THURSDAY 12TH JANUARY 2006
Well things are on the up.
Awoken by Judy, who was telling me that we had got an upgrade to Business Class, for our Qantas flight to Singapore. Just how did they know that we had a bit more luggage than normal people take on an aircraft? This was certainly confirmed when we got to the check-in counter at Melbourne Airport………..90 Kilograms!!!!!! Sorted that out by paying for excess baggage of 15kg @ $20.00 per kg. The check-in lady let us off with a few kg thanks to a bit of real friendly banter.
Waited in the Qantas Club Lounge for our flight, and boarded the aircraft quite relaxed. A most enjoyable flight and the best in-flight service we have ever experienced. Well done Qantas, you certainly know how to do Business Class much better than the other airlines we have used.
Arrived in Singapore and stayed at the Marina Mandarin Hotel. A lovely hotel, well positioned opposite Suntec shopping centre, just the ideal place to pick up the last minute things we think we will need for the ship. We will ring the Rickmers agent tomorrow morning and see what time we can board the ship.
FRIDAY 13TH JANUARY 2006
Rang the agent at 9.00am and he agreed to have us picked from our hotel up at 3.00pm, and then straight to the ship. Well it almost happened like that!
A man arrived at the hotel foyer, and managed to find us behind the ever increasing stack of luggage and belongings. We had added a fair bit more by this time. The shopping centre was ideal and had everything we wanted, plus some! Gee wiz, we must now have 10 bags to carry up the gangway. Our man nearly had a heart attack when he saw it all, his comment “shiiiiit, my car it don’t go in!!!!!” As quick as a flash he was on his mobile telephone and arranging for a bigger vehicle. It duly arrived, a Toyota van, and we loaded up and set off for the ship.
Little did we know that straight to the ship meant via the port office to get wharf passes. The first stop was the main port building. Walked into a room with at least 60 people, all with the same thing in mind as the agent. This was going to be a long van trip to the ship we surmised. Not so said our man, we will go to another place, and sure enough he was spot on, only 6 people this time. We waited until our turn arrived (had to take a number but our man was on the job!), and then up to the very official looking lady at the desk we went one at a time. I say official looking because for first time in our lives, we were photographed by an office staff member wearing A BLOODY BIG GUN! No cheek from either of us, just smile and wait for the photo ID seemed the way to go.
Well with that out of the way, we set off for the ship, and what a ship! We were over awed when we saw the RICKMERS JAKARTA for the first time, so big and beautiful. The action was a plenty on the wharf area as we unloaded our goods and chattels. Up the gang way we went, to be met at the top by one of the crew. They come from every where to assist us with our bags etc. Sign in was next, followed by the long climb to our cabin. We arrived on the Main Deck, then to the Poop Deck, followed by A,B,C and finally, D Deck, where we would find our home for the next 4 months.
It is awesome, better than we expected and oh so roomy. A lounge/sitting room with couch, arm chairs, table, desk, side board, refrigerator, TV, DVD, Radio/CD player and 2 windows to “GIG” out of. Then to the bedroom, 2 single beds (very close so as to hold hands when the ship starts rolling), another desk, wardrobe, lots of cupboards and drawers, and another window. Actually there are so many places to stow things i.e.: cupboards and drawers, that we couldn’t possibly fill them all. Well that at least gives us an excuse to go shopping g when the chance arrives! Off the bedroom is our ensuite bathroom consisting of a hand basin with cupboard over, a WC, and a good sized shower. All in all, the whole place looks well set up.
We were then met by the Captain, Mr. Henryk Nowicki, a very nice friendly man who made us most welcome. The captain told us that we wouldn’t be sailing until late tomorrow night (14th), so we decided to get settled in for the rest of the day, and then head off in the morning to get another lot of “those last minute things”. Dinner was at 6pm on A Deck, in the Officers Mess, and when there we met out 2 fellow travellers.
Mr. Donald A. Parker from Canada, and Dr. John C. (call me Cam) Lewis, also from Canada. Dinner was plentiful and quite enjoyable. The table was well stocked with fruits, jams, condiments, cheeses, cracker biscuits, bread etc. and from first impressions all looked good for our tummies. The steward was Mr. Fred M. (call me Freddy) Marquez and he was certainly a jovial bloke, all be it with only a fair command of English. We will survive I am sure.
We were pretty tired by now, so off to bed for an early night.
