Once back in Kuching, East Malaysia, we took a bus across the top of Borneo. Buses in Asia are not built for someone my size, 6’4”. I had to take a whole bench seat sitting sideways to fit. The bus, like the boat, was full of humanity, animals, and birds. The jarring five hour ride took a toll on everyone. I think everyone and everything were really happy to finish the journey. We celebrated by going to an Argentine steak house. After a week of rice, beans, and seaweed, I inhaled the rib eye steak and chased it with some fine Anchor beers. Brunei is an unusual little rich country. The Sultan of Brunei is the all powerful potentate, making his riches from oil and gas. The countries security is provided by the British military. Other than the very large Golden Dome mosque, there is little to see or do. My partner, Lee, and I decided to part ways, so I booked a flight on Cathey Pacific airlines and flew to Hong Kong the next morning. The approach into the Hong Kong airport is one of the most notorious in the world. Planes fly next to high rise buildings heading at the mountains and turn at the last moment to line up with the runway. Today there is a new more modern airport outside the city. My plan was to try to get a visa to travel to mainland China. I stayed at the YMCA for $8.00 a night, ate breakfast, and had them do some of my laundry. Some of the laundry didn’t come back. Anything with a USA college imprint is a target. Checking with the Chinese embassy daily told me that the visa would not be issued. I traveled to Macho, a former Portuguese territory, by jet foil. A jet foil is a jet powered boat when reaching a certain speed rises above the water on three skiis and skims through the water at 60 miles an hour. Once in Macho, I toured what was left of the fort and cathedral that the Portuguese built in 1500’s. Macho was their headquarters in Asia for hundreds of years. A walk to the Chinese border crossing was as close as I could get. We, tourists at a café across the street from the border got acquainted. I was told not to take a photo of the guards as they sometimes shot at people taking photos. I set my camera on my table, ordered some food and took a couple of photos of the guards without raising the camera. This was in 1978. Today, Macho is back in the Chinese fold and has more casinos and gamblers than Las Vegas. I’m glad I saw Macho prior to all the neon and people.
Back in Hong Kong, I booked a flight to Nationalist China or Taiwan. Hong Kong is a lively fun town. A tailor chased me down the street and within a short time, had me in his shop, measured me for a custom tailored suit and two shirts, and said “ready in two days”. I flew to Taipei, Taiwan on Singapore airlines. What an airline! The beautiful stewardesses wore gorgeous wrap around sarongs and were o so sweet. The food was lobster or filet, your choice served with French red wine. That was in coach. I wonder what first class had, maybe French cooking also!
Published every Wednesday, at least.
