Day 390: October 25, 2025 – Bitung, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia

Some sail-aways are uneventful. In the midst of dinner someone will say, oh look we’re moving. Others, such as Bitung, will leave a lasting memory.

Many of us had already experienced magical moments in Bitung. Giggling schoolchildren asking for autographs. Adults asking to be photographed with us. Adorable tarsiers and mischievous macaques roaming the jungle.

And now, as we prepared to leave port, Bitungians gathered at the dock to bid us farewell. They waved their phone flashlights at us, and we flashed back at them.

Even our captain got in on the action, flashlighting from the bridge.

They serenaded us with music curated especially for our farewell, including Thank You For Loving Me and Vaya Con Dios (Go With God), which I had never heard before, but which now brought tears to my eyes:

Vaya Con Dios (Go With God)

Now the hacienda′s dark, the town is sleeping

Now the time has come to part, the time for weeping

Vaya con Dios, my darling

Vaya con Dios, my love

Now the village mission bells are softly ringing

If you listen with your heart you’ll hear them singing

Vaya con dios, my darling

Vaya con dios, my love

Wherever you may be, I′ll be beside you

Although you’re many million dreams away

Each night I’ll say a prayer, a prayer to guide you

To hasten every lonely hour of every lonely day

Now the dawn is breaking through a gray tomorrow

But the memories we share are there to borrow

Vaya con dios, my darling

Vaya con dios, my love

– by Larry Russell, Inez James & Buddy Pepper

Ruthanne and I glanced at each other as the ship pulled away. “Are you crying? I’m crying.” Goodbye sweet Bitung, and thanks for the warm welcome and memories.