Entries this day: AM_Singapore Before_Singapore Hello_from_Singapore! Little_India Singapore Singapore_grr Singapore_onboard_again how_to_lock_a_door viet-nam zzzz

AM Singapore

10:21am SGT Wednesday 01 June 2005

(9:04am ICT Saturday 04 June 2005)

We are arriving in Singapore and I'm on the top deck, having just finished transcribing the previous tape. I just saw a dragonfly a moment ago.

There's a few people along the rail watching the drab olive green water slowly roll by. The sky is just about overcast and it looks like rain over there. Visibility is not 21 kilometers. People on the ship seem sleepy.

People are scouting out over the front deck. Shinji says we should arrive at noon.

It's my first time in Singapore, and all I want to do is use the free internet access in McDonald's. I'd like to download some star and galaxy information from the web for me-an-Kim's self-planned event.

We're super far from anything, and we're going really slow. My GPS says that Singapore is 130 degrees back behind us. I entered coordinates while I was at home.

- - - -

Xianrun (Run) and I are looking out over the deck; he's from Singapore.

Run tells me that Singapore has no natural disasters because there are no volcanoes; Singapore is sheltered by other islands from any tsunami or hurricanes; Singapore is in the middle of the eurasian plate so there are no earthquakes.

We're seeing lots of ships parked; really expensive for them to chill out, I'm sure. Like 20 big-ass tankers (I don't see any cargo). They are waiting to transfer their goods says Run.

Singapore doesn't import much, but trans-ships stuff to/from Middle East and Europe and Asia.

Xianrun's site is blurp.net

Woah!!! The ship is being approached by a little black and white ship: dudes are on top of the little boat's deck! Holy shit this is money!! We're being boarded by pirates!! There's a ladder out for them and the door is open, so they must have an guy inside.

I took pictures and was holding my camera with one hand but not using the strap! Over the edge and everything... Yikes stripes!

11:26am SGT Wednesday 01 June 2005

We're heading into a cove thing and there's a gondola over the bay; we'll be going under the gondolas soon. Amazing how I can say gandola and Japanese think it's different than gondola.

11:50am

I'm a bit conflicted; I'm fuckin' around on my computer, copying stuff to burn to CD, but I should just get outta here.

12:03pm

Delay in something with passports, so we can't get off yet. I'm a bit bummed that I didn't go watch the docking process (we docked at noon) but instead was working on burning a CD. I was carrying the computer carefully to the desk and it slipped and flipped the cover closed, dramatically halting the CD burning process.

- - - -

The gondola goes *through* a building; it seems like it would be a challenge to let people get on and off in the building, but overly silly to *not* let people get on/off in the building.

Kris (and Angie) says it slows down but doesn't stop inside the building, like a ski gondola.

Kris et.al. are going to eat curry with their fingers in Little India.

- - - -

Katt says it's not so hot today.

- - - -

The ropes extending from the back of the ship go outward to an extension of the dock thing, as opposed to inward to the dock.

Singapore looks like a cross between Hong Kong and Vietnam, more like Hong Kong.

- - - -

The gangway is long and winding, allowing wheelchair access.

The moving sidewalks are not moving, so I walked up to them and stood. Waited. Good joke.

Port-(un)loading cranes are crammed together in the distance.

Dave told us a story about a game of Risk, where a guy broke his alliance during the game, and his buddies were all freaked out and would have killed him had he been found that night of drunken antics.

1:15pm

We're in Harbour Front station

I've extended my butt-cheek-horizons, using my left butt cheek to slide down a pole on the stairs.

- - - -

This train station looks quite modern: marble floors, brushed chrome, etc. Fares exclude $1 refundable deposit.

1:25pm

We just got five tickets to Little India. The trains accelerate much more quickly than in Tokyo; I don't know if they are shorter, but they are definitely newer.

Before Singapore

10:18am SGT Wednesday 01 June 2005

I've just caught up with my tape transcriptions: Tape 2 is done.

10:54am SGT Wednesday 01 June 2005

We were boarded by pirates!

And by pirates I mean border patrol.

