We had a nice day-long break on the tiny island of Mauritius yesterday. (It’s located east of Madagascar incase you were wondering.) Marisa and a couple of our friends and I had a SAS trip planned for the morning hours and planned to just lay on the beach for the rest of the day. Our morning trip was in a submarine down to the bottom of the sea to view the underwater marine creatures. The five of us decided to take the smaller of the only 2 submarines in the Indian Ocean, and got extremely lucky to have a panoramic view of the sea while the 10-seater only had dainty little portholes to peer out of. We saw numerous species of cute little fishies and also a shipwreck of a Japanese fishing boat. By the time we finished up with our excursion we didn’t have time to travel all the way to the beaches since we had to be back on the ship by 8 so we just went to a little restaurant on the waterfront and had delicious food and drinks. We took a water taxi back to our ship and enjoyed the BBQ! The day went by way too fast but the island was SO dazzling it was a fabulous break from the ship.
TODAY was also quite an entertaining one. We didn’t have classes, and instead had SEA OLYMPICS SPRING 09! Competitions included but were not limited to: dodge ball, limbo, twister, pictionary, spelling bee, volleyball, weight lifting, mashed potato sculpting, flip cup, and a finale of synchronized swimming. (If I ever figure out how to let you view the videos I have been taking, these will provide plenty of laughs.) Marisa and I were signed up to participate in flip cup, but with the excitement in the air, the table filled rather quickly and we were left in the audience. Our floor, the Caribbean Convicts, did very poorly and I think have one puny little bronze medal. I was put under the impression that the winners would be allowed to disembark the ship 1st in Fort Lauderdale, but I don’t think I’ll be ready to leave first anyways, so I’m not bothered.
I have 3 midterms and a major project due in the next 3 days so you will not be hearing from me. Then I’ll be in India and I’m certain I’ll have plenty to say about that trip.
Side-note: I gave up the snack bar for lent. Still going strong! But the spa was giving discounted massages today, and Marisa and I enjoyed an ultra relaxing “7 seas massage” so I guess my (generalized term) money will still be floating around various amenities of the ship anyways…
MOM & DAD I’m VERRRRRRRRY excited to see you so soooooon! Dares too, I suppose.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
South Africa
Let me start by making a formal announcement that my 21st birthday is exactly 1 month from today and I will be accepting gifts that may be brought over seas in care of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne R Baker themselves.
Next up: South Africa! I’m going to exclude Morocco from this statement and just say I am truly madly deeply in love with this whole continent. I will definitely be back to tackle other parts of it later in life. IN FACT, I like it SO much that I was feeling REALLY adventurous… and.. may or may not have decided to have the outline of it permanently inked on a part of my body for all to see…. Ha juuuust kidding! But this girl who works on the ship from here actually did, and it’s kinda cool.
Anyways, we arrived in Cape Town early Wednesday morning and Marisa and I once again were eager to greet the day seeing as we had an appointment to swim with some great white sharks in the great white capital of the WORLD! However, due to rough waters we were not able to make that appointment and were a little saddened. (Though I did get to keep all of my appendages so I’ve got that going for me.) So, then plan less, we started to wonder around the waterfront where we randomly bumped into a friend from one of our other trips who was leaving to visit the wine lands and we obviously decided to join! Our 5-some grabbed the next train to Stellenbosch to do some wine tasting. It was the most gorgeous day and we visited 2 wineries and had some quite delicious wines including a Pinotage, which we were told is a South African specialty. I came dangerously close to purchasing my own private wine cellar in the mountains of Stellenbosch to have my wines age and come back at a later date to enjoy. I figured the Baker fam wouldn’t allow that treasure to go to waste but was promptly talked out of it by the better judgment of my parents. After a glorious day we headed back to Cape Town in search of some traditional African cuisine. After a 3-hour wait… we finally sat down to feast on the most delectable servings of ostrich, springbok, crocodile, and lamb. Perhaps I’ll start an ostrich farm in Warrenton…. I can promise that you all would be very fortunate of having the great blessing of my acquaintance.
Thursday morning Marisa and I flew to Johannesburg and then drove to Pillansberg for our 3-day safari! During our 1st game drive that evening I fell severely ill and was miserable for a solid 20 hours. (I’d like to thank mama baker for dealing with my pathetic complaints via blackberry messenger…) BUT we had the most fantastic accommodations I could have ever imagined and after lying in bed for 12 hours was able to crawl out to our little porch and curl up on our chaise lounge under our thatch roof that looked out into the mountains covered in green vegetation under the sun and it was really impossible for me to be unhappy. I also felt much better and was able to join the group for our evening drive. Saturday morning our “Ferrari safari” (our guide drove real fast) woke up at 4 am to see an African sunrise atop a great mountain. During our time we were able to spot lions, hippos, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, springboks, African wild dogs, elephants, jackals, tons of owls, and an assortment of African birds. It was SWEEEEEEET!
