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D & P Viking Neptune WC 23
  • Paulette Welch

D & P Viking Neptune WC 23

We are embarking on a world cruise on the Viking Neptune, scheduled to start in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 23, 2023, and end in London, England on May 9, 2024, with loads of exciting stops, and new countries along the way. Read more
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  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Day 79

    March 10, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
    Ho Chi Minh City consists of 24 distinct districts, and directly at its heart lies District 1. Astir with the daily stream of locals coming and going, it exudes an exuberance and vitality all its own. The district, in addition to some of the city's most iconic architectural gems, offers a wealth of options for those wishing to immerse themselves in the storied city. Its many markets, including the renowned Bến Thành Market, showcase locally handcrafted housewares, apparel and accessories, while trendy boutiques and shops offer contemporary twists. And visits to street vendors, quaint restaurants and food stalls reveal the traditional flavors authentic to Vietnam. This district truly appeals to allRead more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day to Thailand - Day 81

    March 12, 2024 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Happy Birthday Lilah!
    Pearls have been Treasured as gems for centuries, they take many forms and many colors. Finding them in the wild is rare; more than a ton of bivalves might yield only a handful of quality pearls. Throughout history, their scarcity made them the choice of kings and queens. While the purest of pearls are still considered the jewels of the very wealthy, those produced in modern-day pearl farms-where oysters are fortified with a substance that encourages growth of the calcium carbonate stone-make the pearl more affordable.
    The coveted undersea jewel was hunted for millennia by pearl divers in coastal Indian Ocean waters. The South China Sea, too, drew fortune hunters during the Han Dynasties (206 BC-8 AD;
    23-220 AD). Divers might have descended up to
    125 feet to retrieve oysters from the seabed, a hazardous vocation that, in some parts of the world, was assigned to slaves. In the Sulu Archipelago in the southwestern Philippines, the law proclaimed that the largest stones in the sea were the property of the sultan, though underground markets often sold them to wealthy European nobility.
    History's most famous pearl was discovered in 16th-century Panama by the African slave of a Spanish land owner. "La Peregrina Pearl," shaped and colored to perfection, was given to the future Phillip Il of Spain, who presented it to Mary I of England in anticipation of his marriage to her. After her death in 1558, the pearl was returned to the Spanish crown, and remained in royal collections of crown jewels until Richard Burton purchased it at auction for Elizabeth Taylor in 1969. In 2011, the stone was auctioned at Christie's in New York to a private buyer for a record price of $11 million.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Koh Samui Nathon Thailand Day 82

    March 13, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    A paradise of long sand beaches, spectacular coral reefs and swaying coconut trees, Koh Samui is Thailand's second-largest island after Phuket. By some accounts, the island's name derives from the Malay word for "safe haven." Surely, few havens are as soothing and idyllic, as evidenced by the sun-loving beachcombers from Thailand and beyond who wade, swim and lounge in the lapping tides. Until the early 1970s, this self-sufficient community had no roadways; crossing the island required a full-day trek across nine miles of mountainous jungle. Today, Koh Samui retains the slower pace of simpler times. The cherished traditions of old Siamese fishing villages, too, are preserved as tiny boats gently bob on turquoise waters.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day 83 to Singapore

    March 14, 2024, South China Sea ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    The red and blue teams played Baggo against the officers and lost. However, our trivia team won against all the other teams today. We celebrated with a lunch with the whole team and then attended the port talk for India Taj Mahal, then debriefed over coffee in the Atrium living room. We had dinner with John/Heather, Angelo and Sue, Paula/Ray and joined by Heather and Marie after desert. We joined Heather/John, Paula/Ray, Jan/Pat in the Torshavn for live music dancing tel 1:00 am… what were we thinking… Paula and Ray are leaving the ship tomorrow so we wanted to spend some time with them…Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Singapore Day 84

