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“The postings on this site are my own and don't represent Maersk Group's position, strategies or opinions. All views are my own”
  Thursday 14th of August 2014 and I saw that Pilot boarding time as changed from 16:00 to 12:00 on the whiteboard when I came down to the mess room for my breakfast. We started the cargo heating first thing in the morning in order to have the cargo at 41°C when we come along side. I checked my e-mail on my way to Captain's office. I had to go there with a work permit and I took the opportunity to check my e-mail, Grönlandsresor had sent me confirmation on my bookings. Itineraries for the GRAND TOUR OF ICELAND and the THE GRAND TOUR OF GREENLAND. Click  the links for the itineraries for the GRAND TOUR OF ICELAND and GREENLAND. Some nice pictures and I'm too excited to even sleep. And now I have the whole itinerary for the next summer adventure.
Before I sent my credit card information to PolarQuest I asked for confirmation that I had my own shower and a  picture of the cabin.
It is a twin cabin and I pay extra to stay alone, so one of the beds are turned in to a sofa. And am I lucky to have paid the extra  fee. Imagine sleeping in that cabin with 500 kg vicious and drunk truck driver hissing and leaking from all ends.
The whole adventure will be in single room. So no worries about Iceland and Greenland, no hissing and leaking person in my room. Well, anyway, I'm happy with my cabin and I gave them the “LET GO” to charge me for the trip. It was nice to see the whole itinerary and I was excited, until I came to the bottom and the GRAND TOTAL. 
 - What the  And then 3 to 4000 US on top on that for the Bangkok to Copenhagen ticket. Not to talk about pocket money. Well, I made a quick decision  to never think or talk about the price tag again, that would destroy the whole trip.
Adventure of the life time destroyed by agony for an unimportant price tag, so never again. I have already forgot the GRAND TOTAL. But of course, the TOUR company are happy as can be. They will send me books and stuff about the area and the tours. I told them not to bother, I can read e-mail if there are some important information So I'm set to go and it looks something like this: • 21st of June 2015 - Flight Copenhagen to Oslo and from Oslo to Svalbard • 22nd of June to 29th of June 2015 - Polar Bear Quest - Svalbard 2015 • 29th of June 2015 - Flight Svalbard to Oslo and then Copenhagen and Reykjavik • 2 FI 213 30JUN 2 CPHKEF HK1 1945 2055 Will most likely change this from 30th to 29th of June. 2 nights in Reykjavik is better than Copenhagen • 1 July to 11th of July 2015 - GRAND TOUR OF ICELAND 2015 in 11 days / 10 nights • 11th of July to 24th of July 2015 - THE GRAND TOUR OF GREENLAND • 24th of July to 27th of July 2015 - Weekend by my own in Reykjavik (Drunk??) • FI 206 27JUL 1 KEFCPH HK1 0830 1325 - Reykjavik to Copenhagen  My trip to Greenland
I'm already excited
We had completed all the pre arrival checks and tests when the pilot came on board. I had even had time for the quickest lunch ever. We approached Mombasa and it was low water and the sea swell was breaking over the reefs. We have to enter a bay or a river and old Mombasa is on an island at the mouth with white beaches on each side. The North side of the island, New Mombasa looked nice and our Pilot told us that this was the POSH area. And the condos looked expensive.  Approaching Mombasa
 Approaching Mombasa
 Passing old Mombasa
 Passing the Eastern tip of the island with an old fort.
One the other side we can see the “POSH” areas North of old Mombasa  Passing the Eastern tip of the island with an old fort.
One the other side we can see the “POSH” areas North of old Mombasa  Passing old Mombasa
 We can see that it is low water
 We can see that it is low water
 Passing a ferry
 Passing a ferry
 Passing a ferry
 Tug assisting us to come alongside our jetty
We were alongside just after 2 o'clock in the afternoon and I was dreaming of a dinner at Serena Hotel. Well, things are not like in Sweden. I was not in bed until 1 o'clock in the morning. Some of  the guys had been ashore at the seaman's club 2 minutes' walk from the ship. Yes, we can imagine just how exciting that must have been. For me it is Serena or nothing.
Well, maybe time for a dinner at Serena hotels tomorrow. +++++++++++++++
Friday 15th of August 2014 and I woke up at 10 thirty, well, my alarm went off at 7 fifteen but  I just turned the darn thing off.
But I went out of bed 20 minutes before 11 and I was down to see the guys that was here to pick  up our garbage, mooring ropes and an old pilot ladder. The brought mango, papaya  and pineapple for us.
We tried the mango first thing and it was pretty much the same as the one I use to buy in Bangkok, good, but not as good as the one I use to buy in Manila. I had been sleeping for almost 8 hours non-stop so I was full of VIM. But still not allowed to work because of my rest hours. I did a small correction and I was allowed to kick some arse in the CCR. There is always paper work for the Chief Officer. Getting old, the girl at Grönlandsresor send me an e-mail about the departure time from  Copenhagen to Reykjavik. I wrote to her that I was really looking forward to the tour and  the only advantage with getting old is that times turns quick. Remember when you were a child waiting for Christmas? December was like an eternity!
Well, anyway, I'm booked on the 19:45 on the 30th of June. I wanted to change to 29 but she advised me to keep the flight on the 30th of there was any delays on Svalbard. She gave me 3 departure times: Departure: 14:00 4144 Swedish Scooby Doo Dollars Departure: 07:50 3339 Swedish Scooby Doo Dollars Departure: 19:45 3523 Swedish Scooby Doo Dollars I had chosen the 14:00 departure on the 30th and she came back that this was the most expensive departure. I told her to keep the afternoon departure as the ticket was a wee bit more expensive. But I would save that on the hotel paid for from 12 o'clock and now I can use my room for 6 hours extra. And as I suspect, we're leaving for Greenland early morning and I need rest. As no surprise, the early morning flight was the cheapest one, but can easily turn out to be the  most expensive flight if you oversleep and miss the flight.
