Join us, Bill and Mary Ann, on our 128 day epic journey around the world in 2009

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Hi Mary Ann and Bill,

 

Thank you for great reports and thank you for the time you devote to keeping us up with your adventure.

I do have one favour to ask:rolleyes:

Many of of would just love to follow your progress via the bridge cam .

HAL, as we all know have them ,but do not have them on line, whereas most other Carnival ships do.

Friends on Oosterdam at the moment had a Q&A with the Captain and asked when HAL would put the cams on line and his reply...

 

....Of course, he couldn't answer that......but thought it might be fairly soon?? ...

 

Just wondered if you have heard anything along those lines yet?

 

Have a great time in India.

[pottersabbey]

my parents are also on the cruise (boarded in LA) and are continuing on to new york city. my husband and i found your blog shortly after they boarded and while my mom sends us daily updates, i have really enjoyed following the journey through yours as well. mom and dad have taken several world cruises, but it is interesting to read about the trip from another perspective. thanks for sharing and enjoy you trip!

 

kim

[WCB]

Report # 78 March 21, 2009 Saturday Day at Sea

 

Once again, we have a sunny, balmy day as we sail in the calm Bay of Bengal on our way to Cochin, India.

 

We noticed that the firehoses on the promenade deck were stretched and filled. Security guards manned both sides, constantly checking the horizon with binoculars. The only sea traffic we have seen are cargo ships, which is good. We should be sailing around the tip of India, passing the volatile island of Sri Lanka later in the day.

 

It was a pretty quiet day, until Captain Olav gave his 1 pm speech on the intercom. Just as we expected, he reported that our scheduled stop in Madagascar on April 12th has been cancelled, due to the political unrest happening there. We knew that HAL would not put their crew, passengers, or the ship in any danger whatsoever. Yes, we are disappointed, but we really agree with this decision.

 

However, the Captain presented us with the possibility of spending an extra day in Mombasa, or stopping in Zanzibar. We all vote for Zanzibar!! Since we are already spending two days in Kenya, the island of Zanzibar sounds intriguing, doesn't it? We shall see!

 

Barbara, the port lecturer, gave a speech on Mumbai, while the dance instructors taught beginner waltz. There were several sports of call events today, but the heat was so intense, we doubt there were many willing to participate.

 

One more kitchen tour was held, and the HAL chorale group continued practicing for the next concert.

 

After spending some time at the pool, and eating lunch, we watched the movie, "W". A fairly new movie, there was a bit of controvery in regards to its content. After watching it, we can see why. We weren't sure if it was a documentary or a comedy. The actors did a great job, but you could take the contents with"a grain of salt"!

 

We had a full table tonight at dinnertime. Friends Martha and her daughter Hannah joined us. We also had the new lecturer, Firooz Zadeh, and his wife, Bernadette as guests. Mr. Zadeh, a retired educator from Colorado, came to America from Iran several years ago. He was quite entertaining all through dinner, telling his jokes and stories. His delightful wife was very nice, but showed little patience with his stories, which she had heard many, many times. She rolled her eyes, and said, "Oh,please give me another glass of wine!"

 

The star of the show this evening was Judy Carmichael, a jazz pianist, who has performed private concerts for Robert Redford, Rod Stewart, and President Clinton. She was the first jazz muscian sponsored by the US government to tour China in 1992.

 

We should arrive in Cochin around 7 am tomorrow, so off to bed we go!

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[WCB]

Report # 79 March 22, 2009 Sunday Cochin, India

 

The Rotterdam arrived to Cochin a bit earlier than expected. We went down to the promenade deck, because we remembered there was a welcoming band performing here two years ago. Around 8 am, a large group of Indian drummers, and eight fellows with colored foil-leaved trees, gave a riveting performance on the pier. The sounds of the drums reverberated in our heads for the rest of the day! These guys sure have stamina, as they kept up the marching and dancing forever, it seemed. What was missing were the beautiful dancing girls, dressed in their colorful saris. And we were very disappointed not to see the three decorated elephants that had been here in 2007. In fact, no vendors were allowed on the pier at all today, only the armed military guards. We had more fun watching many fellow passengers pay the elephant handlers $10. to climb on the elephant's backs to have their pictures taken! What a shame the current security measures had to ruin that old tradition of an Indian welcome.

 

Yesterday, a letter had been delivered from Captain Olav, explaining the extra security and safety precautions we could more than likely expect to see when arriving to Cochin, Mumbai, and even Mombasa, Kenya. Not only would there be additional security personnel on patrol, but armed military guards and K-9 dogs would be at security checkpoints upon leaving the pier. We would probably be required to pass through the xray gate, just like we did in Singapore.

 

Captain Olav cautioned us against wearing outfits, especially t-shirts that would target us as tourists. Trust us, the minute we walk off of the ship with our cameras and HAL bags, we cannot hide the fact that we ARE tourists! Lighter hair color also stands out like a sore thumb. We already know not to wear flashy jewelry or to display a large amount of dollars. The Captain also warned us not to take photos of government buildings, military installations, or citizens who do not want their photos taken without permission. Yes, we have to keep in mind that we are living in a changing world, not always for the better, unfortunately.

 

And because of the strict landing procedures this morning, debarking the ship took a bit longer. Several groups went off on a three day journey to see the Taj Mahal in northern India, so they were anxious about missing their flights. We had booked a short 3 hour tour, a slow, very slow boat around Cochin's harbor. Luckily our large group of 100 left the ship last around 9:30 am. All of us had to present our landing cards we had been given yesterday, along with our room key card for identification. Our landing passes were then stamped by two Indian officials before we were free to go.

 

To begin with, Cochin is a city of over 1,500,000 people, and is part of the fertile state of Kerala. Agriculture is their main industry, with shipbuilding next. They also house India's naval base and military here. The Dutch, Chinese, and the Portuguese left their marks in history in Cochin. A large community of Jewish people also migrated here, and remain today.

 

It was very apparent as we headed for our buses, that today was going to be a scorcher! We all hurried to the waiting buses, to find we only had a two minute ride to the ferry landing. Our boats were moored right behind the ship! Our group of 25 jumped onto the small green-tarped double-decker boat. The best seats, all plastic chairs, were up a wooden ladder above the boat's pilot house.

 

This area of Cochin is built upon fingers of land and islands that are created from a series of lakes,canals, and deltas that drain into the Arabian Sea. Several bridges connect these islands and peninsulas to each other. Dozens of small wooden ferries carry thousands of locals from one point to another, probably much faster than by motorcycle, tuk-tuks, or cars.

 

Our boat stayed mainly in the harbor, passing the Taj Malabar Hotel and Resort on the way to the coconut covered hamlets nearby. Many fishing boats of all sizes and condition, were moored in the quiet lagoons. Since it was Sunday, most of the natives were home, tending household chores, attend religious services, fishing in the harbor, or shopping in the local food markets.

 

Just as we were heading to see the ancient but efficient cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, a large dolphin jumped right in front of our boat! What a nice surprise to watch the pair of spotted dolphins skimming the water's surface and swimming right under us! We hoped they would surface again, but they never did. Opportunists, they probably were feeding near the operating fish nets!

 

These clever nets were introduced to this area in the 14th century by Chinese merchants. It was amazing to see how the system of pulleys and weights, which were huge rocks, lifted and lowered the nets every 10 to 15 minutes. If fish were caught, the nets were lifted vertically in order to dump them into containers below. These nets are owned by the government, and fishermen rent them at a small price.

