Alaska Cruises in the Summer - Part 1

Last year was my first time going to Alaska, it’s also my second and third time taking a cruise. My first cruise was in year 2012 so I am still a newbie with cruising experience.  At least this was better than the first time since I didn’t need to take any flight to the departure port (in 2012, I had to travel from Hong Kong to Singapore in order to board on the ship). Since I live in Metro Vancouver, I only needed to take Canada Line (our local city train) to the Waterfront Station in Downtown Vancouver and walk 7 minutes to the Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal 🚢

This is Canada Place! Any guess on which cruise line I was with in early summer to Alaska?

There were three ships at Canada Place on my boarding day: Holland America Koningsdam, Majestic Princess and American Queen Ocean Victory.

From May 27 to June 3, I was on the Holland America Koningsdam which was launched in April 2016, a mid-sized ship with 99863 gross tonnage and it has the capacity for 2650 passengers and 1025 crew members. There are 12 decks and 1331 passenger cabins. 

We arrived at Canada Place around 10:15 am and by the time we could get on to Koningsdam it was already 12 noon. Canada Place was packed with people lining up for baggage drop-off, security screening, cruise check-in, US customs before we could wait in a seating room for the boarding.

My friend and I stayed in stateroom 7057 which was an inside cabin located on deck 7 in the front side of mid-ship area. Each of us paid CAD $860.21 inclusive of taxes and port fees for a 7 day trip. Let’s take a look at our stateroom first😉

There was plenty of space to store our stuff. I forgot to take the photos of closets and drawers. But cleanliness was more important than photography, my friend sanitized most areas such as tables, shelves, closets, drawers, telephone, dryer and bathroom counter which I felt good👍

OH NO! How come we got one queen bed!!! We requested for twin beds in advance. It made me feel like it's a honeymoon ❤❤❤

Let’s continue on with bathroom. Everything was like✨NEW✨as Koningsdam has only been in service for a few years.

It provided towels, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand soap and lotion. We needed to bring our own face cream including sunscreen, toothpastes, toothbrushes and hairbrushes. Their toiletries are from Elemis. While I was fine with the products, my friend found the shampoo a bit irritating due to its aroma ingredient. I recommend anyone with sensitive skin to bring their own shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion.

The size of its shower area was better than I expected considering this was an inside cabin. It could fit 2 people, very spacious. This was bigger than the shower area in my house!

After 1 pm, we went to Lido Market on deck 9 for a simple lunch. The meal was okay but the view was great!

We watched the seaplanes taking off from the water and coming back to the harbour during our lunch.

Water (both cold and hot), iced tea (tea with ice but no lemon as this is not iced lemon tea), regular coffee and tea were complimentary. Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks were not included. There was a fee for these beverages and the price was in USD.

Everyday we received a daily schedule. It showed we must visit and check-in at our emergency muster station on the first day. Not only did we have to visit our muster station on deck 2 or 3, we also needed to watch the safety video on our stateroom TV 📺. I couldn’t remember exactly where my muster station was, I think it was in its casino 🂡 .

There were also some optional activities such as restaurant reservations for dinners (if this has not been done before boarding) and💸$500 lucky draw for spa services.

After 3 pm, let’s return to our stateroom. Finally it was converted into two twin beds, thanks to our room attendants Putu and Aris😊 

But how come they put the luggages on our beds👀❓

Departure time was 4 pm but our ship Koningsdam didn’t leave Canada Place until 5:20 pm. 

In less than 20 minutes we passed by Lions Gate Bridge between Vancouver and North Vancouver.

Shortly after the departure, it was already dinner time. Usually they have early seating around 6 pm or late seating around 8 pm. We did not reserve any of these. We just walked in after 6 pm and we got a table in 5 minutes. It was a huge dining room located at the back side on decks 2 and 3. First night we were having dinner on the lower floor.

Do you know what I picked from the menu?

