Blessed be the Flexible, for they Shall Not Get Bent Out of Shape

I'm not sure where I first saw that quote - I think it was Ashleigh Brilliant - but it's always been a guiding light for me. Flexibility, both in body and in mind, are essential for a happy life. 

Flexibility of Body

When we first started living on the Villa Vie Odyssey, I was excited that there was a morning stretch class every morning. It is included as an amenity with our monthly maintenance fees. All I had to do is walk down the hall, up two flights of stairs and plop down on a mat. No gym membership, no getting in a car and driving to the gym, so convenient.
Did I go?
Wellllll .... once or twice in the first couple weeks, then I got sidetracked with so many other things and it was months before I saw the inside of the fitness center again. Then, last week I got myself up in time for the 8am class and I did it! I felt SO good after, and I was SO productive all day long! I credit the stretches for opening up the flow of energy in my body. It was so pronounced that I determined then and there that I would go to stretch class more often. Not every day, that would set myself up for failure, but 2 or 3 times a week would be great. Now it is one week later - and I've been 3 times! Oh Boy!

Having a flexible body means that it bends to trauma rather than breaking. For example, when I step on the stairs wrong and my ankle twists all the way over. Sure it hurts, it may even throb for a few days, but there was no permanent damage because good stretch classes focus on every part, including ankles, making sure the tendons stretch so that they don't tear.

The Fitness Center at our home, the Residential Cruise Ship: Villa Vie Odyssey

Flexibility of Mind

Maybe it's because of the way I was raised, but I've never been one to be upset when plans change. Plans? What plans? 😊Before reaching High School, I lived in 5 different states, and they weren't nearby states: Tennessee, Hawaii, Washington, Alaska, Florida. And that doesn't count the many months spent on the road traveling from place to place, or just plain traveling. When I was in third grade we lived in Alaska but took a 6-month RV trip to Guatemala and back.

This mental fexibility serves me well in my current life on a residential cruise ship. I hate making plans, so it's delightful that someone else is doing all that work. I just get to wake up in the morning and look out the window and then at my Google Maps to see where I am today! Singapore? Great, let's go see the Gardens by the Bay, Tarempa Indonesia? Uhh, never heard of it - let's go see. Not stopping in Puerto Princessa after all? Darn, I wanted to go snorkeling in a spot that others recommended. Oh well, now our line dancing group will all be on board for the sea day instead and we can learn a new dance.

Sometimes when things are falling apart they may actually be falling into place

Singapore

 What exactly IS Singapore? Is it a city, a country, or an island in Malaysia? Apparently, it is all of the above! Singapore is a city-island-country. Singapore (the city) is the capital of Singapore (the country.) If you ask Google if Singapore is a country or a city, here is the response:

Singapore is a sovereign island country and city-state located in maritime Southeast Asia. It gained independence and became a sovereign state in 1965, functioning as an independent nation with its own government, legal system, and economy. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

 

 Singapore Tour

Singapore is a wealthy place full of chrome and glass skyscrapers housing all the major world banks.

View from the Fullerton One waterfront mall where we picked up our Singapore Tour.

We had a perfect day for a boat ride on the Singapore River. Starting at an area called Clarke Quay, we headed downriver and under a few bridges till we reached the Merlion (mermaid+lion) statue/fountain that represents Singapore. The city started as a humble fishing village - thus the fish tail. The Lion part came from a legend that the first person to see the city thought he saw a lion and named the town 'Singapura' meaning Lion City. Turns out there are no lions here - maybe it was a tiger?

The Merlion with the famous Marina Bay Sands hotel in the background. Meant to look like a ship resting atop the 3 towers. It houses a hotel with 1,850 rooms. Also in front is a convention center and luxury mall. If you want to stay there, be aware that an average room cost is $1,050 per night. 😮

Gardens by the Bay and the Super Trees

Next stop on our tour was the Gardens by the Bay. Described as one of the most 'Instagrammable Spots' in Singapore. We went there to see the Rhapsody Light show, so we were there after dark. The show was light and music. Think the Epcot nightly fireworks but all orchestrated with these giant high tech 'Super Trees.'

