Singapore and on to Thailand

We finished our 'bunkering' in Singapore this afternoon an our next stop is Bangkok, Thailand. It was amazing to count the tankers and freighters gathering in the docks of Singapore, there were more than we have seen anywhere else.

I was disappointed that very little was told to the students about this island/city/nation. As Brits we are so aware of the history of the place during World War 2. No one imagined that the Japanese would attack and take Singapore from Malaya (now Malaysia), It was thought that the attack would come from the sea and that Singapore was adequately defended. They were wrong on both counts and Singapore fell easily. It was a great loss to the allies strategically and thousands of expatriots became POW's (prisoners of war) and spent the next few years in camps and many died in those camps under harsh Japanese rule. The Japanese occupied Malaya and Singapore from 1942-45. None of this was spoken of; the notorious Changi prison where many POW's were incarcerated has not been mentioned. .

Singapore became independent and separate from Malaysia in 1965.

Of course we were not allowed ashore and I suppose this is ancient history which does not interest Americans...it was after all prior to their entry into the war! However we were told about the fact that the population of Singapore all live in highrises and condominiums! The fact that entire communities (like Chinatown) were obliterated to achieve this and that these highrises (with shops below so that no one needs to travel outside to buy necessities) wiped out the sense of community was not talked about either. Ah well, 'nuff said!

The weather has cooled pleasantly and as I write and look at our coordinates and map on TV we are sailing North to Thailand and are at this time off the south east coast of the Malayan peninsular. We reach Bangkok the day after tomorrow.

I'm off to bed with a mug of Lapsang Suchong and a good book!