Unlike our previous experience on the Celebrity Edge, where the buffet surpassed the fine dining options, this time, it was the reverse. On the Edge, we avoided the main dining rooms on cruise ships since the buffet usually offered better variety and quality. However, on this particular sailing, the specialty main dining offered restaurants were excellent while the buffet options were lackluster. It definitely just comes down to a skill issue with the chefs.

In terms of entertainment, the Apex outperformed its sister ship. The production shows featured incredible acrobatics and trapeze artistry. They also brought aboard guest performers, and we were lucky enough to catch magic sensation Josephine Lee performing magic tricks. We saw her perform a trick very similar to the Real Transported Man trick from the movie “The Prestige.” Ralph Harris added humor to the mix with a delightful comedy show.

While the food and entertainment was good, this itinerary did have two sea days with no ports of call. Since we had already explored the Edge last time, we had trouble finding things to do on those days. Next time, we’ll be prepared. What also was unideal was we happened to go at a time when people were getting sick left and right from stuff like the flu or new COVID variants, and everywhere we went, people were sniffling or coughing their lungs out. Despite our best efforts to avoid those people, we all got sick when we returned.

See more of Celebrity Apex here

The real magic was underwater, where we had the privilege of witnessing sea turtles in their habitat. As we donned our snorkeling gear and plunged into the clear blue waters, these majestic creatures glided gracefully around us. Watching them scratch an itch against the walls, munch on algae, and move with such carefree elegance left us in awe. Their innate graceful movements were mesmerizing.

Apart from the aquatic wonders, Grand Cayman also runs a bird sanctuary. Its aim is to protect these winged creatures from poachers. The guide mentioned an old tradition where people used to catch and gift birds, a practice that has evolved over time. While this tradition is no longer seen as appropriate, some individuals still engage in it, posing challenges for the sanctuary’s conservation efforts. A cool trick I learned is that they don’t teach their parrots how to talk since it would allow poachers to draw them out of hiding.

We also visited an interesting tourist attraction called Hell. Despite the ominous name, Hell is a small area of eroded limestone formations. The porous, dried lava rock looks almost moon-like. Adding to quirky ambience, the gift shops sell stuff like postcards joking about sending greetings “from Hell”.

Snorkeling with the turtles was definitely the highlight of the entire trip hands down. We actually almost missed the excursion because of inclement weather that made it difficult for the cruise ship to send smaller ships to drop tourists off on the shore. I’m super glad that the weather cleared up, but we almost missed this amazing experience.

See more of Grand Cayman here

Our cruise ship recently docked at the island of Cozumel off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, providing us an opportunity to discover some of the destination’s cultural treasures, where we embarked on a day filled with sampling exotic honey, chocolate, and tequila.

We started our day wandering the waterfront of downtown Cozumel, browsing some souvenir shops selling standard tourist fare before visiting a spice shop. While the spices were vibrant, most weren’t actually native to the area, and just kind of felt like they were capitalizing on tourists feeling like they were getting something exotic. We had a more enjoyable time walking along the water looking at the scenery.

Next we headed inland to a Mayan bee sanctuary that maintains a variety of bees, the stingless Melipona bees among them. These bees are much smaller than the honey bees found in other parts of the world and look almost like tiny flies buzzing around the wooden hives. The bee population here is not so plentiful since there aren’t a lot of flowers in the area. They claim the Melipona bee honey produced here can actually be dropped directly into eyes as a treatment for various ocular ailments and has supposed antibacterial properties, but I’m skeptical on that. We sampled various honeys, though none compared what we got from Corsica.

Next, we explored the Mayan Cacao Company, delving into the ancient art of chocolate-making. Cacao was revered by the ancient Maya and even used as currency. The guide walked us through the historical process of creating Mayan chocolate – a rich paste rather than the familiar bars we are accustomed to. The gift shop did allow us to sample traditional chocolate bars and indulge in chocolate-flavored margaritas amidst vibrant parrots at the entrance.

Our Cozumel adventure continued with a visit to a tequila distillery. While the free samples were appreciated, we got to sample better variants once we chatted with the staff at the gift shop. The samples ranged from blanco to reposado (aged up to 1 year), but we weren’t able to sample the añejo (aged 1-3 years). This longer aging period contributes to a richer and more complex flavor profile, and takes on oaky flavours from the casks. Though despite all that, the prices there were tourist trap prices. The tequila there costed more than what I would have paid back home and I’m not sure the craft tequila premium was worth it. Also, true tequila aficionados it comes from Jalisco and not from the Yucatan.

Cozumel offered a glimpse into the Mayan traditions and Mexican Tequila. The best part of the tour was able to sample something at every place we went to.

