May 3, 2026

PADAR ISLAND, one of the other 3 major islands in Komodo National Park is stunning and unihabited with a walking trail of over 800 steps to the summit, for these amazing views.

I have to admit, I didn't have the energy for the climb! These photo are again courtesy of @BasiaK.blog .  The heat of the day took a big toll on me and I actually opted, with 3 others of our group, to go back to the Odyssey for the night and did not complete our live a board stay. The Odyssey was at anchor right near us,  so after enjoying a swim at the Pink Sand Beach, sadly my exploration of Komodo National Park ended. I needed AC, a refreshing shower and a good night of sleep! It was a blessing that the live a board staff could accommodate this request, and that the Odyssey was so accessible. I felt bad leaving our happy little group, but my body was telling me to go! The Southeast Asia heat can be so draining!

The pink sand gets it's color from broken down red coral, blending with sand and sea.

The next day, back on the ship a fellow shipmate caught these images of upside down rainbows!

So cool Jim Lovell - thanks for sharing!

They are known as CIRCUMZENITHAL ARCS which are quarter circles centered on a point directly above the observer, occurring when the sun is 5 to 32 degrees high.

Pattaya, Thailand - My healthcare

By Pat Patrick • October 23, 2026
This Blog is more than a journal of my travels around the world, it's a major memory tool for me in documenting all the events along the way. You often ask me how we take care of medical things, as we travel non stop and today is a perfect example. A fellow resident had posted on one of our WhatsApp groups ( this is the main way we all- residents, crew and stateside support all communicate ) that she had an excellent contact for anyone looking to get medical appointments in the Pattaya / Bangkok area.

Off the Coast of PATTAYA, THAILAND

By Pat Patrick • October 20, 2026
Off the coast of Pattaya, Thailand a talented and dedicated group of residents, the Odyssey Troubadours , performed A Night of Broadway for the enjoyment of all the other residents and senior staff on board. The group of 20 performed, 15 Broadway songs that had some special Odyssey edits, personalizing them to our journey. We loved it ! Such a clever, talented and fun loving group. I was upfront and focused on getting candid pictures of the talented cast.

NONG NOOCH TROPICAL GARDENS, Pattaya, Thailand

By Pat Patrick • October 20, 2026
We were up for breakfast at 7 and then hired a private small tram to take us around the gardens, for an overview, because it came with a guide. Problem was, guide barely spoke English, so we had a hard time figuring out the history of this crazy place. Even with translate app his answers were questionable. Did it start as gardens? What's with all the statues? Is there a master plan? It seems to be growing with no real connections, that we could make out. Web & Chat GPT seem vague on details too! We had fun with it, finding more and more absurd things, until the heat won out!