Cruising from Bali to Irian Jaya and down to Cairns

[RooFlyer]

So, another day at sea. Sunny and about 30 degrees ; seas remain very calm. Have had barely a rock all voyage. Getting lots of reading done but of course, there is always lunch.



Some swimming, some walking the decks, more reading. I've never been forced to do this much relaxing before - its not bad.



There was a talk by Ms Ockrant, the French Special Guest, with a talk on China. To be honest, it was a bit superficial for those of us in Australia who hear about this country every day. She showed a Chinese map of the world:



Then, sunset.





The entertainment on this cruise has been very good. I haven't been to many shows, but the ones I've seen are engaging. There are 5 in the troupe - 3 support type singers and a main female and a main male vocalist.

Tonight's show as "Pacifica" and as usual, hosted and introduced by our Cruise Director Giuseppe:

 

[RooFlyer]

The show's theme 'Pacifica' was only vaguely related to the costumes and content but hey - they have a limited costume dept.

The poor sound in the videos is down to my phone - it was good 'live'

'Bound for South Australia

Finale - 'We are Australian' - bit off with faint French accents, but went down a treat.

 

[Pushka]

The show's theme 'Pacifica' was only vaguely related to the costumes and content but hey - they have a limited costume dept.

The poor sound in the videos is down to my phone - it was good 'live'

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'Bound for South Australia

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Finale - 'We are Australian' - bit off with faint French accents, but went down a treat.

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Is it weird having the shows around the pool area? I'm not a fan of the shows much anyway.

 

[VPS]

We set sail then, bound for Agats, with a sea day tomorrow.

Unfortunately, just after lunch, we were informed by the Captain that there was a medical emergency on board and we would be missing Agats (where we would have had a 'New Guinea tribes' encounter) and sailing for Thursday Island where the gravely ill passenger would be taken by medivac helicopter (since amended to by boat). So an extra sea day.

The person who is ill is an Australian and we all got to know him. He was obviously not very well - relied heavily on a 'walker' and chatted about his heart issues. From later things learned he should not have been allowed to board, given his multitude of health issues. Still he has to be taken ASAP to the next available medivac point, which is Australia, not West Papua.

Lunch that day was a traditional Filipino fish dish. The Filipino staff were extolling its virtues.

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Later in the day we passed Le Jacques Cartier, another Ponant craft. They sent a zodiac over with boxes of something.

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Then we ploughed on for Thursday Island. We didn't go full speed, as we only needed to be at Thursday Island at first light on Wednesday - can't do a night-time transfer.

Maybe they were sending over some more gin

 

[Quickstatus]

Teo of them came aboard, dunno why (didn't bring fish)

Local Gin?

They sent a zodiac over with boxes of something.

Gin?

 

[RooFlyer]

Is it weird having the shows around the pool area? I'm not a fan of the shows much anyway.

This was the only time, talking advantage of the (predictable) warm evening. It worked very well.

 

[Daver6]

Maybe they were sending over some more gin

Would have been a much larger boat. That little thing couldn't carry enough for @RooFlyer 's needs.