See more of Cozumel here

The ruins contain several temples and plazas central to Mayan religious and civic life dating back to 200-900 AD. Our guide explained that Altun Ha was a vital trading outpost and agricultural hub in its era. We learned that the site gets its name from the Mayan words for “water” and “stone,” likely referring to the stone water reservoirs enabling life in this area.

Wandering through the sprawling ruins, we spotted many of the tropical trees thriving in Belize’s humid climate. Our guide pointed out plants like avocado, and allspice trees that would have sustained the Mayan people centuries ago. I got to sniff a fragrant allspice leaf, though the guide told us not to chew it since it’d cause irritation in the mouth. It made me chew it even more, but I didn’t dare chew it until I got back on the cruise ship, but by then, the leaf had lost its potency.

We also learned more about Mayan concepts of beauty and status. The guide explained that elongated skulls, flattening forehead bones, filing teeth, and inlaid jade flakes signified nobility and were considered highly attractive. The famous Jade Head sculpture found at Altun Ha in the 1960s would have adorned a spiritual leader. Its craftsmanship and 15 pounds of precious greenstone underscored the power and status of its owner in ancient times.

Wandering through the stone temples and plazas of Altun Ha gave us a glimpse into daily and ceremonial life centuries ago. It was eye-opening to visualize the rituals, agriculture, and artifacts underscoring this vital Mayan trade hub. The allspice, and avocado trees surrounding us emphasized the continuity between past and present in this region.

See more of Altun Ha here

Arriving at our first port of call, Roatan, Honduras, we initially had reservations about safety. However, being part of a cruise full of seniors, eased our concerns. When we arrived, we saw that the port was confined in a tourist only area, providing safety for visitors. As we departed the gated cruise port, it was eye-opening to see the real Honduras beyond the tourist-only area. The streets were dusty, with some shoddily built structures; a stark contrast to the manicured lawns we’re used to back home. The bus ride to the snorkeling site was bumpy, jostling us in our seats as we drove over uneven roads lined with vegetation. We then took a catamaran to the snorkeling destination. Upon arriving, the water looked especially choppy. I was nervous to go in the open sea, if not for the lifejacket I had to wear.

Immediately, I felt uncomfortable in the water with the choppy waves. None of the swimming training I had done seemed to translate in the open water (even with flippers on). Pretty much for the whole time we snorkeled, I struggled. Despite that, I was still able to marvel at the beauty of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the second-largest barrier reef globally.

Though the fish sightings were limited, it was still cool to experience being surrounded by the vibrant coral formations.

See more of Roatan here

It was a really faithful creation of the actual Gringott’s bank from the movies – complete with the goblins moving about too. It was really like being teleported into the Harry Potter universe in the movies. And like the movies, the people in the photo frames talk and move too.

The ride itself is a 3D motion-simulated thrill ride. Riders go through the ride experiencing a short Harry Potter 3D film with a roller coaster integrated into it. The coaster follows a track with drops and at times converts into a motion simulator that shakes depending on what’s happening. When a troll on screen “grabs” the roller coaster and “throws” it, the rider experiences the movements in real life. The plot itself immerses riders in the Harry Potter universe, fighting the forces of Lord Voldemort, riding through underground vaults, and facing dragons.

The centerpiece of Diagon Alley is Gringotts Bank, with towering dragon statues guarding the entrance, with the one at the top breathing fire every fifteen minutes. Diagon Alley also features wand shops and pubs selling butter beer.

Throughout the area, there are various locations that interact with wands allowing guests to perform “spells” ranging from making water fountains spray water to levitating objects.

We also got to visit Springfield from the Simpsons. I didn’t go to any rides here, but it was cool just to see the different elements of the show in real-life like Duff Beer, Kwik-E-Mart, Krusty Burger, Moe’s Tavern, etc. The attention to detail here is excellent.

I also felt like compared to before, there’s now a noticeable shift towards motion simulator rides with 3D movies. Back then, the rides had to rely on physically built special effects, like for example, when Terminator statues would light up or when a character got thrown into the screen in the movie and then suddenly appear in real life running away. Maybe I’m just nostalgic for the way things were. One thing’s for certain is that these 3D movies allow for special effects that weren’t possible before.

See more of Universal Studios here

While it’s cool to see dolphins, it’s too bad they’re kept in captivity and not able to freely roam the oceans.

Like most aquariums, there’s an underwater tunnel to get a close look at the different sharks and fish under the sea.

As usual, there’s cool shows showing how humans can train animals to do tricks. Here, the sea lions have been trained to follow their trainers around, jump up in the water, and even pose for selfies with people (though I wouldn’t trust them not to pull me in the water if given the chance…). They’ve also taught sea otters to do tricks too.

The orca show is probably the most controversial part of this show. In the past, an orca at Seaworld caused the deaths of three people, sparking a documentary discussing the ethics of keeping orcas in captivity. The main difference now is that the trainers no longer go in the water.