Last night we once again had one of those amazing dinners consisting of great food, drinks, company, and conversation. We found a local club, did some dancing, and called it a night. This morning we went with one of our friends in a cable car up Table Mountain. Marisa had a panic attack on the way up the hefty slope and I found great entertainment in her frenzy. (sorry….) The view was breathtaking and even though we cheated by not hiking, I’m really glad we reached the peak! We then devoured the most scrumptious sushi for lunch I could have dreamed of. Africa: you didn’t let me down.
Notes:
-Today while waiting in line for our cable car, we started talking to this couple in front of us to later learn that the woman was from South Africa, the man from the states, they had met on the internet, he’s never left the country, just acquired a passport, and flew all the way over here to meet her….. how weird!
-Foreigners LOVE Obama. Everywhere we go, people on the streets will just shout out “Obama!”… and if you ever start a conversation with someone, they are sure to chime in how happy they are that our country has him.
-I’m having a love/hate relationship with the internet currently. I REALLY miss not having it, but when I finally DO have it, I’m overwhelmed with the amount of things I need to accomplish. I have compiled a few video slideshows of photos we’ve taken various places with themed musical accompaniment and have been so excited to post here and share! But when I finally found internet today I was very unsuccessful in my attempts. So, I’m frustrated.
Next up: South Africa! I’m going to exclude Morocco from this statement and just say I am truly madly deeply in love with this whole continent. I will definitely be back to tackle other parts of it later in life. IN FACT, I like it SO much that I was feeling REALLY adventurous… and.. may or may not have decided to have the outline of it permanently inked on a part of my body for all to see…. Ha juuuust kidding! But this girl who works on the ship from here actually did, and it’s kinda cool.
Anyways, we arrived in Cape Town early Wednesday morning and Marisa and I once again were eager to greet the day seeing as we had an appointment to swim with some great white sharks in the great white capital of the WORLD! However, due to rough waters we were not able to make that appointment and were a little saddened. (Though I did get to keep all of my appendages so I’ve got that going for me.) So, then plan less, we started to wonder around the waterfront where we randomly bumped into a friend from one of our other trips who was leaving to visit the wine lands and we obviously decided to join! Our 5-some grabbed the next train to Stellenbosch to do some wine tasting. It was the most gorgeous day and we visited 2 wineries and had some quite delicious wines including a Pinotage, which we were told is a South African specialty. I came dangerously close to purchasing my own private wine cellar in the mountains of Stellenbosch to have my wines age and come back at a later date to enjoy. I figured the Baker fam wouldn’t allow that treasure to go to waste but was promptly talked out of it by the better judgment of my parents. After a glorious day we headed back to Cape Town in search of some traditional African cuisine. After a 3-hour wait… we finally sat down to feast on the most delectable servings of ostrich, springbok, crocodile, and lamb. Perhaps I’ll start an ostrich farm in Warrenton…. I can promise that you all would be very fortunate of having the great blessing of my acquaintance.
Thursday morning Marisa and I flew to Johannesburg and then drove to Pillansberg for our 3-day safari! During our 1st game drive that evening I fell severely ill and was miserable for a solid 20 hours. (I’d like to thank mama baker for dealing with my pathetic complaints via blackberry messenger…) BUT we had the most fantastic accommodations I could have ever imagined and after lying in bed for 12 hours was able to crawl out to our little porch and curl up on our chaise lounge under our thatch roof that looked out into the mountains covered in green vegetation under the sun and it was really impossible for me to be unhappy. I also felt much better and was able to join the group for our evening drive. Saturday morning our “Ferrari safari” (our guide drove real fast) woke up at 4 am to see an African sunrise atop a great mountain. During our time we were able to spot lions, hippos, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, springboks, African wild dogs, elephants, jackals, tons of owls, and an assortment of African birds. It was SWEEEEEEET!
Last night we once again had one of those amazing dinners consisting of great food, drinks, company, and conversation. We found a local club, did some dancing, and called it a night. This morning we went with one of our friends in a cable car up Table Mountain. Marisa had a panic attack on the way up the hefty slope and I found great entertainment in her frenzy. (sorry….) The view was breathtaking and even though we cheated by not hiking, I’m really glad we reached the peak! We then devoured the most scrumptious sushi for lunch I could have dreamed of. Africa: you didn’t let me down.
