Washburn (AKA 108) - Naval Cruise Book

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fdtiifgas-s-M sf Unlike other Westpac ports, Bangkok is located several miles inland, on the Menam Chao Phrya, or Bangkok River. The trip took ap- proximately three hours, and we were at sea and anchor detail the whole trip, probably a record for manning those stations. The river' was fairly narrow and silty, but the Captain and the Pilot efficiently conned the ship to our berth just South of the city of Bangkok. I When we 'came alongside the Lenawee, the 1'1Ver.Was fairly empty of traffic, but before long it filled up with freighters from all over the world. This river and its tributaries forms part of an important transportation system for the Thais. Those of us who visited the floating market, saw a large sector of the populace that works and plays on the river, and even takes their baths in it. BANGKCK ins, ,

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' ?m-g:i-,-'j'.f-IfPYi5 ?'- 1 45 ' ,. . l . , . .. 1 Y-. .f ,.. , .Y f ...YL -. Y - ' 13, Y- + Lf ----f- ::r-:- :.:.-A-:...-::Z -- .-'. - f- -x --. -F ff 3-1. w. fr vp 4 , - ,- ,- -- . .A ,-, ..1-Q-4.3: 1 A xl ' N QQ.:- '-ff : ?T'ie144'F!' ' '37 -gg' u PM 'Y -V .fu 'A .. ' A n. ...if '- - V-, ,. Here, as everywhere else, the Washburn really proved herself. The l-A crews, and boat crews loaded up our boats and took them ashore without incident. .Ns the dumping point was some distance up the river, it gave us a good chance--our only chance--to examine this former French town and the local people. The uniform of the day among the populace seemed to be a round dish-like straw hat, and clothes of a black silky material. Some were barefoot and others wore sandals. The only indica- tion of any hostility in Viet Nam was the presence of Marines, helicopters, and the high-speed patrol craft. The crews of these boats, as well as the Marines, looked every bit the professional soldier, something we tried to emulate in the few days of our short stay. --3 Y DA NANG During a changing read- iness posture we were able to pay a brief visit to the country of South Viet Nam. We anchored in the Bay of Tourane one morning just as the sun was rising, Monkey Mountain was still covered in its nightly robes of mist and fog. The Bay was filled with small fishing boats, their sails hauled down, and riding at anchor. The whole View was one of peace and calm. lt was hard to imagine that there was a war going on in the country not tar from the town of Da Nang, our off-loading point. 12 , 4 -.J'3'-

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'INN ,.,g -+,g,- .11-wa , .- ', :J Bangkok is the largest city in Southeast Asia containing, with its suburbs, more than two million inhabitants. The present form of Govern- ment is a constitutional Monarchy, and the titular head is King Phumpiphon Adulet, or Rama the Ninth. Bangkok, of all the citiesvisitedduring our Westpac cruise, was probably the one farthest from our Western culture. The most interesting sights were the Buddhist temples, of which there are over 300 in Bangkok alone. The subtle beauty, ornate carvings, and brilliant colors, made each temple a fascinating place to visit. Some ofthe temples visited were Wat Po KTemple ofthe Dawn' upper right, the Grand Palace and its temples, middle, and the Nlarble Temple, lower right. However the tour was not all footing it through the temples, as we see in the lower left some of the gang enjoying a cool Singhaatthe Royal Hotel. ,,. .fn 3 1 rv ', , G N 'ix vs-qi 11aQV !!nxg ifgi in Y3 31 Q 'Q :Sl X a x I' gt ' 1 P H A . t. afdj in 'T X 9' I lg, 5 .S UN kv, .. .9 5- 4, I ggi- v aim? 'Kill Jfsuxnn-u--1--,,,,,,,,l hr 'fn fi 1 r ,,, 'A it 'Nx ,-- fi if T , L N X , ' ,-E? ' .A i .. x T 'TRUST -flfifiyfg -5.5, ,aI'f,'2 ?fs'P- ..f . . 3, - .La UN, iv - - -',, 'T fl ' ' A Q' 'ji g.j,,i', '71 '- ---. -,M , V' .,. A .,.- .ve JH,-L'L..e ,-az. N -- . ,. 1 . , i-5 -e-rx-...Ja:f ',--'-.,35 ge' , ijanieb ' i -3. fv