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Muscat, Oman © Kevin Dean

“I was very pleased when I heard that the Aegean Odyssey would be stopping off in my part of the world as it cruised all the way from Mumbai to the Mediterranean. I moved to Qatar 18 months ago, and joined the Aegean Odyssey for the third time at the end of March, in Salalah, the second city of Oman, just in time for the four days at sea as the ship cruised around the Arabian Peninsula to Egypt. Oman is a beautiful country, my favourite in the region for a weekend getaway. The ship stopped in Muscat, the capital city, and Salalah in the south, famous for the natural landscapes, including beaches, frankincense and its geological blowholes.

I joined the Aegean Odyssey with two other lecturers, Martin Bell and Sandy Gall – eminent company indeed! In addition, we had the artist, Kevin Dean, giving daily art classes (so popular that Sandy Gall was sent away when he tried to join one!), Karen Solomon, an amazing singer and musician, as well as the Fantasia Trio – brilliant musicians from Romania. All this, perfect weather, delicious food, facials and massages in the spa, and champagne cocktails with the Captain – and all of us looked after brilliantly by the Cruise Coordinator, Alison Lewin. It was once again a wonderful experience.

Muscat from on board the Aegean Odyssey © Kevin Dean

Martin and Sandy gave lectures on their careers reporting from all over the world, everything from walking through war zones to surviving incarceration in distant prisons. As I announced at my first lecture, I felt like the amuse bouche between these two heavy weights… My first talk was about what it was like to live in Doha, the capital of Qatar, currently the wealthiest country in the world and undergoing rapid development. It’s a fascinating place to live, and I was happy to take people behind the scenes of this little-known – but getting better-known all the time – country.

My other lectures introduced people to some aspects of ancient Egypt that they were about to visit – the Valley of the Kings, the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun – and in my last lecture I brought the subject up to date, discussing the complex nature of heritage and politics, with both a small and large P, in Egypt today, in the wake of the January 25th revolution.

The highlight for me was Martin Bell’s book of poetry, For Whom the Bell Tolls: Light and Dark Verse by Martin Bell (Icon Books 2011), from which he gave some readings. At his final lecture, he came up with a limerick about me:

“There once was a girl called Exell
Who lived up to her name rather well
And in her four lectures
On old architectures
She had us all under her spell”

- What an honour!

All in all, it was a wonderful few days and I was once again sad to disembark in Safaga, Egypt, and make my way back home to Doha. The Aegean Odyssey continued through the Suez Canal, to Limassol and Istanbul – imagine waking up in that magical city…?”

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Karen Exell is Lecturer in Museum Studies at UCL Qatar, based in Doha. She has worked for over 15 years in museums, heritage organisations and universities in the UK and Egypt before moving to Doha, Qatar, in 2011. She has a BA in Egyptology from Oxford University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies from the University of St Andrews and a PhD in Egyptology from Durham University.

She has been based predominantly in university museums in the UK, curating Egyptology and associated collections at the universities of Durham and Manchester as well as teaching Egyptology, Archaeology and Museology at these universities. Karen’s research interests include the reception and perception of Egypt in the West, museums and the creation of knowledge in relation to archaeology, heritage and identity, and the impact of museums on cultural identity. Widening the focus from Egyptian archaeology and cultural heritage, she is currently developing a number of Gulf-focussed research projects that explore the complex multiple heritages and heritage practices in Qatar and the Gulf and their relationship to the construction of a national heritage discourse; and researching intercultural performance in Western and non-Western museums, with a focus on the Islamic world.

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We welcomed Kevin Dean onboard Aegean Odyssey for the cruise from Mumbai, India to Safaga, Egypt. This cruise has a number of sea days and we wanted to include something a little different for our guests. Kevin Dean is a leading UK based artist, known for his floral artwork which features on the external walls and flooring of the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi as well as patterns for products such as wallpaper, crockery and fabrics from many of the UK’s leading retailers.

Kevin came up with a series of lectures designed for both novice and experienced artists. We hope you like these watercolours and drawings Kevin created during the voyage, as well as his diary from the cruise.