 

We passed by a Catholic church by the name of St.Benedict. It was built by the Portuguese hundreds of years ago, and it still in use today. Our guide mentioned that the religions in this area are Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic, and Muslim.

 

Old Portuguese buildings, some in rather poor shape, housed spice products and food provisions. Some of the Dutch and Portuguese monuments have been converted to hotels, restaurants, or shopping malls. One of these 18th century Dutch colonial mansions stood on the tip of Bolgatty Island. It is now a government-owned hotel, with honeymoon cottages built on the shoreline. They were surrounded by lush gardens and overhanging trees. Hopefully, they were not occupied as we sailed right by their windows!

 

It was so uncomfortably hot and sticky on this boat, that we wished the driver could go faster. The tarp over our heads did little to keep the sun off of us. It just made us all look green! Our guide did hand out bottles of cold water, which was great!

 

In sharp contrast to this scene, was the opposite side of the waterfront, where high-rise apartment buildings and shopping malls rose from the water's edge. Our guide explained, as well as he could (his English was not the best), that these apartments were built to house the large number of miltary personnel and their families.

 

We passed by the future sight of a new pier landing, which should be a major improvement from where we were docked. Nearby, was the naval shipyard and equipment used to load sulfur onto waiting barges. It was funny taking pictures of the Rotterdam docked, because there was a heavy veil of smog cloaking it. When we questioned our guide about the smog, he claimed there was none. He said that the haze was normal, and it is here everyday, all of the time. That's just the way it is in these very densely populated cities We remember Mumbai being worse, if that is possible.

 

We felt like "limp noodles" by the time we got back to the ship. The only area of interest we had missed was the Mattancherry district. It featured Jewtown, mosques, synagogues, temples, churches, and souvenier shopping. For us, it wasn't worth chancing missing the ship by negotiating a taxi. The ship was leaving at 5 pm, and it was already 1 pm by the time we got back. Besides, it was so hot, we were glad to be back onboard the cool ship. Our only purchase of the day was three postcards for $1.00! We are doing better!!

 

After enjoying salads and cheeseburgers in the Lido pool area, we watched a very good movie, "The Changeling", in the comfort of our cool room with our fan running. It was like heaven for two hours!

 

We did enjoy the sailaway, watching the throngs of local Indians waving goodbye to us. While chatting with good friends, we spent two hours on the aft deck as the shoreline of Cochin disappeared. We were treated to an unusual sunset, as we watched the orange-tinged sun disappear on the gray horizon.

 

It was time for dinner. We were joined by Martha, her daughter, Hannah, guest chef, Paulette, and her son Brett. It was nice having a full table, as we laughed and shared our stories of the day. It was also nice having younger passengers at our table, although, they were so deep in conversation, they hardly noticed that we were there! Good for them!

 

We are happy that we have one relaxing day at sea before we arrive in the overwhelming city of Mumbai!

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[jig]

Sorry to see you are not stopping in Madagascar. I guess you were sopossed to go the Nosy Be. That is off the mainland and thought it would be affected. It is a really interesting place. Very exotic. Our stop in Zanzibar was cancelled in 2005. Very dangerous elections. Be very carefull in Mombassa. There was a group of people that went off on their own there and came back to the ship naked. Everything was stollen. Enjoy Bombay. We like the old buildings there. However you must look through the grime. Will put up some pics on Nosy Be.

 

Jeffrey

[WCB]

Report # 80 March 23, 2009 Monday Day at Sea

 

It was noticably cooler this morning, when we went for our stroll. The skies are clear of that heavy haze we saw in Cochin, thankfully.

 

We received Mumbai landing cards to sign, which we will need to present to Indian officials tomorrow, along with our passports. While going ashore, we have to carry these cards with us. The passports will stay on the ship.

 

While at the aft pool, we talked to friends who had just taken the engine room tour. One of our elderly friends in that group became ill, fainted, and had to be taken by stretcher to the infirmary. Apparently, the excessive heat caused her attack, and she was sent back to her room later in the day. It doesn't surprise us, because no one can really anticipate how much heat any one of us can withstand. Perhaps, a warning should be included prior to going on this tour.

 

We noticed that the swimming pool had a collection of dirt or soot near the drain. Even the wooden ladders had a tinge of green algae on them. Finally, so many people complained about the poor condition of the water, that something was done about it. We saw a crew of eight workers draining the water, and scrubbing the tiles and ladders. It was about time!! We should not have to complain about such basic sanitary upkeep, when it should be done daily.

 

We worked on reports and e-mails while watching a movie that was filmed in Calcutta, India in 1992. It was called "City of Joy" and starred Patrick Swayze. It was good for a change, even if it was old.

 

There was a notice on our door that the balconies on deck 6 and 7 would be cleaned again tomorrow between 9am and 5pm. We heard a very funny story from one of our Cruise Critic members at our last meeting. He said that he and his wife had gotten one of these notices a few weeks ago. But instead of entering the verandah through his room, they came through the locked partition from the room next to theirs. His startled wife was just putting on her underwear, when two workers appeared on their balcony! If they are like us, we seldom pull the curtains while we are in our room, because we love the view. We bet the workers liked the view in his room too!! He reported the incident to the front desk girls, who reassured him that it would not happen again. That taught us one thing........best to get dressed in the bathroom!!

 

Dinner was fun with just the four of us tonight. Our entrees of meatloaf and chicken cordonbleu were excellent. Barb usually has the fish dinners, while George orders almost everything! Our waiter, Rizel, taught us the words to the Indonesian birthday song. He was so disgusted with us, because we just could not get it right. So he wrote the words down on a dessert doily so we could get it right. We had an audience of at least a dozen waiter cheering us on!

 

George reported that the entertainment recently has gotten better, in his opinion. He liked the lady singers the best.

 

After dinner, we walked the promenade deck as we usually do. It was nice to stroll in the cooler night breeze. We could see that we were surrounded by many small fishing boats, a sign that we are getting closer to Mumbai. The firehoses were stored back into their cases, so that was a good thing. No more fear of pirates for a few days!

 

Time for a good night's sleep!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 81 March 24, 2009 Tuesday Mumbai, India

 

Our port of call for today and tomorrow is Mumbai, India. Formerally called Bombay, until the name was changed in 1995, this huge city is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is India's most populated city with well over 17 million residents. Mumbai is the 6th largest metropolitan city in the world. Mumbai houses the Reserve Bank, the Bombay Stock Exchange, and many large Indian companies, making it the commercial capital of India. It also has the largest deep-water harbor in all of India.

 

Since 2001, we have had the pleasure of visiting Mumbai three times, seeing all of the famous sites, and nearby Elephanta Island. Therefore, our plan for today is to explore the nearby city on foot.

 

Before we could go anywhere, we had to attend the mandatory face-to-face passport check held on deck five in the upper dining room. It went smoothly, with no line at all. We picked up our passport from the front desk girls, proceeded to the custom's official, who stamped our landing passes, while checking our current visa and photo. We passed! Then we turned our passports over for the ship to hold.

 

We enjoyed a relaxing breakfast, since we were in no hurry to leave. The stores were probably not open until 11 am. After we ate, we went to the promenade deck, where we heard a band playing shoreside. This large group of men were seated in plastic chairs, and probably had played for a few hours, as the passengers were going off on their tours.