French onion soup with😅 … I forgot which main course was ordered. The dessert was chocolate fudge brownie cheesecake. Overall it was not bad since everything was included. The were some specialty restaurants that charged extra for the meals.  I am not wealthy enough to afford the specialty restaurant dinner😁

After dinner, we explored around the ship. By the time we found out there was an introduction about Alaska in World Stage on decks 2 & 3, it was just finished😌 We should have checked the schedule then we wouldn’t miss it. We also passed by B.B. King’s All-Stars in which both of us found the music🎷🎸🎵🎶🎹🥁 too loud so we went into the shops. Then we discovered jewellery booth called Inch of Gold. My friend said this is 一串金 made me think of 一寸光陰一寸金，寸金難買寸光陰💡

They also offered silver necklaces and bracelets 一寸銀. Since I have onboard credits of USD $17.50, I spent them all to buy 6 inches of star shaped silver bracelet ($3 USD/inch x 6 = $18) plus $4 for the hook so it came to a total of USD $22. With onboard credits, I only needed to pay USD $4.50.

Now we returned to our stateroom. Some information I forgot to share earlier … there were plenty of power outlets (four by the table, and another near one of the beds) to recharge our cellphones and portable chargers 😊

A safety box was provided to store important stuff such as passports, personal information documents and money, etc. There was a mini fridge with drinks inside. We didn’t touch any of them since we guessed they were not complimentary.

Each of us had our own closet with hangers provided, we were able to hang the dresses we brought for formal nights 😊

May 28 was a full day at sea 🚤 let’s start with a great morning! Last summer there were still 10% passengers wearing mask most of the time including me 😊 I had Snoopy mask (given by my cousin) and Snoopy outfit …. hehe! 

First let's start with breakfast which was available in Lido Market on Deck 9 from 7:00 – 10:30 am. It was wonderful to sit by the window and enjoy my continental breakfast with a cup of coffee.

When my friend joined me, the breakfast time was just ended. We were at Lido Market until they opened for lunch (11:30 am – 2:00 pm).

Both breakfast and lunch were buffet style and both sides of Koningsdam have the same stations including Bread Board, Wild Harvest, Distant Lands, Roasting Pan, Homestead and Sweet Spot, etc.

My favourite is always desserts so I checked out Sweet Spot first. I liked mango mousse, vanilla panna cotta and black forest roll.

I recall they could get vanilla or chocolate ice cream at the dessert station 🍨 

Homestead offered some nice dishes such as garlic lemon roasted chicken, fish and chips, almond crusted salmon, vegan potato vindaloo and French fries. There were self-served green salad and fruit (melons).

Bread Board for sandwich or sub lovers. Could get an apple from there too🍏🍎

Mexican food could be found at Roasting Pan including Mexican chicken, taco meat, refried beans. Soup of the day had shrimp and corn chowder or chicken noodle soup.

For those who love pasta must visit Distant Lands for macaroni and spaghetti with Alfredo, Bolognese or Marinara sauce. It offered some bread and healthy salad to choose from (broccoli, golden raisin and chickpea/ red beet, orange, pistachio and basil).

Complementary beverages could be found at both sides of the ship. It included hot/cold water, iced tea (be caution, this is ice + tea, no lemon), lemonade, regular coffee and a variety of tea like Jasmine, Lemon Lift, Cinnamon Apple, Orange & Spice, Chamomile, Green Tea, Earl Grey, etc. They also provided brown sugar.

My travel agent told me deck 10 lounge facing the ocean is her favourite spot . We spent the afternoon in this area where we would be able to see the pool on deck 9 when we faced inside and would be able to see the endless ocean when we faced the windows.

On the same deck, complimentary salads and pizzas were available. There was always something to eat, easy to gain weight 😋 But we always walked around on the cruise so there should be enough exercise 😊

Later on I visited a jewellery store as there are few duty free shops on the cruise. I still like my star shaped bracelet better.

Time for dinner. It was a dressy night (formal night), some cruises have formal nights on certain sea days. It was also 150^th anniversary for Holland America that’s why you can see “150” on the menu. Normally I don’t put on makeup or wear gowns so just transformed myself into purple lady😂the necklace was made by my mom 😊

On the other hand, my friend was very professional in dress up and looked very elegant. I couldn’t resist to take a picture of her.