Well, anyway, I left the ship just before 4 o'clock. One of the Surveyors called his girlfriend and she is obviously a taxi driver. 50 US to go to Serena Hotel and back, including a stop at a Shopping Mall (biggest in Mombasa) where there is a supermarket for olive oil. We also agreed to try to find a safari helmet. I was so  happy going down to the CCR this morning. Captain was in my cabin and he told me that  someone was asking for me and that he had a safari helmet. I was down in the CCR in 2 steps just to discover that the helmet was the same hat that I bought in Tanzania. Instant disappointment, I will give Mombasa a chance and  then I will order the darn safari helmet on the internet.
One of our Surveyors called his girlfriend and she was on the jetty after 10 minutes and I went down the gangway. I had to pass a gate with a security guard and he wanted to have a picture together with Afrika Fararen. Well, who am I to say no? And of course, as soon as we  took the picture we had hundreds of other people that wanted a picture.
I left the area in a jiff and I jumped in to, well, it was the smallest car I had ever seen so it took me 5 minutes to get in to the darn taxi. Enough time to get surrounded by “Bussines men” that had set up shop at the parking space. Selling souvenirs to the crew and I had to promise them to have a look when I was back from Serena before they let me go. We took of with screamin' and smokin' tyres leaving a cloud of dust  behind that settled over their souvenirs.
We drov 5 to 10 minutes and we passed a security check. My driver had to get out to open the trunk and they checked under the car. Armed military and Police and Kenya is serious about the treats from terrorists. My driver told me that from being a very popular tourist destination it is now almost empty on the hotels. So they have a problem and many people have lost their jobs.  On the way North to Serena Beach
 Passing the bridge to the mainland and there are beautiful houses along the water
 On the way North to Serena Beach
 On the way North to Serena Beach
 On the way North to Serena Beach
 On the way North to Serena Beach
 On the way North to Serena Beach
 On the way North to Serena Beach
 On the way North to Serena Beach
 Finally, after 30 minutes a sign saying Serena
 We followed the signs
 We arrive to Serena Beach
 Security, only nice people allowed in to Serena Beach
 I get out of the taxi at Serena Beach
The whole staff had to help pulling me out of the car
We crossed the river and we we're on the mainland North of old Mombasa. There were some beautiful houses along the water and it looked like it was an expensive area and my driver  confirmed this. We were driving North on a road that was not much more than a dust road and we had been on our way for almost 30  minutes when we started to see signs for hotels and resorts along the road. Well, road, I have seen better roads and where I come from it would have been called off road driving.
And on top of the off road driving I was sitting in a car that was so small it felt like I was dressed in the car. We passed White Sands hotel and I was hoping for us to see Serena soon. White Sand is another 5 star hotel and they told me White Sands was better than Serena, but if Serena in Mombasa is as good as Serena on Zanzibar I'm happy. So Serena it was and Serena must have been the last hotel on the road. I was afraid to end up in Somalia, but suddenly we saw the Serena Beach sign and we followed the signs to the hotel. I was delirious with anticipation. 
But first we had to pass through security. Open the trunk and check under the car with a mirror  and as soon as they had checked us making sure it was only nice people in the car we could enter the area.
The whole hotel staff had to come help me to get out of the darn TAXI, is it possible to build so small cars? Obviously! They pulled me out with a pop and I could not help it but I was thinking about a cork screw, a bottle of wine and a cork. I stepped inside, still affected by the drama to get out of the car. And for sure, a dinner at Serena and I was not looking forward to getting back in to the car. I found the restaurant and I got a table on the terrace overlooking the pool and beach.  Serena Beach - Resort and Spa in Mombasa
 Serena Beach - Resort and Spa in Mombasa
 Serena Beach - Resort and Spa in Mombasa
 Serena Beach - Resort and Spa in Mombasa
 Serena Beach - Resort and Spa in Mombasa
I asked for a pot of Earl Grey tea and fresh bread. Avocado for starter and some tenderloin or sirloin steak and they would come back to me about todays desserts. I had a look around while  waiting for my food. Of course, I went to the gift shop to look for a safari helmet, disappointed again.
Serena Beach - Resort and Spa was beautifully located on the beach. But I was almost alone, and we had not seen many tourists on the way here. It was a nice hotel, well, except for the disappointment with the safari helmet. My tea and fresh bread was on the table when I  returned. The bread wasn't much to write  home about, way better at Serena in Zanzibar. My avocado was soon coming and it was a huge avocado and I really enjoyed my meal.
And the act that avocado is very healthy just made me feel better. I had asked for boiled potato for my steak and I had asked them to change the mushroom sauce to pepper sauce. The meat was very good and I was pleased with the meal. I prefer boiled potato, French fries is kind of boring so boiled potato it is.  Starting with an avocado
 The steak was surprisingly good
 The Waiter brings a “double dessert” with extra whipped cream
 White chocolate mousse with whipped cream
Time turned quick and I called for the Waiter. I asked for the dessert list and I chose 2 chocolate mousse with extra whipped cream. I also asked him to bring my bill but when he  brought the dessert I changed my mind.
The white chocolate looked at least to say good. I asked for yet another “double” and I told him to update my bill and bring it to the table. - I'm in a hurry! The white chocolate was delicious, or if it was vanilla cream? Never mind it was good. 
More white chocolate mousse was soon on the table. This time they brought a huge bowl of whipped cream. Exactly the spirit I'm looking for! 
Well, I was happy to see that the Waiter was quick to catch on and he was soon understanding the importance with whipped cream to chocolate mouse. Don't you just hate it when they bring a spoon full of whipped cream only? 
