The other side of including fun in everything you do....

Like any other job, there are pros and cons for working at sea.

Our lives may seem fun and glamorous and full of adventure but the reality is that we are faced with dangers that land people are not.  Mind you these things don't happen often but they do happen from time to time. We need to be ready for everything at all times, we can't call the police department or the fire brigade, we need to be able to handle everything ourselves and it comes when you least expect it.

This is what I mean:




Here's another one (not my video):

On our way back to Sydney

Work at sea is not for the faint of heart my friends.

Include fun in everything you do...

Include fun in everything that you do....

One of our mottos that we have lived by as a company since the beginning is just to have FUN. Yes I do work hard and way more hours then people that are land based and I am on call every single night for emergencies.  But that does not stop me from having fun regardless of what I am doing.  

Here's an example, every year our email inboxes are bombarded by holiday cards from everyone around the fleet. Every year for the last ten years I have always been the first one to send it out fleet wide and it was not going to be any different this time around.

Our Christmas Card

Since this season we were in Australia we really wanted to do something different and fun with a down under flare.  We racked our brains and asked the photo department if they could help us out. we convinced our good friends to don kangarooo and koala costumes. We did a quick photo shoot with a pro photographer and then we went nuts with the costumes and selfies. Koala did the splits, Kangaroo was being a diva, we took off the heads and switched them around and took crazy photos with any guests and crew members we found along the way.  I can say that we definitely had a unique and fun holiday card!

Goofing off with the Environmental Officer

When it comes to the holidays on the ship, you have to create your own atmosphere. The first time I was away from home for Christmas it was very difficult for me. Over time it gets easier. But if you are not careful it will become just another day in the calendar.  Personally I think its important to create the holiday spirit onboard. Not only for my own well being but also for my team. We may be away from our homes and families but we are also each other families when we are onboard.  

The Gingerbread Village

We had a very nice Christmas. We decided to do small gifts for one another, we are a small department of five.  It was so much fun! We basically gave each other stocking stuffers and we were like little kids opening up all the gifts, there was gift wrap everywhere!  We also joined forces with the other small departments and had a joint party. We also had the crew holiday party for everyone on board.

With the Grinch

These days everyone is so politically correct when it comes to the holidays. Onboard we are 60 nationalities and we celebrate everything together as a single unit.  When it is Rammadan or Eid or Holi we are in it together. It is completely acceptable and normal for us to wish one another Merry Christmas or Happy Eid when neither one of us is of that practicing religion.  Team Members wish each other as a sign of respect.  If I wish someone Merry Christmas and they are not Christian they will not get upset or offended, rather they accept my well wishes as a sign of respect and unity.  When its Eid and Ramaddan it is the same.  I myself am a Buddhist and I attend all the festivals onboard whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Orthodox etc.  Here we are one big family and religion does not seperate us, it unites us.  I dream of a day of when we can take what we have onboard and apply it to the rest of the world.

Opening our Christmas presents

Now there's no better place to be for New Years then on a ship.  Let me paint you a picture; you and your closest friends all dressed up on the top deck under the stars with the wind gently blowing in your hair.  4000 other festive individuals join in ready to party as the vessel makes her way through the waves. You are in the middle of the ocean and everyone around you, guest and crew alike, are ready to bring in the new year to life.  The band is playing  on the stage, all the crew is up on the deck and the officers are in their formal uniforms accompanying the Senior Officers.  Tradition calls that Captain and the officers bring in the New Year on the open deck.  Ten seconds to midnight the Cruise Director stars the countdown.  Excitement fills the air....5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....Happy New Year!  The sound of the ship's whistle echoes through the ship and the vast open space around us.  Everywhere you turn are happy faces, embraces, kisses, hugs and champagne glasses clinking.  Happiness and joy fill the air and for those few precious moments absolutely everything is all good in the world.

Decked out for New Years' Eve

One of the other things that we love to do is EAT and believe me there is no shortage or food and drink onboard. Besides the crew dining rooms we also have a ton of other options such as the steakhouse, sushi, guest dining room and so forth. The way to a crew member's heart is with food! It's not that our food is bad but variety is key.  We all miss food from our home country and the menu gets stale after a while so its good to mix things up.  My group of friends loved sushi so we would assemble our collection of Deck, HR, Medical, Housekeeping, IT and Finance friends and eat in style. What I love about ships and always will is the people.  You meet people from all over the world and you get close so fast. Friendships bloom and last lifetimes. You get to see the world with these people and they become your family when you go through good times and bad times.  I have met such incredible and inspiring individuals on this journey of mine. 

