Big Boy wrote:So sorry to keep you waiting Chromeman, I was busy Sunday, and battling problems with my laptop most of yesterday. I eventually traced the problem, so here are my promised questions
.
I am sitting here with a dying laptop, so I can relate...
Big Boy wrote:- The Boat - machines break, and we all get affected by this sometimes (it can be disappointing). I think I know the Mermaid team well enough to know that it was genuine, and they would have been as disappointed as you. Did your trip take on a slightly itinerary as a result?
Yes, I know machines break and have full understanding of consequences related to that. I just wanted people to understand that we were not in the completely silent, electric Firefly vessel. I think I mentioned too that the engine was rather quit compared to other and similar vessels we did see and hear that day. And no, I don't think there were any changes in the itinerary. The company had the replacement boat on hand, so no trouble.
Big Boy wrote:- You talk about both the railway market and the floating market with other activities in between. So am I right in thinking they are 2 distinctly different attractions?
Yes, two different markets, but in the same city.
Big Boy wrote:- The Floating Market - did you go around the market in the boat, or was it a walk around market? I must admit, your pictures and report indicate the latter, which is not what I was expecting. Most of your photos were taken well above the water level. This worries me personally because I still remember being disappointed visiting my first floating market over 25 years ago, and we didn't actually get afloat. I did note your statement, "We headed up through the floating market and after a little while got to the darker reaches of the river." Was it that you just didn't take photos because you were too busy shopping, or maybe the light was too bad? Basically, did you do the market by boat as well?
It was by foot. Most of the shopping from stalls along the river front. But there were also places where you could buy from small boats too.
Chromeman wrote:We headed up through the floating market and after a little while got to the darker reaches of the river.
That is from the "firefly"-part of the trip. The start of the boat trip took us from the restaurant where we had a really nice dinner through the same floating market that we had been walking through and doing some shopping a couple of hours before. (The really "crappy" pictures at the end of the album was taken when we passed through the floating market with my camera phone since my D60 were low on battery so trying to save if for the fireflies.) Then we passed that lit up area and reached darker regions of the river, though there were still houses (and "palaces") and resorts along parts of it. This is where it got dark enough to see these tiny, 3 mm long flying and glowing insects up in the trees. And in a few of the trees there were maybe around a dozen or so. I had kind of envisioned large swarms of fireflies like in
these pictures, so I ended up disappointing my self there.
But I loved what we did see!
Big Boy wrote:- Finally, how long was the cruise on firefly's understudy?
Not really sure since I don't use a watch (rely on my phone...), but I would estimate from 45 minutes to 1 hour. So calling it a "cruise" is maybe little mis-labeling; calling it "The Firefly tour" would be a bit more accurate I guess.
That aside, I have really enjoyed all three trips/cruises I have taken with Mermaid Cruises, and I am really impressed with what Barry have managed to create with Mermaid Cruises and also his nice little resort that we did visit yesterday after the sea cruise.
I will get back with a very positive report from that too when I have managed to get some pictures from my phone over to my dying laptop, and get the time to write the report.