Well, at least I'm not afraid to go the extra mile to explain the importance of the whipping cream  with chocolate mousse. And the vanilla sauce with the apple pie. We remember Serena in Zanzibar, they brought a pathetic bowl of vanilla sauce with my apple pie. Well, I must give it to Serena, the Waitress was soon back with a giant pitcher of vanilla sauce. And we have our Adventure in Huelva with Richard Maersk fresh in memory. They brought a cake with almost no whipping cream. But they were soon to understand that I wasn't happy about it. Whipping cream in Huelva, Spain
OK, I know you won't believe me, but I could not finish my last plate of dessert. I was full and I was not looking forward to get back in to the TAXI. I paid the bill in the hotel reception and I  went to look for my driver at the parking
We were soon leaving Serena Beach and Resort and Spa behind and we would make a stop at Mombasa’s biggest shopping mall on the way back to Roy Maersk. Extra virgin olive oil, fly paper to catch flies and a safari helmet. We ran in to heavy traffic on our way back towards Mombasa, but it was soon easing up and we reached the shopping mall after about 15 minutes. Biggest mall in Mombasa, 15 shops? A food court on the third floor and no safari helmets. But I bought my extra Virgin olive oil and fly paper in the supermarket. Supermarkets, globalization, it is all the same brands all over the world, Denmark, Thailand or Kenya, I bought the same brand of olive oil I buy in Bangkok. But paying was a wee bit different.  I gave them my AMEX. The Cashier had to fill up a form and then we went to the customer service desk. The people in the queue behind me was jumping up and down impatiently. I signed my AMEX bill and I was about to leave, but no! We returned to the Cashier and he was waiting for me and the people waiting in the queue was still jumping up and down. Now we had to  wait for a clearance code for the Cashier to enter in to the machine before I could leave.
 On the way back to Roy Maersk
 On the way back to Roy Maersk
I was sitting in the back seat on the way back and it was a wee bit more comfortable  - Hmm, what about ripping out the front seat?
And it was like all other third world countries, driving down a dust road in the dark. No lights, maybe one or two light bulbs outside a “hole in the wall” styled shop we passed. The only lights was from the cars, those cars with lights. Cows running over the road, but we managed to get back to the ship. And as no surprise, the “business men” that had set up shop outside the gate remembered me. - You promised Yes, I did so I went to have a look, really nothing I wanted to buy - You promised... - Promised what? I promised to have a look! I bought two wood figures for my kitchen. Now the other two started to complain, they wanted me to buy something from every shop.  I took my wood figures, Extra Virgin olive oil and fly paper and I returned on board. And I was in the CCR at 7 thirty, I had been gone for about 3 hours.
 There she is again
 Back on board
We completed one parcel around 8 o'clock, well, we started to strip and blow lines around that time. Paper work and I was off to my cabin at midnight. But I didn't expect much sleep as we only have 500 tons remaining to discharge. But I decided to try to get some sleep. 500 tone is around 1 hour, but in Mombasa nothing is for sure. And if I'm lucky and fall asleep I might get some sleep. After completion it will be a full night in my office doing paper work.   +++++++++++++++
Saturday 16th of August 2014 and of course, no sleep. They called me at 2 thirty and I had a shower before I went down to my office. We completed discharging and now it was several cubic ton of paper work that had to be done. Sometimes I miss Europe, at least as long as it is  not winter. A few papers and the only guy on board leave us.
But Tanzania and Kenya have been very good, not to many people. But we have finished a box of paper for all the copies. Pilot as booked for 6 o'clock and the paper work was ready around 5 thirty. So I went to the kitchen to see what was going on. Our Mess man cutting fresh Pineapple and I tried out our new pineapple.  Cutting a plate of pineapple for me
What a disappointment the pineapple turned out to be. Not sweet as they had promised, but sour. Well, it was fresh, but not as good as the pineapple I buy in Bangkok, that pineapple is like candy! Pilot booked for 06:00 and there were still no sign of the Pilot when I went to bed at 8 o'clock. My alarm went of at 12 o'clock, I had been awake for 22 hours when I went to bed and I was still tired when the alarm went off. But if I sleep longer it will be impossible to fall asleep tonight. I  had a shower and I went for lunch.
Our crew was busy to set up the razor wire around the ship and when they are ready we will test our scanjets. We will  start 2 big fire pumps to get pressure to run our scanjets spraying water on the hull if the pirates attacks.
We had a lunch break and the crew had prepared all the razor wires at 2 thirty in the afternoon. Time to run the scanjets and I started the fire pumps. 3 of the machines was not turning and our Pump Man was sent to rectify. The machines were soon turning. I had planned for some painting on deck  during the afternoon but as we had water spray all over deck I cancelled the painting.
We can do this on Monday. We have 14 days until we will start loading so there will be time for  chipping and painting on deck.
We also have drills and a lot of other stuff to do. Razor wire is up and scanjets tested and tomorrow we will have  a drill with the armed guards so we're ready to pass through the high risk area to Fujairah in UAE. About 10 days to go, but we will not load until the 29th of August. Or earliest on the 29th of August.
 Water spray all over deck
 Water spray all over deck
 Water spray all over deck and Pump Man coming back after having mended the scanjets
I was ready for the day at 4 o'clock and I went for a shower and a mug of tea before dinner. And we spent almost one and a half hour at the dinner table again. I passed one of our 2nd  Officer's cabin on my way back to my cabin.
I saw our 4th Engineer in the 2nd Officer's cabin “ What the is going on?” I went to investigate. I was surprised, they were smoking
- What the You said you had given up!
He told me that he would finish his cigarettes and then they would give up again. I asked for his  cigaretes. I got the pack and I took out all the fags and I threw them in the toilet.
Yes, whatis this? I just finish this pack and I give up. There is no such thing, so  he is better off without any fags. He was kind of glad when I threw the last fags.
I left them for my cabin. We have about 10 days to Fujairah. And it will be about 2 weeks until we start loading and that should be plenty time to have a parcel sent to me from pretty much where ever in the world. Safari helmet and I fired up my computer  and I entered “safari helmet online shopping” in my browser and I hit ENTER.
One of the top results was a company callet Village Hat Shop and I clicked the link
 soak them in water for a cooling effect.
If you pass a river or lake on your adventures that it. I chose an African safari helmet, yeah, I was surprised by my choice. Well, anyway, I ordered 2 of them and now I had to go through the trouble with the hat sizes. I went to our 2nd Engineer's cabin and I asked him to help me to measure my hat size.  We measure my hat size
We used an old cord and we had soon measured my head. I double checked with my safari hat and  there was a big difference. I went back to our 2nd Engineer's cabin for 3 extra measurements.
I returned to my cabin when I was satisfied with the measurements. All this trouble and now I discovered that the size was ADJ. ADJ, what does it mean? Of course, it means adjustable and all the trouble for nothing. Well, we had some fun out of it. I ordered 2 African Safari Helmets and I paid with my AMEX. UPS delivery service so I'm pretty  confident that they will manage to get it to Fujairah in time.
