A Dream of the Blue Sea on the Gulangyu Cruise

On the Gulangyu Cruise, I had a dream about the vast blue sea. This journey aboard the Gulangyu was my very first cruise experience, and it has since become an unforgettable memory that I can't seem to let go of. The entire trip was almost a "spur-of-the-moment decision": just a week before departure, I was still hesitating. Then, in a whirlwind of activity, I asked friends, found a travel companion, requested time off, and shopped for travel essentials. From the initial idea to the final departure, it took only five days to finalize all the arrangements and onshore plans. However, as the departure date approached, my familiar "pre-travel anxiety" kicked in right on schedule. During those restless days, excitement and worry intertwined like two opposing winds in my heart. Sitting at my desk, my mind had already wandered far away, repeatedly imagining all the possible scenarios: What if I can't get the time off? What if my travel companion and I don't get along? What if the weather turns bad? What if I can't make it back in time from the onshore excursions? What if I lose something in Japan? ... All these "what-ifs"—things that hadn't even happened yet—were enough to drive me crazy. In the midst of my overwhelming anxiety, I could only silently pray on social media: "I just hope everything goes smoothly." Finally, with a mix of nervousness, anticipation, and a hint of unease, I set off. As I opened the door, I was greeted by a drizzly Shenzhen. The air was damp and muggy, typical of the southern plum rain season. Dragging my large suitcase and carrying a straw bag, I walked under an umbrella toward Hong Kong. The wet streets only added to my initial anxiety. But as I reached the border, the weather suddenly cleared up. I was still holding my umbrella, not to shield myself from rain but from the sun. This unexpected sunny spell felt like a deliberate gesture from the heavens to soothe my frayed nerves. I took a deep breath, and my anxiety gave way to a quiet sense of anticipation. ✨ And as it turned out, the journey went just as smoothly as I had hoped: I caught the shuttle bus without a hitch, crossed the border effortlessly, boarded the ship successfully, and met up with my travel companions without any issues. Although I was the youngest in the group, there was no generational gap at all. It felt as if we were all playmates from the same era (except for some minor differences in music taste 🤣). When I opened the door to my cabin and saw the stunning ocean view from the window, I couldn't resist filming a room tour. I thought to myself, "For the next five days, this will be my home. I wonder what stories await me here?" But I think the rain-cleared sky and the unexpected rainbow on the first day had already quietly given me the answer. (To be continued, see P18)