Kitty in Taiwan

The trip to the United States comprised of several stops and I am not complaining. Mainly, if it was a direct flight, I won't see Hellokittyland in Taipei :) 

I dubbed C3 of the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport as Hellokittyland. It has a boarding gate fully decorated with Hello Kitty, not to mention it is situated near a Sanrio store. The seats, walls and glass are all Hello Kitty inspired. They even have a Hello Kitty playroom, theater, phone booth and mini-house. Oh! I so love the place. I am a big Hello Kitty fun since I can remember but of the subtle type. 

  

I have a friend who saw my stuffed toy and said, "This looks familiar. Is it a popular character or what?". Hahaha. For the 1st time, I met a person who is clueless as to who Hello Kitty is. He is more than a decade older than me - that explains it ha!.

Anyway, I decided to dedicate my supposedly about Taiwan blog to Hello Kitty for those who like my friend does not know Kitty White popularly known as Hello Kitty.

Hello Kitty   (ハローキティ Harō Kiti) was born in London on November 1, 1974. Sanrio, a Tokyo-based company, asked designer Ikuko Shimizu to invent a character who can represent the preteen girl in every girl. Her debut picture was as a white cat wearing a red bow and blue overalls, sitting in between a bottle of milk and a pet goldfish, with her head turned sideways to face her newfound friends. Hello Kitty is not normally given a mouth because "without the mouth, it is easier for the person looking at her to project their feelings onto the character" and "the person can be happy or sad together with Hello Kitty". Since its introduction, the character has been a staple of the kawaii segment of Japanese popular culture and has become a fashion diva, an icon and the best known of many fictional characters. 

In a vinyl coin purse was Hello Kitty's 1st appearance on an item. It was introduced in Japan in 1974 and in the United States in 1976. Hahaha. I wasn't even born then!:) Now, Hello Kitty can be found on a variety of consumer products; from school supplies to fashion accessories to household stuff. Products range from everyday items to rare collectibles. I, myself, can't stop collecting Hello Kitty items. 

Due to its popularity, A Hello Kitty anime series was aired on Tokyo TV in Japan and CBS in the United States in 1991. Toon Disney ran reruns of the said show which had 13 episodes. In the series, she lives in the suburbs outside London with her father (George White), mother (Mary White), and twin sister (Mimmy White). Hello Kitty prefers a red bow in her left ear while Mimmy prefers a yellow bow on her right ear. In their house, they have a teddy-bear and Marley who pops out of the garden.  Through the series, we have known that the 3rd grader Hello Kitty is a cheerful, warm-hearted little character  who loves baking cookies and loves her mom's apple pie. We also learn that her favorite things include candy, stars, and goldfish, as well as the inevitable trivial things. She weighs the same as three apples and stands five apples tall with a blood type of A.

In 1993, Dear Daniel was introduced, a similar-looking kitty who is her boyfriend. Her social circle grew to include the teen bunny Kathy, brother and sister monkeys Timmy and Tammy, and boy puppy Jody. Hello Kitty and friends also appeared in Hello Kitty's Animation Theatre, which had Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters appearing in their versions of different fairy tales.  Her fame as a Sanrio character has led to the creation of two officially licensed Hello Kitty theme parks namely Harmonyland and Sanrio Puroland. 

Hello Kitty also has played ambassador roles. In May 2008, Japan named Hello Kitty the ambassador of Japanese tourism in China and Hong Kong, two places where the character is exceptionally popular among children and young women. This marked the first time Japan's tourism ministry had appointed a fictional character to the role. In 2004, UNICEF has awarded Hello Kitty the exclusive title of UNICEF Special Friend of Children. More than $150,000 donation to UNICEF girls' education programmes was done by Sanrio on Hello Kitty's 30th anniversary. This was the 3rd time Hello Kitty and UNICEF have joined forces; 1st with the United States in 1984 and then with Japan in 1994. In 2010 the UK UNICEF and Hello Kitty "promise to help enable the worlds children the right to childhood". 

On her 35th anniversary in 2009, a Hello Kitty Mac was launched and had a 60 percent sell just in its  first week. At presents, several brands have tie-ups with Hello Kitty including the popular shoe brand Vans and Crocs. 

Thirty-seven years after its birth, Hello Kitty still is one of the best known fictional character to both children and adults.  

I am no longer a child and I am a doctor now, but, still a big Hello Kitty fan. I think my relationship with Kitty White will last forever. 

Punta sa Puntarenas

Puntarenas discovered by Hernan Ponce de Leon in 1519 is also known as as La Perla del Pacífico. Its name originated from the Spanish word "Punta Arenas" or sand point. The place was known as Villa Bruselas in colonial times when oxcarts were widely used as means of transportation. In 1840, when coffee production in the highlands reached exportable volumes, the port of Puntarenas was developed. 

