Day 57 – Thursday Island, Australia

Viking Sky anchored this morning quite some distance from Thursday Island in the Torres Strait of Australia. 

It Was Overcast When Viking Sky Anchored and Lowered the Tenders

Tim and I caught one of the first tenders and arrived at the pier for our optional tour, “Thursday Island by Taxi.” This is the description:

Spend time with a local taxi driver and experience the real Torres Strait during a unique tour of Thursday Island. The hub of the Torres Strait and affectionately called “T.I.” by locals, Thursday Island is home to some of Australia’s richest pre- and post-colonial history. You will meet a born and bred islander and set out on a scenic drive around the island. Pass by important landmarks, including the Queensland Heritage Register-listed remnants of Green Hill Fort and the solemn Thursday Island Cemetery. As you drive, enjoying sweeping vistas and breathtaking panoramas, your guide will provide engaging commentary about the intriguing history and rich culture of the Torres Strait. As you immerse yourself in the sights and stories, you will begin to feel like a guest of the island, not a tourist. At the end of your tour, you will return to your ship.

Welcome to Thursday Island (T.I.)

Our driver was Frank, one of the Elders on Thursday Island (called T.I. locally), and he not only introduced us to sites on the island, but he also provided us with his experiences there. I intuitively knew that segregation must have existed in Australia, but Frank made that dark period much more real to us. Thursday Island was divided geographically by race, and before the Racial Discrimination Act was passed in 1975, Frank would not have been permitted to drive a taxi.

Frank and His Taxi

Our first stop was Green Hill Fort, the remains of a fortification built between 1891 and 1893 as part of Australia's defense against a possible Russian invasion. The views over Torres Strait were expansive.

Green Hill Fort

Viking Sky and Torres Strait from Green Hill Fort

We then stopped at the Thursday Island Cemetery, which reflects the history of occupation since the settlement of T.I. in the late 1800s. Many nationalities, religions, and customs are represented here, including over 700 Japanese pearl divers who perished in the waters here during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Thursday Island Cemetery

After our tour with Frank, Tim and I walked along the waterfront and stopped by the Gab Titui Cultural Center to view contemporary Indigenous art.

Tim and Sarah and a T.I. Turtle

Quotes in the Sidewalk by E. Bani, a Visionary Leader in the Establishment of Gab Titui

We were waiting for the start of the included tour, “Introduction to Thursday Island,” described as follows:

Discover the Indigenous culture of Torres Strait during a traditional welcome ceremony and dance performance. Take a short walk from the pier to the venue, where the community will share insights into the traditional artwork and culture of this intriguing island. Here, you will be met by a custodian, or elder, who will perform the “Welcome to Country” ceremony—a greeting meant to introduce people to local culture and history, followed by a Q&A session. Then, enjoy a riveting dance show, immersing yourself in the expressive rhythms and storytelling of the dancers, drummers and singers. You will also have an opportunity to observe a basket weaving demonstration, gaining insight into the ancient techniques that have been passed down through the generations. Cap your visit by browsing a selection of stalls displaying artwork before bidding your hosts farewell and returning to your ship.

We received a welcome from a local Elder, and then a group of local high school students performed traditional dances. I’m not sure all the students were as enthusiastic as their teacher had hoped, but I enjoyed the performance, nonetheless. I was standing in the back of the hall next to two young students and motioned that they should be up on stage. One of them looked absolutely terrified and shook his head with an emphatic No!

Dance Performance

When we left the venue, it had started to rain, but Tim and I arrived back at the ship before the torrential downpours began. Although the ride was rocky, it was nowhere near as bad as later ones, where several people became seasick. Once again, I welcomed the air conditioning on the ship.

Tonight, Viking celebrated Valentine’s Day with a Valentine BBQ / Chocolate Buffet for us on the Pool Deck. The line was long for the barbeque, but it was worth the wait. Once again, Chef Tony outdid himself with a fabulous extravaganza of all-things chocolate.

Valentine BBQ / Chocolate Buffet 

Valentine's Day and Chocolate Always Go Together

On Valentine’s Day, Viking always hands a rose to every woman on board. I somehow received extra special treatment, as Eliot, one of my favorite waiters, got down on one knee to present a rose to me. I think that was the highlight of my day! By the way, Tim was nowhere in sight at the time!

A Rose from Eliot, with Michael Looking On