James Taranto at Opinion Journal has an interesting post regarding the fetid leftist reactions toward a Christian publishing house that wants to donate Bibles to displaced persons from the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.
The post is entitled The Book the Angry Left Loves to Hate (scroll down). The fact that the left hates Bibles is not a surprise to any Christian. Says Taranto: "...it's quite astonishing that the Bible would inspire such hatred, especially from people who supposedly don't believe in it."
Well, that is precisely why it inspires such hatred. Here is a personal anecdote that further illustrates that fact.
Many years ago (about 1988) I went out to Hollywood Boulevard with some friends to share religious tracts. I approached a man carrying an armload of communist party newspapers he was selling. I said to him, "I do not want to buy one of your papers, but I would like to give you this" and I held out a tract to him.
He eyed it warily and asked, "what's that"?
I said, "it is the gospel of Jesus Christ."
He jumped back (both of his feet literally left the ground) and he shouted, "NO! NO! The ideologies are totally incompatible. TOTALLY INCOMPATIBLE!"
Perhaps that can explain the harsh leftist reaction to distributing free Bibles? Unbelief is easy, but denial is hard work.
You can read more on leftists and the Bible at my earlier post on the subject.
Props: Lucianne
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Singapore Swing Part XII
The last night I was in Singapore I decided to get lost. No, really--I intentionally got lost.
Singapore is a relatively small island and I felt safe there, so I decided to get away from the hotels and shops. One can take the subway/elevated train to almost anyplace on the island. I had spent the past several days dealing with our customer, eating in the hotel, walking near the hotel, and saw very little of the island itself. So off I went.
I had no plan other than literally to get lost. Oh, I knew I would be fine as long as I stayed within walking distance of the subway/elevated train. I say "subway/elevated train" because the station next to my hotel starts as a subway. Then the train climbs out of the ground and becomes an elevated train where one can view the countryside.
The point is, I had spent all my time around the business district, and saw nothing of the country at large. The hotel, restaurant, and shop personnel in the business district are unfailingly kind to visitors such as myself. But they all knew I was there to spend money. Not to impugn them in any way--that is what they are supposed to do. But I had not rubbed elbows with anyone outside of that bubble. All the pictures in my previous posts, with the exception of Sentosa Island, were all taken within a mile or so of my hotel; places I could get to on foot.
So I jumped on the subway and just let my whims take me to places and off of the subway/train. I achieved my goal, something that I had never experienced before that time, and have never experienced since: for four whole hours, I was the only Caucasian within range of my own eyesight.
Here is a shot of the subway station (click for larger):
The subway stations are kept immaculate. Like, eat off the floor immaculate. The green tint in the photo is caused by the fluorescent lighting in the station.
As I traveled on the train, I was the recipient of many, many stares. Two reasons:
1) Singapore is not America. In America, kids are taught that it is rude to stare at people. Not so in Singapore, apparently. Not that there is any moral absolute governing that particular behavior; it just took me a while to get used to it. As an American, when people stare at me, I wonder what is wrong. Check the front of the shirt and fly; and think, what are they looking at?
2) What they are looking at is a white man out and about where they do not normally see any. I was an oddity. What is he doing here? I had a related experience in Michigan many years ago. I moved to California in 1988, and had spent very little time with people outside my own race. A few years later while visiting my family in my hometown of Battle Creek, Michigan, I made a trip to Meijer Thrifty Acres. I was standing in the dairy section of the store, when I had a sudden strange feeling: something is wrong.
I stopped, looked about, and realized what I was sensing. I was surrounded by people and everyone was Caucasian. After spending a few years in multicultural Los Angeles, I was used to being surrounded by Hispanic people, Asian people, and people of many other different races and cultures. Being in that store surrounded only by Caucasian people felt strange.
But I digress. Here is a picture of the interior of the train on which I made my excursion (click for larger):
I had been traveling for about an hour, just drinking in the sights. The train arrived at one of the main hubs of the subway/train system, and I disembarked there, at a large substation. I had decided to get off the train and follow the crowd to wherever they wandered.
The crowd led me to a bazaar, about a quarter-mile away. The physical arrangement of the bazaar was unlike anything I had seen in America. One walks down a paved sidewalk and then between buildings. On the other side of the buildings is an open courtyard. There were two rows of buildings, with roll-up doors. I would liken it to a self-storage facility in America. Picture two buildings facing each other, with a row of roll-up doors along each building, with a courtyard in between the buildings. The doors were all open, and each "storage space" had a small shop plying various wares.
One shop was selling incense; some selling food; about everything one could think of was available. On my way out of the bazaar, I stopped at a booth near the entrance. There were three teenage kids manning the booth, which was selling good luck charms for the upcoming Chinese New Year. They got quite a kick out of me being there. They were amazed, as were the people on the train, that a Caucasian man was in their neighborhood. The kids spoke perfect English, so communication was not a problem.
