Tonight around 6.00 PM we cross the equator going north, we expect a slight bump throughout the ship as is goes over the equator because of the kink in the ocean there in this part of the world.
It is a rest-and-recuperate day for us, one of two before we get to Yap Island in Micronesia. We started our own 'cabin-deck exercise regime' in earnest today. I am hopeful that it becomes a habit with me so that I will continue some formal exercise when we get home. We don't have to worry about Fellette as she will be at her exercise class two days a week after we return! Tai Chi did give me some exercise but shortly after I dropped out I was ill for two weeks and did, in reality, nothing in the way of exercise. I don't count walking the deck as exercise.
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Today I thought that I would tell you a bit about the ship and also a few pictures, mostly of flowers that we have at present on board.
ms Amsterdam: ms stands for Motor Ship. 67,000 tons, 781 feet long, total power available is 41,500 HP. Maximum speed 24.5 knots or about 27 mph. We general cruise at 15 to 16 knots so far.
Propulsion: Two ABB Azipods. Powered by five electric diesel generators capable of 15.5 Mega Watts. Total power 65,000 HP.
Fuel consumption: 39,500 gallons a day at 21 knots. [That is 27 gallons a minute or 1645 gallons per hour.] We are not doing much for the environment it would appear!
Capacity: Passengers 977, Crew 632., a ratio of 1:54.
Potable water production: 370,000 gallons per day, consumption is about 160,000 per day.
Distance travelled to date: 11,928 miles or 13,836 Ks. Not bad when you consider the circumference of the world at the equator is about 24,000 miles.
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As many of you may know, Holland is a country of horticulturists. That encompasses trees, flowers and of course, bulbs, which they export millions of every year, all around the world. It also has amongst the largest flower markets and auction for cut flowers in the world. On board Amsterdam is a florist who has a degree in flower arranging that can only be acquired in Holland. His name is Eddy and his photo and workspace is shown below in the first photo.
I thought that I would share with you some of the pictures of flowers that I took on a quick tour of the ship today. This is by no means all that adorn most public spaces.
We took on loads of flowers in Peru and again in Sydney, and I mean carton after carton after carton after carton of flowers! No doubt we will take on again in possibly Hong Kong but certainly Cape Town.
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As an aside, there was an assault of a crew member on a bike yesterday in Madang, he was stabbed twice in the back and his bike stolen. His lung was punctured and he is resting comfortably in the sick bay. When Jim and I went out after the tour yesterday there was a certain uneasy feeling we had and Fellette told me after taking a look at the town in the van on the way out that she was not stepping out again.
Pics:
Floriculturist, Eddy.
Some of his creations.
My carving purchase yesterday. [They are matched, the camera shows a distortion.]
Some bow waves today. [The picture does not convey the wave action today.]
Lastly a very bad New Guinean woman who tried to sell me an endangered Bird of Paradise from the highlands yesterday for $600. She tried to get five dollars from me for the photo. Good luck lady, it's a wonder I didn't get stabbed eh?
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