11:32am SGT Wednesday 01 June 2005

We are rolling into a harbour now, with a gondola that goes over the bay. That's kick ass. I'm transferring the contents of my camera to my computer, and I'm in my room which is kinda weak compared to being up on top taking pictures, but my camera battery is low; I need to buy another battery. I just added that to my list.

things to do in Singapore:
use internet Sam Malone style free in McDonald's
 * download information about galaxies (for teaching materials)
 * download silent football rules (find notlong URL)
 * 
buy water
buy laundry detergent
buy camera battery

Hello from Singapore!

Hello from Singapore!

Vietnam has been the best stop so far (Hong Kong, Danang, Singapore).  People were
friendly, roads were bumpy and chaotic, little 8 to 12 year old kids hardselling
postcards, silk things, tiger balm, .. anything they could carry around.  I must
say they were quite well practiced with quick lines and little pouty faces that
could wrench money from the coldest heart.

I bought custom made sandals for 95,000 d. (about US$7) and I love them. There's
nothing to them, just leather on rubber soles and blue leather straps, but they're
just my size and quite comfy.

Some of the girls were fitted for dresses, and Shawn got himself a white linen
suit, and a brown linen shirt.  He said one of his life goals was to own a white
linen suit; I look forward to seeing him in it!  (I can imagine Fred wearing it to
the next nin concert he attends!)

In Vietnam, we visited a school which was built using funds from one of the
previous PB fundraising campaigns.  Two rooms with blackboards and desks,
plus another building about the same size, though I don't know what was in it. 
Most impressive at that ceremony was how well behaved the kids were!  Lined up on
the sidewalk, squatting and waiting for over an hour in the hot sun for what must
have been a boring school-opening ceremony... without complaint! I was completely
impressed and amazed at their remarkably good behavior!

After the ceremony, GET teachers visited the classrooms and had a spontaneous
lesson in each room: greetings in one and "head shoulders knees and toes" sung in
the other.  After that, we chowed lovely delicious fresh fruit and for the first
time I had something called michi (in Vietnamese, I think) or jackfruit in English.
Maryann suggested that it looks like yellow peppers, which seems more accurate that
banana peels, which is what I suggested.  The teachers seemed well-divided between
love and hate on the jackfruit debate.  I joined the love team and chowed probably
6 of them.  (on top of the pineapple slices and some of the little fruits that
janette and I encountered in Hawaii).

A river was discovered nearby the school and Greg went for a swim.. the rest of us
cheered him on and a couple people waded.  I monitored my brainwaves' disgust at
the motorboat (engine enclosed in a wooden box on a mere large wooden canoe of a
boat) being used to ferry people and bicycles across while people swam in the murky
water, plus a woman on the side washing her fresh vegetables (leafy greens) in the
water.  Memories of Carla's adventure along the Ganges in India make my story a
well-cleansed hospital in comparison, but still.  Eww.

That night we got a hotel for US$4 per person, and we each got our own double bed! 
Fun wandering around Hoi An again and I went to be early so I could have more of a
day to myself the next day.

I woke up early and went to see Tam and asked her to get me a motorbike driver for
the day.  We negotiated a bit to get me a good price that included going back to
the ship (near Danang in Tien Sa).  Basically US$6 for all that.  Not sure if it's
the best price ever, but I was certainly happy with the arrangement.

Ninh (pronounced somewhere between "nun" and "non"), my driver, couldn't speak a
lot of English, but we got around fine: he took me to a nearly private beach where
I indulged myself with a foot massage, mango shake and fresh pineapple, 40,000 d.,
5,000 d. and 5,000 d. respectively.  The pineapple was sold to me by a young boy
named Long ("my name Long; you remember Long.") and I absolutely didn't want the
pineapple, given that I wasn't hungry and just wanted to stroll around the beach
alone.  He asked for 15,000 d. at first, but finally dropped his price to 5,000
dong (US$ 0.33) and I still said no.  He offered to take my picture, an offer I
accepted, and I don't know if he intended to ask me for money, but I gave him a
dollar for his efforts and a hopeful intention that it would in fact help his life.

