Indonesia Independence Day

To commemorate the Indonesian Independence day on August 17^th, the Volendam Indonesian crew members had some cheerful activities such as the Flag Raising Ceremony, Sports competition, Karaoke Contest, Gala Dinner and also Crew Party.

Flag Raising Ceremony

Thanks to the Volendam Management, Captain Pieter Bos, Chief officer Gerard Teensma, Hotel Manager Wilhelm Van de Poll and all other Ship Staffs that giving us Indonesian crew members, the time to have the flag raising ceremony.

This sacred moment was held in the marshalling area that attended by most of the Indonesian crew members and also some invitees.

New Zealand Journey, February – April 2009

It’s been proven that New Zealand is a clean country, green and naturally breeze. From my friends’ story, even the video that they took until I stepped on my foot on this tropical land, it’s still exciting place, unspoiled nature….amazing!

Picton

A quite town that nestle in the beautiful Queen Charlotte Sound near the north-east corner of the South Island, named 1859 to honor Sir Thomas Picton a commander under the Duke of Wellington. It has a lot of cafes, restaurants, art galleries, museum along its waterfront. Across the footbridge in the marina is the restored ship Edwin Fox, a 19th-century fascinating wooden vessel.

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.

Grand South America & Antarctica - 2

Grytviken South Georgia

Grytviken the whaling station was set up in 1904 and in operation until 1964. Its part of Cumberland Bay in the West Arm, along the northern coast of South Georgia, was rediscovered and named by British Expedition led by Captain James Cook in 1775. But it’s first sighted by a London merchant in 1675 and was named it Pepys Island in 1684.

Grand South America & Antarctica

Prinsendam on January 3rd – March 10th 2008 was sailing to South America and also Antarctica. In total 68 days with 32 ports and 36 sea days, was really unforgettable experience. Some ports due to lack of time and other reason, I could not go out to explore in the short time I got as crew member. But luckily I have some to share, so here they are:



Fuerte Amador – Panama

It’s the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal jutting out from Balboa. Nice place with sparkly restaurant, souvenir shops. Yachts are shown to have special spot in this port.

feels so good

feuhh...it's truly great feeling to get intouch with friends on the cyber again....hmmm it's been 3 months though I was not available :( doing my overseas job

I just stopped by to rooms of my heart, my lovely friend and sister in GOD, she's so talented-glad to have her on this cyber, stopped by to my gurus edditag and aroeng binang, and my first blogger RMY...they are lovely and so talented...I just wondering, what meal the always eat everyday to be such briliant blogger :) he...he... I hope I can surf some more bloggers homesite but my time is so limited..hiks :P but I'm glad I can take a peak on the testimonial blog runs by riena - thanks honey, keep it up!

places I've been visited - part 2

Some other pictures you can see at my photobucket or my flickr for the Carribean and Alaska experiences.

With God's will, soon...Europe is coming to explore :)

Key West
This is one of my favorite places to see whenever the ship sails in Caribbean. The central shops in the downtown, its unique souvenir spots, the museum, the culinary…never getting bored of them. May be, because of the downtown is not so far from the harbor, the friendly tram’s drivers who pampers us to explore the downtown, some cheap souvenirs differ from other places and a lot more things. The nice harbor angle to shoot, especially when the sunset happened, kept me to stay.

places I've been visited - part 1

I would like to share pictures about some places that I have been visited in my last two years working overseas, seeing the Caribbean and Alaska. The lack of time mostly – as an employee – bound me not to explore or even went to see the place when the ship docked or anchored, some other reason I did not bring my DSC-H1 Sony semi pro camera to shoot but thanks to my friend for the help with his camera. I hope that these amateur pictures with short explanation base on my own experience at least, can depict the places well. To see more amateur photos or activities, please visit my flickr or slide.

Costa Maya – Mexico

How to Join a Popeye Flock

Why were you interested in becoming a sailor? What were the reasons? These questions often come from my friends or somebody else whom I just met and know that I am a clerk for a cruise line. Well, actually I have put forth the reasons in the previous article On My Point of View. The next questions are: What are the requirements for applying the same job as yours? Should I take certain courses which are connected with the job? How long is the usual contract given by the company? Many others will come up after those questions. Therefore, this article will hopefully give the answers for the frequently asked questions.

Appendectomy: the appendix surgery

Base on true story. Originally composed in bahasa by the author RMY: Appendektomi: operasi appendiks / usus buntu , reposted with permission.



Appendix is a small organ (like a worm) attached to the intestine. Until now, the medical scientists do not know the exact function of this small organ, but people can still live without appendix. Appendicitis, the disease of appendix, can burst only less than 24 hours after the acute condition appeared. If the appendicitis burst, it puts a person life in danger; it is like a deadly time bomb! Therefore, the appendectomy is the only way to save someone life from inflammation appendix.

Base on my experience, the symptoms of appendicitis and the appendectomy process are:

On My point of view

People ever asked me why I became a sailor than an accountant, auditor or another prestigious job as my background field. What made me to make up my mind to take this overseas job? What are the advantages, challenges or detriments I faced to be a sailor?

I got this job 2 years ago and still continue my contract to do it in this coming month. I had fellow worker who had worked 5 years, 10 years or even longer….35 years! And they still continue doing it. Why they could do this job that long, is it because of money? Is it because of the carrier? But, they stay far away from their beloved family. How can they manage the love, the family relationship?

Westerdam, lovely ship

The tiring experience happened again. Long and far away trip had to be done, after got vacation about 3 months from December’05 to March’06. But right now, it must be different. I got a vision that in this year, I’m being promoted to senior clerk! God had promise…

The same experience happened again. I got the same route when I was in Zuiderdam, Caribbean! I arrived in Florida about afternoon time, and over stayed one night before joining the ship.

first time to go abroad

“Are you Fajar?”, “Yes I am”. “Hi I am Yudha, the CMHO*, welcome aboard” then he asked me to go with him. He introduced me to another crews…and asked me to accompany him to the warehouse outside after I got a crew passed. The security was very tight on board; everyone must have IDs (crew ID and I-94) to go in or out, especially in homeport Florida because in some time the local authority without notice, checks the crew.

my stories

Well...I cannot recall all of my childhood like, but I'm sure it was so happy lives. Some that I can remember were, I was bad to the girls when I was in elementary school - so sorry girls I didn't mean it, it's just....I played a little hairy caterpillar and threw it to the them....but I was the one who got the itchiest skin...he...he...- what a bad boy! I was so active boy, wanted to know almost everything...may be that's why my mother put me in a lot of courses...English course, Math, swimming, traditional dancing, painting, silat - Indonesian martial art -, music etc...feuh! tiring lives right? I cannot imagine I lived those activities everyday in that time...could you?I understood that my mother, was a teacher, wanted all of her children to be prepared well for their own future. Thanks mom for all you've done, I really do appreciate it...and now you can see it through all of us!