Venturing into the Southern Hemisphere

Day 39, Grand Asia 2017

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 – At Sea

At 4:09 a.m. this morning, the Amsterdam crossed the equator and entered the Southern Hemisphere. It’s a first for me. But I must admit I didn’t wake up early for the occasion.

Tomorrow marks the middle of our cruise. The time has flown by. Many people have wondered if they could spend 80 days on a cruise. Based on the last 40 days, I have to say I think I could live on this ship. (But only if my cats could join me.)

Midpoint does seem a good time to reflect and reassess. I’ve loved all the ports as well as the sea days. Now that we have a mixture of both (as compared with the first dozen-plus sea days and then seven Japanese ports in a row), the balance is working out well. I’m eager to visit the next port, and then I am eager to have a “rest” day or two.

But maybe it’s time to shake up those sea days. I get my 10,000 steps in easily in port, but exercise hasn’t been a priority on sea days. I usually enjoy walking the outside lower promenade deck (3½ circuits makes a mile), but not so much in the heat and humidity that has arrived. So I’m shifting around my routine to hit the gym or the outside deck in the morning and go to the 9 a.m. tai chi class. I’ll switch to the afternoon watercolor class to avoid the conflict.

I haven’t had much time to read the many books loaded on my Kindle or to sort out all the photographs I have taken so far on this trip. Of course, writing the blog takes a couple of hours each day. It’s just hard to fit everything in.

Today I treated myself to a package deal in the Greenhouse Spa. The Moor Mud Revitalizer included “exfoliation, reflex foot massage, Moor Mud detoxifying botanical soak, scalp massage and an eye treatment.” I don’t know how many toxins left my legs and feet, but my skin feels great.

Tomorrow we will be in Semarang, Indonesia, on the island of Java. Many of our cabin and dining stewards are from the area, and their families are traveling to the port for a rare visit. My cabin steward will see his wife and young daughter for the first time in months. Most of us are leaving notes on our doors asking that the stewards not clean our cabins tomorrow, but instead spend more time with their families. I will be glad to make my own bed.