May 27, 2007

Okay, so my stint here in Singapore seems to be a life sentence! It is a good life, and I would have never dreamed that I would have found such a home, filled with great people. Ahh, but life is short, and I am hoping to be closer to home by Christmas--- It would be good to be cold for a change!

Most recently I took a trip to India for a sales conference, and we make a side trip to see the Taj Mahal. One of the hottest times of the year, the train and bus ride back and forth from New Delhi seemed to go to the end of the world. One day we went to Old Delhi. Hugely vibrant and populated, it was like being part of a virtual movie. It was good to be reminded how grateful I am to be born in an affluent country, with opportunities to live as I do. It was unbelievable and unbearable to see so many poor people. Of the billion people in India, about 65% of the population is literate, and I believe about 20% live on less than 2 dollars a day. And live they do…… India has one of the fastest growing economies, and hopefully the middle class will grow in the years to come, thanks to a democratic government and capitalist growth--- they have a very long way to go.

In April, I was off to see Whale Sharks in Donsol, Philippines! Suited up in Mask, Snorkel and Fins, and then told to jump in the water, we swam with them. Of course, once we spotted one, they enjoyed playing with us a little, but soon they would swim too deep, or out-swim us completely! Whale Sharks are not really whales at all, just sharks the size of whales. They are the biggest fish in the sea, growing up to 46 feet long and weighing 15 tons, although the ones we saw were probably 15-25 feet long. They live up to 100-150 years old as long as they manage to avoid boats!

Before then, I was in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. We saw a traditional water puppet show, and ate some of the best food for the cheapest prices, although this woman totally overcharged me for these bananas! We took a boat tour of the Mekong Delta. Now a thriving waterway dotted with fishing villages, you can almost hear The Doors playing in the background when see the side river that took us to the traditional tourist traps, which bring in the only revenue for some local villages.

Traffic in Vietnam is just like many parts of SE Asia, consisting mostly of 2 wheeled family vehicles, or scooters. The hats are most distinct and very efficient too, they really cool you down!

And, starting the year was a trip to Dubai. On a mission to see the Burj Al Arab, all I did was look at it! They didn’t have room for reservations, either for accommodations or dinner, so we weren’t allowed even on the compound. Everyone who goes to this hotel must be a customer. Fine with me, what’s in a hotel anyway—I was too busy buying carpets and sand surfing!

Last but not least I have also included a picture of a trip I took to a horse ranch in Malaysia on the back of a Harley—although not too far from home, the is sure to get you to laugh!

Crazy times and life is good!!!

Another island in Malaysia, Perhentian

Island Huts

Dive Boats

banded sea snake, false clown fish, blue ringed angel fish

Elephant in the bar

Death Railway

don't look down!

POW graveyard

Bridge over River Kwai

October 29, 2006
It’s the end of the dive season in Malaysia and I was just getting started! I have now taken an underwater photo class and a fish identification class—not doing well in either. The fish swim too fast to be photographed and I still can’t get past “it was a small pretty yellow round fish” which doesn’t clearly identify much at all.
These pictures were taken at the Perhentian group of islands. Lots of jungle and the South China Sea are met with a little beach that I called home for this dive trip. The row boats we dove from had all the modern conveniences: air conditioning and a motor (the faster the motor, the higher the air-conditioning.
I celebrated my 35 (??) birthday in Bangkok, and would like to start the explanation of that with “so I’m in a bar in Bangkok, and in walks an elephant” Now that is something I never thought I would say… or would ever be true. But it was, and it happened twice! I was beginning to think I was being followed when I realized that even an elephant in Bangkok wouldn’t notice me. Thai women get much more attention, if you know what I mean! Well, there he was this elephant. It was dark so a picture was difficult, even with flash.
My birthday trip was off to see the bridge over River Kwai. About 2 hours out of Bangkok, my friends Melissa, Jan and Caroline came to visit the historical bridge, forced by the imperial Japanese army to be built by POW’s and civilians of Asia, who also were forced to work on the death railway linking Burma to Thailand. This train is still in limited use (after some rebuilding since the 1940’s) 13,000 allied prisoners and 80,000 Asian laborers who died building the railway.
6,982 POWs are buried in the cemetery shown here, the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, most of them in their early 20’s. The conditions of the POW camp probably left few survivors. Those that did go home sent pictures they drew from their memory to the JEATH museum set up by Monks who want to preach memory of war, and a push for peace. The drawings are remarkable, and really show you the life conditions, vs. the propaganda of the photos that were taken then. It would be good if the Monks get their wish for peace.
After looking over the past listings on this blog, as it has been awhile, I know what you are thinking….that I must love that green shirt! I would like Asia so much more if I actually liked to shop. So perhaps I will go to a store and get a new shirt today!
I’ll be home for Christmas… hopefully see you then!

