Images of Dusk

At dusk everybody loves to be back home to be with the family and to relax. Dusk symbolizes the completion of the day's work and it is the beautiful time to take a break in the day's journey.

My Cruise Experience....It is awesome

On 21st November 2016 we took a six day cruise to Cozumel and Progresso on Carnival Triumph. Back home my friends have asked me about the cruise trip which inspired me to write down my experience in order to answer them and to cherish the nice thoughts and memories. Being on a cruise was my favourite dream. It happened and the dream came true as a gift of my daughter during this 'Thanksgiving' to enjoy cruise along with her family and friends.
Out of the eighteen in our group the oldest is 73 and the youngest is 16 months old. We boarded on the cruise from New Orleans Port headed to Cozumel and Progresso in Mexico. It is a totally different experience. If we want to enjoy just go with the flow. With a huge crowd of passengers and crew members it is always noisy inside the cruise every where all the time. We can hear noises while inside the cabins of our fellow passengers talking and calling their friends, kids playing and making noises along the walkways. Those who love to be in groups, roam around to explore, love activities and entertainments, love to eat and love to laugh can absolutely enjoy the fun in every moment in the cruise. I belong in this category, so if I get a chance for a next cruise, no doubt I am there.

I certainly had fun. The passengers were from different parts of the world. The crew members too were from different part of the world. I felt the cruise experience like a world trip, had chat with the crew members. The total occupants on board were 4800 with almost 3000 plus passengers and the rest of the crew which gave the feel of a small and posh city. Every where there is a line, for the elevator, for food, for gym and spa, but it was not at all boring. Being an observer it was fun for me all the time. We were lucky to have the deck manager from our place and he was there for us at all the time. The main chef was from India and one of the chef was from our native place, so we had our special delights for the dinners except on the boarding day.

When we know the tedious, non-stop work pattern of the crew members it is too hard to bear. It is a contract for six to nine months waiting for the best part of three to five months off in shore back home with family and friends. It takes a little time to get adjusted with the rocking of the ship. Only one evening for about four hours it was rocking a bit severe which I felt like swaying sideways.
The first day went excited and from day two starts exploring. All mornings I didn't missed jogging and walking on the track around the funnel on Triumph's uppermost deck. The view of sunrise and sunset from our balcony was amazing. To watch the seagulls, flying fishes, the different colours of water and sky in the dawn, noon and dusk was really awesome. During daytime on the sea we were spent time in Rome lounge attracted by the shows for kids, making animal towel, Cat in a hat show, pool side fun and the service of the 24 hour pizza and ice cream service along with our little grandson. There are also trivia contests, Seuss-a-palooza story time, game shows. The mini golf, children's play station, bingo, music concerts and movie broadcast along with the underground deck activities like air hockey, pinball and video games and attracted by kids.

The evenings were colourful and fun filled with the formal night, our dinner at Paris dining hall, the photo-shoot sessions, the nice approach of the crew every where and especially at serving table, the casinos, the shows at Rome Lounge, Club Rio, Capitol lobby, Oxford lounge, Piano bar, Hollywood lounge, Monaco casino and sea side theatre. The options for food is great. We can enjoy food depending on our taste. Sandwich, burgers, continental breakfasts, omelettes, tacos, burritos, chocolates, puffs, pastries, steak, chicken, pork, Asian dishes, fish along with salads, veggies, fruits, nuts, dried fruits, cocktails, soft drinks are some of the foodies. The buffet on 'Thanksgiving Day was special with turkey. There are counters to serve special seafood and bar counters with all varieties of drinks which collect price. All the counters are crowded. Deck 5 was always busy with the entertainments lounges including the Monte Carlo casino. I felt like I am in Las Vegas where we visited in 2009. I don't want to mention any negative thing because being on holidays means we should be in a happy and enjoying mood. But without mentioning the smell of cigar smoke I can't wind up. Once you get out from the elevator to the 5th deck the smoke smell hits you and that was the only one thing which I hate. It will be really disgusting for kids and non smokers. The library housed in the Oxford lounge is a great place for readers. The small shopping area situated in deck 5 houses shops for jewellery, purses, hats, shoes, paintings, outfits, suitcases etc. Black Friday discount sale was an added attraction on board. Trip on cruise makes on be on a party mood with sound of music on the way both inside and outside the deck. We can watch the classes and show in the TV screen back in our cabin.

In Mexico, the beautiful beach at Mr Sancho's, Cozumel and the cultural city Merida in Progresso where we spent the daytime on 3rd and 4th days were amazing. After a great fun and energetic six days we disembarked on 26th November with a life long memory treasure.
Cruise helps to get loose and relax with a large crowd of heterogeneous group who loves fun. For me I got energised and relaxed with great fun along with great  belly laughs and a lot of lovely memories to cherish in my life time and share with my friends. Thank God!

Cruise Balcony Fun

During our recent cruise trip we were in a stateroom with balcony on the 8th deck. If you once experience the balcony comforts you will never go away from it. We were lucky to have non smoking and good neighbours so that enjoyed the balcony view to its fullest. We pulled the curtain aside to view the blue sky whenever we wake up. So we were able to watch the sunrise each and everyday on the cruise. For me it was an awesome experience to be in tune with the fresh ocean breezes in morning, evening and even during day time with your favourite drink and snack. If you love to scribble, get a scribbling pad and a pen and enjoy the ideas flowing into a narration. On the days on cruise you are going to have different and beautiful views of sail away. If you have a camera with you go on clicking the beautiful and perfect views of sea, sky, roaring waves, flying fishes, hungry seagulls, sea shores, sea ports, other ships and boats. The beautiful pictures captured gave me a thought of posting in my blog to share with others.

Sunrise images

Watching sunrise is really amazing. It helps to make one relaxed for a while. While in a cruise I made a resolution I should not miss the sunrise from our balcony. watching sunrise is as equal as a meditation for me. It is a great start of the day to be happy and peaceful. We can sit comfortably quiet with normal breathing and enjoy the scene with contentment. It is an excellent way to keep healthy both physically and mentally. Purposeful watching the beautiful spot of light arising with multicolour background with changing patterns is a good time to cool down, concentrate. It helps to relax and stay stress free the whole day.

Images of Animal Towels

 Towel animals are similar to origami but the difference is creating with towels rather than paper. In the carnival cruise everyday we were having the beautiful towel animals. There were also a class on the cruise on how to make the towel animals followed by an interesting and beautiful towel animal show. Our grandchildren loved the show. It was really an added attraction in a cruise.

sunset images

I love to watch sunset and take pictures whenever possible. It indicates the completion of the day. It helps us to regain strength to relax the rest of the day. The time of 15 to 20 minutes to view the sunset helps us to spend in open air which in turn enhances a sense of vitality. Simply sitting on your balcony with a cup of coffee and concentrating on the movements and the colour changes in the sky helps to practice mindfulness with a sense of  living in the moment.

Sunset images

The different colours, the different shapes of the clouds and variation of lightness to darkness while observing a sunset reveals the lightness to heaviness, the light to the dark and also good to the evil. What ever it is the colours, the clouds, the serenity all helps to appreciate the natural beauty. It can create the feel of 'oneness' and feel blessed!