Day 10: ­Raja Ampat

Day 10:   ­Raja Ampat

SAS watching the snorkelers head out in the midst of heavy rain

Quote of the Day: 

I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made

Weather: Same-same, with some short intermittent rain squalls

Fitness center not open yet

THB sleeps the entire night away. Even considers the fitness center; resists temptation. We take breakfast just inside as the communal table is in sun (coming straight behind the ship, we must be heading due west). THB branches out with scrambled eggs, onions, ham, spicy salsa.

9am presentation on sea life around this area, mostly how to identify the things that bite. We’re due for pearl farm/retail outlet tour, THB and DB are going to stay aboard (even though THB’s tour philosophy is not to pass up an excursion, he’s been warned that when they tell you to bring your wallet, skip it).

Lots of quiet time as the boat churns to our afternoon spot. Lunch is another Adrian spectacular: gazpacho (no tomatoes), fresh grilled white fish we don’t get in Bay Area, fried potatoes with nori seasoning instead of salt, spicy coleslaw, spicy vinegar salsa, sorbet. Off the charts, a 5* lunch!

Foliage bridges the gap!

Snorkeling and diving in later afternoon; PRAISE BE: THB’s new mask works, no spritz of cleaner and thus no eye stinging, and THB is a brand-new snorkeler. Unfortunately, DB’s mask takes adjusting, so THB is left to explore what is a 90% dead coral reef mostly on his own. Not many large fish, many types of small fish THB gets to see up close and personal. Excellent, though the dead coral in shallow water is not a pretty sight.

Dinner is milder than lunch and still excellent. Hamachi sashimi and (fresh from the pearl farm tour) oyster sashimi (with two different sauces) made from the muscle of the oysters…both terrific. Make-it-yourself hot pot of fish, baby kalian, cucumber “salad” and rice noodles. Dessert, which THB and DB had skipped the last few nights, isn’t near as successful: two mini-cinnamon-buns with sugar on top and a rich scoop of ice cream.

Tropical sunset; our foliage bridging pair of  small rocks

nearby ship