On 11/10/97, hand over duties and went to Arlington Reef by the Sunlover Cruises. The package actually cost $100++ as said by XO but we only pay $58 due to our large group of people. We sat inside the cruise and at 9.30am, we slip off Trinity Wharf. It was around 45min before we reached our destination. The Great Barrier Reef, one of the wonders of the world, now I'm visiting it. Oh yes, the Postcards for C, Weifang and V was posted today. I ask CC low to post for me. Back to the Barrier Reef issue, I saw a Japanese girl cruise crew and wanted to take a photo with her. Finally I managed to take a picture with her on the way back. She look nice. At Arlington Reef, I went snorkelling and I could see fishes and corals under water. It's not really that beautiful, maybe my goggle wasn't that good. Goh Min Sern even saw a stingray, wow that's dangerous. We had a buffet lunch too, I took less than my usual appetite wanted. It was a good experience here and we also saw some big fishes. We return to Trinity Wharf at around 5pm. Some of our photos was taken by the cruise crew during the journey and they're available at $10 each from the centre. *Private thoughts*
After the cruise, went back to ship. Went out to town after bathing to have dinner. Stick with Jerry, CEM , Yeo and CNSA went around the stalls and shops. Didn't buy anything, I'll leave that for tomorrow. They went to the casino later and I follow. It was quite bored as I didn't gamble. I wanted to walk around the town so that I can plan what to buy tomorrow. I try to walk alone outside but after a while, feel that is not very good. What's more this area as said by XO not advisable to walk alone. Went back to Casino and play Jackpot, lost $5. Went back to ship after that.
12 Sept 1997 Flashback
On 12/10/97, woke up early to do the truck ramp. After that, shore leave starts at 8.30am. I went out at 9am with KCP, SK Tan and Goh MS. The shopping centre at Cairns was closed in the morning. We walk around the areas and we went to a local market where vegetables and many things are sold. KCP wanted badly to take a photo with a sweet-looking seem like Chinese girl. She actually a Thai. Her English is good. She was selling vegetables and look very young. KCP was persuading me to ask her to take a picture with him. I know KCP always ask people to do these and that for him. I ask and I took a photo of KCP and her and my film finished at there. Later, when I went to develop the photos and that picture was blurred together with the one we took yesterday with the Japanese girl. Shop open at 11am++ and "somebody" bought a PB magazine and we went back to ship to put our things. Want to save money, all of us have lunch onboard the ship. After that, that's where the shopping, bought a pendant, a T-shirt , some postcards,etc. SK Tan or MS Goh went back to ship to put things. Went around Cairns Central shopping centre, Myer centre and Target with KCP before meeting SK Tan and MS Goh. At night, bought some things from night market, got a dolphin pendant (should have buy more), a T-shirt for ??? ("can't recognise my own handwriting") and etc. Private thoughts. Well, that's about all. Yap come back to grandma house at 11.30pm on the way back.
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On the last sentence about grandma house, I've no idea today on what that house meant. Do I mean L202?
On the shipcrew mention, Goh Min Sern is the ship ME, same batchboy as ME Pang. He has tattoos on his body, looks fierce becoz of it but I never found him fierce at all. He plays soccer too and remember we used to play for the squadron in one match which I threaded a good throughpass to him and he took it and smash against the crossbar. What a goal that would have been.
CEM is chief EM and is one the senior PO onboard the ship. Quiet, strict looking, no nonsense guy at that time. He like to play soccer too and I remember he like to say the best thing about the Palembang trip in Jan 1997 was the football game that we play. I remember he missed an open goal.
CEM is chief EM and is one the senior PO onboard the ship. Quiet, strict looking, no nonsense guy at that time. He like to play soccer too and I remember he like to say the best thing about the Palembang trip in Jan 1997 was the football game that we play. I remember he missed an open goal.
CC Low is my gunner batchboy from SNT (school of naval training) and he was from L206. He has earlier sailed for L206 South Africa MSTD Trip earlier that year and I think he like it a lot. That's why he decided to opt to sail for this L202 MSTD sailing. During MSTD, can find him watching video in JRM at odd hours. My SNT buddy Aik told me CC Low has the type of look that many girls like. I didn't notice it until I hear from Aik and sort of agree.
Jerry Ong is the ship regular ME. A man of few words but simply the most popular guy of L202, even till today. He has the human connection.
Once upon a time on this Cairns port visit, a tale of two L202 gamblers at Cairns Reef Hotel Casino. Case 1: Gambler A has won big money the previous day, bring his winning back to ship and put it into his locker. Next day, woke up and bring everything again to Casino in hope for more. Result: Al...l gone plus losses & never sightseeing Cairns. Case 2: Gambler B who was in debt before the trip, tried his luck with the Bingo game at casino and salted fish turnover, winning big prize. Collected his winnings and given himself & kakis a big treat & call to clear his debts. For CPL Tey, never gamble but instead went to night market and Cairns Aboriginal outdoor reef concert.
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