Marina Bay Sands and Spectra

Then it was back on the bus for the short ride to the Marina Bay Sands to watch their light and water show called 'Spectra." I expected water fountains shooting up to the beat of music and displaying different colors. What I didn't expect was the wall of water spray acting as a screen for laser artwork to be displayed. What a show.

Night view of the city from the vantage point of the Marina Bay Sands hotel waterfront

Last Stop - Street Food

Singapore has very stringent health regulations so 'street food' isn't exactly allowed. To accomodate the different vendors - known as Hawkers, a large building was constructed long ago in the heart of the business district. This is called Lau Pa Sat. Once inside it felt like a giant food court with a dizzying number of choices. I had heard about there being good Satay so went on the hunt. It turns out that Satay has its own street on the side of the building. It's called Satay Street! And, it is literally a street with traffic during the day. They close it off and fill it with tables and benches at night. There are 9 stalls all selling Satay sticks - chicken or beef - covered with delicious peanut sauce and seasonings and grilled over an open flame. You buy 10-15 sticks and they are served with a little dish of spicy peanut sauce. I skipped the sauce and thoroughly enjoyed my Satay. Jim loved the spicy sauce.

Yummy Satay sticks. Eating out on "Satay Street" 😊 in Lau Pa Sat market

Tour by Viator

This was a fantastic tour. I highly recommend it and our tour guide 'Jingle' - yes, that's actually her name, just like in Jingle Bells. She was very Singaporean as she told us how she speaks 4 languages: English, Cantonese, Malay, and Tamil. 

The tour itself was about 4 hours, but it dropped us off at the Lau Pa Sat and we spent another hour wandering and eating, then found our way to a bus that got us back to the ship.

Singapore River Cruise, Night Garden Rhapsody & Spectra by CYT

Manila and Jose Rizal

 Our four-day stop in Manila was a mix of the practical and the profound. After taking care of some routine business—including a dermatologist appointment that, thankfully, went perfectly well—Jim and I got to put on our tourist hats for an afternoon. We headed straight for Intramuros, the historic walled city, and spent hours wandering through Fort Santiago. I went in expecting to see some old Spanish stone architecture, but I walked away completely captivated by the incredible, turbulent history of the Philippines—and one man’s life in particular. I was inspired to come home and find a movie about him - José Rizal (1998) - was quite good.

History of the Philippines

First off, you learn about the general history of these islands - over 7,000 of them! Over the centuries, five distinct flags have flown over the Philippines: the Spanish empire, the British empire, the rising sun of Japan, the stars and stripes of the United States, and finally, the proud flag of an independent Philippines. Each era left its mark, but it was the Spanish colonial period that set the stage for a fascinating historical turnabout.

Jose Rizal

His name is everywhere - Rizal Park, Rizal Avenue, Rizal Sports Complex, Rizal Province. Who was this guy? Rizal wasn’t a military general or a fiery rebel commander. He was an intellectual—an ophthalmologist, a novelist, and a poet. He looked at the harsh treatment of the Filipino people under Spanish rule and chose to fight not with a sword, but with his pen. Through his writings, he advocated for peaceful reforms, equal rights, and better treatment for his countrymen. He explicitly did not organize any violent rebellions. In fact, he believed the country wasn't ready for one.

Rizal didn’t want a war. He wanted equality, education, and respect. But the Spanish authorities couldn't tell the difference between a demand for justice and a call to arms.

The Ultimate Historical Backfire

Threatened by his influence, the colonial government arrested Rizal, accused him of inciting a rebellion he actually discouraged, and sentenced him to death. In December 1896, they executed him by firing squad.

Talk about a move completely backfiring!

By executing a peaceful reformer, the government achieved the exact opposite of what they wanted. They didn’t silence the movement; they created an immortal martyr. The outrage over his execution became the tipping point for the country, igniting a genuine revolution and cementing a national identity that eventually drove the colonizers out. The Spanish wanted to crush a spark, but instead, they threw fuel on a wildfire.

