This morning we awakened early at 6am to get a jump on some internet tasks that we needed to get done in preparation for the end of our cruise. Up in the Lido I fired up our portable SIM card (Glocalme) and we submitted our presidential election ballots, checked Facebook and email, uploaded my blog, activated my Amaya Australian SIM card, and reserved a motel room for our stay in Katoomba.
The ship finally docked at around 8am which was an hour later than scheduled. Fortunately, clearance to leave the ship came quickly.
While doing these tasks we saw the local hop on hop off bus stop in front of the terminal. So we quickly did some Google research and saw it would fit our needs for today. It's a bit irksome (mildly stated) that HAL would sell a $14AUD RT ticket into town and not mention that for $33AUD one could purchase an all day hop on hop off bus trip that goes throughout the city including 3 museums and it departs from and returns to the cruise terminal.
So around 9:30 we left the ship to stand in the heated shade of a parked container trailer. It was over 90f with high humidity! The HOHO bus arrived and we were on our way. Despite the heat, while the bus was moving, the airflow was refreshing. Soon we arrived at the Darwin Experience Museum which is devoted to primarily remembering the events of the Second World War but it also has some Vietnam War exhibits. We spent a few hours touring the exhibit and grounds before hopping back on the HOHO bus which took us to the Royal Flying Doctors museum where we were treated to several movies and lots of exhibits documenting the contribution of this organization and its planes as it strives to provide healthcare in some of the most remote places on the planet. It's a really good museum. We then caught the HOHO bus back to the ship's terminal where we did some last minute shopping and conversation with our shipboard neighbors. All of this was done in air conditioned comfort.
We grabbed some quick sandwiches from the Lido and took them to the Showroom where Elliott Finkel put on an informal classical piano concert which was excellent. Afterwards we attended the interdenominational Sunday service at 4pm where the pastor's message was on Forgiveness. It was one of the best attended services we've been in on the ship.
At dinner we learned that we have sailed on 2 other recent cruises with one of the couples (Prinsendam Black Sea in 2014 and the Koningsdam Christening in 2016.). The cast put on the production show 'Dance' and we wrapped up the evening watching the movie 'Central Intelligence' about an accountant.
While walking back to our room on the outside deck, it was still extremely warm, and at dinner the seas were totally flat with a gorgeous sunset.
Tomorrow is a sea day and our clocks go back another 1/2 hour tonight to get us on Indonesian time.
Tim Bowman
Sent from the Road Somewhere
Tim Bowman
Burien, WA
Tim Bowman
Tim Bowman
Tim Bowman
Sent from the Road Somewhere
Tim Bowman
Sent from the Road Somewhere
No comments:
Post a Comment