Home sweet home!

Alumni Ball

As we officially became alumni of semester at sea, we celebrated with the alumni ball. A night of fancy dining and a dance in the Union. 
From left to right - Tricia, Me, Michael, Same, Danielle, Phillip, Sydney, Yarden and Frances



 

Our incredible Shipboard Community

My wonderful family

Back row - Rhianna, Bubbie (Carole), Nick, John, Papa Phill, Parker
Front row - Drew, Michael, Me

A great night with friends

A great night with my closest friends. Left to right, Yarden, Sam, Sydney, Ryann, Frances, Joselynn, Michael, Tricia and Danielle. 

Celebrating the End of our Journey

The last few days of the voyage are upon us now. We finished final exams and had the convocation ceremony today. We are busy packing up and spending time with our friends.

 It is the last voyage for the ship the MV Explorer with Semester at Sea as it was sold. We were able to commemorate its final voyage by taking pictures with the ship life ring. 

Flags of the countries we've visited, with great friends!

Morocco Recap!

We finished our final port of the semester today with a wonderful trip to Morocco.

 

Day 1: Casablanca

·         Spent the day touring around the city, including a drive by the movie made famous Rick's Café. The highlight of the day was visiting the Hassan II mosque. This grand structure can hold 25,000 people inside and 75,000 additional people on the grounds surrounding it. The 800 billion US dollar project paid off in the beauty and intricate details of the decorations.

 

Day 2 & 3: Chefchaouen

·         After a log day of bus rides we arrive in Chefchaouen, also known as the blue city. See the picture! The narrow cobblestone roads led us uphill and through the decorative houses. Donkeys would pass us carrying good on their backs. It felt like another world.

 

Day 4: Fes

·         We spent the day exploring Fes with the first stop being a market. The small alley waves winded between buildings. The shops lined the sides, some selling meat which was hanging out in the open or fruits and vegetables.

·         Then we went to the King's house that also houses a school. Then went to a spot overlooking the Medina, or main town which is 950 acres, with 300 mosques inside. The tan houses were close together and up the side of the hillside.

·         We visited a tannery, where they make leather products. This was very interesting as the men were cleaning and washing the pieces in large water pools. It definitely could have been on an episode for dirty jobs. Then, next stop was a place were traditional pottery is made by hand.

 

Day 5: Volubilis

·         On our final day we stopped at Volubilis, old Roman Ruins. Most of the structures were partial, but there were some interesting columns, tile pictures for floors, and a large arch still standing. It was nice to see these things up close while walking through fields of extending grasslands, very beautiful scenery. 

 

Namibia Recap!

Namibia may be my favorite port so far! It was incredible!

 

Day 1 – Walvis Bay & Swakopmund

• ·         We wandered the small town of Walvis Bay, finding a nice restaurant on the pier called the Raft for some lunch. Then we headed to Swakopmund a larger, touristy town about a half an hour away. Here we did some shopping and booked trips through an information desk for the rest of the week.

Day 2 – Marine Dune Day

• ·         For the morning we boarded a boat for a harbor cruise. A seal climbed on board with us and I was able to sit next to him and pat him. There were large pelicans sitting on the roof, and I had a close encounter with them as well, feeding him a fish right from my hand! We saw dolphins and a whale, as well as large red jellyfish that don't sting.

• ·         In the afternoon, we went on a 4X4 ride through the dunes. The dunes is the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Namibia has the sand dunes of the desert that come all the way to the ocean shore, creating magnificent views. We flew up and down the steep dunes, sometimes at a 45 degree angle, having a blast.

Day 3 – Sand Boarding

• ·         We went sandboarding today, which is basically sledding down the huge sand dunes. Some people chose to try and snowboard down as well, but we stuck to sledding. First we had to trek up the dunes, which is much harder than is sounds. But the views from the top and the fast ride down were absolutely worth it. The fastest I went was 68 kilometers!

• ·         Then we went to the small local aquarium in Swakopmund. We relaxed on a grass park right next to the beach, and then went to dinner at a local restaurant. It was another fun filled day.

