Crossing the Equator 穿越赤道
March 25, 2025
Today was a sea day, and the ocean was as calm as a mirror—resembling a serene, glassy lake.
We attended two lectures: one about the Beach Boys and their influence on pop culture, and another on the geological time scale of the Earth. The speaker even brought a 4.03-billion-year-old ancient rock for everyone to touch—possibly one of the oldest rocks ever found on Earth. And the artworks by students from the art classes Chenggang attended were on display at the Cove.
In the afternoon, we enjoyed a delightful Viennese tea time, complete with elegant pastries and live violin, before heading to the highlight of the day: the Equator Crossing Ceremony.
Our ship was set to cross the Equator today, and in maritime tradition, this milestone was celebrated with a spirited ceremony on the open deck. Historically, sailors who hadn’t crossed the equator by sea were known as “Pollywogs.” Having crossed it before in 2020, we were already “Shellbacks,” the title given to those who have previously made the journey.
To honor the occasion, the crew organized a lively Line-Crossing Ceremony. With plenty of laughter and good-natured antics, “King Neptune” and his queen presided over the ritual transformation of Pollywogs into proud Shellbacks. The event featured hilarious challenges, including the infamous “kiss the fish” rite and the messy fun of tossing noodles and colored food dye at participating crew members—yes, even the captain got doused before being gently “thrown” into the pool.
The whole affair was filled with laughter, creating a lighthearted and unforgettable atmosphere among everyone.
穿越赤道
2025年3月25日
今天是海上航行的一天，海面平静得如同镜子，宛如一潭宁静的湖水。
我们参加了两场讲座，一场讲的是“海滩男孩”（Beach Boys）乐队及其对流行文化的影响，另一场则讲述了地球的地质年代。讲师还带来了一块距今40.3亿年的远古岩石m might 供大家触摸，这可能是地球上最古老的岩石之。
下午，我们在船上享受了一场优雅的维也纳下午茶，一边品尝精致的点心和三明治，一边聆听现场的小提琴演奏，十分惬意。
而这一天最令人期待的，就是穿越赤道。按照航海传统，这一重要时刻会通过一场别具一格的“赤道洗礼仪式”来庆祝。在航海界，有一种说法：那些从未乘船跨越过赤道的人被称为“青蛙仔”（Pollywogs）；而一旦完成穿越，就会晋升为“海神的子民”（Shellbacks）。我们早在2020年就已完成了第一次穿越，因此这次是以“老兵”的身份参加。
为了纪念这一时刻，船员们在露天甲板上举行了一场热闹非凡的仪式。在一片笑声中，“海王尼普顿”（King Neptune）与王后隆重登场，主持了青蛙仔们的“转正”仪式。现场充满各种滑稽的环节，包括著名的“亲吻大鱼”传统，以及将彩色面条和染料泼向参与仪式的船员们——就连船长也未能幸免，最终在大家的欢呼声中被“温柔”地推入泳池。
整场活动笑声不断，气氛轻松愉快，给人留下了难以忘怀的回忆。乘客与船员们一同分享了这一特殊的航海传统，也让这段旅程变得更加精彩和生动。