Aegean Odyssey's deck & A street in Porbandar, © Kevin Dean

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“Before leaving the UK, I spoke to Ann Carr, Enhancement Programme Director at Voyages to Antiquity’s office in Oxford. She said, “We don’t know how many people will be interested in the art classes but I’m sure you will have a good time!” Two weeks later I’m pleased to say that not only did I have a wonderful time but the demand for the classes was very high! About 45 people came to the various classes, either drawing, watercolour, or keeping a travel journal. Some people came to all the classes, some just for the occasional session. Most people who took part said they’d not drawn or painted since their school days, others were very experienced, including a former art teacher. All said they really enjoyed the classes and some hoped to develop their newfound skills upon their return home.

The sea was so calm and the weather so warm that we used the aft deck for all the workshops, sometimes using the surrounding sea as our subject matter.

Some of our passengers after a painting class on the aft deck

Whenever the ship docked, I either set off independently or joined the tour buses. I painted temples and street scenes in India, souks and rocky landscapes in Oman. It sometimes meant working quite quickly as the tours try to include a good variety of exciting sights and I didn’t want to keep people waiting. The guides and tour managers were very patient with me, though, and in Porbandar, India, I left on one bus and returned to the ship on another, to give me maximum time to finish my paintings!

Muscat, Oman - water colours, © Kevin Dean

It was actually a good way to work as I really had to focus on what I was going to paint – I would set up my equipment and just paint. This has given the finished pieces, I think, a lot of spontaneity and atmosphere, something that doesn’t always happen if I have an endless amount of time. It was also so pleasing to have such vivid colours and strong shadows to work from, so different from the light in the UK!

Painting on location is sometimes problematical but on this trip it was fun interacting with the local people. Some offered me refreshments and one shopkeeper bought me a more comfortable seat than my little fold up stool.

The Prince of Wales Museum in Mumbai, © Kevin Dean

The passengers were also very interested in seeing me work on the tours. At the end of the trip I held a very well attended exhibition of my work, which also included samples of the passengers’ work from the classes.

I also enjoyed meeting my fellow lecturers – the famous Martin Bell and Sandy Gall, the highly knowledgeable Robin Cormack from Cambridge University and renowned Egyptologist Karen Exell from Doha University. It all made for a fascinating and very creative trip.”
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We are hoping that Kevin will be back onboard again over the next year as well as extending this programme with other artists on specific cruises. Watch out on our web site for further opportunities to ‘paint and cruise’.

Kevin sells his work including some of the paintings from this cruise. If you would like to contact him, please email info@kevindean.co.uk.

Related posts:

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“Booking a holiday and then looking forward to it, is as much part of the fun as the holiday itself. A holiday is a holiday, but a cruise is a lifestyle! Stress levels, market vagaries and worldwide political turmoil indicated we needed that cruise. Voyages to Antiquity was the obvious choice as we have been on one of their cruises before.

The only hiccup for us was “which cruise”. The choice varies from excellent to “cannot possibly miss that one”. This is the result when the founder has the experience of a lifetime in the cruising industry. He has managed to spot a niche in a fast growing market. Mr Herrod, the founder of Voyages to Antiquity, teamed up with experts who have a vast knowledge of the Antiquities and the colourful history of the Mediterranean. The cruises and excursions on offer are refreshingly extraordinary and innovative.

Venice canal, © Janita Ochse. From their previous cruise on Aegean Odyssey

No wonder that Voyages to Antiquity won the best Specialist Cruise Award for 2012!

All we needed to do was choose a cruise and let the team in Oxford deal with the details. This meant paying a once-off fare to secure our favorite cabin, flights to and from London, airport transfers, gratuities, excursions and a myriad other luxuries and considerations that are all taken care of.

Aimed at travellers who have a keen interest in history, no expense is spared to open doors for the guests on board the Aegean Odyssey. A private visit to the Basilica of St Marks in Venice was an experience never to be forgotten. Foremost academics and historians give enjoyable talks on all the sites to be visited. Local guides and crew members ensure that everybody is comfortable and gets safely back on board!

We have been on a few cruises over quite a few years and at last, Voyages to Antiquity comes along and caters for people who want to enjoy the cruise and not have to lug along piles of evening clothes. The cabin is roomy, comfortable and well appointed – like the rest of the ship.

