Our floating magic carpet Azamara Quest departs Singapore about 1700.
We'll have a glass and salute the port as we pull away. It was a good stay, very interesting, but also hot and humid.
'Twas a typical first cruise day. Slow, then terribly hectic, then a different hectic. Finally quiet.
We had breakfast in the hotel, then waited until nearly noon to check out. Our taxi took us to the cruise terminal (after a mistaken side trip to a closed shopping place). The porters took our bags. We showed our passport and went up one level.. We were herded into a chaired waiting area. After a bit, our turn came to go through the Singapore exit station where our passports were compared with those we used at arrival. We passed and were allowed to go down the long hall to the ship.
There, we were herded into the Cabaret Lounge for the life-saving lecture required of everyone in lieu of the muster-station accounting and lecture.
After dumping the little bags we went Sunset Lounge where we ran into Ed & Cathy, friends from several past cruises. Chatted over wine; they left, we left.
Then we could and did go to our stateroom, number 7049. No luggage, so we trotted up to the Drawing Room to join the Cruise Critic cadre. Lots of stories and experiences exchanged over ship-supplied wine.
Still no luggage in cabin. Then O's bag showed up, he started unpacking and ran off to do laundry. We went back up for a bit, returned to get the laundry. Cabin steward Sarah and D roamed the 7th deck and found her bag all lonely on the other side of the ship.
Up to dinner in Windows, nice buffet selections. A couple from Ballarat, Australia (Leslie and Andrew) sat next to us, and we had a great conversation with them. I should mention that about 400 of the nearly 700 passengers are Australians. There are also New Zealanders, British, and Canadians.
Now it's 2008, it's dark outside but with lots of ships lights.
But then we got up and went to the stage show. Cruise director Amanda (Madison WI) did another good job. After the show she greeted people exiting so we had a chance to exchange greetings THEN back to the cabin to rest.
6 May Saturday
Up at 0618 (ships time) or 0718 (Apple auto time). Light rain forecast. Big clouds in one direction, sunrise in the other.
Position 01'19N, 100'31E, 17kts, Course 300*, SS2, 1200 nm to Hambantota. At 0644 we are overtaking two tankers on our stbd side. A few minutes later, a tanker running a reciprocal course meeting to stbd. Busy place, this.
Later, from Windows cafeteria, we spotted ten ships in sight - auto carriers, tankers, freighter, dhows, small fishing boats. Incredible. A submarine sonar operator here would have as much trouble as in the Straights of Gibraltar.
Good buffet breakfast in Windows, but crowded. Looks like the ship is back to its capacity, unlike last year when only 300 were aboard.
This is Coronation Day, so many events are postponed until later in our day, when it's over in London. Charlie finally gets to be King.
O washed the new stuff he bought in Singapore and hung it to dry. We went to Windows and selected our Dining Plan for the up-scale places on board, found Geoff and Carol waiting in line behind us. O fixed the reason his laptop could not access the internet (DNS). D went off to her jewelry-making class. She came back with a new bracelet.
After lunch, O read more of his book by Nathaniel Philbrick. Then D went to a trivia, O joined for the next one. Didn't do well, but…
Dinner in the dining room with a couple from NZ and two from OZ (Australia). Nice group, good conversation. Then the show, this one a one-person show by Amanda Paulson, the cruise director. She's from Wisconsin and has a very good voice. It was a nice performance.
And then to bed before another 25-hour day (time zone changes rapidly). 'nite
Photo Link O
7 May Sunday
At 0730, 06'17.5'N, 094'03E, entering the Bay of Bengal, 15kts, 274*, 773 miles to Hambantota. Sea State 1, long swells, total cloud cover, light rain. They say it will be nice later today. Good day for relaxing.
We ordered in a pot of coffee to wake us up. We'll laze about until 1000, time for Sunday brunch.
At 1030 we went to brunch, set up on the raised platform in the Dining Room. Lavish layout, tried not to eat too much. Picture of line with ACD Jose at right.
D went off to her jewelry class, O returned his book on G. Washington and B. Arnold and the circumstances that led to the latter's treason.
Up then to the Living Room to watch our progress into and out of rain cells. D went off to another class of some kind; O read a book on Kindle while sipping a Salty Dog.
Got into the ship's Bingo Game ($2500 if less than 53 numbers, $250 with any numbers). No luck.
We participated in the 1600 Pub Trivia, not doing very well. Music trivia followed, at which we were miserable. We wandered the ship for a while, then sat in the Patio area as it opened. Dinner there, then back to the cabin.
Reading, just loafing, skipped the Captain's toast to stay in room, then sleep.
