Monday 23^rd February 2015 – Day at Sea.

Some of us were a little hung-over this morning! An early highlight of the day was managing to skype both Dave and Martin after managing to talk to the girls yesterday.

We finalised our hens and stags wedding present with Hazel this morning and had the gift certificate delivered to our cabin (sorry, stateroom). We then managed to load up with a few carbohydrates before the champagne and caviar canapés began at 2-30pm. (or as some called it, the renewal of Gary & Jenny’s wedding vows!)

The service led by Captain Wells was lovely – and delivered in his own unique style. Nesta became the unofficial photographer/video recorder of the ceremony and competed manfully with the official photographer – especially once she found out that Gary & Jenny were going to have to buy the ship’s photos for $24-95 each… What a good invention a memory stick is!

After the service the Captain stayed with us socialising for a good two and a half hours (someone else was driving the ship!), the champagne flowed, the cake was lovely and the best thing was the Captain gave the smokers permission to smoke in the Churchill Lounge (much to the annoyance of last night’s little Hitler who was on duty again!)

We were not surprised to find that once the sun had set, we didn’t feel like going to the restaurant – our waiter, Robert, will have forgotten who we are!

 

Tuesday 24^th February 2015 – Day at Sea.

Another quiet day at sea – recovering from the excesses of the previous thirty six hours! The weather is warming up again as we sail southwards across the South China Sea.

We went to Gary & Jenny’s cabin to show them our pics and video. It is the same size as ours with Diane sleeping on a fold-out version of our sofa…They liked the photos etc. so we transferred them onto their memory stick.

We were completely sober when we had a look at the future sales office. We were only going to enquire - but somehow the deal was so good, that we have only gone and booked ourselves on the 10 day round Britain cruise culminating in the three Queens sailing into Liverpool on 24^th-26^th May - so we’ll have front row seats for what is expected to attract over one million people to the waterfront in Liverpool… Show-offs or what?!

In the evening there was yet another “meet the Captain” cocktail party – for the newbies – and, as the waiters now know us, we were plied with yet more drink! (Austin will be pleased to know that the waiters now bring Ian glasses of red wine rather than the fizzy stuff…not that you drank at all, of course, Austin!)

The only downside to the day is that Nesta has developed a cold and Ian is beginning to show symptoms as well!

 

Wednesday 25^th February 2015 – Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Although we are back in Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu is actually on the island of Borneo. Borneo is the fifth largest island in the world and three countries (Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei) have sovereign territory on it.

Our trip today took us to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. It was great seeing so many animals close up – even if some didn’t look too happy in rather cramped surroundings.

It is really warm and humid today so the best thing we found about the Sabah Museum we were taken to after the park was that it was air-conditioned!

Then it was on to a heritage village. Lots of bamboo huts (with souvenir-sellers inside!) and displays including a “skull hut” where originally you kept your enemies skulls to ward of disease etc… (We had forgotten until that point, that tribes in Borneo were still head-hunters until as recently as the 1920’s)

There was a local showing us how to use a blow-pipe and he let some of us have a go. Ian, though, wouldn’t let Nesta - as she hadn’t had a cigarette for a while and he was worried that she’d suck instead of blow!

Back to the port and the short trip on the tender back to the ship in time for the sail away party. We didn’t feel like a big meal again (what’s wrong with us?!) so we ordered a sandwich on room service and updated the diary and blog as the ship began its voyage to Bitung in Indonesia.