Venetian loot - a Delos lion far from home, in front of Arsenale in Venice © Janita Ochse

The library is excellent, the crew and officers – efficient, and the food is well prepared, attractively presented and delicious. Thank goodness, no haute cuisine, where dinner is a morsel of something perched on a plate decoration!

All that remains now is to get on board the Aegean Odyssey to feel the excitement of the ship powering up and heading out.

Everything else is taken care of by Voyages to Antiquity!”

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We hope to hear from Janita as she enjoys her cruise from Rome to Cannes in May!

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At the time Isla had recently published a book on her early life spent on an Indian tea plantation – and hence was perfectly placed to pass on some of her memories. We caught up with them both after their cruise in November to see what they thought about their experience.

Julian Glover and Isla Blair

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Are you cruise veterans or was this a new type of holiday experience for you?

“Not at all! We have both been asked to go on large cruises several times as Ambassadors for the Princes Trust but we both found the notion of those large ships rather daunting. The appeal of Aegean Odyssey was its smaller size and therefore rather more intimate surroundings.”

How did you find life on board and what were the highlights of your trip?

“Life on board was very comfortable (particularly as the temperature outside was 33 degrees and the humidity was sometimes stifling).The meals were very good in both restaurants and the staff and crew were always courteous and smiling. The free wine at dinner was not only very good but it flowed! There was always something to do – a lecture to attend, music or a film to enjoy.

For both of us, a key highlight was the very charming people we met; both interesting and interested. I suspect that we will stay in touch with a few. Additionally, the excursions were beautifully organised with articulate and knowledgeable guides.”

Isla, you were born in India and have written a book about your early life there – do you always find something new and exciting when you return?

“There were places I had not visited before – Goa and the Maldives. The beach on the Maldives’ island of Kuda Bandos was spectacular – white coral sands with rainbow fish that took pieces of banana skins out of your hands!

Kuda Bandos, Maldives - where Aegean Odyssey stops for a day at the beach

Additionally, the scents of Cochin took me right back to my girlhood – cloves, cinnamon, spices of all kinds; it has been the centre of the spice trade for hundreds of years.”

Aegean Odyssey returns to India at the end of 2013. What would be your favourite places to visit?

“Any visitor to India should seize the chance to see the Golden Triangle – a classic introduction to a wonderful country.There’s also Mumbai and further south fascinating Cochin along the Malabar Coast.

In addition, and pleading forgiveness for a little bias, some of the hill stations, and in the southwest – the state of Kerala, where I spent my early years and the only democratically elected communist state in the world which boasts 94% literacy. Of course, one or two of these places are harder to get to from the coast!”

You are both very busy actors, what are your next projects?

“Julian starts re-rehearsing for a play he did at the Edinburgh Festival that was a huge success and he will be touring the UK with it for twelve weeks starting at the end of January 2013. It is called “Maurice’s Jubilee”. He will also be continuing in his role of Pycelle in Game of Thrones in the summer.

I have started work on my second book. I am not sure what acting job I shall be doing next. The life of an actor – uncertainty! But that is one of the good things about it; you never know what is round the corner..”

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Related posts:

We are very excited to welcome her replacement, Danella Collins, as she joins us for our summer season in the Mediterranean. With a background in customer service and travel, she will soon appear in our future blogs as she settles in on board. In the meantime, read the below emotional letter from Alison.

Alison Lewin, our Cruise Coordinator, is taking a sabbatical to perform in a West End play

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“Dear Friends and Past Guests,

As many of you know, before joining Voyages to Antiquity I was a working actress. From an initial three month contract on the ship, I ended up staying three years as I was having such a fantastic time sailing the Mediterranean at first, and then the Far East, too! I’ve really enjoyed meeting the wonderful guests and crew – that’s what has kept me on board, kept me motivated and inspired me to see more of the world.

However, last year my mum passed away. This has been the most devastating event of my life, as I can imagine it is for most people. But it triggered off a significant change in my attitude towards my own life and goals. My mum was proud of me no matter what I did; she loved the fact that I work at sea (as did her brother, father and grandfather as well as various uncles). But she was also keen that I should follow my dreams and when I used to ask her if I would ever make the West End, she would say, ‘If you want it to happen, it will’.