Notes:
-Today while waiting in line for our cable car, we started talking to this couple in front of us to later learn that the woman was from South Africa, the man from the states, they had met on the internet, he’s never left the country, just acquired a passport, and flew all the way over here to meet her….. how weird!
-Foreigners LOVE Obama. Everywhere we go, people on the streets will just shout out “Obama!”… and if you ever start a conversation with someone, they are sure to chime in how happy they are that our country has him.
-I’m having a love/hate relationship with the internet currently. I REALLY miss not having it, but when I finally DO have it, I’m overwhelmed with the amount of things I need to accomplish. I have compiled a few video slideshows of photos we’ve taken various places with themed musical accompaniment and have been so excited to post here and share! But when I finally found internet today I was very unsuccessful in my attempts. So, I’m frustrated.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Namibia: my new happy place
May want to pop open a cold one for this, I have a lot to say. I have just concluded the best 3 consecutive days of my life. I realize there is no possible way for me to completely describe how amazing our time here was, but I will give it a whirl!
We got into Walvis Bay early Saturday morning. Marisa and I had not planned anything for the first day but had hopes to go sand boarding (snow boarding down the largest sand dunes in the world) in the afternoon. We got off the ship around lunchtime and went to a local restaurant raved about in wikitravel – on the beach overlooking the peaceful ocean. Four of us ordered an array of random enticing options and had a wonderful feast! Marisa and I then decided it would be warranted for us to walk into town instead of taking a cab.. and an hour later actually reached town. Namibia is about the size of Texas with a population equivalent to Houston alone. It’s SO incredibly beautiful and the streets are desolate during the day so we enjoyed our leisurely stroll. We were able to set up dune boarding with “Wayne”, who completely lived up to the highest possible standard I hold for that name, and he picked us and some other SASers in town and we drove out to dune 7. Upon arrival, the 10 or so of us unloaded and immediately requested we start out on the bunny slopes, which do not exist in the land of dunes. So, up to the top of the vertical dune we went, only by the most efficient transportation available: 4-wheelers. (Wayne explained to me that he is the only company in the world known to escort passengers to the top on ATVs – everywhere else, you hike) I have snowboarded several times before and had no worries in my mind.. until we reached the top of the daunting mound of sand. However, Marisa (who turned out to be quite the sand boarder) and I attacked dune 7 with gracefulness and ease! We took turns going up and down for a few hours and everyone in the group had the absolute best possible time – even though we were completely covered in sand by the end of the day. We ended up really enjoying the company of a few of the girls in our group and went out with them that evening to Swakopmund (a quaint German town nearby). We found this amazing pub on the beach – sand floor, no exterior walls, and a wedding party as excited to entertain us as we were to join them! During dinner, a tribal man from the San tribe sat right in the middle of our table and started chatting with us about how he was an artist and was offering to draw portraits for us. At first I was a little irritated that he was trying to sell his skills while we were having dinner, but we ended up talking to him for hours. He was born and raised in the San tribe, living in the African bush. He explained to us that he was a hunter, and his tribe’s tradition of not wearing any clothes in order to blend into their surroundings while hunting and gathering. He spoke his tribe’s language, but was able to learn English just by listening to others speak when he makes his way into town. Which, was over 40 kilometers away that he walked/hitch-hiked earlier that day and planned to sleep on the beach that night and build himself a fire since he wouldn’t have a blanket. He comes into town in order to make a little money each night, and Marisa and I had him sketch our portraits. Not too shabby. I ALSO met this more average Namibian girl, Louwna, who we hung out with all night and has already contacted me via facebook. It was so rewarding to actually interact with the locals, especially after having a rocky time in Morocco. So that was day one.
Day two started bright and early. Marisa and I signed up for a trip through SAS called “Sea and Sand Dunes” and weren’t really even sure what that entailed. We arrived at the pier and hopped on a couple boats for our oceanic adventure. Our guide, Klaus, told us that we needed to “get our sea legs and have some Namibian coffee”. Being 9 am, this idea perked me up, only to realize Klaus was holding a bottle of Sherry and a slew of shot glasses. We then popped a couple bottles of champagne and learned about the seals and dolphins of the area. A couple significant seals joined us on our boat (finding us in the middle of the ocean and plopping aboard) so we could pet and awe. Sally the seal even showed off her talent of surfing the wake the boat created. We were with 3 of the most entertaining girls who quickly became our posse for the day and when the time came for us to explore the Sand Dunes part of our excursion we were begging Klaus to let us stay and play. But THEN we found Niko in his landrover for 5 and he automatically became our new obsession. The second part of the day involved cruising in 4x4 vehicles with the beach on 1 side and the desert on the other. We FINALLY saw a whale!! However, not in our imagined way. This humpback whale was beached and dead. Still quite a site. After about a 2-hour drive, we stopped on the beach and a restaurant was created out of thin air. (actually from the contents of our vehicles) We tried Namibian oysters, which are apparently in the rankings of the best in the world, and all other sorts of little snacks & treats. On our return trip, we experienced a Namibian adventure park. Niko took us flying through the dunes, up, down, around, and back up for more. (I have a video to come that will fully explain this thrilling experience) The 5 of us were high on life. After our full day of the most fun I’ve ever had, 6 of us went to dinner in Walvis Bay, which turned into a 4-hour event. It was the most pleasant atmosphere, food, and company I could have wished for. I truly have not felt so content in awhile.
