In pursuit of a perfect sight!!

Hello guys, here I'm again! I'm truly elated and happy with the response, that I got on my last blog. So here I’m starting the same old story afresh. This is the right time to hit the road again and take you to the Davy Jone's locker. Though not so deep, but definitely deep enough to excite your imagination. I was never the kind of person who has itchy feet, but somehow after marriage, I started sharing my husband's love for travelling. He's the one who has inspired me. Though I can't say with total conviction that I love to travel, but definitely I love being on a ship. I can feel that love for travelling has started budding in my heart.

Surreal view

From a very young age, I used to get mesmerized by the clouds. I used to lie down for hours in my garden to observe the changing shape of the clouds. This was my favourite pass time in winters and most definitely a stress buster. In my world, I would jump from one cloud to the other and would imagine different shapes and form images out of them. Well, after a long time I got a serious chance to pursue this hobby of mine, as on the limpid sea waters the sky is surreal and clear like a blue canvas, with cotton balls spread on it. So, as promised, let's talk about my intelligible journey on the high seas. 

At close quarters

Without much ado, I shall sing the mirabilia of an exciting journey. So here’s a lucid explanation how I started to fall in love with travelling and places. It began from Singapore, where I stayed for a day  before boarding the ship and I savoured every bit of it. In such a short duration I couldn’t visit any place as such but managed to find a coffee shop and a good book to read (which is definitely an inevitable part of me) As I was about to meet my husband after a month, So I was equally excited and happy. I never knew that it was just a commencement to becoming an avid nature lover.

Moonstruck

Most of the times when I used to be on the upper deck area I wondered how God managed to paint the canvas, known to us as "the world" and how artistically he has selected the colours, shades and shapes. At times I definitely felt like a mermaid (as I was the only female there: P).This acquaintance with nature couldn’t be described in words and can only be felt by the senses. You witness alluring rainbows, clouds, freshest air possible, incredible sunrise and sunsets and the pellucid waters. Nothing could be more serene than this. I savoured every bit of this surreal adventure.

Going back 

My tryst started when I sailed for 10 days from Singapore to Japan (Kawasaki and Yokohama). And that was the time when I was getting used to the life and routine of the beast (when I entered it, my jaw dropped to the floor as there were 12 floors in that humongous ship). So I patiently  sailed on for 10 days. My excitement came to screeching halt when I reached Japan and I got to know that I couldn’t go ashore, as I don’t have the requisite Visa. After an hour so of serious deliberation I allowed my husband to go ashore, provided he buys some customary gifts ( you see I never actually let go of a shopping chance :D).Well it was the night time so I thought maybe its bliss and I should check out the deck area while I’m free. That night I captured some beautiful and captivating pictures of deep blue water against the backdrop of moon. 

Moonlit

A couple hours later I managed to click some breathtaking snaps and my husband returned with loads of stuff. So all in all it was a good deal. We stayed in and around Japan for a few days. To be very frank this was the time when I used to puke every now and then :D  Still in the evenings I always mustered some courage to take a stroll on the upper deck area. Well once we crossed Japan, I was pretty OK and my body realized that now it’s going to encounter a fair dose of  pitching and rolling for the next few months. So in short, I reconciled my situation and started eating :P: One fine night in Yokohama, I so desperately wanted to touch land and then we sneaked out into the port and had a good long stroll and also visited car carrier berthed ahead of us, since it belonged to the same company as my husband's. It felt more like a late night walk on a beach with overhead sky full of stars.

When I set foot in Japan

Sometimes I got busy with getting my head engrossed in the technical aspects of the ship, namely, the navigation setup and got hold of the binoculars to assist my NAVIGATOR <3 and acted like I was the Pilot :). My husband used to find it really amusing when I advised him on course alterations and actions to be taken on sighting other vessels.

Being a pilot :D

Mostly I visited ports on the east coast of US. The ports were scheduled back to back for a month or so. So that kept me awfully busy in choosing what to wear next and from where to shop. Ohh! that reminds me, if you gals need any help in deciding what stuff to carry on board what to leave behind, I can be of great help. As after goofing up a little I’ve learnt a lot. You can contact me and I will provide you with the list :) So coming back to the story, from Japan (where I got to see only the moon, sky and stars) we headed to Mexico, where the weather was pretty bad as Pacific is a real terror in the month of June and July( at least for me). In Mexico we anchored at Lazaro Cardenas, The main city was pretty near to the port. It was a beautiful place surrounded by high mountains. We berthed in the morning. With a full day in hand, I went out had a meal and roamed around the city.

Counting cars at Lazaro Cardenas

While leaving from Lazaro Cardenas I had no inkling that it is going to get even better, as I was about to visit and see different ports in the US east coast. It was a hell of an experience. You really crave for land after a long sailing contract and this gave me an insight into my husband’s lazy afternoon naps and marathon movie watching when he’s back home. Anyways my US experience started with San Juan in Puerto Rico, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Davisville, Newark, Boston and finally ended in Houston. People in the sailor’s fraternity consider themselves very lucky if one gets to see the Panama Canal transit first up. Indeed I witnessed it and couldn’t go inside my cabin for whole 4-5 hours of the transit time till the ship steered away from the canal. It was a mind boggling experience.

Panama Transit

If  you have a friend in US and that too in the port that your ship is calling then. it's like a blessing in disguise, as the sailors don't have much time in the ports. So if one has some contacts then it becomes easier to roam around and pick right places to visit and cram in all 6-8 hours.  We felt really lucky to have a friend settled in Jacksonville as the ship called Jacksonville thrice in that same trip.We managed to see the whole of Jacksonville and even went to our friend's house. We hit the beach and rambled around in Jacksonville. It was a good break from the ship’s monotony and it made us happy high.

