We arrived at Durban well before dawn. Having seen that our arrival time was due to be six o'clock, I had tried to establish when we would get off, so we could get an early start, but had been told that it would not be before seven, as that was when the immigration staff in … Continue reading Vibrant and Colourful: Durban, South Africa, Friday 29th March 2024
I never thought that I would arrive in Hong Kong and feel cold! But, after 34oC in Manila, it was no warmer than 16oC during our stay in Hong Kong and colder than that when we arrived before daylight. We were soon retreating from the balcony to dig out the fleeces before we went out … Continue reading Mall Maze Madness and Mai Po Magic: Hong Kong, 10th-11th March 2024
Manila has, apparently, been voted by users of Waze, the navigation app, as the most difficult city in the world to navigate. It is also, according to some measures, the most densely populated city in the world. Therefore, getting around the city in the traffic is no mean feat. I had a plan for Manila, … Continue reading Manic Manila: Manila, Philippines, Friday 8th March 2024
We were still in Indonesian waters first thing in the morning as we crossed the Celebes Sea. Once we crossed into Filipino water mid-morning, a few Brown Boobies started following the ship and chasing flying fish. They increased through the day as we got closer to land. The peak count was 25, although presumably there … Continue reading Celebes and Sulu: at sea, Philippines, 6th-7th March 2024
Cruises take you to places you never thought you would go, even if you never stay long enough. I had never heard of Bitung before (pronounced 'BI-tung' and not 'bit-ung'), although I admit it was one destination that excited me when I saw the itinerary, as it on the island of Sulawesi. I love going … Continue reading Jungle Jaunts and a Party on the Pier: Bitung, Indonesia, Tuesday 5th March 2024
There was a storm during the night and lightning almost every time we went to the loo. It was overcast most of the day, but there was nothing more than drizzle. We began the day on the outside of the Great Barrier Reef. A few Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and Brown Noddies were seen from the ship … Continue reading Fish, Moths and a Former Captain of Australia: at sea, Queensland to Sulawesi, 1st-4th March 2024
I woke in the middle of the night and remembered it was still the middle of yesterday afternoon in the UK, so the Carabao Cup Final would probably still be in progress. I checked my phone and it was Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0 with extra time being played. Then the bouncing dots on a yellow … Continue reading Cup and Reef: at sea, off Queensland, Australia, 26th-27th February 2024
The captain informed us the previous day that to get alongside at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at eight in the morning we would be picking up the pilot at 3:15! It is, apparently, a 50 mile run-in with the pilot through narrow channels through the islands which protect Brisbane. We were just approaching the … Continue reading Brizzie Fringe: Brisbane, Australia, Sunday 25th February 2024
I took so long catching up on our Canadian adventures that I had no time to really think about blogposts when we returned to Shetland. As it was, despite arriving back in Shetland full of enthusiasm, hoping for an exciting November and determined to chase every year-tick I could, it turned out that not a … Continue reading Two Months in One Post: Unst etc. Shetland, 1st November to 31st December 2023
Our second call in Newfoundland, so not so much Newfoundland as Refoundland. We were visiting Corner Brook, which is at the head of a long fjord-like extension of the sea known as the Humber Arm. Water vapour, in the form of clouds, hung picturesquely over the hills, while water vapour emitting from the town's paper … Continue reading Refoundland: Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada, Thursday 5th October 2023
When I Grow Up I Will Go There 