 

Day 4 - Sea kayaking & Mondesa Township

• ·         Happy Easter everyone! This will definitely be my most unique Easter. We began our day kayaking with the seals. There are 40,000 seals that live on this peninsula. Some were laying on the beach and others were playing in the water. We got to see them in their natural habitat. Some were curious coming up and swimming back and forth right beside and beneath us.

• ·         Then we went on a bicycle tour of the township Mondesa. This was a wonderful experience to see the poverty that exists in the world, but also the incomparable spirit and welcoming nature of the people. We spoke with a local woman from the Herero tribe and another local medicine woman. We stopped to get some local street food, our guide described as "African Takeout," locals cooking on the grill outside. And finally stopped at a local bar to talk with the locals. Some of the people here make $1000 Namibian dollars a month, which is about $100 USD.

 

Day 5 – Camel Trek

• ·         Today we did some more last minute souvenir shopping at the local vendors and then headed off for a camel trek. I can tell you that camel butt is definitely a real thing because it is not a comfortable ride! But it was fun and memorable to experience riding a camel in the desert. 

South Africa Recap

 

Day 1: Cape Town

• ·        The iconic flat topped table mountain could be seen towering nearby while still on the ship. We decided to head their and take a cable car to the top. There were fantastic views of Cape Town and the ocean. This is a view from the top. From left to right, Sam, Yarden, Phillip, Sydney and I

   

• ·         We headed next to a chocolate tasting of all dark chocolates made in South Africa. We ate lunch here on a picnic table overlooking the beautiful wine lands. After lunch we went to two wine tastings at different picture perfect wineries.

Day 2-3 Kruger National Park

• ·         After a two hour flight north we arrived at Kruger National Part. This park is the size of New Jersey! We went on a game drive as soon as we arrived, and then a day and night game drive the following day.

   

• ·         We saw the most magnificent sunrise over the park. You could see the full round shape of the sun a bright red/pink color. No picture could do it justice, absolutely stunning.

   

• ·         The expansive land is everything you could have imagined a safari would be. We saw the BIG 5! These are the 5 most dangerous animals on land. They include, elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and lion. Other animals we saw included, giraffes, cheetah, wild dogs, impala, baboons, hyena, warthogs, etc, etc. The list could go on forever.

   

• ·         The animals were very close to us by the side of the road. Herds of elephants and giraffes within 20 feet of the truck walking past.

   

Day 4: Cape Town

• ·         After a two hour flight back to Cape Town from Kruger Park we decided to explore the V&A waterfront. We rode the ferris wheel overlooking the area to watch the sunset. Then had a delicious dinner. We were told to try the meat while here and did so, trying ostrich, steak, lamb chop, impala, springbok and nudu.

   

Day 5: Shark Cage Diving

·         We woke up bright and early to head out on the water with Shark Diving Unlimited. Once we anchored, the workers starting chumming the water and sharks appeared quickly. The cage was large enough for 6 people and placed over the side of the boat. We suited up in wetsuits and goggles and waited for our turn.

 

·         While in the cage we would wait above water until a shark was near and then go under to see it. The first two dunks I could feel my heart racing, but we then settled down. It was so exciting! A large shark swam right past us within 2 feet, and another grabbed the tuna head that was bait and slammed into the other end of the cage. The sharks were approximately 12-14 feet.

 

Day 6: Cape Town – Field Lab

·         The last day in Cape Town I had popular music class that went to visit Bloomberg radio station. Then we met Sugar and a musicologist detective, the two men that found Sugarman. If you haven't seen the movie "Searching for Sugar Man" I suggest it! We spoke with them about the documentary and visit his record store Mabu Vinyl.

 

·         Then we went to a bar and listened to a African jazz trio and relaxed. Not a bad way to spend a day in "class"!

 

                                                                                                                                             

 

Sea Olympics

The long anticipated Sea Olympics took place as we sailed on towards Cape Town, South Africa. It was a gorgeous, sunny day. All of the seven seas got into the spirit participating in events all day and having a blast. Christine, Tricia and I were all dressed up to support the Red Sea!

