Singapore

Did you ever notice how a song can bring up memories of time and place? When I hear the song In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry, I think back to a club in Singapore in 1970. Fittingly it is always Summer in Singapore since it lies almost directly on the Equator.

We anchored in Singapore for R&R after participating in a Line-Crossing ceremony at sea. For someone who comes from New England, it is one of the most exotic places I have seen. Monkeys and orchids in the parks and an amalgam of English, Chinese, Malaysian and Indian culture.

The Navy made an effort to provide us with tour packages to do some sightseeing. We saw a rubber plantation, a WWII Japanese run POW camp and a snake charming act.

Singapore is home to at least 15 venomous snakes.I assume the one I was given to hold was not in that category.

A cobra can strike 1/3 to 1/2 its body length. I think this guy was a little too close for comfort.

I think we all purchased SLR cameras on that deployment. Note the film canisters taped to the straps. It was payday for the snake charmer.