 

Our port lecturer, Barbara, had told us it would take 20 minutes to walk to the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel. However, we found the hike to be more like a 40 minute walk, and that was walking briskly. Now, we could have taken a taxi for $2.00, but we wanted to get some exercise.

 

In order to get to our destination, we had to brace ourselves to run by the throngs of persistant taxi drivers. Once we left the pier gates, they were on us like fleas on a dog! We politely said, NO. But, "no thanks" to them meant "maybe"!! Some of the drivers followed us with their cars, cutting each other off, fighting for our business. It was crazy! We had to walk very fast on this stretch of road for two reasons. The first was to escape the cab drivers, and the second was to get away from the awful fetid smell from the street. It appeared like a herd of cows roamed this area the night before. They are free to go wherever they want, since they are sacred in India.

 

Once we got past the pier street, the road towards the waterfront was a bit more civilized. We did see some vagrant men sleeping on the sidewalks, while the locals just walked around them, going about their business. Little girls tried to sell us flowers, while other women were selling bananas or cooking breakfast foods on the curb. The street traffic was horrendous with bicycles, motorcycles, buses, cars, and taxis flew past us. We swear that every one of the vehicles had their horns blaring!

 

We finally arrived to the famous Gateway of India, a building built to commemorate the visit of King George in 1911. Many Indian men were hawking cheap city tours, postcards, books, peacock feather fans, and huge 4 foot long balloons. Go figure?

 

Directly across the street was the colonial-style Taj Mahal Hotel. As you may recall, recently this hotel was a target of terrorists. Before entering the hotel gates, we had to go through security. Then once we were inside the patio, we had to pass through xray again This was just 20 feet away from the first checkpoint. And before we were allowed through the front entrance door, we passed through a third checkpoint. Security is understandably tight, and we appreciate that, even though it was a bit of a hassle.

 

We saw no evidence of the extensive damage that happened here. We can tell you that it was business as usual, although the hotel lobby was not as busy as we usually saw. Of course, it was still early, and the restaurants and most stores wer not open yet.

 

Many upscale stores are situated around the perimeter of this beautiful hotel. They can only be entered from the inside of the hotel. Most of the shops were "shopper-less", except for a few where we spotted some fellow passengers buying clothing. One busy store in particular was called Burlington. We asked Barbie about that store later, and she said don't ever go there! She had some jackets and dresses made a few years ago, and she was extremely unhappy. She stopped payment on her credit card, and mailed the clothing back once she got home. Good information for us to remember!

 

The nicest part of the hotel was the central pool area. It was an oasis in the middle of this bustling port area. We were able to sneak out the doors to the patio to take some pictures. There were few sunbathers this early, so we don't think the security fellows minded our quiet intrusion.

 

We ran into Leslie and Handler, who were looking for the Colaba bazaar located behind the Taj. The concierge told us we could no longer exit from the back of the hotel like we used to. We did notice that all of the side entry doors were chained. The only exit was the front one, due to new security measures. Wonder what they do in case of a fire?

 

So we walked around the corner, passing armed guards all the way around the hotel. We did find the bazaar though. Block after block had many stalls and shops filled with treasures. I ended up buying a pair of jeweled sandals, and some Indian jewelry to match. It would have been fine shopping in this area, but we ran into "rent-a-baby" girls, who were begging for money. We would say that these girls were between 11 and 13, but they were not the mothers of the babies. They rent them for the day, to supposedly ask for food and milk money. The money would never go towards the babies welfare, but usually shared with their managers. We had been warned of this practice years ago. We were told never to give money to street people, but donate to a local charity instead.

 

We did run into friends, Bill and Leta, who were ducking in and out of shops, mostly to escape these girls. They were making their way to the local watering hole, Leopold's, for ice cold beers and nuts. It was so darn hot and sticky, we decided to call it a day. Since we had eaten breakfast so late, it was too early for us to go barhopping.

 

The walk back to the cruise ship terminal was easier, since we knew the right side of the street to walk. Facing the oncoming traffic, the taxi drivers did not bother us. Of course, we had to be very careful to walk close to the wall, since there were few real sidewalks along the way.

 

After a Lido lunch, we relaxed the rest of the afternoon, watching a movie while downloading photos and writing reports.

 

Dinner time would have been quiet, but Martha and her daughter Hannah, joined us. Many people, including all of their tablemates, were not in the dining room tonight. Many must have chosen to eat early or eat out. Taxis are very cheap here, so many frequent world cruisers have their favorite spots to go to. We were happy to be here, on the ship, beause the menu had ribeye steaks with BBQ sauce. We both ordered them, and yes, they were terrific!

 

Got to rest up for another day in Mumbai!

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[ldog]

Very interesting.

[WCB]

Report # 82 March 25, 2009 Wednesday Mumbai, India

 

We slept really well last night, due to all of the exercise we got yesterday. The only reason we got up early this morning, was to go to the dining room for breakfast. On port days, they open early at 7:30 am, and close by 9 am. They may frown upon late arrivals, though we have never seen anyone turned away.

 

It's going to be another hot day, like that's a surprise! The hazy smog is even worse here than in Cochin. The small islands that we know dot that harbor, were completely swallowed up in the pea soup smog.

 

Tour groups were still debarking by 10 am. While watching them leave the ship, we noticed an ambulance parked by the gangway. Two people were being taken to the hospital in that ambulance, though they got in on their own two feet. It seems like this has been happening more and more. Maybe they were just going for medical tests, we hope.

 

We left the ship a bit later today, and we were not as pestered by the cab drivers as much. This time we just walked directly to the Colaba Street Bazaar, bypassing the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel.

 

Many of the nicer shops in Colaba sold saris, some very expensive, others pretty reasonable. The first store had beautifully silk-embroidered crepe saris, but they did not accept US dollars. Since we did not change any dollars to rupees (50 rupees to the dollar),the only other option was to use a credit card. Call us old-fashioned, but we hesitate using credit cards while traveling abroad. Too many things can go wrong, especially in developing countries like India.

 

We must have gone into six shops in search of the perfect sari. One small store offered traditional silk ones for $300., which was not want I wanted. But the vendors tried to keep us in the store by offering carpets. When the first carpet hit the floor, we were out of there in a flash! We had visions of being in Turkey last year, when once we were in the carpet factory, the doors were locked. We were trapped for at least 2 hours for carpet showing. No thanks!

 

Ready to quit the search, we went into one last store, where I found the perfect jeweled teal-colored sari. And the shop salesman was willing to bargain deeply, which left a few extra dollars to buy matching earrings. Mission accomplished!!

 

We did not find any more interesting treasures, so we headed back, walking the wildly busy streets to the terminal. It was a miracle that we did not get hit by the motorcycles, cabs, or buses as they whizzed by us, with inches to spare!!

 

Many passengers were checking out the merchandise in the pier building. Tables of silver pendants, bracelets, and rings were displayed for sale. The silver was real, but we doubt that the colorful stones were. The hawkers were weighing the jewelry, then selling te pieces according to the daily silver rate. Nothing we saw was under $100!

 

Other stalls were selling tablecloths, bedspreads, pillow covers, Indian clothing, elephant tables, carpets, and more jewelry. We felt their prices were steep, compared to what we saw in town. And, we're sure that no one will have the same sari we found today.

