*Continue

Day Fourteen:

Apparently I missed one of the days, but I guess it's alright. For the first time ever since the start of this trip, I got tired. We spent more or less the whole day on land at Hong Kong (Mongkok), and by two in the afternoon I've bought every single thing that I want and need to buy, and I was starting to miss the ship terribly. The first thing I said when I was back on board was: "I'm home!" Bought more food for the Cadets (snacks) because all of them don't like the food served on board. I got Siersh a separate stash, so I told Alex not to give him any. Damn, ruined my sailor shirt because Siersh tied me up straight-jacket style. had loads of fun playing and fooling around with him before spending another full hour massaging him. For some strange reason this time he was sitting so close to me, the only way I can sit comfortably was to actually let him sit in between my legs (because of my bruises I cannot really sit cross-legged). He still kept moving backwards until in the end I could not massage his lower back at all because it was pressing against my stomach. That guy is way too playful for someone with his looks and age (nineteen this year), but he is too adorable, so he tends to get away with almost everything, at least with me. Massaged a total of five guys despite feeling depressed, and ended up crying when I saw that there was only ten minutes left before I had to go to sleep. Alex (the one with the injured arm) and Roman (the guy with the missing front tooth) comforted me until one of the officers came by to chase us off to bed (the second officer I think).

Day Fifteen:

Woke up at slightly past half past six this morning and started packing up the last of my things. After that I took a little walk around the ship, seeing that I still had some time left before flag-raising. I cried then, already feeling burdened. After that I stood and looked out at the sea for one last time and ended up crying yet again. When the Captain made a speech I teared up, and did so again when I shook hands with him as I received my certificate and he held me close to comfort me. Almost every single person on board knew that I didn't want to leave. Managed to go around saying my goodbyes with a smile despite the fact that with each wave/ hug, my heart was crushed more. I hugged those that I spend a lot of time with, which was quite a few actually. When the ferry I was on finally pulled away from the Pallada, I cried as though my loved one had just died in front of me. The sense of loss was so great that up till today (about four days) I still have that feeling in my chest. Had lunch with the third officer, who joked with me and said that I could hide in his plastic bag as a stowaway. Roman and the two Alexes were at the pier when we sent of the third officer, so I hung out with them while waiting for the ferry to come back. Siersh had already boarded the ferry, so I didn't get to hug him for one last time, but I did manage to wave goodbye to him. After that Roman remained cleaved to my side throughout the entire forty-five or so minutes while waiting for the ferry. He was telling me how much he was going to miss me, wondered what he would do without me around to massage him, how he was going to survive the boring hours without being able to tease me. He also kept sniffing my hair despite the fact that I told him not to (I have not washed my hair for more than fourteen hours, I think). He also kissed me several times, but since the kisses were on my cheeks and (dirty) hair, I let it slide. The only time he let me go was when I was comforting babyskin Alex (the one with the injured arm), who was holding back tears. He finally made a move after I nagged at him several times, and took a picture with her. Then he and Roman brought her somewhere for a short walk and when he came back, he looked so sad and lost that my heart went out to him. All I had to do was shift away from Roman slightly and he immediately grabbed me and held me close. I comforted him as best I could, saying that he should be on Pallada when it comes to Singapore next February. The poor guy, he comforted me yesterday and held me close when I was crying, so it was my turn to do so today. He was the last one to board the ferry when it came because our arms were still around each other. The cadet manager, Edward, was the one who had to pry him away, he was that sad. I didn't really cry this time, but that was most probably because I had cried too much so many times that I ran out of tears. It had only been a couple of hours (more like sixteen or so) but I've already missed the ship and the people on board so very much. I wonder how I am going to get through this period. Even towards my own family I don't feel this strongly. But I have their email addresses (except for babyskin Alex's, which I will have to get from either Roman or the other Alex) so I will email them once I've settled down (more like once they have reached home and settled down). But seriously, I wonder how I am going to get through life on land after experiencing such peace and freedom out at sea.

Day Sixteen:

Didn't really have the time to do much today because we had to go to the airport at least three hours before our flight at 2015. Spent about two hours clearing the baggage, leaving us with no more than half an hour to spare for dinner. Ate a packet of regular fries before rushing off to the gate, arriving at 2000 exactly. Thankfully the boarding was a little delayed, because some of the SMA Cadets were late. But that means that we touched down later, but that's okay. I kept thinking of the Pallada throughout the whole journey back, and the ache didn't even ease despite the fact that it has been more than twenty four hours...