29th October 1970

 (Another one out of order)

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation

Johore Bahru

West Malaysia

Dear Mum and Dad,

Tonight is the end of a two day holiday, the first being the Sultan's birthday and the second Deepavali, the Indian festival.  The bank was decorated once again and the town lit up.  More is being done than when we first arrived, to attract tourist mainly and it all looked very gay.  Went to the Istana 8.15 - 12 for the honours presentations, a friend of ours got one, but when she went up they had run out of medals and dashed round to the museum at the back to get one out of the showcase.  All very impressive but long drawn out and tedious.  Coffee and cakes followed.  In the afternoon watched polo.  The Sultan of Pahang was down.  Had dinner in the club house with our Sultan.  For the first time had mouse deer, about the size of a sheep, curried whole.  Glad I did not have to carve, guess the chap who did had sore hands after that lot.  Went on to the Straits View hotel afterwards with the owner and another friend - the one who runs the Charter flights.  Today lunch with an Indian rubber estate owner - very pleasant but vegetable curry only, I prefer chicken.  Tummy will take a few days to get over two curries running.  At 4.30 back to the Istana for the birthday tea, about 400 people.  The Sultan chatted with me on his rounds and asked where Margo was.  He is 76 this year & had shaken hands with the lot.  Forgot to mention had my first champagne out of a genuine gold cup at the polo dinner.  It was one presented this year by the Sultan and won by Johore that afternoon.

Am reading my text book this afternoon but really am not taking much in - but guess we will last.  Cheerio for now and 

all my love Peter.