8 May Monday
Up early, O working the trip diary that has been acting up. He got the website working again but is having trouble showing the slideshows. Finally he went off for a light breakfast while D took the internet connection for her correspondence.
Pictures arrived of grandsons Ryan and Ethan in their first communion suits from the ceremony yesterday.
At 0940 we are in position 06*56.4'N, 086*53E, making 16.2kts on course 265*. Sea state 3, with long gentle swells, ship rolling slightly. Still totally overcast making the day look gloomy.
It was noted yesterday that Azamara isn't passing out all the little gift items they did in the past. Same is true for more expensive Azamara-branded items usually available in the shops. Turns out they can't get them, due to supply chain problems, probably the China restrictions by the US.
D went off to her jewelry class. O fixed the trip diary website (finally!!).
Later we went off to bingo (didn't win) and trivia of two types - didn't do well there either. Oh, well.
The we dressed for dinner in PrimeC, the non-fishy high-level restaurant location on board. There, we were served by Sultan (accent second syllable), whom we've met before and regard highly. We took a bottle of Argentinian Malbec while we ordered, and stayed with that. Everything delivered was what we ordered and well presented. We finished with coffee and port for D, Courvasier XO for O.
As the meal progressed we talked with sommelier Silas regarding ports and with the barman Aaron - a neat young guy, very personable. We spoke with Sultan about other persons we've known on past cruises.
As we departed we took pictures - it's a nice room. Then to the cabin to rest, read, relax, recover.
This controversial port is much less trafficked than our next stop, Colombo. One opinion is that the Chinese offered loans to Sri Lanka for expansion; Sri Lanka then had the Chinese build the port but the hoped-for traffic has not yet arrived, and may never arrive. The country itself is suffering a financial crisis.
Up at 0700, position 06*17.26'N, 094*02.9E, making 14.6kts on course 272*, 32nm to Hambantota. Sea State 3. We are due to arrive at 1100 local time, then to depart at 1900. The day appears the same as the last three days - total cloud cover.
No Sri Lankan rupees available on board, so we'll have to look ashore. D needed to put a card behind her OBC acc.ount, so we did that. Then breakfast seated on the stbd side; we could see Sri Lanka in the far distance.
We made a neat landing against the wind, behind Europa 2. Most of the excursions left before noon, but our trip didn't depart until nearly 1300. The roads (except the new expressways) are narrow two-lane affairs. They drive on the left except when they don't. Numerous excursions into the other lane were done, some for passing purposes but more to avoid things in the left lane like cows. Cows (and water buffalo) have the right-of-way. Much of the land is given over to rice paddies. Road-side mini-businesses sell things like juice or vegetables. Can't go more than a few miles without running into another village. Speed limit except exressways is 50kph, which feels like crawling. Thousands of little tug-tuk (for the sound they make) tricycle-gear motor scooters run on the roads, carrying their two passengers behind the driver (who steers by handlebars).
Animals spotted include a monitor lizard about two feet long, a fawn deer, elephants, monkeys, cows, water buffalo, and one pussycat. One elephant was lying down while his people used a hose to clean and cool him (it was very warm).
The bus took us about an hour and a half into the countryside to a Buddhist shrine at Katharagama where legend has it that Buddha stopped during his third visit to Sri Lanka. Parts of the shrine are stated to have been there in the third century BC. There's a large dome there with figures of Buddha and other ornaments. The dome is made of brick, solid throughout, covered over with plaster and painted white. A number of smaller buildings are nearby, I suppose for workers there.
After seeing all this we returned to the bus, seeing as we went a very wide boulevard going off into the distance. The bus took us a short distance to a Hindu shrine. We noticed a wide boulevard approaching it which turned out to be the same one we saw near Buddha; we were spared the walking of it. The Hindu shrine had a different set of characteristics and buildings. One small building is devoted to candles burning in memory of someone, and incense is available to burn in their memory as well.
After explanations by our guide, we went back to the bus to begin the homeward trip. Thirty minutes later we stopped at a hotel for a rest stop. We were served a ginger beer by Elephant House that was really refreshing but made you wonder what it was - until someone told you.
After the break we continued back to the ship. I should mention that everyone we passed waved and smiled. Very friendly people here. We arrived at the ship at the same time as four other buses, in a mild rain. Mass confusion trying to get up the gangway.
At the cabin, O started a laundry cycle then showered. At "done" time we walked there and put it in the dryer, then went to the Patio for dinner. O returned to remove the dried clothing and take it to the cabin; D returned slightly afterward. The laundry was put away, then D went off to see what's happening while O did these notes.
