I’m home in Japan as of two days ago but today–9 August 2009–Singapore is celebrating its 44nd birthday with parades, fireworks, concerts and flags flying from every building and balcony. Here’s a little story for you….It’s 1942. At the far edge of the world on the southern tip of Asia the British trading post Singapore…
Happy Birthday Singapore! A History Unfolds
Chanting in Singapore
You can’t throw a rock without hitting a place of worship in Singapore. Chris said Singapore must be the Asian equivalent of America as far as mixing pots go. Everywhere we went, oh, there’s a mosque, there’s a temple, there’s a church. Chinese churches, Anglican churches, Hindu temples, Buddhist temples. These videos were all taken…
South by Southeast Asia
“The islet you are about to cross is 136 km north of the Equator and is described as the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia. This islet is linked to Asia via a suspension bridge to Sentosa island which is linked to mainland Singapore by a 710 meter long causeway bridge. Singapore is further linked to…
Roadkill and a Wildlife Refuge
Chris and I went to the Cohunu Koala Park to snuggle koalas and feed kangaroos and stuff. “It’s a 10-minute cab ride from the train station!” said the website or a guidebook or something. That may have been true, but it was pouring down rain and we got the most clueless cabbie ever, who insisted…
Adapting in Perth
While packing for Australia I got an email from Chris along the lines of, “I almost died yesterday!” This has been a weird summer. Anyway, so I was trying to pack and having a hard time focusing on stuff and at one point I thought, “I probably need my adaptor but I’ve got a million…
Swan Valley, Australia Wine Tasting
Chris and I went on a prearranged wine tour through the Swan Valley. We had a lovely morning and the tour would have been perfect if our lunch at the third winery had been concluded with chocolate petite fours, followed by a bus home and naps. We’d signed up for this particular wine tour because…
Lost in Translation—Notices From My Realtor
“The request Mr. Kruger, Christopher I construct a water main in the exchange from 8:30 a.m., July 30th. Because I am from this pipe to the water supply meter, the house is fine even if it is not. I request in the cooperation. July 24th [Realtor Place and Agent’s Hanko (signature stamp)]” I found this…