PORT KELANG - Malaysia

Local Flowers for Sale in quayside stalls.

Greetings from Port Kelang!

Independence Square.

An early start for us all today as ARCADIA was alongside at 0700 hours. As you know I need to be in for arrival and oversee the cruise ship's Clearance formalities and then take the Agent to have a chat with the Commodore. All very interesting as it keeps me up to date will all the goings on in the port etc. Also our priority is always to get the ship 'clear' for passengers and crew as soon as possible otherwise no one gets ashore. We were also storing five containers from the UK today and the tide levels were not ideal for us so time is crucial in these circumstances. We need the groceries! I wonder if TESCO direct deliver here?

Celebrating Chinese New Year.

I don't like early starts - I am much more of a night owl than a morning lark! However must is a great master and I have to remind myself that I am on the payroll not the passenger list! Therefore onwards and upwards with the smile on! What is unique to working at sea is that it is always a surprise to find out what you will see when you open the curtains in the morning. Have I been here before? What is the dockside like? What's that other ship that is in port? How close to the dock are we? How long have I got before I need to be in my Office?........and so it goes on. As I live on the port side I walk to my office on the starboard open deck to take in the morning view that I have missed - no traffic jams - not unless there are too many power walkers on Promenade Deck......I would not want to get in their way - all too serious for me at that time of the morning.

Hindu Deity in the Hindu Temple.

The morning was warm and sunny in Port Kelang for adventures into Kuala Lumpur.
For many people the thought of seeing one of the tallest and most magnificent buildings in the world, the Petronas Towers married along side the Colonial buildings of the British era would be a truly memorable visit. Soon our passengers were enjoying the delights of Independence Square home of the former British Government buildings before moving onto partake of some shopping in the Cultural Market. Visiting one of the Chinese Temples they could appreciate the Chinese New Year celebrations and then in contrast view the beautiful deities in one of the Hindu Temples. The Chinatown market was buzzing with activity and many passengers took the opportunity to buy a gift.

Enjoy the pictures, I have lots more of our storing programme and the Terminal which I will post soon.

Shopping at a local Market.

Must dash, tomorrow we are at sea which will be a good time for me to catch up with all that is going on around the ship. I love to walk about and hear what people have to say - passengers and Ship's Company! Some of my Colleagues decline my invitations to do walk abouts with me as they say I spend too much time talking to everybody - but that is where all the fun is...........as people like Norma who left the comment on the blog knows all too well! Thanks to Elaine and Gill for their comments and for keeping up to date with my blog. I met a couple in the terminal who are on their first cruise and they told me that it was because they had read my blog from the beginning and thought - we would like to do this so they booked Southampton to Singapore. Very rewarding!

Regards

James.

'One more step around the world we go'