22 August 2013; Juneau, Alaska.

UPDATED ENTRY. IT SEEMS THAT DUE TO OUR INTERNET ISSUES TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS WENT OUT. SO SOME READERS GOT MY DRAFT WITHOUT PHOTOS AND SOME GOT THE FINAL VERSIONS. I HAVE RE -EDITED AND NEWLY POSTED THE PHOTOS. SORRY FOR THE INCONVINIENCE.

Posting sligthty delayed as the internet was down on board.

If there was no mountain range, it would take only 3 hours from Haines to get to Juneau as the crow flies. But there are mountains in between and thus we have to sail south through the Fjords like inlets and channels to get there. First out of Lynn Canal going south, then through Saginaw Channel going east and in the end going  north through Gastineau channel at which end Juneau is located. We can do that with the slow speed of 12 knots and still arrive at 04.30 at the entrance of Gastineau channel and approach the dock by 05.30. That is very early in the morning but it is needed to deal with a whole parade that comes in during the day. As we had to tuck ourselves away in the corner of the port it made sense to be the first one going in. Then came the parade: Norwegian Sun, Island Princess (going to anchor), Grand Princess and Celebrity Century. All in all, almost 12,000 eager shoppers being let loose in Juneau during the day. It was a dry day, so it was a good day.

The Indonesian flag was created in 1945 by using the Dutch flag and removing the blue 3rd color. 

But I promised to go back to Haines yesterday to report something about the Indonesian Independence day. As we have an Indonesian community on board since 1971, it has become a fixed event in our social calendar to celebrate Indonesian Independence day. For this purpose the majority of the shipboard community comes together to re-enact the declaration of Independence made by President Soekarno in 1945. When I started sailing this was sometimes difficult for the older generation on board as they were born either before or during the 3 year time span between the declaration in 1945 and the recognition by the Netherlands in 1948. Now it has turned into a celebration of respect for a new country that has found its way into the world and which is very quickly becoming a very important powerhouse in South East Asia.

 Today the flag raising event took place at 10 am. on the bow and that gave me the chance to invite those guests still on board to have a look as well. Nice and warm from the crow’s nest. This year the organizing committee had seen it fit to request that also the captain should speak a few words, which was not exactly according to protocol. 20 years ago this would not have been possible at all, a Dutch captain speaking during the ceremony of Indonesian independence which celebrates the separation from Holland. How do times change. A picture with the captain is always nice for the family at home.

Always nice for the family at home. Having your photo taken with the captain.

So there was the flag raising, the singing of the National anthem, the reading of the proclamation, the minute of silence and then another twist, the reading of the five principles. That was after 30 years also a new one for me.

The Housekeeping team trying to win their turn. Strongly motivated by the Lady Assistent housekeeper.

After the photo taking we all moved shore side for the tug of war and the sack racing. The sorts of games that are being played vary from year to year. On board there are tournaments of chess, ping pong, darts etc. etc. and ashore there are several options as well. Due to the cold weather, the choice fell on two activities that at least keep you warm while doing so.

The whole event was concluded with the official dinner in the afternoon.  Here the company will then serve, whatever is on the wish list of the crew and that is most of the time: Sate. The serving then gets done by the officers so that those who normally work in the crew mess room can join in as well. In the evening, there was a dance party on the forward mooring deck but that was the one event where I did not show up as there were Very Low Clouds expected and thus I was in bed by 20.30.

 Tomorrow we are in Ketchikan and the forecast says that it will be dry, with a small chance of the sun poking through. What more can we wish for in Ketchikan.