Singapore and Australia
Tuesday 22nd July (Map 21)
I woke early but stayed in bed till everybody else showed signs of getting up. No breakfast because most of the crew had gone on shore leave. About 0930 we left the ship and docks to find a place to sleep and leave our luggage.
After a mile walk we finally booked in to the Chinese YMCA. Posh and a trifle expensive but we didn’t fancy walking any further. Scott and Fred had one double room and Sleepy and yours truly had one also. Twin beds, air conditioning and private shower and toilet. We dumped our things and went downstairs to the café to have coffee and toast.
We then went to the town centre to try and organise our passage from Singapore. At the docks we had learnt from the gate personnel that the passenger-cargo liner ‘Centaur’ was due in port soon en route for Aussie. In Bombay at Cooks we were given the address of a big travel agent in Singapore – Mansfields – so we headed for there. We were told that the ‘Centaur’ was fully booked but we were put on the provisional booking list for the ‘MV Australasia’ sailing on the 29th July at a cost of £85 each. We also found that flights were regular to Perth each day at £95 each.
We then went to the Post Office with our fingers crossed and were relieved to find the money we had requested. Thanks mom and dad. After a good deal of discussion we decided to fly out. We decided that the extra two weeks we would get in Perth if we flew out immediately (one week waiting in Singapore for ship and one week for sea journey) would more than compensate for the extra cost. We spent the evening playing snooker and watching TV.
I woke early but stayed in bed till everybody else showed signs of getting up. No breakfast because most of the crew had gone on shore leave. About 0930 we left the ship and docks to find a place to sleep and leave our luggage.
After a mile walk we finally booked in to the Chinese YMCA. Posh and a trifle expensive but we didn’t fancy walking any further. Scott and Fred had one double room and Sleepy and yours truly had one also. Twin beds, air conditioning and private shower and toilet. We dumped our things and went downstairs to the café to have coffee and toast.
We then went to the town centre to try and organise our passage from Singapore. At the docks we had learnt from the gate personnel that the passenger-cargo liner ‘Centaur’ was due in port soon en route for Aussie. In Bombay at Cooks we were given the address of a big travel agent in Singapore – Mansfields – so we headed for there. We were told that the ‘Centaur’ was fully booked but we were put on the provisional booking list for the ‘MV Australasia’ sailing on the 29th July at a cost of £85 each. We also found that flights were regular to Perth each day at £95 each.
We then went to the Post Office with our fingers crossed and were relieved to find the money we had requested. Thanks mom and dad. After a good deal of discussion we decided to fly out. We decided that the extra two weeks we would get in Perth if we flew out immediately (one week waiting in Singapore for ship and one week for sea journey) would more than compensate for the extra cost. We spent the evening playing snooker and watching TV.
Wednesday 23rd July
Treated ourselves to a breakfast of eggs, toast and good coffee. We met Graham and Yvonne and paid them back the $10 we owed them. Scott had to go to the American Consul to try and find employment on a ship. We went to Mansfields but they could not confirm a flight for that night. We then went to M.S.A. (Malaysia-Singapore Airlines) the main flight agents, and they told us we could book a definite flight on the Saturday night. But the booking could be changed if we got on a cancellation any time before then. We paid over the money of £95 each and returned to the YMCA to pick up our baggage.
We paid our bill there, said our goodbyes to Scott, who still hadn’t got a job yet, and also farewelled the Yorks lads who had decided to take the ‘MV Australasia’ and we agreed to meet up with them in Perth.
We went to the Immigration Department to collect our passports, then had a good meal to get rid of some of our Malaysian money. We decided to go to the airport on the off chance of cancellations. Got to the airport at 1830 after a long bus journey across the island. The MSA desk told us to wait till a flight got in at 2030. It was a through flight from London to Sydney via Perth and they hadn’t got any idea of cancellations as yet.
We had a coffee in the lounge. Met an army chap on his way to Colombo whose flight had been delayed and refreshments were being provided for the passengers in the rest room. I went to the rest room with him and managed to get a few sandwiches before Sleepy called me out.