 

After a lunch of salads, pizza, and cheeseburgers, we watched part of the movie, "Australia". Why part of it? Because the TV technician did not realize that the film was blocked from our rooms, even though it had started an hour earlier. After we called to report the error, the movie continued from where it had resumed. Oh well, maybe we will catch the beginning later on before the trip ends.

 

Joining our Crows Nest buddies, we caught up on their Mumbai experiences. Glenda and Ron reported having a wonderful day trip to the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort. Sandy and Frank enjoyed their all day tour to the Kanheri Caves yesterday, but were disappointed in their drive-by panoramic city tour today. It is important to read those tour descriptions thoroughly. If it says panoramic, or glimpse this or that, it means the tour is a drive-by, not a visit to.

 

They also told us an amusing taxi story, when they got a ride to the Victoria Terminus, the fabulous main railway station in Mumbai. Frank, being tall, had to sit with his head down, in order to fit in the old small taxi. He couldn't even take pictures! Then, the driver wanted to take them on an extended city tour, driving around the blocks in circles. They had to demand that the driver take them to the station only. We knew these drivers would try to get more money out of our cruisers. That's almost like kidnapping!

 

There was an Indian Cultural Show, presented by a group from Mumbai. It was at 7 pm for all passengers to attend, but we failed to see that in the program today, and missed it. However, Bill and Leta told us it was identical as last year's show, and we didn't miss much.

 

The ship was preparing to leave Mumbai around 10 pm, with a sailaway party on the promenade deck at 9:30 pm. We got there right after finishing dinner. We were just in time to watch as the medical staff off-loaded another couple into a waiting ambulance. Gosh, that is four people off in two days. They must be part of our travel group, because an announcement was made summoning Tom and Ellen to the front desk.

 

There was one good thing about this evening....the clocks were set back one half an hour tonight. Great, we need the sleep!

 

We will have two days at sea before we reach the city of Dubai!

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[DFD1]

You paint a beautiful and fascinating picture of Mumbai. Thank you again for all your work in sharing your cruise.

 

If you can, post an update later about the passengers who have been taken off the ship for medical reasons. That's a sad and scary situation; one which I would not want to be in.

[WCB]

Report # 83 March 26, 2009 Thursday Day at Sea

 

It was definitely cooler today, as we headed northwest towards Dubai, in the Persian Gulf. We are crossing the Arabian Sea, with Pakistan and Iran directly to the north of us....thankfully,a long ways north of us!

 

The pool was much cleaner, as it should have been since we left Los Angeles. Even though the breeze was comfortable, we had to remember we could easily sunburn. We hate using gallons of the sunscreen, but it is a must.

 

This morning a small fixed wing prop plane swooped down and around the Rotterdam several times. Bill glasssed it with binoculars, but could not see any name on it, like coast guard, etc. During his 1 pm talk, the Captain never mentioned the incident, but did reassure us that we would have protection from combined military sources while sailing towards the Persian Gulf, and traveling down the coast of Africa. Once we leave Muscat, Oman, near Yemen, the Rotterdam should be sailing far away from the coastline of Somalia while we head for the Seychelles. The next dicey area of waters will be our entry into Mombasa, Kenya. And once again, we shall have escorts, according to Captain Olav. Sounds like a good plan to us!!

 

Our port lecturer gave an informative talk about Dubai. We will be traveling in predominately Muslim countries in the upcoming weeks, so it is necessary to listen to Barbara's talks. She is very good about discussing proper etiquette and dress codes while touring these countries. "Conservative" is the word to remember.

 

Dance class featured learning the beginning tango. It appears that the large group of dance students that practiced up in the Crows Nest every evening have left the ship. Now they have started over with a new group.

 

Many sport-of-call events were in progress, so debarking guests will have more dam dollars to spend. Some of the prizes are water bottles, t-shirts, beachtowels, sweatshirts, travel bags, and jogging suits. It takes 125 dam dollars to buy a jogging suit, which would have taken half of the world cruise to earn!!

 

And yes, bonus card snowball bingo has to be won by tomorrow. There's $1000. for some lucky cruiser to win!

 

The speakers today were Bill Deane, talking about the search for the next dynamic news team. Firooz Zadeh spoke about Dubai and Oman, mixing his talk with some humor, which the crowd did not get. George, our tablemate, said the best speaker was Professor Victor T. LeVine, who spoke about Middle East politics. Except it made no sense to him, why they held his talk in the small Ambassadors Lounge, where there was standing room only.

 

We watched the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. It was probably better to see this one in the Wajang Theater for all the special effects and blow-em-up scenes. It was entertaining nevertheless.

 

One piece of news we heard today, was that the lady we saw leaving in an ambulance in Mumbai, was the same lady that was taken off that same evening. For some unknown reason, the ship's doctor felt she was unfit to stay onboard. Gosh, we will not want to go to the doctor here ever! We may be sent home!

 

Dinner attire for this evening was Indian dress. The dining room was brightly decorated with gold streamers and red, gold, and orange hanging discs. Our head waiters and table waiters were decked out in turbans, Indian shirts, and vests. They seemed to have fun with the theme, but those hats must have been hot.

 

We're getting a little sad, because Barbie's time is coming to an end in Dubai, where she will leave us to fly home. We will miss her terribly, especially George, who seems to have grown quite fond of her. He even brought some of his world cruise gifts for her to take home. George has come a long ways since joining our table in Los Angeles! And we have all learned much from him.

 

The entertainers tonight was a group called DuoYalba from Mexico. They play folk music from all over the world with 40 different instruments. Will report on their performance tomorrow.

 

The gift of one hour back on the clock happened tonight. That's great!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Steamboatin]

Is this a picture of the airplane you all saw.

 

 

http://amazingvoyages.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&updated-max=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=50

[Steamboatin]

Is this a picture of the airplane you all saw.

 

 

http://amazingvoyages.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&updated-max=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=50

 

These pictures were taken by a fellow passenger and are posted on his blog site.

 

For the possible reveal of the mystery plane scroll down to the pictures for day 80. There you will find two pictures of the possible mystery plane.

[ger_77]

For the possible reveal of the mystery plane scroll down to the pictures for day 80.

 

Thanks, I finally got tired of scrolling through all the pictures and gave up. Now I'll check the pics for day 80.

 

Smooth Sailing! :):):)

[DFD1]

Steamboatin, Thanks for the link. That's a pretty amazing collection of photographs from the World Voyage. I'm going to take some time and start with it at the beginning and then stay with it until they are home.

[fann1sh]

I also read both this thread and Jeff Farschman's blog. Great photos, but sometimes I wish he could caption some of them. Does anyone here know the story of the statue of a barn lantern, posted on day 83?

 

If not, anyone else here who knows Jeff who could ask him? OTOH, given the description of the miserable shore excursion, a good chance it was just a shot of opportunity the guide didn't bother to explain...

[aussieoz]

I just posted your ? on Jeff's blog.

Know he'll answer if he knows!

Jean:)

[WCB]

Report # 84 March 27, 2009 Friday Day at Sea

 

The morning started out quite comfortably with partly cloudy skies and highs in the 70's. Gone was the sticky humidity we experienced in India, which we will not miss.

 

We are sailing towards the Gulf of Oman, which is really a strait connecting The Arabian Sea with the Gulf of Hormuz. This gulf will bring us into the Persian Gulf on our way to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. We should arrive there around noon tomorrow.