I purchased about twenty small trinkets, and they are in the bag that the girl in the photo below is holding. They were inexpensive; I think they were less than twenty-five cents (US) each. I am holding a larger charm, which cost about eight dollars (US). I love the look on the girl's face, with the thumb pointing towards me. You can see the laughter on the faces of her brothers in the background.
The photo:
(I had to host that last picture outside of Blogger. The first two I uploaded to Blogger directly and I apparently exceeded some limit).
Anyway, click here to see a larger version of the picture with the kids at their booth.
The charm that I am holding is below. Click for larger version.
After I made off with my goodies, I returned to the hotel via the train. I slept my last night in Singapore, grateful for the experience. The next morning, I packed, boarded a taxi to the airport, and flew home to Los Angeles by way of Taiwan. I was glad to be home, but the memories of that trip bring a smile to my face to this very day.
Return to Home Page
All photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Updated 1/15/06 to embed charm photo.
Singapore is a relatively small island and I felt safe there, so I decided to get away from the hotels and shops. One can take the subway/elevated train to almost anyplace on the island. I had spent the past several days dealing with our customer, eating in the hotel, walking near the hotel, and saw very little of the island itself. So off I went.
I had no plan other than literally to get lost. Oh, I knew I would be fine as long as I stayed within walking distance of the subway/elevated train. I say "subway/elevated train" because the station next to my hotel starts as a subway. Then the train climbs out of the ground and becomes an elevated train where one can view the countryside.
The point is, I had spent all my time around the business district, and saw nothing of the country at large. The hotel, restaurant, and shop personnel in the business district are unfailingly kind to visitors such as myself. But they all knew I was there to spend money. Not to impugn them in any way--that is what they are supposed to do. But I had not rubbed elbows with anyone outside of that bubble. All the pictures in my previous posts, with the exception of Sentosa Island, were all taken within a mile or so of my hotel; places I could get to on foot.
So I jumped on the subway and just let my whims take me to places and off of the subway/train. I achieved my goal, something that I had never experienced before that time, and have never experienced since: for four whole hours, I was the only Caucasian within range of my own eyesight.
Here is a shot of the subway station (click for larger):
The subway stations are kept immaculate. Like, eat off the floor immaculate. The green tint in the photo is caused by the fluorescent lighting in the station.As I traveled on the train, I was the recipient of many, many stares. Two reasons:
1) Singapore is not America. In America, kids are taught that it is rude to stare at people. Not so in Singapore, apparently. Not that there is any moral absolute governing that particular behavior; it just took me a while to get used to it. As an American, when people stare at me, I wonder what is wrong. Check the front of the shirt and fly; and think, what are they looking at?
2) What they are looking at is a white man out and about where they do not normally see any. I was an oddity. What is he doing here? I had a related experience in Michigan many years ago. I moved to California in 1988, and had spent very little time with people outside my own race. A few years later while visiting my family in my hometown of Battle Creek, Michigan, I made a trip to Meijer Thrifty Acres. I was standing in the dairy section of the store, when I had a sudden strange feeling: something is wrong.
I stopped, looked about, and realized what I was sensing. I was surrounded by people and everyone was Caucasian. After spending a few years in multicultural Los Angeles, I was used to being surrounded by Hispanic people, Asian people, and people of many other different races and cultures. Being in that store surrounded only by Caucasian people felt strange.
But I digress. Here is a picture of the interior of the train on which I made my excursion (click for larger):
I had been traveling for about an hour, just drinking in the sights. The train arrived at one of the main hubs of the subway/train system, and I disembarked there, at a large substation. I had decided to get off the train and follow the crowd to wherever they wandered.The crowd led me to a bazaar, about a quarter-mile away. The physical arrangement of the bazaar was unlike anything I had seen in America. One walks down a paved sidewalk and then between buildings. On the other side of the buildings is an open courtyard. There were two rows of buildings, with roll-up doors. I would liken it to a self-storage facility in America. Picture two buildings facing each other, with a row of roll-up doors along each building, with a courtyard in between the buildings. The doors were all open, and each "storage space" had a small shop plying various wares.
One shop was selling incense; some selling food; about everything one could think of was available. On my way out of the bazaar, I stopped at a booth near the entrance. There were three teenage kids manning the booth, which was selling good luck charms for the upcoming Chinese New Year. They got quite a kick out of me being there. They were amazed, as were the people on the train, that a Caucasian man was in their neighborhood. The kids spoke perfect English, so communication was not a problem.
I purchased about twenty small trinkets, and they are in the bag that the girl in the photo below is holding. They were inexpensive; I think they were less than twenty-five cents (US) each. I am holding a larger charm, which cost about eight dollars (US). I love the look on the girl's face, with the thumb pointing towards me. You can see the laughter on the faces of her brothers in the background.
