Monday 27th of February.

Monday 27^th of February.

Yesterday was a special day; we spent the morning at the church service which was good! Nice service; excellent sermon too.

Last night we went to the cabaret because we haven’t been for some time and also because it was the “Black Watch” company themselves doing it. They are such a talented young group and the show was superb. Orchestra was excellent too!

Then we went on deck for the evening where there was a deck party with a barbeque and the orchestra also playing again. It was a lovely evening sitting out on the deck in the warmth of the night enjoying the music and the company, but we did not partake of the barbeque!!!!!

What is spectacular at night is that when you look out to sea you are confronted with an impenetrable “Blackness”, such is the night in the tropics. However if you look up into the sky the view of stars is just brilliant; something that we miss at home because of the light pollution.

In a couple of days we will be in Cairns where the Australians on board are warning us that it will be very very hot. As its well into 40’s centigrade now I wonder what they mean by very very hot!

Fd

In indonesian waters

Saturday 25^th of February

There are about 7 sea days between Borneo and Cairns Australia but these days I suppose will never be repeated for us

We are sailing the Moluccas’ Straits passing Indonesian Islands great and small. Some are small Athol’s and others volcanic. Two of note are Sumatra and Java.

How can I describe these days? Well it’s hot! 38 degrees and with a warm breeze. The sea is very calm and the colour is also difficult to describe; it’s a very deep blue deeper than I have ever seen before and as you look out to the horizon where the sky meets the sea there is a gradual contrast as the sky takes over with its lighter blue with white clouds interspersed and the Sun glinting off the dazzling white paint of the Ship. So calming and beautiful. Such are these days that we are missing the very interesting lectures and concerts, and we haven’t been to Cabaret for quite a few nights now. (Although I did meet the trumpet player in a corridor and tried to engage in conversation with him but his English is not good. He is Filipino but his eyes understood and lit up when the words “trumpet and trombone were mentioned”)!

Yesterday all of us who are going the whole way round were treated to a special lunch with the captain and his senior officers. Very nice indeed!

Today however was very special because we crossed the Equator!!!! Never ever done that before!

As you all may know this becomes the kingdom of King Neptune and all ships crossing have to have time with him for the ships Masters and crew to come before him and confess their wrongs. This has to be done on all ships and it is a tradition that has been in existence for time immemorial.

It was no different for Black watch and the ceremony was duly performed in the presence of Neptune and his Mermaid hand maidens.

The Captain and all his officers were called before him and all their bad seamanship confessed. The punishment is that they have to kiss lip to lips with a fish; in this instance it was a massive great Tuna fish not long caught by the look of it!!!

In the original tradition the youngest member of the crew is normally tarred and feathered and then thrown overboard. Our young deck cadets did not suffer this but they did get plunged into the pool after “Sturgeon the Surgeon” had his playful operating time with them removing all sorts of weird objects from their “internals”! In fact all of the senior officers landed up in the pool fully dressed \t the end of the ceremony. Very funny and very nice to be able to take part in the centuries old tradition.

Well another 3 days and we will be in Cairns Australia; half way round the world!

Fd

Borneo

18/02/2011 and 22/2/2011

Hong Kong and Kota Kinabalu, Borneo( Malaysia)

On these 2 days I went shore side by myself, as Fred did not feel up to going.  As we had been on a formal tour of Hong Kong the day before, I decided to explore some of the areas where the tours had not taken us.  I walked through some of the backstreets where the ordinary person lives, and looked at little restarants, shops etc.  in no way did I feel threatened by walking alone, and the people could not have been kinder.  I was particularly fascinated by some of the butcher shops, where there were rows if rays with cuts of meat I have never seen before. ( I do not want to hazard a guess at what they were).

In Malaysia I went on a tour of KK, which is a modern town, where a lot of development has taken place since it became independent from Britain.  When I was a child, we had some picture books of the Indonesian Islands that had belonged to the Netherlands, and I had always been fascinated by the mysterious culture of these far away places.  Unfortunately it was not the most interesting trip I had been on, , but it was good to get an insight into modern Borneo.    Some funny comments were made by some of the fellow passengers, who were most disappointed, that we did not see people living in mud huts, and could not get their head round the fact that change has not only taken place in the west.  In the afternoon I went out by myself again to have a wander \round the many markets in the town.  I did not realise so  many different species of edible fish existed.

The boat left late for the trip to Cairns, as it was bunkering fuel.. the next 6 days will be spent at sea, and we will be crossing the Equator on Saturday.

Manila

Monday 20^th of February

Manila is one of the most important stops on this cruise not for us passengers but for most of the crew who are Filipinos. There has been some excitement and also trepidation in the crew wondering who would get shore leave and who would not. I think they have all had some tiome ashore with the possibility of meeting up with their families and friends.

