February 10-12, 2019 - Sea Days - Sunday -Tuesday, Days 35-37

February 10-12, 2019 - Sea Days - Sunday -Tuesday, Days 35-37

Sunday we had a restful day at sea. The lecture schedule was light, but the content was superior. We continue to be immersed in the culture and diversity of the region. We are making our way to the Bay of Bengal. We will cross it and enter the Andaman Sea on our way to Malaysia. This is a reversal of our route to Sri Lanka 10 days ago. We will visit Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The In Depth lecturers are preparing us for that. 

Sunday is Sari Night for dinner. The ladies had been encouraged to purchase Saris in Colombo for donning tonight. Alice purchased her Sari here last year, and wore it proudly on that Sari Night. Unfortunately it did not get packed and we opted not to buy another one. I did bring the Batik shirt that I purchased 4 years ago in Jakarta.

I wore my Batik and with my new do I could pass for Sri Lankan (almost). Alice counted ladies in Saris. If you exclude the crew she only needed one hand. There were 2 Saris and 2 shawls. At least the crew looked great. me too.

I got up early at 4:00 to do my walk this morning. When I finished the 3 miles it was just 5:00. I went up to the forward deck above deck 12. The sun would not rise for another hour and a half. The sky was fabulous. This was the clearest night we have experienced. I stayed up there for a long time soaking in the beauty of it all. I only wish I knew the details of what I was looking at. I know the dippers and North Star were nowhere in sight. The Milky Way is present everywhere. It made me comfortable that I can always recognize something.

Monday morning we rose to darkness outside. The clocks were set forward an hour last night. When we went to Mass  the regular priest did not arrive. We think he missed the clock change. Fortunately the other 2 priests who are onboard were there. They started a little late. Father Brian appeared later still. He did look a little sheepish. Somehow I have become the designated lector. I was prepared. I download the meetings to my phone before we go. The large lectionary in the chapel is not correct and it does not include the readings for this liturgical year. Thank God for electronics.

I attended a lecture on the early history of China and its approach to the world in the 15th and 16th centuries. This will continue tomorrow with a look at how China views the world today and a look at what strategies might be necessary to for the world to keep pace.

Alice attended some computer classes that exposed her to some helpful tips and applications. She also prepared our map for submittal to the navigation department so they can plot our route. They have always done this for us on the Grand Voyages even though they no longer use paper charts. We think they give our maps to one of the cadets for practice.  They always come back beautifully plotted. We hope the practice survives for this voyage.

We discussed what tours we might take in Bangkok and agreed that we would like to do an overnight stay because the city is so far from the port. It is a bit pricey, but offers a great experience. Apparently many of our fellow cruisers decided the same. When I went to book this, I was told that the hotel has been sold out for over a week. Our tour director will add us to a wait list and email a request to the tour operator for us. Fingers are crossed.

Tonight’s dinner menu features Indonesian fare. Ecko, our steward, alerted me that Nasi Goreng will be on the menu. I’m in. Alice will decide when she sees the menu.

Alice just pointed that I have been working at this so diligently  that I have missed the 4:00 lecture on head hunters, To Get Ahead, Get A Head. Nuts. Hopefully it will be run on TV.

The entertainment tonight is a classical pianist. We will be there. 

Tuesday was devoted to more Digital Lab classes for Alice She is very enthusiastic about what the instructor, Phillip, offers. He is helping her to better understand what windows can do. Perhaps I should join her. I have not been much help in finding easier ways to use the Windows apps.

I attended a cooking demonstration for a Malaysian prawn curry and spring rolls. The chef also taught us how to peel a pineapple Malaysian style. We saw pineapples skinned in this fashion on the streets in China several years ago. Now I understand the secret to creating this beautiful work. The waste is drastically reduced in the process.

Next was the second lecture by Terry Greenberg, a retired Canadian diplomat, on the current role and aspirations of China. He spent 25 years living in the area and offered significant insights. His goal was to give us food for thought without causing nightmares. He succeeded.

Alice and I skipped the Gala Dinner in the restaurant and went to the Pinnacle for dinner. We made this a seafood meal while the dining room featured filet Mignon and lobster tail. Alice was quite please with her Alaskan Salmon, and I enjoyed delicious halibut.

This was our third free meal in the Pinnacle. The wait staff and wine steward have come to know us. Service is always excellent, but now they add a personal touch. Surprisingly Sinar, our dining room steward for the first cruise, was running food from the kitchen to the Pinnacle. Every time he passed our table we got to joke with him. This was great because since the end of that first cruise we only see him at breakfast and sometimes lunch. We have become good friends. He is my Sambal angel. He keeps a bottle hidden at his station for me.

The entertainer was a flutist from Ireland. He was very good.

Another great day at sea!