hi Linda
imagine my surprise when on the list of things to do one day on board ship was a red hat gathering for afternoon tea! Needless to say I went along but sadly a lot of them didn't bother to turn up - too busy sun bathing maybe?!! Anyway 4 ladies apart from myself did turn up and I took this pic of them which I thought you may like to see. They are Pam, June & Diana from California and a lady whose name I cannot remember from Texas. We had a lovely chat and they were amazed how many were in our chapter and how many activities we did!

Pamela Lady Crystal de Caff & the Pirates

Cruise ship attacked by pirates

(27 April 2009) News Report

The cruise ship MSC Melody was attacked by pirates near the Seychelles last Saturday evening (25 April).

After leaving the Seychelles' capital, Port Victoria, the ship was approached by pirates in a small speedboat who then opened fire with automatic weapons.

The ship quickly escaped the attack and the 1,000 passengers and 500 crew were unhurt.

On Sunday afternoon MSC Melody was escorted to north of Aden, Yemen, by the Spanish warship SPS Marques de la Ensenada as a precaution.

The area the attack took place is regarded as safe by the Maritime Security Centre HOA.

Message from Pamela

Hello Linda,I'm back! Well you could say I have had an adventure!!! The second Saturday we were away,off the coast of the Seychelles,the ship was attacked by pirates (me hearties!!).They tried to board the ship and were repelled by some of the passengers and the Israeli security forces.The Somali pirates had machine guns and peppered the ship causing quite a bit of damage.The Israelis fired back and with the help of fire hydrants and diversionary tactics the raid was thankfully curtailed.14hrs later we were joined by a Spanish warship and helicopter that escorted us for 3 and a half days,until we were in safe waters.We were really surprised that this incident attracted so little publicity.One English man suffered a stray bullet gunshot wound and was flown home.It all seems to be hushed up!

We are more than pleased that Pamela & Tony returned home safely to the UK and the remainder of their holiday was enjoyable

From The Times

April 27, 2009

Italian cruise ship guards fire shots to repel pirates near Seychelles

(REUTERS)

The MSC Melody

Richard Owen in Rome

The captain of an Italian cruise ship with 1,527 people on board described yesterday how his ship fought a running battle with pirates.

Commander Ciro Pinto of the MSC Melody, carrying 991 passengers and 536 crew, said the ship was left with smashed windows and bullet holes on its port side after six pirates trying to board the vessel fired at least 200 rounds with assault rifles from their dinghy.

Israeli security guards on the ship responded by firing pistols into the air and spraying them with a firehose.

“They started firing like crazy at the ship,” Commander Pinto said of the attackers, who struck in international waters 200 miles north of Victoria in the Seychelles and 600 miles off the Somali coast.

Commander Pinto said he suspected that the small boat used by the pirates had been launched from a nearby “mother ship”, because “there is no way it could have made it from Somalia on its own”.

Italian authorities said that a Spanish warship, the Marques de Ensenada, would escort the 35,000-tonne MSC Melody to safety.

Commander Pinto, who ordered the crew to turn the boat into the waves to make it more difficult to board, said that pistols kept in a safe on the ship were handed out to security staff hired from an Israeli private security company. The guards opened fire as the pirates tried to clamber up the ship. They followed the MSC Melody for another 20 minutes, still firing, before giving up. “It felt like we were in war,” Commander Pinto said.

David Cavenagh, an Australian journalist on the MSC Melody, said the passengers initially thought the gunshots were fireworks and did not realise they were under attack until an announcement was made over the ship’s public address system. They had been told before setting sail that the ship would steer a course farther from the Somali coast than usual to reduce the risk of an attack.

Some cruise lines refuse to equip guards with small arms because it is forbidden in some of the ports where they dock. However, industry sources said guards were often used “discreetly” and cruise line security work was popular with young Israelis who had recently completed army service.

Domenico Pellegrino, the managing director of MSC, confirmed that the ship was protected by Israeli security guards. “We use them because they are the best — and we have just had a demonstration of that,” he said.

The MSC Melody, which was heading for Aqaba when attacked, was on a 22-day cruise from Durban, South Africa, to Genoa, its home port. The eight-deck ship, launched in 1982 and refurbished in 2001, is the largest of the MSC fleet, with 532 cabins and a capacity of 1,492 passengers.