The photo:
(I had to host that last picture outside of Blogger. The first two I uploaded to Blogger directly and I apparently exceeded some limit).
Anyway, click here to see a larger version of the picture with the kids at their booth.
The charm that I am holding is below. Click for larger version.
After I made off with my goodies, I returned to the hotel via the train. I slept my last night in Singapore, grateful for the experience. The next morning, I packed, boarded a taxi to the airport, and flew home to Los Angeles by way of Taiwan. I was glad to be home, but the memories of that trip bring a smile to my face to this very day.Return to Home Page
All photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Updated 1/15/06 to embed charm photo.
Singapore Swing Links
This post is a compilation of links for my "Singapore Swing" posts. Back in January 1997 I made a business trip to Singapore for a former employer. This collection of posts is a travelogue of my visit.
Singapore Swing
Singapore Swing Part II
Singapore Swing Part III
Singapore Swing Part IV
Singapore Swing Part V
Singapore Swing Part VI
Singapore Swing Part VII
Singapore Swing Part VIII
Singapore Swing Part IX
Singapore Swing Part X
Singapore Swing Part XI
Singapore Swing Part XII
Singapore Swing
Singapore Swing Part II
Singapore Swing Part III
Singapore Swing Part IV
Singapore Swing Part V
Singapore Swing Part VI
Singapore Swing Part VII
Singapore Swing Part VIII
Singapore Swing Part IX
Singapore Swing Part X
Singapore Swing Part XI
Singapore Swing Part XII
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Singapore Swing Part XI
Okay, I finally escaped from Sentosa Island. But not before a delicious meal. At the terminus of the monorail was a restaurant that looked interesting so I walked in. The place was veritably deserted. The staff greeted me in a most friendly way--the service people in Singapore are almost embarrassingly kind to visitors. I asked to sit on the balcony overlooking the port, and was instantly accommodated. The Lobster Thermador was my choice and it was heavenly.
Just below the balcony was a young Chinese newlywed couple, still clad in their wedding garb, being put through the paces by their wedding photographer. The look of youthful joy on their faces was infectious. I cannot help but smile even as I write this; my memory of the joy of the scene is that strong.
With a gourmet meal in my belly, I returned to my hotel.
Now I digress. A day or two earlier I had called another local hotel to contact a former coworker of mine that was also in Singapore on business for his new employer. I left a message for him and later that day we were able to speak over the telephone. He invited me to join him at still another hotel where his girlfriend and one of his brothers were playing in their rock band.
I immediately accepted the invitation. It was good to see my old coworker again, and I sat with him, his girlfriend, and his brother for this photo. My old coworker is the little guy in the checked shirt:
The waitress came by and asked me if I what I wanted to drink. I ordered a 7-Up, as I did not want any alcohol. She brought me my soft drink. It was in one of those tall and narrow bar glasses, and was mostly filled with ice. I was not prepared for what the waitress was to say next:
"That will be nine dollars, sir."
(Nine Singapore dollars, equal to about $6.43 USD at the then current exchange rate)
After I picked my brain up off the floor and carefully put it back into my skull, I paid for the drink.
I asked my compatriots what they were paying for the pitchers of beer that they were consuming. "Thirty-eight dollars" was the reply. Each. After savoring my nine dollar soda pop, I stuck with drinking ice water. The waitress began to giggle at me each time she came by to get us more drinks. "...And another ice water for you, sir?" (snicker, snort)
Oh well. At least the band was good. Note my coworker's girlfriend is the lead singer and his brother, the only male member of the band, is the lead guitarist. The angle of the photo obscures the girl on drums. What I really like about the photo is the bass player, on the right. The camera caught her at a moment when she was really feeling funky.
Last in the Series: Part XII
Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Just below the balcony was a young Chinese newlywed couple, still clad in their wedding garb, being put through the paces by their wedding photographer. The look of youthful joy on their faces was infectious. I cannot help but smile even as I write this; my memory of the joy of the scene is that strong.
With a gourmet meal in my belly, I returned to my hotel.
Now I digress. A day or two earlier I had called another local hotel to contact a former coworker of mine that was also in Singapore on business for his new employer. I left a message for him and later that day we were able to speak over the telephone. He invited me to join him at still another hotel where his girlfriend and one of his brothers were playing in their rock band.
I immediately accepted the invitation. It was good to see my old coworker again, and I sat with him, his girlfriend, and his brother for this photo. My old coworker is the little guy in the checked shirt:
The waitress came by and asked me if I what I wanted to drink. I ordered a 7-Up, as I did not want any alcohol. She brought me my soft drink. It was in one of those tall and narrow bar glasses, and was mostly filled with ice. I was not prepared for what the waitress was to say next:
"That will be nine dollars, sir."
(Nine Singapore dollars, equal to about $6.43 USD at the then current exchange rate)
After I picked my brain up off the floor and carefully put it back into my skull, I paid for the drink.