After about 4 hours of rest, Marisa and I awoke to greet the day today and went out to the pier for a morning of kayaking. We were within poking distance of hundreds of seals and several dolphins! The water was so calm and even though it was a moderate workout, it was still so serene.
Now we’re about to leave and it makes me sad to go! I wish that every one of you could have experienced Namibia the way I did, and if you EVER have an opportunity to visit, TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!
I’m sure I was not able to fully convey the pure bliss that I have felt for the past 3 days but as an addendum: I’m sun burnt from blistered scalp to sock tan-lined feet, every single muscle in my body aches, I have a horrid cold settling into my lungs and I STILL could not be happier.
I’m racking up quite an extensive Christmas list already, but I figure I’ll start now since my Bday is also quickly approaching:
- snowboard
- kayak
- sand dune
But seriously, I’m kayaking all summer at the lake. (once I get a kayak, that is)
One last thing. This afternoon we were walking through town unsuccessfully trying to locate an internet café. We took a seat on the stairs of a building to take a break and reconsider our options. I was sitting with my backpack on my back, resting also on the concrete. Some local guys came up to us and started to chat and offer help with finding a place for internet. When SUDDENLY I feel the faintest pull on my backpack, my stomach drops to my feet, I stand up, swing around, see a man whose hand was in the process of opening my backpack, remember that my wallet is placed ever so conveniently on the top of the compartment he has discovered, and all I can think to say is “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What are you DOING?!” while he is walking away with his hand in his pocket…. But LUCKILY I caught him in time, because I still have all of my belongings. I have no clue how I felt it, but it was definitely a rush. Bad situation, but it won’t bring me down – I still love this place!!
We got into Walvis Bay early Saturday morning. Marisa and I had not planned anything for the first day but had hopes to go sand boarding (snow boarding down the largest sand dunes in the world) in the afternoon. We got off the ship around lunchtime and went to a local restaurant raved about in wikitravel – on the beach overlooking the peaceful ocean. Four of us ordered an array of random enticing options and had a wonderful feast! Marisa and I then decided it would be warranted for us to walk into town instead of taking a cab.. and an hour later actually reached town. Namibia is about the size of Texas with a population equivalent to Houston alone. It’s SO incredibly beautiful and the streets are desolate during the day so we enjoyed our leisurely stroll. We were able to set up dune boarding with “Wayne”, who completely lived up to the highest possible standard I hold for that name, and he picked us and some other SASers in town and we drove out to dune 7. Upon arrival, the 10 or so of us unloaded and immediately requested we start out on the bunny slopes, which do not exist in the land of dunes. So, up to the top of the vertical dune we went, only by the most efficient transportation available: 4-wheelers. (Wayne explained to me that he is the only company in the world known to escort passengers to the top on ATVs – everywhere else, you hike) I have snowboarded several times before and had no worries in my mind.. until we reached the top of the daunting mound of sand. However, Marisa (who turned out to be quite the sand boarder) and I attacked dune 7 with gracefulness and ease! We took turns going up and down for a few hours and everyone in the group had the absolute best possible time – even though we were completely covered in sand by the end of the day. We ended up really enjoying the company of a few of the girls in our group and went out with them that evening to Swakopmund (a quaint German town nearby). We found this amazing pub on the beach – sand floor, no exterior walls, and a wedding party as excited to entertain us as we were to join them! During dinner, a tribal man from the San tribe sat right in the middle of our table and started chatting with us about how he was an artist and was offering to draw portraits for us. At first I was a little irritated that he was trying to sell his skills while we were having dinner, but we ended up talking to him for hours. He was born and raised in the San tribe, living in the African bush. He explained to us that he was a hunter, and his tribe’s tradition of not wearing any clothes in order to blend into their surroundings while hunting and gathering. He spoke his tribe’s language, but was able to learn English just by listening to others speak when he makes his way into town. Which, was over 40 kilometers away that he walked/hitch-hiked earlier that day and planned to sleep on the beach that night and build himself a fire since he wouldn’t have a blanket. He comes into town in order to make a little money each night, and Marisa and I had him sketch our portraits. Not too shabby. I ALSO met this more average Namibian girl, Louwna, who we hung out with all night and has already contacted me via facebook. It was so rewarding to actually interact with the locals, especially after having a rocky time in Morocco. So that was day one.
