Thursday Island- New Year's Day

Although the date at the top says December 31, 2007 it is actually January 1, 2008. We celebrated the arrival of 2008 about 16 hours before the US.

Had a great New Year's celebration last night. Dinner, terrific show, party on the deck, and a champagne toast as we sat on our balcony. Welcome to 2008.


Sailed into the Torres Straits- a large cluster of 138 small islands- about noon today. We anchored and were tendered to shore.The existence of this strait was not widely known until Captain Cook's voyage in 1770. Thursday Island is the base for pilot services for ships in the various channels around and connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. We will have a pilot on board for several days because of the navigation in this shallow water with all the islands.

There are only 3500 people on the island. Many of the trees and plants in bloom reminded us of Florida- Poinciena Trees, Frangipani, and others. The island is lush and green because this is the wet season. There is no natural source of fresh water so they are grateful for rain.

We rode to the top of the hill and visited the Green Hill and World War II Museum. During the war the citizens of the island were evacuated to the mainland of Australia. The town became a base for airmen and sailors, but the island was never bombed

or attacked.

There are creatures like manatees called Dugongs in the water. There are also 6 of the 7 kinds of sea turtles found in the world in these waters. Some kind of jumping turtles could be seen from our ship after we were anchored.

This island also was one of the first to have a large pearl diving industry. The museum featured a display of some of the shells used for making buttons and belt buckles- until plastic came along. They also had some beautiful pearls found in these waters. The divers came from Japan to begin this industry and then in 1942 the Japanese citizens of this island were sent to mainland Australia to internment camps.

Saw the 48 bed hospital- with 40 nurses and 8 doctors. The island has school for children of all ages- and they come via boat from the surrounding islands.

Seems a very different kind of living in such a small community.