by Fakhrizal S.

Menami, the 63 GT wooden ship with one motor engine, influences a lot of activities during our expedition in Alor. She’s big, which prevents her to pick up a dive team near the coral area. The plan to have two dive teams to save time needs to be revisited. Thereby causing major changes in team organisation and diving schedule.

Nevertheless, this ship never ceases to light our days. One of the most appealing moments aboard the ship is the fact that we all have to pull the anchors up which sadly broke and bent on the 6th day. Also, there is always time to watch the playful dolphins.

On the 6th day, our ship headed back to Kalabahi, a major harbour city in Alor where we collected fuel and freshwater. It was also here that we fixed the broken propellers of our beloved Menami. Just when there was a glimpse of good luck, our chef onboard the Menami suffered from a mild stroke which forced him to be hospitalised. Let us all wish him a speedy recovery so that he could join us again.