Duomo and Haunted House 大教堂与金“鬼屋”
April 4, 2026
We visited the Milan Duomo this morning……
今天上午，我们参观了米兰大教堂。。。
April 4, 2026
We visited the Milan Duomo this morning. The highlight of the visit was standing on the rooftop, where we enjoyed a panoramic view of the city and admired the cathedral’s magnificent Gothic architecture.
We also made several stops inside the cathedral, including St. Charles’ Crypt and the archaeological site. The remarkable Duomo showcases Italy’s rich history and extraordinary architectural beauty.
Near the Milan Cathedral, Panzerotti Luini is a famous long-established bakery best known for its panzerotti. Panzerotti is a Southern Italian stuffed and fried pastry. After visiting the cathedral, we stopped by the shop on our way. The line was very long, but fortunately the takeaway service moved fairly quickly. Holding the hot fried pastry in our hands, it did not look particularly impressive, yet the taste was surprisingly good — definitely worth waiting in line for that delicious bite.
In the afternoon, we took the subway to visit the Prada Museum. The museum does not display products related to Prada; instead, it combines a former distillery complex with new buildings, and the architecture itself is a major part of the experience.
We joined an English-language tour of the Torre, a tall concrete tower featuring modern art exhibitions. However, the staircase and panoramic elevator were even more striking than the artworks themselves. The elevator is integrated into the building’s diagonal external structure, with half of its interior lined in pink onyx and the other half made of floor-to-ceiling glass, blending the indoor and outdoor spaces together. The designer created two vertically parallel staircases, one of which serves as the emergency stairs. In the lobby, we saw what appeared to be two connected staircases, but when people walked down one of them, they seemed to disappear halfway, creating a fascinating illusion. The building has several floors, each displaying one or two pieces of modern art surrounded by a great deal of open space.
The main highlight of the museum for us was the Haunted House, a concrete building covered in gold leaf. Its interior is sparsely decorated, and even the elevator looks old. Again, each floor contains only one or two art exhibits, many of them extremely simple—sometimes just a window panel or a body part. The most intriguing work was on the top floor: a street drain with an illuminated heart inside. In a gold-coated, nearly empty house, there was still a living heart beating within a dirty drain, struggling to survive.
There were a few other exhibits as well, but unfortunately we missed Cao Fei’s new exhibition, which was scheduled to open one week after our visit. She is one of the most famous contemporary artists in China, and she was there working to set up the exhibition.
What a shocking contrast it was to experience the Gothic cathedral and the golden Haunted House on the same day.
At sunset, we returned to the Duomo and had dinner at a rooftop restaurant beside the cathedral. Bathed in the warm golden light of the fading day, the marble façade of the Duomo seemed to glow softly against the evening sky, its spires and statues standing out with even greater drama and beauty.
The night was still young. After dinner, we stopped by the illy café on the same floor, where each of us enjoyed a cup of espresso and a pastry roll while savoring the unforgettable view of the illuminated cathedral.
2026年4月4日
今天上午，我们参观了米兰大教堂。我们是早在几个月前就买好了快速通道的票，这样几乎不用排队，按规定时间直接坐电梯登上教堂阳台，在上面沿着教堂边走边看，近距离欣赏这座精美绝伦的哥特式风格建筑。最后来到教堂的屋顶，在那里俯瞰整座城市的全景。然后下到大教堂里面参观。我们买的快速通道票也包含了大教堂内部底下圣查尔斯地下墓室和考古遗址。这座令人惊叹的大教堂充分展现了意大利悠久的历史和非凡的建筑之美。
米兰大教堂旁边的Panzerotti Luini，是一家很有名的老字号烘焙店，以卖 panzerotti 最出名。Panzerotti 是一种意大利南部风味的夹馅炸面饼。参观完大教堂我们便顺路来到这家店，队排得很长，好在外买速度还算快。拿着热乎乎的炸面饼，看着不怎么样，但味道却很不错，值得排队吃上这一口。
下午，我们乘地铁前往普拉达（Prada)基金会博物馆参观。这里并不展示与普拉达品牌产品相关的内容，而是将一处旧酿酒厂建筑群与新建的建筑结合在一起，建筑本身就是参观体验中非常重要的一部分。
我们参加了一场英文导览，参观名为“Torre”的高大混凝土塔楼，里面陈列着现代艺术作品。然而，与这些展品相比，更令我们印象深刻的是楼里的楼梯和全景电梯。电梯被嵌入建筑外部斜向结构之中，一半内部使用粉色缟玛瑙装饰，另一半则是从天花板延伸到地面的整面玻璃窗，将室内与室外巧妙地融合在一起。设计师还设置了两组上下垂直平行的楼梯，其中一组作为紧急疏散楼梯使用。在大楼入口大厅里，我们能看到两段似乎彼此相连的楼梯，但当人从其中一段走下去时，却会在中间“消失”，形成一种奇妙的视觉错觉。整栋楼有好几层，每一层只展出一两件现代艺术作品，其余则留有大量空旷空间。
对我们来说，博物馆中最精彩的部分是“鬼屋”——一栋外部覆有金箔的混凝土建筑。它的内部装饰极其简朴，甚至连电梯都显得有些陈旧。同样地，每一层也只陈列一两件展品，而且更加简单，有时甚至只是一个窗板，或是一部分人体。最耐人寻味的一件作品位于顶层：房间中间一个街头排水口中嵌着一颗发光的心脏。在一座镀金却近乎空荡的房子里，竟有一颗依然鲜活跳动的心，藏在肮脏的排水口中顽强地生存着。
馆内还有其它一些展览，不过很遗憾，我们错过了曹斐的新展览，因为它将在我们参观后一周才正式开放。曹斐是中国最著名的当代艺术家之一，而她当时正在现场布置展览。
在同一天里，先感受哥特式大教堂的庄严辉煌，再走进这座金色“鬼屋”的冷峻空灵，这种对比实在令人震撼和思考。
黄昏时分，我们又回到了米兰大教堂广场，等着看太阳落山，并且在教堂旁边的屋顶餐厅享用了晚餐。落日余晖洒在大教堂的大理石外立面上，使整座建筑在暮色天空下泛着柔和而温暖的金色光辉。
Lake Como, Italy 科莫湖，意大利
April 3, 2026
As we planned this day trip to Lake Como,……
在规划这次科莫湖(Lake Como)一日游时，。。。
April 3, 2026
As we planned this day trip to Lake Como, what worried us most was not the destination itself, but the transportation. The ferry schedules felt confusing and uncertain, and we never seemed fully confident that we understood how the connections would work. We kept several backup plans in mind, just in case. In the end, we simply moved forward with what seemed, at the time, to be the best option available.
After breakfast at the hotel at 6:30 a.m., we walked to Milan Centrale and boarded the 8:20 train to Varenna. When we arrived, we were immediately confronted by a long line at the ferry terminal ticket office. Rather than stand there right away, we thought it might be smarter to explore the town first and come back later, hoping the queue would shrink. So we set off along the Lovers’ Walk, a scenic path tracing the edge of the lake. The views were beautiful, with the water shimmering beside us, and our destination was Villa Monastero farther up the way. But when we reached the villa, we found yet another long ticket line waiting for us. Not wanting to lose even more time, we turned around and headed back toward town.
To our dismay, the ferry line had only grown longer. By then, we had little choice but to join it and wait. An hour later, we finally boarded a ferry to Bellagio, often described as the most beautiful town on Lake Como. But by that point we were already well behind schedule, so instead of exploring Bellagio, we immediately continued on to Lenno.
Once there, we found a charming lakeside café and sat down for a lovely lunch, a welcome pause in what had already become a far more hectic day than we had imagined.
After lunch, we walked about forty minutes uphill to Villa del Balbianello, the last private owner of which was Guido Monzino (1928–1988)—an Italian explorer, mountaineer, businessman, and collector. We joined an English-language tour of the villa’s private house, which today feels as much like an expedition museum as a home. Because Monzino lived in such a grand residence in a relatively secluded setting, he had even created several secret escape paths in case of emergency. The house was impressive, but what stayed with me most was his remarkable collection of travel artifacts, which made his adventurous life feel vivid and real.
After the tour, eager to catch the next ferry back to Bellagio, we took a private water taxi down to Lenno. But our bad luck with transportation continued: we arrived only a few minutes too late and could do nothing but watch our boat sail away. The next regular ferry would not come for more than an hour. Instead, we improvised once again, taking a fast ferry to another town on the lake and then looping back to Bellagio from there.
By the time we finally reached Bellagio, we had only about twenty minutes to wander its elegant streets before boarding yet another ferry to Varenna. From Varenna, we caught the train back to Milan. The train was crowded, and many passengers were left standing, so we felt especially fortunate that all five of us managed to find seats.
Our day at Lake Como was both memorable and stressful. The scenery was every bit as beautiful as we had hoped—graceful villas, sparkling water, and towns clinging to the lakeside with postcard perfection. Yet the day also reminded us how important logistics can be. Looking back, we realized that we should have prepared more carefully, especially by buying ferry passes in advance instead of wasting so much precious time in ticket lines. Even so, despite the stress and constant adjustments, Lake Como left us with unforgettable views and a story we are unlikely to forget.
