Our Travel Adventures - Cruising Fulltime
"Nǐ hǎo" to "Konnichiwa" to "Nǐ hǎo"
July 30th to August 5th, 2026
We've gone from saying "Hello" in Chinese (Nǐ hǎo) to saying "Hello" in Japanese (Konnichiwa) back to saying it in Chinese again (Nǐ hǎo), all in one week. To be fair, most people in Hong Kong speak English (Hello).
Hiroshima, Japan
We spent our first circuit simply riding around in the air-conditioned bus, getting a feel for the city and deciding where we wanted to stop. On the second loop, we hopped off at Hiroshima Castle. I think this may have been one of the hottest days we've experienced during the past two weeks!
Located in the center of the city and surrounded by a moat and parkland, Hiroshima Castle was originally built in the late 1500s. The main keep standing today is a reconstruction completed in 1958, carefully designed to resemble the original structure destroyed during World War II. I particularly enjoyed exploring the reconstructed buildings, which featured detailed displays explaining the castle's history and the defensive measures built into its design.
One of the most interesting exhibits was the remains of a World War II bunker that served as a communications center. Schoolgirls were stationed there when the atomic bomb exploded, and despite the devastation, they were reportedly able to send out a message that became one of the first notifications to Japan's military leadership that Hiroshima had been attacked.
Photos of Rebuilt Hiroshima Castle
By then we were exhausted from the heat, so we climbed back aboard the sightseeing bus and headed to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum. The museum was extremely moving and educational. Through photographs, artifacts, and personal stories, it documents the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and the catastrophic destruction it caused. Walking through the exhibits was sobering. Seeing the images and reading firsthand accounts of the immense loss of life made the scale of the tragedy feel very real. Many people died instantly from the blast and intense heat, while countless others later succumbed to burns, injuries, and radiation-related illnesses.
After spending some time in the comfort of the museum's air conditioning, we ventured back into the heat and walked through Peace Memorial Park to the Atomic Bomb Dome. Before the bombing, this building was known as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. Remarkably, it was one of the few structures near the hypocenter that remained partially standing after the explosion. Rather than remove the ruins, Hiroshima preserved them as a memorial. Today, the skeletal dome stands as a powerful reminder of the devastation caused by nuclear weapons and as a symbol of the city's enduring commitment to peace.
Fortunately, a sightseeing bus stop was located nearby, and we were grateful to return to the air conditioning. Completely worn out, we headed back toward the train station in search of lunch. As it turned out, we had only about twenty minutes before the next hotel shuttle departed. Missing it would have meant waiting another ninety minutes, so we rushed through the station market, grabbed a few cold drinks and sandwiches to go, and hurried back. We made it onto the shuttle with only two minutes to spare.
That evening, we relaxed in the hotel's sky lounge, where complimentary drinks and a light dinner were being served. After such a long day, it was the perfect way to unwind. The cheese, sausage, and fried chicken were delicious, and we enjoyed watching the city settle into the evening while reflecting on everything we had seen and learned throughout the day.
Hong Kong SAR, China
Friday, July 31st, 2026 - After spending just one full day exploring Hiroshima, it was already time to move on to our next destination: Hong Kong. We got an early start and took advantage of the hotel's complimentary breakfast buffet before the crowds arrived. With a couple of hours to spare before checkout, we caught up on blog writing and emails, then hopped on the hotel's shuttle back to the train station.
Instead of taking another expensive taxi to the airport, we purchased tickets for the Airport Limousine Bus service. It turned out to be a great decision. The ride cost only about $18 per person, compared to the roughly $120 taxi fare we paid when arriving from the airport. Sometimes you learn the best transportation options only after you've already paid the tourist tax!
HK Express is a budget airline, and they fully embrace the no-frills concept. While the base fare was inexpensive, almost everything else came with an additional charge. We paid extra for checked baggage and again for seat selection, since seats are not assigned.
The flight itself was less than comfortable. The seats did not recline, had minimal cushioning, and by the time we landed both my back and backside were feeling the effects. There were no USB charging ports, no onboard Wi-Fi, and no entertainment system. Not even complimentary water was included. Throughout the flight, the cabin crew made several passes through the aisle selling drinks, snacks, and meals. By the end, it felt like we were flying in a convenience store with wings.
We arrived in Hong Kong without any issues, aside from some lingering soreness from the seats. Although public transportation was available, rain was coming down steadily and neither of us felt like dragging luggage through wet streets. We splurged on a $45 taxi ride directly to our hotel instead.
Our accommodations at the Ibis were perfectly adequate, though definitely another budget-friendly stay. After spending time in some surprisingly luxurious hotels during our China tour, I must admit I'd become a little spoiled. To end the day, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the diner next door. It wasn't local cuisine but rather a classic plate of fish and chips. After a long travel day, comfort food hit the spot just as well as any regional specialty.