    March 15, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE
    Spread across 63 islands at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore is the world's only island city-state. Established in 1819 for the East India Company by Sir Stamford Raffles, after whom the famed hotel is named, it grew from a secluded backwater into a shabby port city before transforming itself into a sophisticated metropolis. The technology and economy are highly advanced here, yet the islands host plentiful green parks with tree-lined footpaths and the stunning National Orchid Garden. For a panoramic view of it all, the Marina Bay Sands towers offer the perfect observation deck; the Sands Skypark lies flat atop the rooftops of this trio of 57-story hotel towers like an enormous surfboard.
    In 1965, Singapore was considered 3rd world, however.
    today there are 5.9 million (6), 100 % immigrant people. The city is a very modern cutting edge and uncrowded city and roadways, Fresh water is precious and was created by controlling and damed 19 rivers that go to the sea, and created 17 reservoirs of fresh water - They still buy water from other countries but they are planning desalination plants to become self sufficient. They are now brackish and they are able to recycle the water into fresh. Nutmeg is a big export product from Singapore. There are 4 races in Singapore
    Indian
    Chinese
    Malaysia
    Eurasians
    80% of citizens live in government controlled, maintained, and subsidized housing. However, 9 out of 10 people own their own homes from the government with 99 year leases. You can sell the home and buy another. They have Medical-care for free for all people in their country.
    They all retire at 63 y/o. 90% of food is imported however, they are growing veg. in hydroponics on roofs and inside buildings to become food self sufficient.
    62 islands are being created in Singapore and serve for the waste disposal (land fill sites) for the island. 2035 the waste management islands will be livable. They are always looking for other ways for waste management in the future.
    Public housing is for everyone in Singapore gas more than
    7 million trees - it is mandatory to plant trees along the roads and to replace dying trees with new, they created shade for the people walking along the sidewalks. The public parks are connected to one another and provide over 400 km of connected parks for recreation.
    Singapore is the
    2nd busiest port to Shanghai - which is the 1st.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Lion City (last day) Day 86

    March 17, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    SINGAPORE - Day 86
    The story of Singapore's transformation from sparse island to the economic giant of Southeast Asia begins with its cultural diversity and acceptance of immigrants. Malays, Indonesians, Indians, Sri Lankans and Chinese have all contributed to the city's rise as one of the world's most technologically advanced cities. Buddhist, Hindu and Taoist temples rub elbows with Muslim mosques and Christian churches, and you are likely to see street signs in English, Chinese, Tamil and Malay.
    Singaporean cuisine, too, has been shaped by the many cultures that have converged here, and there is no better place to sample it than at one of the city's many "hawker centers," open air food courts established by the government to keep sidewalk vendors from clogging pristine streets. 80% of citizens live in government housing. 100% are immigrants to Singapore. Karen - our guide
    9 out of 10 people own their own homes from the government
    Medical care is free
    And retirement age is 63 y/o. 90% of food is imported because there isn’t much land. They are working on high rise hydroponic gardens to feed the people.
    They are growing veg. in hydroponics on roofs and they will become food self sufficient.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Langkawi, Malaysia. Day 88

    March 18, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Langkawi, Malaysia
    Langkawi is Malaysia's stunning archipelago of swaying coconut palms and island shores fringed by powder-sand beaches that lies some 30 miles from the country's northwestern coast. Langkawi's mangrove forest is renowned for its swamps, towering hills and varied wildlife, including otters and lizards, and macaques and tree crabs that can be seen hiding among the mangroves. Atop Mt. Machinchang, the Sky Bridge looms 2,300 feet above sea level, offering stunning vistas of Langkawi and its surrounding islands.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Kuala Lumpur - Day 87

    March 18, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    With only 1 day we did our best to enjoy the delightful contrasts, of one of the most vibrant metropolises in Asia. We went to the National Museum, a fascinating collection that chronicles the nation's past from prehistory through the Malacca Sultanate, colonial era and present day. We also visited the National Monument, a huge bronze monument built in tribute to the valiant soldiers who gave their lives during the Communist Insurgency of the 1950s. We stopped at the elegant, historic 1910 Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and the National Mosque of Malaysia. In Merdeka Square (Independence Square), we admired the wide cricket green and the British-style Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Also we drove through the Golden Triangle, the city's entertainment district, before stopping to gaze up at the soaring Petronas Towers, resembling a pair of steel-clad rocket ships linked by a towering catwalk. This architectural wonder is the pride of Malaysia and can be seen on tourist sites.

