Wednesday March 22, 2023
The first of Sven days at sea as we cross the Indian / Southern Ocean from Australia to the African Continent. It is interesting that we are only 2,020 nautical miles (nm) (2,324 miles / 3,741 kilometers) from Antarctica and we have travelled 23,112 nm (26,597 miles; 42,803 kilometers) since we left New York.
As we are in the region where the Southern Ocean meets the Indian Ocean, the sea last night and today was somewhat bumpy!! This rocking and rolling will continue for another day, until we are well set into the Indian Ocean and on our way across to the African Continent, stopping in Mauritius.
We had our choice of the first lecture and decided to go to the Port presentation by Ruth Clamp on Port Louis, Mauritius. It looks amazing with gorgeous scenery and beaches. It has really “whetted our appetite” for a spectacular day. The second lecture was by Kate Schroeder MBE a Forensics, Medicine, and Archaeology expert that works with the NHS, mostly on live humans, but also does facial reconstruction of archaeological cranial finds and on occasion assists the police reconstructing faces of crime related deaths. She spoke on – The beginning of Humanity – Africa The Cradle of Man. This was a fascinating background of the origins of humans in South West Africa and the migration across the land bridge of what is today the Nile Delta region of lower Egypt on the Mediterranean and from there going both west to Australia as well as east across to Europe, then across the Bearing Strait (Alaska / Kamchatka) into the Americas. She spoke of the 21 other “Homo” species that have existed and the fact that from the archaeological evidence it appears that at least 5 different Hominid species were around at the same time. She traced the journey over generations of past to Hominid species until us today – Homo Sapiens Sapiens.
The third lecture was Robin Craig the Futurist, who spoke on – Science and Philosophy “Going Viral”. The science and ethics of viruses why they are a problem and how we can fight them. He was particularly interesting as he gave both the scientific as well as the ethical aspects of viruses and how they differ from bacteria. Basically bacteria are alive whereas viruses are single strands of RNA that have the sole function of rapid reproduction in a host and growing the viral community. He obviously spoke extensively about COVID-19 and the realities of vaccination and mask usage, hand washing etc. all of which is well publicized. The last lecture was Gavin Robinson who is an African wildlife specialist. He spoke very eloquently and rivetingly, based on his extensive knowledge after living in Africa all his life on his work in Wildlife Capture techniques in Southern Africa. How they are able to capture and move big animals from one place to another so as to best manage the various herds so they are safe from poachers, have food and water and can live well in the wild.
The evening show was Indigo May – Sopranos in pure harmony. These are two women: one from Wales and the other from Northern England that covered a wide range of songs and had their start with a famous group of singing swingers. An excellent show and talented sopranos.
Roger & Anne Travels 