I first performed in the play Henna Night in 2007 as part of a one-act festival which toured around the UK. My co-actress and I won every ’knock-out round’ around the UK and even picked up a couple of best actress awards along the way. Sadly we didn’t win the final (being pipped by an Alan Bennett play that had less swear words and more cups of tea!), but the play has always stuck with me. I think it is a very truthful piece of writing by Amy Rosenthal, who is the daughter of the late writer Jack Rosenthal and his actress wife, Maureen Lipman.

Now fate and serendipity have always been a major part of shaping my life in general and when I returned to the ship in July 2012, I learned that Maureen Lipman was going to be joining us as a guest lecturer. By this time I had already decided that I was going to produce Henna Night – I’d had an initial meeting with a potential director and was also in the process of finding a venue. Meeting Maureen felt like a sign that I was moving in the right direction.

The next significant sign was that I had an actress in mind of who I wanted to play the role of Rosalyn. She had been on Aegean Odyssey the previous year to film for the Travel Channel and although we hit it off really well, I had no idea how to contact her. Then I found out she was coming back on board as well – I could not believe it! Now all I had to do was to convince her to take time out of her lucrative TV career to be in a little two hander play with a very unknown actress, namely me. Remarkably, she agreed !

So here we are – It’s March and I will soon be off on my sabbatical from Voyages to Antiquity. Julie Peasgood is playing Rosalyn and I am playing Judith in Henna Night at the Leicester Square Theatre, London from 28 May 2013 to 9 June 2013.

The story revolves around Judith who leaves a desperate message on the answering machine of Jack, her ex-boyfriend, informing him that she has bought a packet of henna and some razor blades, in order to either dye her hair or slash her wrists. Either way she is going to ruin her bathroom carpet!

Rosalyn hears the message and rushes to Judith’s bedsit and here begins an evening of high emotion and subtle humour, revealing how easily we can betray each other when we want something for ourselves. It also shows how fraternising with the enemy can curiously feel like spending time with a friend. Both witty and poignant, this play is wickedly perceptive and appealing unpretentious.

Tickets can be purchased online or over the phone from the Leicester Square Box for just £8.00. Click through to buy tickets online »

It would be wonderful to see you all during the two week run. I also want to thank all the people who have been part of my life over the past three years for your support and kindness, especially after the death of my mother.

It is you, our guests and friends, who have encouraged me and given me the confidence when I have performed on board and really helped my determination to succeed in an arena where my heart and passion lies.

Thank you so much and hope to see you all again soon,

Alison Lewin”

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“In early December 2012, the grey skies of Reading, the town where I live in the UK, were replaced by the moisture-laden skies of high-rise Singapore, the difference being a mere 25°C! After a day at sea, the visit to Kuala Lumpur proved atmospheric in more ways than one; a serious downpour turned roads into rivers and the word ‘ark’ sprang to mind at the sight of a reassuring Aegean Odyssey which later sailed north toward the limestone pinnacles and blue, calm waters of Phang Nga National Park in peninsular Thailand.

This stunning scenery provided the backdrop for snorkellers, canoeists and speed boat tourists. A highlight of the following sea day was one of my fellow guest lecturers – Martin Bell’s presentation which included video clips of his war experiences.

The Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon (Photograph courtesy of M.D.Turnbull)

However, the apogee of the entire cruise was the subsequent stay in Rangoon which began with an early evening visit to the breathtaking 99m high Shwedagon Pagoda and was followed next day by a drive to nearby Bago with its impressive Buddhist complex and a visit to Commonwealth War Graves in Taukkyan War Cemetery.

A final Rangoon day allowed a city tour, a visit to the National Museum and the famous Scott’s Market where the jade jewellery proved irresistible. An irritating problem of stamps with no glue was solved by an accommodating lady in the main Post Office, a hop and skip from Aegean Odyssey’s berth and close to a grocery shop from which numerous packets of Burmese tea and coffee were purchased with remaining Kyats, the local currency.

On return to Malaysia, Penang was the next stop; features included the colourful Chew Jetty, home of a Chinese community which was established a century ago, the botanical gardens, several colourful temples and a Batik workshop.