Day two started bright and early. Marisa and I signed up for a trip through SAS called “Sea and Sand Dunes” and weren’t really even sure what that entailed. We arrived at the pier and hopped on a couple boats for our oceanic adventure. Our guide, Klaus, told us that we needed to “get our sea legs and have some Namibian coffee”. Being 9 am, this idea perked me up, only to realize Klaus was holding a bottle of Sherry and a slew of shot glasses. We then popped a couple bottles of champagne and learned about the seals and dolphins of the area. A couple significant seals joined us on our boat (finding us in the middle of the ocean and plopping aboard) so we could pet and awe. Sally the seal even showed off her talent of surfing the wake the boat created. We were with 3 of the most entertaining girls who quickly became our posse for the day and when the time came for us to explore the Sand Dunes part of our excursion we were begging Klaus to let us stay and play. But THEN we found Niko in his landrover for 5 and he automatically became our new obsession. The second part of the day involved cruising in 4x4 vehicles with the beach on 1 side and the desert on the other. We FINALLY saw a whale!! However, not in our imagined way. This humpback whale was beached and dead. Still quite a site. After about a 2-hour drive, we stopped on the beach and a restaurant was created out of thin air. (actually from the contents of our vehicles) We tried Namibian oysters, which are apparently in the rankings of the best in the world, and all other sorts of little snacks & treats. On our return trip, we experienced a Namibian adventure park. Niko took us flying through the dunes, up, down, around, and back up for more. (I have a video to come that will fully explain this thrilling experience) The 5 of us were high on life. After our full day of the most fun I’ve ever had, 6 of us went to dinner in Walvis Bay, which turned into a 4-hour event. It was the most pleasant atmosphere, food, and company I could have wished for. I truly have not felt so content in awhile.
After about 4 hours of rest, Marisa and I awoke to greet the day today and went out to the pier for a morning of kayaking. We were within poking distance of hundreds of seals and several dolphins! The water was so calm and even though it was a moderate workout, it was still so serene.
Now we’re about to leave and it makes me sad to go! I wish that every one of you could have experienced Namibia the way I did, and if you EVER have an opportunity to visit, TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!
I’m sure I was not able to fully convey the pure bliss that I have felt for the past 3 days but as an addendum: I’m sun burnt from blistered scalp to sock tan-lined feet, every single muscle in my body aches, I have a horrid cold settling into my lungs and I STILL could not be happier.
I’m racking up quite an extensive Christmas list already, but I figure I’ll start now since my Bday is also quickly approaching:
- snowboard
- kayak
- sand dune
But seriously, I’m kayaking all summer at the lake. (once I get a kayak, that is)
One last thing. This afternoon we were walking through town unsuccessfully trying to locate an internet café. We took a seat on the stairs of a building to take a break and reconsider our options. I was sitting with my backpack on my back, resting also on the concrete. Some local guys came up to us and started to chat and offer help with finding a place for internet. When SUDDENLY I feel the faintest pull on my backpack, my stomach drops to my feet, I stand up, swing around, see a man whose hand was in the process of opening my backpack, remember that my wallet is placed ever so conveniently on the top of the compartment he has discovered, and all I can think to say is “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What are you DOING?!” while he is walking away with his hand in his pocket…. But LUCKILY I caught him in time, because I still have all of my belongings. I have no clue how I felt it, but it was definitely a rush. Bad situation, but it won’t bring me down – I still love this place!!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Neptune Day!
1st off, a letter from the dean:
"Crossing the Line, or Neptune Day, is an initiation rite celebrated in many navies. It commemorates a sailor's first crossing of the equator. The rite was intended originally as a test of new shipmates by seasoned sailors. The tradition dates back to the 16th century, and in the old days, the ship heaved to (that is, it set its sails so as to remain stationary) and the pollywogs were hoisted on the mainyard and dunked into the ocean 40 feet below; afterwards, shaving and other forms of blood letting took place. We will actually cross the equator tomorrow in the late afternoon."