They were all on deck by invitation of the Captain to wave farewell to their loved ones. Who knows when they will see them again It would have been so cruel to be here and not to be able to see family and friends, I hope they all had a great time they are all such wonderful people so helpful and cheerful.

Manila is another busy place with its own brand of road rules (or lack of them). We made a visit to old Manila and saw some of the history attached to this place that has had so many changes of colonisation. However they regard Spain as the mother country strange as it was Spain that “sold” manila to the USA in a secret deal covered by a phoney war. Also of course they were occupied during WWII by the Japanese and a lot of the City was ruined in the short fight that went on and where famously General McArthur had to retreat saying “ I Will Return”.

We were welcomed on port by a display of Filipino dancing and singing with the people dressed in traditional dress.

The local transport is what are called “JEEPEYS”. They are jeeps cut and estended into long public taxis. Apparently one takes one’s life into the hands of the drivers of these vehicles because they answer to no one and frequently let out their fares in the middle of the road regardless of the danger from the traffic.

It rained here; a warm and sticky rain that was not in any way refreshing. Visiting the old fort the only building not touched in the war the Cathedral and other interesting places I was very moved and blessed because when we went into the Cathedral there was a service taking place which seemed to be entirely for children and when they began to sing hymns I was moved to tears it was so beautiful.

A lovely place with lovely people!

Leaving Hong Kong

fred visiting manila

The voyage here from Hong Kong was not a happy one with force ten gales and many people including us suffering from sea sickness!!!!!!

Fd  

HONG KONG day 1

Fd

Friday 17^th of February

Is it so possible to put so many skyscrapers in such a small area of land? Hong Kong is overwhelming and those of you who have been will know what I mean.

We arrived early this morning and both of us stood on deck at 6.00am to watch our progress into port. As we made our way very slowly accompanied by the regulation pilot boat and two tugs we were amazed and excited at the thought of being here.

We were on a tour this morning and we were able to see so many things including the trip up to “the Peak” in the funicular railway. So steep is this, that when you pass by the multi high rise buildings, they look as if they are falling over. A view to remember from the top!

We then went on a trip around the “Shelter”; this is the part of the harbour that was used by the fishermen to shelter from typhoons. We went around in a Sampan. The shelter is crowded with house boats, floating restaurants, barges, fishing boats and all sorts of other vessels. People live on the Sampans and there is not much comfort to be had on board at all.

Next stop was Repulse Beach and this is a very nice beach and also has a number of shrines to differing gods and religions. Then we were back on Black Watch for lunch.

We had a good look around this afternoon at the Harbour shopping centre but then decided to have a trip around the main harbour on one of the ferries. The price of this is much dearer at night than at day. This is because of the spectacular view of Hong Kong at night from the water. However the nice man at the ticket office said that if we went on the 6.05 pm trip it would be daytime prices but it gets dark about 20 minutes later so we would get a waterfront view of the City by night without paying the extra price.

This trip was just wonderful! Hopefully we can put some of the pictures on the blog! If you’ve not been here then it’s one of the “musts” to do rather like the other cities in the world that have that “spectacular” reputation.

We have “MORE TIME” here tomorrow and then sail to Manila. This is a very memorable place, exciting and breath-taking. Not to be missed!

fd 

Vietnam

Wednesday the 15^th of February

“Good Morning Vietnam”!  It is with some excitement we arrive here not just because of the war torn history but we never ever thought that this was somewhere we would visit. We have seen peasants in paddy fields, buffalo wandering about, some extreme poverty, some very business-like rushing about and, forget taxis and tuk tuks, this place is full, and I mean full of scooters. This is an amazing place and seems to have recovered from the war or is recovering from it very well.

Today we visited the Forbidden City, pagoda, temples; we have sampled some exquisite Vietnamese food and enjoyed the friendly people in the markets.

I am so surprised that, although this is a Communist Country, there is no free education or health care!!

This has been a very special visit and an experience of a country that is lush with greenery, has some very spectacular mountains and rivers, and some very lovely people. The roads are in a terrible condition and the rules of the road seem to be none existent. It has also been extremely humid and hot. I had to buy a new shirt because the one I was wearing became soaking wet because of the humid temperature!

There is a good future for Vietnam and it would be nice to return here if possible; and for all you adventurous travellers, if you can get here, it is well worth it.

Hong Kong next stop in a couple of days!

