halcruises | Captain, who's driving?

Heavens, it’s March already, where did the time go? Well, the past 3 days have been spent sailing in the Java, Celebes and Sulu Seas, heading towards this seldom visited port which nestles on the coast of the island of Palawan. We were last here in 2013 and, f my memory serves me well, it hasn’t changed much. The route from Benoa to this island is one which is also used by other ships, largely Bulk Carriers, hauling iron ore and coal to fill the veracious appetite of China for raw materials. Been there, done that……We pass through several ‘choke points’, where shipping converges to pass through narrow straits and shallows.

Passing TawiTawi, on the north-west coast of Mindanao, a choke point for shipping

Several large Bulkers in the choke point, northbound loaded, southbound in ballast and going to Australia for more.

A large northbound Bulker, loaded with iron ore

The northern part of our route

Our track into the harbour

As we sail these waters it is disappointing to see how much flotsam there is in the water. We, as a company and corporation are so careful about the environmental ‘footprint’ we leave; our Management system is invested in all things ecological and yet, here we are, sailing through miles and miles of junk, deposited by those who either don’t possess the resources, just don’t think, or just don’t give a damn. So frustrating……..

Onto other matters and Puerto Princesa, (it is spelt this way, it’s not me and my spelling). As with many of these islands, it has recovered from invasion and battle during WW 2, however this has a particularly sad history, the particularly brutal murder of 139 U.S. prisoners of war by the Japanese. It is memorialised at the site of their prison, although the wooden buildings have long gone, the brick walls around encampment is still there.

A beautiful Filipino lady welcomes you at the gate entrance

The young girls bring some laughter in an otherwise sombre place

Karen and I by now had found the heat oppressive and conceded surrender to the continual harangue of tuk-tuk drivers and chose a beaten-up one, (in fact they were all looking pretty banged-up). These tuk-tuks are not the same as Indian ones, Filipino’s are built around a motor cycle, as a result one sits close to the driver.

Is this a record?? Mum dad and 6 kids!!! I’m not even sure where the driver is!

I took an unusually large number of photos today, so here are a selection.

Some wire being used as a drying clothes line

The Capitol building

Karen and the Amsterdam

I’m all for a name like this!

Me taking a photograph of them taking photographs of me!

Part of our welcome

Their Bridge team taking an interest in our docking procedures