A rainstorm over one of the Indonesian islands is colored a dark golden hue by the setting sun. In these relatively shallow waters we saw several large dolphin pods swimming with us.

As we sailed into Indonesian waters and close to some of the islands, many of our room stewards, wait staff, and other lower echelon crew members huddled in leeward spaces on the upper decks with their cell phones talking with family members. Holland America has a big training facility in Java and hires many of their staff members from here. The general economy is quite poor, so there is never a shortage of workers.

<< We saw a number of these beautiful butterflies in Australia, but never could get one to alight long enough for a photo. I'm afraid that this one trapped in the mid-pool area will not make it even if it lives long enough to escape. It'll be on a different continent.

Our guide explained about how the palms here bloom once and then die. The pigeons made a lot of noise as they feasted on the fruit atop the trees. Then he talked to us about a cycad with fruit that puts out a sticky liquid.

Then we came to a dragon sleeping in the path...
  

But not for long with all the ruckus around him.

Both the guide and the guard at the back end of the group used their sticks to guide the dragon away from us.

Then a little farther down the path we saw a young dragon climb down from a tree. The young learn to climb trees, otherwise they'd be eaten by older dragons, apparently even their own parents. The dragons produce venom and they also have nasty bacteria in their saliva.  The usual mode of predation is to bite their prey once and then follow it while waiting for it to die, but they can run as fast as 12 mph and they can swim, too.  Also, check out those claws!

  
We think these are eggs of some kind, but maybe they're something altogether different. The animal on the right actively waved its tentacles and we think it's a feather starfish, but don't know for sure.

This anemone seemed to glow from the inside: it served as shelter for black & white clown fish and a small green crab.

Back at the dock, kids gathered behind the market space, which was probably manned by their parents. 

 
A couple of small villages as seen from the tender.

We saw a lot of these bamboo fishing houses. Apparently, when the fish are running, people let down the nets. 

Now we're off for four days of sailing northward to get to Hong Kong.  On the way we passed over the equator and the ship held a King Neptune ceremony for the crew who had not sailed across it before--the pollywogs.  Last time we crossed it, it was the middle of the night--this time, it was mid morning.

Then they had to kiss the fish and were slimed with a concoction that looked like cake batter.

The pollywogs were hauled in front of the captain and ship's officers to plead their case while the charges against them were read.  The two in charge of the laundry services were accused of shrinking the clothing and then blaming the good food. The piano player was accused of being too darn cheerful and knowing too many songs. 

 
King Neptune and his court oversaw the ceremony. Barbara our travel guide played a disheveled cleaning lady.

Dean kissed the fish after the ceremonies were over.  Later we received our own certificates to add to the many others on this voyage.  Dean adorned his with shells and corals from the Komodo beach. 

Now on to Hong Kong!

Dean's Log: Days 59 - 65