I headed back to the roofed area and was presented with the opportunity to buy more
things (massage, shake, bracelets).  I ended up paying way too much for the
bracelet (sucker!) but the rest was lovely.

We headed back by way of a cafe, or maybe the cafe was first, but in any case, the
very coolest thing occurred: I spoke Japanese with a Vietnamese waitress in the
cafe!  It wasn't much of a conversation - just when and where and how long we
studied.  She had been much more intense with her studies and had more vocabulary
than me, but I loved being able to do that.

We stopped by Tam's again on the way out of town, for final goodbyes.  She gave me
a hematite necklace!!!  Holy moly. I was just beyond words surprised and blessed.

After that, Ninh took me to Marble Mountain, where marble is quarried to be carved
into lions, fish, balls, fountains, Buddhas, chess sets, jewelry, plates, bowls,
etc etc. He announced that he would meet me in one hour, and I must admit I felt a
bit afraid that I wouldn't get back on the ship in time.  I visualized myself
happily exchanging stories onboard, and left it at that. I bought nothing but a
ticket up the mountain (1000 d. I think) and wow.  It was really cool.  I love
climbing, so it was perfect for me.  Not like rock climbing with ropes, but rock
hopping with bare feet.  I scampered up the large steps and got to a three way fork
in the trail.  One way had a cave, and the other two ways went up (if I recall
correctly) and I chose one of the not-cave ways randomly.  I climbed some more and
found a cave entrance which I entered, a bit concerned about the floor as I
couldn't see where my feet were headed in the dark, to find a standing Buddha-esque
statue standing in a vertical column about 50 feet tall and 3 meters in diameter. 
The walls boasted names painted or carved into the rock.  Past the statue was an
opening that went nearly vertically upward (with step-like rocks that made it easy)
and I ascended to a lovely view of the ocean.  Beyond lovely: it was absolutely
gorgeous with gentle waves visiting the shore and a village mixed with trees and
lovely plains on the other side.

I could have stayed much longer, but I had an appointment with Ninh and a boat, so
I scampered back down the mountain and steps, barefootin' it all the way, much to
my soles' delight.  I was offered surprisingly good prices on a waterfountain,
which, if it was the actual price, and had I a way to bring it home, I would have
taken her up on it.  Like US$20 for a carved marble fountain 4 feet tall and a
sphere on top that spun in the water.  Wow.  A bit pricey to get it shipped home,
I'm guessing. (ps: that price might have been misunderstood or misremembered)

Vietnam is *definitely* a country I wish to visit again for a few weeks.  Camping
and biking around sounds *great*.

- - - - -

For the past two days on the ship, I have brought my underwater camera case to the
pool where we've taken some funny pictures and videos under water.  The funniest
are taken half in/out of the water, so things underwater appear larger.  Big huge
chest and little head above the water - hilarious!!

- - - - -

I've completely neglected Hong Kong, our first non-Japan stop.  The 800 meter
escalator is not that at all.  It's 800 meters (maybe) worth of many different
escalators.  Boring!  I wandered around alone.  Maybe shoulda gone to the Botanical
Gardens (at the top of the escalator (no charge), but I chose not to, in search of
internet access.

- - - -

Now, in Singapore, I'm in search of a post office.

      Be well
      - Rob! 

Little India

On the train, Nicole eyetagged me, so I had to lie down.

11:40am MVT Friday 10 June 2005

1+ pm SGT Wednesday 01 June 2005

I've been duped! I'm with Carissa and Katt; they are shopping. All variety of fabrics and necklines and spangles and littlebitty bittyitty bitty cutsie wootsie.

I walked around a bazzar with Carissa and Katt: lost Nat and ____ (I forgot who we were with!)

Carissa is explaining we (they) are in survelliance mode, and there are *differences* between all these dresses. I say it's just random and nutso.

This dress utopia overlooks a food utopia, with fish and stuffs all laid out for the chowing.

The shopkeepers here are not as genki nor forceful as in Vietnam. They're just chillin'.

2+pm

We're below the dress-shop nightmare between all tons of little side by side by side shops selling Indian, vegetarian, Chinese, etc etc food.

- - - -

Wow; mango juice is really nice here.

