December 7, 2024

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands

We arrived in Tortola around 2pm Saturday November 30th. The port was hoping with 2 other big ships in dock. The top attraction is the Baths on Virgin Gorda, need to go by ferry or private boat. There was no ferry on Sunday out of our port Road Town, but there was the option to cab to end of island and catch ferry from Beef Island. We took this option because there were no other ships in port with us Sunday but Monday 2 huge ones were coming in and we didn't want to compete with them. So glad we did this!! Was a lot of logistics and web searches but it so paid off! Cathy & Rod and I were walking to cabs through port shop area where we ran into Bosco who was at loose ends and decided to join us! Bosco is tons of fun, sooo smart and entertaining. He has traveled far and wide and so open to new adventures. Loves to play all sorts of games, board, video, role playing, cards etc.  and brings so much enthusiasm and really good at teaching and making you as excited as he is about life!  He has taught me 2 games to date and many more I want to learn!

Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, THE BATHS National Park

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One of the coolest excursions I have done to date! The images are so great in my memory and these photos show me things I didn't even take in, when I was there! Loved spending the day with Bosco and my cousin Cathy & Rod! We ran into Eddie and Angel from ship, when they were leaving, and they recommended getting a guide to take you through caves because there were so many unique pathways. None were available when we asked, but we convince ticket taker at park entry, to be our guide on his lunch break! It was a blast! He showed us all kinds of nooks and crannies to climb into, under and through! And we practically had the place to ourselves! Typically you only need a little over an hour there to walk thru the bulk of the circular path they have established. We spent 2 to 3 and then swam in cove for awhile. Was over on the 11 am shuttle, had lunch and then went with guide from 2 to 4 and swam till 5. Had some drinks and watched sunset, while waiting for 630 ferry back to Tortola. Our cab driver from a.m. met us back at port and took us back to ship. Ride back in dark was much slower, tons of cars on road also coming back from Lobster Fest. We made dinner by 8 pm on ship! Was a great day!


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KUANTAN, MALAYSIA

By Pat Patrick • October 12, 2026
Just the other day a friend asked me if I got enough down time while living this lifestyle. My answer was "you have to make it !" In the beginning, it was go, go, go, every port. We had lots of FOMO ( fear of missing out ) and we tried to cram in as much as possible at every port. Sea days, were our only down time and there were never enough. It was a tad exhausting. Now two years into this life, I can say there are some ports that just don't call me and I opt to get other things done. Kuantan, Malaysia was one of the Ports. I never got off the ship, either day we were here. I intended to this morning, but we had storms with loud thunder late into the night and then was awoken by a crew alarm around 6:45am. My energy was low, there were shuttle issues, town was an hour ride away and there is alot of air pollution, ( due to neighboring Indonesia burning organic materials, in preparation for the upcoming monsoon season ). So I bagged my plans and continued working on my never ending TO DO LIST!

Sad Passing of ODYSSEY Shipmate

By Pat Patrick • October 11, 2026
During our two years of sailing we have had several Shipmates come and go for a variety of reasons. Their health, has sadly been the reason for many departures. Cindy Harvey , would have loved to have lived out her days here on the Odyssey and even bought a second cabin and had an adjoining door added, to have a care provider, stay with her full time. However, Cindy's limited mobility, pain and confinement got to be too much - so she left us a few months ago. She went to an assisted living facility, on the coast of Oregon, to be near her family. Tragically she fell, was trying to recover, slipped into a coma and sadly passed away this week.

SANCTUARY OF TRUTH MUSEUM, CHONBURI, THAILAND

By Pat Patrick • October 8, 2026
The Sanctuary of Truth Museum is the world's largest hand carved wooden castle, located on the coast of Pattaya, Chonburi Province, Thailand . Conceived in 1981 by Thai visionary Khun Lek Viriyaphun the structure is built entirely from 4 types of wood - Teak, Mai Daeng, Mai Takien & Mai Panchaat and put together using Thai nailless wood joinery - mainly dovetails, carrying poles and tongue & groove. We started the tour in the workshop where the artisan, mainly woman, were hard at work. Since conception, the Museum has been an active construction site, thus we all wore hardhats! The artisans continue handcarving sculptures and columns, daily and will most likely continue for years to come.