The Cancelled Day

For only the second time since we have been cruising has a destination been cancelled.  We were supposed to be going to Sandakan, Malaysia but due to the late departure from Bali we are unable to reach the bar in time to cross at high tide.  Even at high tide we would have had only 1.5 feet of water under the props, and so literally there was no room for error.  We are now on our way to Manila, where we will arrive early, and so all the tours, both in Manila and Taiwan, have to be rescheduled as the days in port have changed.  I would hate to be working in the excursion office today as all the changes that need to be made must be a nightmare.

So that means that we work tomorrow.  Michael and I have been playing everyday now, but not with each other.  This one won’t play with that one, and this one wants to play with me but not her …. You get the drift.  So to make the passengers happy, we play.  I spend most of my day sitting in the bridge lounge in very uncomfortable chairs.  By the end of the day my back is so fatigued, but there is virtually no pain.  Dr. Hsiang did a great job!  Now I just wish my foot would stop hurting.

We crossed the equator today so we are back in the northern hemisphere.  There was a ceremony and party to mark the occasion.  The cruise director and his staff have done a wonderful job planning some interesting activities.  Last night they turned the restaurant where the breakfast and lunch buffet is located into Jimbo’s Diner, ala a truck stop.  The staff and dancers dressed up in trashy costumes, “smoking” cigarettes and drinking beer.  The atmosphere was loose and fun and we had a great time.

We played a few hands of bridge after dinner with Pepper and Jim before going to the show.  We had to do something to keep awake as the shows don’t start until 9:30pm.  Well, I am glad we managed to stay up for the show because it was the best one we have seen on this cruise.  We saw the World Famous Platters, the singing group from the late 50s/early 60s – from Smoke Gets in Your Eyes fame.  No, they are not the original members, but they were pretty damn good.  They really had the place jumping, and in this geriatric environment that’s really saying something.  People were singing along and dancing in the aisles.  They led the crowd in the “love train,” a conga line bopping around the theater.  We took a tour down memory lane remembering my prom, our first date, etc. and finished off the evening with a slow dance.  It was a lovely day.