Email from the Ship: We arrived in Miri, borneo malaysia Sat 6am 4-3-04 and had to anchor 4 1/2 miles from shore since there is no docking space in Miri.There were 4 other ships anchored around us and lots of oil rigs all around. We will not be going to shore. They brought the plywood that needed loaded out to the ship by barge. So for 5 hours we watched how they loaded from the barge to the ship. We are very near Brunei which is the smallest and wealthiest country in the world because of it's vast oil reserves. I wish we would have stopped there except they say it is very expensive to be there.
We left Miri at 3pm on 4-3-04 for Bintulu and arrived here at 9:30 pm same day. This is a harbor full of oil refineries and they were all lit up at night. We were told we could not take pictures of the refineries.
This morning it was raining but we went to town and had a great day even though it was Sunday.We did lots of things, like getting our hair cut, going to internet cafe,visiting the beautiful market (I took a picture of it because they had all the vegetables and fruit arranged so neat.When I asked the gal if I could take a picture she got so excited and invited others to come too. Since I have a digital camera I could show them the picture and they loved it. Then as we were walking along the river Kemena there were loads of delapidated ferry boats and on the spur of the moment we decided to cross the river on one to go shopping at the super market. There was one little bench for us to sit on and we were the only passengers besides the few motorbikes that went too.So we chugged across the river, browsed in the market and came back on the ferry safe and sound.We got back to the ship at 6pm just in time for dinner. We were all tired out from our busy day.
Saturday, April 3, 2004
Thursday, April 1, 2004
April 1st 2004:
Email from the Ship: What an exciting morning as we were sailing through Basilan straits with Philippine islands on both sides of us. 06N 121E. There were many many little fishing boats all around us and then a freighter was coming towards us on the same course we were on.The screen was flashing a red area-collision course so since it was a little on our starboard side we altered our course to pass by. Our captain and officers are very skillful and always seem to know what to do. It was very interesting to see how it all worked out.
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
March 31st 2004:
Email from the Ship: Ready for a geography lesson:
Malaysia is the largest Muslim country. It consists of 2 distinct parts--Peninsular Malaysia which is the long finger of land extending down from Asia with Singapore at thebottom tip and then to the east in the northern island of borneo is 2 malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. We are stopping at 2 ports in Borneo Malaysia--Miri and Bintulu and 2 ports in Peninsular Malaysia--Singapore and Port Klang. We hope to be in Miri by early Sat Morn 4-3-04. Today we sailed by the Phillipines.
Some more interesting info is that we are entering an area that is at risk for pirate attacks so while we are sailing at night between 2000 and 0600 all the doors to outside decks are secured and we are not allowed outside.While in port all accommadation doors secured except the one nearest the ganaway which will be heavily guarded.
At night the bridge watch will be doubled. The fire hoses will be rigged and the search lights used frequently in order that to any observer the vessel is vigilant and prepared.Should any pirates be in a position to board the ship everything possible will be done to frustrate the attempt by swamping of boats and pirates with fire hoses and dazzling them with lights.All of us passengers will remain locked in our cabins.
Actually this all feels very safe to me.We are told that the risk to a vessel like this is minimal because of size, speed and type of cargo but it's always wise to take precautions.
Our position tonight is 05N and 125E
Malaysia is the largest Muslim country. It consists of 2 distinct parts--Peninsular Malaysia which is the long finger of land extending down from Asia with Singapore at thebottom tip and then to the east in the northern island of borneo is 2 malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. We are stopping at 2 ports in Borneo Malaysia--Miri and Bintulu and 2 ports in Peninsular Malaysia--Singapore and Port Klang. We hope to be in Miri by early Sat Morn 4-3-04. Today we sailed by the Phillipines.
Some more interesting info is that we are entering an area that is at risk for pirate attacks so while we are sailing at night between 2000 and 0600 all the doors to outside decks are secured and we are not allowed outside.While in port all accommadation doors secured except the one nearest the ganaway which will be heavily guarded.
At night the bridge watch will be doubled. The fire hoses will be rigged and the search lights used frequently in order that to any observer the vessel is vigilant and prepared.Should any pirates be in a position to board the ship everything possible will be done to frustrate the attempt by swamping of boats and pirates with fire hoses and dazzling them with lights.All of us passengers will remain locked in our cabins.
Actually this all feels very safe to me.We are told that the risk to a vessel like this is minimal because of size, speed and type of cargo but it's always wise to take precautions.
Our position tonight is 05N and 125E
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
March 30th 2004:
Email from the Ship: Tuesday March 30 6am position 01N 133E traveling 16 knots.
Last evening we had our before dinner drinks on the deck so we could watch the sunset and celebrate crossing the equator again. We saw a huge group of dolphins flipping around in the ocean doing their entertaining for us.
Also I finally made a trip to the engine room. I had this picture in my mind that it would be a loud, fiercely hot,dark dungeon, the way everyone had been commenting about it. Much to my surprise it was a well lit room full of huge machinery, very clean, and quite hot and loud. There was a room with all the monitors which was airconditioned and the crew that works with engines need to take a break every so often to cool down.I took pictures to send to my website.
I think in about 4 days we will be in Borneo Malaysia. Until then we are sitting on deck relaxing, reading, playing scrabble and Helen and I go to the pool for exercise.
Last evening we had our before dinner drinks on the deck so we could watch the sunset and celebrate crossing the equator again. We saw a huge group of dolphins flipping around in the ocean doing their entertaining for us.
Also I finally made a trip to the engine room. I had this picture in my mind that it would be a loud, fiercely hot,dark dungeon, the way everyone had been commenting about it. Much to my surprise it was a well lit room full of huge machinery, very clean, and quite hot and loud. There was a room with all the monitors which was airconditioned and the crew that works with engines need to take a break every so often to cool down.I took pictures to send to my website.
