Akaroa, New Zealand

Sydney, Australia

Hong Kong

Bà Rịa, Vietnam

I thought this brand of artwork went out of style when the Cold War ended.

Another port, another shuttle bus to a shopping mall. This one was closed.

A sign celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Langkawi, Malaysia

The QM2 shuttle bus dropped us off at yet another shopping mall, this time on the northern Malaysian island of Langkawi. These two photos represent the best scenery I managed to come across. Just beyond the lighthouse is a sprawling Resort World® hotel and casino, one of which also exists in Queens. Beyond that, a few miles of souvenir stores and chain restaurants. I was obligated to remain on the ship Friday because of in-port manning, which happens every six ports or so. A steady downpour in Singapore kept me from being adventurous during yesterday's Lunar New Year celebrations.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

I walked far enough away from the ship and tour buses that I became something of a spectacle by virtue of my transparent skin. A Tamil woman holding an infant stopped me to tell me I was "pretty." The three-wheeled taxis are as common as their drivers are assertive.

Cochin, India

There were no shuttle buses to the downtown area, only tour coaches for the guests.

One side of a city block was lined with what appeared to be abandoned houses.

The United Arab Emirates

The Dubai skyline.

Unfortunately, the Cunard shuttle bus dropped us off at the Burjuman Shopping Center, about a fifteen-minute drive in the opposite direction. This is as close as I was able to get in the time allotted. The mall area was not much more than fast food chains and designer clothing stores.

The scenery from the shuttle drop-off point in Dubai was so unspectacular that I went out on Deck 7 that night to try making up for it. The skyline wasn’t visible from the ship, but I did get a decent shot of the ship’s spare propeller blades.

 The remaining six photos are from Abu Dhabi. Again, the shuttle left us off at a shopping center. This time, at least, it was nearer the downtown area.

 

Safaga, Egypt

Today, most of the ship's guests took bus tours to the Valley of the Kings. The scenery for pedestrians was less spectacular. Yesterday's port had even less scenery to offer, but it served as a point of departure for those wishing to visit the pyramids of Giza.

The Suez Canal