18 july 10:19AM cloudy skies, slightly choppy waves
So my first official day on the ferry/boat. The sleep was not too bad but it would have
been terrible for light sleepers. Countless people passing through the common
corridors in the morning to make their way to the café, heavy thudding of
engine noises, and bunk mates speaking to their family/friends.
My bed was pretty cosy with disposable bedsheets made of
material that you wore for massage. I was half tempted to put it on my head but
decided against it cus I still wanted to look local. the toilet was not bad,
with GROHE taps! (very very uplifting to see them. LOL) with diaper changing
area, and a shower area. I think my only gripe with the area is that the power
plugs are shared so I would have to wait my turn to charge my stuff and it can
get a lil stuffy on the boat so u see people walking around in shorts. The seas
got pretty rough from the storm that caused the delay and my stomach feels abit
queasy. I went up to the sun deck and the view was really good and got
approached by the friendly ship mechanic who could speak abit of English but I
was quite disturbed that when he laughed cus he kinda laughed very loudly in
your face.
I am now back down at the café to eat my rice, egg and
sardine despite a ppt sign on the TV that flashes for less than 5s amongst
other things to not eat outside food in the café. I was about to leave when I
saw an aunty with 3 kids in tow taking out a bunch on snacks n feasting on them
so I didn’t feel that guilty.
There’s also entertainment on board but I couldn’t load the
movie on my phone and there is a cinema as well but I’ve yet to watch it. Netflix
is my life saver so far so I would ration my episodes wisely.
3.53pm
We reached the town of pammuit a while back. There was a
guide that brought a group of tourist around and I tagged along halfway. It
seemed like a pretty small town but with enough to have marine college and a
church built like a norweigen church.
20 july 5.21pm café sarfaq waiting for dinner
Feeling extreme parched from the lamb soup. It was nice but
after a while it was too salty for me.
We passed by kangaamiut where the guide explained about the
life there and how some villages moved further to Maniitosoq (the 7am town XD) but most chose to stay. It used to be one
of the biggest villages of up to 500 but now that has been reduced to half. It
is still a thriving (and rich) village with sports halls, a primary school and
a grocery stall and the people here mostly work at the fish factory where in
winter they would dry the cod fish on the racks but not in the summer where
there were too many flies (I agree after the flies laid eggs on the smoked fish
URGH). I managed to see how they lowered the speed boat to drive the villagers
in because it was not possible the dock the ship at their habour. And there
were some rude tourist that jusssssssstt had to lean their hands on the back of
my chair while they listened to the guide. Screw off. Ok bye
I only found out when we arrived at sissimut that the guided
tours are free. But I tagged along on half of them so yeah not too bad. We saw
the Greenlandic dogs chained up in a field and they are mainly use in the
winter (where they are well fed), so now they because they are pretty much
useless, they are only fed once a month. like the dogs used for mushing, they
looked semi wild, not the kind you would go and pet and because they are very
famished, and are known to attack people, so kids who have brought along when
the family is feeding them sometimes become part of their diet as well. The
Greenlandic sleigh dogs are also kept a pure breed by not being allowed in any
towns below the artic circle while any other kinds of dogs are not allowed up.
So if a Greenlandic dog does make its way past, it’s not allowed up again. We
also went to the old part of the town with the museums and the guide explained
that the jaw bone of the whales are usually used as an entrance arc and is
believed to bring good luck.
After we left sissimut, I also missed a whale sighting and a
seal sighting but oh wells. Smtimes it’s just not meant to be so I’m really
glad I saw the whale tail on the way to isortoq. But it wasn’t too bad because
I started talking to my bunkmate and realised that she’s a teacher. And she
showed me so many photos of her life in the town so it was very insightful.
Apparently narwhales are common enough that it is hunted as a delicacy. Including
the liver. Looks damn yum.
I think I’ve asked myself before what am I learning from all
this, the long time away from home and family, not having income for a year.
Mannijiat asked jokingly if I was running away from anything, I had half the mind
to reply child bearing duties. But maybe it’s just me, I’m a huge believer of
giving our lives a rest instead of just saying I’m so sick of this life or
wondering what life would be out there. I take mc as compulsory rest breaks for
myself and it definitely keeps me sane. The rat race for many is real and there
was pressure to not quit my job. Many felt that I could’ve done it during my
sch hols and it was made worse that I had a husband cus “what happens to ur
husband?” I had found it extremely ridiculous n unnerving that people couldn’t
see life beyond that paid job and 2 holidays and initially found Kannan to be a
burden to making this happen. That I should need to break out of a comfort zone
just for a holiday was incomprehensible to many but thankfully the people
closest to me were also crazy as well. =) . Now, I’m just thankful that I have
him cus I don’t think I would’ve survived this with anyone else. The common consensus now amongst people is
that Kannan is funding my travel overseas, which he gladly basks in the pride
that his wife is a travelling tai tai. (payback for the engagement ring) Maybe
I’m an extension of mum, the fact that she could travel alone from sg to
Beijing and deal with potential flight delays and still not get stuck and even
have the courage to fly to the states alone, that would’ve been a big deal for
people of her generation.