Fred had been back to the MSA desk and they had told him we could get on the flight OK. We were on our way! A mad rush then to get the baggage through customs. Got to the flight desk OK and boarded a Boeing 707 Qantas Airlines at 2115. We were soon airborne and had an excellent meal and drinks and then some shuteye.
Treated ourselves to a breakfast of eggs, toast and good coffee. We met Graham and Yvonne and paid them back the $10 we owed them. Scott had to go to the American Consul to try and find employment on a ship. We went to Mansfields but they could not confirm a flight for that night. We then went to M.S.A. (Malaysia-Singapore Airlines) the main flight agents, and they told us we could book a definite flight on the Saturday night. But the booking could be changed if we got on a cancellation any time before then. We paid over the money of £95 each and returned to the YMCA to pick up our baggage.
We paid our bill there, said our goodbyes to Scott, who still hadn’t got a job yet, and also farewelled the Yorks lads who had decided to take the ‘MV Australasia’ and we agreed to meet up with them in Perth.
We went to the Immigration Department to collect our passports, then had a good meal to get rid of some of our Malaysian money. We decided to go to the airport on the off chance of cancellations. Got to the airport at 1830 after a long bus journey across the island. The MSA desk told us to wait till a flight got in at 2030. It was a through flight from London to Sydney via Perth and they hadn’t got any idea of cancellations as yet.
We had a coffee in the lounge. Met an army chap on his way to Colombo whose flight had been delayed and refreshments were being provided for the passengers in the rest room. I went to the rest room with him and managed to get a few sandwiches before Sleepy called me out.
Fred had been back to the MSA desk and they had told him we could get on the flight OK. We were on our way! A mad rush then to get the baggage through customs. Got to the flight desk OK and boarded a Boeing 707 Qantas Airlines at 2115. We were soon airborne and had an excellent meal and drinks and then some shuteye.
Thursday 24th July (Map 21)
Arrived at Perth Airport at 0430. Temperature about 32 degrees C. We’d only got tee shirts and jeans due to our rush exit from Singapore. We got through customs with no trouble except they confiscated our powdered milk – said we must have a baby with us! Fred was putting on weight but we didn’t get away with it.
We had fifteen English pounds left between us but we’d got here. Spent what was left of the night on the airport couches next to a brand new Vauxhall Viva on display – being built in Aussie and rebadged as a Holden Torana. Had a good shower at the toilets and changed our money to Australian dollars. By the time we’d got tea and toast and paid for the bus into Perth central we were basically skint!
On our way to God knows what, nevertheless we were glad the travelling was over for a bit. For how long? Who knows?
Back to the " ON THE HIGH SEAS " page
You'll find some more ramblings of our first look at OZ in the " PERTH AND BEYOND " page
. . . . . . . . . . . .
The actual ‘Trip Diary’ was written in Perth, WA a few months after our arrival in Australia. I have left it exactly as it was done at that time.
Arrived at Perth Airport at 0430. Temperature about 32 degrees C. We’d only got tee shirts and jeans due to our rush exit from Singapore. We got through customs with no trouble except they confiscated our powdered milk – said we must have a baby with us! Fred was putting on weight but we didn’t get away with it.
We had fifteen English pounds left between us but we’d got here. Spent what was left of the night on the airport couches next to a brand new Vauxhall Viva on display – being built in Aussie and rebadged as a Holden Torana. Had a good shower at the toilets and changed our money to Australian dollars. By the time we’d got tea and toast and paid for the bus into Perth central we were basically skint!
On our way to God knows what, nevertheless we were glad the travelling was over for a bit. For how long? Who knows?
Back to the " ON THE HIGH SEAS " page
You'll find some more ramblings of our first look at OZ in the " PERTH AND BEYOND " page
. . . . . . . . . . . .
The actual ‘Trip Diary’ was written in Perth, WA a few months after our arrival in Australia. I have left it exactly as it was done at that time.