    KUALA LUMPUR (PORT KLANG), MALAYSIA
    The lively capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur was built by Chinese tin prospectors in the mid-1800s. They had come here in search of a fortune, and found it by clearing wide swaths of jungle for a new mining town. Since then, the city of KL, as the locals call it, has grown into a stunning mix of colonial, Moorish, Tudor, neo-Gothic and Grecian-Spanish architecture. The two-story shop-houses of Old Market Square, with storefronts below and residences above, reveal the lives of merchants. The magnificent Petronas Towers are the centerpiece of this fascinating city; the side-by-side twin spires resemble a pair of rockets, connected by a two-story sky bridge that spans the 41st and 42nd floors. B ‘n    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    George Town Day 89

    March 20, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Capital of the Malaysian island of Penang, George Town has long been a crossroads. Resting on the Strait of Malacca, it served as an important port on the prosperous trade routes between Madras and Canton. Today, it is a glorious celebration of culture, one of Asia's most colorful corners. Malays, Indians and Chinese all share a past here, as a ride around town via a pedaled trishaw. George Town's unique cityscape features shops from colonial days, Buddhist and Taoist temples and kongsi, brightly painted clanhouses that traditionally open their doors to all who share a surname. We explored the melting pot of cultures that have helped create Malaysia's oldest city. George Town is where East meets West and old meets new, with an intriguing blend of British and Southeast Asian influences. We took on a tour by motor coach through the city. Mohamed didn’t explain much about how George Town developed as a trading post in the 18th century. We didn’t even slow the bus to see England at Downing Street-which, as in London, was once a seat of government and the poorly maintained whitewashed facade of St. George's Church. We walked through the old dirty city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and viewed the faded sad bicycle street art, (we have seen better graffiti) and quickly drove past Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, and the eye-catching State Mosque. We passed the sacred Hindu Waterfall Hill Temple, Botanical Gardens and Fort Cornwallis en route to your ship. Mohamed needs more time in seat to make a passable tour guide.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Phuket - Day 90

    March 21, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    PHUKET, THAILAND
    Often called the "Pearl of the Andaman Sea," the Thai island of Phuket offers more than picturesque beaches and sweeping vistas of sparkling azure water and emerald-green hills. The island was long a major stop on trade routes between India and China, often mentioned in ship logs of European sailors. Around 1545, one Portuguese explorer called the island Junk Ceylon, and the name stuck for decades. Later, the French, Dutch and English competed for the island's tin trade. The French East India Company won, following which the French played a major role in local politics until they were expelled in 1688. Today, old Sino-Portuguese shop-houses and monuments to Buddha dot the island.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    1st Sea Day Sri Lanka - Day 91

    March 21, 2024, Bay of Bengal ⋅ 🌙 30 °C

    BAY Of BENGAL
    The largest bay in the world, the history-rich waters of the Bay of Bengal are considered sacred by many Hindus. In ancient Hindu lore, the bay is called Mahodadhi, or "great water receptacle." Still today, the devout perform a daily aarti, a religious ritual in which they place fire offerings into the surf and let the tides carry them away. The course of history was changed in these waters in the early 1600s, when galleons of the British East India Company sailed along the coast, settled throughout India and built a trading company that accounted for half the world's maritime commerce in goods such as cotton, silk, indigo dye and tea.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    2nd Sea Day to Sri Lanki - Day 92