Second night we were assigned to a table by the window. It was nice and quiet with an ocean view. I ordered tomato and potato-chive dumpling soup, cheese ravioli with porcini brown butter and blueberry cheesecake (if I remember correctly 😏) I also asked for chamomile tea which could be found in Lido Market too.

At night time🌙the ship was waving a lot when it passed by the inside passenger. We could feel it strongly although our room was on the mid-ship. No wonder my travel agent highly recommended me to bring Gravol ginger tablets. 

Beautiful Arabic Songs

When you see Guzheng (a major Chinese musical instrument), what can you imagine? An ancient woman in an elegant oriental costume is playing Guzheng in a Chinese pavilion near a peaceful lake? 

When you see Xiao (a Chinese vertical flute), what can you imagine? Chinese painting of oriental landscape with water and mountain , very spiritual and clam.

Maybe you can think of the Chinese martial art novel 笑傲江湖 📕(The Smiling, Proud Wanderer)  … Not 葵花寶典, Not 辟邪劍譜, But 琴簫合譜 😆 (not Sunflower Manual, not Bixie Swordplay Manual, but Qin Xiao Compose Manual which is the same as Guzheng ➕ Xiao 😄)

If we apply Guzheng and Xiao to an Arabic song, what would happen❓ Far East music and Middle East music are very different. Why I have this question … because of inspiration (like the name of my blog)! I have been inspired by the video …

Although the musical instruments are not the same, they look and sound similar. Qanun is like Guzheng, except it is played by a muscular powerful man with sunglasses on 😎 (cool!) and he is very skillful. I believe Qanun can be used to play a soft song too to express the beauty of Middle East. Just like Guzheng can be used to play a soft song to express the beauty of Far East. 

Ney is like Xiao, both can be played to express the beauty of their countries (like Palestine in video) and their cultures.

Talking about musical instrument, there is a very interesting and special one that I have never seen before. It is called reed, which you can hear it at the beginning of this video (Mawtini = My Homeland). From listening to the sound of this instrument, I can imagine the mysterious Middle East but it’s very touching at the same time. Must be a masterpiece!

And it is also a respectful song … suddenly everybody started to stand up!  Maybe because the song was a popular poem written by the Palestinian 🖋 Now is the national song of Iraq.

It is unbelievable that Arab TV would have a show which was from the idea of The Voice … “The Voice Kids” 🎵🎶

This song is called “Give us our childhood”. The first few sentences are very touching and impressive: We’ve come to celebrate with you. This holiday we ask you. Why don’t we have decorations or festivities? O People, my land is burned down.

It was performed by a Syrian girl, she started crying once she sang “our sky is dreaming and it’s asking the days”. I was interested in the judges’ reactions since I had no idea who they are and where they are from.

The female judge, should be the youngest among the three, was very sweet 😍 She was the first one to press the button, turned around and opened her arms to greet the girl. When she saw the girl cried, she went up to the stage and sang together.

The younger male judge was the second one to react. He pressed his and the other male judge’s buttons (was this allowed?). Also went up to the stage, sat down and waved his hands. He must enjoyed the performance very much 😊

The last judge, didn’t press the button nor go up to the stage. However I could feel he was full of emotion through his eyes 👁 I think he has lots of sadness and pain memories in the heart.

I searched more information on the internet, then I realized the sweet female judge is a Lebanese, the encouraging male judge is an Egyptian. The one with less motion but full of emotions through eyes is an Iraqi.

Normally Arabic songs in my mind are mysterious🌛and Arab beauties would link to belly dance. But this video shows me the other side. The opening has a very warm heart melody (very similar to the cosy Cantonese songs that I listened in the 80s).

The singer in this video is just like a fairy 🌷 The song expressed their desire for peace. I was influenced by her when she dropped tears …

My song is for the child and childhood

For the innocence's shy laugh

For boys playing with sand

Their voices open a thousand doors

From stingy eastern stories

My song for a child and childhood

 

My song is a plane saying: in our East the Deprivation has not flower

Why can't the child in my country receives the same kindness that children receive in other countries?

