Author: Matt Lobas

What an adventure it has been. Three countries. Many miles under our belts. Incredible sites, sounds and smells. Nothing will ever be forgotten. It is burned into my memory.

Last night at dinner someone asked each of us to speak to what we enjoyed the most on our trip. To me, that exercise was one of the highlights of the trip. Everyone had some event or events that really made an impression on them. I was glad to see everyone was happy they joined us for this adventure.

My last comment is I am glad and proud to be an American. When you see the cultural habits and lifestyle of people in these countries you are so glad you were born and grew up here.

While we do not have 800 year old temples, we do have a country we can be proud of.

There is a certain advantage in traveling with family. You get to know them better and they get to know you. These relationships cannot be replaced or replicated. For all of us, that is why we stay at the Boulders. That is why people in Cambodia and Vietnam stay in their villages. The bond of family. Wherever we went we saw the power of family in so many different ways.

Until our next adventure thank you for reading and being part of this journey with me.

Most importantly, thank you to our travel mom, my princess and my wife Lynn, for organizing this for us. Until our paths cross again and we pack our bags, stay safe.

By the way after Nashville our next trip is to Japan this fall.

We are now on our last day in Singapore. We decided to take the bus around the city to see as much as we could. Let me let the pictures do the talking.

The Princess found a very special Italian place for a final dinner. The food was outstanding. The service incredible. The only thing better was the company of our Boulders family. What a great way to end our adventure.

One more blog to go. Stay tuned.

First full day in Singapore. The hotel we are in had the best breakfast buffet I have had the pleasure to sample.

Let me correct my post of yesterday. Omaha did not drink the beer. He is an expert in finding and enjoying coke zero. However he could not locate it in Singapore. So he settled for Diet Pepsi. That is what was in his glass when he broke the fast.

We met at 945 am. Slightly later than with Ama. Oh my Buddha.

Our morning walk took us towards the gardens. Some of the sights along the way.

Then it was on to the Gardens by the Bay.

Our boys posing.

More pics from the flower dome.

From there we traveled to the exhibition on Jurassic Park.

Then it was on to lunch at a local place.

Then it was time to leave the park.

On to another highlight. The home of the Singapore sling.

After this tour we walked home in a slight sprinkle. Like Minneapolis they have covered walkways. No problem. We cleaned up, had dinner and adult beverages in the club room and planned our next day. 18,000 steps later we all retreated to our rooms for r and r. Until tomorrow.

We are leaving Hanoi and Vietnam today to travel to Singapore for the last leg of our adventure. It is raining today. First day it has rained since we arrived. We have been lucky.

On the way to the airport two things happened. First, remember I showed you the bottle caps on the train tracks? Well Mikey gave me the result of the train rolling over those caps.

Second, as we drove to the airport we saw people on their cycles. Here is how they do it in Vietnam.

We also saw the wall. This was done in 2024 to celebrate the 1000 years of Hanoi being a city. It is a mural that stretches over 2 and 1/2 miles. It is in the Guinness World Records. Largest mural in the world.

Then it was back to hurry up and wait.

We were first in line for business class but the Singapore Air crew had a team meeting first. I wonder if they were talking about how to deal with that pack of Americans!

Then they came out front and bowed to us before getting started. Southwest and United don’t do this!

We then went to the lounge to wait three hours for our flight. On the way I met a crew member. She was cute and I took a picture when the Princess was not looking.

Then onto the lounge to begin our wait again.

The hallway was all decked out before our gate.

Then we finally got on and ready to go.

We are on Singapore. Above is the Cap and Princess. Here is how Mikey travels.

The crew waiting for bags.

Then Dirk and Omaha worked some magic and got us a luxury van ride to the hotel.

The driver put some tunes on us!

We arrive!

The views from the elevator to our rooms.

All I can say is we are not in Vietnam anymore.

After checking in we went to the 38th floor for cocktails and food.

By the way, the most interesting man in the Boulders broke the fast. Guess his drink of choice.

Then Dirk led us through multiple bars trying to find one that was showing the gold medal hockey game. Finally we found one that allowed him to work his tech magic and we saw the first two periods.

We retired for the night but we’re happy to learn back at the ranch that USA won in overtime!

Now a good sleep and then tours of Singapore.

First sorry I had to resend the blog yesterday, or was it two days ago. I tried to do it on the ship on the bay. Terrible wi fi. But the revised version is out now.

Second, this one is coming a bit late. We were busy all day traveling. The reception was poor.

We stopped two hours into our return to Hanoi for a happy room break and lunch.

Upon arrival the trip planner, the Princess and The Influencer made a tactical decision to go to train street. This is a world famous place where guests drink cocktails and coffee and wait for the train to go by. Literally the train is less than two feet away. A few pictures of one of the highlights of the adventure for me.

Then another Mikey forced March back to the hotel for dinner.

With that I say good night.

When we were in Egypt, every thing from the guide was concluded with the expression Jesus, the Christ.

In Vietnam, they have their own expression. Oh my Buddha. They use it all the time. I think it is an expression of joy and amazement. I am at least going with that until corrected.

Today we travel by coach, known as a bus in America, to see and stay for a night in Ha Long Bay.