Several orcas in the show displayed droopy fins, which according to some are signs they’re suffering from physical or emotional stress. In some parts of the show, some of the orcas didn’t even participate. In the end, they gave a spiel about how they were contributing to marine conservation and so on, but it just seemed pretty hypocritical. Some people even walked out during it too.

We closed the day off with a penguin exhibit and fireworks. Overall, I feel Seaworld is more catered to people who like amusement park rides more so than people who want to see aquariums.

See more of Seaworld here

We drove out to Cape Canaveral to visit the Kennedy Space Center, the primary launch site for human spaceflight missions in the United States. It’s one of the major attractions that doesn’t center around amusement parks. Visitors are welcomed by the Rocket Garden that showcases a diverse range of rockets used for past achievements that serve at a tribute to the achievements of space exploration.

One of the key attractions there is a the tour that takes visitors around the space center, and one of the key attractions along the tour is the Vehicle Assembly Building, a colossal structure where NASA assembles and prepares its largest rockets for space missions, including the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. It stands as an iconic symbol of human space exploration and engineering prowess and is one of the largest buildings in the world. It played a pivotal role in assembling rockets and preparing space shuttles for their missions.

Another cool attraction was the mission control room. It’s no longer in use, and has since been repurposed as a simulation of a rocket launch. As the launch clock continues counting down, different systems of the rocket come online and their statuses are reflected on the screens and dashboards around the room. Until finally, when the countdown goes to zero, rocket launch noises fill the room and the screens show the rocket launching. The windows behind also glow bright orange to show the burn of the thrust.

The tour concludes with an exhibit of the Saturn V rocket, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built – the one that carried astronauts to the moon. It was difficult to grasp the scale of the rocket until I saw it in person. Each section is separated, showing each of the stages of the rocket launch. The Saturn V rocket launches by igniting its powerful engines, generating millions of pounds of thrust, and lifting off from the launch pad. As each section of the rocket runs of fuel, it separates from the rest, and propels the spacecraft and astronauts into space (most of the fuel is spend leaving Earth’s gravity). Attached to the end are the modules for the lunar lander and the craft for returning back to Earth.

It was also cool to see the lunar lander up close. It was a spacecraft designed to land astronauts on the moon during NASA’s Apollo missions. It consisted of two parts: the descent stage, which landed on the moon’s surface, and the ascent stage, which launched the astronauts back into lunar orbit.

In 1981, the space shuttle program was launched with the aim of creating a reusable spacecraft capable of launching payloads into space, deploying satellites, conducting scientific research, and safely returning to Earth. The exhibit also featured a simulator that simulates the experience of a rocket launch aboard a space shuttle – essentially a motion simulator that mimicked the G-forces and movements of a shuttle launch. Supposedly it’s a high fidelity simulation of a rocket launch, but surprisingly the G-forces only went up to what I vaguely recall to be 3.5Gs and felt actually quite mild (even children went on the ride and were completely okay).

A visit to the Kennedy Space Center adds a unique and educational dimension to the Orlando experience. From the awe-inspiring Rocket Garden to the monumental Vehicle Assembly Building, the center embodies the triumphs of human space exploration. It was cool to experience the simulated rocket and shuttle launch and getting up close to the lunar lander and Saturn V rocket.

More photos here

Even from the trailhead one can see Taipei 101 in all its glory. I never did make it up to the observation deck of Taipei 101 though – I’m not one to particularly enjoy those kind of sights. The thing that did pique my interest about the Taipei 101 though is its counterbalance – its system of minimizing vibrations (e.g. from wind), only because I learned about them in university.

After the hike, my appetite was so good I ate two full meals one after another. A friend told me to try this turkey rice from a stall at the Taipei 101 (apparently it’s a thing), but to be honest, I didn’t enjoy it all that much. As I walked through the food court though, I saw a Liao Fan Hawker Chan – they’re famous in Singapore for soy sauce chicken. Despite having already eaten the turkey rice, I was determined to eat this too! I missed it a lot since I went to Singapore two years back.

The food coma hit me pretty hard though after those two meals, and that was a sign for me to go back to my AirBnB and rest up for the next day.

See more of my trip to Taiwan here!

Here are real human skulls for the low price of $1250!

Why not other bones if not a skull?

Or maybe a walrus skull?

Or maybe if bones aren’t your thing, you can get splices of human brain instead.

They have other stuff that isn’t bones or brains too. Like the skin and pelt.

Aside from the store, there is also a museum section full of more weird things – the only difference being that these items are not for sale. Like this two-faced goat for example.

I don’t even know how they find this stuff.

I gotta say that this place was one of the biggest highlights of the trip. Most of the places I went were standard tourist attractions, but THIS place definitely takes the cake as far as how bizarre and interesting it was. I think a lot of people would be interested to look at stuff like this, it’s just that this place isn’t that well known.