 

 

Acro-Yoga!

The ship has tons of activities going on while at sea. I've gone to acrobatic yoga, known as "acro-yoga" recently and am having a blast. Definitely taken me outside of my comfort zone.  This is my friend Michael, and Kyle the instructor behind us. Not a bad way to spend a night on the deck under the stars. 

Mauritius

Mauritius was absolutely stunning. The island was a picturesque honeymoon location. We sailed on a 58 foot catamaran through the clear blue waters and enjoyed the sunny day which was in the high 80's.

We first headed to a lagoon where dolphins were swimming by the boat. Then we went snorkeling, check out my underwater picture. The water was clear enough that we could see the bottom 30 feet below.

Next we had a BBQ lunch on board, sailed along, and then went ashore to walk the beach. We enjoyed the beautiful day and didn't want to leave! 

Neptune Day!

Today, in tribute to crossing the equator, we celebrated King Neptune day. A day where we become seasoned sailors, compared to our "polliwog" status of before. 
The tradition includes getting fish guts poured on our heads and kissing a fish! Other people chose to shave their heads, girls and guys included. I decided against that one!

India Recap!

Day 1: Cochin

• ·         We arrived on a hot and humid day where temperatures must have been 95-100 degrees. We took a ferry to Fort Cochin, an area where there are lots of markets to do some shopping. The people are very pushy to sell you their items and lack personal space boundaries.. It is a very interesting experience. A tuc tuc drove us around, check out a picture of this online. It is a small taxi and the driving is a bit crazy.

• ·         We saw the traditional huge Chinese fishing nets that look like a catapult. Then ate lunch and spent the afternoon cooling off on the pool back on the ship.

Day 2: Delhi

• ·         We left at 3 AM and flew to Delhi. We took a tour of the city when we arrived, including..

o   Qutub Minar – a large conical tower

o   Jana Masjid – The largest mosque in India

o   Raj Ghat – A memorial to Gandhi

o   Rashtrapati Bhavan – The Presidential Palace

o   Gurdwaras Bandla – Sikh Temple.

I've never felt so out of place than in the muslim temple where women wear the traditional Sari outfits and men are all outfitted in turbans. We had to cover our heads as well out of respect. It was a very curious feeling.

Day 3: Agra

• ·         We went to the Taj Mahal today! This was beautiful and way better in person than in any picture. We were able to walk right up and onto the white marble. (Check out the picture below!)

• ·         Next we visited the Agra Fort which was an array of buildings used for protection. It also provided a cool view of the Taj from farther away.

• ·         I tend to stick out like a sore thumb here being pale and a red head but I've never had more pictures taken of me than today. SOO many people wanted pictures, men, women, I even had a baby thrust into my arms. In the beginning it was funny and flattering, but it got old very fast. I know how the celebrities feel now!

• ·         Then we boarded a bus for a 5 hour bus ride to Jaipur.

 

Day 4: Jaipur

• ·         We headed to a beautiful fort that had an expansive wall over the mountains. It looked like a mini Great Wall of China. We rode elephants that were painted with decorations up the fort which was exciting. We bought turbans to wear and also mandi (the bead for your forehead) and took some very fun pictures at the top of the fort.

• ·         Next we visited the largest sun dial in the world. It can mark the time down to an incredible 20 seconds. After dinner I tried on the traditional sari outfit and got henna drawn on the back of my hand and forearm. When in India you have to do it!

•  

• Day 5 & 6: Cochin

·         We spent the morning on two flights from Jaipur to Cochin. Then just relaxed and recovered from our long trip back on the ship.

·         We wandered the markets and shops in Cochin the last day. We were able to do our last minute souvenir shopping and eat our last Indian meal.

·         HOLI! – My favorite part of the two days was celebrating holi by throwing powdered colors on each other. We bought white shirts so the colors would stand out. We were completely dyed from head to toe and had a blast.

 

 

Burma/Myanmar Recap!