 

The Persian Gulf is rich with excellent fishing grounds, coral reefs, and the pearling industry. Oil, of course, has far exceeded these industries, providing the world with fuel.

 

It has come to our attention that Regent's Voyager, also on a world cruise, has been sailing towards Dubai for repairs. They had an unfortunate accident with a fishing net, causing damage to one of the pod propulsion engines. Rumors have been flying on the Rotterdam that their guests may be joining our ship. But thanks to the Cruise Critic posters on that site, we see that we will be gone from Dubai a day or two before the Voyager arrives. According to passengers that are onboard the Voyager now, they hope to have the ship repaired and ready to sail on April 1st, the beginning of their next segment. We wish them well and bon voyage!

 

During his 1 pm speech today, Captain Olav reported that the plane we saw yesterday was in fact the Indian Coast Guard doing their usual manuevers. They swooped down just to get a better look at the ship. That was a relief to hear.

 

Our pool time this afternoon was going just fine, until we, and everyone sitting on the port side of the deck, got blasted with wet, sooty particles that poured out of the ship's funnel. It was like being hit with oily gravel! The residue stuck to our lotion-coated skin, not to mention our hair. Yuck! We did report the incident to our concierge gal, who immediately sent someone up to the aft deck to check it out. Hopefully, she said it should not happen again.

 

It was movie time after lunch. We saw the eerie modern re-make of "The Day The Earth Stood Still". Keanu Reeves played the alien visitor from outer space, who came to destroy all life on earth. It was pretty good.

 

After cocktails in the Crows Nest, we headed down for dinner. Tonight Ellen joined us, spending as much time with friend Barbie before she leaves for home soon. If Barb can swing a good price for the last segment, Cape Town to New York, she may return. We will keep our fingers crossed that she will!

 

Darren Lynton, a British vocalist, entertained the passengers with the familiar songs of Neil Diamond, Tom Jones, and Johnny Mathis.

 

Tomorrow....fabulous Dubai!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 85 March 28, 2009 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Day One

 

We are due to arrive sometime around noon to the overwhelming city of Dubai. Of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, Dubai is the most populated one, and the second largest after Abu Dhabi.

 

We can say that we have seen this city grow by leaps and bounds since our first visit in 2001. Large scale construction has turned Dubai into one of the fastest growing cities in the world next to China. In fact, 25% of the world's cranes were being used in Dubai during our visit in 2007. Words to describe what we see here are wealthy, luxurious, lavish, extravagent, affluent, and "cannot be too rich"!! How about the term, "swimming in gravy", or more like "swimming in oil"? Yes, the discovery of oil in the 1930's launched this area of the Middle East towards the wealth we see today. Even though the oil reserves in Dubai will last for the next 9 years or so, tourism will take its place. And that is why we are here....to do the job of tourists!!

 

The weather today was not the best, with heavy mists veiling the city. Rain was in the forecast, which was really unusual, since Dubai only gets around 13 centimeters of rain in a year. However, we understand that two weeks ago, the temperatures reached a high of 120 degrees, so the locals are very happy with the precipitation. We don't blame them!

 

The Rotterdam sailed towards the pier at Port Rashid, while we all enjoyed the scenery accompanied by an informative commentary from Barbara, our port lecturer. We could barely see the towering skyline of highrises in downtown. However, the soon-to-be tallest building in the world, the Burj Dubai, stood unbelievably high in the sky, above the haze. Despite the weather, the sail in party was fun.

 

We could see the QE2 docked in the harbor. We understand it was sold to Dubai, where it will be refurbished for a permanently docked hotel near one of the Palm Islands.

 

We had booked an evening tour called Arabian Nights. Two years ago, we liked it so much, we decided to do it again. The tour didn't leave until 3 pm, so we opted to head for the terminal buildings to take pictures.

 

Before we scanned our roomkey cards, we were handed a landing card, which we would need to use leaving and arriving to the terminal for today and tomorrow. Security looked very strict here, because we went through xray equipment coming and going, just like in Singapore.

 

The falcon handlers were there inside the building just like we remembered. This time I got to hold the hooded falcon on my gloved arm. He was heavier than I expected.....well-fed. A younger hawk was perched on a carpet, and one 6 week old barn owl sat in a toweled box on the floor. The handler had them there to get used to people. They were well behaved.

 

Souvenier stands were there to tempt the passengers, and tempted they were! Besides the Rotterdam, the Costa Victoria was docked next to us too. The Queen Victoria was due in tomorrow. This was the beginning of a new segment for us, where 80 passengers, including our Barbie, were leaving. About 180 new people were joining us. That should put our population up to 1000, still shy of being full at 1300.

 

When we gathered for our tour, we were met by 20 4-wheel drive plush vehicles parked outside the terminal. We buddied up with friends Glenda and Ron, who are really fun folks. The ship's video camera girl rode in the back seat, though she was quiet as a mouse.

 

Traffic in Dubai is just how we remembered it.....a nightmare to go anywhere. It probably took us an hour to get to the outlying desert. Our young driver was more of a thrill seeker than a tour guide. He did point out some of the highlights along the way, as we drove to the minimarket gas station for a pit stop. This stop should have taken 20 minutes, but our timing was not good. A sewer pumper truck was doing its job, which shut down the restrooms for a half an hour. When the owner finally opened them up, the line of people snaked out the door! As usual, the ladies line was the longest. Oh well, it gave our drivers a long smoking break. And since we are docked here overnight, there was no rush to get us back.

 

From the gas station, we drove a few miles to a deserted dune area, where each driver let air out of their tires. The guys said that because of the rain, the dune drive would be more dangerous than if it was dry. That made us a little more than nervous, since our last ride here was pretty wild. We slid sideways up and down the steep dunes then. We guess that wet sand could cause roll-overs, instead of sliding. So we all buckled up, and held on for dear life!

 

Before we drove to the deep dunes, we saw a herd of camels, moms and babies, passing by us nonchalantly. They must have been heading home towards the feeding area. We did get some good photos as they scampered by the cars.

 

Our driver was very skillful, despite the fact he kidded us it was his first day! We were in car number 4, so we got to see the first three cars in action as they drove over the cliffs, weaving from side to side. Now we know the reason for the pit stop before we got here! Our driver did go out of his way to make our ride exciting.

 

We had one stop, where all of the cars parked, while we sipped water given to us from our drivers. Hmmm, a little whiskey or scotch would have been in order at this point!

 

From here, we drove to a large camel ranch, where they were being fed and watered. Our driver said these camels belonged to the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. They are raised for racing, as well as for food and export to other countries. Camel meat is considered a delicacy, which is reserved for special affairs such as weddings. Hopefully, not for barbeques!! The camels were comical as they pushed their way into place at the feed bins. It sure would have been better if we were up-wind of this feeding grounds, if you get the drift!

 

Continuing on, we arrived at the campsite just before it got dark. It looked like a genuine bedouin camp with four blanketed camels to ride, sand-boarding down a sandy slope, and the Arabian shisha, or water pipe to try. They call it hubbly-bubbly. Glenda tried it and reported that it tasted like apples.

 

Two tents were set up with a robe and head dress for the fellows to try, and a tent for henna painting for the ladies to do. This henna design was applied by a local Muslim woman, who squeezed a tube of paint from a tube. It looked like brown glue, but when dried, it left a reddish stain on the skin. It supposedly lasts for a week, so many gals had their hands and ankles done.

