Rambling Chronicles: Day 62 – Sail the Timor Sea

Our second day at sea found me much more energized than yesterday. Tim and I were up earlier than usual for George Sranko’s lecture entitled “Komodo Dragons Won’t Be Tamed.” We will be visiting these enormous creatures tomorrow, and George told us all about them. We now have a much better idea of what to expect and won't have to worry so much about being eaten by one!

Komodo Dragon - Largest Living Dragon on Earth

We followed that lecture with another one, this time by Dr. Bryan Babcock on the “History of Indonesia.” I must admit that my knowledge of Indonesia and this part of the world is sketchy at best, so his talk and others to follow will help me understand and appreciate this country.

Indonesia - People, Culture, and History

I had no idea, for example, that Indonesia is a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands and is larger in size than the continental United States. Indonesia is also the fourth most populous country in the world, and its primary religion is Muslim, although the constitution officially recognizes six religions. Bali, for example, is primarily Hindu.

Dr. Babcock gave us a history lesson on Indonesia, including its importance in the spice trade and its time as a Dutch colony, until it was granted independence following World War II.

All About Indonesia

One of the more popular activities on Viking Sky during sea days is arts and crafts. There is a Crafts Corner, where knitters and handcrafters gather to work on their projects, as well as Craft Workshops. Today, the workshop host showcased the projects made by passengers during her workshops. There are a lot of talented folks on the ship, although most participate just for fun. I’m not a crafter, but I enjoyed looking at what was created.

Craft Workshop Projects

After enjoying a Stir Fry Station special culinary event at lunch, I caught up on a few chores and then attended a Future Travel Presentation on Asia. I was hoping to get a little more information about the cruise that Tim and I booked on board three weeks ago. I had hinted about it in an earlier post, but this is what we’re planning for 2027.

Asia Itineraries

We will fly to Ho Chi Minh City to embark on a river cruise, “Magnificent Mekong” in April 2027. This 15-day land and river cruise is described as follows:

Shop Old Hanoi’s markets. See the Khmer temple complex of Angkor Wat. Behold the haunting beauty of Ta Prohm Temple, where jungle vines embrace ancient ruins. Explore Phnom Penh by cyclo rickshaw. Discover silk towns, fishing villages, monasteries and local river life. With hotel stays in Hanoi, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) bracketing your eight-day Mekong cruise, this cruisetour reveals the beauty and grace of a land we have only begun to know.

Magnificent Mekong

When the journey concludes in Hanoi, we will fly to Hong Kong to embark on our 37-day “Far East and Alaska” ocean cruise, described this way:

From imperial treasures to the magnificent natural beauty of the Alaskan wilderness, you will accompany locals as they reveal what they love most about the varied places they call home. A crossing of the historic Pacific Ocean links these diverse cultures, and overnight stays in five ports let you explore fully and take in the nuances and complexities of the North Pacific.

Far East and Alaska

I am especially excited about visiting Vietnam and Japan and only having to fly half-way across the world one way. I’m just trying not to think about the length of the flight from Colorado to Ho Chi Minh City!

The culinary team had another treat in store for us this evening – Wine and Cheese in the Wintergarden. This was no simple wine and cheese party. Naturally, Viking put on an extravaganza, with a beautiful display, a wide variety of cheeses, and a wonderful selection of wines. I sampled many excellent cheeses, but my favorite was the baked brie, an old favorite.