Together with scientific colleague Phil Hitchins, and engineer Mike Pointing, we were requested to visit three companies,  evaluate their treatment facilities, recommend improvements, and deliver  seminars to management and local health officials on water treatment to achieve the desired quality of drinking water supply. We were also required to have the printed program below sent out to the three companies, prior to our arrival, in order they may circulate the intended recipients with dates and locations. My wife Eileen accompanied us, which turned out to be fortuitous as she was pressed into various admin duties such as changing flights and assisting with the presentations, which were held at Hotels.

We travelled out via an overnight stop in Singapore to Kota Kinabulu, Borneo. Thence to Jahore Bahru, Southern Malaysia, opposite Singapore and on via to Ipoh, North Malysia. When we had finished our programme Phil and Mike flew home and Eileen and I flew first to Penang Island, then Hong Kong.

The above letter is self explanatory

The presentations were somewhat of a challenge as a proportion of the recipients, who were a mixture of Malaysians and Chinese, spoke no English. These had translations from their neighbours and also the visual presentation was self explanatory.  It was a little unnerving when at one event, half the audience stood up and left during the presentation to go to prayers, that we had not been warned of. We also visited the treatment plants, to speak to the operatives with regard to treatment plant control.

At one treatment plant, the Army arrived to recruit all workers in case of civil unrest, to maintain the integrity of the water supply. We had some difficulty in avoiding recruitment. The Treatment facilities were fairly Isolated, amongst the Rubber Plantations. The workers were very polite and friendly, and graciously allowed us to use the Toilet reserved for the President, at each site which was the only english style toilet that had a seat, and was not a hole in the ground, with a hand held hose.  

De luxe flushing toilet, most just have a hand held hose, toilet paper non existent DNW Photo

Despite some dubious looking food at lunch, we luckily did not suffer from stomach problems, except Mike who after an evening meal at our hotel had an allergic reaction to scallops, as he was unaware that they were shellfish. !!! which he knew he was allergic to.  He was out of action for a few days. At one hotel where bananas were the special desert of the day we were told there was non, despite the fact they were growing all around. The water  treatment was similar to that in England from river sources, the difference being the rivers were often flooded and too turbid to use, Silt being washed out of the Rubber Plantations. 

David and visual aid !!

Phil in work Group

Eileen helping out

River Intake on a good day. River often very muddy, enough to block intake  DNW Photo

Well Kept Settling Tanks DNW Photo

Not so well Kept Equipment DNW Photo 

David giving Lab Talk

Local Worker    DNW Photo

Typical rural Stilt Houses to avoid taxes     DNW Photo

Tonights Dinner ?DNW Photo

Supper at the Night Market.    Dog Curry Perhaps?  DNW Photo

Malay Penthouse DNW Photo

P & O’s little brother.  DNW Photo

Ferry Captain on the bridge, note Car engine as  power unit on left DNW Photo

Domestic  Metered Water Supplies and Open Sewer DNW Photo

Most properties even in  isolated rural communities had metered water supplies, and sadly open sewers 

OFF DUTY

Relaxing at the Long Bar at Raffles, Singapore 

Dragon Boat Race  Singapore Harbour

Cable Car to Sentosa Island

Our base in Penang, The Mutiara Beach Resort

Global Travellers !!

 Executive Transport !!! Penang 

What is Morris doing here in Penang?

Alleged the largest Temple in Asia, with the inevitable scaffolding

Temple Guardians

WOT !! no Crocodiles

Climbing Mount Kinabalu  –by car of course !!  DNW Photo

Almost at the summit of Mount Kinabalu  over 13,438 ft. DNW Photo

Noon Day Gun and  House Boat Homes,  Hong Kong Harbour from our Hotel Room

Hong Kong Harbour Contrasting Lifestyles

Daily Firing of the Noon Day Gun   DNW Photo

Meat Market Hong Kong  DNW Photo

Market based Freelance Typist  DNW Photo

REMEMBER  WATERAID