Leyte Gulf (CG 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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ABU DI-IABI, U A E 12- 16 MARCH After 75 straight days at sea, the United Arab Emirates fU.A.E.l looked like a win- ner. Oil wealth only one generation old a close-knit ruling family English Spoken Here even a colony of En- glishmen. Everyone quickly headed for the phones, then the restaurants and the nightclubs. lt all seemed so civilizedg rooms at the Hilton and Sheraton, CNN on the TV, shopping malls and excellent food. The British Club opened its doors to officers. Expatriate British and Americans opened their homes to the crew. You could walk for miles of beach along beau- tiful stonehewn walkways. Skyscrapers and fountains felt modern enough, even if veiled women didn't. Pizza Hut, KFC and Baskin-Robbins gave a taste of home. You could bargain with a rug merchant or have custom-brewed perfumes poured into your container of choice, in the open- air Old Souk bazaar. The castles were stunning, wealth on display. Abu Dhabi was strange in an Arab way to our West- ern senses. Yet it was modern, tolerant and friendly. Thank you, Abu Dhabi, for a place worth stopping after so long at sea. Q 4 1 , f , Z av , f ' tj -Q , . ,' .. -f , ,f-- A Z' . ' fm X ZQ5! 4'l W M. ' QW. YQ ,,... f W ' J ff ,, f if 1 Q' if , y' 1,5 . 'yy in fr , J Q f ,f,. .f'.w.,. t ' V -f. 4 f ,, f , . f, , j, A ff .g '31,-vfg.. I IQ X. . V . ff , 1 H if A .law 1 W 2 ,ff ' f ' f mf-mf.,,,,.t W , iff, V ,' , fy I tw f '1f'fWWf we. f' iffy -,. l 1 f 1 r WV mf! V5. 1 W' 'V f wwf fv' f 577' K . pf 'W W www' 'aqfjf -ff Azz 4 4 M, N, -W Mft J. I A ,6-if, fu f ' 2 ff S 1 ' im' iff W ffffgzjzr -Wfwfgygf who-wiwfww W 'Wm...ffW. ., ' Q 5, LM k.., L: f ,gig 4 :Z xl? A 9, 5 5p:.fff'ffM' W'T'i'ffkQ ..,. Y A , Floyal fountain LT Flowers and LT Ftaynor enjoy a beer

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Jeddah: The World of the Compound! Flat concrete bordered by a wall of trans- port containers. You could run in circles to your heart's content inside. Volleyball, anyone? Basketball, softball? Skinned knees and arms? Hey, it's the only game in town. We shared our compound with the crew of USS PUGET SOUND, which was providing tender service for LEYTE GULF. There is little else to do, although the wait for a Baskin Robbins cone on the com- pound is only an hour. Once Ramadan and its post-celebra- tion were over, we could go into town. The two malls offered the usual mall fare: lots of electronics, clothing, perfume restaurants here and there. Nothing much to write home about. However, we could at least gy home from the port. You ride to the warehouse, past the armed guard, sit on a wooden pallet and dial AT8lT or MCI. The customs seemed strange. The women wore black, head to toe. Public prayer time means everything stops. lf you're in a restaurant, it's locked and you stay for the duration - 15 minutes or so. JEDDAI-l, SAUDI ARABIA 13-20 APRIL Doubling up in Jeddah In contrast, you leave a shop so it can close. Jeddah, Jeddah, we hardly know ye - though we knew the compound well. And said goodbye without a tear. ,, ,l Basic transport to the phones A1 niQht it cooled off enough to play volleyball