 

We inhaled the wonderful aroma of barbequing chicken, hamburgers, and lamb chops, while we waited in line for our complimentary drinks. Water and sodas were free, while beers or alcoholic cocktails were $5. each.

 

Long tables were set with bowls of tomatoes, cucumbers, chopped lettuce, coleslaw, a parsley spread, and creamy hummus. Pita bread was offered with white rice, curried lentil beans, and sliced boiled potatoes. We were given a hamburger patty, a leg of chicken, and a small lamb chop. No one went back hungry tonight!!

 

Sitting on two square pillows at the low tables was not as easy as it looked. That is, for us older folks! We enjoyed our meal with Martha, Hannah, and Angie, the cute New Zealander exercise instructor from the gym. She was excited that she got her hand and ankles painted with henna. She just had to be careful that it did not smear, because it took a while to dry.

 

Dessert was small chunks of honey-soaked baklava. It was a good thing we saw it first, because some people were taking at least a dozen pieces at a time! Strong coffee finished our meal.

 

It had gotten very dark by the time dinner was done. Time for the entertainment! The guests began taking the pillow seats surrounding the stage, waiting for the much anticipated belly dancer.

 

And she was not disappopinting! Her specialized form of dance, shook parts of her body we did not know could move. She pulled willing guests into the ring to imitate her movements. The women got it, but the men, well, they just can't shake that way! I got some very good video however.

 

By 8 pm, the lights were dimmed, and a bedouin man pulled the four blanketed camels on the top of the dunes. With traditional music playing in the backround, it created a surreal image. Too bad it was too dark for pictures. It was one of those moments best remembered in our minds.

 

We arrived back to the ship by 9 pm, driving through showers of heavy rain along the way. We really got lucky tonight, with just a few drops of rain falling at the campsite.

 

Sure hope the rain stays away for one more day.........

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[ldog]

Your descriptions are so graphic and wonderful. Wish we were there.;)

[WCB]

Report # 86 March 29, 2009 Sunday Dubai, United Arab Emirates Day Two

 

Boy, did we sleep good last night! Must have been the fun evening in the desert air!

 

What we did not like, was the rain coming down, heavy at times this morning. Since our tour didn't start until 2pm, we decided to take the complimentary bus to the nearby Burjuman Shopping Centre.

 

So after breakfast, we took our umbrellas, and got right on the shuttle with no waiting. It appeared we were sharing our ride with guests from the Queen Victoria. They seemed to be a bit on the stuffy side, and they may have considered us as unfriendly. Whatever....

 

From the outside of the older building, we did not expect to see much inside. However, we were surprised to see this modern marble floor-to-ceiling mall with hundreds of high-end stores. Many restaurants and coffee shops were on each level.

 

Our main reason for coming to this mall, was to find a pharmacy in hopes of filling a much needed prescription. At home, we always require a written doctor's prescription slip from our doctor to get drugs. However, not here. All we needed was the prescription slip from our pharmacy, and the druggist handed them to us. The best part was the cost, which was one quarter of the price at home! They even took US dollars with no question. The currency here is the dirham....3.75 to the US dollar, by the way.

 

As we explored the rest of the large center, we ran into a fabric shop, where we looked at many colorful bolts of silk fabric. Knowing that we were going to the souk in Muscat, I decided to wait to perhaps buy silk there. It was pretty expensive here, since it came from Germany.

 

By the time we left the mall, the rain had stopped. That was great. We had enough time to eat pizza slices and cheeseburgers in the Lido pool grill before joining our tour later. Barb found us, and told us an amusing story about her morning with Ellen. They had made their way to the Dubai Creek area and a fabric outlet, where Ellen purchased some nice beaded yardage for a formal dress. After bringing the material to a well-known tailor to be sewn and ready by tonight, they started back to the shuttle. But the rain had created a small river in the ditch they had crossed earlier. Ellen went first with no problem, but when Barb tried to cross, she sunk in the sand, falling into the deep ditch! Poor Barb, wet up to her waist! Ellen recruited two workers nearby to help her out. They pulled her up by her arms, much to her embarrassment, while Ellen couldn't stop laughing. Good thing Barb has a wonderful sense of humor. What a gal! Who else could tell a story like that? We sadly said our final goodbyes, as she will be leaving for home on a midnight flight.

 

Well, our tour group met pierside to board the bus to the Palm Islands. Originally, we were supposed to have a presentation at the Palm Island office, then go on a boat ride around the island. But due to the inclement weather, our tour had been adjusted. Now we are going to see the newly opened Atlantis Hotel and Resort. Hurray! We would not have been able to visit this hotel without reservations, so we were happy campers!

 

It seemed to take forever to drive the short distance to the Palm Islands. Traffic was almost at a standstill. It did give us a chance to photograph the many spectacular highrises along the way.

 

Our young guide, who happened to be a 7 foot tall German, was very informative about the city and its short history, but he mostly gave information on the Muslim religion. Our bus companions seemed to feel comfortable asking specific questions regarding the extremes of the religion. His detailed answers seemed to shock everyone, as he quoted the rules of this ancient culture. When you mix that informaion with the overly-modern culture we see today, it is hard to understand. Probably what explains the diverse extremes is the fact that the native Dubians consist of about 25% of the population, while the rest are the foreign work force.

 

We entered the "trunk" of the palm-shaped man-made island, and drove past single family homes,as well as highrise condos. The Atlantis Hotel stood alone at the top of the palm tree, built similar to the one in the Bahamas.

 

Entering through a side entrance, we passed stores and eateries on the way to the main rotundra. The interiors were made of solid marble......floor to ceiling. The domed ceilings were pieces of art, with tiled aquarium scenes.

 

We were given one hour to explore the hotel. So we chose to start with the inside aquarium, built to resemble the lost city of Atlantis. Our guide paid the fee for the entire group, while we filed into the dark tunnel. The central tank was huge. It housed sting rays, groupers, sharks, and numerous colorful schooling fish. Two divers were vacuuming the sands below, oblivious to the sharks swimming around them.

 

Walking through the darkened tunnel, we saw many smaller displays of tanks that lined the hallway. They contained clown fish, lobsters, tangs, eels, and three four hundred pound groupers.

 

And wouldn't you know it, there was a gift shop right at the exit! We picked up an Atlantis T-shirt, expensive, but knowing we probably wouldn't be back anytime too soon, it was OK.

 

The rest of the shopping at this hotel was over-the-top highend, with bizarre styles of clothing. More European, maybe, like what you might see in travel magazines.

 

A waterpark connected to the hotel was out another side door. We noticed that the entrance fee was $75. We could only take a picture of the entrance, since the park itself was hidden behind a berm of palm trees.

 

Continuing on, we drove to the Mall of the Emirates, where we got to see Ski Dubai, the first and only indoor ski resort in the Middle East. Inside the decadent mall, we could view the ski lift, sled runs, and skiiers flying downhill. There were two stories of large picture windows to watch the action inside.

 

There was a Chilis Restaurant nearby, which reminded us of how much we miss their quesadilla explosion salads at home!

 

Our last stop was near the massive Dubai Mall, where we entered the driveway of the newly-built Souk Al Bahar, a traditionally built Arabian market. It surrounded a central lighted pool with fountains. It was the perfect spot to photograph the Burj Dubai tower. Although, it took three shots to get it all in one picture!

