Fishing for the Merlion while traveling through its waters was ABF3 Billy Woods (above) from Huntsville, AL. He's been aboard Indy for two and half years and said there is nothing else like it. "It's never the same up here, whether we're flying or not, there's always something happening."

Although it was about the same temperature as yesterday, I think seeing land and the other ships had everyone in a positive mood. The flight deck was full of observers and guys running. Camera in hand, I felt like the tourist looking for the best angle to capture a sensation that could never be expressed with Kodachrome or simple words.

Out grabbing the views like the rest of us was PR3 Robert Park (right) from Lincoln, Neb. who's been aboard Indy one and a half years. He works on aviation life support equipment and said that probably the "hairiest" moment here was the time Indy was steaming through a few typhoons. "I wouldn't have thought this ship could rock so much," he said.

Staying healthy and cleaning the flight deck.

Well, it won't be much longer before our vista is the Gulf. Today went quick. It was a comfortable feeling watching the straits as we steamed by. Later in the evening we held GQ and with the hangar bay doors open, you could see the sun finally setting a whole lot larger than just a few days back.

"I came up hoping to get a photo of Singapore," said Lt. Frank Stanave (above) from Morris Plains, NJ. "See the straits, get some air, maybe get a photo of a strange ship." Stanave works for Indy's only "travel agency," Air Transfer Office (ATO). "We make sure personnel, mail, and cargo get on and off the ship," he said. I checked about getting a flight into Singapore for dinner at the Raffles Grill and some trading at the Fu Lou Shou Centre, but no one was flying today.

A Plane Captain from VF 154, Airman Ervin Williams (above) from Los Angeles, CA couldn't have agreed more. "I'm having a lot of fun on Indy," he said. "Meeting great people and getting to see the other side of the world, it's great."

The ships appeared to be moving in reverse as we zipped by. The water was easily broken and I don't think we've even swayed once today. I know we're moving, it's just not too noticeable right now. We're getting ready to hold a marathon on the flight deck this weekend, hopefully the smooth ride will continue.

I think I snapped about 60 photos today, trying to get a good shot of the straits as we passed through. But, the bit of haze made most shots fade out after the first few hundred feet. The skyline of Singapore looked like a stone's throw away. You could overhear guys joking, "Hey, we're passing our stop." One Chief passed by me and saw me clicking away and said, "The shot I like best is the one on the way back."

Singapore in the distance.

Getting ready for the marathon.