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The Arabian Sea, November 29


Another day of rest today as we prepare to arrive in India tomorrow.  The Arabian Sea is a region of the northern Indian Ocean bounded on the north by Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf of Oman , on the west by the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Peninsular, on the southeast by the Laccadive Sea and the Maldives, on the southwest by Somalia and on the east by India. This is like a jigsaw - the Gulf of Aden in the west connects the Arabian Sea to the Red Sea through the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb and the gulf of Oman is in the northwest connecting it to the Persian Gulf!

Please don’t ask me to repeat this!!!!! 

The Arabian Sea has been an imoortant marine trade route since the era of the coastal sailing vessels from as early as 300 BC through the later days known as the Age of Sail.  

Major sea routes usually began in the Far East, or down river from India, with transshipment via historic Bharuch, traversed past the inhospitable coast of modern day Iran, then split around Yemen into two streams north into the Gulf of Aden.  Each major route involved teamshipping  to a pack animal caravan, travel through desert country and the risk of bandits and extortionate tolls by local people 

There are several islands in the Arabian Sea, with the most important ones being Lakshadweep Islands (India), Socotra (Yemen), Masarah (Oman) and Astola Island (Pakistan). 

I sat in on a Speaker Series talk on the history of the Taj Mahal this morning.  Having visited the Taj in 1982 it was interesting to hear the story again.  After lunch Helen and I met for another mahjong lesson and a nice lady from the UK came along and joined in.  

The entertainment was at 5.30 this evening instead of 9.30 so it was a packed house.  Met the Roses for a drink and dinner.  

Have to be up and ready for a face to face with the Indian government in the morning - begins at 5.30 on deck 6.  Since we’re on deck 7 we will need to be ready to go at about 5.50 am!  Crazy!  Many people are fuming - Canadians and the English are not able to leave the ship due no visas - not their fault,  just couldn’t get them in time.  Seems there’s a political point involved.  Same with the Belgians - they simply couldn’t pay for the visas online with credit cards!!! We got ours online overnight! 

So tomorrow it’s Mumbai!  

Happy birthday Annie!!!! 



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