I gave them the address to our Agent in Fujairah and I sent them an extra e-mail with instructons just to make sure I will get my African Safari Helmets. Never know when I'm leaving for a spontanious safari. Now I will  hopefully be ready to go any time. Bot to talk about how stupid I will look when in my safari uniform.
+++++++++++++++
Sunday 17th of August 2014 and I checked my e-mail first thing when I woke up. There was a message from Village Hat Shop. I was happy to discover thatthey had their best people on the job
But what happened to Serena? A few days ago they were going to make a itenairy for my  safari. Well, we will see whats' happen during the next week.
I made tea and I started to make a work permit and a risk assessment. Our armed  guards will try their riffles today and we need a hot work permit
+++++++++++++++
Monday 18th of August 2014 and my alarm went off at 07:15. I was tired, not even the vitamins and the  lemon flavoured magnesium “FIZZ” drink helped. After a hot shower I felt a wee bit better and I went for breakfast.
I started the day with, well, what did I start the day with? I have forgotten, but I'm sure it was  something super important.
We decided to start to change our ballast water and as were steaming East 300 Nm off the Somalian coast with a water depth of more than 4000 meters it is an excellent opportunity. I did the “step by step” plan and we started to change the ballast water after the coffee break. I discharged the FP and refilled the tank/ I will do the same with WT2 and DB2. The rest of the tanks will be done with the “FLOW THROUGH” technique.  All our Engineers
2nd Engineer having problem with is hair every time he see my camera
 All our Egineers
Now he is happy with his hair
Our deck crew was busy chipping on deck, sunshine and we take the opportunity. Our Engineers were working with the tank cleaning heater and it was almost impossible to speak due to the  chipping close by. Our deck crew is busy under the cat walk. And there are a lot of pipes around the tank cleaning heater and that means a lot of rust that needs to be chipped away. And it was a lot of noise
But I asked them to move to the poop deck so we could hear each other when working with the tank cleaning heater. We started the tank cleaning pumps and we put 10 to 11 bars on the tank cleaning heater to try it out. I kept an eye out on our ballast water exchange and I saw a few big whales while we were steaming East 300 NM off the Somalian coast.  2nd Engineer and Pump Man when we're testing the heater
 2nd Engineer and Chief Engineer working with the cargo heater
 Working with the cargo heater
 Working with the cargo heater
I have not had my constitutionals for a long time but today I had the chance during the lunch break and before dinner. Now I really need to lose a few hundred kilos, we can imagine me going around in a Zodiac when cruising Svalbard. There won’t be any space for the other passengers. I got information about Greenland today. Just general information about Greenland and Iceland. What weather to expect etc. Average temp in July is around 11°C so it is cold. Well, I will bring a pullover and a pair of jeans. As we will visit Greenland and Iceland in the summer we will have sunshine 24 hours per day. An effect known as the Midnight sun, nothing new for me. But the midnight sun makes it impossible to see the Aurora Borealis – Northern lights. That is something I would have liked to see. I found some beautiful pictures of the Aurora Borealis – Northern lights on the internet  Picture by Dan Ballard from www.mrwallpaper.com for sure worth a visit if you like beautiful pictures of the Aurora Borealis. And I will not be able to try the dog sled as this ends in April/ May. And if I want to see the Aurora Borealis I will have to go there in the winter. Maybe, why not? Well, we will see if I like it this time around first.
But now when I'm ready with the planning for my polar adventure 2015 I'm looking in to a cruise to the South Pole. Of course, first some safari and Victoria Falls this winter. I have 2  African Safari Helmets coming my way in supersonic speed so that would be a waste of money if I don't go for safari this winter. Africa, of course, and I have plans for Tiger safari in India, maybe this upcoming winter.
They have some national parks with great wild life and in one park there is a chance to see the last Asian Lion. Of course, it can turn out to be a waste of money as with all safaris. It is wild animals and not a zoo, so no guarantee to see anything. AMAZING! Yes, it is amazing how much fun stuff you can afford when giving up tobacco and  party. Of course, my plans to stop working has gone South. The cruise in Antarctica comes with a hefty price tag, a very hefty price  tag. Next summers adventure up North will set me back by 30,000+++ but this is maybe the last chance to see it. LAST CHANCE EVER!
These areas are disappearing so rapidly that they have to redraw the maps up North. Same in the South, and if I have seen the Polar Bears in the North I  will need to see the Penguins in the South. Might be too late in just a few years from now when every thing is gone.
And while they are running around with the biggest erections ever seen in China the Rhinos, elephants and everything else are dying out on us. So Tiger safari, maybe the last chance FOR EVER and I better take the chance. When it is gone it is gone and there is no going back when the erections starting to weaken and the bald spot starts to grow on top of your head. Yeah, would have been better to buy a wig instead  of killing the last Tiger or what ever is the cure of baldness for  the day. And then to explain this to the next generation of children.
Well, they will have other more important things to think about, like where to find clean water to drink. I wish I could have the more relaxed attitude that you can find in America: God created the earth so only God can destroy the earth. So no worries and life goes on, I'm out of here in 20 years anyway so what do I care? +++++++++++++++
Tuesday 19th of August 2014 and I was quite tired when my alarm went off. I woke up a few hours before with a terrible cramp in my legs, both of them. Took me a long time before I  could fall asleep again. And I could still feel it in my legs when my alarm went off.
Breakfast and I was off to my office to see the crew. Chipping and painting and our Pump Man started to remove the hydraulic control unit from the mooring winch on the poop deck. We need to change one of the hydraulic pipes and our best man is required for the job We will have to renew our annual certificate for the hospital and I was busy with my medicine list during the afternoon. And I managed to finish, almost finish and there will be some work with the  medicines tomorrow.
