Our anchor is being hauled and we are leaving Dili, Timor-Leste. It is a very young country, winning their independence from Indonesia just 22 years ago. As it is a portion of an Indonesian island, they still refer to it as part of Indonesia, even though it is really a separate country. It is also a very poor country where 52% of its people survive on less than $1.25 per day. Can you imagine how we could get by with that? Sad for sure. It really reminds us of Honduras or some parts of Mexico, by just looking around. It was quite hot again today, as we get closer to the equator. They promise that when we cross the equator, things will cool back down as we move from summer back to winter.
Last night, we moved our clocks back another 30 minutes, so our minutes match most of the worlds again. We move them back yet another hour tonight and we will be in the same time zone as Singapore, where our cruise ends. We should be done with time changes, hip hip. So, right now, it is 4 PM here and Midnight at home. We are finishing up Wednesday, and you are just beginning it. Confused?
Wild and crazy Kim got herself arrested trying to break in to the Presidential Palace. Other than that, it was a quiet day.
Tonight, we move about 200 miles to the other end of the island, which is part of Indonesia the country.
Today’s stop was populated by mostly Catholics at 97% and tomorrow will be the largest population of Muslims in the world with nearly 90% of the population of Indonesia following the religion of Islam. Interesting fun fact, don’t you think? More fun facts: Indonesia is made up of 17,000 islands, and just 8,000 of those are populated. Indonesia has the most active volcanoes on earth and Indonesia was colonized by the Dutch.
Kim saw a sea turtle from our balcony today, it was very large. Sorry no picture, but proof of more sea life.
Today we were at anchor, so it was a tender (earplug) day. Anchored next to us was the Seabourn Odyssey. About 11:00 this morning, they announced that they would start a tender run between the two sister ships so the guests and crew could visit the other ship. We visited with a very nice couple from the Odyssey and their goal was to find out which ship had better Margaritas and Hamburgers and, of course, a better pool. I’m pleased to say our ship won. It was fun to see the two groups interact. That was the first time we had ever experienced anything like this.
Kim has dubbed me as a rule breaker because on the ship, men are to wear slacks and a collared shirt after 6 PM. Well, I have no problem with the shirt part, but slacks? Not happening. So far, no one has said anything. Tonight’s dinner was in the Colonnade Restaurant with a Chinese theme. I had Dim Sum; egg drop soup and sweet and sour Shrimp. Yummy.
And what would you wear to an Abba Sail away? Nice boots!
We made it to Darwin, finally. I really don’t understand my attraction to this city, but I have always wanted to visit. We are here for two days.
Fortunately, we found people auditioning for the Darwin awards all over town.
Kim even gave it a try. Our shuttle bus driver told us he had been in the plastic tube 3 times, I wanted to ask him to let us off the bus.
We told our doctor we would bring him a golf hat from Darwin; a croc hat will have to do. Again, it was too hot here, as I watched my son get buried in snow in Reno. All in all, it was a great day in Darwin.
You could have guessed this, Darwin is shipping LNG to Taiwan.
Cruising in the Arafura Sea today. Between Australia and New Guinea.
Last night we had our, I think, seventh time zone change. It was only 30 minutes, what? Well, yes, there are 30-minute time zones. The only other time we experienced this was when we were on a cruise with our friends, Jim and Sheila. It happened when we hit St John in Canada.
Okay, more from Cooktown. As I said I went on a river cruise that day. Before we left the dock, the Captain gave us a safety demonstration on life jackets and what to do if the boat were to sink. One guest asked about going into the water with crocodiles. He said that as long as she could swim faster than one other guest, there was nothing to worry about. Comforting!
He also told us about an annual beach cleanup day where literally every town resident picks up trash on this beautiful beach across the river. Since he has the largest boat for carrying people, he spends the entire day ferrying people to and from the beach. He also transfers trash back to town. Last year, they picked up 1 ½ metric tons of mostly plastic. The government then scans any bar codes it can find to find the origin of the plastic trash. They map this information to find out who the largest violators are and contact their government asking them to please educate their people or modify their use of plastics. Cool!
For those faithful followers of my blog, you know that it’s been pretty quiet around the pool. Just as I was thinking all the stupid question people must have gotten off and it would need CPR to restart, it happened.
And now another Episode of POOL CHRONICLES.
A couple sat down at the table next to mine. The patio restaurant is open from 12:30 to 3:30, they just remove the cloth panels you see in the photo. It’s now 12:25 and a waiter walks by. She asks him “Is the restaurant closing for lunch”? What a great business plan, close all restaurants at mealtime!