2026年4月3日
在规划这次科莫湖(Lake Como)一日游时，最让我们担心的并不是目的地本身，而是交通衔接的问题。尤其是渡轮时刻表，看起来并不十分清楚，我们始终没有把握自己是否真正弄明白了各段之间的连接方式。为此我们还准备了备用方案，以防临时发生变化。
早上6点30分在酒店吃早餐，之后我们步行前往米兰中央车站，搭乘火车前往瓦伦纳（Varenna）。一个小时多一点的火车很顺利，然而一下火车，便看到渡轮码头售票处排着长长的队伍。我们先在小镇走走，沿着湖边的情人步道（Lovers’ Walk）慢慢前行。湖水在身旁闪烁，一路风景十分优美。我们的目的地是稍高处的莫纳斯特罗别墅（Villa Monastero），可当我们抵达时，却发现那里同样排着长队买票，只好放弃参观，转身返回镇上。
没想到回到渡轮码头时，买船票的队伍比之前更长了。听从售票员的建议，我们买了当天的渡轮通票，这样比较方便。一个多小时之后，我们终于登上前往贝拉焦（Bellagio）的渡轮。贝拉焦常被称为科莫湖上最美的小镇，当我们来到贝拉焦时，时间已远远落后于原先的计划，于是决定暂时先跳过贝拉焦，直接转乘另一班渡轮前往伦诺（Lenno），这样可以保证不错过已预订的参观别墅的时间。下船后我们在湖边的一家餐厅，享用了一顿愉快的午餐，也算是在这一连串奔波之中短暂地喘了一口气。
午餐后，我们步行约四十分钟上坡，前往著名的巴尔比亚内洛别墅（Villa del Balbianello）。这座别墅最后的私人主人是圭多·蒙齐诺（Guido Monzino，1928–1988）——意大利探险家、登山家、企业家和收藏家。我们参加了别墅私宅部分的英文导览。整座宅邸如今看起来更像是一座探险博物馆，收藏着主人在世界各地远行时带回的大量纪念品和探险物件。由于这座大宅位于相对偏僻的地方，据说他当年还特意修建了几条秘密逃生通道，以备紧急情况之需。别墅本身固然令人印象深刻，但更打动我的，是那些旅行与探险收藏，它们让主人的传奇人生仿佛一下子鲜活起来。
导览结束后，为了赶上下一班返回贝拉焦的渡轮，我们特地乘坐水上出租车赶回到伦诺。然而，计划永远赶不上变化——等我们赶到码头时，眼睁睁看着渡轮慢慢离开，而下一班普通渡轮要等一个多小时。无奈之下，我们再次临时调整计划，先搭乘快船前往湖上的另一个小镇，再从那里折返回贝拉焦。
等我们终于抵达贝拉焦时，留给我们闲逛的时间只剩下短短二十分钟。随后，我们又搭乘渡轮返回瓦伦纳，再从那里坐火车回米兰。返程的火车异常拥挤，许多人都只能站着。我们五个人居然都能找到座位，实在算是很幸运。
这次科莫湖之行，湖光山色的确如想象中那般迷人——优雅的别墅、闪耀的湖水，以及那些依山傍水、如明信片般精致的小镇，都令人难忘。但整个行程却很紧张，不停地赶路。这一天也让我们深刻体会到，旅行中的交通安排有时和风景本身一样重要。如果能事先买好渡轮通票，而不是到了现场再排队购票，应该能省下不少时间和精力。尽管一路充满波折，且最终的行程已与原计划相差甚远， 但科莫湖还是很不错的，并且给我们留下了一段值得回味的旅途故事。
Holy Thursday 圣周四
April 2, 2026
Due to the time difference,……
因为有些时差，今天二人起得早，。。。
April 2, 2026
Due to the time difference, we woke up early today and headed to the hotel restaurant at 6:30 to begin our breakfast.
After a satisfying meal, we visited Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan and joined an English-language tour. Initially, the guide inquired about the date. It was Holy Thursday, the day traditionally associated with the Last Supper itself, which added a profound sense of significance to our visit.
Our guide was passionate and highly informative about this masterpiece. The museum allows only a very limited amount of time inside the hall in order to protect the painting. I had always thought The Last Supper was painted on canvas, so it was striking to step into the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie and see that Leonardo painted it directly on the wall of the monastery’s refectory, the dining hall where the friars ate their meals. Over the centuries, the painting deteriorated significantly, and the restoration process was extremely delicate. In some areas, as many as ten layers of overpainting were removed.
Afterward, we walked to Castello Sforzesco and spent about two hours visiting several museums inside the castle. The collections are extensive and well worth seeing.
Later, we sat in the park and enjoyed a simple panini for lunch. The weather was perfect. We walked towards Arco della Pace.
Our next stop was Chinatown, one of the places we always try to visit when traveling around the world. Milan’s Chinatown felt a little different from others we have seen—more modern and cleaner. We enjoyed a couple of Chinese snacks there, including dumplings, fried bao, and pork sandwiches.
Then we visited the Monumental Cemetery nearby, which was quite an experience. Some of the “little houses” were actually as large as real homes.
We also noticed several old trams still running in Milan, so we decided to ride one back toward the hotel. Once we arrived in the neighborhood, we made a small detour for vegan ice cream, which turned out to be very satisfying.
For dinner, we went to Antica Trattoria Della, a highly rated Milanese restaurant. The food was decent and tasty, though in the end we felt we had eaten a bit too much carbohydrate-heavy food.
2026年4月2日
因为有些时差，今天二人起得早，6点半就来到酒店的餐厅开始享用早餐。饱餐一顿之后我们徒步45分钟前往参观米兰最著名的景点之一，列奥纳多·达·芬奇的《最后的晚餐》，我们买的是带英文讲解的票。讲解一开始，导游先问今天是什么日子。大家一时都还没反应过来，导游说大家选了最好的一天来看这幅画。原来今天正是圣周四，也就是传统上耶稣与门徒共进最后晚餐的日子，因此这次参观也显得格外有意义。
女导游对这幅杰作的描写充满激情，非常生动详尽。为了保护这幅壁画，博物馆对参观时间控制得非常严格，一票难求，且每一批游客都只能在厅内停留15分钟的时间。一直以来，我都以为《最后的晚餐》是一幅画在画布上的作品，直到真正走进圣玛利亚感恩教堂（Santa Maria delle Grazie）的多明我会修道院餐厅，才发现达·芬奇是直接把它画在墙上的。这里原本是修士们共同用餐的食堂，也正因如此，这幅作品与所在空间形成了极其紧密的联系。经过数百年的岁月侵蚀，这幅画曾严重受损，而修复过程也极为精细复杂。据介绍，在某些区域，修复人员甚至去除了多达十层的后期覆盖颜料。
随后，我们步行前往斯福尔扎城堡（Sforzesco Castle），与女儿及妹妹，妹夫会合，在城堡内的几座博物馆里参观了大约两个小时。馆藏非常丰富，十分值得一看。
之后，我们在公园里坐下来，天气非常好。边休息，边吃上一份简单的帕尼尼当午餐，还有现场音乐人的演唱，让人感觉格外惬意。
唐人街——这是我们到世界各地旅行时几乎都会去看看的地方。米兰的唐人街和别处有些不同，显得更加现代，也更加整洁。我们在那里吃了几样中式小吃，包括肉夹馍，饺子和生煎包。
之后，我们又去了附近的米兰纪念公墓。那也是一次很特别的体验。入口处的建筑非常精美，而公墓内那些所谓的“小房子”其实一点也不小，有些甚至大得像真正的住宅一样。
在米兰，我们常看到一些老式有轨电车仍然在街头运行。于是我们决定搭乘其中一辆去女儿推荐的一家纯素冰淇淋店。有轨电车虽老，但上面不收现金，而是可以用ApplyPay,付款，手机一扫就行。冰淇淋味道不错，吃得很满足。
晚餐我们选了一家评价很高的米兰本地餐厅。食物味道不错，只是吃完之后，总觉得二天来，每一顿的碳水化合物有点偏多。
Milan, Italy 米兰，意大利
April 1, 2026
We left for Milan on March 31 to begin a dream trip with my sister and her husband……
3月31日清晨3点半，预订的Uber准时来家接我们去机场。。。
April 1, 2026
We left for Milan on March 31 to begin a dream trip with my sister and her husband. We flew with United, connecting through Newark Liberty International Airport. Between the airport lounges and the inflight meals, we were very well fed — perhaps a little too well fed.
We arrived at Zurich Airport on the morning of April 1. Although our flight landed 30 minutes early, the biggest surprise was how quickly we cleared customs, leaving us with plenty of time before our scheduled train to Milan.
At the station ticket office, we paid an extra €10 to switch to an earlier train. Without spending much time in the station, we were soon on our way to Milan.
At Milan Centrale, we were welcomed by our daughter, who was on a business trip in Germany and joined us for a few days. From there, we dragged our luggage through the streets of Milan for about a 15-minute walk to Hotel Principe di Savoia, part of the Dorchester Collection.
My sister and her husband had arrived directly in Milan earlier that morning. Since we had not been able to get tickets for them for the following day, they went to see The Last Supper that same day while we were on the way to Milan.
After settling in, the three of us headed out to get our first feel of Milan, walking toward the area around Piazza del Duomo. Coffee was a must, and by coincidence we passed one of our favorite illy cafés, so naturally our very first cup in Italy was there.
We then continued strolling through the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, admiring its ornate architecture and marveling at the grand scale of the historic shopping arcade. Soon afterward, we arrived in front of the breathtaking Milan Cathedral, deeply impressed by its magnificent and imposing presence.
Yet what made the day truly unforgettable was reuniting there with my younger sister and her husband in a foreign country. As we took a photo in front of one of Italy’s most iconic landmarks and shared it with our parents right away, we felt the joy of being together and the promise of many memorable days ahead. It marked the beginning of a special chapter—traveling not just as tourists, but as family, sharing time, experiences, and discoveries.
Our first dinner in Milan was at a pizza place recommended by the hotel. We enjoyed pizza and one of Milan’s most traditional dishes, saffron risotto. We raised our glasses to celebrate this precious moment together.
2026年4月1日
3月31日清晨3点半，预订的Uber准时来家接我们去机场。最近这些天全美许多机场安检时间超乎寻常，心里稍稍有些担心。比平时稍微早了一点来到机场，很久没见到值机大厅里有这么多人，好在安检一切正常，我们顺利启程前往意大利米兰。4月1日早上，我们抵达瑞士苏黎世机场。飞机比预定时间提前了30分钟落地，入境通关非常迅速，因此我们比原定前往米兰的火车发车时间早了许多。于是我们在车站售票处加付了10欧元，改签到更早一班列车。没有在车站多作停留，我们很快便踏上了前往米兰的旅程。
抵达米兰中央车站时，女儿已经在那里迎接我们。她当时正在德国出差，特意抽出几天时间加入我们的旅程。随后，我们拖着行李，来到下榻的萨伏伊王子酒店（Hotel Principe di Savoia）。这家酒店隶属于多切斯特精选酒店集团（Dorchester Collection）。
妹妹和妹夫当天早晨更早一些也已直接飞抵米兰。我们没能为他们买到与我们同一天参观《最后的晚餐》的门票，很幸运他们在携程上购买到抵达米兰当天下午的参观票。
安顿好之后，我们三人便出门先熟悉一下米兰，朝着大教堂广场一带走去。咖啡是必须喝的，正好路过我们喜欢的illy 咖啡店，这次来到意大利的第一杯就是它了。之后继续漫步穿过维托里奥·埃马努埃莱二世长廊，欣赏它优雅华丽的建筑，也惊叹于这座商业拱廊宏大的规模。随后，我们来到那座令人震撼的米兰大教堂前，被它庄严恢宏的气势深深吸引。
然而，让这一天真正变得难忘的是在异国他乡与我妹妹和妹夫重逢。当我们站在意大利最具标志性的地标之一前合影，并立刻把照片分享给父母时，心中充满了团聚的喜悦，也仿佛看见接下来许多美好时光正在前方等待着我们。我们不只是游客，更是家人，将一起分享沿途的见闻、体验与回忆。
在回酒店的路上，学着当地人在路边小摊上喝上一杯意式浓缩咖啡，味道很浓。
我们在米兰的第一顿晚餐，是酒店推荐的一家披萨店。我们品尝了披萨，也点了米兰最具代表性的传统菜之一——藏红花烩饭。大家举杯庆祝这难得而珍贵的相聚时光。
Makati, Philippines 菲律宾，马尼拉马卡蒂
March 13, 2026
We disembarked from the ship today and will fly home tomorrow……
马尼拉是我们这次邮轮行的最后一站，。。。
March 13, 2026
We disembarked from the ship today and will fly home tomorrow. Since our flight departs early in the morning, we decided to stay overnight in Makati. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines, known for its modern skyscrapers and well-planned streets.
