Day 46 of 102.

We really are on the other side of the world, as we continue South East through the Java Sea towards our next port of call, Bali.  I just about made it for breakfast this morning before going up to the Atlantic Room to see the World Cruise Concierge. She wasn’t there – not her fault; a full crew emergency drill was scheduled for this morning.  It sounded all very efficient and even reassuring, but it’s difficult to engage in conversation with continual alarm tests and announcements for around an hour.  I did wait for the concierge to return, and the invitations were ready, but there were no envelopes!  The restaurant is booked for 1 pm. 

Don’t be fooled by the grey skies reminiscent of a miserable summer; it’s very warm out there.  And the sun does come out frequently.  Today is the second of two sea days between Singapore and Bali, and I think, probably the warmest part of this World Voyage.  And for once, I felt energised to leg it around the Promenade Deck, keeping up with most other walkers, and actually overtaking a few!  Up in the Atlantic Room, talk of the Singapore World Voyage Event seems to have subsided.  In all honesty, it didn’t go too well, but it did finish on an inebriated high with doctors, lawyers, chief executives, BBC personnel, captains of industry and perhaps a train driver, leaping about to popular disco music as if full of the joys of youth all over again.  All this, in the hallowed grounds of Singapore’s Gardens By the Bay.  You couldn’t make it up, and I’m glad that I stayed to the end!  I now find that those who had checked in at the earliest times were actually at the venue by 6 pm, and  I’m told that Singapore Slings were offered at the entrance! 

I needed yesterday, the first of two sea days, to recover from the night before, and today to, sort-of…get over yesterday. Tomorrow, for the first time, we reach our port of call by tender. Captain Hall warns us that the half-hour transfer will be rough. If too turbulent, going ashore might be delayed or cancelled altogether. Jo’s third attempt to get to Bali would, like the first two, might end in repeated failure. Having learned a little about how Bali works, I perhaps wouldn’t be overly gutted if we didn’t get there!

I completed the day with plenty of Walking for Christian Aid. Seemingly, I had endured some kind of infection, perhaps through the constant air-conditioned environment. I suspect the clean-up of the air-conditioning system during the pandemic was short-lived. My voice remains cracked up, even after three weeks. But the course of antibiotics which I had brought in the event of toothache was re-purposed to cure whatever infection I had picked up.

Jo and I had separate shore experiences booked for Bali the next day. We had an early light dinner, went to the first show at 8 pm, strolled around the deck until just after 9.30, and then went our separate ways for an early night.

I am intrigued! Who exactly are the Royal Court Symphony Orchestra? Occasionally, they appear, virtually, in a spectacular show called Symphony, featuring almost all the bands and musicians on board QM2 in one spectacular show. We have seen it twice so far and will definitely attend any subsequent showings until eventual disembarkation.

Many thanks for reading, David, 09.14 hrs Kings Court Buffet, port-side, don’t ask!