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Wednesday February 7 2007, Port Victoria, Seychelles
While JB was off exploring the island’s capital and the local Cable and Wireless Internet access to send all this, Susan went off on a huge catamaran to explore the St Anne’s Nature Reserve. Crossing turquoise seas to a deserted island for a swim on a coral beach was followed by a fantastic adventure under the sea on a semi-submersible to view the coral and tropical fish. Then snorkelling from the cat over the coral reef was an experience not to be missed
Picture to go in of Susan on the beach
It’s a pretty little island, the most northerly of the Seychelles and a big contract to Africa, unemployment is a lot lower, 6%, and it shows. There is much more prosperity, the streets are clean, the houses well kept and the people happy and friendly.
In the afternoon we visited the local botanical gardens famous for the coco de mer trees and nuts. These are rumoured to have magical aphrodisiac powers, (JB still reserving judgment) and the other major attraction is the giant Aldabran Tortoise. There was a pen of them and apart from eating their main occupation seemed to be to procreate. Perhaps they had been eating too many of the coco de mer nuts because the males were at it all the time chasing the females round the pen and making a good deal of noise as they went about it!
Picture of tortoise to go in
We’ll leave this subject and report on an occurrence the night before. I suppose it’s an occupational hazard with a Saga Cruise but during the night, before we arrived, one of the passengers turned up her toes for good. It seems her husband had been buried on the Island some years before and by some kind of strange poetic justice she died as we arrived so will be able to be buried alongside him. Judging by the state of a few of the more elderly ones we see lying out on the promenade deck, (the living dead as we call them) this lady won’t be the last.
A couple of days after leaving the Seychelles we crossed the Equator. Sue and JB being “Pollywogs” what is people who have never done it before by sea we had to undergo the full ceremony to be initiated my Neptune.
All the passenger assembled on the rear deck, Neptune arrived with his entourage of mermaids, judges and the Captain in a giant hat and epaulettes. He adjudicated and decided as we were all guilty of not paying due homage to Neptune we were guilty and had to be punished. This consisted of having to kiss a giant dead salmon after which we were doused in a sort of cold fish soup, to the cheers of the onlookers. It was disgusting, Susan tried to be nice to the fish saying something like “Nice Fishy” but to no avail, it was opened up and rubbed in her face. We both had to have two showers and a bath to get over it and remove the fish smell. Mind you they did give us a very nice cocktail before the ceremony. Lots of fun and plenty of laughs from our new found friends , many of whom had been there before.
Equator pics to go in
Yesterday evening, Friday February 9 we went to a fabulous show dedicated to the music of Benny Goodman. The clarinettist, Kenny Martin, had managed to obtain many of Benny Goodman’ scores from the 1939 Carnegie Hall concert and together with the house musicians they did a great job which had us all jumping.
One last thing worth a mention is the stars. Very day the ship publishes a “star chart” showing the stars that can be seen in relation to the ship’s position and direction. You can go up on the foredeck where it is pitch black and gaze with winder at the heavens, it is a wonderful sight and makes us both feel very insignificant.
That’s it for now, if you are reading this please do give us feedback or email Johnny@johnnybeerling.com with your comments, it’s nice to know what you all make of it.
Next stop the Maldives, on Sunday.
We were unable to file cope there due to time pressures and the arrival of the President of Shri Lanka which caused the closure of most of Male.
While Sue looked around those shops which were open Jb went off on a wonderful underwater tour of the local reef by submarine. This was spectacular and he saw many interesting fish, turtles, eels and octopus.
In the afternoon the Captain obtained permission to take the ship to a tropical island, Kudobandros. Just like a Bounty Bar advert, white coral sands under beautiful palm trees. Almost the entire crew were involved in setting up a huge open air BBQ and free drunks too. We snorkelled and ate all afternoon before sailing off in tot eh sunet for Singapore.
Pictures of beach and Island to insert
A few days at sea faced us as we sailed to Singapore but as we explained earliern there was no bordom, in fact too many things to do.
Highlights were a “Jazz Lunch” with a huge buffet and jazz to dance to and Valentines Day where we had the most wonderful celebration we have ever had, or are likely to have.
JB had painted a home made card for Susan, complete with poem and written a special longer poem too in a bigger event where passengers were invited to write romantic poems, all of which were published in a special booklet distributed to everyone.
In the evening the Captain hosted a formal farewell Valentine cocktail party, more free champagne, for everyone primarily to say good bye to those passengers getting off in Singapore. There was then a special Valentine Dinner, with dedicated menu’s among the dishes on offer, “First Date”, Crab, caviar and smoked salmon; “Love Potion”, Cream of asparagus soup with nutmeg, “Match Made in Heaven”, fillet of beef on a crouton with fois gras, and for dessert similarly named delicacies. This was an outstanding meal and while we were eating, because it was approaching Chinese New Year, a number of the waiters came in procession as a Chinese dragon.
The dinner was followed by a Valentine Ball, where the entire crew, led by the Captain opened proceedings with a set dance, then the passengers took turns to dance with members of both sexes of the ship’s crew. Susan drew the best straw as on her Dance Card she had the Captain for the opening waltz. That made her evening even if he was no better at dancing than JB! Dancing went on till nearly midnight and after that we went to star gaze before falling into bed at 1 am.
What a wonderful Valentine’s Day, I doubt we’ll ever do anything like that ever again.
Next stop Singapore on Friday 16th where we say goodbye to some of our new found friends and we hope to post all this.
Once again if you are reading it, we’d love to have feedback to johnny@johnnybeerling.com
Because we have no idea of how many of our friends and relatives are checking on our progress, we just hope we are not making you all too jealous.