Myanmar is referred to as Burma by the US and UK as well as other European countries because we do not recognize the current government. The country has been undergoing political change and conflict for the last few decades where the military oppressive rule is being revolted against. Violent protests have arisen making certain areas of the country unsafe for visitors. It is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Day 1: Yangon

• ·         The first day I visited the Swedagon Pagoda. It is a huge complex of temples the largest of which has a 76 carat diamond in an orb at the top. I bought and wore a traditional floor length skirt called a longyi. Women must have knees and shoulders covered to be respectful, especially at temples.

•  

Day 2: In Transit

• ·         We took a 7 hour bus ride where we drove through the rural villages. The dimly lit bumpy dirt roads had small shacks with thatched roofs amidst the trees. It was incredible to see that people still live like this today with no running water, no plumbing, no electricity, etc. etc. It was a stark contrast to the Pagoda from yesterday.

• ·         We visited a local shop making parasols, traditional umbrellas. We saw them being hand crafted and pieced together.

• ·         We arrived at Ngwe Saung beach a beautiful seaside resort. I was blown away by the setting a large pool overlooking the expansive beach with lush sand and the sparkling blue ocean. We couldn't help but jump in the pool as we watched the sunset.

 

Day 3: Ngwe Saung Beach

• ·         We spent the day at the pool and beach just relaxing. We walked to the "downtown," just a few  shacks in a row, to buy some delicious banana chips and have some dinner at a local restaurant. We watched fireworks off the beach when the sun went down. The stars were bright and the half moon was rotated horizontal instead of vertical because of our location. It was a picture perfect vacation day.

 

Day 4: School Visit

• ·         The local trucks drove us to the school as we all sat crammed in the back bumping along with dust from the roads flying past us. This is the normal mode of transportation for the people here. Semester at Sea had previously donated a building and water purification system to the local school we visited. We brought a money donation that would be going to bring solar panels so they could have electricity. We were able to spend our time hanging out with the children. I met a 5 year old little girl who I played with the entire time which was very fun.

• ·       Then​ we spent the rest of the day back at the beach. I swam in the ocean, of course, and there were little stings that you would feel throughout though you could not see anything in the water.. We were told they are fish eggs. There was a bonfire on the beach to end the night.

Day 5: Elephant Camp

·         Our last day we rode elephants which was an absolutely amazing experience. I am so happy that I was able to be so close to these magnificent animals. First we fed them sugar cane. They would reach out with their trunks and take it right from your hand. (See the picture!)

·         Then we went for a 20 minute ride in a basket on their back through the jungle. We were able to see the area where they live and are able to roam free in the afternoons.  I asked if I could sit where the trainer did on the very front of the elephant and then said yes! The elephant knelt down and I climbed on his back. I felt his power as he lifted me up. SO AMAZING!

Singapore Recap!

Happy Chinese New Year! 
 

Singapore Day 1:

• ·         First, we took a cable car that went across the harbor and over the ship. A very unique view from above! Then we went on the Singapore Flyer, the largest observation wheel in the world.

• ·         We toured the city and went to a light show at the Marina Bay Sands waterside overlooking the city skyline. Water was sprayed creating a backdrop for lights and images to be displayed. The song "What a Wonderful World" started playing, which was so fitting for this amazing moment.

• ·         Then we took a river boat decorated in lanterns to a Chinese New Years Carnival which included a concert and tight rope walker. A very eventful way to end the evening! 

 

Day 2:

• ·         Singapore Zoo – We spent the day at the zoo admiring those animals that we cannot see at home. Incredible animals were there including a white tiger, orangutans, huge bats with a foot and a half wingspans and more!

• ·         My favorite moment was when an employee took out a bucket of fruit to feed the bats and lemurs. We were right nearby and actually were able to be right up and close with them. Check out the close encounter with a lemur in the picture!

Vietnam Day 3-6

Vietnam Day 3: Hanoi

 

• ·         Two of my friends and I flew up to Hanoi from Ho Chi Minh city, the complete other side of the country leaving the ship at 4am. We had a tour of Ho Chi Minh Complex, which included the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and House on Stilts. We also visited the outdoor flower market which was beautiful.