So 1st of all, they lied to us. I thought we crossed the equator TODAY. But I’m over it. We were abruptly awoken at the wee hours of the morning by pots and pans banging through the halls. Initiation ceremonies started at 9 am on the 7th deck around the pool. This ritual consisted of the following: they poured freezing cold green goo (a fish gut smoothie if you will) on our heads, told us to kiss a fish, jump in the frigid swimming pool, climb out to bow to the ‘queen’ and kiss the ring on the ‘kings’ hand. Everyone was wearing funky attire, including the king being painted from head to toe in lime green body paint. (pictures coming soon) Definitely set the mood. It was SO warm and sunny, everyone was outside, and they were playing the best beats – fabulous morning. Then they started the shaving of the heads. DISCLAIMER: I did not, and I repeat, NOT shave my head. But plenty of others did, including numerous females. Marisa and I even got in on the action, posing as barbers, and created quite the Mohawk for our friend Cole. Then we created a double-mohawk, and as we were going for horizontal stripes on the next victim, the clippers died. It was fun while it lasted. But the rest of the day was spent basking in the glorious rays of the golden sun. But to top off a wonderful day, I’d have to say the best so far spent on the ship: a BBQ! (sundaes included – even rainbow sprinkles, Carter) I’ll retract 3 negative statements about the food, but I just don’t understand why they cannot create such meals on a daily basis. Either way, I’m going to sleep happy tonight =).
Things I’ve learned:
- there’s a christmas island (who knew?) .. and it’s full of crabs
"Crossing the Line, or Neptune Day, is an initiation rite celebrated in many navies. It commemorates a sailor's first crossing of the equator. The rite was intended originally as a test of new shipmates by seasoned sailors. The tradition dates back to the 16th century, and in the old days, the ship heaved to (that is, it set its sails so as to remain stationary) and the pollywogs were hoisted on the mainyard and dunked into the ocean 40 feet below; afterwards, shaving and other forms of blood letting took place. We will actually cross the equator tomorrow in the late afternoon."
So 1st of all, they lied to us. I thought we crossed the equator TODAY. But I’m over it. We were abruptly awoken at the wee hours of the morning by pots and pans banging through the halls. Initiation ceremonies started at 9 am on the 7th deck around the pool. This ritual consisted of the following: they poured freezing cold green goo (a fish gut smoothie if you will) on our heads, told us to kiss a fish, jump in the frigid swimming pool, climb out to bow to the ‘queen’ and kiss the ring on the ‘kings’ hand. Everyone was wearing funky attire, including the king being painted from head to toe in lime green body paint. (pictures coming soon) Definitely set the mood. It was SO warm and sunny, everyone was outside, and they were playing the best beats – fabulous morning. Then they started the shaving of the heads. DISCLAIMER: I did not, and I repeat, NOT shave my head. But plenty of others did, including numerous females. Marisa and I even got in on the action, posing as barbers, and created quite the Mohawk for our friend Cole. Then we created a double-mohawk, and as we were going for horizontal stripes on the next victim, the clippers died. It was fun while it lasted. But the rest of the day was spent basking in the glorious rays of the golden sun. But to top off a wonderful day, I’d have to say the best so far spent on the ship: a BBQ! (sundaes included – even rainbow sprinkles, Carter) I’ll retract 3 negative statements about the food, but I just don’t understand why they cannot create such meals on a daily basis. Either way, I’m going to sleep happy tonight =).
Things I’ve learned:
- there’s a christmas island (who knew?) .. and it’s full of crabs
Sunday, February 8, 2009
I've got mail. Just received this..
SUBPOENA to all POLLYWOGS,
You are hereby requested to appear before the ROYAL COURT OF THE REALM OF NEPTUNE, in the DISTRICT OF EQUATORIUS, because it has been brought to the attention of HIS HIGHNESS, NEPTUNE REX through his trusty SHELLBACKS, that the good ship M/V EXPLORER is about to cross the equator and enter those waters accompanied by passengers who have not acknowledged the sovereignty of the RULER OF THE DEEP.
THEREFORE be it known to all Slimy Pollywogs that The Royal, King NEPTUNE REX, Supreme Ruler of all citizens of the deep, will, with his Secretary and Royal Court, meet in full session on board the offending ship M.V. EXPLORER on the 9th day of February, A.D. 2009 at 0900 on Deck 7 aft, to hear your defense.
Regards,
-King Neptune and His Royal Court
In addition: All pollywogs with hair longer than 8 inches who wish to donate their hair to a worthwhile charity, should do so BEFORE undergoing the initiation ceremony, as only clean hair is able to be donated.
If there are any pollywogs who have brought hair clippers on board, your services are hereby solicited by King Neptune and his Royal Barber. You may help by bringing your clippers to DECK 7 aft, tomorrow morning.
