A LITTLE BIT OF THIS; A LITTLE BIT OF THAT – APRIL 6TH

Well, we’re way past the half way mark on our cruise heading towards Ft. Lauderdale and still  LOVING it!  We’ve been settled into our cabin, everything has a place, and there’s been a place for everything.  I’ve already packed some of my clothes which, according to my schedule, I’ve worn enough, and I’ve unpacked several outfits for the last half.  I still have a half a tin of freeze-dried blueberries and have lots of cans of coconut milk, as well as plenty of pumpkin seeds I bought in New Zealand. 

When in Sydney, I reported about my visit to the dentist.  Well, my tooth/jaw continued to bother me for some weeks afterwards, but, thank God, the pain has been gone for quite a while.  Some weeks back, Michael suggested the wonderful substitute to oxycodone (which I don’t have or use) – ibuprofen and Tylenol – which worked very well.  However, I wanted to be sure I wasn’t causing any damage due to long time use.  I visited our doctor onboard and was pleasantly advised that Michael wasn’t trying to kill me.  The doctor told me there was no problem taking Tylenol for a long period of time but ibuprofen shouldn’t be used regularly.  After one of the passengers died a few weeks before in the medical area, I’m sure the doctor was very happy to treat someone with a “toothache.” 

A few passenger observations:

A couple of weeks ago, the Captain jokingly said, on his daily announcement, he was passing through the shops and the clerks looked very lonely.  He suggested we all go down to the shops and spend some money.  Well, how could anyone take that seriously?  I thought it was a joke, and a cute one at that.  Wrong, some people actually complained!

We were sitting in the piano bar listening to our wonderful pianist, David, and there were two women sitting playing cards at one of the very scarce tables available.  Shuffling, shuffling and more shuffling while we’re trying to enjoy some easy-listening music.  Some people just don’t have a clue. 

We’ve heard stories about people complaining about the food.  There is so much food on this ship, one could easily feed the number of people of Komodo Island for a month as well as the dragons.  Regardless, you will always hear some people complain about something.  Two Asian ladies, sitting at a table with our new friends, would have 5 or 6 bowls in front of them, filled with different vegetables, adding their own spices, complaining about the texture, undercooked or overcooked, smelling everything before they eat it;  they finally were moved to their own 2-person table because they made everyone else so miserable. 

Household hint:

How to get creases out of cotton table cloths without ironing:  I’ve watched the crew set up the tables for the evening Bistro.  They lay the beautiful cotton table cloth down on the table which, of course, has creases from being carefully folded.  They then spray the cloth with regular water (not distilled) and then set the table with flowers, napkins, silverware, etc.  Within a minute or so, the creases are gone. 

If you ask a crew member, no one can tell you what day of the week it is.  They’re able to tell you the date, but not the day of the week.  To them, working 7 days a week, one day is no different than the other.  The date is relevant because they know the date they embarked and the day they will disembark. 

Travel through the Tasman Sea after we left New Zealand was extremely rocky.  It is considered the second most turbulent waterway – I’m guessing after the Strait of Magellen.  No dancing for us that night. 

I particularly love that we live in a world that isn’t constantly politically correct.  Crew members, both and women, accept compliments very easily without taking offense.  People aren’t afraid to touch one another.  Waiters will regularly place their hand on your back while taking your order.  Hugging and friendliness go hand and hand.  No one is walking on eggshells.  If you’re offended by such things, I guess cruising would not be your cup of tea.