OUTRUNNING A CYCLONE and OUTSMARTING PIRATES

Although we haven't blogged in a while, it's not because we are bored and have had nothing to do!  It's been an interesting week!

 

As I mentioned before, our trip to Madagascar was shortened slightly because of a bad cyclone heading directly for that island.  We got away and at full steam managed to avoid the worst of it. Only one day of heavy rain and rough seas. Later reports confirm that it was a bad one and knocked out all their power and closed the airport and all shipping for several days.  One of our World Cruise passengers stayed on the island because he is building two schools there and had business to take care of.  We learned yesterday that he finally made it out and will rejoin us in Sri Lanka.  His original intention was to re-board in Mauritius but couldn't get there before we left.

 

As you can see from the pictures, there's not much happening in Madagascar.  It's a beautiful island but the people are extremely poor and it was quite disconcerting the way everyone mobbed us as we got off the shuttle bus in town.  In fact, most people were so distressed that they returned to the safety of the Whisper immediately.  The mountain view photos were taken in Mauritius.  That is a beautiful and prosperous place but unfortunately, our visit there was short.

 

The next day, Captain Corsaro called all passengers together for a meeting to explain that there had been some pirate activity reported on our route to the Maldives.  As a result, he was instituting special safety measures that included night blackouts and a deviation in our original sailing course.  He assured everyone that the ship was equipped with any and all security measures that might be required in the event of any pirate attempt.  He would not elaborate on the specifics except to say we needn't worry and that the crew would be able to repel any unwanted visitors.  We were given instructions about moving into the corridors and staying there should an incident occur. 

 

So, for the next four days and nights we sailed without deck lights and the curtains tightly closed in our cabins.  Needless to say, we encountered no problems and life aboard the Whisper went on as usual as you can see from the last photo of a dinner at Hot Rocks on one of those blackout nights.   

 

90 passengers disembarked in Mauritius and 70 "newbies" got on.  Among the new arrivals is a young Russian couple who are the talk of the ship.  She is a bit "pudgy" but wears a thong bathing suit that has everyone chattering.  His suit is not much bigger and some people are quite offended. I think they are oblivious to the whole thing.

 

Our calendar is filling up and we have many events to look forward to.  The longer we sail the more of this ship we get to see because now the Captain has invited us to join him on Deck 2 in the laundry area where we will be served food prepared by the Chinese laundry staff.  That should be an interesting evening!  

 

In the meantime, I gather the weather at home is good.  We hope you are all well too. 

 

K & D