TEAM: Steel Buns! 

Well I did it!! I swam in a relay sprint triathalon (i swam, and had a bike rider and runner and we finished as a team. 750 meters of rough current... it was the longest 26 minutes of my life, and i came in about 20th from LAST! My big goal was to finish, and that i met (some peolple had to be pulled from the water because the current was so bad!)

Perhaps i will try a full triathalon soon! Not sure about the swim though. yuck!
More later!

yes, thats me in the middle 

Swim Starting Line 

May 12, 2006

April marked a year of my SCUBA certification, and to celebrate, I decided to get my advanced certification on an island called Dayang, Malaysia, about 3 hours from where I got my original certification (prior blog entry) and about 1 hour from an island used in a Survivor series. Through a bizarre chain of events, including failing and malfunctioning equipment, I managed to pass all qualifications—and now looking forward to the next trip! Accommodations included running water (although about 5 minutes from my hut) and a cook (another 5 minutes from my hut). My friend Veronica and I were roommates and later buddies once I passed. We had to sleep under a rainstorm on the night boat trip on the way to the island—Thank GOD I own a waterproof sleeping bag!!
A few weeks later I met a friend who was sailing around South East Asia, and flying out of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I was very happy to finally stay in a five star hotel that actually had sheets and shampoo! I never take nice accommodations for granted. The monument below is the largest war monument in the world (and in Malaysia, I noticed they seem to have the widest streets, and the tallest buildings too). Could be a fish story, although it was very big! We also went to an Indian Temple in a cave, on top of many stairs that had to be climbed to the entrance.
Last week I was in Shanghai. English was not an option in this cosmopolitan city, where all the goods are fake—See the picture of the knock off KFC! I was a novelty, attracting the interest of many locals who stared, waved and tried to touch me! “Lady, Lady, Lady” and “So Cheap” is about all the English they spoke to me, especially in the “knock off” market, where you can get everything from LV, to Fendi, to TAG, and Rolex for about US$10. Mary, my friend from NYC, was here and we took on this market. Not feeling so good after a long night of “bottoms up,” we walked around the market, stopping in each booth that had a chair for met to sit! Mary got some lovely items and I had a lovely afternoon—if you don’t mind being grabbed and pushed around all day, that is.
One of the famous rituals of doing business here is drinking an alcoholic beverage that I cannot name. It is a cross between turpentine, linseed oil, gas, and Kerosene. Not anything that could pass my lips, but it was fun to see my colleagues imbibe this “power drink” without having to take a trip to the hospital like many executives that come here to conduct business.
We went to a beautiful Buddhist temple, where you will see the pictures of folks worshipping. The golden orbs are little triangles of origami that they burn to worship their ancestors and appreciate their Gods. We had a little Tea ceremony where I found all teas are different and many have medicinal value. I will let you know in a month if they work… I bought the “loose weight” tea ;-)

Veronica, and the front of the boat where we slept  

Are the docks ever safe in Malaysia??? 

Welcome to Dayang Malaysia 

Dayang Malaysia 

The Boat... 

...And my Class 

our Hut!