Posted 12 years ago
toracat
(728 items)
I took this container ship Ever Chivalry to China, It took 18 days to Hong Kong but I got off at Xiamen because Port at Hong Kong was closing due to the Typhoon Megi, which was huge, biggest in 20 years! 1st photo is our ship by Taiwan, I was not too worried as this ship was about 13-15 stories tall and longer than some aircraft carriers! They take 5 passengers, three rooms, 2 people in 2 rooms and 1 room with 1 person. I was only passenger so I had room for 1. My room was next to Captain of the ships room. We drank so much on this trip. 5 German Officers and Captain who was Polish, and 24 Philippine crew. Alcohol was cheap! Calif. wine was $3.50 a bottle and French wine was $4.50 a bottle and was 1 liter. There were many parties with everyone, The crew would sing and then the Germans would sing! They had a large pig that we bar b qued outside while it was snowing going between the Aleutian Islands by Alaska! I took sun screen thinking we were going by Hawaii! There was indoor swimming pool, sauna, gym, library. The food was incredible! The cook had worked 6 yr. at 5 star hotel in Dubai. Really salmon, duck, steak, fresh bread, better than any cruise ship. I ate with the Captain, Head Engineer, and other officers. I learned about there families and life on the sea. The typhoon was rough, but this ship was huge, They gave me permission to go any place on ship. I drove the ship. It was like Star Trek on deck, big ball like a mouse and it rolls and ship turns! Ship is driven by computer, but still must turn for fishing boats. I saw Russia, Japan, Taiwan, and got off at Xiamen as Hong Kong was closing for the Typhoon. I have many more stories but can not tell now! I will keep these maritime maps forever! Think of this the containers go to China empty! and come back full! Well 90+%empty, Years ago it was the opposite! Last photo leaving Oakland going under Golden Gate Bridge, 2nd photo is route from Calif. to Alaska, by Russia, to Japan and to China, 1st photo is ship in Typhoon. The Captain also said the Lonshoremen in USA, Longbeach and Oakland take so many breaks and work slow! they take 2-3 days to load all the containers, where in China they can load the ship in 18-23 hours! He also said he is angry because he is Captain of one of the biggest ships in the world and the Longshoremen make more money than he does! They use to buy supplies from the US but now even toilet paper is from Spain. Only thing is wine and smokes from USA. bye
I also got to know many of the crew, there lives back home and even their pay, which was from $600 to $800 a month! where back home that is more than a Dr. makes. They also get meals, and the Captain provides free beer, rum, wine, etc. at the many, many parties! I also ate with the crew, and the food was excellent! They brought me movies and xxx Philippine films for my tv in my room, I had refrigerator, desk, 2 big windows, huge bed and big bathroom.
One more thing, the Captain said I was youngest guest they had in a long time! I was 60! but passengers are usually 70+ with many, many in there 80's!!