While JB was off exploring the island’s capital and the local Cable and Wireless Internet access to send all this, Susan went off on a huge catamaran to explore the St Anne’s Nature Reserve. Crossing turquoise seas to a deserted island for a swim on a coral beach was followed by a fantastic adventure under the sea on a semi-submersible to view the coral and tropical fish. Then snorkelling from the cat over the coral reef was an experience not to be missed
Picture to go in of Susan on the beach
It’s a pretty little island, the most northerly of the Seychelles and a big contract to Africa, unemployment is a lot lower, 6%, and it shows. There is much more prosperity, the streets are clean, the houses well kept and the people happy and friendly.
In the afternoon we visited the local botanical gardens famous for the coco de mer trees and nuts. These are rumoured to have magical aphrodisiac powers, (JB still reserving judgment) and the other major attraction is the giant Aldabran Tortoise. There was a pen of them and apart from eating their main occupation seemed to be to procreate. Perhaps they had been eating too many of the coco de mer nuts because the males were at it all the time chasing the females round the pen and making a good deal of noise as they went about it!
Picture of tortoise to go in
We’ll leave this subject and report on an occurrence the night before. I suppose it’s an occupational hazard with a Saga Cruise but during the night, before we arrived, one of the passengers turned up her toes for good. It seems her husband had been buried on the Island some years before and by some kind of strange poetic justice she died as we arrived so will be able to be buried alongside him. Judging by the state of a few of the more elderly ones we see lying out on the promenade deck, (the living dead as we call them) this lady won’t be the last.
A couple of days after leaving the Seychelles we crossed the Equator. Sue and JB being “Pollywogs” what is people who have never done it before by sea we had to undergo the full ceremony to be initiated my Neptune.
All the passenger assembled on the rear deck, Neptune arrived with his entourage of mermaids, judges and the Captain in a giant hat and epaulettes. He adjudicated and decided as we were all guilty of not paying due homage to Neptune we were guilty and had to be punished. This consisted of having to kiss a giant dead salmon after which we were doused in a sort of cold fish soup, to the cheers of the onlookers. It was disgusting, Susan tried to be nice to the fish saying something like “Nice Fishy” but to no avail, it was opened up and rubbed in her face. We both had to have two showers and a bath to get over it and remove the fish smell. Mind you they did give us a very nice cocktail before the ceremony. Lots of fun and plenty of laughs from our new found friends , many of whom had been there before.
Equator pics to go in
Yesterday evening, Friday February 9 we went to a fabulous show dedicated to the music of Benny Goodman. The clarinettist, Kenny Martin, had managed to obtain many of Benny Goodman’ scores from the 1939 Carnegie Hall concert and together with the house musicians they did a great job which had us all jumping.
One last thing worth a mention is the stars. Very day the ship publishes a “star chart” showing the stars that can be seen in relation to the ship’s position and direction. You can go up on the foredeck where it is pitch black and gaze with winder at the heavens, it is a wonderful sight and makes us both feel very insignificant.
That’s it for now, if you are reading this please do give us feedback or email Johnny@johnnybeerling.com with your comments, it’s nice to know what you all make of it.
Next stop the Maldives, on Sunday.
We were unable to file cope there due to time pressures and the arrival of the President of Shri Lanka which caused the closure of most of Male.
While Sue looked around those shops which were open Jb went off on a wonderful underwater tour of the local reef by submarine. This was spectacular and he saw many interesting fish, turtles, eels and octopus.
In the afternoon the Captain obtained permission to take the ship to a tropical island, Kudobandros. Just like a Bounty Bar advert, white coral sands under beautiful palm trees. Almost the entire crew were involved in setting up a huge open air BBQ and free drunks too. We snorkelled and ate all afternoon before sailing off in tot eh sunet for Singapore.
Pictures of beach and Island to insert
A few days at sea faced us as we sailed to Singapore but as we explained earliern there was no bordom, in fact too many things to do.
Highlights were a “Jazz Lunch” with a huge buffet and jazz to dance to and Valentines Day where we had the most wonderful celebration we have ever had, or are likely to have.
JB had painted a home made card for Susan, complete with poem and written a special longer poem too in a bigger event where passengers were invited to write romantic poems, all of which were published in a special booklet distributed to everyone.
In the evening the Captain hosted a formal farewell Valentine cocktail party, more free champagne, for everyone primarily to say good bye to those passengers getting off in Singapore. There was then a special Valentine Dinner, with dedicated menu’s among the dishes on offer, “First Date”, Crab, caviar and smoked salmon; “Love Potion”, Cream of asparagus soup with nutmeg, “Match Made in Heaven”, fillet of beef on a crouton with fois gras, and for dessert similarly named delicacies. This was an outstanding meal and while we were eating, because it was approaching Chinese New Year, a number of the waiters came in procession as a Chinese dragon.
The dinner was followed by a Valentine Ball, where the entire crew, led by the Captain opened proceedings with a set dance, then the passengers took turns to dance with members of both sexes of the ship’s crew. Susan drew the best straw as on her Dance Card she had the Captain for the opening waltz. That made her evening even if he was no better at dancing than JB! Dancing went on till nearly midnight and after that we went to star gaze before falling into bed at 1 am.
What a wonderful Valentine’s Day, I doubt we’ll ever do anything like that ever again.
Next stop Singapore on Friday 16th where we say goodbye to some of our new found friends and we hope to post all this.
Once again if you are reading it, we’d love to have feedback to johnny@johnnybeerling.com
Because we have no idea of how many of our friends and relatives are checking on our progress, we just hope we are not making you all too jealous.
posted by Johnny & Sue World Travellers at
02:39
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