I asked my compatriots what they were paying for the pitchers of beer that they were consuming. "Thirty-eight dollars" was the reply. Each. After savoring my nine dollar soda pop, I stuck with drinking ice water. The waitress began to giggle at me each time she came by to get us more drinks. "...And another ice water for you, sir?" (snicker, snort)
Oh well. At least the band was good. Note my coworker's girlfriend is the lead singer and his brother, the only male member of the band, is the lead guitarist. The angle of the photo obscures the girl on drums. What I really like about the photo is the bass player, on the right. The camera caught her at a moment when she was really feeling funky.
Last in the Series: Part XII
Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Singapore Swing Part X
In this post we will wrap up our visit to Sentosa Island. To do that I want to revisit Fort Siloso.
The barracks, bunkers, and gun emplacements are well maintained. One simply walks into a building and motion sensors start a tape playing that describes the purpose and use of the building. In the picture below, a British officer orients a newly transferred soldier.
They are mannequins, of course, but the use of the mannequins added a lot of realism to the experience. The officer instructed the man of lower rank in the best ways to handle the climate, foods available, and all manner of orientation to the local scene. It was very informative, and a perfect vehicle to educate tourists.
Did you notice the turkey standing in the doorway in the lower left hand corner of the photo? Look again.
Turkeys, peacocks, and many other types of wildlife run freely on Sentosa Island. I made a move to exit the building and nearly ran into that turkey. It scared the daylights out of me; not because it was aggressive or anything, I just did not expect to see this huge bird there.
Further excursion led me into one of the bunkers. They have some old ordnance piled up to give a sense of what sort of defense the Brits could mount in case of an attack. I assume the ordnance had been neutralized, but I still did not pick anything up. The interior of the bunkers are immaculately whitewashed.
Another must-see on the island is the museum. There are many life-sized dioramas in the museum to illustrate the island's history. Here is one from WWII which shows a Japanese soldier bayoneting a British soldier. This was the single creepiest thing I saw the whole trip.
Then finally, a picture of this old timer.
Yes, macaques are allowed to run wild on the island also. One of them made me jump when he grabbed an empty coffee can and flung it onto the blacktop behind me. I was at at bit of a loss around these (to me) exotic creatures. Being a sheltered Los Angeleno, the only thing I kept thinking is, "Keep your distance. Maybe they bite." And I got plenty of bites from insects in the rain forest area of Sentosa, hoping all the while I was not going to pick up something exotic and baffling to American doctors. So far, so good.
Next in the Series: Part XI
Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
The barracks, bunkers, and gun emplacements are well maintained. One simply walks into a building and motion sensors start a tape playing that describes the purpose and use of the building. In the picture below, a British officer orients a newly transferred soldier.
They are mannequins, of course, but the use of the mannequins added a lot of realism to the experience. The officer instructed the man of lower rank in the best ways to handle the climate, foods available, and all manner of orientation to the local scene. It was very informative, and a perfect vehicle to educate tourists.
Did you notice the turkey standing in the doorway in the lower left hand corner of the photo? Look again.
Turkeys, peacocks, and many other types of wildlife run freely on Sentosa Island. I made a move to exit the building and nearly ran into that turkey. It scared the daylights out of me; not because it was aggressive or anything, I just did not expect to see this huge bird there.
Further excursion led me into one of the bunkers. They have some old ordnance piled up to give a sense of what sort of defense the Brits could mount in case of an attack. I assume the ordnance had been neutralized, but I still did not pick anything up. The interior of the bunkers are immaculately whitewashed.
Another must-see on the island is the museum. There are many life-sized dioramas in the museum to illustrate the island's history. Here is one from WWII which shows a Japanese soldier bayoneting a British soldier. This was the single creepiest thing I saw the whole trip.
Then finally, a picture of this old timer.
Yes, macaques are allowed to run wild on the island also. One of them made me jump when he grabbed an empty coffee can and flung it onto the blacktop behind me. I was at at bit of a loss around these (to me) exotic creatures. Being a sheltered Los Angeleno, the only thing I kept thinking is, "Keep your distance. Maybe they bite." And I got plenty of bites from insects in the rain forest area of Sentosa, hoping all the while I was not going to pick up something exotic and baffling to American doctors. So far, so good.
Next in the Series: Part XI
Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Singapore Swing Part IX
Sentosa Island is the location of the Merlion and Merlion Walk. The Merlion is the symbol of Singapore, a mythical creature that is half lion and half fish.
The Merlion on Sentosa Island is one hundred and twenty one feet tall and offers a spectacular view of both the island and the South China Sea. I am quite fond of water views, whether natural or man-made, and Sentosa offers both. This first picture is one I took of the Merlion upon my approach.
