February 9, 2016 - Day 35 - Sea Day

This sea day started out in normal fashion, but we noticed that the program included a didgerido class and an aboriginal painting class. The teachers are from a program designed to foster the sustaining of the indigenous culture. They boarded in Melbourne, and will stay with us to Cairns.

Dhinewan offered the first dig class at 12:30. He had plastic digeridos for us to use. After instructing us in how to generate some sound, he let us practice and coached us in technique. Then he told us stories of his people. Some history. Some traditions. Some music. Then he incorporated some of the stories into a didgerido performance. Outstanding.

At 3:00 he and Belle, his associate, gave instruction in the symbolism used in aboriginal art. We learned some simple concepts and techniques. We started to paint the story of our voyage using this knowledge. The class ended all too soon, and we took our partially completed works to our cabins to dry.

We will resume after Sydney.