Vietnam: Cruising’s Next Hotspot?

Maybe it’s because we were just in Vietnam, cruising down the Mekong River on the AmaDara. Maybe it’s because every time somebody asks us what Vietnam was like, we can’t say enough nice things. Maybe it’s because more cruise ships — new ones from Carnival and Norwegian and Princess, all announced in a 24-hour period… Continue reading Vietnam: Cruising’s Next Hotspot?

Memories Of Child Of Vietnam War

VIETNAM — He is from Hanoi. A child of the Vietnam War, in which his father fought for the North Vietnamese Army. Yes, the Viet Cong, although that degrading terminology was used only by the enemy. His father was shot by an American soldier. He’d like to meet that American soldier. To say thanks. “When… Continue reading Memories Of Child Of Vietnam War

First River Cruise: Mekong Riches

Our first river cruise — on AmaWaterways’ luxurious new AmaDara — is history. So it’s the first chance for us to compare it to what we’ve always known: ocean cruises. This is not an all-inclusive comparison, as our “inaugural” was in a remote, somewhat virgin part of the river cruise world, Cambodia and Vietnam. There’s… Continue reading First River Cruise: Mekong Riches

Alaska Adventure A Lesson For Fear

ALASKA — As she climbed onto the ATV, she wondered if her arthritic hands would allow her to complete an hour-long trip through the bush without crashing, or at least without more than the usual pain. She’d experienced this type of fear before, like being afraid of heights and climbing into a helicopter to see… Continue reading Alaska Adventure A Lesson For Fear

Making New Memories in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh. The Mekong Delta. Phnom Penh. Hanoi. Cambodia. Khmer Rouge. If you’re a teenager of the ’60s, as we are, all of these words can mean only one thing to you. The Vietnam War. The words were on newscasts for nights and weeks on end, in a seemingly endless tale of torture, sadness,… Continue reading Making New Memories in Vietnam