re:blogging next

O.k., guys, I've spent many hrs. on this. I thought I'd made a great technological leap, posting pictures on a blog; but, no, I don't know how to organize it very well. This was my next attempt, but now the descriptions don't line up with the pictures as they did when I was creating it, but I must get on with my other life now. Todd & Cindy & kids will be here shortly. Sorry!

No, I haven't been paying enough attention to comments to respond to them, but here's 1 partial answer: Glenn said we paid SD$19.03 / mo. for water. FairPrice (the cheapest store) charges SD$.66 (about $.44 US) for its 1.5 l bottle & SD$2.60 for the same quantity of Avian. Malaysia isn't very far away, & Singapore's off-shore water is full of ships.
Charlene

P. S. later - Glenn was embarrassed by my mixed up post & fixed it, so you can view it better now.

The Philippines & Back Again

What you've all been waiting for: Laura insisted on buying a durian. I don't think this was the real experience, as it hardly smelled, but we did all try it. Maid serving it








































































Waiting for a Jeepney; often very wet.
















a Jeepney

















The van above is waiting for 3 more men to get in. Sights along the journey.

















How some people live and hang out laundry


































Wired
















Can you find Charlene & Carrie in the crowd?

















Tricycles.















1st president's home





























Pizza Hut delivery.





































Bamboo.


















Pedicycle.
















Laura's dorm entrance.
















Laura & roommate Jennifer.

















Outside Laura's room with laundry in courtyard.

















Kitchen.

















Laundry.







































Rambutan in dorm yard.

















Cows next to Laura's dorm. O.K., Joy, there were 2 horses.

































Laura's church.





































Rice fields.































Caraboa Center. (Filipino cows.)






















































Milking parlor.

















Laura's classroom bldg.















In Singapore: trying new fruits;
Botanic Garden






















































Marriott Hotel on Orchard Road

















Old Raffles Hotel in the city. Raffles founded Singapore as a major port.



Company is gone. Great time!!!

Sing-lish?

Wikopedia lists thousands of known English dialects -- the link to Singlish itself spans pages of grammar, ethnic history, and forensic linguistics that might delight some (a few) of you. For most Singaporeans, the term is a pejorative denoting a lower form of English that pigeon-holes the speaker into less desirable tiers and I must admit -- its very difficult to follow. The government quite justifiably encourages Singaporeans to improve their skills and speak Standard English.

However, to my ear, some of these elements remain in Standard English and I find them quite pleasant when listening to the BBC or a local radio/TV station. There are staccato notes of Malay -- "Berhati-hati di Ruang Platform (Mind the platform gap)." There is a sing-song tonality and rhythm to the language that is very musical, maybe Chinese. For example, XieXie (thank you in Mandarin: (pronounced). All of this surrounding a stately foundation of the King's English.

Singaporeans say that even the Angmohs (red-hairs or Caucasian expats) will eventually pick up elements of Singlish from hearing it constantly in Singapore, and I'm sure that's already happening to us. "Car-park, fly-over, mind the gap" are already becoming part of our standard vocabulary. I was advised to indicate "leave" on my calendar if I want to be understood (rather than holiday). So, if we sound a bit different bear with us angmohs!

And with that said I bid you zaijain (pronounced).

Hello Kitty!

Besides Turtles -- Cats, as those of you reading this blog have perhaps gathered, are in high regard. They are celebrated in the Lantern Festival -- the iconic antithesis of the Hungry Ghost marking the end of phantasmic wanderings. And no doubt with good reason -- see this one napping in the midst of plenty -- unworried by those many humans traipsing to and fro near its bed. No climbing for papayas by this one! Indeed, honored to find such a spot amidst the untra-high efficiency use of space wherewith these merchants present a maximized diversity of wares. Here, one basks in plenty! Not only fruits, but prawns, snappers, tunas, clams, frogs, shrimp, chickens, pork...yet slumber has taken it. One can only speculate that this feline has gorged on the very finest to find honored repose at a crossroads of human commerce -- its statement of contentment and peace to a harried humanity.