26 July 2014
While En route Ramadan started. We were sailing in Red sea. It was still hot so I decided to wait for two days since we were going to cross the Suez Canal and I was hoping the temperature to drop further.
After a month long anchorage we got a berth in Alexandria. We discharged the cargo and Yes the hole. We repaired it too since we were not allowed to leave without getting it done.
Next port Beirut and we were to discharge there for couple of weeks.
Bad news, the port is very big and we had to walk all the way till the exit gate.
Good news, its situated right next to the city.
We arrived there and went out the very next day. I was still using my old Lg GD510 and after a lot of googling and research I found that this is the cheapest place to buy a new smartphone.
My early options were cheap <100 USD tablet for surfing and watching movies whereas I ended up buying a Samsung Galaxy S4. Reasons: better camera and inconvenience of carrying a tablet while roaming out.
28 July 2014, Eid-Ul-Fitr
We got up early, took the permission and went out to offer Eid prayer. Accompanying Me were a motorman, Cargo Supervisor both Indian and 3rd Officer from Bangladesh. We left the ship by 07:30 am. We were supposed to visit the port authority for check out and taking our shore passess. As we were approaching near the gate, we saw the crowd coming from outside. We were shocked as we realised they were returning after attending the prayer. We had missed our Eid Prayer. Time and Tide waits for none. We were late and helpless. The check point was also not opened yet for taking our shore passes.
Still we decided to go out rather going back on ship. We walked till the beautiful Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque. Located in Martyrs' Square in downtown Beirut, this Mosque was built between 2002 and 2007 by the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and it was inaugurated by his son Saad Hariri on October 17, 2008.
Later we took a cab till Dora, a suburb of Beirut. We had our breakfast, visited few shops and returned.
While entering the port premises, we were detained at the gate and they took us to the Port authority for further inquiry. Reason; the shore pass we had, was valid for 1 day and it expired yesterday itself. After a brief conversation, few advice from their side, apologies form us and the Eid factor favouring us, they advised us to inform other crew member regarding this, and finally let us go.
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| Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque |
While En route Ramadan started. We were sailing in Red sea. It was still hot so I decided to wait for two days since we were going to cross the Suez Canal and I was hoping the temperature to drop further.
After a month long anchorage we got a berth in Alexandria. We discharged the cargo and Yes the hole. We repaired it too since we were not allowed to leave without getting it done.
 |
| Beautiful collage of Beirut |
Bad news, the port is very big and we had to walk all the way till the exit gate.
Good news, its situated right next to the city.
We arrived there and went out the very next day. I was still using my old Lg GD510 and after a lot of googling and research I found that this is the cheapest place to buy a new smartphone.
My early options were cheap <100 USD tablet for surfing and watching movies whereas I ended up buying a Samsung Galaxy S4. Reasons: better camera and inconvenience of carrying a tablet while roaming out.
 |
| Our ship M.V Pine 5 |
28 July 2014, Eid-Ul-Fitr
We got up early, took the permission and went out to offer Eid prayer. Accompanying Me were a motorman, Cargo Supervisor both Indian and 3rd Officer from Bangladesh. We left the ship by 07:30 am. We were supposed to visit the port authority for check out and taking our shore passess. As we were approaching near the gate, we saw the crowd coming from outside. We were shocked as we realised they were returning after attending the prayer. We had missed our Eid Prayer. Time and Tide waits for none. We were late and helpless. The check point was also not opened yet for taking our shore passes.
Still we decided to go out rather going back on ship. We walked till the beautiful Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque. Located in Martyrs' Square in downtown Beirut, this Mosque was built between 2002 and 2007 by the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and it was inaugurated by his son Saad Hariri on October 17, 2008.
Later we took a cab till Dora, a suburb of Beirut. We had our breakfast, visited few shops and returned.
 |
| Beirut from ship |
While entering the port premises, we were detained at the gate and they took us to the Port authority for further inquiry. Reason; the shore pass we had, was valid for 1 day and it expired yesterday itself. After a brief conversation, few advice from their side, apologies form us and the Eid factor favouring us, they advised us to inform other crew member regarding this, and finally let us go.
 |
| Charles Helou Bridge, Dora |