The Grab ride took more than an hour to cover a distance of only about 10 kilometers. Heavy traffic and busy market streets slowed us down before we finally arrived at The Peninsula Manila Hotel, a beautiful hotel in the area. After waiting for our room to be ready, we had a buffet lunch at the hotel to sample some local cuisine.
After a short nap, we headed out to explore the neighborhood. We soon noticed that many places in the area carried the name “Ayala.” The Ayala family is one of the oldest and most influential business families in the Philippines. Through Ayala Corporation, founded in the 19th century, they played a major role in developing Makati into the country’s modern financial and commercial center.
We first took a leisurely walk around Ayala Triangle Gardens, then visited Ayala Museum. One of the museum’s most impressive exhibits is the gold collection called “Gold of Ancestors,” which features pre-colonial Philippine gold artifacts dating roughly from the 10th to 13th centuries. The collection showcases the remarkable craftsmanship and wealth of early Philippine societies. The artifacts were truly impressive—we had never seen so many gold items displayed in one place.
After leaving the museum, we walked through the Greenbelt Gardens and malls. In the middle of the garden stands a small chapel, where many people were already waiting for the 6 p.m. Mass. We stayed there for a while to observe the religious gathering and admire the deep devotion many Filipinos have to the Catholic Church.
Later we stopped at a café for some comforting Filipino dishes. The food was delicious and made for a pleasant final evening of our trip.
Tomorrow we will fly back to our home in Arizona. This two-week journey through Southeast Asia has been wonderful. We visited four new countries and eight new destinations. We probably became more accustomed to Filipino food than Malaysian cuisine. The weather in the Philippines felt slightly cooler, but overall Malaysia seemed to have better infrastructure and modernization. Among the countries we visited, Brunei impressed us the most.
2026年3月13日
马尼拉是我们这次邮轮行的最后一站，今天早上我们从邮轮下船，明天一早就要飞回家了。由于航班时间较早，我们决定今晚住在马尼拉的马卡蒂区。马卡蒂是菲律宾的金融中心，高楼林立，街道也相对整齐现代。
在船上吃了最后一顿早餐后，下船从港口叫了一辆 Grab，虽然只有大约10公里的路程，却花了一个多小时才到达。一路上交通非常拥堵，还穿过了不少热闹的市场街道，最终我们抵达了 马尼拉半岛酒店（The Peninsula Manila），这是一家非常漂亮的酒店，上海外滩也有。入住后，我们在酒店吃了一顿自助午餐，顺便尝试一些当地菜肴。
午休片刻后，我们出门在附近散步。很快就注意到这一带有许多地方都以 “Ayala” 命名。阿亚拉家族（Ayala family）是菲律宾历史最悠久、最有影响力的商业家族之一。他们通过 阿亚拉集团（Ayala Corporation），在19世纪开始发展商业，并在后来主导开发了马卡蒂，使这里成为菲律宾现代化的金融和商业中心。
我们先在阿亚拉三角花园（Ayala Triangle Gardens） 悠闲地散步，然后参观了 阿亚拉博物馆（Ayala Museum）。博物馆里最令人印象深刻的展览之一是名为 “祖先的黄金”（Gold of Ancestors） 的黄金收藏，展示了大约10至13世纪菲律宾西班牙殖民时期之前的黄金文物。这些展品展示了早期菲律宾精湛的工艺和富足的生活。我们从未在一个地方见过如此多的黄金器物，令人非常震撼。博物馆还详细介绍了当时在西班牙流行的马尼拉披肩，色彩鲜艳漂亮，用于弗拉门戈舞。但实际上都是从中国进口的，马尼拉只是转手一下去了西班牙，成为马尼拉披肩。
离开博物馆后，我们走到Greenbelt 花园和购物中心。花园中央有一座小教堂，许多人已经在那里等待晚上六点的弥撒。我们在那里停留了一会儿，感受这种宗教氛围，也对菲律宾人对天主教的虔诚信仰留下深刻印象。
随后我们到当地一家热门的连锁餐厅吃了一顿菲律宾菜。食物非常美味，也为这次旅程画上了一个愉快的句号。
明天我们将飞回亚利桑那的家。为期两周的东南亚之行非常精彩，我们一共访问了三个新的国家和八个新的目的地。相比之下，我们似乎更适应菲律宾的食物，而不是马来西亚的菜肴。菲律宾的天气稍微凉爽一些，不过整体来说，马来西亚在基础设施和现代化程度方面更好。而在这三个国家中，文莱给我们的印象最好。
Manila, Philippines 菲律宾，马尼拉
March 12, 2026
We docked at Pier 15 in the Port of Manila,……
今天我们的邮轮停靠在马尼拉港的 Pier 15。。。
March 12, 2026
We docked at Pier 15 in the Port of Manila, located in the industrial harbor area. We had cancelled the ship-organized tour and decided instead to explore the city on our own.
The ship provided a free shuttle bus to a shopping mall, but after looking at the map we realized it would be easy to walk to Rizal Park first. José Rizal is the country’s national hero, and his name appears everywhere in the city. Rizal Park itself is spacious and impressive.
From the park, we continued walking to Intramuros, the historic walled city built during the Spanish colonial period. During our visit, we stopped at San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the Philippines. The church itself was beautiful, with its ornate interior and painted ceiling. However, what interested us most was the museum inside the old monastery. We spent quite a bit of time exploring the exhibits, which displayed religious art, antique furniture, historical manuscripts, and artifacts from the Spanish colonial period. Walking through the quiet cloisters and galleries offered a deeper understanding of the church’s long history and the role Catholicism played in shaping the culture of the Philippines.
For lunch, we stopped at a café inside Casa Manila and shared a plate of chicken adobo. All the tables on the first floor were occupied, so we went upstairs to the second floor, where we enjoyed a quiet moment together.
The Manila Cathedral was nearby, so we stopped in for a brief visit.
We then visited Fort Santiago, which once served as a military fortress defending Manila. José Rizal was imprisoned here before he was executed in 1896. Although the site is historically important, much of the fort was rebuilt after World War II.
From the fort, we called a Grab to go to Binondo, the oldest Chinatown in the world outside China. The visit turned out to be somewhat disappointing. Either we did not find the right streets, or it simply did not resemble the typical Chinatown we are familiar with. We also had difficulty finding places that accepted credit cards. We decided to head back toward the ship for a late lunch. On the way, however, we noticed Café 1919 inside the HSBC building, an elegant Western-style structure. We decided to stop there and ordered an ube roll cake and crispy pork belly—an unexpected but wonderful combination. Both dishes were excellent, especially the cake, which was one of the best we have ever tasted. It turned out to be a perfect ending to our visit to Chinatown.
In the evening, a Philippine folk dance group performed on the ship, bringing traditional dances and music to the audience. It was one of the best performances we had seen during the trip.
2026年3月12日
今天我们的邮轮停靠在马尼拉港的 Pier 15，这里属于工业港区。我们取消了船上安排的岸上游，决定自己在城里走走看看。
邮轮提供免费的接驳巴士前往一个购物中心，不过我们看了一下地图，觉得直接步行去 黎刹公园（Rizal Park） 更方便。何塞·黎刹是菲律宾著名的民族英雄，在这座城市里几乎到处都能看到他的名字。黎刹公园开阔而庄严，给人留下了不错的印象。
从公园出发，我们步行前往 王城区（Intramuros），这是一座西班牙殖民时期修建的城墙城市。在这里我们参观了 圣奥古斯丁教堂（San Agustin Church），这是菲律宾最古老的石砌教堂。教堂内部装饰华丽，天花板上的绘画也非常精美。不过更吸引我们的是修道院里的博物馆。我们在那里停留了相当长的时间，仔细参观了馆内展出的宗教艺术品、古董家具、历史文献以及西班牙殖民时期的各种文物。安静的回廊和展厅让人能够更深入地理解这座教堂悠久的历史，以及天主教在菲律宾文化中所扮演的重要角色。
中午我们在 Casa Manila 里的王城区餐厅里简单吃了点东西，两人分了一份 阿斗波鸡（chicken adobo）。一楼的座位都满了，于是我们上到二楼，在那里安静地坐下来享受了一会儿只属于两个人的午餐时光。马尼拉天主教堂也在附近，我们也进去看了一下。
随后我们参观了 圣地亚哥堡（Fort Santiago）。这里曾是防卫马尼拉的重要军事堡垒，黎刹在1896年被处决之前就曾被关押在这里。这个地方具有重要的历史意义，不过大部分建筑在二战后进行了重建。
离开圣地亚哥堡后，我们叫了一辆 Grab 前往 岷伦洛（Binondo），这里被认为是中国以外最古老的唐人街。不过这次的体验有些令人失望。也许是我们没有找到最热闹的街区，或者这里的氛围与我们熟悉的唐人街不太一样，而且很多地方都不接受信用卡。放弃在唐人街吃饭念头， 正准备返回船上吃个晚午餐时，我们忽然看到 HSBC 大楼里有一家 Cafe 1919。这是一座西式风格的建筑，于是我们决定进去试试。我们点了 紫薯卷蛋糕（ube roll cake） 和 脆皮五花肉，味道非常好。两样都很出色，尤其是那块蛋糕，可以说是我们吃过最好的蛋糕之一。没想到这竟然成为我们这次唐人街之行最美好的结尾。
晚上船上还有一场菲律宾民俗舞蹈表演，马尼拉当地的舞者们上船来给大家带来了当地传统的音乐和舞蹈，非常精彩。
马尼拉这个城市对我们船来说是非常重要的地方，因为船上的工作人员中有很多来自菲律宾。许多员工离家在外工作好几个月，终于可以在马尼拉与家人见上一面。邮轮特地安排时间让家属上船来，据说有二百多位家属上船, 同时员工也可以下船与家人团聚一下。好几天前我们就能感觉到船上许多员工的兴奋与激动。邮轮今天在马尼拉过夜，明天晚上才离开。
Boracay, Philippines 菲律宾，长滩岛
March 11, 2026
The small island of Boracay is home to one of the best white-sand beaches……
今天一早我们的船来到了菲律宾的长滩岛。。。
March 11, 2026
The small island of Boracay is home to one of the best white-sand beaches in the Philippines and is a very popular travel destination.
