U. S. Soldiers Home, Washington:<\/b> during a century of travel (well
\n 78 years!) both in and out of service I have travelled to over 150 countries
\n (I count both North and South Dakota as countries) and for some reason
\n have jotted signs and happenings that I thought funny at the time (and
\n now wonder why). So here is the perfect opportunity to share some of my
\n anecdotes. <\/p>\n
When I was in Hong Kong a Sir Run Run Shaw (his actual name) had donated
\n a wing to the Hong Kong Arts Centre (he had a dysentery problem) <\/p>\n
The Jardine Center in Hong Kong has a tourist bureau in its basement.
\n The buildings walls have thousands of round windows. The Chinese refer
\n to it as the house of 1000 assholes. <\/p>\n
Hong Kong Chunk King Mansions (anything but a mansion) (has hundreds
\n of cheap budget accommodation.) In the Garden Hotel in it (anything but
\n a garden) the Mama san told a married couple that asked for two towels
\n “one room, one towel.” My towel and room had not been cleaned
\n for a week. Each day she would say washee, washee tomorrow but tomorrow
\n never came. Finally one of my visitors grabbed the towel and took it out
\n in the lobby to show the other guests how dirty it was. The mama san did
\n sleep outside my door each night. I don’t know if this was go guard
\n me or to see that I did not escape. <\/p>\n
At the Palace Casino (one of the gambling ships tied to the dock in
\n Macao) when the dealer found out I was an American asked me if I thought
\n the CIA had killed Indiri Ghandi in India. <\/p>\n
We were not attacked by pirates on ship from Hong Kong to Macau and
\n the trip was uneventful except while still tied to the dock the Chinese
\n lady behind me got sick and vomited on me. <\/p>\n
In Hong Kong Haw Paw Villa Dragon Amusement Park they have a sign “Students
\n in uniform (the students wear uniforms) are not allowed to play video
\n games. (Let’s not disgrace the uniform.) <\/p>\n
In Hong Kong I went out to Stanley Military Cemetery. It was just outside
\n the regular prison (still being used) where Japanese kept British and
\n other allied prisoners during World War II. The view of the harbour etc
\n from that site is so beautiful from the prison that it must have been
\n an extra thorn in the side of the prisoners. The sign at their cemetery
\n reads “Here lie men from many countries who gave their lives for
\n freedom. Visitors are asked to behave quietly with respect for those buried
\n here. In particular games may not be played or food cooked”. 69l
\n are buried here including many women and children (98 interned civilians.)
\n One grave reads Unknown Soldier Age 38 years. May he rest in peace. (I
\n wonder how they then determined his age if unknown.) <\/p>\n
I met a man in Hong Kong who had been travelling for twenty years. He
\n sometimes takes a Holiday within a Holiday in which he does nothing but
\n rest and then is on the road again. I met him in McDonalds that is behind
\n the famous Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong at five o clock in the morning.
\n It is open 24 hours a day. He gave me tips on budget places to stay around
\n the world. Some of the places: Lucky Hotel in Bangkok, Private Toilet.
\n Malacca Malaysia: Robins Nest Hotel $4.80 a night. If you know a robin
\n looking for a place to stay. <\/p>\n
The abandon ship instructions on the ferryboat to Macao from Hong Kong
\n instructed you to not take your umbrella with you if you have to abandon
\n ship. What if it is raining? <\/p>\n
And finally, the time when I was victim to a scam: I was on an organized
\n trip and staying at Golden Gate Hotel in Hong Kong. We were told to have
\n our luggage outside our door at six AM to have it transported for us to
\n the airport. We then got a second call and were told to have out luggage
\n out at five AM instead of six and it would be picked up. It was – con
\n artists made the second call and we never saw our luggage again. <\/p>\n
Next month, Mac discusses general travel tips. <\/p>\n