While we were eating, the ship pulled away, passed Europa 2 still tied to the dock and headed for Columbo for tomorrow's events.
Photo Link O
We're back in Colombo. We were here in 2020 but not allowed to go ashore due to the Covid-19 development. There was a Russian destroyer astern of us; first one I've seen from the surface.
We're berthed port side to, in a different area of the dockyard; told to use Gate 1A in instructions to taxis, etc. Grain elevators are next dock left.
A large number (15+) of vendors have set out their goods on the dock for our inspection and possible purchase.
We have only a two-hour bus ride of the city today. Tonight is the AzAmazing presentation in the Grand Marquee of the Taj Samudra Hotel. More later.
The tour was very interesting but somewhat disconcerting. We found many large projects halted for lack of money to finish them. We also found some great old Victorian buildings. Most of the businesses we saw were 15-foot wide stalls set in a strip-mall sort of environment, selling some small part of the economy. Lots of food stalls, electronics stalls, and beauty places. Many larger places seemed to do with education, many of them " associated " with foreign universities. The University of Colombo looked like a true university.
Of course there were government buildings galore. Bureau upon bureau. They, of course, were good-looking buildings. Numerous military commands. We even saw entering Colombo one of our old Coast Guard cutters, just acquired by Sri Lanka for an Offshore Patrol boat. Unfortunately it was emitting white smoke as it steamed out of port.
We stopped at the Independence Hall open building, constructed like the Parthenon, commemorating Ceylon's independence in 1948. Nice structure. Photographer trying to take wedding pictures of a young couple, but they were being mobbed by our tourists wishing them good fortune. A man with a flute and a cobra was trying to get money to take pictures of him (and/or his little monkey).
First O was seated inboard of D. Here he moved cross-aisle and started taking his own pictures. Finally we re-entered the dockyard and bumped our way back to the ship. We traveled the vendor line and acquired the requisite teeshirts and pin. Then we went aboard to our cabin to put everything away.
Then up to the Patio for lunch (Sultan serving again). Captain Thysee passed by and chatted for a few minutes, accompanied by a lady whom we believe to be his wife. The ship with us yesterday (Europa 2) straggled into port during this chat.
We ended that and retired to cabin to process photos and trip diaries.
Photo Link O (to now)
Later, it came time for the AzAmazing Evening. All 600+ of us were put in buses and whisked to the Taj Samudra's entertainment venue, appearing to be a large tent with stage at one end. Glasses served on entry; we found good seats down front on the left side just behind the reserved seats. We had a decent view over and around the heads in front of us.
I can't begin to describe the series of dances provided. They all intended to show a particular region of Sri Lanka or some part of the day of the people. Very heavy on percussion. The photo link will show a shot or two from each.
Timing - we left the ship at 1900+, the performance began at 2005 and ended at 2102. Then bused back to the ship where we looked for a good-night drink. The Den was full, so we went to the Living Room for our Gibson and Port.
And after that, off to bed at 2245.
AzAmazing Photo Link O
Now we set off across the Arabian Sea portion of the Indian Ocean. We'll have more time to relax and to enjoy shipboard activities.
Up at 0730 position 07*25.5N, 078*25.55E, making 10 knots on course 283* for Cochin, India. Sea State 2, no swells. Sunny with some high thin clouds.
Almost a zero day. D did jewelry and we did two trivia, not doing very well at either one.
Finally, we did watch the show by "Katie", who plays rock violin. He's very good with the violin as shown in a slow piece he did. But he prefers to hop all over the floor playing rock songs on his 1816 violin. To me, weird. Most of the audience liked it. For those curious here's a link to a 1-minute video of Katie but it's a large file (77mB) so it will take time to download.
We found Ed & Cathy to give them the gift coffee mug; they were happy with it.
Then the Port & Gibson at the Living Room bar. Then bed.
We were up just before 0700 to watch the ships progress into the harbor. Then we spotted the cruise terminal; Quest did a 180* turn and put the port side to the dock. We on the stbd side have a view of downtown. We skipped breakfast to go to the meeting place, where we waited to be called for our tour.
When called, we took our passport, our covid card, our e-visa, our entry access card, and one other piece of paper to the immigration person. He looked at everything and double checked each paper against the others for errors. Finally he stamped the visa section of the passport with two different stamps, took my picture to compare against the passport and finally allowed me to enter Kerala state, India.
Our tour, Cochin at a Glance, was a bus trip around the city to show us the sights. We did indeed run all over the place in crazy traffic with few controls. The roads were mostly two-lane except where someone tried to pass in the third lane, the one in the middle.
We stopped first at a Hindu temple - we could not enter but we could ascend to a platform on the building next door to look into it. Other (to us) goofy-looking things of worship were in the same compound.