Roti John is yummy. Bread, egg, meat, spicy sauce (sweet chili sauce, says Carissa).

2:40pm

I ditched the girls (I let them know first). It may be illegal to chew gum and throw it on the ground, but it's definitely not a full blown deterrent. Gum and dirt and trash is all around.

Ooops! I just walked into Little India station past the no eating / no drinking signs $500. I was carrying a drink.. oops.

In Tokyo I can put in 10,000 yen and get a 110 yen ticket and change. In Tokyo there are tons of ticket machines.

In Singapore I couldn't use $10 to buy a $2 ticket. C'mon, man! Tokyo allows *orders* of *magnitude* difference! In Little Inda there were only three machines, one of which was broken.

The driver in Singapore couldn't stop gently; always a big jerk at the end of the deceleration.

Singapore

3:13pm SGT Wednesday 01 June 2005

I'm not really impressed with Singapore trains. I may be spoiled on Tokyo trains... The trains in Singapore are okay if one is not used to trains, but !) the driver of the train I was on didn't stop in one continuous deceleration @) the ticket vending machines can't dispense ample change (I couldn't use $10 to buy a $2.40 ticket, whereas in Tokyo I can use 10,000 yen note to buy a 110 yen ticket; that's 2 orders of magnitude different! Here in Singapore it's not even 1/2 an order of magnitude.) and 3) there were only 3 ticket vending machines and one of them was broken. I had to wait unnecessarily long to do my little transaction, then found out I had to go to a different window to get change for my bill.

I've come back to Harbour Front station to use the internet in McDonald's here. I haven't checked to see if it's available here; didn't see any signs; I'll check now.

- - - -

Argh. This is frustrating: either the internet is not free or it requires a login, but in either case this fucked up useless flash animation is pissing me off.

Singapore grr

12:01pm MVT Friday 10 June 2005

5:36pm SGT Wednesday 01 June 2005

I'm in a bummed mood; Singapore might be my worst port. It has to do with me wanting free internet access and use my computer which has a wussy battery.

The good things: I was smart enough to write my Rob Update on McDonald's computer (gmail) before using my computer to send it.

Then I tried to set up my Rob Update Sender so I can use it in insecure internet cafes. It stores the password as a cookie and I was working on a way to erase that cookie when my computer died. Now, I can't use Rob Update Sender at all, because I was in the middle of mucking with the code when my computer died.

I bought a case of water: 12 X 1.5 liters. I look forward to goodnesses like Silent Football and Sri Lanka. I visualize myself getting this taken care of today, on the boat no problem.

Oh crap! I haven't mailed anything yet.

6:28pm

I was able to go get some groceries (chocolate and root beer and laundry detergent). I'm going to go to McDonald's now and get my code.

7:25pm

Awesome! I'm in a lovely happy mood; I got mail! I got a postcard from Kellie; it says 2 of 4 postcards sent. So, I don't know if I've missed one or if the other ones are in different ports but, I got one, so it's awesome, and I'm really happy about it.

Also, I was able to get my thing corrected, (thanks to the incredible awesomeness of Perl!), it was easy to do. The crap that I did was a real kludge, but Perl saved my butt and gave me an easy way to make it work, so that's good.

Singapore onboard again

12:17pm MVT Friday 10 June 2005

9- pm SGT Wednesday 01 June 2005

There's a large ship called The Superstar Virgo across the pier from us. Inside the ship I saw two pairs of people walking. One of the first pair was wearing a full sized Garfield costume, and one of the second pair was wearing a full sized Odie costume. Kanae said she saw something interesting going on there and asked if it was a Disney ship.

There are six decks above the entrance deck, five of which have access to the outside air, plus the very top deck so that's seven decks, plus those that are below the main deck.

Their lifeboats have roofs, whereas ours do not.

It's a big boat. Superstar Virgo.

- - - -

9:01pm

When I talked to Kanae, she was smoking. Looking back on my experience at Kawasaki Nova, Benny would sometimes say "hey, when are you going to stop smoking?" to people he saw smoking cause he had watched his grandfather die of lung cancer from smoking and didn't like to see his friends smoking.