In the morning, we joined a tour that crossed the bay to visit Motag Living Museum, a unique cultural attraction near Boracay that allows visitors to experience traditional Filipino rural life. The museum was created to preserve the traditional farming culture of Aklan Province while also providing employment opportunities for local residents.
The activities included demonstrations of planting rice in a paddy field, grinding rice using traditional wooden tools, learning about young and mature coconuts and how coconut oil is produced, and presenting traditional cooking techniques, even making rice popcorn. I also tried riding a water buffalo, which was quite an experience. Coconut water and local snacks were offered during the visit, and of course the villagers welcomed us with songs and dances. The visit was both informative and enjoyable.
After returning to the ship for lunch, we took a free shuttle bus to the White Beach area. In the middle section of the beach there were many shops and restaurants, as well as a large number of tourists. The area had once been overdeveloped, causing significant environmental damage. In 2018, the Philippine government temporarily closed Boracay for six months to restore the environment.
Today, the beach is still crowded but noticeably clean. The powdery white sand stretches right up to the front of the shops lining the beach. We did not spend much time swimming because it was quite crowded. Instead, we found a pleasant beachfront restaurant and enjoyed a Filipino meal, including chicken adobo and seafood. The food was excellent and the view was wonderful. It was a relaxing way to end the day.
Back on the ship and recovered from the exhausting heat, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Waterside.
2026年3月11日
今天一早我们的船来到了菲律宾的长滩岛，在离岛不远处的海里抛锚，乘客坐接驳船上岸。小小的长滩岛拥有菲律宾最著名、也是最美丽的白沙滩之一，因此成为非常热门的旅游目的地。
早上我们参加了岸上游，前往在海湾对面的Motag 生活博物馆（Motag Living Museum）。这是一个独特的文化景点，让游客能够体验菲律宾传统的乡村生活。这个博物馆建立的目的，是为了保存阿克兰省（Aklan）传统的农耕文化，同时也为当地居民提供就业机会。
活动内容包括讲解在稻田里种植水稻的过程、使用传统木制工具碾米、介绍嫩椰子和成熟椰子以及椰子油的制作方法，还展示了一些传统烹饪方式，甚至现场制作爆米花。我还尝试骑了一次水牛，一次很特别的体验。参观过程中还提供了椰子水和当地小吃，村民们还以歌舞表演欢迎我们的到来。整个参观既有趣又富有知识性。
岸上游结束后我们回到码头边，没有坐接驳船回邮轮，而是坐了免费的接驳巴士前往白沙滩（White Beach）。在海滩的中段，聚集着密密麻麻的商店和餐馆，当然也有大量游客。这个地区曾经因为过度开发而对环境造成严重破坏，因此在2018年，菲律宾政府曾将长滩岛关闭六个月进行环境整治。
如今的海滩依然人很多，但明显干净整洁。细腻如粉的白沙一直延伸到海滩边的商店门前。由于人实在太多，我们没有花太多时间在海滩上走，而是找了一家临海的餐厅，享用了一顿菲律宾风味的午餐，包括 阿斗波鸡（chicken adobo） 和海鲜。食物非常美味，海景也十分迷人。吃完饭路过一家冰淇淋店- Coco Mama。看到排长队，赶紧去凑个热闹也来一份，椰子壳里先放入新鲜椰丝垫底， 接着放上二种不同口味的冰淇淋，最后再放上适量的芒果丁及其它配料，非常好吃。查了一下才知道这是当地有名的冰淇淋店。轻松而愉快的一天，心满意足，高高兴兴地回船去。
Coron Island, Philippines 菲律宾，科隆港
March 10, 2026
This destination is only about 100 miles from our previous stop……
今天来到菲律宾巴拉望的科隆港,。。。
March 10, 2026
This destination is only about 100 miles from our previous stop. Somehow the cruise company stretched the journey into two days, adding another sea day. The sea was quite rough during that time, and both of us slept extra hours to recover. Fortunately, we still felt well enough to attend dinner, unlike the previous rough sea day when we had skipped it.
As the ship sailed into Coron Bay, we were greeted by many colorful bangkas—traditional Filipino outrigger boats with bamboo stabilizers on both sides. Each boat had its own design and bright color scheme, reflecting the creativity and craftsmanship of the Filipino people.
The coastline around Coron in Palawan is famous for its crystal-clear waters and dramatic limestone cliffs. We joined a ship-organized excursion to explore the natural beauty of the area.
After disembarking, we boarded a bangka and headed to our first stop, a snorkeling site. The water was exceptionally clear, and the corals were alive and vibrant. Although we did not see large fish, we spotted many interesting species such as parrotfish, clownfish (Nemo fish), sergeant major fish, and razorfish. The coral reefs were among the best we have ever seen.
Although we were given an hour to explore, after about half an hour everyone had returned to the boat except me. I was the only one still in the water. Eventually I felt bad keeping everyone waiting, and Connie was already waving for me to come back, so I reluctantly swam back to the boat.
Our next stop was Beach 91, where we had lunch with grilled pork and chicken. The grilled pork belly was especially delicious—probably the best I had during the trip.
The final stop required climbing a small hill with about 375 steps up and down to reach a freshwater lake, Kayangan Lake. The water was clear, though there were not many fish. I still did a short snorkeling swim in the lake before returning to the boat.
The tour was tiring but very rewarding. We had a wonderful time exploring this beautiful part of Palawan.
2026年3月10日
今天来到菲律宾巴拉望的科隆港，这里与我们上一站公主港的距离大约只有100英里。不知为什么，邮轮公司却把航程安排成两天，中间增加了一个海上航行日。那天海况比较颠簸，我们两个人都多睡了一些时间来恢复体力。幸运的是，我们的状态还不错，没有像上一次遇到大风浪时那样连晚餐都错过。
巴拉望科隆一带的海岸线以清澈见底的海水和壮观的石灰岩悬崖而闻名。当邮轮驶入科隆湾时，周围出现了许多大大小小，色彩鲜艳的螃蟹船（bangka）— 菲律宾传统的双侧竹制浮杆船。每一艘船的设计和配色都不一样，十分鲜艳，充分体现了菲律宾人的创造力。
我们参加了邮轮组织的活动，去探索这一带的自然美景。下船后，我们登上一艘 稍大一点的bangka，前往第一个浮潜地点。海水非常清澈，珊瑚也十分鲜活、色彩斑斓。虽然没有看到大型鱼类，但我们看到了不少有趣的鱼，比如鹦嘴鱼、小丑鱼（Nemo鱼）、军曹鱼和剃刀鱼。这里的珊瑚礁也是我们见过最好的之一。
虽然给了我们一个小时浮潜时间，但大约半个多小时后其他人都已经回到船上，只有我一个人还在水里。Connie 已经在船上向我招手示意，我觉得让大家等着不太好意思，才依依不舍地游回船上。
接下来我们来到 Beach 91 吃午餐，提供的是烤猪肉和烤鸡。我觉得那里的烤五花肉特别好吃，可能是这次旅行中吃到的最好的一次。另外这里的海滩也很漂亮，海水清澈见底。坐着边吃烤肉边看海景，吃完再去海里玩一下，很是享受。
最后一站需要爬上一座小山，上下大约有 375级台阶，才能到达著名的 凯央根湖（Kayangan Lake）。这是科隆岛上的一个淡水湖。湖水非常清澈，不过鱼并不多。我还是在湖里简单浮潜了一下，最后再来个新鲜的椰子，然后才回到船上。
今天的活动虽然有些累，但非常值得。我们度过了一段愉快的时光，也欣赏到了巴拉望迷人的自然风光。
Puerto Princesa, Philippines 菲律宾，普林塞萨港
March 8, 2026
We docked at Puerto Princesa, Philippines, at 11 a.m.,……
上午11点，我们的邮轮停靠在菲律宾的普林塞萨港，。。。
March 8, 2026
We docked at Puerto Princesa, Philippines, at 11 a.m., marking a new country for us. As our ship slowly entered the bay, we were immediately intrigued by the colorful bangka boats in the water. Their unique shapes and bright colors gave the harbor a lively charm, making our first glimpse of the Philippines especially memorable.
A high school band and a group of folk dancers welcomed us with a lively performance under the scorching sun. Even in the intense heat, their smiles and energy never faded, and we truly appreciated the effort and enjoyed the moment.
Since our ship stayed only half a day, there were limited shore excursions offered. Instead, we teamed up with a couple of fellow passengers, including one of the ship’s lecturers, and arranged a city tour together.
For $90 shared among four people, we hired a van with a driver and a local guide. The tour took us to several sites around the city, including the cathedral, Plaza Cuartel, a local weaving factory, the Crocodile Farm, Mitra’s Ranch, and Baker’s Hill.
When we arrived at the cathedral, a Mass was in progress, so we did not tour the inside. Plaza Cuartel was closed for renovation, so we could only view the area briefly.
We then visited a small weaving factory where local workers demonstrated traditional weaving techniques. We were invited to try the weaving machine ourselves, which made the visit more interactive and engaging.
At the Crocodile Farm, we saw a few crocodiles kept in concrete enclosures, but the visit was not particularly impressive.
The stop at Mitra’s Ranch was more enjoyable. Located on a hill, it offered a pleasant breeze and a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.
Our final stop was Baker’s Hill, a small park and shopping area, where we tried halo-halo and ube cake, both popular local desserts.
The weather was hot and humid throughout the afternoon. After finishing the tour, we returned to the ship to rest.