Saturday, August 1st, 2026 - With no organized tour to follow anymore, we had absolutely nothing scheduled for the day, and it felt wonderful. We slept in, enjoyed a leisurely morning, and then spent a few hours wandering the neighborhood around our hotel. It rained on and off throughout the day, but the cooler weather was a welcome change from the heat we experienced in China and Japan. At around 85°F, it was still warm, just much more comfortable for exploring on foot.
We stopped at a local shopping mall for a delicious Chinese lunch, picked up a few drinks from a nearby convenience store, and then returned to the hotel for some much-needed downtime. We were looking forward to a quiet afternoon, but an unexpected email quickly changed our plans.
Photos of Hong Kong
Ever since the recent global conflict began driving up fuel costs, many travel companies have been forced to make difficult adjustments. Unfortunately, Villa Vie has once again revised the Odyssey's itinerary in an effort to reduce fuel consumption. Connie and I had been scheduled to rejoin the ship in Brunei on August 6, but that port has now been removed from the schedule. The Odyssey is currently in Singapore and was originally set to depart today. Instead, the ship will remain there for an additional six days before continuing on to Vietnam as planned on August 12.
This last-minute itinerary change meant we had to adjust our own travel plans as well. Rather than flying to Brunei, we will now leave Hong Kong on August 4 and fly directly to Singapore to board the Odyssey there. Hopefully this will be the last surprise change before we finally get back on the ship.
The rest of the day was spent doing exactly what we needed: reading, playing games, and catching up on computer work. After weeks of touring and constant sightseeing, we're feeling a little "toured out." As a result, we've decided to take it easy during our time in Hong Kong and skip most of the major attractions. Sometimes the best part of traveling is simply slowing down and enjoying a day with nowhere to be.
Sunday, August 2, 2026 - Today was another day of doing nothing, but relaxing. We did venture out in the rain for a nice lunch, which is always a challenge in a foreign country, especially in China. I don't think we got what we ordered, but it was good. Pork and noodle soup for both of us.
Yesterday, I tried to get our new flight from Hong Kong to Singapore. Expedia let me order the flight until it was time to pay. Then it said this flight was no longer available. Okay, I booked the same flight with Booking.com, which accepted my payment and confirmed our booking (reservation). However, today Booking.com cancelled the booking and refunded my money, explaining "due to technical difficulties". Hopefully, the third time is a charm. I successfully made the same flight booking directly with Singapore Airlines. It was $40 more than Expedia wanted and $20 more than Booking.com. but let's hope they keep this reservation. We leave Hong Kong in a couple days.
Monday, August 3, 2026 - We spent most of our time today playing games and catching up on computer work. We made a quick Starbucks run in the afternoon and later took a short walk to the local mall for an early dinner.
We decided to return to the diner where we ate a few days ago because their teatime specials offer great value. For dinner, we each had a bowl of noodles with onions and an iced tea. I chose the pork cutlet, while Connie went with the half chicken. The food was tasty, and both meals together came to only about $7 USD.
Tomorrow we'll be leaving Hong Kong and heading to Singapore. Before packing up, Connie hand-washed some of our clothes so we'd have a few clean items for the next leg of the trip.
Other than that, it was a relaxing and uneventful day.
Tuesday, August 4th, 2026 - Today was our travel day to Singapore. We were up early, grabbed Starbucks once again for a light breakfast, packed our bags, and called an Uber to take us to the airport. The drive was uneventful, and before long we had checked in, cleared security, and found ourselves with a couple of hours to relax before boarding.
Our flight on Singapore Airlines was a welcome change from the budget carriers we've been using recently. The seats were comfortable, the food was good, and there was plenty of entertainment to help pass the time. Four hours later, we landed in Singapore, cleared immigration with ease, and waited for a Grab to take us to the port.
Once we arrived, things became a little more interesting. The cruise terminal and adjoining mall are currently being remodeled, and the layout has changed quite a bit since my last visit. We wandered around for a while trying to find the correct entry point and got slightly turned around. Thankfully, we eventually found our way and settled back into our floating home aboard the Odyssey.
What a relief! It felt wonderful to be back among old friends and in our familiar cabin. After a long day of travel, pizza and beer for dinner was the perfect way to end the day.
Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 - It felt a little strange not having a packed sightseeing schedule for once. We slept in until 8:00 a.m., the latest we've managed in the past 23 days, and enjoyed the luxury of a slow, relaxed morning.
The highlight of the day was getting off the ship and spending some time exploring the HarbourFront area. We enjoyed wandering through the mall, checking out the variety of shops, and especially admiring the incredible selection of restaurants. There were so many tempting options to choose from.
In the end, we kept things simple, picking up a couple of bottles of wine and some snacks before making our way back to the ship. It was an easy, laid-back day, and a nice change of pace after weeks of busy sightseeing.
Location (Map)
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