Well, the day passed pretty quickly and before I went for my evening constitutional I helped the guys on deck. They have repaired the fan to our paint shop and we need to lift up the fan from the engine room. 2nd Engineer told me that we needed the crane. - It is very heavy! - Well, I'm the crane, I said. How do you think we got it down in the engine room?  We pulled up the fan and our Pump Man will mount it on the fo'c's'le tomorrow. They finished the work around the mooring winch and they will pull it off tomorrow. We have requested hot work so there might be some cutting and welding tomorrow.  Sun is setting over Somalia
+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 20th of August 2014 and as our Pump Man had removed all the bolts on the mooring winch aft we didn't needed any gas cutting. 2 bolts remaining that we could not remove and our Fitters cut the bolts with a grinder. The pipes was dismantled at 2 thirty in the afternoon and we will hopefully be able to put it back together tomorrow.
Well, as soon as the winch is ready I can continue with the ballast water exchange. Busy day and time passed pretty quickly. Evening constitutional and dinner before going for a shower. Spending the night in my cabin looking forward to yet another exciting tomorrow.  And again, the sun is setting over Somalia
+++++++++++++++
Thursday 21st of August 2014 and I will start by wishing you a HAPPY EARTH OVERSHOOT DAY!!! Earlier and earlier by the year, year 2000 and we celebrated the day on the 1st of October. In  2012 we celebrated the Earth Overshoot Day on the 22nd of August.
Only that is a reason enough to put on the party hats and bring out the party whistles! And as this is not enough, we have crashed our budget! What should have lasted us  until 31st of December is already finished. And it is only August! We have used everything in our account “our world” and we have to live on credit. Everything we use from now on until December 31st will take longer than 1 year to reproduce.
Keep up the good work and we're soon out of recourses. Maybe we can make the Happy Earth Overshoot Day to fall on January the 1st. New Years party can just continue in to the Earth Overshoot Day. What a party! Of course, if we continue like this there will soon not be anything left. Pretty much the same as with my bank accounts back in the days when I was young and “care free” Always party  throwing Frisbee with the credit cards in the bars. Of course, my Account Overshoot Day was already in the very beginning of each month.
Well, this time around it is a wee bit more serious. It is like we're sitting in an inflatable, the very last we have surrounded by water. All of us with a knife stabbing the inflatable. Of course, not all of us have a knife, but some people have 2 or 3 knifes stabbing and stabbing. 86% of the worlds population living in countries demanding more from the nature than the eco  system can generate. Well, I'm out of here in 20, but good luck to all children and grand children. They will need it!
Well, anyway, I was off to my office and the crew after my breakfast. All available crew started  to cup brush and paint the area they had been busy chipping the last few days. Our Pump Man was sent for other works.
I did 2 risk assessments and then I got started with a dry dock list our 2nd Engineer sent to me and I was late for lunch. I had planned to make an  medical and medical equipment inventory
I spent the day yesterday updating my list with the latest regulations. I checked our Narcotics with the Captain. But we got busy during the day and suddenly it was late afternoon.  A stowaway
 300 Nm off Somalia and we can see on her feet that it is not a “swimmer”
 He got scared and he took off
I saw a big bowl of water on deck and I wonder what it was. Well, I was soon forgetting about the bowl of water. But when I came back from the fo'c's'le I saw a big bird on deck. I understood that the crew had put out the water for the bird. I don't know what kind of bird it is, but it is not a “swimmer” as we can easy see on her feet. It is not a swan or a crow, that I know. But it is the same kind of bird I saw on my safari in  Tanzania. Is it a Stork? Brought a baby to someone?
Well, she is not from around here so I hope she will stay with us until we're back in East Africa so she can find her friends again. Won't be many friends around in UAE for her.  And again, the sun is setting over Somalia
+++++++++++++++
Friday 22nd of August 2014 and it is Friday already, darn, this week have passed quickly. Yesterday it was Thursday and I thought it was Wednesday. And even if it would have been
 Wednesday the week would have passed by very quickly.
Well, vitamins and a lemon flavoured magnesium “FIZZ” drink before my shower and I was soon on my way to the mess room for my breakfast. 2 slices of black bread cut in to 4 and a  bucket of tea, pretty much the same routines every day. And I was off to my office as soon as I had finished my morning tea
The crew off to paint on deck and Pump Man continued the work with cleaning our tank radars. 
Our crew finished the second payer of paint on tank deck and the Fitters were ready with the mooring winch aft. That means that I could start the power pack and continue the last ballast exchange.  Estimated time of completion, 23:30 tonight. Ad that is midnight thirty as we're advancing ship's time by one hour tonight.
I was surprised, we didn't change the time flying from Qatar to Dar es Salaam, at least not what I remembered. So I had expected us to have the same time. We got an inquiry about the cargo and I spent the afternoon doing a stowage plan, and it look like it will be back to Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. Good, I like these voyages, at least if we get the paint on board in Fujairah. Then we have plenty time for chipping and painting.  2nd Engineer discovered that we had a big bird on board in the evening
 2nd Engineer discovered that we had a big bird on board in the evening
I was on deck with our 2nd Engineer in the evening and he was fascinated by the big bird. He took hundreds of pictures of the bird. It was quite fun to watch them, the bird was hiding behind the winch. Our 2nd Engineer approached from one side and the bird went over to the other side and they kept on for quite a while before our 2nd Engineer got his pictures. +++++++++++++++
Saturday 23rd of August 2014 and I was tired when my alarm went off at 7 fifteen. Advanced ship's time by one hour during the night so it was like 6 fifteen when my alarm went off.
My vitamins and lemon flavoured magnesium “FIZZ” drink didn't much to help. But 15 minutes in a very hot shower helped. Black bread and tea before I was off to my office to get the crew  started. One guy for painting and I sent 3 guys to prepare our FW tank on port side.
I made work permit and risk assessment while they prepared and they entered the tank 5 minutes before 9 o'clock. I was soon back in my office, we had planned to check the gas detectors in the pump room today, but we will do it on Monday instead as all crew is in the FW tank. But we could pressure test our tank cleaning heater. We started the tank cleaning pump around 9 thirty and we had it to run for 2 hours before our 2nd Engineer wanted me to stop. They checked and adjusted and we started the pump after lunch again. I was out to check on them and as soon as our 2nd Officer sees me he put his hair in order knowing that there might be a picture or two. Well, he always ask me to take pictures of him because he knows that is wife follow him on www.aladdin.st  2nd Engineer wants me to take his picture
And what's the story with the finger?