 

Some Arab children are born in wars

Some Arab children are raised in wars

Happy Year of Tiger! Stay Healthy!

 

Happy Chinese New Year! 新春快樂! 虎年健康! Wish everybody a healthy life while we are still facing the pandemic. I am pretty sure everyone already knows how to avoid getting COVID – wear face mask, wash hands, no gathering, etc. (瞓著覺都識背 😴) How about improve the immune system through diet? I think that’s an important way of staying healthy 最重要是增強自己抵抗力😊 

I found a nice product that I would like to share in the Year of Tiger. It contains protein, potassium, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin E, riboflavin (vitamin B2), magnesium and zinc. I personally feel like spending the same amount of money as coffee or bubble tea for a larger size and more nutritious drink 🍵

The design of its carton with a bunch of symbols is quite impressive – Non-GMO, Dairy Free, Gluten Free and Vegan, etc. Basically 99.9% people should be able to drink this product. It also states “grown using half the water of dairy” and even this carton is made from plants 🌳 Sounds very interesting and environmental friendly!

I hope it grabs your attention now. Here’s the product name: Earth’s Own So Fresh Almond Original

如果天天飲牛奶、咖啡、奶茶、果汁, 有冇諗吓轉口味? 我試過 Earth's Own So Fresh Almond Original 都 OK, 重點係包含好多所需營養 … 蛋白質、 鉀、鈣、 維他命A、 維他命B12、 維他命D、 維他命E、 核黃素 (維他命B2)、 鎂、 鋅。加上非機因改造、 不含乳製品、 個包裝是用植物製造, 感覺是有質素嘅良心飲品。價錢都唔貴, 正價 $4、 減價 $2.50 (946 ml)。

The taste was okay. I purchased it mainly for its nutrition and the sustainable package. Why not support a business that has products good for health and good for environment? I really wish more companies will use plant-based cartons for their beverages in the future. I’m planning to buy the chocolate flavors – chocolate oat milk and chocolate almond milk as they are on sale. Maybe these ones taste as good as chocolate milk (but dairy free). 如果唔鍾意原味杏仁口味, 可以試吓朱古力口味 … 有兩款 Choice: Chocolate Oat Milk 和 Chocolate Almond Milk.

Happy Chinese New Year!

 

Lunar New Year is approaching 😃 Wish everyone the very best in the Year of Ox!  Part of the Chinese New Year is to enjoy dinner together with families. Traditionally the dishes have meat, but vegetarian cuisine can be just as yummy as non-vegetarian dishes as long as good-quality ingredients and tasty sauces are used.

The first time I saw pictures of well-presented Chinese New Year vegetarian meal was from Leezen Magazine few years ago (Unknown (leezen.com.tw). I was inspired by the pictures, they looked so delicious. Why not just do something special this year? Eat veggie to save animal lives and save the earth! 

Don't know how to make veggie meal! No worries, let's look at Leezen pictures of each dish to get some creative ideas. 

The first dish is an appetizer, Rainbow Salad 千紅萬紫蔬菜沙拉!

【主食】千紅萬紫蔬菜沙拉 | 沙拉 | 蔬食食譜 | 天天里仁 每一天更安心的選擇 (leezen.com.tw)

It contains vine lettuce, red and yellow peppers, apple, kiwi, small tomatoes, small cucumber ,bamboo shoots, dried kelp buds, pleurotus eryngii, mushrooms and camellia seed oil.

I remember the dried kelp buds and camellia seed oil can be found in Yes Natural Goods store since it sells Leezen products (www.yesnaturalgoods.com).  Although they are a bit pricy, I like the fact that all Leezen products are vegetarian, natural , no preservatives, and non GMO. Leezen helps the local farmers by cooperating with them to manufacture organic and pesticide free products in order to protect our environment, ecosystem and save the animals. 

Of course there should be some salad dressing. What flavour do you like? For me, I like sesame or Hakka orange sauce. 

