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Writer Merlin Lim in Shanghai, when
he explored the 7 Seas as a sailor boy.
The Young Sailor Boy from Singapore
And The Abandoned Chow Chow From Hong Kong.
A True Story From 60s Musician Merlin Lim.
While Staying In the Kampong, Yes Our Family Had Dogs.
There Was One At the Next House Used As A Store Room. This Dog Was Very Friendly With Everyone. It Was Not Suitable As A Guard Dog But He Was There Because Of His Size, To Act As A Deterrent, Hoping To Fool Any Intruder.
There Was Another When I Was A Seaman On Board A Ship. While in Hong Kong, With Boats Loading And Unloading Cargoes Alongside Our Vessel We Found A Dog On Board Our Ship The Next Morning. Someone Had Abandoned What Resembled A Chow Chow, And Disappeared.While On Board The Ship, Yes Our Crew Nursed A Dog.
Before Our Trip Back To Shanghai, I Took It Back Home, Because No One On Board Wanted To Take Responsibility. I Had To Take It Home First Because If It Bit A Chinese Worker While In Shanghai Or Anywhere Else, We Would All Be In Trouble. But Thanks To The Doggie It Took A Liking And Stayed Close To My Father. So The Chow Chow, Born In Hong Kong 😊, Became My Father's Protector, While I Continued On My Journey Across The Seas...
The Doggie Was In Bad Shape. We, the Crew, Took Care And Nursed Him Back To Health. So The Doggie Sailed With Us From Hong Kong To Singapore, The Straits of Malacca, Indian Ocean, On To East Africa, i.e. in Kenya And Tanzania, Eden And Up To the Red Sea, Then Back To Singapore.
The Background Beach Scene, Reminded Me Of The Six Crew Members From Our Anchor Ship When We Paddled Our Dinghy To Shore, Including One Guy With Doggie Swimming Alongside. We Had Fun.
While On The Way Home, Yes Our Family Adopted The Dog.
Before Our Trip Back To Shanghai, I Took It Back Home, Because No One On Board Wanted To Take Responsibility. I Had To Take It Home First Because If It Bit A Chinese Worker While In Shanghai Or Anywhere Else, We Would All Be In Trouble. But Thanks To The Doggie It Took A Liking And Stayed Close To My Father. So The Chow Chow, Born In Hong Kong 😊, Became My Father's Protector, While I Continued On My Journey Across The Seas...
I Remember When Dad Was In Bed, Doggie Would Be At Dad's Feet And When Mum Was Around It Would Growl To Protect Dad. A Very Protective And Loyal Pet It Became...
Author: Merlin Lim, who writes
as well as he plays the guitar.
'Sailing' By Christopher Cross [1979]
YouTube Video from: Rhino.
NB:
I Started Working On Board Ship Doing On The Job Training With Zero Knowledge. Somehow, For Those Old Seafarers, That Was Good, Because I Didn't Have To Carry Some Of Those Useless Excess Baggage So It Was Easier To Teach Me.
I Worked My Way From OJT, To Sailor; Quarter Master And Boatswain, All the Time Having Tremendous Respect For Those Old Seafarers. They Had the Experience And Knowledge And I, The Youthfulness To Present Their Ideas Into A Safe Working Environment. The Camaraderie Worked Very Well. All's Well That Ends Well.
Author: Merlin Lim.
[This story, as in all original stories on this blog, has been rightfully copyrighted.] 
During his guitar days...
Little Ship: The Blue Diamonds.
YouTube Video by: bbb1972.
While Reading His Story, Yes, I Thank Merlin For This Dog Post.
"Sailing,
Takes me away to where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
Soon I will be free..."
Christopher Cross
Thanks Merlin for the inspiration you gave. Life is NEVER all music and nothing else. Your sailing period was truly an achievement. Not many Singaporean musicians could have done what you did and still stand today to tell your Salty Doggie Tale Of Joy...
Comments are welcome!
Merlin Lim, retired today, was an adventurous sailor boy,
a successful recording artiste and a contributing author for this blog.
This posting has been forwarded to 6th July, 2025.