 

We got back to the ship by 7 pm. We noticed that the Queen Victoria had just left, which was a good thing. We had heard that some passengers were ill from a Norwalk-type virus. That was too bad, but we sure don't need that!

 

Dinner was quiet, with just the four of us, including John, our friend from 2007. The others were on a dinner tour, and would join us tomorrow.

 

The ship left at midnight, sailing quietly into the Persian Gulf.

 

We have a day at sea, which we really need!

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[WCB]

Report # 87 March 30, 2009 Monday Day at Sea

 

Today we will be sailing out of the Persian Gulf, and entering the Gulf of Oman again. During the morning, we got to see the mountain-lined narrow body of water, the Hormuz Strait. This strait is 33 miles long where 20 to 30% of the world's oil supply passes through every year. It is also the world's most strategically important choke point, as history has shown.

 

For that reason, the ship's firehoses on deck three have been mounted on the railing, ready to fire up at an instant's notice. These hoses should be manned 24 hours a day during our sailing through these dangerous waters.

 

Captain Olav again stressed during his 1 pm talk, that we would have full military escort while sailing down the coast, even though we may not see them.

 

It's apparent that we have gotten around 180 new passengers. We could spot them easily by the confused way they walk around the ship. Guess we looked the same back on January 3rd! The majority of these cruisers are European, we understand, and they may be debarking in Cape Town. With about 1000 passengers onboard now, this will be the most popular segment of the entire cruise.

 

The newbies had a lifeboat drill at 10:30 am. We spotted a 7 year old girl, reportedly Russian from Estonia, traveling with her grandparents. They were heading to deck three for the drill. Fred, one of our buddies, said she attends the watercolor class all by herself, and she is quite talented for her age.

 

Colonel Steve Bauer was the exploration speaker this morning. He spoke about the social life in the White House. If we recall correctly, he has been a guest speaker on many previous world cruises.

 

Firooz Zadeh gave another lecture concerning his home country of Iran at 2 pm.

 

Since the weather was cloudy and cool, it was a good day to catch up on picture downloading and reports. Emailing speed on the ship was OK, despite the fact that everyone was doing the same thing we were.

 

Around 6:30 pm, we had a surprise call from Ness, the head bartender in the Crow's Nest. We had been invited to the private party given for the newly arrived guests. The handful of us regulars thanked Henk, our hotel manager, for including our merry little group. Even Captain Olav paid us a visit to see how we were enjoying the cruise.

 

Our table was full tonight, with the eight of us finally together. Jimmy, Al, John, Dana, and Fredna had been Barbie's tablemates on the Panama Canal cruise in January. Since they were searching for a large table on deck four, Barb suggested ours. This worked out well, because most, if not all of us, are traveling in the same specialist group. More than likely, we will be going on the same tours. We had a nice meal, getting to know each other. It may take George a bit longer to bond, since he is pretty fussy about his food and dinner companions!

 

The artist tonight was Salima Wazir, however, the instruments she will play was a mystery.

 

Well, tomorrow's port is Muscat, Oman, and time to go to bed!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 88 March 31, 2009 Tuesday Muscat, Oman

 

Our port of call today was Muscat, the capital of Oman. This city is located among the rocky Western Al Hajar Mountains. Muscat lies on the Arabian Sea, along the Gulf of Oman, where the earliest known settlement dates back 5000 years ago. This area became important when the sap from the native trees that produced frankincense was discovered. It became a popular religious and health commodity, which was as valuable as gold during Christ's time. It was exported as far away as Rome!

 

We were here eight years ago,and can say for sure, that nothing much has changed. Oman is the exact opposite of Dubai, in that it has retained its historical look and feeling. It was like stepping back in time sailing into the quaint harbor with fish vendors, old souk markets, museums, and impressive forts built on top of the nearby cliffs. It was quite a sight watching the sun rise at 5 am on the sleeping waterfront.

 

The only bad thing was that it was starting to rain. It hardly ever rains here in the desert, but we are convinced we brought this wet weather with us! But what was unpleasant for us, was heaven for the Omanis! So much so, that a holiday was declared today just because of the rain! Go figure.....

 

We had booked a tour with our travel group this morning called"Omani Fortress Oasis". As soon as the ship was cleared by local authorities, sixty seven of us boarded two waiting buses on the pier. We drove through the walled city gates, past downtown banks, hospitals, grocery stores, car dealers, and several mosques.

 

Eventually, we were passing the growing areas of farms and date palm plantations. Dates are a major crop here, along with every vegetable imaginable. Here and there, were paddocks of camels. Camel racing is a big sport in Oman, just like in Dubai.

 

The fishing village of Seeb was our first stop. We carefully walked through the seaside fish market, where fish of all types and sizes were being butchered, descaled, and fileted. Parked in back of the market, were pickup trucks loaded with their morning catch, which the fishermen displayed on their tailgates. Some of the larger fish were placed on the dirty ground too. Traditionally dressed women were bargaining for their family's daily meal. This load of fish was as fresh as it gets. And they were not as smelly as you would expect.

 

On the way towards the mountainside, our driver stopped at a gas station for a pit stop. But with only one stall open, the wait was long. And it was not western-style either, just a hole in the ground. Most of the ladies passed. We should mention here that our young guide was from India, and was very hard to understand. He may have been knowledgable on the area, but the poor fellow was just not a good speaker. And it did not help that some of t he passengers were not very patient with him. After a while, the guide just stopped talking.

 

Well, everyone really complained about the condition of this pit stop. When the Omoani bus driver heard this, he said he could have stopped earlier at a better place with modern facilities, but we needed to let him know. Now that's different! Usually these stops are pre-planned ahead of time.

 

Continuing on, our next stop was at the Nakhl Fort, built impressively on on top of the mountainside. This fort served the Imams of Bani Kharous and the Ya'arabah Dynasty. It has been restored recently, and decorated with handicrafts,historical relics, and traditional furniture of the period. The ceilings, doors, and windows were beautifully carved. Besides having storage rooms for food, several living rooms, and bedrooms, the fort was armed with canons and even a prison.

 

We were given an hour to explore on our own, which was all right, but we missed out on the significance of what we were seeing. There were many steep stairs leading to the several levels of the fort. Not everyone in our group was capable of navigating all the way to the top. We were happy to have been able to see this fort, because if the rain had followed us here, it would have been cancelled due to slippery and dangerous conditions.

 

Running late, we boarded the bus for the short ride to the nearby warm Springs of Nakhl, situated at the edge of an oasis. The shallow spring waters were crystal clear, revealing small trout trying to swim upstream. The entire area was surrounded by groves of date trees, with hillside homes scattered on both sides of the narrow road. The friendly locals came outside and waved as we passed by. Small children played in the many puddles left by the heavy rain. Kids are the same everywhere!

 

Lunch was on the agenda next. We went to a beach resort hotel for a nice buffet meal, whivh included water, cokes, or beer. The extensive sald bar included very fresh produce with pita bread and rolls. The hot items were saffron rice, spicy chicken, lamb and beef stew, and potatoes. The best was saved for last.....dessert! They offered decadent chocolate cakes, mousse, puddings, custard, and baklava. And guess what? We tasted each and every one of them! One creamy, rich chocolate dessert was so good, that Ellen asked for the recipe. The chef gladly gave it to her. She said she would give it to Chef Bernie to try on the ship . We sure hope he does!

