Transit at JFK - Heading to Miami

After a long tiring flight, around 08.30 am April 13'2010 arrived in JFK International Airport New York. Flew with Emirates EK 203 Boeing 777-300 from Dubai at 02.00 am. This flight sometimes experienced little turbulence. The flight was okay eventhough there's barely vacant seat like as the flight from CGK - Dubai. To kill the time, again another movies were the best friend to chat with!

Arrived at Dubai International Airport - Heading to Miami

Took off from Soekarno Hatta International Airport (CGK) at 05.30 pm (ID time) on April 12'2010 and finally arrived at Dubai (DXB) 11.10 pm local time in the same day (02.10 am ID time April 13'2010). With Emirates flight EK 357 Boeing 777-300 and good service, luckily with almost all the seats were vacant made it nice and enjoyable flight...exactly 3 vacant-seats only for me:) So it's nice to lay down the back and relax after the Avatar and Sherlock Homes movies to watch.
Good complimentary dinner to have, the Glass Noodles and Chicken salad for the appetiser, Grilled Dory Fish with lemon butter (tasteless but it's okay) as main course, and the dessert was a really good Vanilla Mousse, with many choices of juices or tea/coffee for the beverages even you can ask the wines, spirit, beers, liqueurs and soft drinks. The flight was smooth, warm service from the cabin crews...nice touch to start the journey to US. We're 11 crews heading to Westerdam that will be docked at Miami, and 4 crews to Noordam that docks at Fort Lauderdale.

BST and SID

Nowadays, seaman has to have the certificate of proficiency (BST) and SID as the crew of cruise ship. This Basic Safety of Training (BST) is to meet the mandatory of the STCW 1978 as amended in 1995 Regulation VI/I section A – VI/I and the Seafarers’ Identity Document (SID) is to meet the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention 185 (revised) 2003 of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The purpose of this BST is to train about the Personal Survival Techniques, Elementary First Aid Training on Board Ship, Fire Prevention and Fighting, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities on board.

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.