You are hereby requested to appear before the ROYAL COURT OF THE REALM OF NEPTUNE, in the DISTRICT OF EQUATORIUS, because it has been brought to the attention of HIS HIGHNESS, NEPTUNE REX through his trusty SHELLBACKS, that the good ship M/V EXPLORER is about to cross the equator and enter those waters accompanied by passengers who have not acknowledged the sovereignty of the RULER OF THE DEEP.
THEREFORE be it known to all Slimy Pollywogs that The Royal, King NEPTUNE REX, Supreme Ruler of all citizens of the deep, will, with his Secretary and Royal Court, meet in full session on board the offending ship M.V. EXPLORER on the 9th day of February, A.D. 2009 at 0900 on Deck 7 aft, to hear your defense.
Regards,
-King Neptune and His Royal Court
In addition: All pollywogs with hair longer than 8 inches who wish to donate their hair to a worthwhile charity, should do so BEFORE undergoing the initiation ceremony, as only clean hair is able to be donated.
If there are any pollywogs who have brought hair clippers on board, your services are hereby solicited by King Neptune and his Royal Barber. You may help by bringing your clippers to DECK 7 aft, tomorrow morning.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Morocco
I’m not sure I’d go so far as to say it was culture shock, but it was definitely cultural awareness. We were supposed to arrive in Casablanca on Monday, but due to rough waters between Spain and Morocco, were not able to fuel up on time and missed our first day there. So we arrived Monday night and were able to be cleared and disembark early Tuesday morning.
Marisa and I had a SAS trip planned for Tuesday-Thursday, traveling to Marrakech. It was a 4-hour bus ride from Casablanca, which we started at 8 on Tuesday. Upon arrival in Marrakech, we went straight to an authentic Moroccan lunch, which was pleasantly surprising! I really enjoyed the food. And after the meal they served the most delicious oranges I have ever tasted and their national specialty, mint green tea (with overwhelming amounts of sugar). After lunch we traveled straight to the camel farm (not sure of a better term). We had 2 groups with us, so our group went to see, as our guide described, “something exotic…. like a house.” We went to a Moroccan house to enjoy more tea and crepes while we had an entertaining band and got the hook-up with our turbans! I must make note of the fact that when I went to use the restroom in this “exotic house” I was a bit taken aback to find a big dirt room, featuring 2 stalls, inside of which I found.. a hole in the ground. No toilets here my friends. Anyways, our group was able to ride the camels back to where we started and Marisa and I were eager to volunteer to ride together as you can see. Not quite what I had expected, but certainly an amusing adventure! Next we checked into our hotel (4 stars) and got our random roommate assignments… nervous!! But actually both of our roommates were such cool girls and we were able to survive two nights apart and make new friends at the same time. We just had dinner at our hotel and called it a night. Marisa and I dared to greet the dark night in the city in an attempt to find some Casablanca brewskies, but soon realized we were so not safe and ran back to our hotel. I think the hardest part of being in Morocco was the fact that we just felt unsafe the entire time. Wednesday morning started early, chilly, and rainy. It was a bit challenging to enjoy the Prime Minister’s house and the tombs we visited while it was such dreary weather, but we survived and the weather cleared up in the afternoon. We went to this huge, open square in the city where all the vendors set up shop. As I was intently viewing the tiny little cute monkeys in the square, I was horrifically surprised to feel a snake hissing near my ear as a strange man attempted to wrap him around my neck from behind.. my shrill scream of terror I think caused everyone in that square to miss a beat. I do not do snakes, word to the wise. But our funny little man in a pointy-headed cape (I could not take our guide seriously) drug us to his next stop, a small little spice shop in the very dark depths of the local shops. However, this ended up being one of the greatest places we visited and Marisa and I definitely purchased some good loot! (saffron in bulk, some appetite-suppressing Ramadan tea, some black seeds that allegedly cure hangovers, and lots of lotions with delightful scents) Oh, and also, there was a lady giving henna hand tats at the shop and I was obviously all about that. She asked my name, and after hearing ‘Dana’ proceeded to draw a squiggly line and some dots on my hand. While later walking through the “Art Square”, I kept hearing my name and Marisa’s from strange men on the street… yes, apparently that squiggly line and dots was Arabic, and we quickly regretted that decision. The tat is still on my hand and looks like I got bored in class with an orange Sharpe, but oh well. Wednesday night we had dinner again at the hotel and left Thursday morning for Casablanca to meet the ship. We’re currently on our way to Namibia!
Things I learned:
- Moroccans speak Arabic, French, and English if they’re in sales (mainly speaking numbers). I was surprised to hear that at the university level of schooling, though, French is the language taught in.
- It is disrespectful for women to look men directly in the eyes, and this was a very hard rule to follow.
- It took the Mayflower 3 months to cross the Atlantic… and I was complaining about 9 days.