Now I am thinking of some other ideas ... how about add some basils to the salad to enhance the aroma. For those who don't like kiwi, it can be substituted with dragon fruit 😃

The picture also shows some nice side dishes -珍饌馨意福氣拼盤. With Google Translate, it becomes Treasure Delicacy Blessing Platter 😊

【主食】珍饌馨意福氣拼盤 | 主食 | 蔬食食譜 | 天天里仁 每一天更安心的選擇 (leezen.com.tw)

Basically the first bowl contains dried tofu with shredded cucumber in Chili pepper sauce. The second bowl has golden jujube with pineapple jam. The third bowl has pine nut and water chestnut with diced pepper and camellia seed oil pine nut paste. Oops ... no information found for the other two side dishes ... I guess marinated red carrot or yam (whatever it looks like). The other one can be white carrot with pea in cold noodle sauce 😏

Here comes my favourite dish - Tang Yuan with Longan and White Fungus 😍

【主食】桂圓銀耳湯圓 | 主食 | 蔬食食譜 | 天天里仁 每一天更安心的選擇 (leezen.com.tw)

As the name of the sweet soup, it contains tang yuan (plain glutinous rice balls and glutinous rice balls with sesame paste), longan fruit and white fungus. lotus seeds, red dates and cane sugar are added to the soup too! 

This one should be a fun to make! All the ingredients can be found in Yes Natural Goods store 😊

Finally comes the main dishes - start with Vegetarian Steak with Sweet Peppers

【主食】甜椒燴豆腐素排 | 主食 | 蔬食食譜 | 天天里仁 每一天更安心的選擇 (leezen.com.tw)

Good to enjoy a warm dish during winter :) It looks like vegetarian fish to me but it contains vegetarian steak 素排, lotus root powder 蓮藕粉, vegetable broth, some green/yellow/red peppers, golden needles 金針 , silver sprouts with vegetarian oyster sauce 素蠔油, black vinegar and a bit of rice vinegar plus mirin seasoning.

For me, I would also put some coriander (芫茜/ Chinese parsley) and white sesame on top to enhance the flavor. 

The second main dish is Casserole Stewed Golden Tofu Balls.

【主食】砂鍋彩燴豆腐丸 | 主食 | 蔬食食譜 | 天天里仁 每一天更安心的選擇 (leezen.com.tw)

It makes me hungry now by looking at the tasty tofu balls! Besides tofu balls, it has wild vegetable balls in vegetable broth, baby Chinese cabbage, green bean starch noodles, lotus root powder, minced ginger, diced eryngii mushrooms 杏鮑菇, diced red and yellow peppers mixed in miso chili sauce, vegetarian oyster sauce, mirin, soy sauce, black vinegar and sesame oil.

Now I think such a nice meal can be prepared for other occasions - birthday, housewarming party once life is back to normal. Again, for me I will add coriander. It should always be flexible, can use tofu balls or vegan imitation meat balls or mushroom balls. I wonder how it will taste if I use lemongrass tom yum sauce to replace miso chili sauce? Thai style vegetarian dish 🌴

The last main dish has my favourite ingredients! Bamboo fungus and Chinese mushrooms!!! This dish is called Bamboo Fungus Chinese Mustard Vegetable Ball Soup.

【主食】竹笙芥菜丸子湯 | 主食 | 蔬食食譜 | 天天里仁 每一天更安心的選擇 (leezen.com.tw)

I remember the bamboo fungus and Chinese mushroom soup that I had before was very tasty. They are a perfect match. It's exciting to see these ingredients here. 

Also bamboo fungus, which symbolizes the rise of each step, is matched with the seasonal mustard greens in winter, bursting out sincere blessings of creativity and health. 

The soup contains Chinese mustard, peeled and shredded ginger, sea salt, camellia seed oil, vegetable broth, bamboo fungus (soaked in water and cut into 2 sections), dried shiitake mushrooms 乾香菇(soaked in water), hericium mushrooms 猴頭菇, vegetable stuffing balls and ginkgo.

I hope you are impressed with the vegetarian cuisine. The dishes are always flexible and changeable with substitute ingredients. Have a healthy and peaceful New Year! 祝大家新年平安快樂、身心健康！