I think in about 4 days we will be in Borneo Malaysia. Until then we are sitting on deck relaxing, reading, playing scrabble and Helen and I go to the pool for exercise.
Saturday, March 27, 2004
March 27th 2004:
Email from the Ship: Since there is no public transportation in Lae PNG and the town was too far away from the dock we did not have the opportunity to explore the town. We were a bit disappointed because we had 1 and 1/2 days but we were told that it wasn't safe to go off on our own. The capt. did arrange for the agent to take us to Lae international hotel for lunch but our time was limited.
While Helen and I were playing scrabble after dinner, suddenly the door to the lounge opened and 8 very talkative men came in with Dario our chief engineer.They were all business men who live in Lae but came from Australia and UK not native PNG's. They get together at a bar at night and they knew Dario. They wanted to see the ship so he brought them for a visit.there was a banker, a manager of Lae hotel, travel agent, tour organizer etc.and they were quite entertaining with their humor.They said if they would have known we needed transportation they would have provided it for us.They said that Lae is not as dangerous as the media like to portray it but you do need to be careful in some areas.
We left Lae this morning at 7 am and we will be at sea for at least a week on our way to Borneo Malaysia.All day we sailed along the island of PNG and it was a beautiful sight. We have to go north and then west to get around the island and on to Borneo.
Our position at 9pm is 04S 146 E. I was up on the bridge and the sky was very interesting. It is dark and to the west the sky was lit up with lightning and to the northeast the moon was shining on the ocean.It was fantastic.
While Helen and I were playing scrabble after dinner, suddenly the door to the lounge opened and 8 very talkative men came in with Dario our chief engineer.They were all business men who live in Lae but came from Australia and UK not native PNG's. They get together at a bar at night and they knew Dario. They wanted to see the ship so he brought them for a visit.there was a banker, a manager of Lae hotel, travel agent, tour organizer etc.and they were quite entertaining with their humor.They said if they would have known we needed transportation they would have provided it for us.They said that Lae is not as dangerous as the media like to portray it but you do need to be careful in some areas.
We left Lae this morning at 7 am and we will be at sea for at least a week on our way to Borneo Malaysia.All day we sailed along the island of PNG and it was a beautiful sight. We have to go north and then west to get around the island and on to Borneo.
Our position at 9pm is 04S 146 E. I was up on the bridge and the sky was very interesting. It is dark and to the west the sky was lit up with lightning and to the northeast the moon was shining on the ocean.It was fantastic.
Friday, March 26, 2004
March 26th 2004:
Email from the Ship: We arrived in Madang PNG at 7am 3-23-04. It is a very scenic harbor and very clean. Several dolphins were frolicking around to welcome us. We walked to town to visit all the shops and the outdoor market. They had lots of bananas and peanuts and all kinds of other greens. It was very hot and humid. We walked to the local bakery but nothing looked very appealing to me.
We walked to Hotel Madang Resort for lunch. It is beautifully landscaped with a nice swimming pool which they allowed us to use.There was a conference starting "oceana customs" so there were lots of people around.
We had a shore leave on Wed until 3pm so we went to town again and went swimming.The people are very friendly here.They want to make sure you know where you are going and they will walk with us to show us. I sat down on the cement wall for a rest with all the locals and I had my backpack beside me. A very nice lady came to me and told me I better put it on my lap so noone takes it. Most of them speak good English and also pidgin.
We left Madang yesterday 3-24 at 6 pm and arrived in Lae PNG this morning 3-25 at 8 am. We had to drop anchor out near the harbor and wait for a berth to open. About noon we were told we could sail in and dock. We had 3 tugboats helping us into a space between 2 other ships. We stayed on board because we can@t go out on our own. Tomorrow the capt. arranged for someone to pick us up for the day.
We walked to Hotel Madang Resort for lunch. It is beautifully landscaped with a nice swimming pool which they allowed us to use.There was a conference starting "oceana customs" so there were lots of people around.
We had a shore leave on Wed until 3pm so we went to town again and went swimming.The people are very friendly here.They want to make sure you know where you are going and they will walk with us to show us. I sat down on the cement wall for a rest with all the locals and I had my backpack beside me. A very nice lady came to me and told me I better put it on my lap so noone takes it. Most of them speak good English and also pidgin.
We left Madang yesterday 3-24 at 6 pm and arrived in Lae PNG this morning 3-25 at 8 am. We had to drop anchor out near the harbor and wait for a berth to open. About noon we were told we could sail in and dock. We had 3 tugboats helping us into a space between 2 other ships. We stayed on board because we can@t go out on our own. Tomorrow the capt. arranged for someone to pick us up for the day.
Monday, March 22, 2004
March 22nd 2004:
Email from the Ship: In Papua New Guinea as you pass all the people walking you notice that they are chewing and spitting out large amounts of red saliva.There are patches of red all over the ground. Everyone chews betel nut. It is the nut of the areca palm, and it is a mild narcotic. People use it as a little pick me up during the day like a mid day cup of tea or coffee. They break open the husked nut and chew until they get to the kernel inside the nut. Nuts can vary in potency and a strong one might cause you to sweat and want to lie down for awhile. After the nut is chewed, they take the kernel, moisten the tip of it into a white powdery mix of mustard and coral limestone and bite off the frosted part and keep chewing. This is when the saliva turns vivid red and you will feel a rush. They say it tastes awful.The local people offer it to foreigners but it doesn@t attract too many drug fans because of the disgusting spitting of the large amounts of bright red saliva which stains everything it comes in contact with. The local people have red stained mouth and teeth. Even the children are using it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)