I haven't seen my grandfather die of smoking, but I wondered why I didn't say anything to Kanae. She mentioned that she was not able to get something done, and I was like, "aw that's too bad," kinda thing. She goes, "yeah, I'll just have to give a lot of excuses," and I was thinking, why excuses? just say what's up, and I wondered why I was thinking about that, but ... the point is that I wonder why I am trying to change people that I don't even really know; she's really attractive, and it can be argued that I would like to date her (if she didn't smoke), but it's not my place to try to change other people. Weird.

11:04pm

Been out on the front deck for a while; I thought we were leaving at 10. Hitomi thought we were leaving at 11:30; looks like she's more right than I am. There aren't any guys on the front deck with the ropes, so we might not even be leaving yet. The girls took some funny funny funny pictures that I'd like to get copies of.

Singapore is a place where we get off the boat into the long wide L shaped hallway along the boat then turns left into a mall. Three story mall.

Vietnam is a place that had no building at all; just a dock with ropes.

Hong Kong had just one long ramp into a mall, no long L shaped hallway, and customs was really trivial.

11:51pm

I'm standing at the door and the guys are standing here just waiting to close up the ship. Matt, Mariko and another woman ran onto the ship to go pee and then ran off, just because they can cause they know the guys (and they needed to pee). I look forward to a time I can do that.

- - - -

Here are funny pictures from Hitomi's roommmates:

how to lock a door

12:07am SGT Thursday 02 June 2005

I now know how to lock a door.

Get a heavy steel door. Close the door and tighten large wing nuts along its perimeter to hold it closed. Then, get five strong men to use a chain/wench/pulley system to heave a huge heavy steel post into slots on the top and bottom of the door.

Do that again with another equally huge post in the center of the door.

Then do it again with a third equally huge post on the other side of the door.

Spin threaded bolts (even bigger wingnuts) through the posts to press against the door, using about 60 ft/pounds on each one. Three per post (9 altogether).

The door should stay closed.

viet nam

##05:40 Wednesday 01 June 2005

Vietnam has been the best stop so far (Hong Kong, Danang, Singapore). People were friendly, roads were bumpy and chaotic, little 8 to 12 year old kids hardselling postcards, silk things, tiger balm, .. anything they could carry around. I must say they were quite well practiced with quick lines and little pouty faces that could wrench money from the coldest heart.

I bought custom made sandals for 95,000 d. (about US$7) and I love them. There's nothing to them, just leather on rubber soles and blue leather straps, but they're just my size and quite comfy.

Some of the girls were fitted for dresses, and Shawn got himself a white linen suit, and a brown linen shirt. He said one of his life goals was to own a white linen suit; I look forward to seeing him in it! (I can imagine Fred wearing it to the next nin concert he attends!)

In Vietnam, we visited a school which was built using funds from one of the previous Peace Boat fundraising campaigns. Two rooms with blackboards and desks, plus another building about the same size, though I don't know what was in it. Most impressive at that ceremony was how well behaved the kids were! Lined up on the sidewalk, squatting and waiting for over an hour in the hot sun for what must have been a boring school-opening ceremony... without complaint! I was completely impressed and amazed at their remarkably good behavior!

After the ceremony, GET teachers visited the classrooms and had a spontaneous lesson in each room: greetings in one and "head shoulders knees and toes" sung in the other. After that, we chowed lovely delicious fresh fruit and for the first time I had something called michi (in Vietnamese, I think) or jackfruit in English. Maryann suggested that it looks like yellow peppers, which seems more accurate that banana peels, which is what I suggested. The teachers seemed well-divided between love and hate on the jackfruit debate. I joined the love team and chowed probably 6 of them. (on top of the pineapple slices and some of the little fruits that janette and I encountered in Hawaii).

A river was discovered nearby the school and Greg went for a swim.. the rest of us cheered him on and a couple people waded. I monitored my brainwaves' disgust at the motorboat (engine enclosed in a wooden box on a mere large wooden canoe of a boat) being used to ferry people and bicycles across while people swam in the murky water, plus a woman on the side washing her fresh vegetables (leafy greens) in the water. Memories of Carla's adventure along the Ganges in India make my story a well-cleansed hospital in comparison, but still. Eww.

