Funny Comic Strip and Other Things

I would like to quote something from a fellow shipmate's blog page.. check his page out! His name is Kevin Frasure and the link to his blog is located on the left.

"So I have made a realization long before I even go that I think anyone thinking about going anywhere should remember when it comes to money. Money isnt real, it is only society's way of holding us down. I dont know about you, but I will not let myself become a victim of it. This being said, I knew long before I ever applied to SAS that I couldnt afford it, and I didnt care. I knew that there are some things that you cannot put a price tag on. Your life is one of them. No matter how much this costs, no matter how much debt I put myself into, I know that this experience is something that no one anywhere will ever be able to take away from me. I guess what Im trying to say is if there is something out there that you want bad enough, nothing can stop you. Seeing the world is one of my dreams, and Im about to do it in 12 days. Worry about petty things like money later, live your life now, because when its all over, I will have the memories when all you have is money."

..... the money situation can't be put into words any better!

Words Can't Describe...

Alright, so on Friday the 2nd I will be leaving for my first destination.....Nassau! The MV Explorer will be pulling out of port sometime around 17:00 on the evening of the 4th. Wooohoo I can't even wait. This might be one of the most exciting things I will ever experience!

As far as my progress on the packing situation goes... those that know me well know that I don't like to start until the last minute. All I have packed so far are the things I need to shower with. Packing for this is a tough one! I hope I don't forget something.....

I hope to update this blog as much as I possibly can, but it will probably end up getting updated after each port if I have to guess. 250 minutes of internet just isn't enough time for 3 1/2 months if you ask me.

I have already made some plans for the a few of the ports I'm going to be visiting.

Brazil: Rio de Janeiro and Salvador

Our ship docks in Salvador, Brazil on February the 17th so Megan and I are going to fly out that afternoon to Rio de Janeiro. We are going to be staying at the Copa Hostel located at the world famous Copacabana Beach (one block from it to be exact!) If you have the need to stay at any hostels somewhere in the world check out www.hostelmania.com . There are about 7 of us staying there if I remember correctly so it should be a good time.

By the way, we are going to be in Rio de Janeiro during CARNAVAL! I have bought a ticket to the famous Samba Parade for Sunday the 18th. It starts at 9:00 pm and lasts until the early hours of the morning.

We also plan on going to Corcovado Mountain to see the Christ the Redeemer Statue and going to Sugar Loaf Mountain and ride the cable cars there.

South Africa

A group of us SAS'ers got our own group together for a 3 day camping safari at Kruger National Park (www.krugerpark.co.za) in South Africa. I really have to give props to Cory for arranging this one tho, he did pretty much all the work... THANK YOU!

As described on the website we are going to be enjoying bush cuisine prepared over an open fire, have knowledgeable African safari guides conduct the game drives, and camp out in spacious dome tents. Sounds like a good time to me :)

I hope that it will be possible for me to bring home a baby tiger and baby elephant.. hehe

heres a few pics from the Kruger Park website

Communication Information

For Airmail:

The US post office recommends sending international airmail at least two weeks in advance; sending even earlier is preferred because mail service varies in each counry. Do not send currency. Sending packages is NOT recommended because of customs restrictions and/or duty charges (as a result, packages are not always received by the intended recipient onboard). The port aget in each country makes every possible effort to deliver mail to the ship or forward delayed mail to a future port, but cannot assume responsibility for undelivered or lost mail.

Puerto Rico: AIRMAIL no later than JAN 24th
Ashley Monahan
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives February 7, 2007
Cruise Plus Service & Sales
1760 Fernandex Juncos Avenue
San Juan, PUERTO RICO, 00909

Brazil: AIRMAIL no later than FEB 3rd
Ashley Monahan
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives February 17, 2007
Oceanus Agencia Maritima
Av. Estados Unidos, 397, Room 601-604
40018-900 Salvador, BAHIA-BRAZIL

South Africa: AIRMAIL no later than FEB 16th
Ashley Monahan
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives March 2, 2007
John T. Rennie & Sons
PO Box 702, 1 Thibault House
8000 Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA

Mauritius: AIRMAIL no later than MAR 1st
Ashley Monahan
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives March 15, 2007
Ireland Blyth Limited
1 Queen Street, PO Box 53
Port Louis, MAURITIUS

India: AIRMAIL no later than MAR 11th
Ashley Monahan
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives March 25, 2007
J.M. Baxi & CO
52 Rajaji Salai
Chennai-600 001, INDIA

Malaysia: AIRMAIL no later than MAR 19th
Ashley Monahan
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives April 2, 2007
Inchcape Shipping Services SDN
4th Floor Unit 4B
Wisma Saw Chong Thuah
39-c, Pengkalan Weld
10300 Penang, MALAYSIA

Vietnam: AIRMAIL no later than MAR 26th
Ashley Monahan

C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives April 9, 2007
General Forwarding & Agency
5th Floor Osic Building
8 Nguyen Hue Avenue
D. 1, Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM

Hong Kong: AIRMAIL no later than APR 3rd
Ashley Monahan
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives April 17, 2007
Inchcape Shipping Services (HK) Ltd.
Units 1802-1805, 18th Floor
No 3 Lockhart Road
Wanchai, HONG KONG- CHINA

China: AIRMAIL no later than APR 7th
Ashley Monahan
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives April 21, 2007
Penavico Qingdao
21 Wuxia Road
Quingdao, 266002, P.R. CHINA

Japan: AIRMAIL no later than APR 11th
Ashley Monahan
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives April 25, 2007
Inchcape Shipping Services
Kenryu Bldg II, Room 303
6, Kaigan-dori, Chu-ku
Kobe-shi, Hyogo-Ken 650-0024, JAPAN

Hawaii: AIRMAIL no later than APR 23rd
Ashley Monahan
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives May 7, 2007
Inchcape Shipping Services
Gentry Pacific Center
260 North Numitz Hwy, Suite 103
HONOLULU, Hawaii 96817, USA

For E-mail:
You can contact me by e-mail. The address I will be checking is amonahan@mix.wvu.edu