Dharmmikarama Temple, Georgetown, Penang (photograph courtesy of M.D.Turnbull)

One highlight was colonial Georgetown including Fort Cornwallis, the Queen Victoria clock tower, Penang City Hall, and the Burmese Dharmmikarama Temple. Georgetown was founded in 1786 by Captain Francis Light, a trader for the British East India Company which, with the Dutch East India Company, was influential throughout the region including the expansion of Singapore and Malacca as trading ports.

The later was the final stop before returning to Singapore; it was necessary to tender into the port where the colonial and UNESCO-listed old town with its fort, museum and church are major attractions.”

Voyages to Antiquity will be offering this cruise again next year – click through to see the available dates »

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Dr Antoinette M Mannion graduated in Geography from the University of Liverpool and went on to complete a PhD at the University of Bristol. She has been on the academic staff at the University of Reading since 1977. In semi-retirement she is now an Honorary Fellow and continues to pursue her academic interests in environmental history, human impact on landscapes, agriculture, environmental issues, and the environmental and cultural changes of the last 3 million years. She has written/edited nine books, contributed to 23 encyclopaedias, published numerous papers in journals, and continues to review books regularly.

Her other interests include travel, theatre and opera as well as collecting Shona sculpture and Scottish landscape paintings. She has a cat called Gus who rules the house she shares with husband Mike Turnbull who is a retired research chemist.

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“The ship was able to navigate right up the Saigon River, past jungle covered banks, into the heart of the city. We arrived at midday on Vietnamese New Year, which is the biggest and most popular festival of the year in Vietnam. First we set out on a tour that took in the controversial War Remnants Museum and the magnificent French-built Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. Usually notorious for its crazy traffic, with swarms of jostling motorbikes and scooters, the city was in relaxed holiday mood, and the traffic much lighter than normal.

The highlight of the afternoon was a stroll down the colourful median strip of Nguyen Hue Street enjoying the extensive and beautiful floral displays marking the start of the Lunar New Year –2013 being the Year of the Snake. In Vietnam the snake is considered a symbol of luck. The Vietnamese also believe the colours red and yellow will bring good fortune. The men were busy photographing their wives, children or girlfriends, who were often dressed in the colourful traditional ao dai (a tight fitting silk tunic over long pants) in front of the flowers, evidencing a significant recent revival in the wearing of the national costume for special occasions.

The flower display in Ho Chi Minh City marking the beginning of the Year of the Snake.

The following morning we drove into the countryside to the Cu Chi tunnels. Three years earlier my wife and I had visited the grim Viet Cong tunnels in Baria-Vung Tau Province near where I had served during the war, and I expected much the same at Cu Chi. However, the visit to Cu Chi, about one and half hours north of Ho Chi Minh City, provided much more insight. We had the good fortune to have a great local guide. He had served briefly in the South Vietnamese army and at the end of the war had stripped off his uniform to avoid retribution from the North Vietnamese.

A modern-day ‘Viet Cong’ demonstrates the entrance to one of the Cu Chi tunnels.

Our guide was able to show us the various tunnels, the booby traps, underground workshops, hospitals, and kitchens. You could even try your hand at firing a few shots with Vietnam War-era weapons on a rifle range, and experience crawling down into the tunnel system. Other fellow passengers reported that the Cu Chi tunnels were a particularly memorable experience for them, too. As a professional historian and writer, I always get a great thrill from being able to witness such reminders of a country’s past, and having the opportunity to appreciate expressions of its culture and heritage.”

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David Horner

Professor David Horner is one of Australia’s leading historians. Currently Professor of Australian Defence History at the Australian National University (Australia’s top world-ranked university), he is Australia’s premier military historian with an international reputation for military history and strategic analysis, although his expertise also ranges across Australian and international history.

A graduate of the Royal Military College, he saw active service as an infantry officer in Vietnam in 1971. Later, from 1998 to 2002, as an Army Reserve colonel he was the first Head of the Australian Army’s Land Warfare Studies Centre. With a doctorate in history from the Australian National University, he is the author or editor of 30 books on military history, strategy and defence, is general editor of the Australian Army’s Military History Series, and is the Official Historian of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations. In 2009 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to higher education in the area of Australian military history and heritage as a researcher, author and academic.