That night we got a hotel for US$4 per person, and we each got our own double bed! Fun wandering around Hoi An again and I went to be early so I could have more of a day to myself the next day.

I woke up early and went to see Tam and asked her to get me a motorbike driver for the day. We negotiated a bit to get me a good price that included going back to the ship (near Danang in Tien Sa). Basically US$6 for all that. Not sure if it's the best price ever, but I was certainly happy with the arrangement.

Ninh (pronounced somewhere between "nun" and "non"), my driver, couldn't speak a lot of English, but we got around fine: he took me to a nearly private beach where I indulged myself with a foot massage, mango shake and fresh pineapple, 40,000 d., 5,000 d. and 5,000 d. respectively. The pineapple was sold to me by a young boy named Long ("my name Long; you remember Long.") and I absolutely didn't want the pineapple, given that I wasn't hungry and just wanted to stroll around the beach alone. He asked for 15,000 d. at first, but finally dropped his price to 5,000 dong (US$ 0.33) and I still said no. He offered to take my picture, an offer I accepted, and I don't know if he intended to ask me for money, but I gave him a dollar for his efforts and a hopeful intention that it would in fact help his life.

I headed back to the roofed area and was presented with the opportunity to buy more things (massage, shake, bracelets). I ended up paying way too much for the bracelet (sucker!) but the rest was lovely.

We headed back by way of a cafe, or maybe the cafe was first, but in any case, the very coolest thing occurred: I spoke Japanese with a Vietnamese waitress in the cafe! It wasn't much of a conversation - just when and where and how long we studied. She had been much more intense with her studies and had more vocabulary than me, but I loved being able to do that.

We stopped by Tam's again on the way out of town, for final goodbyes. She gave me a hematite necklace!!! Holy moly. I was just beyond words surprised and blessed.

After that, Ninh took me to Marble Mountain, where marble is quarried to be carved into lions, fish, balls, fountains, Buddhas, chess sets, jewelry, plates, bowls, etc etc. He announced that he would meet me in one hour, and I must admit I felt a bit afraid that I wouldn't get back on the ship in time. I visualized myself happily exchanging stories onboard, and left it at that. I bought nothing but a ticket up the mountain (1000 d. I think) and wow. It was really cool. I love climbing, so it was perfect for me. Not like rock climbing with ropes, but rock hopping with bare feet. I scampered up the large steps and got to a three way fork in the trail. One way had a cave, and the other two ways went up (if I recall correctly) and I chose one of the not-cave ways randomly. I climbed some more and found a cave entrance which I entered, a bit concerned about the floor as I couldn't see where my feet were headed in the dark, to find a standing Buddha-esque statue standing in a vertical column about 50 feet tall and 3 meters in diameter. The walls boasted names painted or carved into the rock. Past the statue was an opening that went nearly vertically upward (with step-like rocks that made it easy) and I ascended to a lovely view of the ocean. Beyond lovely: it was absolutely gorgeous with gentle waves visiting the shore and a village mixed with trees and lovely plains on the other side.

I could have stayed much longer, but I had an appointment with Ninh and a boat, so I scampered back down the mountain and steps, barefootin' it all the way, much to my soles' delight. I was offered surprisingly good prices on a waterfountain, which, if it was the actual price, and had I a way to bring it home, I would have taken her up on it. Like US$20 for a carved marble fountain 4 feet tall and a sphere on top that spun in the water. Wow. A bit pricey to get it shipped home, I'm guessing. (ps: that price might have been misunderstood or misremembered) Vietnam is definitely a country I wish to visit again for a few weeks. Camping and biking around sounds great.

zzzz

11:36am GST Sunday 12 June 2005

5:39am SGT Thursday 02 June 2005

It's the day after Singapore and I'm just now going to bed (after I *pee*) and I've been working on the lesson plans and curriculums.. I didn't get it all finished as much as Audrey wants, but I got enough finished that I think it will be okay.

I'm really tired, but, uh, whatever. Yeah, okay; good night.