2026年3月8日
上午11点，我们的邮轮停靠在菲律宾的普林塞萨港，当地的居民穿着漂亮的服装，在码头上又唱又跳地欢迎我们邮轮的到来。这是我们第一次来到这个国家。由于邮轮只在这里停留大半天，船上提供的岸上活动选择不多。昨天我们在船上听完讲座，与主讲者聊起今天的活动，他们夫妇俩邀请我们加入他们已安排好的城市游，我们欣然接受。
四个人合租了一辆面包车，连同司机和当地导游一共90美元。行程带我们参观了市区的几个景点，包括大教堂、夸特尔广场（Plaza Cuartel）、一家当地织布小工厂、鳄鱼养殖中心、米特拉庄园 (Mitra’s Ranch) 和 贝克山烘焙园( Baker’s Hill)。
当我们到达大教堂时，里面正在举行弥撒，因此没有进去参观，只在门口拍了几张照片。夸特尔广场 因为正在整修而关闭，我们只能在外面简单看了一下。
随后我们参观了一家小型织布工厂，当地工人向我们展示了传统的织布工艺。我们还被邀请亲自尝试操作织布机，这让整个参观过程更加生动、有参与感。
在鳄鱼养殖中心，我们看到大大小小的鳄鱼被养在水泥隔间里，整体参观体验并没有给我们留下太深的印象。
米特拉庄园的参观相对更令人愉快。这里位于山丘上，可以俯瞰周围的乡村景色，视野开阔，微风也让人感觉舒适。最后一站是 贝克山烘焙园，这里既是一个小型公园，也有一些售卖当地特产的小店。我们在那里品尝了 菲律宾刨冰 (halo-halo) 和 紫薯饼（ube cake），这两样都是当地人喜爱的甜点，我们也觉得很不错。
整个下午天气炎热而潮湿。结束行程后，我们回到船上休息。
Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia 东马的哥打京那巴鲁
March 7, 2026
Today we had an even earlier shore excursion than yesterday,……
今天我们的船来到了东马的哥打京那巴鲁。。。
March 7, 2026
Today we had an even earlier shore excursion than yesterday, so we had breakfast on the balcony before 7 a.m.
The two of us joined different excursions today — one to Kinabalu Park and the other exploring Kota Kinabalu city.
Kinabalu Park is Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. We took a two-hour bus ride from the port to the park, making a brief stop at a local open market along the way. At the park we did a short hike through the rainforest. Although the weather was pleasant and comfortable, we did not see much wildlife. Lunch was served at a hotel on a hilltop, where a buffet was provided. It was decent, and I tried mangosteen for the first time — surprisingly delicious. The entire excursion lasted about seven hours, but overall it did not offer anything particularly unique for me.
Connie joined a different excursion from the ship — a guided city tour exploring the cultural highlights of Kota Kinabalu, the vibrant capital of the Malaysian state of Sabah. The tour began with a photo stop at the iconic Tun Mustapha Building, although visitors are not allowed inside. The next stop was the impressive Sabah State Mosque. From there, the tour continued to the Sabah Heritage Village, where traditional bamboo houses provide insight into the lifestyles of Sabah’s diverse indigenous communities. The final stop was the local handicraft market, where visitors can find Sabah’s well-known freshwater cultured pearls.
Overall, it was not the most exciting day of the trip — just an average day of exploration along the journey.
2026年3月7日
今天我们的船来到了东马的哥打京那巴鲁。我们还是参加邮轮组织的岸上活动，时间比昨天还要更早一些，因此我们再次让管家送餐，早上七点前就在阳台上吃了早餐。
我们两个人分别参加了不同的岸上游，成刚前往神山公园（Kinabalu Park），Connie则是哥打京那巴鲁的市区游。
神山公园是马来西亚第一个联合国教科文组织世界遗产地。从码头出发，乘坐大约两个小时的巴士前往公园，途中在一个当地的露天市场短暂停留。到达公园后，我们在雨林中进行了一个简短的徒步。虽然天气凉爽舒适，但并没有看到多少野生动物。午餐安排在山顶一家酒店的餐厅，以自助餐形式提供，味道还算不错。成刚第一次品尝了山竹，味道出乎意料地好。之后又是二个小时巴士回来，整个行程大约持续七个小时，不过总体来说，感觉并没有特别独特的体验。
Connie参加了邮轮安排的另一条岸上游——哥打京那巴鲁城市观光之旅，探索沙巴州首府这座充满活力的城市。大巴带着大家首先来到标志性的敦慕斯塔法大厦（Tun Mustapha Building）停留拍照，不过游客不能进入大楼内部。接着前往气势宏伟的沙巴州清真寺，同样因为斋月的缘故，游客只能在外面看看拍照留念，而不能进清真寺参观。随后大巴带着大家来到沙巴文化村（Sabah Heritage Village），那里用传统竹屋展示了沙巴各个原住民族群的生活方式。最后一站是当地的手工艺市场，不计其数的摊位都在卖沙巴著名的淡水养殖珍珠首饰。手工艺市场旁边是当地的一个水果食品市场，新鲜芒果排得整整齐齐，非常诱人。另外还有各种土特产等等。
今天的二个岸上游都比较一般，东马明显感觉比西马落后。对我们来说也算是到此一游吧，也只有坐邮轮才会来到这地方。
回到船上，下午去听了个讲座，是关于明天要去的一个港口城市，先大概了解一下情况。
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei 文莱 斯里巴加湾市
March 6, 2026
After two sea days, this morning our ship docked at Muara Port,……
经过两天的海上航行，。。。
March 6, 2026
After two sea days, this morning our ship docked at Muara Port, the gateway to the small but prosperous nation of Brunei, one of the richest countries in the region.
Since we had an early shore excursion, we requested breakfast room service. At the scheduled time in the morning, the butler came and set up a table on the balcony. The breakfast was a simple continental meal with hot coffee, croissants, yogurt, and a few other items. Although it was modest, the experience was pleasant and much less stressful before an early morning excursion.
From the port we drove about half an hour to the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, a quiet and orderly city with wide roads, tidy buildings, and a relaxed atmosphere. What struck us immediately was how calm the city felt—almost no motorcycles or bicycles, and hardly any pedestrians on the streets. Life here seems to move at a slower, more measured pace, often referred to locally as the “Brunei way.”
Our first stop was outside the gates of Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan. Although visitors are not allowed inside, the enormous scale of the palace is striking. Stretching along the river behind elegant gates, it is known as the largest residential palace in the world.
We then visited the small but colorful Teng Yun Temple, the oldest Chinese temple in Brunei, which survived the destruction of World War II. Just next to the temple is a lively morning market where local vendors sell fresh vegetables, tropical fruits, seafood, and a variety of traditional snacks. Walking through the market offered a glimpse into daily life in the city. Interestingly, we did not see any meat for sale and only spotted a few small fish in a bowl; most stalls were selling vegetables and produce.
Next we took a small ferry to cross the river and explore Kampong Ayer, the centuries-old water village often called the “Venice of the East,” and considered one of the oldest water settlements in the world. Hundreds of wooden houses stand on stilts above the river, connected by wooden walkways and small bridges. Despite its long history, the village felt quiet and calm, not nearly as busy as the floating villages we had seen in Cambodia.
We were welcomed into a floating house and served a selection of traditional Bruneian snacks. Sitting in the living room above the gently moving water while enjoying the local treats gave us a warm glimpse into everyday life in this unique riverside community.
Later we visited the elegant Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. Its golden dome rises above a tranquil lagoon, and the white marble building reflects beautifully in the surrounding water, making it one of the most iconic landmarks in Southeast Asia.
Our final stop was the impressive Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque. The mosque is crowned with 29 golden domes, representing the 29th Sultan of Brunei, and is surrounded by manicured gardens and fountains. Larger and more monumental in scale, the mosque reflects the country’s strong Islamic tradition and prosperity. As noon approached, we saw local Muslim men slowly walking toward the mosque for the Friday prayers. During Ramadan, however, non-Muslims are generally not allowed inside the mosque.
As we returned toward the port in the afternoon, Bandar Seri Begawan left us with the impression of a city that is calm, clean, and quietly elegant.
We also had an amazing culinary experience during the last two days at sea, including a memorable dinner at Umi Uma, the only Nobu restaurant at sea.
2026年3月6日
经过两天的海上航行，今天早晨，我们的邮轮停靠在文莱的摩拉港（Muara Port）。这里是文莱达鲁萨兰国（Brunei Darussalam）的主要港口。文莱是一个面积不大，却依靠丰富的石油和天然气资源而富裕起来的国家。
我们参加了邮轮组织的岸上游。由于今天一早要参加岸上游，我们不想吃自助早餐，就提前预订了客房送餐。到了约定时间，管家准时来到房间，在阳台上为我们摆好餐桌。我们只点了些简单的欧陆式早餐，有热咖啡、羊角面包、酸奶等。在阳台上悠闲地享用早餐，为即将开始的清晨岸上行提供了一个轻松而惬意的开始。
下船离开港口后，驱车大约半小时来到首都斯里巴加湾市。整座城市安静整洁，道路宽阔，建筑整齐，整体给人一种从容而悠闲的感觉。街上几乎看不到摩托车或自行车，行人也很少，生活节奏显得格外缓慢，这也被称为“文莱式生活”。
我们的第一站是位于河岸旁的努洛伊曼皇宫（Istana Nurul Iman）门前。这是文莱苏丹的官邸。虽然游客无法进入参观，但从外面已经可以感受到它惊人的规模。皇宫沿河而建，据说是世界上最大的有人居住的宫殿。
随后我们来到色彩鲜艳的天云宫（Teng Yun Temple）。这是文莱最古老的华人庙宇，并在二战时期幸存下来。庙旁边就是一个热闹的早市，当地居民在这里售卖蔬菜、水果、海鲜以及各种传统小吃。我们在市场里随意走走，感受当地人的日常生活。比较有意思的是，几乎没有看到卖肉的摊位，只看到一个小碗里放着几条小鱼，大多数摊位都在卖蔬菜和农产品。
接着我们乘坐渡船过河，来到历史悠久的水上村（Kampong Ayer）。这里被认为是世界上最古老的水上聚落之一。数千座木屋建在河面上的高脚桩上，由木制栈道和小桥相连。不过这里显得十分安静，没有我们在柬埔寨见到的水上村庄那么热闹。
在水村里，我们被安排进入一户水上人家，在那里品尝了一些文莱传统点心。坐在客厅里，脚下是缓缓流动的河水，一边品尝当地小吃，一边聊天，让我们对这种独特的水上生活有所了解。
之后我们去了奥马尔·阿里·赛义夫丁清真寺（Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque），斋月期间不让进，只是在外面照相留念。金色圆顶在阳光下熠熠生辉，洁白的大理石建筑坐落在人工湖旁，被认为是东南亚最美丽的清真寺之一。
最后一站是宏伟的杰米清真寺（Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque）。这座清真寺拥有 29 个金色圆顶，象征文莱第29任苏丹。清真寺规模宏大，四周是精心修剪的花园与喷泉，显得庄严而华丽。刚过中午时分，我们看到许多当地穆斯林男子慢慢走进清真寺礼拜大厅，准备参加周五的主麻礼拜。斋月期间，非穆斯林一般不能进入清真寺大厅参观，但可以在清真寺建筑周围照相。
下午返回港口的路上，正值周五中午到下午两点之间，大多数商店和工作场所都会关闭，让穆斯林参加主麻礼拜。斯里巴加湾市显得更加安静从容，街上车辆也很少。这座城市虽然不大，却给人留下干净、宁静而优雅的深刻印象。
Border Crossing into Singapore 跨境进入新加坡
March 3, 2026
Instead of flying directly from Shanghai to Singapore to start our cruise, ……
原本我们可以从上海直接飞到新加坡登船开启邮轮之旅，。。。
March 3, 2026
Instead of flying directly from Shanghai to Singapore to start our cruise, we decided to add a little adventure to the beginning of the trip. We first flew to Kuala Lumpur and then took the train south to the border town of Johor Bahru. Normally we prefer to arrive at the embarkation port a day in advance, but rather than crossing immediately into Singapore, we stayed overnight in Johor Bahru, where hotels and food are significantly cheaper.
