CH-AK TO SIN, VIA SYD

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31047, 30 April 1966, Page 5

CH-AK TO SIN, VIA SYD

[Specially written [or “The

Press” by

R. S. LINDSAY.]

QNE of the most irritating characteristics of airline crews, officials, travel agents, business people and tourists, to New Zealanders who have not travelled abroad, is that of name - dropping. The carefully casual mentioning of exotic place names; foreign, highly-placed persons; foods and wines, and so on. A refinement of this game of one-upmanship observed by New Zealand journalists who visited Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang, for eight days this month, by courtesy of Air New Zealand, is the reference of places, foods, services, wines, and so on, on and on, adinfitum, ad nauseum, by abbreviations—mostly initials. Shortened Wines The indulgence In this far from subtle form of superiority by the blase, travel-worn overseas expeditioners towards their insular, stay-at-home compatriots, was begun by a very young and very junior official of the airline in Auckland hotel, who habitually shortened wines to initials while explaining the joys and pitfalls of wining and dining in aircraft and overseas hotels to his presumably ignorant, untravelled companions about to fly into the unknown by courtesy of his airline. Thus, a quart bottle of chianti, became to this faintly travel-stained young man, “a qt bt of ch.” to the mystification of his un-international listeners.

Try saying this aloud. . . . This was the most outrageous example of one-upmanship encountered on the trip but the game continued throughout the whole trip—from Ak to Sin, through KL to Pen, back to Ak and even as deep into New Zealand’s poor south as Ch-Ch. Wrong Label Now, having been abroad myself, I shall describe the salient points of the trip in the abbreviated language used by the so, so-tired-of-it-all traveller, without a glossary, dear reader, because I cannot believe you have not travelled overseas to S.E.-A. recently: Arrived Ak per N.A.C. t—p Viscount, p.m. Left next a.m. per ANZ jet DCS, Capt White i/c, for Sin via Syd. Cham, with every meal on inaug. fit; saut, if preferred. Almost lost my baggage at Syd—off loaded because it had Syd label instead of Sin. Arrived Sin p.m. St>v Sin P.M. Lee. also Comm, of Pol., Le Crain. Hotel intercon. Singapura has all mod cons, including h and c, and a—c. A—c most important because of heat. Sin pop comprises Chinese, Indians and Malays. Had ride in tri-shaw. Rick shaws banned now. P.M. Of MA Proceeded to KL by bus. Rubber stretches 275 miles along rd from Sin to KL, capital of Malaysia (hereinafter referred to as MA). Saw P.M. of MA, Tunku A—R. NZ public image in MA very good because NZ put up LSD for many educational projects and given aid under Col. plan and 5.E.A.T.0.. Visited R.N.Z.R., Ist Bat., at Terendak Camp.

Soldiers eager to on a—s against Indons. Soldiers, from 2 i/c down to pts. refer to infiltrators as Indons. Local newspapers use Indon and Soek to fit in headlines. On to Penang (hereinafter referred to as Pen) via Ipoh, known to airlines as IPO, by bus. En route visited tin mines in Kinta Valley, largest deposits of tin world. Tin second only to rubber in exports from MA. Told by rubber planters that rd made of rub. Planters in rest house being fanned by pws (punkah wallahs) very restful. Drinking g and t. Two-deck Ferrys From Butterworth to George Town on Pen Island by double-decker ferry—vehicles on lower deck, and passengers on upper. Pop of GT 450,000. GT, like Sin, free port, and goods very cheap. GT very jealous of KL because KL has university. Tourist guide says GT to have university built by 1968. NZers ask, apprehensively, who is going to pay for it. Relieved when tg replies Canada. Call girls in Pen, like Sin, very cheap. Forgot to inquire whether c-g’s cheaper in free ports than elsewhere in S.E.-A. Went up Pen Hill in cable car which rises 2800 ft. Hotel on top has h and c but not a-c. A-c not really needed because much cooler at that height. Temp, in Pen between 80-90 deg. yearround. Beautiful swimming beaches round northern coast of Pen—tepid water. R.A.A.F. has air base at Pen. Gurkha leave centre there as well. Flew by Malaysian Airlines (MAA) from Pen back

to Sin, calling at IPO and KL, in Friendship. MAA uses Comets on through trips. Left Sin, p.m., on ANZ DCB, arriving AK, via Syd, after llhr in air. Lots of loot to get through NZ customs at AK but no search or duty to pay. Last Thought Enjoyed trip O.K. Feel very seasoned O-S traveller, Would like to be back in KL having g and t in a-c night club while watching s-t girl«f>ut lack of funds in Al fc (bank, not airline reference) prevents.