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

Yesterday Once More: 1997 Navy MSTD Trip - Day 24 (Honiara)

24 Sept 1997 Flashback

An extremely busy day for me as I'm on duty and on anchor watch. Even right now, 10.44pm I'm feeling shacked because in another 15 mins time, I'll run the EP again.

A day of tired work, now I just return from the hoisting of EP and since 11pm till now 1.20am, been working non-stop. During the securing of EP, I was left alone by my own department on the EP, when I request for help, they pretend didn't hear my message. Was angry and with help of Kuek and Yam, lowered the straps and after squaring up the place, just walk away from the area. Was vexed up. Today afternoon, read C letter and *private thoughts*. Today LSWT help me to buy the things that I ask him to buy. He got most of the stuffs except the keychain which I wanted badly. He know the design I show him but he didn't buy , instead try to pick another for me. *Private thoughts*. Also today, CO allow us to swim in the sea, it was nice. But most of the day, very busy with EP and didn't have much of our own time. 2nd time so busy during duty. Signoff, Weizhong

Giordano - World of Strangers @ Honiara

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The above is my favourite photo of the MSTD trip. It is taken on EM Goh's camera (green shirt guy on the left most side). Remember he say our photo can be used for Giordano advertisement slogan, "World of Strangers". On EM Goh, he is the electrical guy onboard L202 and same ORD date as me. He may be small size but has a fiery temper, don't step on his toes on a bad day. Heard he work in a big IT firm (Sun) after ORD but actually not very sure because didn't stay in touch after L202 dinner in 98. Think saw someone that looks like him during last year RT @ Khatib camp but didn't talk as wasn't really sure its him and the person also "bo chap".

Back to Honiara, Solomon Islands, I remember the final duty day as a very tiring day because running many rounds of EP, to/fro the ship. Everyone was super tired, that why I got abandoned by my fellow team at night during securing of EP. Was damn pissed & tired on that night.

However, the thing that I have the strongest impression about my trip to Solomon Islands without refering to my sailing diary, also happen on this day. On that Solomon island duty day, the ship was anchored out at sea. During off duty watch period, CO allow us to swim in the sea near our ship. He also swim in it and many of us join him by jumping from the ship into the Solomon island calm sea. It was fun until after we finished the swim, our dear RO Wilfred informed us that this area is actually a SHARKS area. What the...why didn't he tell us before we jump into it. Haha, we all have a good laugh about how naive all of us were at that time, enjoying the swim, not aware of potential danger of sharks.

Yesterday Once More: 1997 Navy MSTD Trip - Day 23 (Honiara)

23 Sept 1997 Flashback

Wake up at 6.30am and enter harbour. Prep for the cocktail and all ends at around 10am. Yap, good news, received C and J letter. 2 from C and 1 from J. I only read J and little bit of the first letter from C. I intend to post a letter to C. I went for shore leave with Wee, Yeo, Ang and GY. Hesitate about a few things because I only have limited Soloman dollars cash. Bought a few postcards. "Somebody" didn't seem happy with my slow thinking of getting the stuffs I want. Went to have lunch at a restaurant which the food wasn't nice and costly too. Buy some souvenirs from the souvenir shops including a keychain, a banner and a T-shirt. Also went to post office to post the letters & postcards. Early today, when just went for shoreleave, did call Mum and talk a while with her. Everything ok. Went with a cab to 2 war memorials at Skyline and Auston, a great place to take photos at the village but not really nice. Took same taxi passing through Chinatown. Only few chinese can be seen. Honiara, really not much fun place. Went to a hotel and stay there throughout the evening. Have a nice Japanese teriyaki meal at a restaurant there. My money not enough and GY borrow some to me. At night, visit the casino and went back to ship soon after. Feeling tired as tomorrow got to run anchor watch and FCEP. Signoff, Weizhong

A visit to Honiara City Police station with "mata" in shorts

Scenic photo with our taxi guide and Solomon Islanders

Before there was Resort World Singapore and Marina Bay Sands, there is Honiara Casino

My 13 year old souvenirs from Honiara, Solomon Islands

A written postcards posted in Solomon Islands and to Singapore

Yesterday Once More: 1997 Navy MSTD Trip - Day 22 (Honiara)

22 Sept 1997 Flashback

Map of the Solomon Islands

At this moment of writing, I'm finally arrived in Solomon Islands capital, Honiara. I'm quite tired after being a bowman for the past few hours. Our ship reach here at 4pm++, couldn't find a place to berth and therefore drop anchor. Ops 'O' ask me to be part of the EP crew. The duty will run 50% on each day. A lot of funny, frustrating stuffs today, being ticked by Ops 'O' and at the same time bothered by the duty watch system. Was an EP crew and didn't go for late night shore leave. Shore leave starts at around 8pm. Money complications also occur when I shared with Yeo to change $80 and another $20 from the one Wong claim I shared $50 from Ang. Very complex. Hope all these will be sort out tomorrow. I feel myself quite a nusiance to people at times with my outspoken manner. Maybe I should tone down a bit. Tomorrow got to wake up at 6.30am for SSD to enter harbour. Still to prep for cocktail and wait for my only day in Honiara. From people who go for shoreleave today, an expensive place. Argh.....很烦! Signoff, Weizhong

Honiara (highlight in red), the capital of Solomon Islands

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I remember that on our first day arrival in Honiara, no available berth for our ship to alongside (park), so we have to stay far out at sea and drop anchor. We lower the two attached FCEP (stands for Fast Craft for Equipment and Personnel) of our ship to the sea and use it to ferry the shipcrews to land for their late night shore leave. I became part of the FCEP crew by becoming the bowman, who primary role is to handle the ropeworks to secure the craft to the wharf or ship side & set-up ladder for embarking & disembarking of passengers. Other miscellaneous tasks include being a lookout and other manual tasks.