Fd

fred and the dragon( no, not suuske)

examples of extreme poverty

Singapore 2

       

Sunday 12^th February

The tour that I went on today, was described as not being suitable for people with limited mobility, so Fred decided to stay on board.  We started by going to Arab street, and visited the biggest Asian Mosque-   as I was wearing shorts, I was given a long blue gown to wear,  so I could enter the mosque.   Inside preparations were taking place for a wedding, and the mother of the bride invited me to have my photo taken with a lovely bride( see photo).  We then went tp. Shangi prison, a sobering experience.   It was moving to see the many messages that had been left by relatives of the people who had been captive in the POW camp.  Some of the original murals were still on display, and a couple of the chapels had been reconstructed.  As when I visited   the German camps, , it struck me again how mankind can display such inhuman behaviour towards other people, and how the atrocities that had taken place inside these camps, had happened a relative short time ago.

We finished by visiting a shopping centre where Singapore people  do their everyday shopping with a lot of very enticing Thai food on display.

The boat left Singapore in a thunderstorm with hot rain falling down;  apparently this is typical Singapore weather.  The next 2 days we can relax and get to know some of the new people that came on board for the 2^nd leg of the voyage

suuske 

Singapore 1

Saturday 11^th of February

Singapore! Up until now a place one hears of in a historical context with WWII or in a modern context with the rise of economic wealth in the East but now here we are. We are actually here!

This is a really special and exciting City. It is a very clean and efficient place, the people are friendly and helpful and the skyline is spectacular. It’s much more ordered than India and the economic growth is evident everywhere. The shopping malls are BIG! Bull Ring, Blue Water, Merry Hill do not compare in any way whatsoever.

More importantly the people of different faiths live together in harmony. There is a work ethic too and the young people (who appear to be in the majority), are eager to get to work to make their living! There is no, or little unemployment, there is no graffiti, no yobs and the future for this place looks as great as the decline in the West is evident!

Today we went on a tour of the city which finished in the Chinese quarter, a busy place but ordered and safe. There are many Shrines and temples, not just Bhuddist, but also Muslim Hindi and Christian. We also went to the absolutely fabulous Botanical Gardens; so beautiful with many exotic and beautiful plants orchids and trees. In the afternoon we braved a trip on the cable car which is very high! It was nice to see the City and the bay and the other Islands from such a high viewing point, it also went over “Black Watch” so it was also a chance to see a different view of the ship. It is hot here and very humid, but what a fabulous place to be!

Fd

happy Birthday to Maisy for Wednesday

the national flower of singaport

some of the buildings

Port Blair

Wednesday  8^th  of February

It is really hot and we have arrived in Port Blair in the Andaman islands. It is still a province of India and the Indian influences are much in evidence. Traffic, people taxis and cows!. In Mumbai the cows are not allowed to roam without their owners on pain of a fine, but here no one owns them and they just roam around eating what they can find and getting in the way of traffic.

Here we went on an organised trip in a tuk tuk; those inventions that perform as taxis built on lambretta scooters.

We went to a temple, a jail that was built in colonial times and run by a really brutal British regime, which was passed on to the Japanese when they invaded during the last war.

Port Blair is just chaotic! At least in Mumbai there seemed to be a purpose to the traffic; people needing to be somewhere and making their way, but in Port Blair there does not seem to be any purpose at all. Just thousands of people overcrowded stalls and shops taxis and the inevitable hundreds of tuk tuk’s. It’s been an interesting visit one not to be missed and we left port again with an outdoor deck party with music and dancing and a most wonderful sunset.

Next port? Singapore

Fd

Thurssday the 9^th of February

A day at sea but something amazing and unusual event. We went through the turbulence of a Tsunami in the making! It was across us but not serious. It spread from horizon to horizon with a visual turbulence very evident.

Fd

Cramped in a Tuck tuck

not quite new street in Birmingham

lots of traffic going nowhere

Cochin

Saturday 4^th of February

So! While you were struggling this morning with the cold we were already in the Indian heat in Cochin. This is place in direct contrast to Mumbai and while there is a big financial and commercial city we spent our time in the old town; a delightful place just the sort of place one thinks about as India: Little streets with colonial and Indian influences. There is also a Jewish quarter with a synagogue and loads of English type churches. We finished the tour with a trip on a small boat on the lake. This was extremely soporific and restful. We now have a night in cabaret to enjoy with more Indian Classical Dance then it’s up anchor and we are at sea again for a few days to Port Blair in the Andaman Islands; still a province of India.

There are some moaners on this cruise but one of them really is so stupid. A woman was complaining that the desert was too desolate! Fd

Sunday 5^th of February

After a very busy and active visit to Cochin we have been more than relaxed today! We have been on deck loungers on deck 8 at the rear of ship overlooking the stern, watching as the ships propellers’ create a wake, swathing an avenue through the Arabian sea that can be seen for miles astern. Beyond that and around is the sea from horizon to horizon with nothing but the occasional tanker or container ship. The sea is a beautiful deep blue and watching from our vantage point we could see the undulating roll of the ship as it rides slowly up quickly down on the waves as Black Watch makes her way onward to Port Blair in the Andaman Islands.