After parting with a little gelt, one can walk upstairs inside the Merlion and look out the mouth (note the teeth in the photo below). The photo came out quite dark and I had to play with the brightness and contrast for a time to make it as good as it is. Unfortunately, that process blew out the sky completely.
Here is a small bit of the Merlion Walk, a beautiful fountain and pool cascade. Note the bright colors and the individual tile mosaic. It was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. If you would like to take a virtual tour of the Merlion Walk, Click Here.
From the top of the Merlion one had a panoramic view of the sea. Singapore is a major shipping port, as it is a free trade zone. Hence the island is continually ensconced within a fleet of merchant ships awaiting either to load or offload cargo.
Click picture for larger version:
Next in the Series: Part X
Except for photos in linked external websites, Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
The Merlion on Sentosa Island is one hundred and twenty one feet tall and offers a spectacular view of both the island and the South China Sea. I am quite fond of water views, whether natural or man-made, and Sentosa offers both. This first picture is one I took of the Merlion upon my approach.
After parting with a little gelt, one can walk upstairs inside the Merlion and look out the mouth (note the teeth in the photo below). The photo came out quite dark and I had to play with the brightness and contrast for a time to make it as good as it is. Unfortunately, that process blew out the sky completely.
Here is a small bit of the Merlion Walk, a beautiful fountain and pool cascade. Note the bright colors and the individual tile mosaic. It was beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. If you would like to take a virtual tour of the Merlion Walk, Click Here.
From the top of the Merlion one had a panoramic view of the sea. Singapore is a major shipping port, as it is a free trade zone. Hence the island is continually ensconced within a fleet of merchant ships awaiting either to load or offload cargo.
Click picture for larger version:
Next in the Series: Part X
Except for photos in linked external websites, Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Friday, April 29, 2005
Singapore Swing Part VIII
At the end of this post, we arrived at the dragon fountain after disembarking the aerial tram to Sentosa Island.
Singapore, a former British colony, was guarded by a garrison of British soldiers. One of their installations was on Sentosa Island and it is named Fort Siloso. The garrison has long since departed but Fort Siloso is maintained as a tourist attraction. One day I was walking near my hotel and came upon a group of impeccably dressed sailors in Navy whites: short pants, dress uniform shirts, and knee length socks with garters. The uniforms looked a bit unusual to me, and then it dawned on me; these are not American sailors, these are British sailors on liberty. Alas, I have no photo of them.
When I took the monorail to Fort Siloso I was properly greeted by this British gentleman:
He was standing in front of two impressive large caliber cannons:
The caption on a nearby marker reads:
Next in the Series: Part IX
Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Singapore, a former British colony, was guarded by a garrison of British soldiers. One of their installations was on Sentosa Island and it is named Fort Siloso. The garrison has long since departed but Fort Siloso is maintained as a tourist attraction. One day I was walking near my hotel and came upon a group of impeccably dressed sailors in Navy whites: short pants, dress uniform shirts, and knee length socks with garters. The uniforms looked a bit unusual to me, and then it dawned on me; these are not American sailors, these are British sailors on liberty. Alas, I have no photo of them.
When I took the monorail to Fort Siloso I was properly greeted by this British gentleman:
He was standing in front of two impressive large caliber cannons:
The caption on a nearby marker reads:
These Japanese guns were found in Singapore's Mandai jungle by officer cadets of the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute in 1966. It is not known why the guns were there but they were presumably installed by the Japanese during their Occupation of Singapore (1942-1945). The breech markings indicate that they were designed in 1914 as coastal artillery and manufactured in the Kure Arsenal in 1923. They were mounted here in 1976.If you have seen the 1997 movie Paradise Road starring Glenn Close, you have a sense of the occupation period. Incidentally, the opening scene in Paradise Road is set in the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. The Raffles Hotel is a gorgeous nineteenth century hotel near the heart of the downtown business district. In fact, the Raffles Hotel is directly adjacent to the hotel in which I stayed, The Stamford.
Next in the Series: Part IX
Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Singapore Swing Part VII
Adjacent to Singapore is Sentosa Island. It is a beautiful place, with a museum, zoo, golf courses, and beautiful beaches. There are two main ways to get to the island, one being a ferry and the other being an aerial tramway. I decided to try each one, and so I took the aerial tramway across and the ferry on the way back.
The four pictures below are taken from the tram. The last one is on Sentosa Island. The tram car had windows, so you will see reflections in some of the photos.
Looking forward toward the tram terminal on Sentosa Island. Note the ships at anchor in the far distance awaiting either to offload or to load cargo. Also note the cruise ships at anchor between the mainland and the island.
Looking out one side. This way is back toward the downtown business district.
Looking the other way, a nice view of the shipping channel:
Upon disembarking, one is immediately greeted by a water-breathing dragon. If memory serves, the mouth is animated and opens and closes. But do not quote me on that one.
Next in the Series: Part VIII
Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
The four pictures below are taken from the tram. The last one is on Sentosa Island. The tram car had windows, so you will see reflections in some of the photos.
