DIAMOND PRINCESS 2: Day 4--Penang

 We are in the port of Penang.  I mentioned this city in an earlier posting.

We skipped the tour here because in November of 2022 we did all that from the Regent Seven Seas Explorer.  Here are two photos.  You can read my posting of that day,

Was not much to see.

My usual noodles, etc,, lunch,

After my nap, I decided to walk throughout the ship.  Passed Izumi Onsen on the 15 deck.  This is a real Japanese onsen, but is not free.  Prices vary depending on your passenger status (suites get lower rates) and frequency of usage.  Typically $15-$35 per 90-minute session.

Stepped outside, and our ship had just departed.  So I took some videos of departure from Penang.

Evening cocktails of Margarita in Crooners Bar.

Then dinner in the International Dining Room,  I again only had soup and salad combos.

The wines were Seghesio Zinfandel and Duckhorn Chardonnay.  First, Yellow Split Pea Soup with the tiniest Waldorf Salad I've ever seen in my life.  I asked for a small size, but salad was about a tablespoon, with that Stilton Cheese mousse. 

Then the duck, which I thought would be hot in temperature because it did say seared, but is was chilled, with the Leek and Potato Vichissoise, which is a cold soup,  I do the soup and salad to combine hot and cold.

The rest of the menu,

Had a tart and Irish Cream to end my meal,

Nex,t karaoke.  It was formal wear night.

Went to Crooners Bar to end the night, and decided to get adventurous.  Using our phone, we ordered room service, but delivered to this bar, and it was a minor disaster.  First only the hamburger came, than much later, the french fries, which are not shown.

Walked 3936 steps.

I noticed that the American stock market is continuing to perform well.

• The S&P and Dow Jones had record closing days, probably stimulated by the latest Federal Reserve policy update that was less hawkish than expected.

• 
  The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 646 points, up 1.34%, to 48,704, breaking the November 12 record.  50,000 by end of year?
• The S&P gained 14 points, up 0.21%, to 6901, breaching its October 28 close.
• Nasdaq lost 60 points, down 0.25 to 23,594.
• Oracles sunk 10.8%, worrying investors that their big push into AI  through debt financing could cause an AI bubble bust as happened to dotcoms in the early 2000s.

I'll close today with an AI generated video of global leaders singing We are the World.

Here is another one of possible future presidents doing the same.

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