Friends...the most important thing you can have on a ship

The other awesome thing about ships are the parties.  We love themed parties! Every month we plan a crew activity calendar and we have all sorts of awesome themes, you name it and we have done it.  It is not unlikely that I come home with wigs and costumes galore. 

What can I say; Work Hard, Play Hard!

Mmmm...sushi

Our gang after dinner one night

Our Toga Party

My fave cocktail these days; Aperol Spritz

You are a badass at making money....

Just finished this bad ass book by Jen Sincero. Exactly a year ago I read her other book on being a total bad ass and that propelled me to dig myself out of depression, buy a one way ticket to Amsterdam and fulfill my dream of backpacking Europe. 3 months later I came back re-charged and feeling like myself again. It was exactly what I needed to get the courage to go and ignore all the haters that were giving me grief for wanting to go.

I did enjoy this book though but I didn't find it so revolutionary as the first bad ass book.  It could be because a good portion of the book is dedicated to getting rid of this guilt that some of us have when it comes to money and I can't really identify with that and it's hard for me to understand it.  If I could I would roll around naked in dollars.  I love money, I love making it and I love spending it.  Money gives me the freedom to do what I want and when I want and I never, ever feel guilty for having it or for wanting it.  I don't think that people that have a lot of money are bad people, I admire them cause they have found a way to make a ton of it and enjoy life to the maximum.

Now I didn't always have money. In fact there were times when my family was hella brizoke. We were refugees in two countries and I distinctly  remember living with no furniture for a good year when we came to Toronto.  I remember my parents being very frugal and scrimping and saving for basics.  I also remember being envious of the other kids who had cool lunches and brand name clothing while I had second hand recycled things.  Anyways none of that made me bitter towards money.  I was in debt for years and didn't break even till I was in my late 20s.  But Jen is right, the more you focus on being broke, the more broke you'll be.  I fantasized about traveling the world and having money to buy whatever my heart desired.  I guess all this day dreaming (visualization) paid off!  I didn't know how I was going to do it but I knew I was meant to do it.  I have now been to nearly every continent on the planet and I have enough money to fulfill every desire that I have.

But like with the 4 hour work week by Tim Ferriss and Jen's other Bad Ass book, one thing is for sure; you have to take risks and get uncomfortable.  Great things happen to those people who stick to their guns, have faith in the unknown and get uncomfortable. If it doesn't make you uncomfortable or scared, your dream is not big enough.  In my current job I have tackled so many things that made me uncomfortable that they no longer make me uncomfortable.  You have to take risks to live out your dreams or you will never grow and never achieve what you truly want.  This is my biggest take away from this book.

The book also talks about the 'Hows'. A lot of people worry about 'how' things will happen. I leave it all to the universe.  I don't sweat it. It will all happen in one way or another, you just have to believe.  I knew I was destined to see the world, I was broke and I didn't know how I was going to do it. I sent out 70 applications to different companies in the hospitality industry in hopes of scoring a job. Nothing panned out. I thought to myself 'if there's a will, there's a way'. I continued working part time and I signed up to upgrade my education and get my Business Degree.  Year and a half later I got a call to do a interview with a cruise line. I had no experience in the industry, didn't have any particular outstanding skills but I rocked the interview, impressed them and three weeks later I was on a flight to Miami crying my eyes out cause I was so nervous.  Now I've set foot on nearly every continent and I am the highest ranked female on any ship I go on. If you told me this is where life would lead me when I was counting my pennies I would have never believed you.  But one thing I had going for me was faith. You just have to believe.  Where there's a will there is a way.

So now I think to myself if this is how far I've gotten by simply believing, what's else is possible?

The crossing from Sydney to Vancouver....Part 2

Our 18 day long cruise came to an end and we pulled into Hawaii.  I was very excited to go back to the Aloha islands but for us since it's our first US call it also means a lot of work and inspections. We had to put all guests and crew through full immigration, we also had to prepare for a coast guard inspection and a public health inspection.  Our first days were quite hectic but I still managed to get out in most ports even if it meant sacrificing sleep.  

