Taking full advantage of the shipping rules that allow wives to accompany their husbands on merchant shipping voyages, Jean Faulkner relates a fascinating journey she made accompanying her husband, the 3rd Mate on the MV Amparo, on a five month voyage taking in many different countries, weathers and people from Mexico to Japan. As, for long periods, the only woman on the ship, and without official responsibilities, she was able to take full advantage of going ashore at every port while the ship was loading and unloading its cargoes. She describes the fascinating places and situations she experiences, all the while using the ship as her floating home throughout her travels. An account of known and unknown places from a very different point of view.