Olsen Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share #141 Posted March 15, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) But we had evening dinner themes like 'country & western Evening' aand 'Rock & Roll Evening' - etc. Here my wife checks the news (of the tragic faith of Costa Concordia) before we go dinner. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1955314'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 15, 2012 Posted March 15, 2012 Hi Olsen, Take a look here Off on a cruise. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Olsen Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share #142 Posted March 15, 2012 The Country & western Evening. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1955316'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share #143 Posted March 15, 2012 The entertainment onboard was a lot of fun. - Most of us are quite spoiled when it comes to entertainment. We are all used to between 25 and 55 TV channels to choose from with everything from Elvis Presley to the Wiener Philharmoniker in our homes. But the entertainment at Black Watch was just fabulous. Particularly the British comedians. Here it is a British sing & dance team that performs a country & western show. We had also shows with local artists. Like folk music & dance from the countries we visited. The whole onboard entertainment team was changed at Sharm el Sheikh. So, we were not bored with having to see the same artists all the time on the whole trip. We looked forward to the entertainment each night and had our favourites. Again; what preoccupied us was 'what's for dinner & who is entertaining'. - Never mind the next port of call... That's how life is onboard a cruise ship. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1955334'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share #144 Posted March 15, 2012 The talk of the ship was the Somalian pirate scare. We cruised through the most dangerous areas in the world regarding Somali pirate attacks: From the the south end of the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and northern Indian Ocean. Even though Black Watch was a very unlikely target (too high speed, too high free board and all too many British passengers demanding afternoon tea every day) for the Somalian pirates we had armed guards onboard. Even a British Navy commander who worked as a liaison officer with the fleet of naval ships in the area. Fred Olsen takes no chances. The ship had installed barbed wire and high pressure water cannons. We even had a 'last stance/Lord Kitchener of Khartoum club' (in the bar) - I was the only member less than 80 years old. 'We'll fight them on the beaches; we will never surrender!' Cheers, everybody! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1955390'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share #145 Posted March 15, 2012 Next port of call was the Salalah, the Sultanate of Oman. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1955411'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share #146 Posted March 15, 2012 Oman was a very beautiful place with very nice people and with a warm climate. Even in late January. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1955416'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share #147 Posted March 15, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Right along us were docked two Japanese destroyers that were part of the anti pirate force in the Arabian Sea. According to our guide; the Japanese crew had a 'wild' party the night before. To celebrate that they finally were going home. It was quiet around the ships the day after.... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1955430'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #148 Posted March 16, 2012 We visited what is Job's grave, according to tradition. Here my wife under a bush in full blossom, outside Job's grave. The fog during the summer was the main source for humidity to the vegetation, but hefty rainstorms hit Oman every ten years or so, fluding the landscape with well a meter of water. Just a week after we were there snow had fallen on the high mountain peaks of Oman. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956006'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #149 Posted March 16, 2012 The Sultanate of Oman is an absolute monarchy. The monarch, Sultan Quabuss bin Said al Said, do rule like in a 'enlightened absolutism', cooperating, somewhat, with a partly elected parliament. His moderate rule seems stable. Although distribution of wealth is gravely unfair. To say the least. He is educated in Oxford and Sandhurst and has placed huge weapon orders by the British up through the years. - 'Not only do he look after the Omani people, he looks after the British as well', as a British passenger expressed it. We did not see any of His Majesty's yachts. But we saw one of his palace complex in the town. He moves his whole administration with him from several huge palace complexes around in the country, or his luxury yachts: Loaloat Al Behar super-yacht | Luxury Yachts File:Al-Said.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia We were outside his Salalah residence complex where the Sultan's administration stays parts of the year. Now there were only searchlights in these towers. When the Sultan is here machine guns points out of these towers too, we heard... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956025'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #150 Posted March 16, 2012 The huge Danish Maersk Group, the World's largest container ship operator, has a huge container transit harbour in Salalah. Here containers destined for the Arabian Gulf and Africa were reloaded to other ships. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956032'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #151 Posted March 16, 2012 The pilot leaves us and we are on our way up along the coast of Oman. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956033'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #152 Posted March 16, 2012 Through the afternoon until the sunset we sailed up along the Oman coast. Before crossing over the Arabian Sea and into the north east monsoon. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956066'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #153 Posted March 16, 2012 Oh, one thing I forgot regarding Salalah and Oman was this shop making revolver holsters. The production seems to be huge. And a scene from Salalah's down town. Which seemed run down and poor considered that Oman has a GDP/inhabitant about the same as Germany. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956070'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #154 Posted March 16, 2012 Next port of call was Mumbai. Before reaching Mumbai harbour: We sailed through a huge fleet of mainly bulk carriers, ships for freighting grain, coal, sand, fertilizers, iron ore etc. We thought first that these waited for a place at one of the piers of the Mumbai's busy harbour. This was not the case. Mumbai is a 'cheap' place to have the cargo holds cleaned. Say, if you have had a tour of iron ore from Australia to China, and want to make the ship ready for a trip with soy beans, it has to be thoroughly cleaned. It is hard, dirty and often dangerous work to clean a 50.000 tonne bulk carrier. This is performed by the enormous supply of cheap labour in Mumbai. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956094'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #155 Posted March 16, 2012 The cheap labour for this dangerous and dirty work were the thousands of people moving in from the countryside to Mumbai each year. Another reason for Mumbai's 'competitiveness' as a 'bulk carrier car wash' was the total neglect of the environment. Dirty wash water, with chemical detergents from the cargo holds were dumped right into the sea. The Mumbai harbor was a soup of fertilizer, soy beans, coal dust and God knows what. Every now and then a dead cow - or dog would float past us. This dreadnought like structure out there was a fortress from the British times. Brahmani kites had a busy time picking up what looked like butcher leftovers in the sea. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956110'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #156 Posted March 16, 2012 But Mumbai offered warm and humid weather with temperatures well above 30 degrees C. The north east monsoon died out just hours before we arrived, - up to a month earlier than usual. People in Mumbai complained that the hot season had gradually turned hotter and longer. People in Malaysia and Singapore complain about the same. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956139'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #157 Posted March 16, 2012 For once, we could not wait to get ashore. We had never been to India before. The experience was shocking! Some street scenes from this first walkaround. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956159'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #158 Posted March 16, 2012 I did not carry any measuring equipment, - except for my own lungs, but this should be said to Mumbai's defence: It was not at all as air polluted as Paris. Despite the traffic. The difference was the diesel fuel use in Paris. It was choking! In Mumbai LPG was often used. The friendly people we met should also be mentioned. Always with a smile and a humoristic angle to things. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956261'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share #159 Posted March 16, 2012 Here is the exclusive 5 star Taj Mahal Hotel where the infamous terrorist attack took place in 2008. The perpetrator that survived has been sentenced to death, but nobody wants to execute him, we heard. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956276'>More sharing options...
Olsen Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share #160 Posted March 17, 2012 The sunset over Mumbai harbor. While the coolies, dirty and tired comes ashore from their heavy work out at the ships, we prepare for a deck party... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169946-off-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=1956471'>More sharing options...
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