Looking forward toward the tram terminal on Sentosa Island. Note the ships at anchor in the far distance awaiting either to offload or to load cargo. Also note the cruise ships at anchor between the mainland and the island.
Looking out one side. This way is back toward the downtown business district.
Looking the other way, a nice view of the shipping channel:
Upon disembarking, one is immediately greeted by a water-breathing dragon. If memory serves, the mouth is animated and opens and closes. But do not quote me on that one.
Next in the Series: Part VIII
Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Singapore Swing Part VI
As I related in this post, the local shopping mall was a dark place. Now, there was a US style shopping mall in the base of the hotel, but both it and the hotel were quite Western in style.
However, the "dark" shopping mall was more of a Singapore syle mall. Below is a photo I took of a Muslim family during one of my excursions to the "dark" mall. You can see in the background how unlit the interior is--and I brightened the photo so the family would be appropriately visible.
They were simply moving along, attending to their little girl, chatting amiably. The dour expression on the husband is misleading, as all were quite friendly to me. I guess he felt he should be properly stern for purposes of the photograph. Click on the photos for a larger version.
This last photo of The People of Singapore is of a stonemason/bricklayer gentleman. Behind him is a building comprised of small shops, one of which was a shop specializing in French perfumes. He was off working by himself this day.
Next in the Series: Part VII
Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
However, the "dark" shopping mall was more of a Singapore syle mall. Below is a photo I took of a Muslim family during one of my excursions to the "dark" mall. You can see in the background how unlit the interior is--and I brightened the photo so the family would be appropriately visible.
They were simply moving along, attending to their little girl, chatting amiably. The dour expression on the husband is misleading, as all were quite friendly to me. I guess he felt he should be properly stern for purposes of the photograph. Click on the photos for a larger version.
This last photo of The People of Singapore is of a stonemason/bricklayer gentleman. Behind him is a building comprised of small shops, one of which was a shop specializing in French perfumes. He was off working by himself this day.
Next in the Series: Part VII
Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Monday, April 25, 2005
Singapore Swing Part V
There was a strange little shopping mall near my hotel. By "strange" I mean it was not at all like the shopping malls to which I am accustomed in the United States. Here we are used to wide open spaces, fountains, marble floors, and brass sculptures. This mall was dark with tiny shops with goods stacked floor to ceiling.
The shopkeepers are an invariably friendly lot, and not pushy. If you describe what you are looking for, a shopkeeper will instantly produce several options that will meet your needs—as if by sleight of hand. They are proud of what they have and want to sell it to you. And given the positive exchange rate to the US dollar, I was more than happy to pay their prices.
I purchased a Phillips portable CD player (not the boom box type) for the equivalent of $150.00 US dollars. That was in January 1997, before the prices for such things tumbled here in the US. Of course, iPod players did not yet exist. So if you wanted to listen to your CDs on the go, you either lugged a boom box or bought such a portable CD player .
The CD player came with a home power adapter, car power adapter, earbud headphones, and two battery powered bookshelf speakers. I could not touch that in the US at that time for less than $230.00. The only disadvantage was that the home power adapter had Singapore-style round prongs on it. However, I have an international power conversion kit, so I can still use the power adapter here in the US.
Click Here and scroll down about one-third of the way down to see a picture that looks identical to the supplied adapter.
But the photo is not about buying consumer products. While walking to the mall entrance underneath the overhang, I happened upon a group of four boys that appeared to be in a rock band. I paused before them and asked to take their picture. With a shrug and a quick glance at each other, they assumed a pose.
But there are two dramas being played out here.
The two boys on the right are the bass player (I think that black case held a bass) and the acoustic guitar player. The John Lennon shirt, the cross, and the long hair on the bass player said to me he was dedicated to his music. The acoustic guitar player with the beret cap and striped shirt was also into the whole thing. The rock star “attitude” those two boys assumed amuses me to no end.
Yet look at the other two boys. Something else entirely is happening there. The boy in the blue shirt flung his left hand up in front of his face at the very last split second before I took the photo. The boy in the white shirt laughed at him, and the photo catches him at that slice of time just before.
So why this dichotomy? Why did the blue-shirted boy cover his face? I can only speculate, but I have a pretty good idea. For his protection I will keep it to myself.
Of course, the blue-shirt boy did not have to be in the photo, and I would not have put up any argument if he declined to be in it. He posed at first, then changed his mind and suddenly covered his face.
Two boys acting cool, one acting paranoid, and one amused. It's a nice little drama, even if it is only a snap of four boys walking down a mall sidewalk.
Next in the Series: Part VI
Photos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
The shopkeepers are an invariably friendly lot, and not pushy. If you describe what you are looking for, a shopkeeper will instantly produce several options that will meet your needs—as if by sleight of hand. They are proud of what they have and want to sell it to you. And given the positive exchange rate to the US dollar, I was more than happy to pay their prices.