Puntarenas is found in pacific coast of Costa Rica. The country was under Spanish rule for almost 300 years or until 1821. When Spanish occupation ceased in the Americas, independence was granted to Costa Rica. After a brief civil war, the country declared itself a state in the Federal Republic of Central America. The most influential period in the development of Costa Rica's democracy was facilitated about by Juan Mora Fernandez, the 1st head of state (1824).  However, the coffee industry proved to be most important in unifying the nation. 

Costa Rica is a peaceful nation, one that has essentially avoided the conflict and disorder that besets most Central American countries. In the Western Hemisphere, Costa Rica is the only country without an army or military of any kind since 1948.  The people are not letting conflict get the better of them and thus has resorted to use of humor, charisma, and even a disappearing act, anything to avoid it.

Costa Rican food is generally quite healthy.

Costa Rican staple foods are black beans and rice (gallo pinto). This simple, standard dish, often referred to as comida tipica, is the backbone of Costa Rican cuisine. 

Often served with a good portion of fruits or vegetables or both, the meals are very well rounded and generally high in fiber. 

A typical meal is the casado, the name referring to the eternal "marriage" of its components. Consisting of rice and beans, meat or fish, fried plantains, and a carrot, tomato, and cabbage salad, this basic and well-rounded meal strikes a good nutritional balance. 

Costa Ricans or Ticos do not eat in excess. Their modest proportions are 

smaller than that of the U.S, 

much like the Europeans. Lunch their main meal of the day. In fact, many employers will give an additional hour off for a post-lunch casado. 

In Costa Rica, a dollar is equivalent to 503.02 Costa Rican Colones (CRC). A private taxi tour for 3 people costs 35USD per head. Lynn, Cris and I availed of it and were quite satisfied with our tour. Tour guide Jesus brought us as far as Orotina, National Parque de Carara, Crocodile watching, Hotel Villa Lapas and San Mateo. We all agreed that we got our money's worth. All the sites that we went to were really far from Puntarenas. We even have to pay toll fees that is how far those places were. 

My 1st visit was just a walking tour in Puntarenas. It was a sunday; hence,

the 1st agenda was to attend a sunday mass at Parroquia de Puntarenas. The mass was in spanish but, I don't care, i haven't heard a mass for quite a very long time. After the mass, I was joined by the Jen and Erika for a  city walk. A gastronomic feast at Gagas Seafood Resto followed the 4-hour city tour. The day in Costa Rica ended with some flea market shopping. 

Costa Rica is a beautiful country and I'm thankful i was given the oppurtunity to explore it twice.

Mazatlan while it is still safe

Half a dozen times during my contract Star visited Mazatlan. We headed to Mazatlan on Dec 21 and 28 in 2010 and Feb1,8,15 and 22 in 2011. Even after other cruise lines were shying away from its port, Star continued visiting the place. However, due to safety and security reasons during its February 22 visit, we stopped visiting the port and changed the Star itinerary.

Just south of the Tropic of Cancer is the land of Mazatlan, where excellent weather, great adventure, golf and shopping are just the beginning. Local Indians occupied the site for nearly 10,000 years. Spanish sailors discovered the region in 1531 but it wasn’t until 1820’s that the 1st permanent colony was established. It was designed to take advantage of incredible natural harbour and nearness of gold mine to Sierra Madre. 

When gold played out, playtime took over as tourist begun to discover this welcoming city. Now it neatly combine the thriving industry with fun in the sun. Mazatlan may be best known for its beaches and sporting activities , but, it has much more to offer.  

In the heart of downtown is the historic Old Mazatlan with dates back to 19th century. Dominating the main plaza is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Concepcion. It is best known for its unusual yellow-tilled twin steeples. Nearby is the ornate Angela Peralta Theater completed in 1874. This 841 seat Italian style theater is a natural historical monument. Many small galleries and shop are beginning to appear in Old Mazatlan but the city market with its colorful umbrellas and open areas are still the favorite place for commerce.  Golden zone, on the other hand,is shopping, central Mazatlan style. The cliff divers in El Mirador and the Aztec Museums are some of the other sites to see while in Mazatlan. Many find Kayaking the best way to explore its nearby islands. Outside Mazatlan are mountain villages  where artisan craft handicarfts  and tiles. Concordia is known for its furniture while Capela is a historic mining town which was founded in 1565 but still suggest a long gone era/. A journey in to the Sierra Madre to experience the traditional town is a consistently familiar activity. 

Acapulco

0Daze with Acapulco’s beauty, I dawdled the streets and mountains of Acapulco five times; In 2010, Nov 15&24 and Dec 14 while in 2011,  

Jan 5&25.

During my 1st visit, i signed up for a city tour. A Taiwanese couple based in US in their 40s, a Canadian couple in their late 50s  and a UK-based couple in their 70’s joined me in the tour. Polo, the driver, drove us from the Marina to Las Brisas, The Princess, Flea Market, Los Flamingos, Le Quebrada, Hotel Mirador and Cliff Drivers Show, all in a span of 5 hours.  

Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico.  It is one of Mexico’s most important and famous beach resorts. Located on the Pacific coast, 395 kilometers (245 miles) from Mexico City. La Quebrada, where fearless cliff divers plunge into the ocean below

Among the port city’s many enticing qualities are; its beautiful bay, one of the best in the world; the calm waters of its beaches; the amenities offered by its well established hotel industry, which in recent years has undergone major revamping, especially in the Punta Diamante neighborhood; and finally, the city’s unbeatable nightlife, which offers one of the hottest playgrounds among Mexican vacation destinations

Punta sa Puntarenas

The 1st agenda was to attend a sunday mass at Parroquia de Puntarenas. Afterwards, I was joined by the girls for a  city walk. A gastronomic feast at Gagas Seafood Resto followed the 4-hour city tour. The day in Costa Rica ended with some flea market shopping. On our last visit, a day tour worth 35USD was done with Cris and Lynn.

Alone in Cartagena

Knowing the culture of a country is an adventure I am always willing to take; thus, even if I was alone, I explored Cartagena. 

Norwegian Star visited Cartagena  thrice in 2010 (November 8, December 1 and 8) and twice in 2011 (January 12 and 19).  A colonial city tour described the 1st visit. Fauna and flora was the theme of the 3rd visit. On the last visit, a drive to the Bocagrande with Jane and Lynn is how we spent the day.  The rest of the Cartagena days were spent surfing the net, doing Juan Valdez visits and mailing postcards.

For 20usd, i got myself a private tour guide and a taxi for a colonial city tour. The local rate for a taxi from Terminal de Cruceros in Manga to Centro Historico or the Old city is 10usd. However, Colombians taxi drivers ask for 20usd from tourist. Haggling is a requisite if one wants to tour Cartagena. Quibble with rates and charges; otherwise, prepare for a rip-off.

Cartegena’s old town is a city for walking, and its historic walled district feels like a Moroccan medina, with 400-year-old Spanish colonial buildings along brick streets. The palette is saturated with deep blue, dusty rose, burnt orange and ochre. Cool sea breezes and plenty shade make the old city feel quite comfortable even under a hot humid day.  The stone walls encircling the city are surprisingly intact and stretch for more than 2 miles. Walk west along the wide plaza on top of the wall; the Caribbean is on your right, and the lovingly restored medieval streets on your left. One can rent a horse-drawn carriage for a 15-minute ride across the old city, a Unesco World Heritage site, costs 30,000 pesos (1USD: 108pesos). The coachman will point out sites as one clip-clop along and, at sunset, will light the candles in the headlamps.

This tropical city in South America can also pulsate like a salsa party; drawing well-heeled socialites to its restored colonial mansions, fancy fusion restaurants and Old World-style plazas. Techno dance clubs keep Cartagena’s revelers up till dawn.  Want a more serene and relaxing vacation? White sand beaches and crystal-clear water are just a short hop away from the old town. Due to time limitations, our stay were limited to what the city can offer for a short 7-8 hour stay which includes city tours and sanctuary visits.

A free and unrestricted interactions with Cartagena’s fauna and flora was done in Puerto de Cartagena while a window shopping and “lost in translation” day was spent in Bocagrande.   

This stunningly beautiful city, despite its cocaine and drug-lords reputation, is a city worth exploring. 

Miami Miami Miami

Commencement of the new path that I’ve chosen: Oct 20, 2010  - first day in  Miami. Wyndham Hotel was my official residence which was a short ride from the airport. Eat and sleep were all I did. 

The next day, the port agent picked us up at the hotel. I  together with Per Abbe (Chief Officer), Anton Gromos (Surveillance Manager), Ioanna Haruic (Financial accountant) and Per Thomasson (1st Officer/Navigation)  reported to Norwegian Star at around 9AM. 

First day at work consist of a social meeting with the Fleet Medical Director (Dr El Yasser), VP for Environmental and Regulatory Compliance (Minas Myrtidis), and Director for Public Health (Don Furdock). The medical team went to lunch at the Market Cafe with the big 3 of NCL.

Oct 25, 2010, together with Brian Haughey, roamed downtown Miami. Nov 4 was our next date in Miami.

On Nov 24, 2010, I had a taste of Miami transportation system as I headed to Dadeland Mall to buy a MacBook Pro. This is also the day I got my I-95, our passport to US ports.

It was Dec 5 when we were again in Miami. A full crew immigration inspection was held at 545AM.  Miami Customs and Immigration is different from other ports. Paranoia is at its height and unreasonable vigilance is exemplified.

January 16 is the last time that Star visited Miami while I was onboard. Here is where Dr. Wood signed off. He is the 1st Ship Physician I worked with.  Dr Devon relieved him and was my partner until I signed off.