Saturday 14th March

Coordinates for Liam & Katie;

Time: 06.55
Lat; 05 degrees 27.0 N
long: 103 degrees 33.8 E
speed: 20.0 knots
Course: 340 degrees

Lovely milky calm white and pink sea, glowing in the sunrise. Lots of clouds and we have had quite a bucket full of tropical rain but the sun is trying to push through. We hear the temperatures are 90 - 100 degrees in Bangkok...ouch!

After half a voyage (we reached half way yesterday) we have discovered how our bath plug works (I know I know it's pathetic...) so George has taken to having loooong baths. He has a class at 8 am, it's now 7.20 am and there is still breakfast... (I took a break to talk on the phone to Dia. my most faithful correspondent...hence the time leap). George has just appeared all excited because he have found a clothes line we didn't know was there!! We shall finally know this ship when we arrive in Fort Lauderdale in May!

We have been so spoiled; no cooking, laundry done beautifully and all these fantastic places to visit....had you told us a year ago that we should be sailing round the world I would have guffawed loudly. There is nothing I could appreciate more at this stage in my life, except perhaps good health. To have this opportunity, perhaps even more so for George now that he is retired, is a priceless gift. Whenever we complain about anything (and believe me everyone does even here!) we always stop and think and end up saying...but aren't we lucky?!

I have breakfast with two friends: Nilo from Pakistan, also born in Karachi so we are soul sisters we think and Pamela from Florida. Pam is a Life-long learner ,travelling on her own with a large family at home. Michael her husband joins the ship in Guatamala for the final week. Nilo is vivaciou and funny and we usually have a hillarious meal. George and i have lunch with 4 of our family; Lindsay, Tammy, Stephanie and Danielle. More about that after the fact. We look forward to hearing about their adventures in India.