Saturday, March 24, 2012

At Sea & Singapore - March 23-24, 2012

Red Sun in Singapore

Cranes loading/unloading containers

The ship left Koh Samui and headed south leaving the South China Sea, entering the Natuna Sea then just in to the shipping channel of the Singapore Strait.  All day we saw fishing boats and natural gas fields along the coast of Thailand and then Malaysia before we arrived in Singapore today.
  
New Car anyone?
As the ship entered the shipping traffic separation schemes, we picked up a pilot to help with the final approach to the berth.  It was early morning and what a sight!  Huge container port cranes with the red sun rising in the distance.  Across the way from our ship are oil refineries.  Singapore sits at the base of the Strait of Malacca.  This is the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean via the South China Sea.  Over 50,000 vessels pass through this strait a year carrying about one-quarter of the world’s traded goods.  About a quarter of all oil carried by sea passes through the Strait, mainly from Persian Gulf suppliers to Asian markets. 


Our Camera Taking Photos
This container port is unreal and the ship traffic could mesmerize you all day.  We enjoy watching from our balcony until it is time to take our Tour of Singapore.  And guess what?  Our camera stays on our balcony.  So no true pictures of the city of Singapore - we've include pictures from postcards!
Chinatown 'must see'

Downtown River Front

The tour included a trip to an incredible Orchid Botanical Garden, scenic view of the downtown river front where the city’s iconic statue the Merlion sits across from the hotel with the swimming pool and restaurant on top and finally to Chinatown.  Yes, Singapore is a very clean city because of all of their laws which are noted on various signs around the city.  However, we have to report that these laws have made the difference – this IS the cleanest city we have ever been in – especially in Southeast Asia.  We are told there are no slums.  This is because the city has plans and every area has been redeveloped.  Also, there is continually newer housing being built to accommodate the growing economy.  Thus, the skyline continues to change.


City Attractions

Raffles Hotel built in 1880’s is still in its grandeur and still known for the invention of the Singapore Sling.  The tour just drove by the hotel.  People on the ship this evening gave us a more detailed update on their experience at Raffles.  The long bar is still there and the hotel is as grand as ever on the inside.  However, this translated in to a US$23 poorly made, too sweet, Singapore Sling – not too pleasant an experience; maybe high tea was better……

Our ship has just left Singapore and we are heading to Port Kelang, Malaysia tomorrow.

A new nautical term:  Eight Bells.  The measure of time originated in the days when a half-hour glass was used to tell off the four-hour watches.  Each time the sand ran out, the ship’s boy, whose job it was to reverse the glass, struck a bell to show he was attending to his duty.  Thus, eight times he turned the glass, and eight times truck the bell.   

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