This scenic cruise on the Diamond Princess of Halong Bay ranks up there with my first view of the Grand Canyon, the fulfilling experience of Niagara Falls and incredible visit to Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil.  This latter waterfall system is the largest system in the world.   Went there 8 years ago: has a max flow more than five times that of the Niagara is 50% higher is three times wider has 275 drops versus 3 is 200,000 years old compared to 12,000 is a UNESCO World Heritage Site--Niagara Falls not but is difficult to reach Woke up to see another ship next to us.  Just in time, for the Diamond Princess was departing at 7:35 in the morning. Here are videos of our scenic cruise. Lunch brought back noodles, Dinner was again in the Pacific Room.  Ordered only appetizers. First, salad with Pasta E Fagioli.  Duckhorn Chardonnay. Duck Liver Paté and Oysters Rockefeller, The dessert menu, . Harvey's Bristol Cream on ice and a cream brulé Did...

 There are  differences  worthy of mention between Japan and Singapore:  1.39 S$ to the U.S. $1. Virtually everyone in Singapore speaks English.  Not so in Japan. The shock of cold in Singapore reminds you that you are not using a warm Japanese washlet toilet.   Most of the 50 or so TV channels in Singapore are in English.  In Japan, perhaps half dozen. The one huge negative factor is World War II.  Travel throughout the Pacific Islands, Oceania, China and Southeast Asia, and you get the same understated, but emotionally wrought response about  Japanese occupation of their territory .  It has been more than 80 years, but feelings remain.  One reason: The   Kempeitai   (the Japanese   military police ), which was the dominant occupation unit in Singapore, committed numerous atrocities towards the common people. They introduced the system of " Sook Ching ", meaning "purging through purification" in   Chinese ,...