Bay of Bengal

Tuesday, April 9, 2024, Jerry’s birthday

Sabang, Indonesia

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Sailing across the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean

For Jerry’s birthday, we could not have been in a more exotic destination than Sabang, Indonesia. We are having a blast, every part of this journey an incredible experience and I can not image a more adventurous, amenable and devoted touring partner willing to carry the luggage, try new cuisines and cocktails, provide a steady hand, shop till we drop, proof read blog posts and toast every milestone. Happy birthday to my love, life partner and closest friend!

Jerry’s birthday dinner with new shipboard friends — one of his favorite desserts, Baked Alaska!

Sabang is a port on the Indonesian island of Palau Weh, once colonized by the Dutch and then occupied by the Japanese. Our sightseeing tour included several stops at Japanese bunkers offering a commanding vantage point. We have been impressed with the number of places throughout the Pacific that the Japanese once dominated — really a vast empire before its downfall in WWII.

The distance from Sabang, Indonesia to Hambantota, Sri Lanka by ship is approximately 2,000 nautical miles. The route passes through the Indian Ocean, crossing the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The duration of the voyage can vary depending on weather conditions, sea traffic, and the speed of the vessel. Typically, it can take around 5 to 7 days for a ship to sail this distance, but we are crossing in two sea days — hauling ass!

Next port, Hambantota is a port city located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. It is one of the newest and largest ports in South Asia, well positioned along key international shipping routes.

Sabang is also a place that was ravaged by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and has not rebounded to any obvious extent. We were treated to a special performance of the local youngsters doing traditional dances in vibrant costumes. On the nearby Weh Island, we enjoyed boat rides on clear turquoise waters and an authentic Indonesian lunch with coconut beverages.

Indonesia is one of the Muslim countries we visit, home to the largest population of Muslims worldwide at 241 million. It’s hard to see the women wearing head scarves and heavy layers of clothing in the sweltering rainforest climate. Women's islamic dress is to conceal the hair and the body from the ankles to the neck and some Muslim women also cover their face. However, other Muslims believe that the Quran does not mandate that women need to wear a hijab or burka. Young girls must be covered, while the men and boys are free to wear stuff that is more appropriate to the tropical atmosphere. I just can’t understand it, but religion commands behavior in every corner of the world, as we know all too well!

Glass-bottom boat rides — adventure!

A Japanese bunker and canon position, vintage 1940’s.