DAY 69---ENTERING THE GULF OF TONKIN

 

        Our noon position is approaching the Hainan Strait and we have reduced our speed to 10 knots as per the restriction.  It is too hazy today to see the land on both sides of us unfortunately.  It has warmed up and is 80 degrees.

Historical/Background Info:

        You may recall (if you are as old as me) the "Gulf of Tonkin Incident" on August 2, 1964.  It was an international confrontation that led to the United States engaging more directly in the Vietnam War.  On August 2nd three North Vietnamese navy torpedo boats approached the USS Maddox which was performing signals intelligence in the Gulf.  The Maddox fired warning shots and the North Vietnamese patrol boats attacked with torpedoes and machine gun fire.  Four US aircraft were launched off a aircraft carrier and one was slightly damaged during the attack.  The three patrol boats were damaged, 4 North Vietnamese sailors were killed, and 6 more wounded.  The Maddox was unscathed with only one bullet hole.

        As a result of the incidence the US Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.  The Resolution served as President Johnson's legal justification for deploying conventional forces (troops, weapons, aircraft, aircraft carriers, etc) to South Vietnam and the start of open warfare against North Vietnam.      

LAST EVENING

        Tonight was a formal optional dress and we enjoy getting all duded up.  They were also having a "block party" in the hallways but we skipped it.  There is some sore throats & coughing going around the ship and we felt this to be a "spreader event".  So we headed down to the Mariner Lounge just before everyone hit the hallways.  I had my James Bond martinis as I do when wearing a tuxedo and Rebecca had her standard La Crema chardonnay.

        Ronalyn, my favorite bartender, just left on her vacation when on Taiwan.  Taking her place is Mustafa on the right.  He was tending bar on our 2022 WC also.  William, on the left, has been on since the beginning of this cruise but working in another bar.  I call him "Wild Bill".

        Dinner in Compass Rose.  Rebecca has the roasted chicken and I chose duck.  Mine not so good.  We finished dinner again 90 minutes before the show was to start so just retired to the suite again.

TODAY

        I thought this a better map to show you where we would be the next 6 days.  Tomorrow we will be where the red dot is, Halong Bay.  It is the port for Hanoi which is 100 miles away (2.5 hour drive each way).  We visited Hanoi on our 2010 WC so not going this time.  We will be overnighting in Halong Bay.  Next stop will be DaNang the port for the ancient capital, Hue.  Then a day at sea before reaching Ho Chi Ming City (Saigon) where we will be overnighting again.  We have previously been to all 3 ports.

        So this morning we did out treadmill time before lunch in La Veranda.  Today is St Patrick's Day so it was decorated.

                              Nino, our Food & Beverage Director, was wearing his green.

        After lunch I started uploading these 9 photos so I could put them on this posting.  It took nearly 2 hours to do it.  VERY frustrating and not sure what I will do when I have many more tour photos.  I'm hoping I can find a place ashore with faster internet.

        While I was waiting for the upload to finish I watched the movie "Good Morning Vietnam" with Robin Williams playing on our tv.  Appropriate time to show it.  Rebecca is reading "Desperation in Death" by J D Robb.

This is called a "junk".  It's a fishing boat that passed by us this afternoon.  I took the photo from our balcony then remembered it was against the Chinese rules to take photos in the Strait.  Oh, well!

                                                Two of these ferry boats passed behind us.

        Our travel agency is associated with Distinctive Voyages and they have another host onboard this segment.  She is hosting a cocktail welcome reception at 6:00 this evening.  We did not go to the earlier one a few segments ago and not planning to attend this one either.  Another "spreader event" maybe.  We did get a $200 each ship board credit from them which was very nice.

        Cocktails and dinner in usual places which you know by now.  Terry Bishop is doing a St Patrick's Day show with the orchestra at 9:30.  He is always good so will try to stay up for it.

        We should be docked at the pier by 7am tomorrow.  The pier is approximately 4 miles from the town of Halong.  We have no tours tomorrow so will be taking the ship's shuttle to visit the town.  We do have a tour the second day.