N. Zsa Zsa - cat in the pot
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Vacation
After arrival Mumbai it was time for me to take some time off and on 17th I flew to Thailand and arrived just before midnight, it was half past three in the morning before I was home.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Departure Lakshadweep
The morning 14th is the last time I go and drop off the security detail and I pick up the last batch of curry and parotha's. Soon enough we send our guests to the airport and it is time for us to settle the bureaucratic matters with locals and have a breather.
The parotha and fish curry cook in front of his tools of the trade
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tinakara Island, Lakshadweep
The morning starts with same routine of changing security details and picking up a hefty lot of fish curry and roti's for Indian breakfast.
Local cargo ship in the Agatti Is. lagoon
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Lakshadweep, Agatti Island
So early morning we were carrying back the BBQ stuff and cleaning and packing it where every item belongs. Towels and chair covers to the laundry, crockery to the pantry and galley and so on. At last we knock off and get our well deserved rest while the night shift crew deals with the small things and cleaning up the yacht.
Sunset over Agatti Island
Diving Solar
The 12th we dived the Solar site, name is due to the solar power plant next to it. It was just a few miles more south from the Fish Soup.
Pretty much the same as the previous dive at Fish Soup, there is a lot of fish here but the corals are not that spectacular as in Maldives due to bad bleaching some time ago. I could see signs though that the corals are slowly recovering but it is slow growing.
There is also a lot of Napoleon Maori Wrasse among many other species but they are quite camera shy, so it is hard to catch them on the lens.
I let the pictures speak for themselves again:
Pretty much the same as the previous dive at Fish Soup, there is a lot of fish here but the corals are not that spectacular as in Maldives due to bad bleaching some time ago. I could see signs though that the corals are slowly recovering but it is slow growing.
There is also a lot of Napoleon Maori Wrasse among many other species but they are quite camera shy, so it is hard to catch them on the lens.
I let the pictures speak for themselves again:
Fish
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Another day in paradise
11th morning I am sent ashore to change our security detail and at the same time I pick up more of the local fish curry and parothas that has been a great hit among the Indian crew onboard. I come back on time for breakfast and after that the diving preparations begin.
Our security detail
Friday, March 11, 2011
Diving Fish Soup
The 11th morning we prepare for diving, our dive guide, Sikandar, briefs us of the site and tells us the name is derived from the plenty fish that frequents the area. I suggested changing it into "Bouillabaisse" as the dish requires traditionally for some 7 fish to be put into it. The site is just a mile or so south of IE's anchoring position.
Gear is taken out, rigged together and stowed onboard. Checklists are completed and off we are to enjoy the wonders of the dominion under the sea. I let the pictures speak their own language ...
A spiky sea star
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Agatti Island
Next day half morning goes in preparing for the guests arrival and coordinating the shore transport as well as mapping out reefs.
Agatti Is traffic tower for shipping
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Voyage Mumbai - Agatti Island
On the 8th morning we depart for Agatti with pilot onboard. We have only permit to land at Agatti probably due to security reasons keeping in mind the two recent piracy incidents at Lakshadweep. Our agent had told us that the Somalis and rescued Thai fishermen now sit in the yellow gate police station in Mumbai where crew is signed on/ off ships. Leaving the busy metropolis with its dust and pollution behind we set course for Agatti Island and get briefed to keep a vigilant anti piracy watch as well as we double the navigation watch with regular patrols on decks.
Dawn in front of Gateway
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Mumbai - Goa - Mumbai
On the 1st I handover my Chief Officer duties to Tetso and I pack to leave for Goa to see that everything is alright on Kalizma. On the 2nd I carry my small pack ashore and wander around Mumbai aimlessly until late evening when the bus departs for Goa. As it is a first time for me I did not realize they got sleeper beds like in trains and I got a semi-reclining chair. The bus has no dinner stop either so it goes on and on through the night and is punctuated by short loo stops. The road over the mountains in Karnataka is winding and the bus driver makes his best to beat his former speed record Mumbai - Goa. Needless to say I hardly got any sleep on the bus. Next morning I arrive Goa bleary eyed and I'm met by Saini who is picking me up at the end stop in Panaji.
Mumbai to Goa (courtesy of google maps)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Voyage Colombo - Mumbai
So we had the sailing orders and port clearance was done. All we were missing now was the relieving Chief Engineer, Phil, who was arriving at noon.
Colombo Port behind the cruise jetty
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Trincomalee
So I woke up before the rooster and was on the pier by 5AM and there was my car and driver waiting for me as arranged by Upali. We started towards Trincomalee.
