Australia Journeys, February – March 2009

Joined in Melbourne January 31st after a nice long vacation (married and honeymoon), 5 months, and overnight in Ibis hotel, was a nice story to begin.

Arrived around 8 am after long flight from Jakarta – Kuala Lumpur – Hongkong – Melbourne, with 35 friends along, it’s not that tiring though compare to the last contracts that took days flew from Jakarta to Europe or US.

Volendam, one of the R classes of Holland America Line’s ships is such a beautiful ship.The Ship has enormous architectures ornament in the railing and ceilings, outstanding paintings, even beautiful and antique furniture all around the ship. Its length and width makes it easy to maneuver in a small ports that suitable for her itinerary, Australia – Asia – Alaska in this year 2009.

Indonesian Presidential Election

In this special occasion that held every 5 years - Presidential Election, we the Indonesian crew members in Ms. Volendam also has to use our vote. The Ballots, the voters list, pens, the guideline to vote, and the voters forms had delivered by Consulate General of Indonesian in Vancouver BC on July 1st and kept by the Human Resources Officer. The casting of the ballots was on the ship's discretion but had to be returned to the Consulate General on July 8th when Volendam docked again in Vancouver.