Try Try Again

If at first you don't succeed, try again.  If at second you don't succeed, try again.

The boat is already in Ambon, refueled and waiting for us.  It would be amazing if we are able to get in the water today.

I woke up pretty early and called Mom in Joplin.  We chatted for a bit.  I also drank the in room coffee but I am excited to order an iced coffee when the restaurant opens.

At 6:30am, we received this message from Graham:

That was only on hour before we needed to be ready.

I packed, showered and got an iced coffee.

Alvi and I took a taxi to the harbor.  One in a caravan of taxis.  We will be boarding the PT Pelayaran Dharma Indah Ferry which will be approximately 7 hours to Alor.

We have Executive Tickets!

We followed Graham to the vessel.

Here is the group in our movie theater seats.

On the ferry, I read 60% of my fourth book on this trip.  I napped a little and existed on a couple of little chocolate muffins I stole from the breakfast buffet and some Werther’s candy.  Does this officially put me in the grandma category now?

The ferry arrived at the pier around 5pm.  There was a cute little family where the boy was wearing a t-shirt from the Cars movie.  That is where my parents farm is along route 66.  I couldn’t resist taking a picture of him.  Then his cute little sister jumped in, so I had to take her picture too.

The little girl kept coming over to me and hugging me.  I tried to play patty cake with her and she just kept smiling.  Her Dad made a funny comment that maybe she wanted me to be her mommy.  He asked “Maybe she can come with you?”  OMG, so funny.

I got my own taxi over to the harbor and got to chatting with Peter, one of the dive guides.  Their crossing was pretty calm.  On the way they saw a blue whale.  A huge one!  So cool.

He gave me a rundown of the 18 crew members.  We are only 15 guests.

Dive guides:

• Peter

• Han

• Arfan

• Melki 

Chefs:

• Robert – Head Chef

• Eddie - Assistant Chef

Captains:

• Ardi - Captain 

• Armad - 2nd Captain 

• Iswandi – 2nd Officer

Engineers:

• Ardi

• Yansen 

• Maman 

• Borgu

Skiff Drivers:

• Fearman

• Risky 

Housekeeping:

• Ando

• Dedi 

• Olis

We had to go down some steep stairs and into skiffs over to the main boat.  

They did a lap around the boat so we could take some pictures.

They greeted us with coconut water stamped with the vessel name.  How cool is that?

Then we had a room briefing and were told our rooms.

I am in the lower cabin #1.  But I will be by myself instead of rooming with Graham.

This came about because Stephano has to return to Turkey.  His factory has flooded.  Tough break for him, but it works out for me.

The setup of the room is perfect.  I can use one of the beds for my camera gear and the other to sleep in.  There really is no camera room or table on this boat so many people are going to have cram in upstairs by the dining.  I will have so much space down in my room having the second bed to service my camera on.  I feel spoiled.

We had dinner at 7:30pm.  It was buffet style and pretty darn delicious after not really having a meal all day.

Overnight, we made the crossing to Wetar.  It was a little rough, but not too bad.  It has been a while since I have done a liveaboard instead of a resort.