A very hot and sticky day in Makassar, Indonesia.
So it was our second port and the sweltering city of Makassar awaited us. So we were due to tender at 10.30 but in fact, we were there at just after 9.00am.
We were not sure if we wanted to go ashore, but why not. We don’t know if we will be back again. So 15 minutes later we were disembarking to have a look at the little market. All there was, was food and drink. All of which we can get on the ship. So we ventured out a bit more, taksi, taksi, taksi. Was all we heard for 5 minutes. Nope, we’re didn’t need a cab. We were only going to walk a short distance. Oh, how that was going to be so wrong.
So a short time into our epic walk, we realised that there was not much going on immediately near the ship. So we headed a road in and came across a unique supermarket (was the most cluttered I’d ever seen, but everything was dirt cheap), and a bakery (no prices, and baked goods not seen back in the UK).
ALL WE WANTED TO DO WAS SIT DOWN AT PORT ROTTERDAM, BUT NOPE. THAT WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
We walked for must have seemed like forever, in 33 DEGREE HEAT, we just wanted to rest. Then we arrived at Port Rotterdam, no sign of prices but had a donation, which we paid 20,000INR (which was about £1.17, a bargain if you ask me). So we just wanted to find somewhere cool to sit. But then out of the blue, this chap said hello, and before we knew it we were given a tour around the grounds.
It was very disconcerting when you are led into areas that you can’t be seen in. Half expecting to be ambushed for money and phone. But all was well, as you can see from the picture below we were melting.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF LUNCH, WAS THE CHOCOLATE BROWNIE AND ICE CREAM
We headed to The Waterfront restaurant for lunch again today. Just had enough of the same, same from The Pantry. So for lunch, Tina had the Caesar Salad (after telling me she fancied the Greek salad), followed by grilled snapper and a cheese board for dessert. The snapper was delicious, but the cheese board was shocking.
I, however, had the same chicken pho for start and the chicken schnitzel sandwich and chips. Both of which were shocking, one tiny chicken fillet to cover a massive bun. And less than a dozen small chips. However, the saving grace, the chocolate brownie, and ice cream. Although the brownie was slightly dense it was by far lunches saving dish.
I feel that will be our last lunch there.
BY THIS TIME I WAS STAVING AND LOOKING FORWARD TO ANGELOS
Hmm, so we were brought the menu. Nothing floated my boat, apart from the pumpkin arancini balls, pork neck and some dessert (none of the 4 sounded great, but oh well).
But hey, it was time for the blanco party…
ALL ABOARD THE BLANCO PARTY
Neither of us is big party animals. However, we couldn’t miss the biggest party on our maiden cruise. So we expected everyone to be in White, but the fact was. Many people were either in black or different colours. This made us feel better as neither of us was all in White.
We were there 90 minutes before it started, and getting a seat was difficult. The next 60 minutes were filled with both good and shocking (more shocking than good) karaoke.
Shortly before the party started, you had two barmen performing what was meant to be some bar flare. However, most of the bottles and cups ended up on the floor. Some of their tricks didn’t work, and when one of the chaps tried to pour three drinks at once. He barely got two out.
This was then followed by singing and dancing. All with the help of the alter ego band and the resident ship DJ. The picture below is of the ship entertainers having just performed for the crowd.