And then, there’s Joe. Or as I say toupee Joe. Joe, a solo traveler, is a real big shot, he will tell you he is. He retired from the FAA after 42 years of service. He can’t get “global entry” because he was once caught smuggling 100 Yeti cups, like the one I have, into the US from China. Okay, stop me when you get it. Everyone on the ship knows way more about Joe than any of us want to know. He is always chatting up the bartenders (are some of you thinking you know Joe too?). I walked up to the bar and asked for another drink and both bartenders were there. While one was mixing my Margarita, the other one asked if my gift had made its way into my suite yet. I smiled and said yes it did, thank you. Joe asked what we were talking about, and the bartender just said we were discussing a business deal. Of course, Joe said what kind of deal, to which I told him that they take very good care of me because they like me and I treat them very well, rubbing my fingers together. Joe’s no dummy and acknowledged what I was talking about right away. So, he pulls out his money clip (why is he carrying money around the ship, there is no place to spend it). He peals off two crisp ONE dollar bills, slaps them on the counter and says thanks guys and walks away! The bartenders both looked at me and one mouthed thanks for trying and grinned. Now what was the business deal you ask? I told you a few days ago that the ship had run out of Buffalo Trace Bourbon. Well, they lied, and a one-liter bottle showed up in our suite.
Last night I learned that they lie a lot, and when I went for sushi, the bartender disappeared into the back room for a few moments. When he returned, he too had an unopened a one-liter bottle of Buffalo Trace and explained that he hid it where no one would find it and he will keep it just for me.
Just some more perks of small ship sailing.
Tomorrow, we dock in Darwin, I’m worried that Darwin’s “Survival of the fittest” theory might just suck up some of our fellow passengers.
As we prepare to leap into March Madness, we find ourselves asking one question: Where is the Ocean and what lake is this?
Yesterday, in Cooktown (population 2,500), the ship had to anchor quite a distance from the town and it was about a 30 minute tender ride into town. We are only about 10 miles from the Great Barrier Reef now, so shallow water is everywhere here.
Cooktown is where Captain James Cook beached his ship for repairs after he hit the Great Barrier Reef in 1770. He spent about 3 months making repairs so he could continue on. The British council was very upset with him for sailing in uncharted waters.
I signed up for a river cruise in hopes of seeing a crocodile. We spotted one head, and several logodiles ( logs that look like crocks). At least it was cooler on the river with the breeze form the boat moving. We caught the last tender back and they loaded all the chairs, coolers, etc. that they had taken to the landing point that morning. Soon after we got on board, the captain hauled the anchor, and we went off on a 3 day sail to Darwin.
We were at latitude 11 south at noon today, so we are close the Equator again. We don’t cross it for several more days, but it’s within reach.
Tonight, we are going to the specialty steakhouse again for another prime ribeye, Snake River steak. We try to go to the steakhouse about every 10 days.
Well, I finally have complaints about our Seabourn Cruise. As you know, they have been out of IPA for most of the trip. Now, they have run out of Buffalo Trace, and today, it was too hot to sit on the pool deck. They just got to get better. I can hear you all playing your finger violins for me. What, you don’t think those are criminal complaints? Come on!
Okay, I see your weather, and you are probably right, but, never mind, my complaints are pretty petty.
Trying to keep a cool head.
What’s wrong with this sign?
We are in Cairns overnight then it’s off to Cooktown. 95 is just too hot, Maybe Cooktown won’t be so hot. COOK town, you say?
Who would name their town Townsville? Odd, don’t you think?
Well, tonight we did something we have never done before on a cruise ship. Cruise ships have food available to you pretty much 24/7, and it’s free (included in the fair that is). But then they entice you with offers to go to the specialty restaurants, for a small additional fee. Well, free food is good enough for us, up until tonight.
Tonight, we had a celebrity chef, Vincent Lim. He prepared a five-course meal pared with exotic wines, check out the menu. The appetizer was paired with Dom Perignon champagne (never had that before). It just got better from there. Everything was perfect. We did not choose the snapper, by the way.
It’s been a bit hot, so the action at the pool has been slow. Tonight, we are sailing to Carins for a two day stay. As always, there are always lots of ways to spend your money on excursions but check this one out. For $15,000 per couple, they will take you off the ship and fly you to the outback for 5 nights and bring you back to the ship in Darwin. I just don’t get it.
So, sorry no chuckles tonight, I will snoop out something tomorrow, stay tuned.