  2nd Engineer finally ready for the picture
And what's the story with the finger?
And as I suspected, I caught sight of me and he started to shout “picture” and he removed his ear protectors and started to put his hair in order. He called the Fitters and I told him to flip the  bird. Well, I don't think his wife would have fancied that so we will never see him  flipping the bird. But one of the Fitters was at least to say enthusiastic over the idea.
When the guys were ready in the FW tank it was time for lunch and they started to wash the monkey island and the bridge deck after lunch. And I was off to the hospital to check our medicines when I had started the tank cleaning pump. Well, finally, I get the time to take the inventory and when the new medicines arrives in Fujairah it will be easy to update my list. And then we can renew our annual medicine certificate in september. I had not been in the hospital for very long before our 2nd Officer came in to the hospital. I did a quick wipe-over so he would be ready just in case I bring out my camera. Important to look good on pictures. Never know who will see them  2nd Engineer in the hospital
+++++++++++++++
Sunday 24th of August 2014 and I slept like I had not slept in a long time and I woke up 10 minutes past 11. Vitamins and as I had a giant mug of tea I had to skip the lemon flavoured magnesium “FIZZ” drink as I use to have the magnesium drink from my tea mug. Well, one day without the lemon flavoured magnesium “FIZZ” drink won't kill me.
We're North of Somalia and South of Oman in the middle of the Arabian Sea. NE of Horn of
 Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea portion
We stay at least 30NM from the Somalian coast line, but I remember one time. Coming from Suez bound for Singapore with Stolt Excellence. We passed between Somalia and Suqatra leaving Gulf of Aden behind. Today there have corridors in the Gulf of Aden patrolled by navy ships trying to prevent piracy.
Of course, no boats required when passing between Somalia and Suqatra, if they would have had any trees ashore they could swing themselves on board Stolt Excellence when we passed the area. Piracy was well known, but there was nothing called High Risk Area back then, at least not what I remember. Armed guards was unheard of. Well, no internet and I'm still waiting for the itinerary from Serena hotels, African safari. I have planned for an Indian Tiger and Asian lion safari for January 2015 and I learned today that our 2nd Engineer have a friend running a tour company in India. We sent him an e-mail requesting an itinerary with price for the Jim Corbat national park and the Gir national park (for the Asian lions) plus if he had any other recommendations for safari in India. Now I'm sitting back awaiting his reply. Well, of course, hard work while waiting. +++++++++++++++
Monday 25th of August 2014 and I was very tired when my alarm went off. I didn't fall asleep  until 3 o'clock in the morning as I had been sleeping until 11 o'clock.
Fizz drink, vitamin, hot shower and blah blah but I was not full awake until I reached the  excitements in my office. All the super important works requires that I'm on full alert. And so I was! Well, kind of, at least I had more vim than when getting out of bed.
The guys continued with the painting on deck and our Pump Man and 2nd Officer went down the  Pump room to calibrate our gas detectors while I was in the CCR checking the values. We calibrated all the gas detectors and it was coffee break when we were ready.
Tank cleaning plans for the dry dock and I was quite busy until the coffee break in the afternoon. Not even time for a proper lunch break. I had a quick salad and I was off to my office again. Things calmed down a bit after the coffee break in the afternoon and I had time to enjoy a few mangos on the poop deck. The best part (for me) is the middle with the large stone.  Our Mess man is saving them for me as I'm the only one eating them
- Don't throw them away! I'm always disappointed when I discover that the midsection with the stone is missing when I buy mango in Bangkok. Well, I had some time for the hospital in the afternoon before going for my shower and the last dinner with our armed guards. They are leaving when we're passing Musqat tomorrow morning and it have been fun to have them on board. Joly guys all of them and I had one of them in my cabin during the evening. As you can imagine there have been a lot of talk about Polar bears, safari, Greenland, safari hats and polar adventures since I decided to go to the North next summer. One of the armed guards had been on an expedition on Greenland crossing the ice cap and he was in  my cabin showing me pictures. The crossed Greenland starting at 800m above sea level going up to 3000m! above sea level and down to sea level. Never leaving the ice.
He showed me some amazing pictures and I told him that my Greenland adventure was about to turn in to a disaster, and that's even though it is almost 1 year until it is time to go. I  had sent an inquiry to Grönlandsresor about tours when we had the day off at the different destinations. There were flights and boat tours to the icebergs.
I got a reply, very good service. The use the helicopter in case of emergencies etc so if they have an emergency they cancel the tours. So they are flying with a plane. Partenavia P68, 10 meters long and with a wingspan of 12 meters. 5 passengers and maximum weight 379kg. 5 PASSENGER AND MAXIMUM 179KG. Las Vegas and my Grand Canyon helicopter tour experience all over again. I sent them an e-mail asking if they expected the passengers to be Pygmies’. I told he that I could take the tour if everyone else decided to skip, or if I was flying with four 6 years old. I booked the boat trip to Kangia, the northern hemisphere's most productive glacier. I was disappointed as I wanted to see Kangia both from sea and from the air. Well, Grönlandsresor and good service. The girl promised to do her best to get me on the flight. - That's the spirit, tell them that I'm 35kg only! +++++++++++++++
Tuesday 26th of August 2014 and we were stopped when I woke up. And no armed guards in the mess room when I came for my breakfast. We had stopped outside Muscat and our armed guards  had left us when I came on deck. I could see their service launch steaming towards Muscat. Well, they were a nice bunch and it was kind of lonely in the mess room after they left.
Well, that's life on the seven seas, good guys coming and good guys are leaving. I had my guys to  complete the third layer of paint on tank deck  and I was off to the hospital to finish the inventory. I passed the galley and our mess man called me.
I had saved some of the mango stones for me and I went on deck to enjoy them. Our last mangoes and I can't wait to come back to Mombasa and get new fruit. The pineapple was a disappointment, not sweet  as promised. But the Papaya and mango, hard to find any better!