   

• ·         Next we went to the National Museum of Ethnology where we saw the different housing structures for the different cultures within Vietnam. Traditional Water Puppet Show – This was traditional… and a bit boring to be honest. But still interesting to see because of its cultural history.

   

• ·         We finished off our night with the best dinner I've had on the trip so far. Madame Hien restaurant a French and Vietnamese place. Highly recommended if you are ever in Vietnam!

   

 

 

Vietnam Day 4 & 5: Halong Bay à Valentine's Day

 

• ·         Halong bay was the highlight of the week! We boarded a wooden boat that was much bigger and fancier than we expected. We were given an itinerary for the two day trip and off we went.

   

• ·         The pouring rain had just stopped when we were hiking one of the islands to the top. Here we had a gorgeous view, and there were monkeys walking around us. We swam in Halong bay at the beach, we couldn't resist even though the temperature was now around 70 degrees F. We visited a bat cave and had a traditional ride on a small wooden rowing boat.

   

• ·         Then we went back to our larger boat where we had cocktails on the deck overlooking the other boats lit up with the beautiful scenery in the background. Then we had a 7 course dinner of traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

   

--Day 5 –

 

·         We woke up early to do a Tai Chi class on the deck. See the picture below for one of the poses we learned. This was so peaceful and relaxing.

 

·         Then we visited a large cave inside one of the islands that was huge! 


 

Vietnam Day 6: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

 

·         We visited an orphanage and brought them toothbrushes and snacks. I bonded with a girl around 3 years old, who put sticks on my cheeks and played tag with me. She was adorable and happy despite her situation. 

 

 

 

Vietnam Day 1 & 2

Vietnam Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City

 

• ·          Our first day in Vietnam was awesome. The temperature was 90 degrees F. What everyone says about the traffic and motorbikes is completely true. They are everywhere! We learned that to cross the street you actually have to walk very slowly and the bikes will turn to avoid you
• ·         I took a city orientation tour where we visited the museum of history, a temple, the Independence Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and an old Opera house.
• ·         When at the opera house we bought tickets to see the AO Show that night. It was a fantastic show with a mix of bamboo acrobatics, cultural scenes, and dance.
• ·         After dinner, we went to the outdoor market. The items are very inexpensive here so I managed to pick up some interesting souvenirs. The city is decorated for "Tet" their New Year, so the streets are decorated with lights creating a wonderful night view.

   

Vietnam Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels and War Museum

 

• ·         The Cu Chi Tunnels that were used in the Vietnam War were fascinating to see. They were only approximately 2 ft wide by 3 ft tall. Built in 3 layers of tunnels at different depths, if lined side by side they would span 135 miles. It is beyond imaginable to picture a war being fought within them.
• ·         The war remnants museum was eye opening and heartbreaking. It was very interesting to see the other perspective on the war, whether it be true or propaganda. It made you feel guilty to be an American as everything inside was about the American war crimes and horrors the Americans committed. 
• 

China Recap!

China Day 1: Shanghai

• ·         Spent the day on a city orientation tour through Semester at Sea. Explored the old towns, Shanghai Museum, a traditional market and went to an acrobatic show.

 

China Day 2-5: Beijing

I was on a huge trip with 40 people in my group to Beijing and 120 people total participating. But we were able to cover a lot of ground i

  --Day 2 --

• ·         Tea tasting

• ·         Trishaw pedicab ride through the back streets where people live. This was the first time I saw the dust layer, trash, and poor living conditions of some of the Chinese people.

• ·         We had dinner with a family who taught us how to make dumplings.

 

--Day 3 –

• ·         Tian'men Square – The largest public square in the world. Due to China's internet censorship many of the Chinese people have no knowledge of the massacre.

• ·         Forbidden City – Also known as the imperial palace, it was the home to 24 emperors.

• ·         Lama Temple – This is home to a huge Buddha! 26 meters tall.

• ·         Acrobatic Show

• ·         Dinner with traditional roasted duck.

 

--Day 4–

• ·         Kong Fu Show

• ·         Jade Factory – Real jade is made into beautiful jewelry and figurines here.