- American music is prevalent in most foreign countries, however not censored.
- Toilets flush the opposite way once you cross the equator… we’ll see.
Things I’m thankful for:
- (in the US: clean water, toilets, pasteurization of dairy, paved roads, a sense of personal security)
- my parents allowing me to be here right now as I have realized it was not such a simple decision to make for many others here
- that my camel didn’t spit on me
Marisa and I had a SAS trip planned for Tuesday-Thursday, traveling to Marrakech. It was a 4-hour bus ride from Casablanca, which we started at 8 on Tuesday. Upon arrival in Marrakech, we went straight to an authentic Moroccan lunch, which was pleasantly surprising! I really enjoyed the food. And after the meal they served the most delicious oranges I have ever tasted and their national specialty, mint green tea (with overwhelming amounts of sugar). After lunch we traveled straight to the camel farm (not sure of a better term). We had 2 groups with us, so our group went to see, as our guide described, “something exotic…. like a house.” We went to a Moroccan house to enjoy more tea and crepes while we had an entertaining band and got the hook-up with our turbans! I must make note of the fact that when I went to use the restroom in this “exotic house” I was a bit taken aback to find a big dirt room, featuring 2 stalls, inside of which I found.. a hole in the ground. No toilets here my friends. Anyways, our group was able to ride the camels back to where we started and Marisa and I were eager to volunteer to ride together as you can see. Not quite what I had expected, but certainly an amusing adventure! Next we checked into our hotel (4 stars) and got our random roommate assignments… nervous!! But actually both of our roommates were such cool girls and we were able to survive two nights apart and make new friends at the same time. We just had dinner at our hotel and called it a night. Marisa and I dared to greet the dark night in the city in an attempt to find some Casablanca brewskies, but soon realized we were so not safe and ran back to our hotel. I think the hardest part of being in Morocco was the fact that we just felt unsafe the entire time. Wednesday morning started early, chilly, and rainy. It was a bit challenging to enjoy the Prime Minister’s house and the tombs we visited while it was such dreary weather, but we survived and the weather cleared up in the afternoon. We went to this huge, open square in the city where all the vendors set up shop. As I was intently viewing the tiny little cute monkeys in the square, I was horrifically surprised to feel a snake hissing near my ear as a strange man attempted to wrap him around my neck from behind.. my shrill scream of terror I think caused everyone in that square to miss a beat. I do not do snakes, word to the wise. But our funny little man in a pointy-headed cape (I could not take our guide seriously) drug us to his next stop, a small little spice shop in the very dark depths of the local shops. However, this ended up being one of the greatest places we visited and Marisa and I definitely purchased some good loot! (saffron in bulk, some appetite-suppressing Ramadan tea, some black seeds that allegedly cure hangovers, and lots of lotions with delightful scents) Oh, and also, there was a lady giving henna hand tats at the shop and I was obviously all about that. She asked my name, and after hearing ‘Dana’ proceeded to draw a squiggly line and some dots on my hand. While later walking through the “Art Square”, I kept hearing my name and Marisa’s from strange men on the street… yes, apparently that squiggly line and dots was Arabic, and we quickly regretted that decision. The tat is still on my hand and looks like I got bored in class with an orange Sharpe, but oh well. Wednesday night we had dinner again at the hotel and left Thursday morning for Casablanca to meet the ship. We’re currently on our way to Namibia!
Things I learned:
- Moroccans speak Arabic, French, and English if they’re in sales (mainly speaking numbers). I was surprised to hear that at the university level of schooling, though, French is the language taught in.
- It is disrespectful for women to look men directly in the eyes, and this was a very hard rule to follow.
- It took the Mayflower 3 months to cross the Atlantic… and I was complaining about 9 days.
- American music is prevalent in most foreign countries, however not censored.
- Toilets flush the opposite way once you cross the equator… we’ll see.
Things I’m thankful for:
- (in the US: clean water, toilets, pasteurization of dairy, paved roads, a sense of personal security)
- my parents allowing me to be here right now as I have realized it was not such a simple decision to make for many others here
- that my camel didn’t spit on me
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
"I'm on a camel in Africa.. just another day at school."
Just my day today. Starting with the improved decor in our room (we made a paper chain with links for each day we have left) and then our afternoon in Marrakech - camelback!! (turbans included)
Spain Photos
Okay so I am in Marrakech and our hotel has internet so I was able to post a few pics!
There is a photo of Cadiz, one of our little group the first day off the ship by the beach in Cadiz, one of Marisa and I at a nice little pirate bar on Playa Victoria, one of the view in Arcos, and one of our carriage ride!!
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