Where we are going

We discovered cruising in 2008, when we did a one-week Mexican Riviera cruise for my 50th birthday.  We were unexpectedly hooked and have since done two more cruises, including a gala 60th-birthday cruise for Gary on the biggest ship afloat, the Oasis of the Seas. 

We decided, though, that while big-ship mass-market cruising is undeniably a boatload of fun, we wanted to be able to get more up close and personal with the ports of call.  After a little research, we discovered river cruising:  small ships, excursions included, and itineraries that take you right through the heart of whatever country you are visiting.  And when we discovered that AMA Waterways has a trip to Vietnam, of all places, we were hooked!

Our itinerary is here: Two weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia, including a week-long cruise down the Mekong river on the MS La Marguerite.

And because our son is a Marine stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, Japan, we are going to take a little detour on the way home and spend a few days with him!

Can.

Not.

Wait.

Not that I am Type A or anything...

... but I have been making a career out of getting ready for this trip!  Fashion and style are my hobbies, so naturally I want to look as chic as possible on vacation!  On our last couple of trips that hasn't been a problem because we have been cruising in nice big suites and were able to either drive to the port or fly business class (love those frequent flyer miles!) and check lots of bags with no fee!

 

This time, though, when we get to Japan we will be taking the bullet train from Osaka to Hiroshima and back, and that means wrangling our own luggage!  Which means I can only take one big bag and one carry-on!  It's a pretty big challenge, especially since we will be in three different climates along the way.  Hanoi and environs should be pretty much like a Southern California winter, Cambodia and the Mekong will be hot and humid, and Japan will be colder than we are used to.  Oh, and to add another level of challenge, my research revealed that it's best to be reasonably covered up in Vietnam, both for reasons of modesty and to avoid mosquitos!  So no tanks and shorts, which is what I would normally wear in a tropical area!

After a lot of angst and trying things on and consulting with the wise ladies over at www.youlookfab.com, I have hit on a travel wardrobe I am happy with.  Basically, it's a uniform of pants and tops, with a few scarves and belts to keep me from getting too bored.  I also found a couple of nice lightweight knit black skirts, and I'm packing a few lightweight dresses for dinner on the riverboat.  And being the gigantic planner that I am, I took pictures of every. single. piece and planned out my outfits for every. single. day.  Big fun!!

The packing list for the whole trip.

Day 1 (long flight to Hanoi) through Day 5 (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

Day 5 (Siem Reap) through Day 8 (cruising the Mekong River)

Day 9 through Day 12 (cruising)

Day 13 through Day 16 (cruising, Ho Chi Minh City, flight to Osaka, train to Hiroshima)

Day 17 through Day 20 (Japan and flight home)

T-Minus 11 Days and Counting!

It's the night before Thanksgiving and this year we are thankful to be getting ready for what promises to be the trip of a lifetime!  In eleven short days we will embarking on a three-week adventure that will take us to Vietnam and Cambodia with a brief stop in Japan on the way home.  Big, big fun!!  Stay tuned...

Here's a photo of our last big trip to get us in the mood!