As we neared the eastern end of the Malacca Straits VTS (Vessel Traffic System) the number of ships increases exponentially.  We play the ‘Horsburgh Shuffle’, ships going in all directions, those who are eastbound scatter, having completed the transit of the Straits, while westbound are all funnelling in towards a space that is less than 2 miles wide.  The ‘Horsburgh’ bit of the shuffle is named so because of a lighthouse of the same name near the entrance to the Strait.  Our normal standards for close proximity have to be put aside here, the lanes are not wide enough for such luxury and distances are measured in hundreds of yards now.   The Bridge-watch officers have to concentrate here, no computers steering, good old-fashioned hand-steering with a Quartermaster.

I didn’t manage a shore trip, although Karen, Larry and Laura made it.  Hop-on buses and the Zoo, to name but two.  I write this from Port Klang, Malaysia and my alternative reporter is off on a tour, I’m hoping she’ll return with her Singapore photos, otherwise you’re going to be stuck with some of mine.  (She just did 🙂 ) For a change, we docked in Marina Bay cruise terminal, our normal Cruise Bay berth being occupied.  It made a pleasant change, however the terminal here is vast, involves a long walk and, on the opposite berth, large cruise ships were doing a ‘turnaround’, masses of passengers packing the halls.  Nevertheless, we had a nice evening outside, ‘appetisers and vino’ for lack of a better description and Debbie, our resident piano player, (+ other instruments), giving us her renditions.