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Sun Mar 18......Thailand.We docked at a container port at Laem Chabang, which is about a 45 minute bus ride from the nearest town of Pattaya. It is also a 2 1/2 hour ride from Bangkok, so we said "no way." Pattaya is a somewhat sleazy holiday town, quite cheap shopping, and a nice beach, but too hot to take advantage of it. We wandered around, then had a very nice long lunch in the Marriot at an outside terrace bar near their pool.There were a couple of good air conditioned malls after lunch, then back to the ship for dinner. Later that evening a troupe of Thai dancers came on board and put on a spectacular show of traditional Thai entertainment. We stayed in port overnight, so went back into town on Monday. More or less a repeat of the previous day with lunch at the Marriot again. Quite an interesting couple of days but not a place we would want to revisit. ...............................................Back at sea we had great couple of talks from Carol, who is the daughter of Margaret Thatcher (Robert would have enjoyed). These were on "Life in No 10" and "Women in Politics". She was very funny and entertaining. .................................................Wed Mar 21.......Singapore.Wonderful city, although greatly changed since we were last there 20 years ago.We walked the length of Orchard Street, the main shopping drag, all the way to Raffles Hotel. Still a great place, but not what it used to be. Too much remodeling.We drank the mandatory Singapore Gin Slings, bought a couple of things in the shop, and continued on to the harbour and the well known Merlion statue. It is still there, but now surrounded by high rise buildings and a magnificent theatre.It rained a little, first time this trip, so we took a taxi to another old colonial type hotel for high tea, in lieu of lunch. Beautiful place, called The Goodward Park Hotel, originally German until the first war,then the Japanese used it in the last war, and has since been restored.Singapore is a beautiful city. Very clean and safe. Trees everywhere, and very strict laws to keep it that way. e.g. Death penalty for drug dealers etc.We had a full day there, but would have liked longer to see more of the city.We are now on our way to India.
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