April 26, 2024

Null Island and what you may learn on a sea day.

Null Island is not an actual island but where you cross the Prime Meridian at the Equator. It is the spot of zero latitude and zero longitude and zero dry land. In the bridge there are two monitors one which showed position indicating 0/0’/0″ East/West and 0/0’/0′ North/South and another which showed the ships alignment with the Prime Meridian and Equator where the stern was exactly over that point. Null Island shows up on countless maps as a default home for data that cannot be properly geocoded.

There is a tradition that dates back more than 400 years in Western seafaring. Some of the details have been lost to history but the Vikings would put sailors on their first voyage through a series of tests to prove their worth to the crew. The Order of Neptune is the ceremony that observes a mariner’s transformation from a Pollywag, a seaman who has not crossed the equator, to a trusty Shellback, also called a son or daughter of Neptune, who has had their seaworthiness tested by having crossed the Equator.

As this was my and Chongae’s tenth time crossing the equator we received certificates from Captain Frisco designating us as Emerald Shellbacks.

Contrary to popular belief, you can make good food choices on a World Cruise. Chongae and I do not go to the breakfast buffet (way too tempting) and have fruit plates and tea delivered to our cabin. On the advice of our son-in-law, Chris, we typically avoid lunch (some intermittent fasting) and have dinner be our second meal. Today, we found ourselves at lunch and decided on a salad and chicken breast. As I shared much of the waiter staff are from Indonesia, and one of the waiters, Andika, shared that a friend of his father raised black chickens. This is a very unique breed of chicken which originates from Java, Indonesia, and is characterized by its hypermigration, meaning they have an excess of dark pigment melanin throughout their body tissues. This chicken is known as Ayan Cemani, which literally translates to “All Black Chicken” in Indonesian.

While considered a delicacy, some claim there is difference in flavor due to its unique pigmentation. (I know, I know, great time for the standing joke line: “It tastes just like chicken”.)

In my opinion, this looks like one of the most unappetizing meals I could ever imagine! Historically, however, the Ayam Chicken dates back to the Majapahit era in Indonesia in the 12th century. It has been used in ceremonial contexts or as offerings. It was used to ward off bad luck and stop black magic spells.

The Ayam Chicken is extremely difficult to bred and as a result they can cost up to $2,500.00 per chicken.

Not a bad business for Andika’s friend’s father!

You never know just what you might learn on a sea day.

Thanks for traveling with us.