Corrigenda : My daughter Annette has very rightly suggested the following errors in my previous Chapter to be corrected :

• Under the heading High Tea, the maids should best be called waitresses. I had naughtily called them maids with a subtle reference to the Swedish maids who are well known to be very well-dressed, pretty and sexy.
• Our Butler served us in the Michael’s Club.as well as in our stateroom. He did attended to us in our High Tea several times and recommended drinks and snacks to pleasure us.
• The camellmile tea should correctly spell camomile tea. I was under the mistaken belief that the word came from a Chinese herb Camellia which has a unique fragrance and many health benefits.

Let this be a winding up Chapter to bring to an end my endless chatter on Alaska, highlighting the most interesting experiences I’ve come across.

The Icy Strait Point

This was the first port of call of our Ship, a tucked away little fishing village for fishermen to dry and mend their nets. This is also a part of the Alaskan waters where their world famed Salmons thrive in great abundance. The fishing boats need only drop their nets, glide around the bays and raise their nets with a full load of Salmons jumping and flipping from the nets, Only the best big fat ones are picked, the rest of the catch are set free by lowering the net…

All these activities were shown in pictures in the little Museum in the village where an old disused fishing boat and other old fishing equipment were also displayed. Visitors can rest their tired feet in restaurants, some of them cater the world famed Alaska King Crabs ! We saw some visitors eating them. They proudly held up the huge red crabs with huge awesome claws for us to see ! There was also an old Fish Canning Factory displaying its well reserved old crude machinery and equipment. We were very much impressed by all these views and sights around the village.

Worthy of mention also is its incredibly well-built pier where even our 91,000 tons cruiser can dock. It extends way out from the shore with linking covered walkways for passengers to come ashore and to get to the village through long winding paths . Our Ship departed in the twilight of the evening, leaving behind our mind still lingering around this quaint village !

The Hubbard Glaciers

Our Ship continued to sail North toward the Hubbard Glaciers. It was not a Stop call. It was a slow gentle gliding along the U-shape strait surrounded in front and at both sides with a chain of snow capped queer shape Peaks, like many many Fairies clothed in White holding hands in a Greek line-dance ! All passengers came lining up the open top deck, gazing at the strange Sight with jaw-dropping breathtaking thrills and chills !!! We have seen this in TV, Videos and Magazines, but the thrill is not the same. To be there body and soul was like being transported physically and spiritually to the Heaven on Earth !!! All the passengers were busy with their Telescopic Cameras or Binoculars to catch the 360 degree panoramic scenery and views !!! Especially when our Ship was piloted by an experienced Captain, edging our ship close to the foot of the glaciers, almost close enough to touch them !!! From here our Ship turned South on our Homeward journey, stopping at 2 more ports of call, Juneau and Ketchikan.

Juneau

It is the Capital of Alaska, quite a busy port of call for all Cruisers. Its streets are fully lined up with dazzling Jewelry shops for visitors to empty their pockets for the purchase of diamond jewels for their beloved ones ! OR for those who have little or no money in their pockets (like me), we can feast our eyes with window shopping !
However, thee is the affordable thrilling Cable Tram ride up to the Top of Mt Roberts, and visitors can have a full breathtaking view of the town below. The beautiful harbour always has several Cruise Ships docking there creating another jaw dropping view !

Ketchikan

This is our last port of call before returning to Vancouver to complete the 7-night dream.
Here passengers can pick several Land Excursions to explore the wild snowy icy Alaska. Our dining table mates took the Dog Sleate Ride and shew us pictures which were truly exciting ! Annette Kim and me, we picked the Lumber Jack Show which was quite interesting and fun-filled too. It has competing teams from Canada . US and North European countries. Canada won most of the competitions. I liked the Tree Climbing,, the Tree Cutting, the Axe throwing, the log rolling by loggers to see who falls off into the water last … log cutting art of chopping off a little stool from a piece of log in minutes … etc etc. After the show, we took a leisurely walk around the little town with clean and quiet streets which were very pleasant.

Farewell, Sayonara , Adios … … to Alaska