Day 71 - Ancient Kingdoms, Sacred Sites & Sailing Onward

How can it be Thursday already? The days are moving along just as swiftly as the miles beneath the ship.

After a lovely night’s sleep, I woke early with the sunrise and caught up on overnight messages before the day truly began. As we had an early start for our tour, I opted for a gentle walk around the track and some stretching rather than the gym, followed by collecting our ever-important veggie juices. By the time I returned to the room, Joe was already up, which is always a good sign on an excursion day.

Before we left the ship, I popped along to Destination Services and managed to secure us a place on the tour Joe had hoped for, which set the tone nicely for the day.

Tracing Indonesia’s Spiritual Roots



Today’s tour took us deep into the historical heart of East Java, beginning with the Trowulan heritage and museum site — once the centre of the Majapahit Empire. From there we visited Bajang Ratu, with its striking red-brick gateway, and then on to Candi Tikus, an ancient bathing temple.

Each site offered insight into the layered spiritual history of Indonesia, reflecting influences from Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Walking through these places, you could really feel how belief systems have shaped culture, architecture, and daily life over centuries. The guide was entertaining and gave us a lot of information along the way.

We then stopped for lunch at a local hotel, a fairly basic buffet but welcome after a long morning. One thing worth noting — the toilet facilities at some of the sites were extremely basic, and Mr C very firmly advised against using them!

We again had a police escort, though thankfully today’s drive felt far more civilised than yesterday’s more adventurous convoy.

Back Just in Time

We made it back to the ship just in time before sailing, always a small relief. Once onboard, I grabbed a coffee and settled into my familiar rhythm with the crossword and sudoku, while Joe attempted to sit out on deck — though it was far too windy for his liking.

I also managed to update yesterday’s blog, which felt good to tick off. Joe headed off to the quiz, where his team came joint third today — still very respectable.

As we sailed on from Surabaya towards Bali, the sea was incredibly busy. I lost count of the boats passing by — a constant reminder of how active these waters are. By evening, the seas grew choppier, with a dramatic display of thunder and lightning rolling across the sky.

Joe is very much hoping for better weather tomorrow as we arrive in Bali.

Dinner tonight was once again in Compass Rose, followed by a quiet return to the room. The clocks go forward an hour tonight, so another little adjustment as we sail onward.

✨ Daily Reflection

Today was a powerful reminder of how faith, culture, and history intertwine. Standing in places shaped by centuries of belief made me reflect on how each generation leaves its imprint — sometimes quietly, sometimes monumentally — but always meaningfully.

🌟 Highlight of the Day

🏛 Exploring Trowulan and its sacred sites
Walking through the remnants of ancient kingdoms and temples, learning how different religions shaped Indonesia’s beginnings, felt deeply grounding and enriching — history truly brought to life.



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