    March 22, 2024, Bay of Bengal ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    The Origin of Oceans and Seas
    Often, oceans and seas are named after their adjacent lands or after the Europeans who discovered them. But sometimes the origins of a name reveal a bit about a region's culture or history. Here are a few examples:
    Pacific Ocean: During his circumnavigation of the world in 1521, Ferdinand Magellan discovered favorable winds as he sailed between South America and the East Indies, so he called these waters Mar Pacifico, or "Peaceful Sea."
    Atlantic Ocean: The origins of the Atlantic's name date to antiquity, around 450 BC. To the Greeks, Atlantis thalassa, or the Sea of Atlantis, comprised the uncharted and mysterious waters "beyond the pillars of Heracles," where Iberia's Rock of Gibraltar and Africa's Monte Hacho marked the end of the known world.
    Mediterranean Sea: The semi-enclosed body of water between Europe and Africa has had many names. It was Mare Nostrum ("Our Sea") to the
    the Greeks. The modern name is from the Latin mediterraneus, meaning "amid the earth."
    Roman Empire and Mare Magnum ("Great Sea") to
    South China Sea, East China Sea: In ancient Chinese literature, the empire was surrounded by four seas, each named for the directions on a compass. In the real world, as the Portuguese developed trade with China in the 16th century, they called these waters Mare da China ("China Sea") and later distinguished the two bodies of water with their own names.
    Arafura Sea: Explorers in the 18th century told of the Harafora people of the Moluccas and named this sea for them.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sri Lanka Day 93

    March 24, 2024 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Colombo, Sir Lanka is situated on the west coast of the island, just south of the Kelani River, Colombo is a principal port on the Indian Ocean. It has one of the largest artificial harbours in the world and handles the majority of Sri Lanka’s foreign trade.
    The earliest written mention of the port may be that of Faxian, a Chinese traveler of the 5th century CE who referred to the port as Gaolanbu. The Sinhalese called the port Kolamba, which the Portuguese thought was derived from the Sinhalese word for mango trees (kola, “leaves,” and amba, “mango”). A more likely explanation is that kolamba was an old Sinhalese word meaning “port” or “ferry.”    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea day 95 to Cochin

    March 26, 2024, Gulf of Mannar ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    SAIL THE LACCADIVE SEA
    The warm waters of the Laccadive Sea stretch between the island-nations of Sri Lanka and the Maldives at the tip India's southern point. Long a gateway for explorers sailing from the Indian Ocean to the Bay of Bengal, the sea's shallower waters, particularly in the Gulf of Mannar, have been known for their pearl banks for 2,000 years, praise Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder for their prolific harvest. Today, it remains a popular region for pearl fishing. Or the richest marine environments in the world also thrives here, harboring some 3,600 species of flora and fauna. L swaths of its waters, islands and coasts are protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Cochin - Day 96 Crowne Plaza Hotel

    March 27, 2024 in India ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Thursday. https://www.keralaayurveda.us We had an amazing day at the Ayurvedic hospital/spa/restaurant and manufacturing plant. $.65 for sinus medication … Immediately following our tour we had to get our bags and board the bus to Fort Kochin, old Dutch Fort where they set up their trading post. We toured to see Chinese Fishing nets and then to the Crown Plaza Hotel for an overnight, and more tours in Cochin tomorrow. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Day 97 - Kumbalangi Village

    March 28, 2024 in India ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Breakfast at The Crowne Plaza
    And we went to Kumbalangi Village excursion we walk to the jetty to board local canoes and cruise towards Kumbalang Village. Enroute view a few fishing nets. Enjoy a short canoe ride to the island Disembark and walk through the village to view the climb up the coconut palm to toddy tap from the coconut tree (amazing- ferments in 4 hours), crab farm, clam processing and ripe making from the coconut fibers.
    We Board Tuk-Tuks for a short ride to the coach parking
    Board your coach and return to your hotel. A nature walk and pottery making in a non motorized pottery wheel. Palm leave weaving. Net throwing to fish, tastes an unusual green sour fruit that was said to be an aphrodisiac. Nothing of the palm tree goes to waste. Furniture is made from the roots. Kids toys, pinwheels, origami out of the green leaves, roofs, weaved from the green patch roofs and brooms from the dried leaves strips, simply amazing.
    Dinner at The Crowne Plaza    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Day 98 Le Maridien, Delhi

