October 21, 2024

Group shot of 13 residents I toured the Blue City, MOROCCO with, on Friday 10/18/24

Dear readers - Not sure if you noticed, but I often go back into posted blogs and clean up some grammar or spelling and sometimes add a picture I may have overlooked at initial posting. I haven't found a way to alert you to these changes, and I am disappointed that my platform does not support a comment section where I can hear from you instantly. I DO LOVE WHEN YOU SEND ME PRIVATE NOTES AND QUESTIONS - so please keep them coming - so I just don't hear crickets!! My email is ocbeach@comcast.net or whatsapp or text me. All 3 work great. I had thought about coping some post to Facebook - but honestly it is so much work to get these blogs up promptly, that idea may have to wait until we get a stretch of sea days - which isn't often and those get filled with pickleball and spa time and movies and all kinds of other ship activities! Socializing and game playing - you no what a wall flower I am!! Oh, and remember I am still working!!! Logging 10 to 13 hours weekly to date.

Above is a group, shot not on my camera, that I just got of the fun people I went to the Blue City with on Friday 10/18/24. From the front to the back, and from the Left to the right - we are: Cris and Shirene; Andy and Paul ( who attempted to herd the group together), Amy, Karen, Myself & Joy ( who was celebrating her 47 birthday) , tucked behind myself and Joy is Cindy; then back row is Maura, Basia & Alicia ( married to Gary) and Jim is last one, all the way in the back. All of us, except Andy and Alicia are solo travelers. I know 5 or 6 are mom's and divorced, but not sure about rest. Still getting to know everybody's stories! Mix of owners and segment buyers, but most on for a full circumnavigation. Ages range from 47 to mid seventies ? Believe Cris oldest here.

By Pat Patrick May 23, 2026
MALAYSIA , on BORNEO ISLAND made palm seed oil their biggest export back in 1966 and was the top global exporter until 2008, when Indonesia surpassed them. Sadly, the resulting tropical deforestation has created major habitat losses and population declines for the Borneon Orangutans, Pygmy Elephants and Proboscis Monkeys . Many of us on the ship took tours to see these amazing creatures and I wanted to share some of their amazing photos too.
By Pat Patrick May 22, 2026
BORNEO ISLAND is a fascinating place, that I had honestly only heard of from the reality tv show Survivor. I'm still learning so much, but I had no idea it is the largest island in Asia and 3rd largest island in the World! It is a mini continent, with 3 different Countries sharing the island's land mass ( Indonesia 73%, Malaysia 26% and Brunei 1% ). We are only going to 2 ports in Malaysia now, one in each of the states of Sarawak and Sabah . Below is a video that highlights and explains thing well.
By Pat Patrick May 21, 2026
The Port of Singapore is massive and thus deserving of it's own post!