Where in the World Is Matthew?

Schedule, Oct. 2010-March 2011

Diamond Princess schedule

-- Dry dock, Singapore, October 20-Nov. 3, 2010

-- Thailand, Vietnam, Shanghai, China; Japan; South Korea; Beijing (Nov. 19); Shanghai (Nov. 22); Okinawa (Nov. 24); Taipai (Nov. 26); Hong Kong (Nov. 28): Vietnam (Nov. 30-Dec. 1); Singapore (Dec. 3); Bangkok (Dec. 5); Ho Chi Minh City (Dec. 7); Singapore (Dec. 9); Darwin, Australia (Dec. 15); Sydney (Dec. 22); Melbourne (Dec. 24); Tasmania (Dec. 26); New Zealand (Dec. 29); Christchurch (Dec. 31); New Zealand until Jan. 8.

-- Tasmania (Jan. 11); Melbourne, Sidney, and other spots in Australia and New Zealand through February 22, 2011.

-- Hong Kong, Feb. 22; Taipai, Feb. 24; Nagasaki, Feb. 26; Shanghai, Feb. 28;

-- China & Vietnam, March. 

Would Cruise Ship Survive Tsunami?

I believe that my ship would be mostly ok in a tsunami as long as it’s not in port at the time. Its fairly normal for ships to run into waves that are 40 feet tall or more when they are at sea. That happens to a ship at least once in its 20 year life span. From what I understand, most of the power of a tsunami is underwater -- it’s under normal sea level.  When it comes to land, it is forced up and then creates the huge wave (say 80 feet or whatever).    

After a huge earthquake, they can predict which way it is coming from, place the ship so it hits the wave head on so it doesn’t flip over. This will minimize the damage. The ship would probably be damaged,  things thrown off of shelves in the shops, staterooms and everywhere else around the ship, but people would still be pretty safe in their cabins or in bed because they would be able to prepare for it. 

If a tsunami hit the ship's side or when the ship is not ready for it, the ship could roll over in which case there would be lots of damage and probably deaths, but the ship should flip itself back right side up, giving everyone time to be able to “clean up” and help the injured, etc. 

Slice of Life of Cruise Ship Crew

A few weeks ago I was sitting in the crew rec room during the day. It serves as a bar at night. Across the room a friend of mine (girl) sat down. I made eye contact with her and raised my eyebrows. I didn’t realize that I was looking straight above a group of gay guys that were sitting in-between us. One of the guys thought I was making faces at him, and so he started to make faces at me. This went on and off for a few minutes, then he started making kissing faces. I didn’t really see him as I thought he was doing it to one of his friends in his group. I continued to make faces at my friend. The guy got up and was getting ready to sit down with me when I realized what was going on. I said abruptly, "I am sorry. Those weren’t directed at you." I had to move because I was laughing so hard. Poor guy, he thought he was going to get lucky.

As I write this, I am sitting in the crew rec room listening to a band of Filipinos. They are playing popular rock/pop songs and are really good. “The drummer” is playing what looks like a kitchen cabinet that he made in the carpentry shop. He is using it as a chair as well as a drum. Surprisingly, it has two tones, one on the side and one on the top and sounds really good.

Randomness on ships. Good times.

Morocco: Fez, Marrakesh

Where Europe Meets Africa: the Rock of Gibraltar. Beneath It, the Gates of Hell

Dad made this video of our trip to Gibraltar, at the end of his Meditteranean cruise with me aboard the Grand Princess in December. 

To see the comments of Facebook friends on this video, go here.

Exuberant Barcelona, Spain

Our video slideshow from Barcelona

We were very impressed with Barcelona (Wikipedia entry) in the short few hours we spent there. There is a remarkable atmosphere of creativity, as expressed in many well-designed buildings and symbolized by the fact they've made a saint of an architect, Antoni Gaudi. There's also a remarkable sense of diversity and palpable sense of openness about Barcelona. They've welcomed thousands of new immigrants with open arms, in hopes of beating their arch-rival Madrid economically and politically.

Read My Barcelona by Paul Goldberger for National Geographic Traveler. 

Below, Destination Spain video:

Pyramids, Cairo, and Alexandria, Egypt

Photo Essay. Dad's essays: Glorious Stroll Around Alexandria's Waterfront, Home to the New Library, Which Challenges Egyptians to Think Critically and Whither Egypt? Delicate If Not Hypocritical Position of U.S.

Rome

See our photo essays on

• St. Peter's Square, 
• St. Peter's Basilica,
• the Vatican Museums, and 
• strolling around Rome, including wine as cheap as bottled water and a tour of the famed ruins of the Colliseum.

Walked 7 Miles Around Cannes, and Took Cold Dip in French Riviera, in December!

Photo essay, including Matthew's efforts to create photos as well as French award-winner. Click.

Pompeii and Vesuvius, Near Naples

Matthew hasn't had a chance to post his pictures of hiking up Mt. Vesuvius and looking down into the still smoldering volcano, but here are Jim and Alex's impressions and pictures of Pompeii, near Naples:

Pompeii, Italy, Buried Under Volcanic Ash for 1700 Years, Comes Alive With Tourists, and Google's Street View »