Arlington (AGMR 2) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 143 text:

Day to Day Life ■ The old ways may be revealed in the rural areas, but in the cities abound all the joys and woes of modern civilization. Gleaming, cosmopolitan Manila and the rowdy, bustling port of Olongapo at first appear to liave little in common ; but in both cities a western way prevails, mechanization runs rampant, and commerce is the watchword. In Olongapo we discovered that abstract art is old-hat to the Jeepney drivers and that we were push-o ers for the smiles of Filipinas of all ages. We discovered also that the water sports to be enjoyed in Subic Bay and at Grande Islande are second to none.

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A Contempory Miracle ■ Hong Kong reminded us of a kaleidoscope. There, no matter how often we turned or in what direction, our next view was completely different and cfjiiallv rewarding. Full of workday miracles, the greatest miracle is that Hong Kong exists at all. Terrifyingly close to Red China, this British Crown Colony has never had enough of the good things-land, water, health, security, or money- but always a surplus of the bad ones-wars, typhoons, epidemics, opium, heroin, crime and corruption. Yet it has outlived a thousand prophecies of its imminent doom. Hong Kong is one of the most contradictory and baffling places in the contemporary world-a magnificent port and a teeming slum ; a bargain hunters paradise and a nest of s indlcrs ; a place of marginal farmlands and superlative farmers, efficient and orderly, sly and corrupt.