Good Morning From the Arabian Sea!

Still have to catch up on Egypt I know,  and also now Muscat and Dubai.   We are half way across the Arabian Sea, next port of call: Kochin, India.  We were to have stopped at Mumbai, however docking space there was for some reason not available.  I'm a bit disappointed as that's a city where my aunt and uncle and cousins lived, but you just have to go with the flow!    Life on the ship is good-- days flow one to next, have no idea what day of the week it is.   The dinner table is fun, everyone has learned what topics to avoid with whom, a little system of winking has developed between the various subgroups at the table, to express dismay or amusement at whatever or whomever.   There's a certain gentleman from Liverpool who seems to ruffle feathers the most--it has never (apparently) quite sunk into him that the American War of Independence is long over, and oh by the way Britain lost--hello!  A week ago I did finally say something (nicely of coarse) and things have been quite amiable since.  The two waiters assigned to the table are really good--Edwin and Benelito, from The Philipines, precision teamwork, they know everyones likes and dislikes, the menu is different every night, appetizer and/or soup, nice salads, choice of 4 or 5 main courses, of coarse dessert, and then a little truffle and candied ginger, coffee, espresso, whatever you want.    All done with a lot of style and warmth and laughs.    The portions are reasonably small, sauces very light--the plates are always beautiful.   Been ordering seafood frequently.   Really never leave the table feeling stuffed,  which is good since it's late (10;30 or so) by the time we're done.   I like to go walking around the ship afterwards, inside and out.  The moon is getting on towards full now, just beautiful, the days ever since Lisbon have been like a perfect spring day, no warmer than 75 or so. The sea has been calm, dead calm today.   Per the Commodores noon announcement we are in quite deep waters, a mile and a half from the keel of the ship to the sea floor.  There are dolphins to be seen and phosflorescent plankton will make the ships wake sparkle tonight  The ship"s position is 350 miles south of Karatchi, Pakistan and 300 miles west of Mumbai, steaming southeast.

Now for a bit of nostalgia.  We docked in Dubai the day before yesterday just aft of the QE2.  I was able to walk right up to her.  Here's a photo, taken then, followed by three pictures taken in November of 07 of my dad Morris when he and I went from Southampton to Alexandria and back on board.   She's a great ship,  we had a wonderful time,  and it's sad to see her tied up there, fate unknown.