First of all, in complete contrast to our day. "What a wonderful life!" We have just returned from a nine hour day in sweltering heat and are welcomed back on board our Floating Air Conditioned Palace. On the way to our cabin around 6.00 PM, we pick up some jumbo prawns and some corn chips to tide us over till we eat. In our cabin our laundry is laid out on our bed in a wicker basket: ironed pyjamas! I open the fridge and pull out a cool Chardonnay that we never finished a few days ago and savour the taste. We decide to have room service and consult the menu that was left in our room this morning and had a lovely dinner on our balcony overlooking Manila Bay. Now what is wrong with this scene? Nothing! I can hardly believe we are experiencing it.
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Now, down to the day's happenings. We were taken by bus to a Ferry Dock some 1 1/2 mile from the ship. We were three buses from the Amsterdam with about 120 people who joined other people totalling about 250 on the 1 1/2 hour ride across manila Bay to Corregidor.
Corregidor was the last hold-out of US and Filipino forces who defended the Island for five months after Pearl Harbour. They had to surrender as they were finally out of ammunition and medical supplies and the Bataan Death March ensued somewhat later. It was a place of utter despair, defeat, misery, cruelty and human endurance. Three years later the Americans liberated the place and the ensuing battle was brief but brutal. Bringing to justice the Japanese leaders who committed untold cruelty was pursued and many were executed. Enough.
Today, for us, was long, hot, and humid. At times, anger flashed through my mind at the atrocities and cruelty that man has to man. However, forgiveness is a human trait and so, we carry on.
Corregidor is one of those names burned into my mind along with Ypres, Vimy Ridge, Verdun, The Somme, Paschendale, Gallipoli, Dieppe, Sicily, and Normandy. Glad I went.
Our day in pictures…
Pics:
1 and 2, welcome to Manila.
Off we go, Manila in the background and onto our little open buses for the next few hours, stopping along the way.
Bombed out barracks, guns, guns, and more guns.
Japanese Memorial.
Malinta Tunnel. A place of absolute horror.
Lunch at The Officers Club.
Doug at the Japanese Memorial Gardens.
Plan of the Malinta Tunnel, where the hospital and Headquarters ended up.
Remains of a Battery Door.
Fellette and a couple of handsome Filipino Security Cowboys!
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