WanderlustandWhimSea

I have done a lot of traveling over the years, and I’ve been fortunate to share the experiences with friends and family. The Asia travel is quite different, as I am a Solo Traveler for the first time. I have cobbled together an aggressive itinerary that has me all over the place joining travel groups and breaking off and moving on. Many have cautioned me about this plan, with concern for my personal safety. I scoffed at their concern. Who knew the seemingly safe balcony in a cruise ship would be the first place of terror? I was so excited to see Singapore Harbor with the masses of cargo ships, that I grabbed my camera and raced out to the balcony. It was exhilarating with many hundreds of cargo ships at anchor and probably 100 underway simultaneously. I was fascinated and wondering how you would even calculate the CPA “Closest Point of Approach” for all those vessels.  It was hard to break away from the view, but I decided I should probably think about dinner. I tried to open the sliding door and it wouldn’t budge. Somehow the handle was stuck at an angle, and had just barely caught the latch. At first, I wasn’t too worried as I figured the steward would pop in, or a neighbor would come out on their balcony and I could ask for help. Finally, after an hour, a Spanish speaking neighbor came out and I asked for them to call the service desk.  I thought they had understood me, but another hour passed and I started to panic when no one had come to open the door. I worked myself up into a real snit fit. I was screaming at the top of my lungs. Folks would lean over their balconies, look at the crazy person and do nothing. I was waving my arms with the international distress signal, nothing. There is a camera above my balcony that I tried to attract attention. I even thought about acting like I was going to jump off the balcony but put that option further down the list. The same neighbor came back on the balcony. She said she had called the desk immediately and they said they would take care of it. By the time the door was finally opened, I was a total mess with tears and snot running down my face and hyperventilating. The only saving grace was I didn’t pee on the balcony. I don’t think the staff has too many encounters with a totally insane guest. I believe I scared them.  I asked to speak to the Service Manager, that wasn’t pretty as there was no excuse for their lack of response to an urgent situation. Gosh, this was suppose to be the safe, easy part of my Solo trip, better hang onto my broomstick for what comes next!

Jackie Skiple – this event is still not a reason to not join me on a cruise ship one day! In fact, I think I need you!

And no – although published on 1 April this is no April fools joke.