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P.S.  After seeing some amazing places in the city, our on-board crew and guests celebrated in traditional style with a midnight party on the Lido Deck. There was Champagne toasting and popping of streamers to get the party mood, and then on the stroke of midnight, everyone shouted, “GONG HEY FAT CHOY!” which is Cantonese for Happy New Year!

Guests and crew had a great time celebrating New Year on board

Next year we will be back in the Far East in January and February. If you would like to join us for Chinese New Year in 2014, we’ll be celebrating in style in Hong Kong, probably one of the best places to see the festivities.

Related posts:

Kevin is a highly acclaimed artist who has illustrated numerous books, designed textiles and wallpapers, and worked with leading retailers, publishers and museums. His most famous commission is the floral artwork that adorns the Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque in Abu Dhabi. He has worked extensively in the Middle East and in March he will be joining us on our India to Egypt cruise. Read below his thoughts on the classes he has prepared for guests on board.

You can also browse Kevin’s website for more information about his portfolio of work: http://www.kevindean.co.uk »

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Kevin Dean, Artist & Designer

“People often ask me if anyone can learn how to draw and paint and I always say ‘ Yes, absolutely’. Obviously you can’t expect to become an artistic sensation overnight, but with practice and application people can make a great deal of progress quite quickly.

Usually a person’s level of artistic ability is equivalent to the level they were at when they last drew or painted. So a person who stopped art aged 14 for example, will probably work in a similar way and at a similar level if they begin drawing again as an adult. This may be frustrating to some people, especially if they have been successful in their careers and have high expectations of themselves. As adults, however, they probably have a few things in their favour compared to when they were younger, i.e. higher levels of concentration, more commitment, and possibly more time or at least better time management!

So confidence building is always important, as is helping people to just explore the subject, learn from what they perceive to be ‘bad pieces of drawing or painting’, as well as have fun with the subject – I’ve never produced good work when I’ve been tense or stressed!

I always like to start with drawing, even if it’s a painting class, as I believe it’s the foundation of all of the visual arts. One of the most important aspects of drawing which I spend a lot of time teaching is to start thinking about the quality of line that we use. People often just draw with one weight of line and yet it’s possible to get so much variety and expression from a single line. What makes Picasso, Matisse or Miro such great artists is their quality of line.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi - the marble floor decorations designed by Kevin Dean in collaboration with Fantini Mosaici, Milan

Then there’s some simple perspective rules to be aware of, as well as understanding proportions. It’s all about looking, something people often get out of the habit of doing.

Watercolour is my favourite medium as it’s so versatile and perfect for travelling – the materials are quite simple and you don’t need an easel or lots of cleaning equipment.

After looking at drawing, I like to show people how to lay beautiful translucent washes and apply resist techniques, and I also introduce some colour theory. We then see how all of these might be applied to making images of what we see around us. Of course, people want to capture different things and details, but I always try to emphasise that trying to make pictures too realistic can be very frustrating, and besides, we have cameras to do that for us. It’s more important to concentrate on making the work attractive in it’s own right rather than trying to create a copy of the world around us. We start with simple still life compositions before moving on to bigger, more complex subjects.

One of the things I’m hoping we can do on this voyage is to begin a travel journal, starting with a record of life on board the ship and then on land. Some people might want to add words and paper ephemera, such as tickets or wrappers, etc. It will be a great way to remember the trip. I’m also planning to do something similar myself and if I get enough work done, I hope to have a small exhibition by the time we reach Egypt.

I’ve always enjoyed teaching, whether people are complete beginners or accomplished art students. In fact, I’m always a bit envious of people who have never drawn or painted before, as I can still remember what it was like to draw and then paint in watercolour for the first time – it was magical and it changed my life!

Dubai cityscape, by Kevin Dean

I’ll be starting off my programme of lectures with a short presentation – I intend to give guests an overview of my work and the artists which have influenced me. My four lectures while I am on board will be the following:

An introduction to drawing – all levels of ability are welcome, especially complete beginners. Examining drawing techniques, experimenting with drawing, having fun and gaining confidence.