I purchased a Phillips portable CD player (not the boom box type) for the equivalent of $150.00 US dollars. That was in January 1997, before the prices for such things tumbled here in the US. Of course, iPod players did not yet exist. So if you wanted to listen to your CDs on the go, you either lugged a boom box or bought such a portable CD player .
The CD player came with a home power adapter, car power adapter, earbud headphones, and two battery powered bookshelf speakers. I could not touch that in the US at that time for less than $230.00. The only disadvantage was that the home power adapter had Singapore-style round prongs on it. However, I have an international power conversion kit, so I can still use the power adapter here in the US.
Click Here and scroll down about one-third of the way down to see a picture that looks identical to the supplied adapter.
But the photo is not about buying consumer products. While walking to the mall entrance underneath the overhang, I happened upon a group of four boys that appeared to be in a rock band. I paused before them and asked to take their picture. With a shrug and a quick glance at each other, they assumed a pose.
But there are two dramas being played out here.
The two boys on the right are the bass player (I think that black case held a bass) and the acoustic guitar player. The John Lennon shirt, the cross, and the long hair on the bass player said to me he was dedicated to his music. The acoustic guitar player with the beret cap and striped shirt was also into the whole thing. The rock star “attitude” those two boys assumed amuses me to no end.
Yet look at the other two boys. Something else entirely is happening there. The boy in the blue shirt flung his left hand up in front of his face at the very last split second before I took the photo. The boy in the white shirt laughed at him, and the photo catches him at that slice of time just before.
So why this dichotomy? Why did the blue-shirted boy cover his face? I can only speculate, but I have a pretty good idea. For his protection I will keep it to myself.
Of course, the blue-shirt boy did not have to be in the photo, and I would not have put up any argument if he declined to be in it. He posed at first, then changed his mind and suddenly covered his face.
Two boys acting cool, one acting paranoid, and one amused. It's a nice little drama, even if it is only a snap of four boys walking down a mall sidewalk.
Next in the Series: Part VIPhotos Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Singapore Swing Part IV
Pictures of buildings and scenary are an interesting part of any place, but what is truly unique is a nation's people. I found Singaporeans to be a friendly lot, and they were not shy about letting this stranger photograph them.
The next several photos I will post are the people of Singapore. All I had to do was walk about and ask if I could take their picture--and I was never once refused.
I awakened one morning and thought I would go for a walk and get a pastry at a small French-style shop near my hotel. You see that pastry shop in the background of this photo, named Delifrance. They had tarts, sandwiches, and all manner of other delightful treats. I especially took a liking to their blueberry tarts--thin flaky crust with a blueberry filling, and nothing like I have yet found here in the U.S.
As I exited the deli, I was greeted by the sight of four girls walking down the street together. They obviously had been friends for a long time, and were chatting and laughing together on their way somewhere, probably shopping. I asked if I could take a picture with them, and they agreed without question. I held out my camera to one of the girls. She seemed disappointed to not be in the picture but agreed to take it anyway. That made me feel both happy and a little sad at the same time.
Singapore is a diverse place, as you can see from the photo. The girl on my right is Indian, the girl to my left is Muslim, and the girl to my far left is Chinese. I thought about cropping this wide-angle photo, but decided not to because it sets the scene in context. Though there was a French style pastry shop there, you can see that there is also an American fast food place, Long John Silvers (of all things) right next door. Looking back on it, I am surprised to recall that the Muslim girl, though wearing the modest head covering, was also wearing bright red lipstick and blue eye shadow.
Next in the Series: Part V
Photo Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
The next several photos I will post are the people of Singapore. All I had to do was walk about and ask if I could take their picture--and I was never once refused.
I awakened one morning and thought I would go for a walk and get a pastry at a small French-style shop near my hotel. You see that pastry shop in the background of this photo, named Delifrance. They had tarts, sandwiches, and all manner of other delightful treats. I especially took a liking to their blueberry tarts--thin flaky crust with a blueberry filling, and nothing like I have yet found here in the U.S.
As I exited the deli, I was greeted by the sight of four girls walking down the street together. They obviously had been friends for a long time, and were chatting and laughing together on their way somewhere, probably shopping. I asked if I could take a picture with them, and they agreed without question. I held out my camera to one of the girls. She seemed disappointed to not be in the picture but agreed to take it anyway. That made me feel both happy and a little sad at the same time.
Singapore is a diverse place, as you can see from the photo. The girl on my right is Indian, the girl to my left is Muslim, and the girl to my far left is Chinese. I thought about cropping this wide-angle photo, but decided not to because it sets the scene in context. Though there was a French style pastry shop there, you can see that there is also an American fast food place, Long John Silvers (of all things) right next door. Looking back on it, I am surprised to recall that the Muslim girl, though wearing the modest head covering, was also wearing bright red lipstick and blue eye shadow.
