In one language spoken below decks amongst some of the crew, I'm not sure what language it is, there is a greeting that sounds like "hi Don."
It has taken me some time to realize this and stop turning around every time I hear it.
The near-equatorial sun of the Seychelles did a real number on my back, I had the most thorough sunburn you will ever see. I have lost seventeen pounds from the resultant peeling alone. The pain took a few days to subside, and since then we've only had two ports anyway so I really didn't have to think about staying out of the sun.
We were in the Maldives, which was uneventful, and then in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where there is a bit of a story.
I woke early on the morning of Sri Lanka, beacause I had much to do onboard later in the day and thought I'd do my exploring before noon, if possible. I ventured out alone, hopped onto the shuttle bus, and rode in to the first of its two stops. From there, I got directions to Pettah, the major bazzar in the city. I was told it was the "must see" in town, so... I walked. After a while, I asked someone else for directions, and they told me it was much farther than I'd been led to believe... I hailed a tuktuk, a three-wheeled rickshaw/truck like thing, set a price, and headed for the bazaar.
I realized quickly we were not headed to the bazaar.
There are some situations when travelling, especially travelling alone, where being timid does not pay. Somewhat belligerently, I told the driver I knew this wasn't the way. He feigned ignorance and said he ought to maybe stop for directions. I (lying) said I had friends waiting at Pettah and needed to hurry. He got out and went into a store.
At this point I realized I had no port card - they leave small slips of paper to take when you leave the ship, serving no other purpose but to give you an address to get back to the port if you become lost. I was lost. I didn't even know the port name. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Back comes my shady Sri driver. He smiles and says he knows now. We drive for a block and he stops for a moment, at which point another man gets in and we pull away.
I protest this loudly, I'm not sharing my two-seater ride... The new arrival, obviously lying, claims it's okay, we will split the fare.
"The fare is $4," I say, "I don't need to split it. Get out."
"No no," says he,"I work at the [hotel the shuttle drops off at]. I will return with you. I will be your guide."
"I don't need a guide. I'm Indiana Jones." Yes,I actually said that. I don't know why.
ACK! Gotta run. Will finish this later.
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