Clare Countess Claret Velvet & Edgar Break Free

Messages from Clare keeping us up to date with the great adventure she is enjoying with her husband Edgar

We're having a great time here in Thailand. Have finished our 5-day motorcycle tour which I really enjoyed. I was very nervous about this but had a great time. Not too long each day on the bikes - very winding roads, up & down in very mountainous country. Amazing views, waterfalls, hilltribe villages, wats, boattrips, elephant sancuary, etc.. We've had Thai massage, bathed in hot mineral pools with black mud treatments, watched traditional dance & music and much more.

The "Mae Hong Son Loop" has been described as one of the top ten motorcycle trips in the world. The forst part includes 1684 bends and the second part has 2040 bends. The road surface is good and I got quite good at taking hairpin bends at increasing speeds.

The highly-trained elephants have no jobs to do now since logging is banned in Thailand (every teak tree in Thailand has been identified & recorded) so can only earn a living by entertaining tourists. The show did include demonstration of logging skills but also many other items such as football & even elephant painting which was quite extraordinary to watch.

We also visited Hilltribe villages including the 'longneck' Karen tribe who pit a coil of bronze around the women's necks to increase their beauty & valuue!

Then a short flight down to Koh Samui & ferry to the peace & quiet on the small island of Koh Phanang. Edgar booked us into a top-class resort for 3 nights.

This place is quite amazing. The resort is built on the rocky headland between two lovely beaches. The free-form pool has wonderful views over the sea. It is like the tropical zone at CentreParks but multiplied by 50 and all for real!! Sights, sounds, gentle warm breezes, etc.

Today we will downsize into cheap & cheerful beach-huts on adjoining beach.

This place is extraordinary and very beautifully designed with every comfort (& free internet) but it isn't really 'us'. We will enjoy the chance to use our hammock & have no air-con or hot water.

Accomodation has been very good & the people here are really cheerful, laidback & friendly. Weather, of course, has been wonderful with some cold evenings & early mornings when up in the mountains. Food delicious.

In 4 days time back to Bangkok and fly to NewZealand.

The beautiful island of Koh Phanang

Next Stop New Zealand

My last e-mail left off when I was lounging around in the very posh Panviman Resort on Koh Phanang (look up their website for more details). We left there & moved a mile or 2 to a beach bungalow with no aircon. or hot water. In some ways we felt more at home & certainly more in touch with Thailand. (Panviman was a bit like DisneyLand – not really real).

We had a couple of days in Koh Samui where I went back to FantasyLand at a day spa. I had 1 hour in the herbal steam room created out of a cave of natural rocks (rather like a Hobbit hole) with the chance to cool off in either one of two natural rock pools. Refreshments were available. Next I had a total of 2 ½ hours of massage – first hot-stone massage, absolutely amazing then reflexology. Very expensive but really good.

Next, back to Bangkok for a day then flight to Auckland where we stayed for a couple of days before picking up our campervan 2 weeks ago.

We’ve done loads of stuff since then. Penguins & giant rays at a special ‘Antarctic environment’, Kiwi & other endangered NZ birds ( a special enclosure is needed where day & night are reversed so that the kiwi are active when we visit. Caves with extraordinary glowworms living in the roof which create wonderful reflections on the river-water flowing underneath, visit & overnight stay with the family of a NZ friend, sea kayaking, guided walk in Abel Tasman National Park. We both spent a day making a Knife from a bar of steel + brass & wood. This included forging the blade with a blacksmith’s forge, hammer & anvil, shaping the blade, attaching the brass hilt & handle, grinding & polishing the blade, etc., etc. Of course a lot of the skilled work was done by Stephen who ran the day but we ended up with really nice knives (I’m not sure what we will do with them but it was great fun).

At the Franz Josef glacier we took a flight in a small plane (5 seats + pilot) fitted with skis as well as wheels. This took us over the glaciers & landed at the top of the mountain where there was absolute silence & complete 360 degree views of snow & mountaintops – remarkable!

Queenstown is the hub of adventurous things to do (the home of bunji- jumping). We wimped out a bit – took a horse-ride through some of the locations of Lord of The Rings & up the cable-car to a great viewing point before heading off for our overnight cruise to Doubtful Sound. This was really interesting:- stunning scenery, great food &, again, the silence & peace of being away from civilization.

We’ve now returned to Queenstown & Edgar has booked himself for a tandem Parascending flight – something he has been wanting to do for years. I’m just going on a walk (nothing too adventurous for me) and in the evening we have organized a ‘hot pool’ for two where you can slide back the glass wall & look out over an amazing view. I’m looking forward to that!