Next in the Series: Part VPhoto Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Singapore Swing Part III
The lofty perch of my 38th floor balcony is the vantage point for the picture at the bottom of this post. The church is St. Andrews, which is affiliated with the Church of England. Singapore is a former British colony and Christianity is certainly not absent, though not dominant. Click here to see additional pictures of St. Andrews (not taken by me). Click the "Next Section" box at the bottom of the linked page to see additional photos.
The picture below (the one I did take) shows the landscaping that makes the church grounds an island of green in a sea of concrete. The church is 19th Century and stands in stark contrast to the modern buildings in the immediate vicinity. It is difficult to see from such a faraway shot, but a black wrought-iron fence surrounds the entire property. Note how gleamingly white the church is compared to the buildings in the background--and the photo does not do it justice. In person the white is even more spectacular. I was told that the paint on the church is made with crushed eggshells--an actual eggshell white. It reflected the morning sun brilliantly.
So here is the picture that I took from my balcony. Click the picture for a larger one.
Next in the Series: Part IV
Photo (except from postcolonialweb.org) are Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
The picture below (the one I did take) shows the landscaping that makes the church grounds an island of green in a sea of concrete. The church is 19th Century and stands in stark contrast to the modern buildings in the immediate vicinity. It is difficult to see from such a faraway shot, but a black wrought-iron fence surrounds the entire property. Note how gleamingly white the church is compared to the buildings in the background--and the photo does not do it justice. In person the white is even more spectacular. I was told that the paint on the church is made with crushed eggshells--an actual eggshell white. It reflected the morning sun brilliantly.
So here is the picture that I took from my balcony. Click the picture for a larger one.
Next in the Series: Part IV
Photo (except from postcolonialweb.org) are Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Singapore Swing Part II
This photo is a view from the top of the former Westin Stamford, now called Swissotel The Stamford. Westin sold the hotel a few years ago to Swissotel. At the time I stayed there it was the tallest hotel in the world (perhaps it still it, I do not know). I highly recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to Singapore.On the seventieth (70th) floor was a restaurant called the Compass Rose. It has since been remodeled and renamed Jaan. The one thing that has not changed is the view. This photo has been slightly enhanced to add contrast. It was taken on a foggy day and the original photo is much less clear than this enhanced version.
As a hotel guest I was allowed to go to the head of the long line to the elevators for the seafood buffet lunch. Everything in Singapore (at least for travelers) is quite expensive. The lunch buffet cost $45.00 (Sing $), and drinks are extra. A glass of 7-Up was $5.00 each. However, what a lunch it was! The buffet had sushi, grilled fish, shrimp, prawns, scallops, lobster, and crab, but to name a few things. The dessert table alone would have shamed any buffet in Las Vegas.
Next in the Series: Part III
Photo Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
Monday, April 18, 2005
Singapore Swing
Back in January of 1997 I made a business trip to Singapore for a former employer. My task was to install a SAM unit at a Seagate facility, and train the employees on its use. Seagate is a computer hard drive manufacturer. A SAM unit is a Static Attitude Measurement system that is used in quality control. It measures the static attitude of a head gimbal assembly, the part of a hard drive that reads and writes to the hard disc.
I spent Sunday to Thursday in Singapore, and it was one of the most enjoyable treks of my life. Here I begin by posting installment one in a series of photos taken, in roughly chronological order. I took my camera of course, not knowing if I would ever return to Singapore again. As of this posting I have not returned but it is on my list of trips to complete.
Some of the photos I took (or had taken by a friendly passerby) make me laugh today. Not because the photos themselves are funny, but for the fact that I took them at all. My intent was to document the whole trip, start to finish. If I am accused of being a typical googly-eyed tourist, I plead guilty as charged.
The first photo in Singapore was taken just as I got off the plane. I asked my stewardess to be in the photo with me, and this adorable girl kindly agreed. She is wearing that trademark uniform of a Singapore Airlines stewardess.
Next in the Series: Part II
Photo Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
I spent Sunday to Thursday in Singapore, and it was one of the most enjoyable treks of my life. Here I begin by posting installment one in a series of photos taken, in roughly chronological order. I took my camera of course, not knowing if I would ever return to Singapore again. As of this posting I have not returned but it is on my list of trips to complete.
Some of the photos I took (or had taken by a friendly passerby) make me laugh today. Not because the photos themselves are funny, but for the fact that I took them at all. My intent was to document the whole trip, start to finish. If I am accused of being a typical googly-eyed tourist, I plead guilty as charged.
The first photo in Singapore was taken just as I got off the plane. I asked my stewardess to be in the photo with me, and this adorable girl kindly agreed. She is wearing that trademark uniform of a Singapore Airlines stewardess.
Next in the Series: Part II
Photo Copyright 2005 by Impacted Wisdom Truth
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