This morning we took a Grab to JB Sentral to catch the shuttle train to Woodlands Station in Singapore. In the past, we had crossed the border from Laos into China by train, which took nearly two hours and required us to get on and off the train twice with all of our luggage. The process was inefficient and not a pleasant memory, so we were a little anxious about how this crossing would go.
About 30 minutes before departure, the gate opened and passengers checked in using their passports. We then quickly cleared Malaysian immigration and customs. Five minutes before departure, we boarded the train. The train slowly crossed the Johor Strait, and just five minutes later we arrived at the Woodlands checkpoint in Singapore. Passing through Singapore immigration and customs was also quick and smooth.
Overall, the entire experience was efficient and uneventful—a pleasant surprise compared with our previous border crossing.
Afterward, we called a Grab to take us to the cruise terminal to board our 10-day voyage through the South China Sea.
By this point, we had already spent nearly 100 days sailing with Crystal Cruises. The ship felt familiar, and we even recognized some of the crew members. In many ways, it felt like returning to a home away from home.
2026年3月3日
原本我们可以从上海直接飞到新加坡登船开启邮轮之旅，但这次我们特意给旅程增加了一点小小的冒险。我们先飞到吉隆坡，玩了几天，然后乘坐火车南下到边境城市新山（Johor Bahru）。通常我们都会提前一天抵达登船港口，但这次没有直接进入新加坡，而是在新山住了一晚。这里的酒店和餐饮价格都比新加坡便宜得多。
今天早上我们叫了一辆 Grab 前往 JB Sentral，乘坐开往新加坡兀兰（Woodlands）车站的跨境接驳火车。以前我们曾从老挝坐火车进入中国，那次过境花了将近两个小时，还需要带着行李两次上下车，整个过程既低效又令人印象不佳。因此这次过境前我们多少有点担心，尤其是因为中东地区开战，这里的就闻报到说新加坡收紧边境检查，从JB进入新加坡要排队。
在列车发车前约30分钟，闸门打开，乘客凭护照办理登车手续。随后我们很快就通过了马来西亚一侧的移民和海关检查。发车前5分钟开始登车。列车缓缓驶过柔佛海峡，大约5分钟后就抵达了新加坡兀兰关卡。入境新加坡的移民和海关手续同样非常快捷顺利。整个过程高效顺畅，与我们之前的边境经历形成了鲜明对比。
之后我们叫了一辆 Grab 前往邮轮码头，登上即将展开为期10天的南中国海航线。
到这个时候，我们在水晶邮轮（Crystal Cruises）上累计已经航行了将近100天。船上的环境对我们来说已经非常熟悉。某种意义上，这艘船就像是远方的另一个家。
Johor Bahru, Malaysia 柔佛新山
March 2, 2026
This morning, we boarded the electric train from KL Sentral to JB Sentral……
今天早上7:55，。。。
March 2, 2026
This morning, we boarded the electric train from KL Sentral to JB Sentral at 7:55 a.m. The new direct route, opened last December, has made travel between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru much easier and more convenient.
We booked first class, which featured a comfortable 2+1 seat configuration — among the best we’ve experienced. Complimentary drinks(water, coffee & juice), snacks, and a light meal were provided. Although the ride was not as smooth as high-speed trains in Japan or China, the overall experience was still very pleasant.
After settling into our hotel, we headed out to explore the city. Our first stop was the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, perched on a hill overlooking the Straits of Johor. Unlike typical mosque architecture, this one features a unique blend of Victorian, Moorish, and Malay styles. Unfortunately, it was not open to non-Muslim visitors. After taking a few photos, we called a Grab to visit the Sultan Abu Bakar Royal Palace Museum.
The driver dropped us at the front gate just as heavy rain began to pour. To our surprise, we discovered that the museum had been closed for several years. With no shelter nearby, we hurried through the downpour to a nearby bus stop to wait it out.
Once the rain subsided, we walked toward the Chinese heritage streets for an early dinner. Throughout our time in Malaysia, we had made it a habit to order at least one familiar dish at every meal — fried kway teow (炒粿条) — and once again, it did not disappoint. Each version we tried had its own character, but all were satisfying.
Later, we called a Grab back to the hotel. With a few remaining Malaysian ringgit notes in our wallets, we stopped to buy two egg tarts to enjoy one last local treat. On the way, we stopped the oldest Chinese Temple and a city landmark.
As our trip to Malaysia came to an end, we realized how much we had enjoyed every moment — the food, the culture, the history, and the unexpected encounters along the way.
2026年3月2日
今天早上7:55，我们从吉隆坡中央车站(KL Sentral)搭乘电动列车前往柔佛新山中央车站(JB Sentral)。去年12月才刚开通的直达线路，使吉隆坡与新山之间的往返变得更加便捷高效。
我们在好几个星期之前就购买好了一等座车票，车厢采用2+1的座位布局，是我们体验过的最舒适的配置之一，车上还提供免费的饮料，零食和简餐。虽然行驶的平稳度不如日本或中国的高铁那样，但整体乘坐体验依然令人满意。
四个多小时之后火车准点到达新山。入住酒店，安顿好行李后，我们便出门探索这座边境城市。第一站是位于山丘上的苏丹阿布峇卡清真寺，俯瞰柔佛海峡。与传统清真寺不同，它融合了维多利亚、摩尔与马来建筑风格，外观独特而优雅。可惜不对非穆斯林人员开放。我们简单拍照后，叫了Grab前往苏丹阿布峇卡皇宫博物馆。
司机刚把我们送到大门口，大雨便倾盆而下。更让人意外的是，博物馆已关闭多年。无奈之下，我们只好冒雨跑到附近的公交站避雨。
雨停后，我们步行前往华人传统街区吃早晚餐。整个马来西亚之行，我们每顿饭都会点一道熟悉的菜——炒粿条，而每一家都不错。不同店家风味各异，却都令人满意。
来马来西亚几天，今天是唯一一天下雨的。本来吃完饭还想继续走走，但天公不作美，不想再次被雨淋，于是我们叫了Grab返回酒店。钱包里还剩几张马币，于是顺路买了两个蛋挞，作为旅程最后的小小甜点。
马来西亚之旅即将结束。回望这几天的经历，无论是美食、文化、历史，还是旅途中那些不期而遇的瞬间，都让我们心生满足。我们享受这段旅程的每一个时刻。
Islam in Malaysia 伊斯兰教的马来西亚
March 1, 2026
From the moment we stepped into Malaysia two days ago,……
两天前踏入马来西亚的那一刻，。。。
March 1, 2026
From the moment we stepped into Malaysia two days ago, we could immediately feel the strong presence of Islam in daily life. The call to prayer echoed through public loudspeakers． Currently it’s in the middle of the Ramada, and our hotel offers the nightly Ramadan buffet dinners. More than half of the women we saw on the street wore headscarves. With temperatures in the 90s and humidity just as high, we decided today would be a museum day — a chance to better understand Malaysia and the role of Islam in the country.
Our first stop was the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, where we explored beautifully curated galleries of calligraphy, architectural models, ceramics, textiles, and Qur’anic manuscripts. The exhibits were elegant and thoughtfully presented, offering insight into the artistic and cultural dimensions of Islamic civilization.
From there, we walked to the National Mosque of Malaysia (Masjid Negara). After registering at the entrance, we were provided with appropriate coverings for women and proceeded on a self-guided visit. Compared with some mosques we have visited in other countries, the atmosphere felt relatively relaxed and welcoming. The modern architecture and open courtyard design were impressive.
Next, we visited the National Museum of Malaysia to learn about the country’s long history, its path to independence, and its unique political system that blends sultanates with parliamentary democracy. Although the building itself felt somewhat dated, the exhibits were informative and provided useful context for understanding Malaysia’s federal structure and monarchy.
By mid-afternoon, the heat and humidity once again sent us back to the hotel for a short nap.
In the early evening, we walked to Suria KLCC Mall at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers to have dinner at a restaurant where we had seen long queues the previous night. We ordered their famous egg tarts, pineapple buns, noodles, and white coffee. Everything was delicious — and we would even say the egg tarts were better than the ones we tasted in Portugal.
After indulging in more carbohydrates and fats than we needed, we took a leisurely walk through KLCC Park on our way back to the hotel. Along the way, we stopped near a mosque inside the park to observe people preparing to break their fast at sunset. Hundreds of devoted worshippers sat in orderly rows on the floor, bottles of water and food boxes placed in front of them, waiting patiently after more than twelve hours without food or water. The scene was quiet, disciplined, and deeply moving.
As the sun set, we strolled slowly back to the hotel. It was a meaningful day — one that allowed us not only to see Kuala Lumpur, but to better understand the cultural and spiritual fabric that shapes this beautiful city.