    March 29, 2024 in India ⋅ ☁️ 35 °C

    We got up at 4:30 am and checked out of the Crown Plaza and bordered our bus at 5:45- Purple 1 to travel to the Cochin Airport. We traveled from Cochin to Delhi on indigo Airlines - no GF food. The Kochi Airport is an amazing place, totally solar powered (1st in the world) with the only nursery in the world to surround an airport. Very eco friendly. The state Kerela is Communist and has a 98% literacy rate, the best in India. It is also called the spice coast as all the best spices in the world are from here. The Indian security is stringent at the airport, and our quiet boxes were a cause for delay. We were told to take them along with our chargers by the ship. The guide has the transmitter and we each have a receiver that we can tune our corresponding bus number so we can hear the tour guide. We are on the same bus with Heather, Marie, Sue and Angelo and we sit in the back of the bus with each of us having our own seats. Heather and Jon (Canadian) are in a different bus, (there are at least 5 buses with 163 Neptunian’s on the tour to the Taj Mahal), but we are in the same hotel and will take our meals together in the coming days.Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Day 99 Jaypee Palace Hotel Agra - sunset

    March 30, 2024 in India ⋅ ☀️ 38 °C

    We had Buffet breakfast at Le Meridien Dehli
    (The food was amazing and delicious) Dosa for breakfast - the best! We assembled in the lobby after checking out. We assumed our back if the bus location with each of our crew having our own seats for the 4 hour trip to Agra where again had our luggage screened for security reasons. It is extremely tight in India. We had another amazing Indian buffet lunch at Jaypee Palace Hotel, following our check-in we went to Agra Fort with our tour guide (Anwar - for the next few days) to Agra Fort Drive and the sunset at the Taj Mahal. Once we arrived at the parking lot we boarded our battery buses (required to preserve the Taj Mahal) and proceed to Taj Mahal. It was spectacular to say the least. After our visit to Taj Mahal we returned to Jaypee Palace Hotel
    And had a performance of a Kathak dance at Jaypee Palace Hotel followed by buffet dinner    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler
    1111

    Taj Mahal. Day 100

    March 31, 2024 in India ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

    After a wake up call at 4:30 am we then assembled in the lobby for the drive to Taj Mahal -
    we again boarded the battery buses and proceeded to Taj Mahal - we lined up to enter for the sunrise views, while waiting in line we enjoyed the group of monkeys in the roofs of the shops lining the street. This time theTaj Mahal- lines were much longer, and the lines were not just locals. We did not go to the front of the line this morning.
    It was worth getting up at 3:30 am… it is the most beautiful building in the world. We went back to the Jaypee Palace Hotel for another great Indian buffet breakfast. Then we assembled in the lobby for the Drive to Fatehpur Sikri. We Arrive at the coach parking area for a short walk to board your special buses to transfer you to the main Fatehpur Sikri monument. Our same guided took us through Fatehpur Sikri - he was very knowledge.
    We walked to re-board the special buses and return to the coach parking area and drove
    back to Jaypee Palace Hotel in Agra had a buffet lunch at Jaypee Palace Hotel and departed Agra for Delhi by coach. Heather, Marie, Susan, Angelo (Aussies) and Dennis and I sat in the back of the bus with each of us in our own seats for the 4 hour drive. We arrived at Le Meridien Delhi and checked-in. The security is intense in India and our luggage was again screened and we passed through metal detectors before entering the hotel. We had other great Indian Buffet Dinner at Le Meridien Dehli.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Dehli to Neptune. Day 101

    April 1, 2024 in India ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Deli - tour if Old and New Deli
    We went to the Red Fort and Jana Masjid. We had an amazing experience riding through Chandni Chowk. We went to Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. We visited the Presidential Palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the World War II memorial arch and Indian Gate.
    After lunch we went to the Qutub Minar, 72 meter high Minaret. Dinner at the Le Méridien - Delhi.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day 103

