Filipino National Day

Introducing Nilo - our wonderful stateroom steward - I want to take him home with me!!

....and Neal - our mind-reading waiter - he knows what I want before I do!!

Today is a very quiet day at sea as we head up the western coast of India in the Arabian Sea, headed to Mumbai. The seas are rougher, and it has been raining most of the day, so the outside decks have been closed.

Thanks to everyone who is reading this blog and sending emails in response. Sometimes we feel like we are in a time bubble - with limited contact to our ‘normal’ lives, so we love to get your comments and feedback.

One of the great things about traveling on a cruise ship is the diversity of nationalities among the passengers and crew. In honour of Filipino National Day the Pilipino crew members staged a show in the atrium. Our cabin steward, Nilo, and our  junior waiter, Neal, are both from the Philippines,and they are very hard workers. Nothing is too much trouble for them, and both have wonderful warm smiles!!

The choir which sang their national anthem had spectacular voices and brought a little tear to my eye to see the pride in their faces when the passengers broke into cheers and applause at the end of their performance. A young couple performed a stick dance, where they move between tapping sticks in time with the music which gets faster and faster - very impressive.

Tomorrow, we are going on an independent city highlights tour of Mumbai. The ladies at our dinner table have decided to try to buy Indian saris to wear at the next formal night. We have shopping time at the markets, so that should be fun. Arnold loves the chase for a bargain, so he will be in his element with all the bargaining!!

Cheers