2026年3月1日
两天前踏入马来西亚的那一刻，我们便强烈地感受到伊斯兰教在这个国家日常生活中的影响。清真寺的宣礼声通过公共广播在城市上空回荡，我们入住的酒店每晚也提供斋月自助晚餐。街头所见，超过一半的女性戴着头巾。在摄氏三十多度、湿度同样居高不下的闷热天气中，我们决定把今天安排为“博物馆日”，借此更系统地了解马来西亚与伊斯兰文化。
第一站是马来西亚伊斯兰艺术博物馆。馆内陈列精美，从书法、建筑模型到陶瓷、纺织品和古兰经手稿，展品优雅而细致，展示了伊斯兰文明在艺术与文化层面的深厚底蕴。
随后我们步行前往马来西亚国家清真寺（Masjid Negara）。登记后，工作人员为女性提供了适当的长袍，我们便开始自助参观。我们去过不少清真寺，与我们曾参观过的其它国家清真寺相比，这里气氛较为轻松友好。现代感十足的建筑设计与开阔的庭院空间令人印象深刻。
接着我们来到马来西亚国家博物馆，了解国家的独立历史、悠久传统，以及融合苏丹制度与议会民主的政治体系。虽然建筑略显陈旧，但展览内容详实，为理解马来西亚的联邦结构与君主制度提供了良好的背景。
午后炎热难耐，我们回到酒店小憩片刻。
傍晚时分，我们步行至双子塔下的吉隆坡城市中心商场 （Suria KLCC），在昨晚上看到排队很长的一家餐厅用餐。我们品尝了这家店著名的蛋挞、菠萝包、面食和白咖啡。味道相当不错，甚至觉得蛋挞比在葡萄牙里斯本吃到的还要出色。
摄入了过量的碳水与脂肪之后，我们沿着KLCC公园慢慢散步走回酒店。途中在公园内的一座清真寺旁停下脚步，看到人们正准备在日落时分开斋。数百名虔诚的信徒整齐地坐在地上，面前摆放着水和食物盒，安静地等待着。经过十多个小时不进食不饮水，他们依然秩序井然，神情平静而坚定。那一刻令人动容。
夕阳西下，我们缓缓走回酒店。这一天不仅让我们看见了吉隆坡的城市面貌，也让我们更深入地体会到塑造这座城市的文化与信仰脉络。吉隆坡，是一座美丽而多元化的城市。
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 吉隆坡，马来西亚
February 28, 2026
After spending three wonderful weeks with family……
在上海与家人团聚三周、。。。
February 28, 2026
After spending three wonderful weeks with family and celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year together in Shanghai, we began another detoured adventure on our way back to Phoenix. Yesterday, we flew with Singapore Airlines, transiting in Singapore before continuing on to Kuala Lumpur. The entire journey took about fourteen hours from door to door.
With access to airport lounges and excellent food served onboard, we were not particularly hungry upon arrival, so we kept dinner simple — just a light meal at a café downstairs from the hotel.
This morning, we enjoyed a generous hotel breakfast featuring Malaysian flavors — curry, coconut, and a variety of local dishes — before calling a Grab to visit Batu Caves.
Batu Caves is a famous limestone hill complex housing several Hindu temples. The main Temple Cave is reached by climbing 272 dramatic, brightly colored steps.
Perhaps because it was the weekend, there were ongoing religious activities, including devotees carrying kavadi.
Monkeys were everywhere, weaving along the stairs as visitors fed them.
We also visited the Ramayana Cave, which depicts the story of Rama.
The visit was both interesting and informative, offering a vivid glimpse into Malaysia’s Hindu culture.
Afterward, we took another Grab into the city center to visit Merdeka Square and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. The architecture was elegant, and the galleries detailing the city’s history were engaging and educational. However, the weather was extremely humid and hot, and we eventually retreated into an air-conditioned café for a much-needed coffee break.
Later, we walked to Central Market and Chinatown, where we had a Chinese lunch. The food was decent, though a bit salty. By then, fatigue had set in, and we decided to call a Grab back to the hotel for some rest.
After a short nap, we casually sent a message to a friend and former colleague from Iowa — originally from Malaysia and now retired in Washington State — to let him know we were enjoying our time here in Kuala Lumpur. To our surprise, he replied immediately, asking whether we were still in the city. He was here too.
Within minutes, we arranged a reunion. That evening, we met him and his son for dinner. They introduced us to authentic Malaysian cuisine, and we spent hours laughing, sharing stories, and reconnecting.
It was an unexpected and delightful reunion — a reminder that one of the greatest gifts of travel is the joy of crossing paths again in distant places.
2026年2月28日
在上海与家人团聚三周、一起庆祝农历新年之后，我们又开始了一段绕道而行的返程之旅。昨天，我们搭乘新加坡航空，经新加坡转机飞往吉隆坡。从家门到酒店，整个行程大约十四个小时。
由于在机场贵宾室享用了不错的餐食，飞机上的餐食也相当丰富，抵达后我们并不觉得饿，只是在酒店楼下的小餐厅里简单吃了点作为晚餐。
今早在酒店享用了丰盛的自助早餐，咖喱、椰香等浓郁的马来风味令人印象深刻。随后我们叫了Grab前往黑风洞。
黑风洞是一座著名的石灰岩洞穴群，内有多座印度教寺庙。主洞需沿着272级色彩鲜艳的阶梯攀登而上，气势颇为壮观。也许因为是周末，现场有一些宗教活动，看到信徒背负“卡瓦迪”（Kavadi）还愿。我们还参观了讲述《罗摩衍那》故事的洞穴。猴子也是这里的一部分，在阶梯间穿梭跳跃，不少游客给它们投喂食物。整个参观过程既生动又富有文化气息。
随后我们再次乘坐Grab前往市中心，参观独立广场和苏丹阿都沙末大厦。建筑典雅庄重，介绍城市历史的展览也十分详尽。不过天气闷热潮湿，我们不得不躲进一家有空调的咖啡馆休息片刻。
之后步行前往中央市场和唐人街，在唐人街吃了一顿中餐。味道尚可，只是略咸。此时体力已明显下降，我们决定叫车返回酒店休息。
小睡之后，我们随意给一位在爱荷华州共事过的朋友发了条短信。他原籍马来西亚，如今已退休定居华盛顿州，只是想告诉他我们正在马来西亚旅行。没想到他几乎立刻回复，问我们是否还在城里——原来他也正好在吉隆坡。
于是我们立刻约好见面。当晚与他和儿子共进晚餐，他们带我们品尝地道的马来西亚美食。我们畅谈往事，笑声不断，度过了一个愉快而温馨的夜晚。
这场意外的重逢，让旅途多了一份惊喜与温暖。也再次提醒我们——旅行带来的，不只是风景，更是人与人之间跨越时空的相遇与连接。
Freeport, Bahamas 弗里波特，巴哈马
December 21, 2025
This was the final stop of our cruise……
昨天是我们这二十多天行程的最后一个海上行，。。。
December 21, 2025
This was the final stop of our cruise. We joined an underwater cave tour that took us on a drive across the island. Along the way, we could still see the lingering impact of the devastating 2019 hurricane. In several places, the contrast was striking: on one side of the road, Casuarina pine (Australian pine) trees had been killed by saltwater flooding, while just a short distance away, others had survived.
The tour itself brought us to only two openings of the cave system, offering just a glimpse of what lies below. Even so, it was impressive to learn that this is part of the vast underwater cave network within Lucayan National Park, one of the largest underwater cave systems in the world.
Afterward, we walked across the street to Gold Rock Beach. At low tide, shallow tidal pools spread across the sand, bordered by mangroves with exposed roots forming a delicate natural maze. The setting was quiet, pristine, and felt like a perfect ending to the tour.
If the tour had ended there, it would have been ideal. Instead, we continued on to Junkanoo Beach Club for lunch and beach time. The BBQ chicken and ribs were quite good, but after visiting so many beautiful beaches throughout this trip, this final stop felt repetitive. Compared with everything we had already seen, the rest of the tour was simply a bit boring.
In the last evening, we wrapped up the day with dinner at Umi Uma, the Nobu Japanese restaurant onboard. As always, the food was excellent and a fitting end to a beautiful day.
Over the past two years, we had visited more than twenty destinations across the Caribbean. The beaches and waters are among the most beautiful in the world, but the scorching sun and relentless humidity often limited how much we could truly enjoy them. In the end, we realized that we are more mountain people than ocean people. For now, the Caribbean will likely remain off our itinerary for a while.
2025年12月21日
昨天是我们这二十多天行程的最后一个海上行，同时离美国也越来越近了。今天早上船来到了我们本次邮轮行程的最后一站，巴哈马群岛的弗里波特。我们参加了一个水下洞穴之旅，途中驱车穿越岛屿。一路上，仍能清楚看到2019年飓风留下的痕迹：废弃的房屋，在一些地方，道路一侧的木麻黄（澳洲松）因海水倒灌而枯死，而不远处的同类树木却顽强存活，形成了强烈的对比。
洞穴游览本身只带我们参观了洞穴系统的两个入口。即便导游介绍说，这里属于卢卡扬国家公园内庞大的水下洞穴网络之一——也是世界上规模最大的水下洞穴系统之一，但由于参观方式有限，更多只是“知道它的存在”，却难以真正体会其宏大与神秘。
随后，我们步行过马路来到 Gold Rock Beach。原始而安静的沙滩边散布着一片片浅浅的潮汐水池，水面映着天空，也映着周围的红树林与白树林，裸露的根系交织成一座天然的迷宫。如果行程能在此结束，堪称完美。
但行程并未止步于此。之后我们继续前往 Junkanoo Beach Club 享用午餐并在沙滩玩水休息。烧烤鸡和排骨味道不错，但由于这趟旅程中我们已经走访了太多各具特色的海滩，这一站的沙滩太一般，相对逊色些，所以这后半段的行程也因此略显乏味。
我们今天所在的岛距离美国的劳德代尔堡只有大约70英里。明天我们便下船回家，准备迎接节日。
过去两年里，我们在加勒比海地区走访了二十多个地方。那里的海滩与海水无疑是世界一流的，但炽烈的阳光和难以忍受的湿热，常常让人难以久留、尽兴而游。相比之下，感觉绿水青山好像更适合我们。估计短期内加勒比海暂时不会上日程表了。
Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands 大特克岛，特克斯和凯科斯群岛
December 19， 2025
This morning, the cruise arrived at Grand Turk,……
今天清晨，邮轮抵达了大特克岛，。。。
December 19， 2025
This morning, the cruise arrived at Grand Turk, the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands—and the first port of this segment of the trip. We had been here once before, in January 2024, but were happy to return. Today, we joined a snorkeling excursion organized by the cruise line. The weather was perfect: sunny skies and calm seas.
Our boat took us to two different snorkeling spots, spending about 30 minutes at each. Both locations were teeming with marine life, making this one of the most rewarding snorkeling experiences we’ve had. At the second spot, the crew fed the fish, and suddenly schools of colorful fish swirled all around us, passing just inches away—an unforgettable underwater moment.
When we returned to the pier, we saw a huge cruise ship docked next to ours, carrying several thousand passengers—seven or eight times more than our ship. Before long, the pier became crowded, with groups of tourists streaming off the large ship and heading toward the beach. We decided not to join the crowds. Instead, we went back on board to have a late lunch, rest properly, and enjoy the scenery. In the evening, as the ship departed from Grand Turk Island, the wind picked up and we could feel the ship beginning to sway. The motion-sickness medicine was taken too late to take effect, and Connie felt a bit seasick. We decided not to go to the restaurant and instead ordered dinner and had the butler deliver it to our room.