We had an overnight in Honolulu but I didn't have a chance to spend a lot of time out.  Honolulu is located in Oahu and it's the most cosmopolitan and busiest Hawaiian city.  It's the only one that I can recall that has high rises and high end shops.  I managed to meet up with one of my friends who is originally from the big island, I haven't seen her in about 8 years.  We grabbed some drinks on a roof top patio at the mall downtown Honolulu.  Oh how I have missed North American customer service! The service culture outside of N. America simply can not be matched anywhere else.  Australia and the islands don't have a tipping culture and as a result service isn't exceptional, timely or in cases of some places existent at all.  It was so nice to have consistent and friendly service but then again, I remember that I am tipping this time around so I was in fact paying for it but hey, it was worth it.   We had a few cocktails and then we strolled through the downtown area adjacent to the beach.  

Pulling into Maui

We did two calls to Maui. In the first one I couldn't go out but the second one I managed to get some friends together, rented a car and went off to explore the Road to Hana.  I have been there before in 2009 and I truly enjoyed all the sites and I really wanted my friends to have the same experience.  Six of us piled into a car, armed with a GPS and a map we took off on a driving adventure.  We stopped quite frequently and went off on little hikes here and there and took photos.  All was good until one of my peeps confessed that he gets motion sickness and then proceeded to throw up the six mangoes he ate earlier. Who eats six mangoes in one shot?  The road to Hana is very winding and the journey is the destination, there is tons to see along the way. The sites are stunning, take a look for yourself.  

Road side organic smoothie stand

That view!

Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree

Botanical gardens

Honaunau

The Big Island has always been very special to me.  This would be my third time on the Big Island and in Kona. I have close dear friends there that are more like family to me. There is something about that island and it's people that just feels like home to me.  This is one of the few places on the planet where I can feel the Earth's vibration.  It is so deeply peaceful and spiritual here.  The people are open and warm and willing to share their story and whatever they have with you.

My dear friend Malia came to pick us up and took us to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau .  I love the feel of this community. Malia's Father Rafa  has his canoe club here and they build traditional Hawai'ian canoes and race them between the islands.  It's not a spot where you find a lot of tourists but rather you will find locals with their entire families setting up shop on the shore with their home made foods and drinks for a family day.  Kona is a place where family and community are still highly valued and I love that.  You can see that in the way that the locals greet me and my friend as we stroll through the waterfront.  

Honaunau was a place of refuge for many.  If you were running from something this is where you would come to hide out and seek immunity.  The site features Hawai'ian sculptures and totem poles as well as some traditionally made huts.  As my friends and I made our way around the site, we were able to spot beautiful Honus (turtles) in the water just feet away from us and a school of yellow fish.  Around the corner from the poles and statues is a landscape littered with black lava rock.  The sky has a mysterious darkness to it.  Malia tells me its Vog which is a haze that contains volcanic ash and dust from the nearby Hawaii National Park which has an active volcano. 

Malia took us around a bit and we went around to the most scenic vistas and picked up some Kona staples including Donkey Balls and of course some Kona Coffee, best coffee in the world.  We finished off the day with getting some poke (raw fish meal) that was absolutely delicious and then we had a cocktail across from the pier.

There is just something so special to me about the Big Islands.  If you have ever been to Hawaii then you know that each island has a different personality.  The Big Island holds something so deeply spiritual to me.  Maybe it's the Goddess Pele calling me back, maybe it's the volcano, the black sand beaches, the turtles or the dolphins I spotted or maybe its the Hawaiian culture and her people, Malia and her family....there's just something so mystical and incredible about this place.

Farewell Cocktail

After all this excitement, we decided to take it really easy in Kauai. As our friends helicoptered and drove around the island, we opted for a nice meal by the waterfront and some beach time.   The three of us strolled to the nearby waterfront and had a nice meal. We then spent the rest of the day in the ocean and admiring the view of our ship. On our way back we blew more then we planned on Hawaiian souvenirs and prezzies for our loved ones. I scored an awesome pink hibiscus suitcase and I was happier then a piglet in sh**.

Kauai was our last Hawaiian stop and we were just five sea days away from our final destination of Vancouver, Canada.

The weather got progressively cooler and we were all starting to doubt our clothing preparations for what was lying ahead.  There was also a lot of rain.

