SUNNY WEATHER IS ALL YOU CAN PRAY FOR ON HIGH SEAS
The esprit de corps among the naval personnel is a big plus for helping those in need to get through difficult situations
HELLO from somewhere in the South Korean waters. The three-day journey from Qingdao to Busan was topsy turvy than before so much so that many of the ship’s crew succumbed to seasickness, including yours truly.
Yes, even seasoned sailors will have one of those every now and then. Some may be able to function albeit not fully while others may be totally out of commission until the nausea and dizziness subside. For us on KD Lekiu, most were better once the sea calmed down a notch. It is a reminder of how sailing is still about trying to work with the elements while trying to achieve the best outcome in our favour.
Our late afternoon arrival at the Busan Naval Base was met with a welcoming party similar to the previous two stops. We were docked between an Indian Navy oiler and a Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) vessel.
KD Lekiu and her ship’s company are representing the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) at the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) Field Training Exercise, which is the third tasking of this voyage to the Far East. The two-part exercise was co-organised by the ROKN and the Republic of Singapore Navy, with the commencement in this Korean port city and closing to be held in Singapore.
I was glad to see (and feel) actual spring weather instead of the fog and cold gusts of wind we had
experienced during the journey from China. A “short” trip to the nearby town that Sunday evening was nice, although I did clock almost 10,000 steps on my pedometer. My company and I decided that a taxi ride back to the base was much preferable than going through it all over again.
It was not my luck the following day when I heard the broadcast of rain on deck. Alas, the only time I ventured out into the city proper it had to be in wet weather. Still, it was not all bad as the medical officer and I managed to get our souvenir shopping done, mostly at one particular store.
The owner, upon hearing me mumbling to myself in Japanese, proceeded to switch from speaking English. It was fun as the three of us conversed in a mix of Nihongo, Hangur and English. Just like how Malaysians love to talk. I think I bought more stuff at that shop than in Kure and Qingdao combined. I blame it on the rain, of course. We adjourned to a coffee shop to warm ourselves for a bit before dinner time.
How technology has developed from my previous long travels, I feel that it is actually quite difficult for anyone with a smartphone and roaming data to get lost anywhere. Well, anywhere with a decent connection that is. And translation apps. Those are mighty useful when you don’t speak the language and cannot read the signs.
The sun decided to shine for the rest of our stay in Busan, but I had work to do and was not very keen to be out and about again. Mostly because I think I would buy more stuff for which I do not have space to accommodate. And because I already had a hard time getting my luggage on board in Lumut, it will be doubly hard now for sure. Thursday came around and all the ships prepared to set out for the sea phase of the exercise after the official opening on the previous day. A few hours before we went underway, I saw many of the sailors on deck with their phones. Some were making video calls, some were busy texting. It gets to me every time when I see this scene at any port or whenever we are in coverage range.
This job demands a lot from the sailors and their families, whether you work at the base or on board a ship that is busy with various assignments. It is comforting to know that there are channels to ensure that the welfare of family members are taken care of. The esprit de corps or camaraderie among the navy folk is also a big plus for helping those in need to get through difficult situations.
Back to the naval exercise, it went on for a whole day involving 16 vessels and six aircraft from 12 countries with the objective of countering maritime crimes. Not all the ship’s company were involved, as the bridge was the focus point here. As the sun sets, I realised that KD Lekiu had completed her overseas assignment and is now heading back home. How time flies.
Lieutenant Norzuhaira is following RMN ship KD ‘Lekiu’ on an overseas assignment to Japan, China and South Korea
This job demands a lot from the sailors and their families, whether you work at the base or on board a ship that is busy with various assignments.