March 2nd, 3rd Singapore, 4th Port Kelang.

Friday, 2nd March. Our day at sea was as usual, but Alan decided against attending his lecture because he was having a bad ‘Friday medication’. I went to Spanish class again and then we rested most of the afternoon in preparation for our big day ahead in Singapore. I watched a film and Alan slept out on the balcony. At sunrise depths beneath the keel shelved to 50 metres as we continued south south-west through the South China Sea. By noon the mouth of the Mekong River and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam were on our starboard side, but at a distance of 90 n. miles and we were positioned at Charlotte Bank. The sun was rising higher in the sky as we steamed at 25 knots towards the equator again and humidity was increasing. We retired early. The Commodore had informed us we would be rounding the south-east corner of Malaysia on the south coast of Singapore about 3.30am and docking about 7.00am at a very busy port, therefore a shuttle service and limousines would be available.
Saturday, 3rd March. As predicted we entered the Singapore Straits at 4.00am and speed was reduced to 18 knots for the approach to the pilot station. The pilot embarked at 6.00am, 2 miles east of Kusu Island for our short passage to our berth in the Pasir Panjang Terminal at 7.00am. It was very hot and the humidity was high, so we dressed as sensibly as we could for a day shopping in the city. There was a long queue for the shuttle busses and we decided to use the limousine service, which was a good move because the shuttle would not have taken us any where near where we wanted to go! We took the wheelchair and at 10.30am we were dropped off at the Raffles City shopping mall where we spent a couple of hours browsing before actually purchasing some jade jewellery for us both! Then it was time for lunch. We found a nice restaurant and asked for a typical Malaysian meal, which was excellent in taste but similar to a Chinese meal.
After this we stepped across the road to visit Raffles Hotel. Once inside we could see the attraction, it was a marvellous place where the courtyard housed a gazebo bar with large shady umbrellas covering elegant wrought iron tables in a tropical setting amongst palm and coconut trees. We quickly seated ourselves and ordered two Singapore Slings! It was BLISS!! There are three floors to Raffles and whilst Alan chatted to two ladies on the next table I went on a walk about. I found the shops without any trouble and spent a while looking around before returning to suggest that Alan came to see too. There were antique shops, furniture and bric-a-brac as well as numerous bars and eateries. The famous Long Bar was full to bursting. There are three floors, but we only managed two before I found the Golden Silk boutique and just had to try everything in sight - followed by the same in the Oriental shop. It certainly wasn’t a cheap day, but it was so much fun!!
Time was passing too quickly and we had to be back at the ship for 5.00pm so we rang our limousine driver and she arrived at the main entrance to Rafffles within five minutes (what service!) It only took fifteen minutes to get back to the ship and just as we reached port the rain started, the thunder and lightening followed and we were like drowned rats as we stepped out of the car (and that was underneath the marquee too!!) The tropical storm caught everyone out, even the immigration and crew who were assisting passengers on board, we had to wait ten minutes before we could even think of using an umbrella to go the three yards across the gang way! It was such a laugh because everyone was soaked to the skin and my hair had curled instantly. We were late sailing due to refuelling, but the whole ship buzzed with excited passengers relating their day ashore in Singapore. It was one of the best yet and the city is a delight to the eyes, it is amazing. After dinner we went to the lounge for a Singapore Sling, but it was no where near as good as the original (and we have the recipe.) Then we went to the Mystery Play at the theatre, which was amusing and light, but most passengers went to bed early as they had to be up for tours the following day.
Sunday, 4th March. Having sailed 175 n. miles from Singapore, for security reasons the night security crew who were wearing flak jackets and carrying weapons had paraded around the deck as we approached and moored the ship. It must be a necessity or they wouldn’t have done it! We are now in the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Sumatra. It was so humid that we couldn’t stay out on the balcony for very long and were relieved that we hadn’t booked a tour. The port terminal building was quite new, and later when we went ashore for a stroll, we were delighted to find a few shops to browse around. This view from our balcony;

By lunch time we headed back to the comfort of air conditioning and relaxed after we had eaten. It would have taken almost two hours to get to Kuala Lumpur and we didn’t feel so inclined. I was very disappointed to discover that yet again I have lost another day of video – that is the second disc that has been corrupted. No idea why, the next one in worked OK again!
Tonight should be a good show by the Cunard Theatre Company so we are looking forward to that. This evening we set sail for Cochin, India, which is 1667 n. miles through the Andaman Sea, the Laccadive Sea and the Arabian Sea, all in the Indian Ocean, when we will arrive at Cochin at 1.00pm on March 7th to stay until March 8th. Our watches go back again this evening so that we will be only 7 hours ahead of the UK on March 5th.