Watercolour Painting 1 - all levels of ability are welcome, particularly complete beginners or intermediate level painters. Learn how to lay clean flat washes, use resist techniques, spontaneous painting and controlled transparent washes.

Watercolour Painting 2 – applying a variety of techniques to paint images from observation. All levels of ability welcome, from complete beginners to more experienced painters.

Creating your own travel journal - using a mixture of drawing, watercolour and words. Starting with images on board ship and looking out to sea. All levels of ability welcome from complete beginners to more experienced painters.

I look forward to meeting guests in Mumbai. There will be materials available on the ship or you can bring your own with you if you like.”

Related posts:

The wonderful blog below is from Ray Hale, a wildlife expert who joined us in December. He has captured some of the iconic images we have come to expect from Far Eastern travel, like the face image from the Bayon Temples at Angkor.. Sit back and relax as Ray takes you travelling.

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“When I was invited by Voyages to Antiquity to be a guest lecturer on their mid-sized cruise liner “The Aegean Odyssey” during their Singapore to Bangkok cruise in December 2012 I was of course delighted, but at the same time I admit to feeling a little apprehensive. I have lectured too many organisations and institutes both here in the UK and in the Far East but usually have the opportunity to get to know my audience.

Singapore on our arrival

Whether it be a Women’s Institute in a Village Hall in the wilds of West Sussex, a Camera club keen to hear my thoughts on apertures and F stops or a group of students keen (or otherwise) to expand their knowledge on their way to a degree, I try to pitch at the right level. When I sat down to research the company I discovered that it had previously specialised in tours of the Mediterranean and that the Far East was a departure from their normal tours. Voyages to Antiquity are intrinsically a cruise company that specialises in cultural trips for retired or semi retired passengers from all walks of life. They concentrate on the art, the culture and the civilisations of their destinations and whist I enjoy all of these things I am by choice a Natural Historian not a connoisseur of the arts. I am more at home in the jungle at midnight up to my knees in mud and leeches usually with a camera in one hand and a torch in the other. Cruise lecturing seemed to be a world away from my usual outings. What should I talk about? Would they like or to that matter even understand me, as whilst I am immensely proud of my Midlands heritage I am at times also conscious of my rather broad “brummy” accent.

Then there was of course the etiquette required on board ship. Having consulted a number of friends who had travelled on such trips before, I was apprehensive as to the dress code on board. Dinner jackets? Black ties? It was all very daunting. So, conscious of this was I that I decided to contact the company to ensure they were aware of my field of expertise. My fear was allayed after a very pleasant meeting with Ann Carr in London and an assurance that my skills were exactly what the company was looking for. At ease I returned to the South Coast to prepare my lectures and begin planning the trip. Christmas must be a particularly difficult time to acquire lecturers as I would imagine that people have family and plans. My wife and I are fortunate in this respect as our extended families are spread far and wide and with no children we normally spend Christmas at home with our two cats. The idea of escaping the cold and miserable wet weather in the United Kingdom appealed to us both and as we have a wonderful lady who looks after our cats during our frequent trips away we felt that the opportunity was not to be missed.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Brunei

Time passed and we began in earnest preparing for the cruise. All too quickly 2012 seemed to disappear and we found ourselves about to depart for Singapore on a cold, wet and windy December morning. I had settled on four lectures that I felt would fit in nicely with the cruise itinerary. I would begin with the story of Sir James Brooke, The first White Rajah of Sarawak and although this particular cruise was not visiting Sarawak, it was visiting Brunei and Sabah and at the time when Brooke ruled over 30,000 headhunting Dyaks, Sarawak was still part of the Sultanate of Brunei.

My second lecture would tell the story of Alfred Russel Wallace, possibly the most famous man that no one has ever heard of. He was a great English naturalist that had travelled extensively in the Far east , he had written an excellent book on the area and without whom Charles Darwin might never have published his groundbreaking Theory of Evolution. I have always enjoyed history and whilst the history of a particular region interests me, what really fascinates me is the history of the people that shape an area. I always seem to settle on the underdogs of history. The nearly men, those individuals that stood in the shadows of others and often faded in to the mists of time without so much as mention in a fourth year history lesson. Brooke and Wallace are just two such men. Both deserve to be remembered and honoured but both have been overshadowed by the deeds of others. In Brooke’s case – by Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore, and in Wallace’s case, of course, by Charles Darwin.

