3/3 Transiting the Indian Ocean toward the Maldives.
This is the perfect time to experience all that your boutique hotel at sea has to offer—or to simply do nothing at all. From decadent specialty dining, to immersive lectures, to tranquil spa treatments, the choice is yours.
Slept in because we could. Had breakfast, then computer work. A tanker is coming along with us at just a little slower speed. We're doing 16 knots, course 039*T. Location 16*50'S, 80*04'E.
O attended Dr Klein's lecture on the Indian Ocean's relationships with Europe starting with the Portuguese navigators. Interesting.
At noon the Captain passed the word that our stop in Columbo will be only to load fuel and provisions, but no one can go ashore. Perhaps it's for the best; Sri Lanka has the virus.
Lecture on Pluto, the maybe planet, by Redfern. It's smaller than our moon, so some people say it's not a planet.
Dinner by ourselves (roast beef), then a good stage show by the performers. Packed house.
Called John, he continues to go downhill. Then a couple of drinks at the bar where a guy from Turkey gave me his opinions.
The shore excursions desk has not received the updated list for the additional days in Cochin and Mumbai that were added to compensate for Colombo.
The ship held an Expo this morning where every department on the ship brought samples of what they do. Mechanics, engineering, navigation, store, safety, security. Well attended. Had all my questions answered.
We worked Guest Services to delete the transfer to the airport at Dubai, since we bought the city-tour with airport drop-off. That heads off any last day confusion.
Just before 1600 Trivia we ran into a great rain squall. Visibility went to near-zero. It lasted an hour and the weather decks were all wet after trivia.
At trivia, held in the Living Room vice the Den for some reason, we had Larry & Eva join us. She's a Swede, he's British and they live in Oslo. We didn't do very well at trivia but we had a great time comparing Norwegian and Swedish and Welsh backgrounds. Eva even sang the Frog Song for kids that we heard at Midsommardag in Kopparberg. We hope to see them again.
Dinner (filet mignon) in the Patio's casual atmosphere. Cooler this evening.
Link to Diego Garcia Wiki
The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) island Diego Garcia was passed in the night. It's a British & American military-only place intended to help keep peace in the Middle East. Our submarines have been known to put in there for replenishment and the occasional beer.
Rapid response ships are anchored inside the atoll. They're pre-loaded with military supplies and could thus move rapidly to provide support to military operations anywhere in the area.
Clocks advanced another hour, now on Maldive time. At 0900, we are in 7*S, 66*34'E, on course 038*T, speed 16 knots. Diego Garcia is about 400 miles east of us.
The sea state is up a bit to 2, occasional whitecaps on slightly taller swell. Total overcast.
Dr Klein's lecture today was on the Indian state of Kerala, in which is Cochin - our next port. Literacy is very high, health care is good, resulting in India's longest life expectancy (77). Population 33 million in a smallish area, high density. Agriculture outside city eastward to the mountains that form the boundary.
We lined up tours for Cochin & signed up for the AzAmazing night. Still have a day in Mumbai to fill.
Lunch, then Redfern lecture at 1400 on the moon - then and now. Very interesting.
Then we wandered into conversation with Neil & wife from Melbourne VIC at a table in the Den. More Aussies joined, and Ivan the Terrible Brit, till Trivia started. Group size limited to six, so we sat our (but slid a few cues into the party). Still didn't win but we had fun.
At the end D recommended the Patio to Neil; later we went to the Patio and found them there. As we left, they said they enjoyed it and hadn't thought of it before - and thanked D. Ric and Sue also were there so we chatted with them. Much fun.
Link to the Maldives Wiki
At 0930 we're in 1*45'S, 72*58'E. Sea state 1, total coverage of high clouds that should go away this afternoon.
1000 Lecture - Lives of stars by Redfern, very interesting. Makes claim that all elements on earth came from dying stars as they exploded at their end of life.
At 1100 D did a Q&A session with the dancers and singers. Said she enjoyed it and learned a few things.
It was a quiet afternoon; O spent time reading Kindle on the verandah.
Trivia results were 12/20 at General and 15/20 at History, not bad for a party of two.
Then the crossing-the-equator celebration started. We took station on the jogging track to overlook the action. The cast, dressed appropriately, paraded around the track and down to the stage. The pollywog miscreants were found guilty and given various sentences that all ended in having to walk the plank into the pool. Good fun. Photos here.
Then dinner above the wake with Anne & Phil from Carlisle, Britain. Interesting people. Anne & D hit it off with education and grand-children.
O made the rounds in the Den talking with the Aussies and British acquaintances, including Anne & Phil, and Wendy from Perth, WA, OZ, with a stop on Deck 11 for Redfern's star-gazing event.
We are approaching Sri Lanka, the former Ceylon during the British Empire days. At 1100, we are in 3*40'75" N, 77*10' E, sea state 1, calm. O saw a few dolphins this morning before he attended Dr Klein's lecture on Cochin.
The lecture was interesting; Cochin is a modern city of 600,000 and metro area population of two million. Crowded sidewalks and trains. Beware of pick-pockets as in any crowded place.
Later we went through the available excursions in Mumbai made available by our now having two days there. The ship's events all involve walking distances so we've started looking at local tours. But the ship departs at 1700 the second day so we'd have to be careful to return with plenty of margin. Might just have a quiet day aboard while all the others are ashore.
Today will be another quiet day at sea.
Trivia today was General (12/20 again) followed by songs of ABBA (1/20). Felt foolish just sitting there.
Back at the cabin, O took a shot of the smoothest water seen this trip (at right).
D took a picture of the clouds reflected on the smooth water for submission into the ships photo contest.
Dinner in the dining room, then cabin to take it easy.
3/8 (0800 - 1300)
Was 3/8 (0800) - 3/9 (1400) Colombo, Sri Lanka
This teardrop-shaped island gem offers engaging encounters both in the capital city and the surrounding countryside.
Link to Wiki
Photos-O
Sri Lanka requires an on-line visa prior to entry. It wasn't too hard to request and was granted quickly.
However, it was all for nothing since we have been advised we are not allowed ashore by their government. We will go in to load fuel and stores, then continue toward India.
O took some pictures of our surroundings, including a Russian destroyer (Udaloy class) berthed behind us. The rest are of the city from our isolated dock.
A number of trucks surrounded our aft loading area and a small tanker came alongside to port. So, we're getting the stores and fuel we came to get.
At the end of lunch in the Sunset Bar we were joined by some British who passed on the word from their travel agent in London that we are not allowed into India, either. Well, if not, where do we go next?
I called Nancy; brother John is near the end. Between the cancer and the pain medicine, he is nearly always asleep.
But we stayed in Colombo trying to get people off the ship who cannot enter Arab states.
Later, those passengers were cleared and we left Colombo about 1730. But trivia was done as usual, though we did poorly. Birds are not our forte.
The passengers shrugged off the changes, either presupposing that would happen, or just going with the flow. We know we'll get off somewhere.
The White Night came up; almost everyone dressed entirely in white and did the pool deck buffet. The crew had set up tables around the jogging track, and all over the pool deck. After the buffet, people were everywhere watching the band(s) perform on the stage and dancing to the music. We dropped out a little before the end, but it looked like it might go on for a while. Much fun. The Captain addressed us and thanked us for all the support the passengers had given him, many having told him we appreciate his efforts in all this confusion.
Photos-O
Photos-D
The picture below was taken departing Colombo.
Nightcap, then we trickled off to bed.