And I really need some health food, I need to lose weight like there is no tomorrow in order to make it on board the airplane for
And it is 800 Dollars per seat so it can be expensive if I need to hire the whole airplane.  4000 Dollars for 5 tickets so there are money to save by losing  some of the lard.
But the girl at Grönlandsresor will do what she can to get me on board, so I keep my fingers crossed. Hopefully, and I mean really hopefully she will manage to get me on board as  I want to see the iceberg both from the sea and air. Yes, I will only do this trip once.
We have no berthing prospects and we had sent my loading plan. No news and I finalized my loading plan in the afternoon in order to save us a few hours when coming along side. An e-mail in the afternoon and it was from Grönlandsresor. The sent me the “FULL” itinerary for my tour of Island and Greenland today. I could se that the MASTER EXPLORER flight  was including in the price and I was happy.
No, I was actually very happy the LARD AIR had decided to take me on board. Well, we will have to wait and see until they see me in person. I can rent seal fur clothing on Greenland. I asked if they had size XXXXXXXXXXL and the girl was not sure. But imagine me boarding the flight dressed in seal fur, they will think it is a foocking Polar bear coming around the corner. But if they discover a passenger with 2, 8 meters behind the  back pockets they might throw me of or the other passengers might complain. Hopefully, and I mean hopefully, I will be the only passenger.
 Well, as we use to say here on www.aladdin.st WE WILL SEE. But I'm really looking forward to the trip, as I think I had never been looking forward to any other trip before.
Seal fur and Greenpeace??!! Well, yesterday I had the armed guard in  my cabin showing me pictures from his Greenland trip. There was an Eskimo shooting a Polar bear. They kill whales and seals. But they do it for their living! They eat the seal, whale and polar bears. They use the fur for clothing and actually, there is nothing else to eat.
And the threat is not coming from the Eskimos, it is the shrinking ice cap and Japanese whale hunters etc. that are a threat to these animals.
But we're lucky they have stopped most of the whale hunting, I really see  much whale all over the world. But the Flippers, maybe my imagination, but I don't see many Flippers swimming in the oceans any more.
I saw our armed guard's pictures and the Eskimos are really living from what the nature can give them. So if the spot a Polar bear it means food and a big fur. And nothing gets wasted. And the towns, 20 houses spread in the snow and here I was thinking to stay  in the hotel. Some of the place we're staying don't have electricity and running water. So this will be an adventure. And it has to be!
For the price of the whole “Northern Experience” I could have bought a new car, and not a small car. Or I could have bought the customised Harley Davidson Night Train I was looking at in Sweden. I was close to buy the darn thing. But I was lucky not to buy the motorcycle as it started to rain, and the rain never stopped. But I neither want any car nor any motorcycle so off for the “Northern Experience” it is But I can imagine coming back to Reykjavik and my hotel room with warm water and the night life right outside the door. Exactly the reason I have choose to stay a few days extra in Reykjavik. So  I will get the weekend there before flying back to Copenhagen on Monday the 27th of July.
And it is not impossible that our hero, Polar fararen/ Afrika fararen gets a wee bit tipsy in Reykjavik before leaving the north behind when going back home to Bangkok. And as I'm pretty sure it is against the law to pass Copenhagen airport without crossing the bridge to Skåne I might stop in Skåne for a few days. Edvard's Kavring at Kalle på Spången is worth  a visit. And Engelholms Glass. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, there is so much good stuff in Skåne! Can't wait to get there. A new Gästgiveri Tour is something I'm looking forward to.
The evening was spent in the cabin reading the tour itinerary and watching movies. I will hopefully be able to fall asleep early tonight as it will be a busy day tomorrow.
+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 27th of August 2014 and we were anchored when I woke up. We had arrived to the anchorage at 21:40 yesterday evening. We had started the bunkering so I was surprised that the bunker  barge was still alongside. Obviously a big difference and we had got 40 tones (30,000 Dollars) less than the bunker barge claimed that we had got.
Our 2nd Engineer prepared himself to go on board the bunker barge when I came in to my office in the morning. And as I watched him getting ready I thought he was going in to war!
Our 2nd engineer was soon back in the CCR and he had a drum of fuel oil that he poured to small  plastic bottles. Samples they have to send for analyse before they can start using the oil.
Now we just waited for all the paper work to be ready before we could let go of the bunker barge. 40 tones difference is a lot so there were plenty telephone calls. Our Engineers sent papers back and forth between us and the bunker barge. And of course, they took the time to contemplate over life and other important stuff.  Having a good time on deck
 No worries in the world
 Life is good
We will change half of our crew here on Fujairah anchorage. I have got confirmation that my African Safari Helmets have arrived. Stores and provision to be delivered at 12 o'clock. New on signers to join around 6 o'clock in the evening. We discovered that they only delivered the stores, Provision will be delivered tomorrow and I really wish that they will send my 30 bottles of juice for my e-cigarettes, as I could not find any juice in the stores I found a receipt for 10 bottles of the e-cig juice. 10 bottles! Will not last me long and I sent an e-mail to Wrist. I had an instant reply, something was wrong, the bill was for 10 bottles, but  there will be 30 bottles. At least they hope so.
We also had a FRAMO Technician on board for a pre dry dock inspection. Busy after noon and time as quick and it was soon time for dinner. Captain brought me a paper at the dinner. It was a receipt, our Agent had sent my parcel with the on signers and I dashed off to look for my parcel. On signers were on board but their luggage and my parcel were still on board the service launch. I was at least to say excited to see my parcel on the launch.  Waiting for the luggage on Fujairah anchorage
I returned to the mess room and I finished my tea and salad while waiting for my African Safari  Helmets. I ripped open the parcel as soon as I got it in my hands.
And I tried both of them on and they were quite comfy to wear, now I can't wait to get off for my safaris. I eve think that I will check in on Suvarnabhumi in full safari uniform I also got 3 different PDF files from Grönlandsresor with 3 different tours of Antarctica and the Falklands. I got a ton of pictures and it looks like I will be off to Antarctica December 2015. I might turn out as the most experienced Polar explorer if I  continue like this. Well, if I go North I can as well go South or it will be like something is missing. Then it is only one project missing, the Amazonas.