Cheers to life!

To the happy times

I got to see the "Statue of liberty" too which was one thing in my bucket list. In Houston, we roamed throughout the night (generally free time for my husband).It was hell of an experience. This whole journey was full of breathtaking views and changed my perception towards my husband's job and made me an ardent lover of travelling. Getting a close look at a sailor's life was the icing on the cake.

Suez Canal

I signed off from the ship from Suez Canal (Egypt), which was again not a normal sign off as I was leaving the ship before my husband's contract was over. The ship was about to enter the pirate-infested Somalian waters, so as per company's rule families cannot sail in these waters. So after completing three and half months I came back home from Suez Canal. I got down from the moving ship into an adjacent boat, as the ship was following a convoy in Suez Canal and could not stop or anchor. With the help of some stairs and ropes, me and my luggage  respectively came down to a little boat and I waved bubhye to the beauty, Centaurus Leader.

Farewell time

I would like to sum up the whole experience in a few lines about the sailor and his hardships.

In the mid of the ocean how you feel?

With so many difficulties how do you deal?
Living away from dear ones for so long,

Swinging day and night like a tong.

All the desires fulfilled in the dreams,

Don't have another option but to go with the stream.

Thinking about your loved one from morning to noon,

At that time talking to them would be a boon.

Don't have time to rest or sleep,

Sailing in the ocean that is so deep.

Working hard day and night,

For making family's future bright.

#Respect for the strongest fraternity :)

Well, I hope you guys enjoyed reading my blogs. Do keep me posted. I'm going to come up with some exciting stuff, so stay tuned and spread your love for travelling.

The Sailor's wife

Hey folks! I’m a sailor’s wife and being in a sailor’s community I’ve been surrounded by all the other spouses who are completely baffled and alarmed by the thought of so called ‘sailing experience’. So here I’m trying to shed some light from my own experience, which was like a serene rendezvous with blue skies and clear water. What inspired me to write a blog?Whenever I logged in any sailor's community or met, some friend of mine who happens to be an Olive Oyl, one question was pretty common! SHOULD I SAIL WITH MY HUSBAND? I know this is a personal matter and no matter what one can’t make a suggestion about this. But trust me girls and give it a try. It is a whole new world. I’ve sailed with my husband once and that was the best time we had together. In a city’s busy life or on a holiday you have to follow an itinerary and you wouldn’t get much time for each other. Same is the case when a sailor is home; he has to meet his friends and  has liabilities towards his family also.  And that is why I'm  here to share the ease and love of sailing. And in the next blogs I will be writing about my experience on travelling around the world.

 On board you have the opportunity of spending some quality time with your Popeye. There are many things which you can do when you are on board. If you are a nature lover and admirer, it’s a treat, not only for the eyes but for all  the other senses as well. Nothing could be more perfect than this. Early morning tea on the deck area  and enjoying the serenity of the vast ocean. Or a late night movie when your husband is back from his watch.

                                                                                                                                                           

So after marriage, I took a sabbatical and went on with my Columbus on this adventure and explored many countries and cities with my eternal happiness by my side. It was an incredible experience and I would not miss it for the world.

Mornings were pretty lazy for me, as my husband is in the navigation department. So I had to synchronize my sleep cycle, according to him, which was a little difficult. But when you don’t have to face the agony and pain of separation, everything seems easy. I used to watch flying fish and the clouds moving for hours. So if you are fortuitous enough get a chance to sail, grab it happily with both hands.

Whenever and wherever I went ashore I shopped. And when ports are back to back, it is like a never ending party. So for a few days I was on a shopping spree. If at times your husband is busy and can’t accompany you, still you can go out on your own as the company assigns cab drivers to pick up and drop in certain ports. So don’t curb your urge to see new places and buying new stuff. As I know you can live without land for months but can’t do without shopping. And do remember there are many interesting places worth visiting.

So please go and explore a different world out there. This whole thing would give you more knowledge about a sailor’s tough life and how exacting the job is. Or you are very lucky if you can spend time when he's on his night watch or cargo watch. You wouldn't want to miss the midnight snacking and coffee dates for the whole world. Or sit back, relax and enjoy the view and learn about the equipment, navigation and something new about this alien world.

If you are afraid that you won’t be able to survive because of the rough sea and the new environment,  trust me it will take a week or ten days  only to get acclimatized. But don’t miss this just because you are afraid of sailing or the sight of water giving you chills. I know the thought in itself is giving you heebie jeebeis, but to have jitters before sailing is pretty normal. I can assure you  its better than the situation when HE leaves for sailing. So here’s a list of things that you can indulge with- 

• If you are an overworked girl then you can sleep as much as you like or bask in the bright sunny mornings. 
• You can read whenever you like without thinking whether it is day or night. 
• You can take strolls on the main deck area and appreciate the resplendent view.
• Or visit the car deck area where you will be mesmerized to see so many vehicles on one ship. (provided if you are travelling on a car carrier).

• You can watch movies and TV series in the entertainment area where they have got all the new movies and stuff. So if you are a movie fan you would love to pass your time and maybe in a few months you would be a movie critique :D 
• You can work out in the gym area or play TT. They have quite a few recreational activities on board. 
• And last not the least you can always look forward to the parties which are quite frequent on ships. A foodie can wait for Sundays to enjoy special Sunday Biryani.

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So I hope this stuff was helpful to make up your mind for sailing and relishing every bit of it. In the next blogs I'm going to share my experiences and experiments with sailing!! Stay tuned.
And do let me know about this piece.