The changing time zones are wearing me out. There will be a total of 24 time zone changes on this cruise, so on average evry three days. On journeys where we sail in an eastward direction they will be even more common. As we keep moving the clock forward our nights lose an hour's sleep and we can wake up, as I did today, all groggy and blurred eyesight. And, no, I did not have a drop of alcohol yesterday. Also I wake up not being sure if my watch is still correct after the time change last night because my own phone has not moved from Egyptian time. Albina's watches have moved forward with the ship's stated timewatch, but not mine. At present ot is two hours out of sync. I am hoping that it will all fall into place when we reach Mumbai and ny phone will readjust to local Indian time.
The sea is still very calm. Apparaently cyclone storms are rare here as the northern and wastern sections of the sea are not as warm as the waters of the Bay of Bengal. We have yet to experience that section of water in good time. Perhaps the Arabian Sea is so calm and inviting that it encouraged Sinbad to embark on his many journeys, each eventuallly bringing him disaster and incidental riches in other parts of the Indian Ocean, while each time all his fellow sailors seemed to perish in horrific ways. We know the Indian Ocean can be dangerous. Currently Mzambique well to the south of us is facing a massive cyclone called Freddy.
On my morning one mile walk around the ship I chanced on some dolphins gamboling in the water around the boat. They dived and played around for a few minutes showing off their moves. I am not sure if they were waiting for scraps. The ship has such a strict policy on not throwing anything overboard. You should not even spit off the boat, but that's because it could get caught in the breeze and could land on another passenger furhter downwind. I wonder then if this is the reason we see so few seagulls or other sea birds circling the ship. "Hey, guys" you can hear them squawk, "This is a Fred Olsen Cruise boat. Forget it. You get nothing from those meanies. They may love the enviroment, but they're no good to us." Still, it did give me a silent thrill that I saw the dolphins. It's something that Albina missed, steel reeling from the time changes and tucked up in bed.
At 2pm we had a briefing on our three day trip to Agra. We were told our requirements for visas, for the covid passport and the suggestion to wear respectful clothes. I am disappointed that although we will be transiting from Delhi Airport to Agra on Tuesday afternoon, we will have no chance to see anything in Delhi. "That will depend on the driver," said one of the guides. "No, mate, it depends on you." There were about 100 people booked for this trip. We will be divided into four groups of about 25. My group, group 4, will actually be travelling on a later flight and will be staying in a separate hotel from the other three when we reach Agra.
Albina chanced her luck with use the laundrette, although ultimately she spent two hours down there, because on the first occasion her instruction to start somehowe did not connect. We came back to check after 40 minutes and found that nothing had moved. She had to begin again. This time I waited upstairs in the Ocean Lounge. The highly talented Borealis String Trio were playing to an audience of exactly two, plus me. I had seen them perform elsewhere on the ship and I admired the fact that even though they had sometimes played to an empty room, they gave it the verve and commitment that would satisfy an appreciative full house. It is such a haunting thought that these modest harbingers of high level culture are moving from place to place on the vessel generously offering their gifts of music to echo in empty halls, while the passengers are drawn away by other less demanding diversions.
The homegrown Borealis Theatre Company were always guaranteed an audience in the Neptune Theatre. They put on a truly glitzy song and dance show based on the greatest performers at Las Vegas. 9 brilliant and talented performers. They went through the whole rigmarole, Cher, Tina, Elvis, Elton, Celine. It was a rocket of a performance, with extraordinary costumes requiring quick changes and imaginative dance routines. I particularly loved the energetic opening rendition of Viva Las Vegas with scantily dressed croupiers legging it across the stage waving gigantic playing cards like something out of Alice in Wonderland.
Finally we had another quiz session. We agreed that after the show we all get to bed as quickly as possible, because the previous time change wore us out and we have yet another one overnight. By this time my phone will be three hours late.
No comments:
Post a Comment