On the road
Friday, February 18, 2011
Weligama Bay to Colombo
So in the evening we got instructions to prepare for BBQ and we set it up in a record time of 45 minutes only. Avnish was handling the shoreside while I had my duty to take care of. At midnight the party was topped off with a short fireworks display.
Weligama fishing harbor
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Galle to Weligama Bay
Later the guests get up and venture to the Dutch Fort and to Nico’s on Talpe beach while Avnish was looking after all the arrangements. He was a lucky bugger as he managed to slip away and get some Sri Lankan crab curry at Unawatuna beach, but so was I too, as you will read.
Monitor lizard at the Lighthouse
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Voyage Mumbai - Colombo - Galle
Our cruise to Lakshadweep had been foiled by the sudden appearance of Somali pirates in our intended cruising area so we did not leave as planned. We sat for another 2 days and had a hectic time preparing backup cruises for Sri Lanka and up the West Coast of the subcontinent to Diu Island, Gujarat.
Dolphin Rock in Mumbai
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Nashik - visit to Sula vineyard
Next day I woke up to a confused state of mind as I had forgotten to set my alarm after the Indus Creed concert. Anil was shaking my shoulder and asked me if I was coming. Yes, I said, give me five minutes to get dressed. I quickly dashed out of bed, washed my teeth, grabbed some clothes and my trusty bellybag set (that I wear over my shoulder) and sprinted for the aft deck. There was a tender waiting and crew was milling around and finally we got away to the waiting transport. Our Company had arranged a mini bus to take the crew but Anil had his own car as he had some bad experiences from a previous study trip to Sula. We settled down with Nik in the back seat and took a relaxing pose and dosed off while Anil’s driver was negotiating his way out of Mumbai to Nashik.
Some hours later we woke up near Nashik and stopped at a highway dhaba for breakfast. We discovered the minibus was some 37km astern of us so we ordered and dug in. I had a delicious masala dosa while Nik and Anil was enjoying a Marathan brekkie with chickpeas and stuff. After this my head felt like clearing off the Old Monk fumes and I started to look at the Maharashtrian landscape.
Grapes at Sula vineyard
Friday, January 28, 2011
Blue Frog and Indus Creed
One morning Nik and I was perusing the Times of India entertainment section and he discovered an ad for Indus Creed performing at Blue Frog. He got all excited and claimed they were the best rock band in India and so we decided to go see them.
Mumbai by night
Friday, January 14, 2011
Male' atoll - voyage to Mumbai
8th I am invited to join Nina, Avnish and Joya to have lunch on Banyan tree resort to give Nina a farewell as she was signing off. It is a small resort north of Male’ Island and we arrive on the jetty were we get to moor our tender boat. The lunch is buffet with mixed Continental and Chinese cuisine. The food was not that great but I guess that is the norm as everything has to be flown or shipped into the country so nothing is ever fresh off the fields.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Ari atoll
On the 5th morning we arrive Rangali Island in Ari atoll and anchor outside the Conrad-Hilton resort. We also had company from the Greek yacht m/y Magna Grecia who was also anchored off the resort. The resort has been built on 2 natural Islands connected by a bridge and a 3rd Islet has been constructed artificially to house a restaurant.
The Conrad-Hilton resort on Rangali Island
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Dive Madivaru
In the afternoon on the 5th we dive the Madivaru dive site just south of the Conrad-Hilton resort on Rangali Island. The tide is flowing out so we drift dive.
Oriental sweetlips
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Diving Havodigalaa pinnacle
On the 3rd we are diving a pinnacle between the Tinadhoo and Havodigalaa Island. It is a very easy dive and has awesome coral formations along the drop offs. Suddenly we come across a resting leopard shark. Eventually he swims off, maybe disturbed by so many visitors. According to our local dive guide, Mr. Mohamed Siraj, the shark is extremely rare in this area of Maldives.
Huge 2m diameter table coral, all intact
Monday, January 03, 2011
Huvadhoo atoll
Couple of hours later we enter the Huvadhoo atoll and anchor near the main Island of Tinadhoo.
Fish drying racks S of Tinadhoo
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Addoo atoll
29th Guests arrives. Weather is dead calm as all piloting manuals suggest Crew is onboard prepared as usual.
Hankede Beach mangroves
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Diving British Loyalty
28th We reconnoitered the Island of Mulikolhu and found a couple entrances to go through the coral reef with jetski and rescue boat. Having a secured entrance we returned to IE and prepared for a dive at the British Loyalty wreck.
British Loyalty part of railing and a Feather star
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