    April 4, 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    SAIL THE INDIAN OCEAN
    The ancient history of human movement and migration across the Indian Ocean can be tied to its ancient history of animals and food. Though it is not clear to scholars exactly how, five crops endemic to Africa (hyacinth bean, cowpea, finger millet, pearl millet and sorghum) crossed these waters around 2000 BC and were eventually cultivated in India's Gujarat region. Sometime during the same period, chickens, zebu cattle and broomcorn millet were loaded onto ships in Central Asia bound for Africa, followed by bananas around 1000 BC. Black pepper and sesame made similar journeys, soon to be planted in the Nile-fed soils of Egypt. It is easy to imagine that all of these goods were transported for trade; however, the black rat and the house mouse —which also made the crossing to Egypt-likely made the journey asRead more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day to Africa - Day 104

    April 5, 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Vasco da Gama’s Epic Crossing
    On a mission to broaden the spice trade and build the Portuguese king's empire, Vasco da Gama (c. 14605-
    1524) sailed into the uncharted open waters of the Indian Ocean. With monsoon winds at his back to hasten the crossing, he arrived in India in 1498. In doing so, he and his crew were the first to link Europe and Asia via an ocean route, thus avoiding the contested waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the treacherous overland route of the Arabian Peninsula. Da Gama's voyage had been the longest ever achieved, and is still viewed as one of history's most courageous and ambitious journeys.
    Under the sponsorship of King Manuel | (1469-1521), some 170 men accompanied da Gama to establish the trade of spices with the East. Of their four ships, two were specifically constructed for the expedition, a pair of square-rigged ships with shallow droughts. Da Gama captained the flagship St. Gabriel. Sailing charts created during previous expeditions acted as signposts along the African coast; once those shores disappeared from view, astrolabes, solar observation and the revered astronomical tables of the Royal Astronomer Abraham Zacuto (1452-1515) led the way.
    In 1498, upon landing near Calicut, da Gama sat with the Hindu king for a traditional exchange of gifts. Though the monarch scorned Portugal's offerings, theirs was a trade
    ng that would forever change the economic landscape of Europe, opening more trade, expanding empires and enriching ckets of kings and merchants.    Read more

  • Paulette WelchD & P Viking Neptune WC 23Traveler

    Sea Day 105

    April 6, 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Exuding romance and mystery, the Indian Ocean has inspired some of the world's most beloved literature.
    Here, we offer a brief timeline of notable titles and authors whose lyricism has been influenced by these historic waters.
    • 1572: Os Lusíadas, Luís Vaz de Camões (1524-1580). A true epic of the Indian Ocean, this long-form, Homeric-style poem is often cited as the most important work of Portuguese literature, a lyrical celebration of Vasco da Gama's discovery of a sea passage to India.
    17th-18th centuries: The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor, Author unknown. Based on the seafaring experiences of merchants sailing to the East Indies and China, these beloved stories infuse the miraculous and fantastical as the hero sails waters east of Africa and south of Asia.
    • 1897: Following the Equator, Mark Twain (1835-1910). In this little-known travelogue, the American writer exalts the "vast solitudes of the Indian Ocean." Twain made the crossing during a world tour and called it "17 days of heaven" amid the
    "peace of the great deep."
    • 1940: Sons of Sinbad, Alan Villiers (1903-1982). In the 1930s, convinced that the Age of Sail was coming to an end, Villiers joined the crew of an Arab dhow for a voyage along the monsoon winds east of Africa. This great maritime classic chronicles his experience.
    • 2008-2015: The Ibis Trilogy, Amitav Ghosh (1956). This acclaimed work of historical fiction-Sea of Poppies, R and Flood of Fire-unfolds during the early 19th century as India and China trade opium. The trilogy is named for the ship on which the main characters meet.    Read more

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