 

The rain pelleted down hard as we headed back towards Muscat. The highway and side streets were flooded in sections, making the trip slow-going. It was obvious that the locals did not know how to drive in these wet conditions. They tended to fly through the puddles way too fast. In fact, we almost rear-ended a car when the bus driver was temporarily blinded by splashing water over the windshield. We could feel the bus fish-tail as he tried to brake. From then on, he slowed down.

 

As we passed the growing fields, a herd of camels with young ones, were roaming freely alongside the highway. An Omani man jumped from his SUV, and herded thm back into the pasture waving his cane at them. Many long-hair goats were eating on the roadsides too.

 

A short stop was made at the impressive Grand Mosque, but just for outside photos. Some other groups had gotten inside earlier, but we were told that it closed at 11 am. We had missed our chance. We could tell from the decorative exteriors, that the inside was opulent. Later on, our friends described the interior, and confirmed our visions of it.

 

Between the road flodding, and car accidents, we arrived late to our last stop at the Muttrah Souk. We had remembered this souk as the most popular and fun markets on our tour. Well, it really did not matter, because the tiled hillside walkway in the market had turned into a river! Most of the stalls had closed earlier in the day due to the flooding. So shopping was limited to the few stores on the waterfront. We did find a fabric shop and purchased some in the short time we had. When there is a will, there is a way!!

 

We got back to the ship right before the sailaway on the aft deck. Of course, the rain had stopped as we sailed away.

 

Wonder if we will bring the rain to our next port in the Seychelles???

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 89 April 1, 2009 Wednesday Day at Sea

 

We had noticed during our nightly walk on the promenade deck yesterday, that the ship seemed to go traveling at a high rate of speed. Something was up! It couldn't be another medial emergency, since a few passengers had already gone to the hospital in Muscat. There is no way we're going 17 knots, like the Captain announced at the sailaway leaving Muscat.

 

There was a noticable change in the weather, and that's because we're heading south towards the Equator once again. This will be the third time. Hmmm, wonder what happened to those certificates we were promised for the Golden Line Crossing? Anyway, we are happy to have left the rain back in Oman, as we have sunny skies today!

 

A new exploration speaker joined the ship. His name is Ambassador Howard K. Walker, and will talk about the 21st century international crises and major problems he sees over the next 10 to 15 years. We believe he has been on previous world cruises as well.

 

Firooz Zadeh continued his series on the power and peril of oil.

 

Dance classes featured the jive, while the HAL Chorale practiced for their show later on in the cruise.

 

Today was dubbed "Pajama Party" day, which we thought was an April Fool's Day joke! No, it was an event that will take place in the Crows Nest at 10 pm. The daily program stated to PLEASE do not wear pajamas to dinner tonight! That was a relief.

 

We had two letters from the Captain delivered to our staterooms this afternoon. One dealt with the recent outbreaks of cholera in Zimbabwe and nearby countries. The letter outlined all the precautions we need to take while traveling in Africa, specifically on the overland excursions. A simple rule of thumb for safe water and food is "Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it!" Since we are not going to Zimbabwe, that should not be a worry. However, we are visiting Kenya, Zambia and Botswana, and will adhere to the warnings.

 

The next letter came after Captain Olav's 1 pm speech today. He announced the reason for speeding up the ship while we sail towards the Seychelles. In order to steer clear of the pirate activity on the Somalia coast, he intends to sail further east of the coast, and travel at the maximum speed of 23 knots. This should get us to the Seychelles a day early. After leaving the Seychelles, the extra sea day will be used to sail south of Mombasa, Kenya, to further avoid the Somalian coast. This stretch will probably be the most dicey area for pirate activity. Having booked a CS tour and a HAL tour for each day we are in the Seychelles, we will probably have a conflict there. But that's a minor problem at this point. There was no further news on the cancellation of Madagascar. That decision, according to the Captain, should come in a few days. We're still pulling for Zanzibar!!!

 

After a pleasant afternoon by the back pool, we watched a movie called "Carolina" with Shirley MacLaine and Julia Stiles. It was another good movie for a change.

 

We went for drinks in the Crows Nest to discover that the chairs and couches were all covered with bedsheets and pillows! A lounge chair was made into a bed outside the elevators on deck 9. Wonder who will be using the makeshift bed???? We'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out.

 

Oh, by the way, after dinner, we found two certificates for Crossing the Golden Line last January!! Someone must have read our minds!!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 90 April 2, 2009 Thursday Day at Sea

 

Our second day at sea brought us sunny skies with a few scattered clouds. It has warmed up significantly, even though the temperatures are only in the 80's. The high humidity, our enemy, was back! After walking our morning miles, it was a relief to cool down during breakfast in the dining room.

 

We heard many funny accounts about the Pajama Party last night. The lucky person to occupy the lounge by the elevators was Henk, our hotel manager. He wore pajamas and even had a teddy bear under his arm. He stayed there for one full hour, with Jacques, the wine cellar master keeping him company. One lady passenger showed up with rollers in her hair, cold cream on her face, and her toothbrush hanging from her mouth. Wow, that takes guts! Several people wore flannel pajamas, but more wore the ship's white terry robes. What was crazy was the fact that the air-conditioning was not working, and it was an oven in there. Bet the bartenders sold a lot of drinks though!!

 

At 11:15 am, we had a meeting concerning our overland safari trip to Tsavo Game Park in Kenya. We have booked this trip with our travel group, and should have fun with our hand-picked van friends. It will take at least two hours coming and going to the gamepark, so it is always nice to be with people we know, or hope to get to know better. Ellen, our host, handed out zippered pouches with travel goodies, as they do with all of their excursions.

 

We went over the detailed itinerary, and Ellen answered the questions we all asked. There is no flight involved with this overland, so it should be easy to pack what we want for two days. We're all looking forward to it now that the time is getting closer!

 

Many activities were scheduled for today. Another kitchen tour was offered, and Barbara gave a port talk about the Seychelles.

 

Steve Bauer spoke about the social life in the Nixon Whitehouse, and Howard K. Walker spoke about the embassy and who works there.

 

The noon trivia still stumps the players, while dance class instructors taught the cha-cha.

 

Most of the sports events were held in the Ocean Bar, with just the ring toss held on deck 9. It was just too hot outside.

 

The Wajang Theater featured the movie, "Doubt", which should be on TV tomorrow. This afternoon we watched the blockbuster movie "Slumdog Millionaire". After just having visited Mumbai, we could understand the plot even better. Some of the shocking scenes in the movie were very disturbing, but also very real.

 

We had a pleasant cocktail hour in the Crows Nest tonight. We even saw several lightening strikes on the horizon. Some were so close, that they lit up the dancefloor! We suppose that lightening is common in this area, since we are nearing the Equator. It could also indicate more rain in our future.......

 

Dinnertime was "George-less" this evening, because he attended the Captains dinner in the Pinnacle Grill. We all agreed that his unusual quirks were a bit hard to handle sometimes. We miss Barbie, who had the knack of being able to channel his grumblings in a different direction. Gosh, we miss her!

 

Being a formal night, we had gifts waiting for us when we got back to our room. We got two small pillboxes made by Royal Goedewaagen in the Amata collection. We now have small and large plates from last year's world cruise, two vases, two sets of coasters, and now the pillboxes. Wonder if we will get large platters by the end of the trip? We can only hope....

 

Tomorrow, we should be crossing the Equator once again!

 

Mary Ann & Bill