June 5, 2024
Back in Belfast
Today I got the news around 10:30 am in Cork, that I am scheduled to fly to Grand Canary, Spain at 3pm tomorrow and I can access my baggage on the ship, at noon before heading to the airport. I quickly packed up all my stuff at Edel's and had a quick goodbye, for now, because we are determined to meet up again soon, somewhere warm, so she can have a proper ship experience!
It then took me about 5 hours, to drive back to Belfast in my sporty Kia Rio rental; did I mention I got a standard transmission to make things more of a challenge and exciting! I haven't driven stick in roughly 30 years & add on the opposite side of the road driving! Party!! Poor Edel did a couple of body jerks while riding shotgun and not in control, over our week of touring.
I am staying at a different hotel downtown this time in Belfast and the picture above, the Protestant headquarters, is right outside my window. I am also just 2 hotels down from the famous Europa hotel, the most bombed hotel in the world! Good Karma right!
Late tonight I found out that our itinerary, once we set sail on the 15th, is also changed for first couple of days but it means I am going to miss hooking up with my dear friend Tom Powl in Hamburg, Germany. I talked to him tonight and sent new itinerary below and he is going to see if perhaps we could meet up at another point. I hope so, really would love to see him!
I am doing this getaway with my good buddy Basia, from the Ship. It has worked out beautifully, for a totally last minute throw together. We thought we would be dealing with rain the whole time, but we have been so blessed! Sunset this morning was stunning! Well worth getting up at 4 a.m.!
I heard you can't come to Cambodia without seeing Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the World and a masterpiece of ancient human engineering, art and spiritual design. So even though I am "templed out"; it's the heaviest part of the Cambodian rainy season (May thru October) and Siem Reap , where Angkor Wat is located, is a hour away by air or 7+ hours by car, I find myself on Air Cambodia , from our port in Sihanoukville , with 40+ ship people traveling to Siem Reap for a quick visit! I'll probably never get here again!
I joined in with 49 other Ship Residents to attend an event the next day at The Vietnam War Remnants Museum also known as The Museum for Peace. This was put together by our residents as part of our ongoing efforts with the Ship's Odyssey Rotary Club and our Global Flagship of Peace initiative.