Around the World in 80 Days

Day 37: 31 October

Now we are in the Strait the swell has eased, the ship is once again on an even keel, and I can think of no explanation for a vivid dream of snakes beneath my feet. All I know is I wake kicking.

There is an air of melancholy about the Susak this morning. It's as if yesterday's conviviality was an aberration, and today life is back to being what it probably always is on board a cargo ship, slow, listless and repetitive.

On the bridge the captain indicates the print-out screen on the satellite navigation system. This is a relatively new but radical improvement. Eight satellites orbiting the earth send down signals against which the ship's position can be checked. The vagaries of the weather - clouds or fog - have been defeated, the days of the sextant superseded. This morning the screen indicates that our speed is down to 11 knots. A strong northerly head current is responsible. Time of arrival in Singapore has been put back to midnight tomorrow.

Previous page | Next page

Choose another day from Around the World in 80 Days

Top of page

PALIN'S GUIDES

Series: Around the World in 80 Days
Day: 37
Date: 31 October
Country/sea: Indian Ocean
Place: Malacca Strait
Book page no: 119

Bookmarks will keep your place in one or more series. But you'll need to register and/or log in.

Set bookmark

ROUTE MAPS

Guntakal - Singapore