12/14/2021
Thinking of Susan in Gibson Country
On the next leg of our journey. Hajltland.
Had a hearty breakfast this morning. Alex and team came and chatted with us again. Nick came to tell us about the second part of the BBC program next week which will be about Delhi.
Alex’s bride is half Finnish and half Indian. No wonder he’s such a cool guy. No hangups, open, culturally savvy and easily assimilates.
Grateful can be generous with showing appreciation. The lord provides, and overwhelms me sometimes with his Grace that is so magnanimously forthcoming.
The drive was glorious going through the fabled Southern Highlands. The culture vulture Victorian Romantic historian amongst us of course gave us the lowdown of the wars between the Highlanders and the low landers aka the English.
As we got closer north, there was snow on the mountains. In the summer these mountains would be purple with the heather we were told by our CVVRH cruise director.
Boarding was pretty quick. Not much traffic at all. Much smaller vessel too as compared to the Stena ferries. Smaller cabins and bathrooms.
Since we’re in upgraded cabins get to sit and be served in the Magnus lounge. Free drinks and bottles of water, fruits and cookies and newspapers and magazines. At table service. Jonathan was the host/ Matre de and served us dinner of something vegetarian. Curry rice and awesome soft rotis. Charged us only for one, because our first choice of leek and potato soup was not available. The chef came out to apologize for the soup getting over.
These guys are so sweet here. Such excellent and exceptional customer service. You just have to look their way or even a half smile at them and they will come running and ask if there’s anything more they can do. Convinced that it’s just that way here. As was at Chakoo’s and Balbir’s. Good quality produce makes a huge difference.
9:37 pm now and in bed writing. Huge window starboard side, instead of a porthole. Water churning below and open sky with stars overhead. Took pictures of the moon in a clear sky with stars. Earlier a gorgeous crimson sky in the parking lot of Peggy Scotts Services. Was an awesome stop, great food and she brewed us fabulous hot black tea. So much to be thankful for.
Quite a ways from midnight but sweet slumber beckons. All good, maybe in my dreams when I miss people, they will appear. As mundane as running into someone at a gas station. The sweet joys of surprise, that much the sweeter when shared.
Veenu Banga
12/13/21
9:48 pm.
PS. Was sitting in my drafts. All these posts that I don’t post. For some reason when I wrote this, I thought, ‘maybe nah, not this.’ Wonder why. Had posted about it being my father’s birthday.
03/ 21/ 2022
11:00 am
