The Sarojin, Phuket, and the Star Flyer - March-May 2007

A blue Photo Book exists, plus a folder with all the ship's daily bulletins from 24/3/2007 - 30/4/2007. Also David's masterpiece- http://www.clipper-ships.com/

Click on photos to enlarge them

Before boarding the Star Flyer in Phuket, we stayed for 12 nights at the luxurious Sarojin Hotel there- aesthetically pleasing and great exercise classes!

Then we sailed- or, more often, motored!- for five weeks aboard the Four Masted Star Flyer with ~46 other passengers, roughly half British & half German, also 2 Canadians and an Australian . We left Phuket on March 24th, arriving in Cochin on April 3rd.

We explored near Phuket for the first 2 days, as the scheduled stop in Colombo was cancelled due to problems with the Tamil Tigers . Stops were made at Ao Phang Nga & Koh Hong archipelago, then at Similan Maritime National Park on the next day. Followed by 7 days at sea. .

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Lunch in the Similian Islands .. . . . . . . . . .Edging through some Phuket Islands

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David climbed the mast - but realised once out on the beam that the lads had not attached his safety harness!! View from up high

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Our Expedition leader, Peter, and the ship's scrawny parrot were the 2 most vocal things aboard! The Boyzz & Oz kept themselves to themselves!

Lots of good food

	Mark & Grant	Barbara	Dinner on deck

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There were 3 choirs, the English & Canadian ones directed by Canadians, Mark and Grant. The German Choir rehearsed with Lazlo. These performed in a show, which included a talented spoof on Peter!, plus a Rule Britannia by Terry & Helen. And daily quizes

I discovered that I could sing!	A church service each Sunday	The English speaking choir	The German choir

First port of call was Cochin, Kerala, a very peaceful backwater of India. We had a City Tour here on arrival, followed the next day by an excursion to the Backwaters of Allepy

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The local dancers came aboard - Kathakali Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Local transport

Then, after another day at sea, on to Goa, where we moored alongside an Indian warship and visited a Hindu temple and a plantation- on a clapped out bus!

Every time we left a port we sang the 1492 VanGelis Overture- heartily. Then several days at sea en route to the Horn of Africa

There were daily quizes, several keep fit sessions {3 Scandanavian lads kept us busy}, even some bridge- for want of a better name!!

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We purchased 2 teashirts in Goa for 50 p each- could have made a fortune with resales!!

Then on to Luxor where we had the most wondrous guide: Mafa had 3 doctorates, one in medicine, but she earned more as a very upmarket guide, only working with priveledged clients . We really felt we knew about Egyptology when we finally left her after our visits to Luxor, Karnak, St Katherine's Monastery and Cairo

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Willie and friends!

 

From Safaga on to Sharm el Sheik and St. Catherine's Monastery, built in 565

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We almost failed to reach this fantastic place- something to do with permits I think. It is the site where Moses is supposed to have seen the burning bush, and is sacred to both the Christian and Islamic religions.

It was then time to transit the Suez Canal, a pilot and many cartons of cigarettes - as bribes for all and sundry along the way - being required.

We then went by coach , accompanied by 2 armed guards, from Port Said to Cairo, past many road blocks!. Stayed overnight in the Meridien Hotel, right beside the pyramids: could even admire them whilst swimming!

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Then on to Rhodes and a day ashore there, visiting the Acropolis of Lindos

before landing in Athens on the 30/4/2007, where we stayed for a night and explored some of the places visited back in 1966

What a journey... and I was not bored!!

Site only constructed in 2017!

Chris Grant