An interesting day at sea on Easter Saturday, 30th March, off the coast of Eastern Cape. The first identifiable bird of the day was a brown morph Red-footed Booby which had me running inside for the camera as I suspected (rightly) that they were not common in these parts. Red-footed Booby A few dark petrels … Continue reading One and a Half Days at Sea: at sea and Cape Town, South Africa, 30th-31st March 2024
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
Doing some research before we got here I found a website which claimed that Mauritius was famous for many things, before giving a long list which did not include the one thing that I think of when you say the word Mauritius. The Dodo. I may occasionally think of expensive beach holidays, or some of … Continue reading Mauritian Mishaps: Mauritius, Monday 25th March 2024
On our initial itinerary, we would have paid a second visit to Malaysia on 19th March, with a call at Penang. This had to go once it was decided that the Red Sea was too dangerous to travel through, thanks to the actions by Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been targeting Western shipping in … Continue reading Across the Indian Ocean: at sea, Indian Ocean, 19th-24th March 2024
Four years ago, to the day, on 16th March 2020, we sailed past Singapore at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, watching a flow of airplanes landing at Changi airport while container ships and tankers were moored up after being told not to proceed any further. In 2024, we were already berthed at the Marina … Continue reading The Light Fantastic and other Gardens: Singapore, 16th-17th 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
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
After two (contracted) days travelling we had a six o'clock start for our first day in Sydney! As it was, after falling asleep exhausted soon after arriving in our hotel room, we were both awake before the five o'clock alarm. After a quick hot beverage of choice we were outside before six to meet our … Continue reading Sydney Second Time: Sydney, Australia, 21st-23rd February 2024
When I Grow Up I Will Go There 