For my remaining two lectures I would choose the effect that man has had on the ever decreasing rainforest of the region and in particular the fast disappearing wildlife of Borneo. My final lecture would see me return to yet another “underdog”. The Orang-utan. If ever there was a creature that deserves our respect and help then surely this gentle of all the primates is such a beast. Hunted to near extinction in the 19th Century and then evicted from its natural habitat in the 20th Century by man’s devastation of its home, this near relative of man has been pushed to the edge of extinction. My lecture aimed to introduce the passengers to these beautiful giants and hopefully inspire them to look closer at the efforts to save them from oblivion.

My lectures prepared and honed to my satisfaction, we began our trip. A trip that would take us first to Singapore and then to the Sultanate of Brunei.

Vietnam, at the Hai Duc Pagoda, Nha Trang

Then to the Malaysian state of Sabah, before travelling to Vietnam where we would visit the magnificent Hai Duc Pagoda of Nha Trang.

We would arrive at Bangkok, the vibrant never sleeping city of Thailand. A city that exudes charisma and one that the casual visitor will fall in love with in a breath. Finally we would end our journey with a visit to the unbelievable temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The written word cannot begin to describe these monuments to the past. I would stand dumbstruck before the carved faces of the Bayon temples and open-mouthed at the sunset at Angkor Wat. It was my reason for coming to Cambodia and it will be the reason I will return one day.

Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple

In the following blog I hope to take you on our journey and by doing so inspire you to make the trip yourselves for there are wonders to behold in the East. I fell in love with the East so, so many years ago and it is an affair that continues today. I hope it will continue for many more years to come and that you too may find such a love.”

Ray’s full blog is on his own website http://thenaturallywildcompany.co.uk »

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RAY HALE – AUTHOR & WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER

Having spent many years in the Private Sector as an Industrial Health and Safety consultant, Ray has finally had the opportunity to follow his passion.

He is now a wildlife lecturer, author, photographer and naturalist. He enjoys sharing his experiences so much that he now leads groups of naturalists, researchers and eco-tourists into the rainforests of Borneo in search of endangered wildlife. He gives illustrated lectures around the United Kingdom and has been invited to lecture on Malaysian wildlife by a number of organisations within Sabah.

His subjects include Rainforest Conservation, Saving Endangered Species, The History of Sabah, Rajah Brooke and the Head Hunters of Borneo. Although he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of wildlife in general, his main field of study has always been centred around arachnids and he is a recognised World authority on the large so called “bird eating tarantulas” as well as the large number of species of spiders of the United Kingdom. He belongs to a number of organisations including the British Arachnological Society and the British Tarantula Society of which he is a council member.

He has written a number of articles on arachnology and in 1998 he published the book “An Introduction to the Spiders of the Genus Haplopelma: A Study of the Tarantulas of South East Asia”. He is currently writing a field guide to the spiders of Malaysia. He has had a number of his photographs published in entomological and arachnological journals.

Now based in Sussex, he regularly runs courses for the Sussex Wildlife Trust, contributes regularly to radio and TV programmes as a consultant and undertakes entomological habitat surveys for landowners and local authorities. His studies have taken him to many destinations around the World which have given him the opportunity to share his enthusiasm for nature and conservation with adult education classes, industry personnel and students alike. Over the last twenty years he has delivered many presentations to events and audiences. He is passionate about reconnecting people with nature and the conservation of the Worlds endangered species all of which infuse his wildlife lectures.

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Cole Porter evening on board

With a slide show featuring all his Cole Porter’s old theatre bills we told the story of this incredible man’s life, from his early years of his mother’s domination right through to his riding accident that almost cost him his life.

Our pianist & vocalist

With songs from his shows such as  ‘I get a kick out of you’ , ‘My heart belongs to daddy’ and the forever famous ‘Every time we say Good bye’ , we demonstrated how Cole Porter became a legend.

This is just part of the variety of entertainment that we have on board Aegean Odyssey, including our wonderful lecture programme, our poetry recitals and our Jazz Four Jam Sessions.

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