+++++++++++++++
Thursday 28th of August 2014 and our last off signers left us after breakfast. My boys were busy putting back the new life rafts we had received and they were ready just in time for the coffee  break. And there was no end to the action.
We held our monthly drills after the coffee break. We had postponed the drills until the new crew would come on board as we will have to make a new drill when we have changed 25% of the crew. And we had changed 50% here on Fujairah anchorage. Our crew was busy taking our new paint to the paint store forward. The provision will arrive at 16:00 but was later changed to midnight. And still no berthing prospects +++++++++++++++
Friday 29th of August 2014 and the provision didn't arrive until 1 thirty in the morning and we finished the provision around 3 thirty in the morning. I as lucky that I had managed to get some sleep yesterday evening. I went to bed expecting the provision to be here at midnight.
So after all the sleep it wasn't easy to fall asleep again. But I managed to get 2 or 3 hours of sleep before the fire alarm went off at 9 thirty. False alarm and I tried to get some sleep as my alarm was set to go off quarter past 10. No success in falling asleep and I went to my office. The crew were busy bringing our new razor wire  forward. We got news just before lunch, Pilot will board us between 1 and 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
We did all the pre arrival tests before going for lunch and I could have a shower and change clothes before the Pilot would come on board. Pilot on board at 14:50 and we had all fast in Fujairah at 16:35. Last time I was here signing off Argo Pallas Fujairah was a desert with a pier for service launches bringing crew and stores to the  ships on the roads. Now it looked like a huge city with plenty sky scrapers and a huge port. Opportunity to go ashore to eat some soft ice cream?
We got 2 Pilots on board and they told me about a huge shopping mall, LOLO Mall. Maybe I can get ashore to repair my LUMI NOX wrist watch. I was also told that there are 3 tax free shops within the port. I went down to my office and we had to wait until 6 o'clock before the safety guys arrived and it took is until almost 7 before we were ready. Paper work and safety inspection on deck before we could start the work with the Loading Master and Surveyor. And of course, as always, I had to make a new lading plan and we lost hours waiting for me to be ready As usually, we had requested the information, in vain. And we had to spend 2 hours doing it while waiting before we could start to load. They complained, they had never experienced this before. - This is according to rules and regulations - No one else is doing cargo plans before we start! - Well, I'm not allowed to start before it is done! At the same time we heard people screaming on the VHF. It was non-stop banana monkey and I pointed at the radio. - Yeah, with this guys it is never any problem with no check list and plans!  Arrival to Fujairah
I said hello to our Agent first thing when I saw him and then I handed him my LUMI NOX watch. I bought it on board Cathay Pacific's flight from Singapore to Bangkok last time signing off  Roy Maersk. Swiss made and used by Special Forces all over the world. Military grade.... My arse! 
I had never used the darn LUMI NOX and when I joined Roy Maersk in Dar es Salaam I took it o for the first  time. I gave my old “work” wrist watch to our Pump Man that joined with me last time in Singapore.
My Swiss made military grade LUMI NOX capsized after not very long and I had to ask our Pump Man to give me  back my old wrist watch. He signed off yesterday and I returned the wrist watch. So I asked our Agent if he could bring ashore my Swiss made military grade LUMI  NOX crap for a wrist watch for repair.
Well, we will see, I'm afraid that it is just to throw good money after bad to try to repair the darn thing. And yes, I have warranty on the darn Swiss made military grade LUMI NOX bull shit. But seriously, who saves receipts when buying a Swiss made military grade LUMI NOX. You expect it to last for a life time. Well, at least you expect it to last longer than a week. +++++++++++++++
Saturday 30th of August 2014 and I woke up at 7 fifteen when my alarm went off. I went in to my room and I turned off the alarm again. I was soon asleep and I woke up at 10 thirty. I was in bed  at midnight yesterday, dead tired, but I had spent most of the night tossin' and turnin' in bed.
We were loading the third parcel when I came down to the CCR and we swapped to the fourth parcel, last of the parcels to Mombasa at 2 thirty in the afternoon. So we might be ready with the fuel oil to Mombasa early evening. And that means early morning departure when we're ready with the fuel oil to Dar es Salaam. We had so much trouble before we could start loading, we load four parcels for Mombasa first. They wanted to load it as one parcel. I said no, we're going to load it as 4 parcels segregated by double valves as instructed by the charterers. Of course, it would take a wee bit longer. Loading Master was not happy but when we got it confirmed from the charterer in the afternoon he said it was the Surveyor that had complained. And my Indian Wildlife adventure are coming to place as well, I got a suggestion from our 2nd Engineer's friend and it looks good. Click HERE to view information about this adventure. Of course, dates have to be changed and some minor changes as I want to spend a weekend in Bombay when there. Well, one of my visa runs planned and one more visa run to go, the African safari. As my friend said when I came back from my visa run to Las Vegas. - You know, some people take the bus to Cambodia for 2000 Baht - Yeah, I don't like to ride a bus in any third world countries! Sweden, it is pretty safe to go by bus. As our 2nd Engineer form India said. - In Sweden the bus drivers had white shirt and tie. In India they are considered the lowest of the low when it actually should be the opposite, when they are responsible for all the lives of children etc. riding on the busses. Yes, same in Thailand and no training or ability for even the simplest consequence analysis! What will happen if I run the red light? Hmm, nothing as I have this old shoe hanging around my  neck! What will happen if I run this bus in 200 without brakes? Hmm, nothing as I have my old underwear hanging in the rear view mirror! 
FER FOOCK'S SAKE! IT IS 2014! +++++++++++++++
Sunday 31st of August 2014 and I was in bed at 4 thirty. We had been waiting for hours for them to start the parcel to Dar es Salaam. We expect to be ready late in the afternoon and leaving Fujairah early evening.
We expected to be ready @ 16:00 but at 16:00 we had 1000m3 remaining to load and average rate 100m3/h so we will be here a wee bit longer than expected. We left the jetty around 19 thirty bound for Fujairah anchorage C where we will have service on our Auto pilot before leaving for Dar es Salaam. And this is it for the month of August in the year of our Lord 2014. So let's swing right over to the month of september 2014
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To www.aladdin.st since December 2005
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