The American era

Then, thru another twist of history, the USA got involved because of the Spanish-American war. They helped defeat the Spanish in the Philippines and were thought to be the peoples' liberator but instead of independence, the Americans purchased the islands from the Spanish for 20 million dollars. Thus began the Philippine-American war 1898-1902 and the Philippines ended up being under the control of the US until the end of WW2. During this time, the US 'Americanized' the islands, setting up school systems and building infrastructure. The US successfully defended the Philippines against the Japanese and granted Independence in 1946.

Today, our 2 countries are considered the best of allies, however the US no longer maintains any military bases in the Philippines - a lease extension was denied in 1992. Subic bay, which was the largest overseas U.S. naval installation during the cold war era, is now a privately owned shipyard utilized by the US for repairs.

Our TukTuk driver on the way back to the ship asked us where we were from. When we said the USA, he said, "Oh we love the USA! They helped us out of World War II."   

Mabuhay! Bula! Live Long and Prosper!

 On June 7, our Odyssey pulled in to the docks in Manila, Philippines. The next day, a major event was planned. The Villa Vie Odyssey was being inaugurated as a Global Flagship of Peace. There were speakers included Chef Reggie Aspiras who gave us a lesson in Philippine language, customs and food. I especially enjoyed the description of the word, Mabuhay. 

In the Philippines, they say Mabuhay. It means Hello, Welcome, Long Live, and it means Life. It is said as a greeting, a cheer, a celebration of life, a general expression of joy. In Fiji it's Bula, in Hawaii they say Aloha. They don't all mean exactly the same thing, but I feel they are said in the same spirit, welcome! Cheers! Live long and prosper! 

There are more such words all around the world. They go way beyond a simple "hello." They are linguistic hugs—words wrapped in wishes for good health, life, spirit, and mutual respect.

• Pura Vida (Costa Rica)
• Literal Meaning: "Pure life."
• A general life philosophy of gratitude and slowing down.
• Sawubona (South Africa / Zulu culture)
• Literal Meaning: "I see you."
•  It is a profound acknowledgment of human connection.
• Namaste (India / Nepal)
• Literal Meaning: "I bow to the divine in you."
• It recognizes the shared spirit or life force in one another. It's spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together at the chest, signaling humility and deep spiritual respect.
• Kia Ora (New Zealand / Māori culture)
• Literal Meaning: "Be well" or "Have life."
• Kia Ora is a wish for the recipient's health and vitality. 
• ¡Salud! / Sláinte / Skål (Various)
• Literal Meaning: "Health!"
• Raising a glass and saying these words is a literal invocation of long life, good health, and shared joy around the table.

The Common Thread: Notice how almost every single one of these terms connects back to "Life" (Mabuhay, Pura Vida, Kia Ora) or "Breath/Spirit" (Aloha, Bula). They don't just acknowledge your physical presence; they celebrate your life force!

Chef Reggie's speech

Chef Reggie gave a very entertaining talk. See it in the video below. She begins with Mabuhay.

Island hopping and snorkeling in Coron

What a great day. A van picked us up at the port entrance at 8am and took us to where the boats were. These traditional outrigger boats are so cool, they look like giant water bugs.

First stop was Kayangan Lake. We got off the boat onto a boardwalk then climbed a few hundred stairs to a viewpoint. From there we descended down a few hundred stairs to the lake. Warm, brackish water was wonderful for swimming. Beautiful limestone rock features we're visible underwater even without a mask because the water was so clear. But Jim had his underwater camera that our guide took down and thru an arch. Then she led us into a cave. After a bit more exploring and swimming to the starting point, we hiked back up and over to where the boat waited for us. 

Next stop, Siete Pecados Marine Park. This is a protected area with healthy reefs, and lots of fish. 7 little rock Islands. We snorkeled around two of them and saw all sorts of cool stuff. Lots of tridacna clams with bright colored lips were embedded in the coral. Schools of silversides, a big sea snake, fields of carpet anemones - but no anemone fish ❓I saw so much that I didn't feel deprived for not being on scuba. 

Third stop was a beach for lunch, then home. 

Great day. Good exercise. More evidence to support our bartenders statement that Coron is heaven!