Sony A99V ■ f/6.3 ■ 1/80 ■ ISO 200

It is hard to believe that it has been more than six years since our first cruise with our friends to Bermuda, but it was our second time. Our first was on our 25^th wedding anniversary. We boarded the Royal Caribbean, and it was a five-day cruise to Bermuda. The second time around was with our friends, 16 people in our group, boarded Norwegian Cruise.

Right off the bat, I gave the Royal Caribbean the advantage over Norwegian: the ship; the boarding experience; the dining; the entertainment and the food. Not to mention it was better to board at the Liberty port than in Manhattan port. Parking your vehicle is much easier on the Jersey side than in New York.

Both are five-day cruises, and both with overnight stay in Bermuda. The first time we came, we spent most of our time close to the port, sampled the local food and drink and went to the crescent beach for a day tour. The second time around we used the complimentary boat from Norwegian and went to the other side of the island where we went to see underground cavern.

After our tour, we went back to the ship for dinner and just spent the night drinking and dancing. Well, they danced, and I just drank. The jury did not come up with a verdict up to now as to what happened to me that unfaithful night. They told me that I kept ordering drinks from them, but what I remembered was it was they who kept ordering. Long story short, I missed the rest of the night and probably the rest of the next day because I was nursing my hangover. I thought I would be able to go back to that restaurant that my wife and I visited the first time we were there.

At any rate that cruise was fun, here are the pictures I have taken.

2024 Massanutten Resort

Sony A7IV ■ f/7.1 ■ 1/500 ■ ISO 100

We have been going to Massanutten Resort since early 2000. My wife signed up at a kiosk at Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem, PA and we received an invitation to spend a weekend at their resort for free. Little that we know that it was for a timeshare pitch. Long story short, we bought a time share.

During that time the maintenance fee was around $200 per year. It seemed reasonable enough since you can spend a week on only the maintenance fee. It was great for us since our kids can enjoy amenities at the resort. Then they built a water park which can be used all year round. The resort was great because it catered to families as well as golfers. Did I not mention that they have a few golf courses, I was told that one course was designed by Jack Nicklaus. 

Then the kids grew and the time for Airbnb and the like came sprouting and the allure of timeshare sort of disappeared. Not to mention the maintenance fee skyrocketed, especially after Covid. I am currently paying around $600 per year. It is still cheap for a week’s stay. The unit that we bought has 2 bedrooms and there is a sofa bed in the living room, 1 master bathroom and a common bathroom and kitchen. Laundry is shared between the downstairs and upstairs unit.

We have been paying the yearly maintenance fee without even using the unit. I had it used one time and just asked for the maintenance fee in return for the use. This year I am thinking of listing it for rent on the resort website. I think the resort owner was also changing since they may be finding out that some if not all unit owners are letting other people use their timeshare units.

Last year, we decided to use it just to get away for a bit. It was roughly a 5-hour drive from us, so it was not that bad. I thought I could bring Cooper with us, but we must pay about as much as a kennel would charge and the dog must be behaved, which my dog failed miserably. Cooper had to stay with Sinjin and Ruchi since they were not able to come with us due to work.

The resort changed a lot, most of the activities that used to belong to the resort were now managed by other operators which were no longer included as perks if you are a resort owner, that was a bummer.

I have a collection of pictures taken from the first time we came here up to last year. Surprisingly, I just had over 50 pictures taken. I might link other pictures taken through the years.

2024 - Akshardham Temple

Sony A7IV ■ f/7.1 ■ 1/1000 ■ ISO 100

My son’s in-laws came to visit them in their apartment and planned to visit the newly built Hindu temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey. It was our first time seeing the temple and I could not believe that it was huge.

Currently, it is open for anyone to visit but had to schedule visit time to accommodate everyone. Clearly, the place is not yet complete because there were still a lot of uncompleted construction areas.

I was able to take pictures, mostly outdoors since they did not allow any recording device to be turned on inside the temple. Understandable, it is a place of worship. It was so beautiful inside the temple, and you just need to take my word for it.

Regardless of whether you are Hindu or not, it is worth a visit. I may visit the temple again when it is not sunny to take a much better photos outside. Please click here to see pictures.