Toni: The Long Journey at the Sea

By Abd. Wahab 

“I wanted to be a soldier,” Toni said.

When he was a kid, he thought being a soldier was the perfect job for him. Besides looking brave and courageous, soldiers also had a high income. These reasons, influenced by his friends and the environment at that time, led him to dream of becoming a soldier.

But some dreams remain just dreams. A person may have desires, but there are always things that make them forget those dreams. It’s not because they can’t, but because they find one choice that changes their life. Toni was no exception. His choice to forget his desire to become a soldier and become a sailor instead was a turning point in his life. He found his life at sea.

Even so, he didn’t immediately become a sailor. After completing his formal education at school, he left his hometown. He left Alor for East Timor, now known as Timor Leste. He went there to work as a construction worker. Far from home and family for the first time.

Living alone and working far from family was one of the biggest challenges in his life at that time, but as a man with a sense of responsibility and care for his family, he persevered in working there. The only thing that eventually forced him to return to his hometown was the changing economic situation in East Timor after its separation from Indonesia.

A New Life from Ship to Ship

 

Going back to his hometown and staying at home didn’t seem right for him. He had experienced life outside of his birthplace. Soon after, someone he knew invited him to join a rice transport ship in Flores. He took this opportunity, and it became a starting point for his new life.

Working on that rice transport ship was his first experience working at sea. That ship became the door for him to get to know the sea more deeply.

Over time, his knowledge and experience as a sailor grew and matured. After four or maybe five years working on that rice ship, traveling the Lembata-Bulukumba route and vice versa, he felt it was time to seek new experiences.

He found a new job in Bulukumba. From a rice transport ship, he moved to work on a fishing boat. With that fishing boat, they sailed as far as Wakatobi to fish. Two years later, he decided to try something new.

This time, he no longer worked on a transport vessel or fishing boat but on a cruise ship. Everything he found and did on the cruise ship was new to him. Here is where he first learned and trained to be a Steering Mate. Besides, of course, he slowly learned how to provide the best service to his guests.

After two years on that ship, he moved to another cruise ship. On the next boat, he continued to work in the same position as a Steering Mate. It was here that his skills and experience as a sailor improved.

Even so, not all the nice things may last forever. There’s always a reason for someone to move on. Toni only lasted three years on that ship before moving to another cruise ship.

During his time on the third cruise ship, he stayed for eight years. His skill as a steering mate improved, even after he tried various positions like room boy, bartender, and galley crew before becoming a permanent steering mate.

He had met and worked on many ships before finally meeting SeaTrek Sailing Adventures. Starting from working on a rice transport ship, a fishing boat, and then three cruise ships.

SeaTrek and the Very Long Journey

In 2012, he started working as a Steering Mate on Ombak Putih, one of the two SeaTrek ships, and is still active. It’s been 12 years and still counting.

“It’s been a long journey, but I’ve found my home at sea,” Toni said, reflecting on his life. “I’ve seen many beautiful places and met many interesting people. I’ve learned so much about the world and myself.”

Toni’s life as a sailor has been full of adventure and excitement. He has sailed to many islands in Indonesia and experienced all kinds of weather. He has seen whale sharks, dolphins, and other marine life and the undefined beauty of sunsets and sunrises.

Even so, Toni has faced many challenges at sea, like storms, seasickness, and loneliness. But his love for the sea has always kept him going. Also, the Ombak Putih crew, who became his family onboard, is one of the reasons he loves this long journey.

Toni is now an experienced sailor and is proud of his life. He is thankful for the opportunities the sea has provided him and grateful for the friends he has made along the way.

“It’s been the best decision of my life,” Toni said.