Of course we had breakfast at the hotel. I know you’re asking so yes, I had both American and Vietnamese items. I am going to have to figure out how I can get the Princess to make spring rolls and sticky rice for me for breakfast in Scottsdale. Maybe when we stop for pearls I can buy her one and she will oblige me.

So we stop at the pearl factory.

Here are a few pics of that process.

So I shopped until I dropped looking for the perfect gift for the Princess for that food bribe.

Back on the bus, without the necklace, and on to our ship for our two day sail and view of the bay.

A group of ladies do a welcome dance for us.

Then we went on the afternoon excursion. It was a boat ride with a traditional Vietnamese boat.

Here is the transfer boat taking us to the boat launch.

When we got there we saw for the first time the boats we would be on.

The first group of our crew went out. Here is Goat waving to us.

We loaded up and went for our ride.

Our oarsman took us to land because we saw the far east Vietnamese cousins of the influencers former spider monkey.

Here was our oarsman.

Then Dirk took over.

Then we saw a face on a wall.

Omaha thought it was Canadian and took its picture from another boat.

When we went back to the boat we prepared for the wine tasting.

When the ladies from the trip saw Dirk on the boat, pulling the oar, looking manly, and then sitting with this lady, they started to come up to him. We could hear from their lips to our ears, Oh my Buddha! Here are some of their reactions.

Then to top it off, Dirk agreed to sing to those ladies who could not get a selfie with him. Oh my Buddha!

For Dirks fans the full version of the song can be found on You Tube. His album is coming out this summer. Title will be Dirk, a night of romance and culinary delights. A few of his recipes will be included as a bonus. Cost to be about 2 million dong.

The above picture is of boats anchored for the night. We too are ready so let me sign off with a good night to all.

We are now in Hanoi. Here is our hotel.

Our tour, of course, starts with breakfast.

I of course had a bit of both. Delicious!

Then a briefing on what to expect over the next few days.

As we got on the bus we met our guide. Rose.

Here is her assistant guide.

A local family having breakfast.

Here is our first stop.

The people were getting the place ready for us.

The main gate is world renowned. It is even on the currency. It is the symbol of Hanoi.

Then we saw dancers celebrating the new years.

The we went to the back of the temple to see the statue of Confucius.

Then we found a banyon tree.

We measured it against one of the crew.

Finally in the courtyard there was a game of human chess.

From there we made another stop. Here is the Presidential palace.

Then the statute dedicated to John McCain. He landed on this lake before being captured.

Here is Ho Chi Minh’s grave.

Another beautiful pagoda.

Here is the flag of Vietnam. You will note the five points of the star. They stand for farmers, merchants, doctors, soldiers and workers.

While in the bus we saw the world famous train street. When the train goes by everyone stands up to let’s it pass.

Then it was on to the famous Hanoi Hilton. The prison where American POWs were kept during the Vietnam war.

Then we went on an electric car tour of Hanoi. My first issue was this is what was blocking my view in the car.

Here are some pics from our trip.

Then we took a walk through the French quarter and old quarter.

Then we went to our evening entertainment. The Vietnamese water puppet show.

As we were leaving the three boys with vests took a snap.

Here is our theme.

I had to use the water closet. Love the sign.

After the show we went to dinner. Burgers and beer.

They were great. A short walk home and early to bed. Big day coming up. Until then have a good night.

I do. Today we went to Angkor Thom. We visited the Nahon Temple with its famous 216 gigantic smiling faces of Buddha.

Follow along.

Pictures of the temple and all of the carvings.

Thank you AMA for a great trip so far.

I need to make a correction. The temple we visited is not one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Nor is it a wonder of the modern world. It is the largest religious site in the world. It is also a world heritage site. This correction is sponsored by my instructor who I call Influencer. Here is her picture. She is a bit shy.

Marky mark and sweet pea have left us. We found this place to hang out in their honor.

By the way, the captain walked into the bar and asked for a table for 16. The guy seating guests said how many? I said 16. Here is the room he gave us.

After a one hour bus ride we got to our airport.

We are now in Hanoi. Sleep well. Big day tomorrow.

Today we visit Angkor Wat. It is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It is larger than the island of Manhattan. Everyone who comes to this place wants to see the temple towers at sunrise. That is around 620 am. That requires a 410 am wake up. I could spend a lot of words describing this place but they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Some pics of the temple and the carvings.

Then it was back to our hotel.

I took the Princess and Krystal shopping.

Then there was a show of traditional Cambodian dance for us at the hotel.

All in a great day. Some leave us tonight. however the expedition continues. We go to Hanoi tomorrow.

From our stateroom on our last morning, the Princess snapped this shot.

Then I took one. Mine does not compare.

I wanted to say good by to our guide. He was fantastic.

During our fantastic bus journey, we made our first stop about 90 minutes in. They called it 7 11.

Then I saw some of the same animals I saw in Africa. I thought for a brief moment I was back there again.

Upon arrival at the hotel we were welcomed by a dance team. The ladies wanted to join in as they did on the vessel but had second thoughts.

Then we had our tickets ready for more temple tours.

Here is mine.

We are now in Siem Reap. Third largest city in Cambodia. While we were tired from traveling all day we had another tour of a temple.

Here are a number of pictures I took to give you a flavor of the temple.

This was an incredible day. Everyone enjoyed it. But the big treat is tomorrow. Angkor Wat at sunrise. See you then.