We were all super excited to reach out destination but at the same time so tired from the constant time changes.  We have also pushed ourselves to the limit trying to see as much of the ports as we could and working late into the night when we should have been sleeping. We were all burning the candle at both ends but you know what? It was worth it and I would do it again and again.

What an experience of a lifetime.  How many people get to do this? How many people get to cross the Pacific Ocean and see all these beautiful places? 30 days that I will never forgot. So many crew members hope and pray to get to have this experience and we were the lucky chosen ones.

Forever Grateful for this!

Downtown Vancouver

On April 30th we reached Vancouver, Canada!  My country! Although I am from the other side, it felt really good to put my feet on Canadian ground.  

Of course I had to get Tim Horton's coffee and doughnuts and bring some back for my friends and the Captain after I've ranted and raved about them.

We walked around the waterfront and I managed to meet up with one of my childhood friends who relocated here a few years back.

It was such a proud moment that have finally reached out final destination and it being my home country at the same time.  Sometimes I forget how beautiful Canada is. I go all over the world admiring other countries, I need to stop and admire mine too!

Steam clock in Gas Town

Tim Horton's!

Proud Canadian

The crossing from Sydney to Vancouver.....Part 1

An ocean crossing in an honour for seafarers like me. Not everyone gets to experience this and I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to.  Our ship was due to reposition from Sydney, Australia to Vancouver, Canada over 30 days.  We were going to go to exotic ports of call none of us have seen before, we would cross the international date line, the equator and we would change time six times.  We were scheduled for two long cruises covering 9698 nautical miles. It was a wonderful, exciting and tiring experience.

Our first ports of call were Mare and Suva, both which we have called previously.  Mare has one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen (right up there with Half Moon Cay Bahamas); turquoise seas and white sands.  Suva as I mentioned before is a busy city and we spent the day at the market.

The highlight of my crossing and a dream that came true was our visit to Tahiti of French Polynesia. I worked late nights on sea days just so I could go out as much as possible in Pape'ete, Moorea and Bora Bora.  It was all worth it and I had to pinch myself it was all so surreal.  

Pape'ete was our first port of call. Out of the three islands it was the most city like.  The immigration protocols for French Polynesia are a bit strict so we spent a good couple of hours sorting that out with authorities before we could go out. I took a stroll on the open deck and it was beautiful and green and lush. When I see greenery my pupils dilate! I couldn't contain my excitement, I was so excited that I put makeup only on one eye hahahahaha.  

We booked an island tour that showcased the highlights of Pape'ete.  It was hotter then the sun and we thoroughly enjoyed our tour that took us to a botanical garden, water falls, gorgeous vistas, a Polynesian museum and a Polynesian home.  If you've read my previous posts then you know that I am quite spiritual. I was with one of my spiritual sisters and at one point we looked at one another and said almost at the same time 'Do you feel the ground vibrating?' it wasn't an earthquake. Certain places just have this energy that permeates through the earth or the people or just gives you that vibe. I can tell you that the strongest vibes I have felt were in Pape'ete, Machu Picchu and the Big Island in Hawai'i.

The home visit fascinated me as the owner took us through her garden and went over all the plants and flowers and how Tahitians use them in  their lives whether it's for medicine or beauty products.  Over the years with my own experiences I have learned to step away from western medicine and seek natural methods mostly through eastern medicine. However, I am fascinated by any naturopathic or natural and alternative methods. This was right up my alley, I learned more about this through out guide on the next island.

We wrapped up the evening by taking a stroll through the night market near the ship. Tahiti is known for black pearls but I didn't find any that called my name. There was a parking lot full of food trucks with local eats. We opted for some ahi tuna which was absolutely divine. 

The ground was vibrating

These tats though...

The view from the Tahitian home

Ahi Tuna like no other

The following day we tendered at Moorea. Tendering is when we take a small boat from the ship to the shore.  I tried to make the most of our time on the island and wanted to see as much as possible so I did my research online and booked a tour for the eight of us with Moorea VIP Tours . We were met by Yvette who welcomed us at the pier. She was personable, fun, kind, informative and she put up with our crazy arses. The eight of us loaded into her van and had the whole tour to ourselves which was such a unique experience as we could do things at our pace an we could ask all the questions that we wanted to. The tour was the whole day and we really got to see a good portion of the lush island.