The city impresses you with its zillion people wandering around. Like Colombo, the shops are little places in long strips. The lanes off the main drag are one car wide. The heat was oppressive, with no breeze. We stopped at a rug shop for a toilet break, then went on to the site of the former Fort Kochi.
A few of the old, thick walls put up by the Portuguese are still there. The other old buildings in the complex are Dutch, then British. We walked along the waterfront to watch the fishermen using large nets counter-balanced by a long pole with weights on it. One person could raise the net. The vendors were very pushy, waving their little piece of whatever in your face.
We went on to David Hall, a gallery and snack bar, to rest and have tea. At least O had tea, D went for coffee. Then we returned to the ship. We toured the vendors inside the complex and D found a pin for her collection. Then we faced the immigration people again. More picture comparison, a scan of the passport to show we did enter and were eligible to leave. Then the passport was stamped with the exit part of the visa. Then we were allowed to exit the terminal and enter the ship.
We made a quick pass through the Patio to Windows for ice-water and a little food. Then to the cabin so O could run through the shower. All the bars are closed due to Indian law.
Photo Link O
O started the laundry of the sweaty things we wore today, while waiting for trivia to start. U/W time is 1730. Promptly at 1730 the ship swung its bow away from the dock and got underway. Must be thirsty.
Trivia results were miserable, but nothing broken.
Later, we did the show in the Cabaret. Not too bad. You could tell who were the professional dancers and who were singer-dancers. They put on a show named Crooners, lots of old Broadway show stuff.
But we wore out. Back to the cabin at 2130 or so to read and relax.
At sea, getting closer to the Red Sea. Position at 0900 was 10*38.4'N, 071*46E. Ship making 16 knots on course 278*. Mostly cloudy day, high thin clouds with a line of cumulus just north of us. SS 1, almost flat. Captain says this weather pattern may hold for days.
D off to her jewelry-making class at 1100. Lunch in the Patio. Trivia in Living Room - did rather well for a change 17/22.
Spent the day reading and relaxing. Didn't finish, so we might have to do it again tomorrow. Off to music in the Cabaret at 2015 by Bruce Mathiske, who plays guitar and didgerydo (sp?).
Bruce can play that thing. Nimble fingers. We've never seen the guitar played simultaneously with the didgerydo. He's an Aussie so it played well when he did a segment on "Waltzing Matilda". The audience loved him and we thought he'd integrated with the house band very well. Since he can't get off, we'll see him again in the next few days.
14 May Sunday Mother's Day
D received M-day greeting from Susan on the day before M-day (other side of the dateline).
0820 Position 11*59'N, 065*17É, making 17.5 knots on course 281*. SS1. Mostly sunny (finally).
At 1000 the ship conducted a drill of what should be done if we encounter pirates, which last happened two years ago. Passengers are to exit their cabin and shelter in the passageways. It's not likely. Still, the ship will post additional lookouts through the area. To help their vision, external lights will be reduced and all room curtains are to be closed. Interesting evolution.
At noon we met a large container ship that appeared to be on course for Mumbai. He passed safely astern. Picture at right, taken through window from the dining room, where we were doing Mother's Day brunch.
D did jewelry and came back with earrings. O started re-reading an old novel - Shogun. Trivia didn't treat us well - not a disaster but not good.
D went to a cultural thing called Intro to Garba Dance - learned moves and dress. Came back with a gaudy wrap.
We entered Patio for dinner and discovered a pigeon walking around the deck. After asking, we find the bird has been aboard since Sri Lanka. The Patio crew feeds it and puts it in a box at night to keep it healthy. There is a blank space under the Patio cook's hand-washing area where it can hide during the day. Photo in the Photos slideshow below.
It was really good. The breeze created by the ship's forward movement cooled us. The performers did a great, great, job at Broadway hits over the years. Watchers were watching from the fitness track one level up. O's favorite was a version of Everything's Up To Date In Kansas City. The audience was appreciative, with lots of applause and a standing ovation at the end. Beware, the videos below are large files and thus can take a long time to download, if your machine requires that.
Link to 1-minute video of Seasons Of Love from "Rent".
Link to 1-minute video of Anything Goes.
Then we went to the Living Room for our port & gibson. The place was jammed. Last night there were 12 people in the place, tonight there were a hundred. Guess it was overflow from the show. A couple of Aussie widows D knows from her class joined us but then got into dancing. They even assaulted the gays to dance.
But we wore down and returned to cabin to rest and sleep.
We're approaching the Red Sea so I'm ending this page and advancing to the next.
Photo Link O
