Picto Diary - 22 December 2023 - Final Day at Sea, Malacca Straits
Above: Seabourn Encore. Deck Seven Elevator Lobby. At sea. 22 December 2022.
Ship crew output in recycled material Christmas tree contest. Passengers could vote for a winner to be announced later in the day. I voted for the one on the right, midway, which used discarded shower wand flexible piping. Winner was number sixteen, just to the right of the tree receiving my vote.
Above: Container ship. Malacca Straits. 22 December 2023.
World's busiest sea way. Port side, Seabourn Encore. Seven ships visible over 90 degrees from my breakfast seat, outdoors, at Colonnade Restaurant this AM. This ship (in image), likely bound for Europe, sails into uncertainty as the Red Sea route has been rendered "risky business" by Houti drones and a dormant US Navy. The collapse of US sea lane deterrence over the last two years renders the world prone to even more misadventure. Hunker down. US is no longer feared.
“it is much safer to be feared than loved because...love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.” ― Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince
Above: Seabourn Encore. Malacca Straits. 22 December 2023.
Staff appreciation party. An event on all the cruises we've sailed with. Fun. Band is playing. Cruise goers and honored staff alike clapping to the rhythm. Smiles everywhere. There is much to appreciate as service levels on this cruise, from a multinational staff, were world class at every step. We got to know some staff members better than others: the South African manager of the Patio Restaurant; the Filipino young man up daily at 6:00 AM to set up the early continental breakfast service at the Observation Lounge. The Albanian cocktail waiter in the Observation Lounge; the Filipino who was head waiter at the Sushi restaurant; the Indian young man in charge of doing up our cabin twice a day; the Brit cruise entertainment director, and others. One of the plusses of a cruise like this is observing young people, in disciplined fashion, working their tushes off as they strive to get ahead in the world. The pattern of aspirational hard work on this ship stands in stark contrast to mediocre service levels seen by us in recent years at hotel, entertainment, and restaurant venues in the US. Maybe we just go to the wrong places.
Addendum
Hi Banker Steve:
I was motorcycling 1/2 day today, one of the country's declared "Seven Dangerous Days" (for the high number of daily kills on the roads here in Thailand, 75% of which are motorcyclists). My goal for the balance of 2023 is to make it alive to 2024, as an avid motorcyclist and adventurer at my age (closer to 80 than 70). As the guy said after he jumped off the 60th floor of a skyscraper and passed the 50th, "So far, so good."
Regards,
Dr. G
Chiang Mai, Thailand
http://www.greataroundtheworldmotorcycleadventurerally.com leg #3 in 2023.
I thought of us each being simultaneously in the same country two days ago when we were in Phuket. Hard to believe that Phuket and Chiang Mai are almost one thousand miles distant from one another. With the Ivin's based motorcycles, it is entirely possible that this winter I substitute some ski days for riding in the deep southwest.
pins. However as an abundance of caution we will travel on our Aussie passports.