Malaysia (Singapore)

Arrival in Singapore on March 15, 1970 at 0800 hours

Singapore is part of Malaysia.  The Malays, Chinese, Europeans, Eurasians and others who make up the population staunchly hang on to their individual cultures, festivals and national dress…and without squabbling with each other.  It’s another tropical country and a free port! I didn’t buy anything here.  Too sick of shopping!!! We took a taxi to the Van Kleef Aquarium, but we were disappointed. The states have better ones. We were about ready to ring all taxi drivers’ necks! They cheat like hell!! They refuse to use their meters, and after about six taxis that won’t use their meters, you finally start bargaining for a price! Of course! It’s always higher than the meter price. Buses are cheap IF, AND ONLY IF you can find out where to catch them, where they go, and WHEN they run. I think I’m getting tired of sightseeing. You don’t really have enough time in each port to really get to know the people!!! 

 I’m already tanning and peeling like a banana and tanning over that. I wish I’d hurry up and quit peeling so I don’t look like a spotted chicken. I’ll bet I can do 110 laps in our 5 x 9 x 5 (depth) pool on the ship.  That’s just to show how small our pool is.  Put 20 kids in and you can just about get wet.  Besides, it’s salty and feels really grimy.  I did a baddie.  I jumped in with my watch on like a dummy and it stopped. I got right back out and somebody opened it up, got it started, and dried it out.  But it stopped again.  I am going to be lost without it.  I don’t have any other clock in my room.  ☹

We sailed from Singapore on March 17, 1970 at 1400 hours.