Moorea is greener or more lush then the other islands.  There are no high rises nor highways and you are surrounded by vegetation.  We visited a black sand beach, plantations, the country side, temples and incredible vistas.  It was about 45C and we were sweating like phat kids chasing ice cream trucks but the raw beauty of the island made up for it.  Yvette gave us even more information how Tahitians use plants for medicine and beauty.  What I loved is when Yvette picked some Ylang Ylang from a nearby tree. She crushed it an gave it to us to smell and asked us if we recognized the scent and it we did; Chanel No. 5.  Ylang Ylang is the main ingredient in the classic perfume.  The scent followed us throughout the day.   Yvette chilled some Ylang Ylang infused cloths for us that we could use to cool down, it was such a nice and refreshing touch.

In the crazy heat we also stopped off at a roadside place for some ice cream and some local fruit tasting.  Maybe it was the heat or just a welcome change from the every day but the mango, avocado and ice cream tasted exquisite. On the way back to the ship we stopped at a juice store to do some tasting and of course we purchased some for ourselves for later. I also bought pineapple wine which actually sounds a lot better then it tasted but ya know, I can't let wine go to waste haha.

It was a full, magical and beautiful day.

The view outside of my cabin port hole

That's the biggest the roads get

Black sand beach

Ylang Ylang infused cloths

Ice Cream Break

now THIS is what serenity looks like....

Have you ever seen photos of those bungalow/huts in crystal clear turquoise waters in Bora Bora? 

For as long as I can remember this has been a dream of mine. Bora Bora always seemed so unattainable, luxurious and expensive. I have always imagined frolicking around one of these huts but didn't think it was possible.  

I called several hotels and tried to reserve a hut for us and I was facing all sorts of ridiculous prices and policies. It wasn't looking good. I kind of just settled for the fact that we were going to the Intercontinental Hotel on a day pass and we would drool over the bungalows from a distance.

The tender boat operation wasn't going so smooth so we were delated getting off the ship a good hour. Once we did get off the ship we couldn't find a taxi. Somehow in my broken French I fenagled one and then ten of us piled into the taxi practically sitting on top of one another.

Crammed and super excited in the taxi

We arrived at the hotel all giddy with excitement. Luckily they didn't give out our reserved day passes away. I decided to try my luck with the bungalow again. By some great forces of the universe they had one left! Not only did I get the one most distant from the shore but I scored half off!  We nearly ran to the bungalow and couldn't believe our eyes. It was everything we ever thought it would be. Gorgeous bungalow with a wooden interior, all necessary amenities, a coffee table with a glass floor, a patio and a platform straight into the ocean complete with a slide and stairs.  The water was so clear you could see to the coral and all the ocean life.  We couldn't contain our excitement. We ran around the bungalow taking in all the sites and taking photos from all angles.

My dream had come true! It happened, something that was so unattainable, so luxurious and expensive happened! I just could not believe it.

We were all in awe and in appreciate of what luck we had.  

Just LOOK at these photos!

Somewhere amongst these ports we went through the international date line.  Aside from the fact that we had to change time 6 times, we also had to relive April 7th. Yes you read that right, we re-lived April 7th.  On april 7th at 2am the clocks went back 23 hours. Let me tell you what a hot mess payroll was. Our computers and phones were already on Pacific time so to say that we were confused is an understatement.

When we crossed the equator we had an equator ceremony.  What I wasn't aware of was that people like me who have not crossed the equator by sea are called Pollywogs. And do you know what happens to Pollywogs? They have to go on trial with King Neptune. My ship bestie and I walked right into that trap as we admitted that we have never crossed the equator by sea.

We were summoned along with  the Deck and Engine officers and brought to the open deck like prisoners.  We were put on trial for our crimes and were made to kiss the massive, ugly and stinking fish.  Next the 'pirates' threw eggs, pasta and pasta sauce at us. Let me tell you; it smelled like vomit. It all happened so fast that I had no time to run although I did try. The officers got their heads shaved.  The experience was fun but I did actually start gagging in front of everyone. It smelled bad!  We then walked threw crew areas and hugged all the clean people in their whites.  I am now no longer a pollywog and now a trusty shellback!

Before the massacre

Kiss the fish

Listening to King Neptune' verdict

So it begins

I tried to run

It didn't work

On the lookout for more...

Run!!!!

To be continued.....