cool building on the way... turns out it's a massive "Creative Factory" for artists etc, and not in fact a derelict.
This is where they design Submarines
This is perhaps where some investors gloat over their submarines and count their gold
This is where they teach the noble art of submarine building and design
This is a plaque on a bulding in the submarine building complex that faces the township Heijplaat
This is a ship superstructure eing built where a submarine should have been being built
This is a small part of the huge coplex that is RDM Shipyards. They also build regulat ships and superyachts I hear. There were no submarines being built, however not to dissappoint, just around the corner...
Wednesday, 10th Septber 2008
OK gotta go. In a rush cos its time to BOARD MY SHIP!!! To be Continued/........
Woke up at 04.30… jetlag. Looked at all my spelling mistakes, typos and bad grammar on yesterdays post, decided to ignore them, then went for a walk along the canal. Breakfast served at 06.30. Toast, eggs, local cheese and delicatessen meats, yoghurt, juices, YUM. Now for some exploring.
Later…
Rotterdam is amazing. I’ve spent the whole day walking around trying not to kick my jaw.. rain and shine. I got back in at 15.30 with my feet singing. Work starts much later on monday than usual, about midday, give and take an hour or so, but there is so much to see. The place is filled with technical and artistic institutes, amazing buildings… well, I’ll let the photos do most of the talking. I will say I got quite chatty with the proprietor of local goth-shop "The Black Widow." I’m for desert (the nightlife) a little later –Monday as it is.
The Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore was late in boarding due to a cargo weight distribution error, but the wait was made easier because a classmate (working for a different company) was taking the same flight. He boarded his ship today in Singapore – a Tanker Pacific oil carrier.
There was a selection of 100 movies of impressive taste, plus TV shows, docos, and even video games. I watched the new Indiana Jones movie, and a few Hong Kong style ones before falling asleep for the rest of the journey. The food was OK, the seats were PACKED.
I arrived in Singapore to a muggy 24 degrees C and fine weather at just after 0600hrs. I was surprised to be greeted by a customs official who introduced me to my personal driver for the day, “Ed”. He drove me to the 5-star Hotel where I was booked, the Furama Riverfront on Havelock Rd. On the way he drove me past some of the sights.. odd buildings, the F1 racetrack (which he was certainly impressed with), the Navy Base, Hospital, etc. There is a festival here at the moment, which entails the setting up of a temporary Bazaar, lots of dancing, etc.
The streets everywhere are lined with pink orchids.
I had just enough time for a shower and buffet breakfast (3 hours) before meeting with my driver again to take care of the official stuff. This done I was driven back (with lots of Singapore girl advice from Ed), and ate a buffet lunch. The Furuma is very near “Chinatown,” and the CBD. Off for a look…
Later…
Just got back from Chinatown where every man and his dog were trying to sell... no, make me buy, cheap whatever at massive prices.. some guy looked like he was going to cry when I didn't want to buy his very average quality Indian style suit for $3000. A couple of guys got quite aggressive.. that didn’t work either. I guess everyone’s used to tourists with a lot of money –salesmen, who are the only people who I’ve spoken to here, seem to place high emotional expectations on a successful sale. “Just put on credit card, no worries, ok?” was their watchword. Despite not being used to that kind of culture, the place was quite charming. There are a lot of interesting bits and pieces to look at and I could’ve easily blown quite a bit on geomantic charms, crystals, statuettes, and the like. However for the most part there wasn’t TOO much on sale I couldn’t have found at home. The smell of sweet incense and strange foods fill the air. It’s kind of a shame, but I didn’t feel like bringing my digital camera along.. ‘nuff said.
It’s now 34 degrees. I’ll check out the other side of town after another shower.
Still later…
The CBD is VERY nice. They seem to love ancient Greek themes, and I completely empathise there. Not a lot else to say on the matter, except that Singapore is very definitely a well globalised tourist spot.I wish I had more time to see other off-the-beaten-track places.
Beautiful and colourful place. Definitely recommend the Fumata Riveride, for many reasons but mostly the excellent service.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
After a 12½hr flight I arrived in Amsterdam at about 05.30. The airport has a very designer industrial feel to it IMO, and also I got a first impression that I was in a video-game parlor. Customs with machine-guns was cool. The building is very new.
No agent to meet me this time, so I ended up waiting at the Meeting Point for a few hours before having to track down my agent here. 9 hours later I was taxied to a lodge in Rotterdam. Apparently they did not know I was arriving today. I was also told that Faith N was not due in port till Mittwoch* and so they asked me which hotel I would like to stay in. (* Wednesday, or Odin’s day was anathema to the catholic church for most of Christian history. Same as German, Mittwoch just means mid-week.)
The Hyatt and others of the same caliber were offered, but I’ve chosen to stay at a more grass-roots place called the Boer Lodge, which is mainly for sailors.Still, the furniture is modern and the architecture is just post-war, as much of Rotteram was destroyed by Hitler. There is a public room where some Ukrainian and Fillipino sailors that are staying make good use of, but I have a whole 3 bedroom suite to myself -kitchen and everything. Obviously they feed me here too, and also I have WiFi internet. The owners seem to be a family,their two teenage kids are employed as staff. They’re very friendly and helpful. Dinner was like a home-cooked meal, which I enjoyed. It’s situated right next to the oldest part of Rotterdam, that I gather escaped the bombing. I can see a canal(?) from my room.
After a long hot bath I think I’ll just hit the hay. Tomorrow is Monday, and there are some really interesting spots around the town I want to check out.
At the beginning of February I started my basic training at the New Zealand Maritime School towards the coveted 2nd mates foreign-going qualification, after being selected to be one of 20 cadets from across New Zealand, Australia, China, and other places to fill the small number representing the NZMS annual intake. The last 6 months has seen me gain my basic seamanship certificate, and a little extra. The course take 3 years in total (providing I pass everything), includes a total of 12 months seatime, and is the ONLY way a person may eventually become the Captain of a foreign going merchant ship.
This included practical courses instructing in Sea surival, First Aid, Survival craft/Small (ship-launched) boat proficiency, Restricted Radio, Bridge watchkeeping (utilising astate of the art bridge simulator), Fire-fighting (run from Auckland Airport), Deck watchkeeping, Anchoring, Mooring, as well as Shipping Industry knowledge, Shipboard Familiarity, Tanker Familiarisation, and Martime Mathematics and Physics.
Tonight I begin my first "Maritime Adventure," as it is still called in law and insurance, of 6 months aboard the Faith N. I'm as excited and nervous right now, as I am confident of the quality of my training and my personal abilities.
To everyone I've used, abused, or neglected over this time, especially very recently: My sincere apologies and thanks. You are (mostly :P) all really important to me. Thanks for understanding what a strain these last couple of months time has been, especially Mum & Dad - (you are the best), and Juraj & Herlind who put me up for the last month and kept me well fed. But enough of that..
Before I board Faith N, one of the largest ships sailing the oceans today, I'll have called into Asia (Singapore), and Europe (Netherlands), two continents I've neer set foot in before - and then Ill be on m way to outh America, another crease in my trouser leg. (so far Ive seen Australasia, North America, and the U.K.) I'll be flying a Singapore Airlines Boing 777-200 (for those who care about planes) to Singapore, stay for 14 hours, and then a Royal Dutch Airlines 777 to Amsterdam. The company shipping agent will pick me up here and arrange transport to Rotterdam.
I'll keep a journal on my laptop, and update this blog as I can.
