A funny thing happened on the way.........

ok here is an exhange that went down a few weeks back while we were out to see

TAO: surface, who is track #1234
Surface: tao, track 1234 is uranus
Tao: tao copies uranus
Surace: uranus bears 190 at 10 miles
Tao: tao copies uranus bears 190 at 10 miles, break bridge?
Bridge: bridge copies uranus 190 at 10 miles.
Bridge: tao we have visual on uranus at 190
Tao: copy visual on uranus at 190, break surface
Surface: copies, visual on uranus, break bridge, can you make anything out about uranus?
Bridge: negative nothing special about uranus
surface: surface copies nothing special about uranus.

by now there is alot of laughing going on. Just a little snippet of how life can be underway.

Island Paradise.

Ok well after a month at sea we hit land.... in a controlled manner of course. Port victoria, Seychelles. First impressions are that it looks like hawaii. Green everywhere. The beaches are so nice and the sunsets amazing. I decided that it was time to relax and I was able to get a hotel. It was nice to sleep in a quiet place with no speakers around and room to roll around freely. As soon as my head hit the pillow I was out cold. numerous hours later I awoke to no alarm clock, no guys bustling around, and the sounds of nature outside. Not to shabby.

This is a very interesting place. Technically it is africa but most of the people look indian and every one speaks french. Almost everywhere I went they new english it was impressive. The service was good though I am still getting used to the lassez faire attitude waiters and waitresses have toward getting things for you in any sort of time. it seems almost to the point of wondering if they forgot about us and then right as we are about to ask they bring it. but I have found that is a european thing as well. I guess the catering and service in the US is just different. I know that tipping is a much bigger thing in the US and I think that is why they work harder. here it sometimes seems like we are a hassle.

Let me tell you this place has some great beaches and the sunsets are amazing. Me and my liberty buddy walked most of the sights in about a day. According to the taxi driver the main island is only 27km long. we were going to do a hike up to the top of the mountain but as with most tropical islands it started to rain like a monsoon (go figure it is monsoon season hehe) so that got canceled for now. The two big draws here are the great tropical beaches and the cocoa de mare apparently it only grows in seychelles. its a type of nut that can grow maybe a foot and a half big. you can eat it when it is younger the insides are like a jelly and it is very sweet. so as you can guess not alot going on here. Seychelles gives off this jamaican vibe, the music is very reggae and everyone just kind of chills. no one seems to really worry to much.

All in all I think this has been a nice port. I think we all needed to get away and what better place to get away then a tropical island. I look forward to working with the orphans in a couple days. I think it will feel good to get my hands dirty for something other then the ship. helping out some kids in need should help me put things back in perspective. well I hope so at least. maybe they are spoiled brats hehe

Hope this finds you in good spirits and health. Take care.

its about time!

I know what your thinking, "its about time he did a blog!" well your right. Its been a few moons since the last update and sadly there is not a whole lot new to report. Once underway things fall into a routine. Same thing day in and day out. Currently we are patroling around looking for pirates. now I am sure you all can figure out where we are approximately. We have had a few close calls but nothing big or meaningful. To be honest this place is bustling with warships. Its almost like there are more warships then merchant. of course there are a ton of merchant ships and no matter how many warships there are its not that hard for a pirate to climb aboard and take over a ship. so we keep patroling hoping to find them before they strike again.

So far the middle east has not been as hot as I thought but what it has been is very humid and hazy. I am surprised at the hot wet air whenever I step outside (which is not very often) and the visibilty is only 5-6 miles. a thick brown haze covers the horizon at all time.

Now on to some good news (sounds like a news broadcast) the crossing the line ceremony is quickly coming and for those that do not know, the crossing the line ceremony is a big deal and a right of passage for sailors. The line that we are crossing is the equator and until you have crossed it you are a WOG and once you have crossed it you are a shellback. Of course in fine navy fashion in order to be considered a shellback you have to go through a sort of "ceremony" if you will that involves some rather non-ceremony type activities. Since its a bit of a tradition and not supposed to be talked about you can probably look it up online. Every ship does it differently but there is a general theme that it holds true too. All I can say is that I wont be wearing my glasses and anything I am wearing I will probably never wear again when its over.

To all reading this I hope this finds you in good spirits and health. take care

mark