A 24 hour turn around in Darwin was ok with me, not really a tourist place in those days, but just a stopping off place for refuelling and provisions.
We left Darwin and headed straight up to Hong Kong, very cold and misty place, and I think I can use the words mysterious also.
We had a 5 day turn around here, the chinese flooded aboard, set up shop in the ships alleyways,and sold just about everything you could imagine.
I purchased to suits, made in 24 hours, and kept them for at least 3 years after that.
We had chinese in the engine room bilges, cleaning and painting,and smoking opium at the same time, at least I think it was opium.
While this was going on,there were chinese outside chipping and re painting the hull of the Chusan white, extraordinary sight to see, all these guys balancing on ropes hung down from the railings..
Surprisingly nobody fell into the water or got hurt.
I had several trips ashore with my fellow engineers, while off watch, we took the ferry to Kowloon and toured the red light district of clubs and pubs and beautiful girls.
My eyes were opened wide on this visit, but sorry no details..
All in all, Hong Kong was my first visit to the far east, and I remember it today, as clear as it was in 1967.
A great visit, then we upped anchor and left, destination CHINA,
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