• ·         Great Wall of China – This is as beautiful as we could have imagined. The wall is bigger than I had imagined, and you can see it span off into the distance as far as the eye can see. It is amazing to think that it was built before the time of machinery and all of the materials had to be carried up to their current locations by hand. We took a cable car up and tobogganed down from the overlook area.

o   Successfully bargained for a quilt at the shops here!

 

 

China Day 6: Hong Kong

• ·         Spent the day with my modern world fiction class. We hiked for 4 hours up a mountain. The views from the top were spectacular overlooking the harbor. It was nice to be out of the city and to enjoy the nature that people tend to overlook when the think of Hong Kong.

·         Hong Kong's history is fascinating. Given back to China in 1997, after being a British Colony. Being here has made me much more interested to learn more about many parts of China's background.

Happy Birthday Mom!

I wanted to send an extra special early birthday shout out to my mom.Thank you for all of the support you give me and the amazing opportunity to travel the world. This is today from the back of the ship on this windy Monday. Tomorrow I will be arriving in China for my next adventure. Love you Mom! Hope you have a fantastic birthday!

Japan Recap 2! (Day 3-6)

Japan Day 3 & 4 : Hiroshima and Miyajima

·         Explored the city, visited a castle, and went to Karaoke.

·         Peace Memorial Park and Museum. The site of the atomic bomb has a very emotional museum depicting the damage that the bomb caused to the people and community. A flame burns as a monument that will stand until all nuclear weapons are eliminated from the world.

·         Miyajima Island. This is home to the famous floating tori gate. We visited a large shrine and thanks to our tour guide we were able to follow some of the traditional rituals. And I cannot forget to mention the deer which are very friendly and can be pet like tamed animals although living freely on the island.

Check out my selfie with the deer, the floating tori gate can be seen in the background!

 

 

Day 5: Kyoto

·         Took the bullet train to Kyoto to visit the bamboo forest.  It went as far as we could see into the distance and the sky. It was beautiful.

·         After being out in the cold, we decided to visit another hot spring. They are very relaxing.

 

Day 6: Kobe

·         Our last day in Japan we spent in the port city of Kobe. We decided to take the city loop, which is basically a hop on and off bus with 17 stops around the city. One of the highlights of this trip was the tram that took us to the top of a mountain overlooking the city. 

 
*I wish I could send more pictures but the email connection on the ship is not working very well. Hopefully more to come soon!

Japan Recap! (Day 1 & 2)

Day 1: Yokohama & Toyko

·         Explored the port city of Yokohama, the 2^nd largest city in Japan, in the morning. This was the first time I had ever been immersed in a country that spoke another language!

·         Group drum lesson on traditional taiko drums

·         Visited our first temple which was a large red building with intricate details decorating the sides. There was a market lining the streets leading to the temple. Here we ate a traditional "cookie", a waffle outside with red bean inside.

·         Tokyo – We ate a su shi dinner, of course!

·         Visited the center of Shibuya (Tokyo), the largest crossing in the world.

 

Day 2: Hakone

·         Mt. Fuji – Beautiful views of the active volcano. We ate "black egg," the egg that is hard boiled in the water from the mountain that contains sulfur. This chemical reaction causes the egg shell to turn black. Eating the egg is believed to add seven years to a person's life.

·         Cable Car – Views of Mt. Fuji as we traveled down the mountain from the overlook. We came to the lake at the bottom where we took a Pirate ship across.

·         Open Air Museum – Dedicated to Picasso, the museum was full of sculptures.

·         Japanese Hotel – dinner in Kimono's and a visit to the hot springs!

 

Here is a picture from our traditional dinner. I think I have finally mastered chopsticks.

 

 

Japan Recap! (Day 1 & 2)

Day 1: Yokohama & Toyko

·         Explored the port city of Yokohama, the 2^nd largest city in Japan, in the morning. This was the first time I had ever been immersed in a country that spoke another language!