2025年12月20日
今天清晨，邮轮抵达了大特克岛，这里是特克斯和凯科斯群岛的首府。我们曾在2024年1月来过这里，很漂亮，印象深刻，再次造访依然让人期待。今天我们参加了由邮轮公司组织的浮潜活动，天气晴朗，海面还算平静，条件非常理想。
小船带我们前往两个浮潜点，每个地点各停留约30分钟。首先是来到相对浅一点的水域，水下的珊瑚看的清清楚楚，各种小鱼在珊瑚中穿梭。第二个浮潜点是著名的七千英呎深的大特克墙边。一边是二十英呎深的水域，另一边直落七千英呎。为安全起见，只允许我们在落差的墙边游动，主要还是在二十英呎深的水域区浮潜。两个地点的海洋生物都非常丰富，我们看到了大量鱼群，尤其是在第二个浮潜点，船员还向海中投喂了鱼食，成群的大小鱼儿从我们身边游过，令人难忘。算是我们这次仅有的几次浮潜中最有收获的一次。这也成为我们至今最令人满足的一次浮潜体验之一。连续二年来大特克岛，都参加了浮潜。不知道邮轮公司是否用了当地的同一家浮潜公司，二次的体验很相似，都非常满意。尤其是带我们浮潜的几位工作人员非常细致周到，会耐心地陪着，可以说是最让Connie安心的浮潜体验。
回到码头，看到我们船旁边来了一艘大邮轮，好几千的游客，是我们船的七，八倍。不多久码头便开始拥挤，从大邮轮下来的游客成群结队的走向海滩。我们不凑热闹，回船上吃个晚午餐，再好好休息，看看风景。
晚上船离开大特克岛，有点起风，能感觉得到船在晃动。药用的太晚还没起作用，Connie有点晕。决定不去餐厅，直接叫了晚餐让管家送到房间来。
Samaná, Dominican Republic 萨马纳， 多米尼加共和国
December 18, 2025
Our second stop in the Dominican Republic began with a shore excursion to El Limón Waterfall……
昨天晚上船离开圣多明各，沿着岛开，。。。
December 18, 2025
Our second stop in the Dominican Republic began with a shore excursion to El Limón Waterfall. Even before the tour officially started, tensions ran high: the operator refused to allow anyone wearing open-toe shoes onto the trucks, which led to some very unhappy passengers. Once underway, the ride itself was rough and uncomfortable.
The hiking trail was muddy and littered with smelly horse manure. While the hike wasn’t particularly difficult, it wasn’t very enjoyable either. After about 30 minutes of walking, we reached the waterfall at the bottom of the trail. The area was crowded, and after standing around for just a few minutes, we turned back and retraced our steps.
Back at the port, we decided to skip the tender ride back to the ship and explore on foot on the island instead. We walked across a long bridge leading to a small nearby island—a beautifully built pedestrian path that quite literally goes nowhere. The island itself offered little beyond a few rest stops and viewpoints, but the walk was delightful. The water below was crystal clear, and we could easily spot fish and starfish. In the end, this quiet stroll across the bridge and island turned out to be far more enjoyable than the earlier hike.
In the afternoon, we returned to the ship. Since it was already past lunchtime, we grabbed a light bite at the Bistro just to tide ourselves over and saved our appetites for a big dinner later. Tonight was our third visit to the Italian restaurant, where we enjoyed the third set of its eight-course tasting menu. Just like the previous two times, the overall quality was excellent. After three visits, we had now sampled every dish on the restaurant’s menu.For both of us, the appetizers stood out as the best, while the main courses were slightly less impressive.
2025年12月18日
昨天晚上船离开圣多明各，沿着岛开，今天早上转到了岛的另一侧，多米尼加共和国的另一个港口小镇萨马纳。
早餐后我们参加了船上组织的前往埃尔利蒙瀑布（El Limón Waterfall）的徒步游。行程尚未正式出发，就已经出现了一些不太愉快的时刻——当地旅游运营方不允许穿露趾鞋的乘客登上卡车参加这个活动，这让不少人非常不满。老外们，尤其是美国人都比较喜欢穿凉鞋，爬山也一样。在码头上争论了好久，最后还是不让参加。 随后我们乘坐大卡车前往登山营地，一路颠簸，加上大卡车的噪音以及导游大声的讲解声，乘坐体验很不舒适。
来到徒步小径，发现骑马去看瀑布的人特别多。丛林小路本来就潮湿，路上遍布刺鼻的马尿马粪，泥泞不堪，行人还要不停地给马让路。徒步本身并不算困难，但这沿途路况实在太糟糕，带队的导游也不是很周到，常常走的没影了。大约步行了近一个小时后，我们到达了瀑布底部的观景点。瀑布的确不错，但那里游客实在太多，我们只停留了几分钟，便开始原路返回。可以想像这一路走过来，鞋子会有多脏。好在营地有当地人专门给游客洗鞋子，付点小费。
回到码头后，我们决定先不马上乘坐接驳船返回邮轮，而是选择在码头附近步行探索。一座长长的桥连接着附近的一座无人小岛——这是一条修建精美却“通往无处”的人行步道。小岛上没有什么景点，只有几处供人停留观景的休息点。不过，走在桥上和小岛上的感觉却十分惬意。海水清澈见底，可以清楚地看到鱼群和海星。相比之前的徒步行程，我们反而更加享受这段安静悠闲的散步。
下午回到船上，因为早已过了午餐时间，我们就在Bistro随便吃了点垫下肚子， 留着晚上吃大餐。今晚上我们第三次来到意大利餐厅，品尝了第三套八道式的品鉴菜单，和之前二次一样，整体水准非常出色。三次下来我们也将餐厅的所有菜都品尝了一遍。对我们俩来说感觉是前菜做的最好，主食稍微逊色一些。
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 圣多明各，多米尼加共和国
December 17, 2025
After a day at sea, we arrived in Santo Domingo for the second time on this trip……
前二天在哥伦比亚的卡塔赫纳是我们这次邮轮走的最远的地方，。。。
December 17, 2025
After a day at sea, we arrived in Santo Domingo for the second time on this trip. We hired a taxi to take us to Faro de Colón, the Columbus Lighthouse, where Christopher Columbus is allegedly buried. The final resting place of Columbus has been disputed for centuries. Today, two cities—Seville and Santo Domingo—both claim to hold his remains, and over the years we have visited both.
The monument itself is enormous, almost overwhelming in scale. Inside, it houses numerous small exhibits contributed by countries around the world that participated in or supported the monument’s construction. We spent about an hour exploring the museum while our taxi driver patiently waited for us outside, then drove us back to the ship.
After lunch onboard, we disembarked again—this time returning to the city center. We wandered at an unhurried pace through the streets and came upon the atmospheric ruins of an old convent, currently under renovation. Even in its partially restored state, the site felt evocative and quietly fascinating.
A small but memorable moment came when we encountered two young girls speaking Chinese on the street. Throughout the entire trip, it had been rare to hear Chinese spoken, and tourists from China—or Asia more broadly—seemed few and far between. That brief exchange felt unexpectedly familiar and warmly human, standing out amid our explorations of history and stone.
2025年12月17日
前二天在哥伦比亚的卡塔赫纳是我们这次邮轮走的最远的地方，接下来便是往回开。在海上航行一天后，我们的船再次抵达 Santo Domingo（圣多明各）。因为是第二次来，我们就自由行，雇了一辆出租车前往 Faro de Colón（哥伦布灯塔），这里据称安葬着 Christopher Columbus（克里斯托弗·哥伦布）。事实上，哥伦布的最终安息之地几百年来一直存在争议。如今，西班牙塞维利亚（Seville）和圣多明各这两座城市都声称保存着他的遗骸，而我们也都曾到访过这两处地方。
这座纪念性建筑规模宏大，气势逼人。建筑内部设有许多小型展览，展品来自参与或支持该纪念碑建设的不同国家。我们在馆内参观了大约一个小时，出租车司机一直在外等候，随后将我们送回了船上。
在船上用过午餐后，我们再次下船返回市区。这一次，我们放慢脚步，在老城市里悠闲地漫步，偶然发现了一处正在修缮中的古老修道院遗址。即使在翻修过程中，这片废墟依然充满历史气息，令人觉得别有意味。
在老城区闲逛时我们走进了一家小超市，无意中听到两位年轻女孩正在用中文交谈，从口音上能知道是来自大陆，这让我们很吃惊。与她们交谈后知道是自己飞到多米尼亚的Punta Cana (蓬塔卡纳)，然后又开车来到了圣多明各。半个多月来的整个行程中，几乎听不到中文，来自中国或其他亚洲国家的游客在这一带也相当少见。很佩服这两位年轻女孩，那一刻的偶遇及乡音，给我们带来了一丝亲切与温暖。
Cartagena (2), Columbia 卡塔赫纳，哥伦比亚
December 15, 2025
Today, we joined a shore excursion to visit the Colombia National Aviary,……
December 15, 2025
Today, we joined a shore excursion to visit the Colombia National Aviary, located about 20 kilometers outside the city. Compared with the small aviary inside the cruise terminal, this one was on an entirely different scale, showcasing a far greater variety of bird species. Some birds were free-ranging, while others were housed in spacious, well-designed enclosures that still allowed close viewing.
Colombia is home to more bird species than any other country in the world, and that incredible biodiversity was on full display here. The visit was colorful, lively, and genuinely delightful—a refreshing immersion in nature after our city explorations.
After two consecutive days in port, however, we were beginning to feel the pace catch up with us. By the end of the day, we found ourselves wishing for another quiet sea day to rest and recharge before the journey continued.
2025年12月15日
昨天我们自由行，主要是卡塔赫纳老城区和周边的一些景点。今天我们参加了邮轮组织的项目，前往距离市区约20公里的哥伦比亚国家鸟类保护区。与邮轮码头内的小型鸟园相比，这里的规模超大，展示了数量更多、种类更丰富的鸟类。有些鸟类可以自由活动，另一些则被安置在宽敞、设计良好的大型笼舍中，依然便于近距离观赏。在保护区内我们还观看了一场鸟的表演。
哥伦比亚是全球鸟类物种数量最多的国家，而这一惊人的生物多样性在这里得到了充分体现。整个参观过程是一次令人愉悦、亲近自然的体验，也为我们此前的城市游览增添了轻松的一笔。
不过，连续两天的靠港行程再加上闷热的天气，还是让人感到有些疲惫。一天结束时，我们不约而同地希望接下来能有一个安静的海上航行日，好好休息、恢复体力，再继续接下来的旅程。