Although I know I will miss Singapore enormously, I am actually quite glad that the Southeast adventure will soon be over. The reason is that there is one mystical transformation I have been going through since we arrived here....
30 Nov 2009
29 Nov 2009
Voices of Harmony... and the other voices
Last Friday night, we went to see a Chinese-Singaporean Buddhist show, the charity concert organised by Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery. Once in three years, the monastery sponsors an event with the aim to raise funds for their Free Buddhist Clinic.
The event turned out to be slightly more eclectic than we had expected.
The event turned out to be slightly more eclectic than we had expected.
25 Nov 2009
Balinese cockfighting
On the way through one Balinese village, we caught a glimpse of a traditional cock-fighting match at the entrance to a Hindu temple. Men, gathered in a small circle, eagerly applauded, shouted and exchanged banknotes among themselves. Women and children were waiting inside the temple, occasionally peeping through the narrow door in the wall that separated the two areas.
23 Nov 2009
Most exquisite coffee in the world
In case you’ve seen the Bucket List, there is no point reading further. You will only struggle with my broken English-laaa. Singaporeans would, however, never admit they speak Singlish. O’ cos we spikinglish-laaa.
For the first time in my life, I saw coffee beans growing on a tree, about the size of a 5 year-old child.
For the first time in my life, I saw coffee beans growing on a tree, about the size of a 5 year-old child.
22 Nov 2009
The Sulphurs of Ijen
(For more pictures from this trip, click here.)
Just after sunrise, we leave Catimor homestay at the coffee factory and set out for the Ijen volcano. The ride takes just under an hour, but we tell the driver to pull over several times: the landscape is just too mesmerizing not to form part of our photo albums. The pastel colours are reminiscent of Europe in early October. Brown is the dominant colour, with dozens of shades of black, and white. The air is chilly, though not as cold as during the sunrise at Mount Bromo the day before.
Just after sunrise, we leave Catimor homestay at the coffee factory and set out for the Ijen volcano. The ride takes just under an hour, but we tell the driver to pull over several times: the landscape is just too mesmerizing not to form part of our photo albums. The pastel colours are reminiscent of Europe in early October. Brown is the dominant colour, with dozens of shades of black, and white. The air is chilly, though not as cold as during the sunrise at Mount Bromo the day before.
12 Nov 2009
So, what is Singapore like?
Here are some questions I've been asked about Singapore.
I decided to answer them in a visual way.
I decided to answer them in a visual way.
9 Nov 2009
On Pinocchioness
Is it weird that I see tao in yoga classes?
Breathing in and out through the nose ('Mary-had-a-little-lamb') which I never used to do before makes me a bit dizzy after a few minutes, even sort of high at times. When I was four I had to undergo a surgery because my nose tonsil was too swollen and I could not breathe properly. Most of the time I was short of breath. The only kind of breathing I could do was though my mouth. I still remember running though the hospital hall, holding my red shoes by their shoestrings.
Breathing in and out through the nose ('Mary-had-a-little-lamb') which I never used to do before makes me a bit dizzy after a few minutes, even sort of high at times. When I was four I had to undergo a surgery because my nose tonsil was too swollen and I could not breathe properly. Most of the time I was short of breath. The only kind of breathing I could do was though my mouth. I still remember running though the hospital hall, holding my red shoes by their shoestrings.
5 Nov 2009
On the Malaysian Hijab
Observing modern Malay women is a treat for the eyes.
In Kuala Lumpur, from what I have seen almost all Malay (i.e. not Indian, Chinese or Farang) women wear the hijab and some of them are covered from head to toe in a black niqab that only displays the woman's eyes, hands, and feet.
In Kuala Lumpur, from what I have seen almost all Malay (i.e. not Indian, Chinese or Farang) women wear the hijab and some of them are covered from head to toe in a black niqab that only displays the woman's eyes, hands, and feet.
2 Nov 2009
Elephant Owner for a Day
Extinction is forever.
The curious traveller in Thailand is often faced with a difficult choice: where do you draw the line between having fun and enjoying the country's myriad attractions on the one hand, and on the other, being part of the problem and contributing to the exploitation of local tribal communities and to deforestation? If endangered animals are to die out, I found myself asking whether it is ethical to watch dolphin shows, elephants standing on two feet, monkeys riding bicycles. Is it ethical to visit a jungle tribe or not? Is it moral to bring your money, customs and views and forever change the local way of life?
My Asian Summer
I will always remember my 'Asian summer' of 2009 as a crash course into world religions. As a time when I set foot to places of worship of the four most predominant world faiths.
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