Yesterday Once More: 1997 Navy MSTD Trip - Day 25 (Bye Bye Honiara)

25 Sept 1997 Flashback

Today at around 9.15am, weigh anchor and leave Honiara, Solomon Islands. I was on anchor watch at time 5.25am to 6.25am. Was tired and did hope the sea watch didn't put me on afternoon watch. Check out and was in first watch, that's mean can sleep for quite a while. Rumours has it we might anchor at "Port 3", what a disappointment if that's true. Really feel my last trip was a disappointing one. Unless I'm guaranteed of 2 full days shore leave. The sea state is pretty bad and many people are feeling sick. I'm ok but feel if I didn't sleep enough, I'll be sea sick too. Ok, really tired just off watch, the sea is rocking badly, time to rest. Signoff, Weizhong

L202 sailing towards the Rainbow bridge on that day of departing Solomon Islands

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Honiara is a place where probably I won't have a chance to visit if it is not for the MSTD trip. My memory of Solomon Islands is that the local people there are very friendly towards us. Everywhere we go, we seem to be centre of attention and greeted with smile and warmth. I vaguely remember there is one teenage girl even wave at us. We just smile back. The cost of things there however, is expensive. I bought a "Nguzu Nguzu" keychain at around S$7-S$9 but it was a special logo of Solomon Islands that I wanted so badly. The keychain was with me for almost 12 years before retiring last year. I forgotten where I kept it since. Other memories include my best meal of the MSTD trip was at the hotel at Honiara. I think its a simple chicken teriyaki meal but it taste so good. Maybe I was really tired during that phase of MSTD trip that I gave such high rating for a simple luxury. I think the Honiara FCEP duty day ranks among the busiest day of my MSTD trip. The body really feel the fatigue and I think I'm not alone. I also have the 1st time experience of swimming in an area where sharks are around. Finally, I remember the midshipman batch has an opportunity to play the Solomon Islands football team. The ship crews are not involved in this game, only the midshipmen. I think I heard Solomon Islands won 9-0 against our young navy officers to be, the midshipmen.

I do read about Solomon Islands news occasionally since that trip. I think near year 2000 or so, there is a civil war that broke out there. Near end 2003, the Oz govt under John Howard send in a peacekeeping force to Solomon Islands to maintain peace. I think the situation isn't as bad as the Ambon one but during that time, the Ozs are also involved in Iraq or Afghan operations, so maybe Solomon Islands involvement may take off some pressure to send more troops to the George Bush crappy ops in Iraq.

Sunset photo at Honiara, Solomon Islands - Photo courtesy of EM Ong