Well things are on the up.
Awoken by Judy, who was telling me that we had got an upgrade to Business Class, for our Qantas flight to Singapore. Just how did they know that we had a bit more luggage than normal people take on an aircraft? This was certainly confirmed when we got to the check-in counter at Melbourne Airport………..90 Kilograms!!!!!! Sorted that out by paying for excess baggage of 15kg @ $20.00 per kg. The check-in lady let us off with a few kg thanks to a bit of real friendly banter.
Waited in the Qantas Club Lounge for our flight, and boarded the aircraft quite relaxed. A most enjoyable flight and the best in-flight service we have ever experienced. Well done Qantas, you certainly know how to do Business Class much better than the other airlines we have used.
Arrived in Singapore and stayed at the Marina Mandarin Hotel. A lovely hotel, well positioned opposite Suntec shopping centre, just the ideal place to pick up the last minute things we think we will need for the ship. We will ring the Rickmers agent tomorrow morning and see what time we can board the ship.
FRIDAY 13TH JANUARY 2006
Rang the agent at 9.00am and he agreed to have us picked from our hotel up at 3.00pm, and then straight to the ship. Well it almost happened like that!
A man arrived at the hotel foyer, and managed to find us behind the ever increasing stack of luggage and belongings. We had added a fair bit more by this time. The shopping centre was ideal and had everything we wanted, plus some! Gee wiz, we must now have 10 bags to carry up the gangway. Our man nearly had a heart attack when he saw it all, his comment “shiiiiit, my car it don’t go in!!!!!” As quick as a flash he was on his mobile telephone and arranging for a bigger vehicle. It duly arrived, a Toyota van, and we loaded up and set off for the ship.
Little did we know that straight to the ship meant via the port office to get wharf passes. The first stop was the main port building. Walked into a room with at least 60 people, all with the same thing in mind as the agent. This was going to be a long van trip to the ship we surmised. Not so said our man, we will go to another place, and sure enough he was spot on, only 6 people this time. We waited until our turn arrived (had to take a number but our man was on the job!), and then up to the very official looking lady at the desk we went one at a time. I say official looking because for first time in our lives, we were photographed by an office staff member wearing A BLOODY BIG GUN! No cheek from either of us, just smile and wait for the photo ID seemed the way to go.
Well with that out of the way, we set off for the ship, and what a ship! We were over awed when we saw the RICKMERS JAKARTA for the first time, so big and beautiful. The action was a plenty on the wharf area as we unloaded our goods and chattels. Up the gang way we went, to be met at the top by one of the crew. They come from every where to assist us with our bags etc. Sign in was next, followed by the long climb to our cabin. We arrived on the Main Deck, then to the Poop Deck, followed by A,B,C and finally, D Deck, where we would find our home for the next 4 months.
It is awesome, better than we expected and oh so roomy. A lounge/sitting room with couch, arm chairs, table, desk, side board, refrigerator, TV, DVD, Radio/CD player and 2 windows to “GIG” out of. Then to the bedroom, 2 single beds (very close so as to hold hands when the ship starts rolling), another desk, wardrobe, lots of cupboards and drawers, and another window. Actually there are so many places to stow things i.e.: cupboards and drawers, that we couldn’t possibly fill them all. Well that at least gives us an excuse to go shopping g when the chance arrives! Off the bedroom is our ensuite bathroom consisting of a hand basin with cupboard over, a WC, and a good sized shower. All in all, the whole place looks well set up.
We were then met by the Captain, Mr. Henryk Nowicki, a very nice friendly man who made us most welcome. The captain told us that we wouldn’t be sailing until late tomorrow night (14th), so we decided to get settled in for the rest of the day, and then head off in the morning to get another lot of “those last minute things”. Dinner was at 6pm on A Deck, in the Officers Mess, and when there we met out 2 fellow travellers.
Mr. Donald A. Parker from Canada, and Dr. John C. (call me Cam) Lewis, also from Canada. Dinner was plentiful and quite enjoyable. The table was well stocked with fruits, jams, condiments, cheeses, cracker biscuits, bread etc. and from first impressions all looked good for our tummies. The steward was Mr. Fred M. (call me Freddy) Marquez and he was certainly a jovial bloke, all be it with only a fair command of English. We will survive I am sure.
We were pretty tired by now, so off to bed for an early night.
posted by Shipmates on a world journey | 4:46 AM
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