·         Group drum lesson on traditional taiko drums

·         Visited our first temple which was a large red building with intricate details decorating the sides. There was a market lining the streets leading to the temple. Here we ate a traditional "cookie", a waffle outside with red bean inside.

·         Tokyo – We ate a sushi dinner, of course!

·         Visited the center of Shibuya (Tokyo), the largest crossing in the world.

 

Day 2: Hakone

·         Mt. Fuji – Beautiful views of the active volcano. We ate "black egg," the egg that is hard boiled in the water from the mountain that contains sulfur. This chemical reaction causes the egg shell to turn black. Eating the egg is believed to add seven years to a person's life.

·         Cable Car – Views of Mt. Fuji as we traveled down the mountain from the overlook. We came to the lake at the bottom where we took a Pirate ship across.

·         Open Air Museum – Dedicated to Picasso, the museum was full of sculptures.

·         Japanese Hotel – dinner in Kimono's and a visit to the hot springs!

 

Here is a picture from our traditional dinner. I think I have finally mastered chopsticks.

 

 

Japan!

After a long stretch across the pacific we finally reached Japan this morning at 6am! I will spend the next 6 days exploring the country!


Sent from my iPhone

Sunset over the Pacific

We are two days away from Japan! Enjoyed a gorgeous sunset tonight. 

The Bridge

My friend Tricia and I got a tour of the bridge today. It was a great view of the ocean open ahead of us. We learned from the 3rd officer and deckhand about their responsibilities on the ship and daily life. Fun fact, we burned about $70,000 worth of fuel on our first day at sea! Due to the storm we went approximately 400-500 miles extra, that's a lot of money burned! But we are lucky we did so, as these were the second largest waves the 3rd officer had ever experienced at sea. They were 6 meters high. It was interesting to see the many charts, flags, and technology that are helping us navigate the globe. 

Storms

Our captain has changed the route of our voyage to Japan to avoid a storm. We are traveling around it as much as possible. The center of the storm has waves of 50 feet, luckily we will only experience 20 foot waves. But it will still be the worst weather we have had by far and should be quite an experience. Especially due to the fact that I had a reaction to the seasickness patch and cannot wear it until my vision is back to normal which could be another 2 days. It is 12:30 PM here now and the weather should start sometime this afternoon and continue through tomorrow.  Wish us luck! 

International Date Line

We are continuing on our stretch to Japan. Classes are taking place everyday and keeping us all busy with the work load. We have been gaining about an hour each day, but today we passed the international date line. Therefore January 19th did not exist! We passed right over it pushing our clocks forward a full 24 hours. 
 

Hawaii 2

We then took a three hour hike through Kilauea Iki Crater, located right next to the Caldera, it used to be the site of a lava lake. The black ash that lined the inside of the massive crater showed the massive area that the lava lake used to encompass. It was a fascinating hike, beginning through the rain forest and then out into this barren empty space of a volcano. Once we passed over the crater we had a steep climb up the other side on hiking trails that led up back out to the main road.

Hawaii

After our first stretch at sea we landed in Hilo, Hawaii!

My Geohazards and Natural Disasters class traveled together as part of the course to Kilauea Volcano. The big Island is made up of 5 volcanoes. Kilauea is the only one that is active today and is currently threatening a small town with its lava flow. 

First we stopped at Kilauea Visitor Center to hear from two scientists who monitor the Hawaiian volcanoes on a day to day basis to watch for changes. They gave us a brief overview and history of the area as well as showed us the latest monitor technology in use. We were able to see the vast expanse of land that makes up the Kilauea Caldera. Inside we were able to see the Halema'uma'u Crater where gas was flowing heavily upward. This gas contained dangerous amounts of sulfur dioxide and therefore the area anywhere closer than where we were standing was closed off. Deep inside the crater, beneath the gas was the bright red lava, unable to be seen during the daytime.



 

 

Not a bad day at "school"

Sunshine

Today the weather was absolutely gorgeous. The ocean was a bright blue and stretched as far as we could see. It was warm enough for us to sit on the deck under the sun in our bathing suits. It feels like vacation, making it that much harder to remember I even have classes!