Fd

More photo's from Mumbai

city of contrasts

sailing away party

Kay and suuske near Taj mahal hotel

there are 250000 taxis in mumbai, and the traffic is awful

Thursday 2nd of February

Thursday 2^nd of February

Another hot day and we are venturing out into Mumbai again; Suuske on a trip and me out in a taxi again. I am joined by some new friends Dermot and Kay. Dermot is a retired High Court judge from Dublin and both of them are nice people to be with.

We commenced the journey at 9.00am and we were soon out into that horrendous traffic fighting for space with cars, buses, cycles, motorbikes, trucks, hand carts, horse carts, as well as the thousands of people also fighting for space. It was a great day and we visited a number of new places including Ghandi’s house. We also went to the Indian National Cricket Teams pitch and managed to persuade the security to let us in. They were reticent at first but relented and also relented on the no photographs rule. Dermot is an avid cricket fan and I thought it would be nice to have a picture for our own fantastic cricketer grandson Jasper. In actual fact the approach to the ground is a mess. It’s a building site but the pitch itself is great.

I am still amazed at this place with its contrasts and noise and smells (not unpleasant) and the people milling about in their thousands. I took some pictures of some shanties on the way back to Black Watch, very poor people but always smiling. Their lives must be horrendous but they live in the hope of Karma treating them better in the next life. We had some near misses on this journey but here it is inevitable.

Because Black Watch left port in the daytime It was possible for everyone to be on deck with the band playing non-stop dance music as we left. Very evocative but happy waving from the ship to shore looking out over the city shrouded in the mist of its busy endless fast furious and chaotic life. On now down the coast of India to Cochin!

Fd

I went on an excursion to look at Local Life-  we started by going to the markets, where there was an abundance of fruit and spices. Normally lifestock is sold as well, but we were a bit late to see this.  We went back to the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal hotel- a room costs from £400 to £2000 per night.  It was built in the time of the English colonisation, and the architect was an Indian who had been refused entry to an English Hotel.  On to seeing the lunch box sytem in operation.    Mumbai is full of office workers, who leave home early in the morning.  Their wives then cook a hot lunch, which is collected from home, and taken into Mumbai by train for the sum of $6 per week.-  at lunchtime there are thousands of boxes being delivered all around the business district, and it is very rare that the wrong box is delivered.  After that we took a ride on  one of the many trains( one every 3 minutes)  no doors are shut, and Health and safety legislation  does not seem to be operating here -  people have exactly 19 seconds to get on and off the train, and one member of our party was left behind-  we finished off by going to Dhobi Gat, the famous open air laundry, which, although on the Unesco  world heritage list, is still operational, and takes in washing from hospitals etc,  Everything is done by hand, and about 200 washer men are still employed today.  Altogether a fantastic trip to see some of the real Mumbai, which I was sorry to leave-  suuske

Friday 3^rd February

A very relaxing day today out on deck sunbathing or getting cooler in the shade. Black Watch serves the best fish and chips ever! My most energetic time today was to attend the classical concert by Jo (Cello) and Clare (Violin). We arrive in Cochin tomorrow morning. Another new place to see and to explore!

Fd

MUMBAI

Wednesday 1^st February

This has been the best day yet! Mumbai! What a City. We woke up in port and the legendary fog enveloped the port and bay. It was very warm even at 8 O’clock in the morning and the fog soon dispelled. We were not sure how to go about the day because we had booked a tour in the afternoon and the dock area is quite extensive.

Anyway after breakfast and the immigration controls we ventured out and we soon haggled for a taxi ride. Very nice driver and he took us around the Centre of Mumbai explaining where we were and giving commentary. However it was not until we had been in the car for awhile that we got used to the chaos of Mumbai traffic. Imagine London without any traffic and parking rules at all!!!!

We went to a very nice shop and bought a few things and then returned to ship for lunch. After that we had an excursion again around the city and again through the absolute chaos of traffic. This time we were able to get to the Gate of India and see the famous Taj Mahal Hotel.

The contrasts in this amazing place are sometimes unbelievable! The very poor almost in the gardens and back yards of the very rich; so many people milling around and doing their everyday tasks! (20,000,000 people live here)The Bus driver was also very good and coped so well with impossible turns and clogged side roads. The ultimate in this trip was a fantastic show of Indian Classical Dancing. This really was something very special. I have always been interested in Indian Classical music and dance. So beautiful in its sounds and movements and costume! Tomorrow I am going with the taxi driver again and Suuske is on another excursion which contains too much walking for me. Looking forward to it so much! The sounds and smells of India the friendly people and this very special city; can’t wait! Watch out for some pictures! Fd