Hanoi Hilton and Somerset.

The Hanoi Hilton in a 1970 aerial surveillance photo, during the American/Vietnam war.  Click here for more details of the prison's history, none of it nice.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanoi_Hilton

Built by the French, used by the Japanese during thier occupations of the country,  some horrible things went on here.  Not nice.  So, I didn't feel comfortable taking pictures here, so I didn't.  Then I went outside and realised that the place  where we were staying was built on the grounds shown in the first picture above, -  the Somerest Grand Serviced Appartments.

This is the accomodation today.  What to think, what to say?

Hanoi bikes.

It is impossible to not be struck by the motor bikes in Hanoi. Thankfully 'struck' in the sence of shocked!!!

This series of snaps was taken on the drive to the airport.

The competition between us was to take the photo with the most riders. Here we have two heads protected and one mouth

No cheating with cut and paste allowed.

Then, I got it, four a seat a scooter!!!

Coffee in Hanoi.

Guess where we have just been on holiday? Hanoi plus Sapa and Halong Bay. The old quarter in Hanoi is divided into streets specialising in different wares. This one had some coffee shops. Gek got a very good deal on our Weasel Coffee.

Local Fruiter's.

Isn't this wonderful?   All the fruits in the world!!!!

Clowning in Singapore.

It was hot.    My only defence!!!!

Weasel Coffee

What has this little fellow to do with coffee?  Checkout this Wikipedia link to see.  And I still love it,  the coffee not the weasel!!!!

Film - Julie & Julia.

Funny, very funny. But it is two films. For more on Julia Child, Click. or Julie Powell, Click. So it has to be a split score. For Julie, 3/5 and for Julia, 4/5. What can I say, Meryl.......I am a fan!!!!

Anthony Poon

Poon, a Singaporean painter and sculpture. For more information on the man, click here.

SAM has an exhibition of his work, both abstract paintings and some of the models of his public space sculptures.

His works are very fresh and free.

His works can be found all over Singapore. I first noticed his sculpture at the top of Orchard Road. Note to self...get a photo!!!

Also liked his 3D canvases.

Mangroves

Photo credits to Gek.

4 hour boat trip around the mangroves on the north east of the island.  60% salt / 40% fresh water.  Home to crocodiles amongst others. 

Mandatory feeding of the fishes.  Tried to get them to jump for their lunch but no luck.

Ours was the last boat through before the rising tide makes the passage impossible.   Stories of boats getting stuck.....etc.

Brahminy Kite, the local indian name for which forms Langkawi's island  name.  To see several tens of these lovely birds swooping for chicken bits was a little disturbing....not right.

And a Crab Eating Macaque eating Warburton's finest was a little amiss too. Watch your waistline boy.  Good swimmer.

Spectacled Langur

One of our many neighbours. Very cute in more ways than one!!! And with an extremely long tail.

Other chaps' tails seemed to be fair game. Go pull it and then have a mock fight. Size and age no object. I watched these guys for ages. Falling out of a tree from a great height is not a problem. Bones of rubber.

Langkawi

Local budget airline, Firefly, now link Penang and Langkawi. Only 30 mins or so in a twin prop plane.

Spoilt our selves with resort accommodation.

with great front garden!!!

Morning visitors and,

evening sunsets a short drive away.

Film - Time Traveler's Wife.

Based on the 2003 novel by Audrey Niffenegger.  Lovely story, like randomly reading and interacting with pages of your our completed autobiography. Well shot too.  Has to be a 4 for me.

Ballet.

Three modern/contemporary ballets by the Singapore Dance Theatre. A couple of weeks ago we went to an introduction to the pieces given by the artistic director, Janek Schergen. His explanation and the accompanying demonstrations of the dances was really illuminating. So we went back for more!!!!!

Glow-Stop was our favorite dance work. 

Ion

Orchard Road has new shopping malls.........like it needs more!!!!  ION........"An ion is an atom or molecule where the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative electrical charge." Nice.....but what has that got to do with a Cathederal to the new religion.......consumerism?

Frankly I found it mind numbing, a net negative electrical charge for me then. Where are the shops, you might ask.  Lurking!!!

More void than substance.

There are tens of escalators.  This has to be the longest one in Singapore.  Takes you down 3 floors down to B4.

Book - The Great Wall

Well,  I am going to have to read all John Man's books.  They are all conjoined!!!  So far read Ghengis Khan, Kublai Khan and the Terracotta Army. So readable.  Have to be, to keep my attention!!!!  And as usually, John goes myth busting. When you look at  maps of Mongolia, walls are shown practically on the Russian border.  I had wondered how  this could be if the walls were meant to keep out the Mongol raiders and thier kin from China?  Attila The Hun next!!!!!

Lion Dance Competition.

Held annually at Ngee Ann City. 

Three troupes competed this night.  But first the resident Lions must be appeased!!!

Cute...... with menace!!!

Then the serious business begins.  Don't try this at home.........the last troupe had to abandon thier dance on their third fall.  The lads really hurt themselves.  Needed attention.

And really edge of your seat stuff, leaping around as one.  The audience were absolutely silent throughout each performance.

Of course there was the moment of clowning.  How do they do that????

There are two guys in there, really.  Loved it.  Going back on Saturday to watch the finals.  Still feeling for the lads who had to withdraw gutted.

Film - Coco avant Chanel

Lovely film. By the end , I didn't even notice the subtitles.  An extraordinary story of rags to riches. And to think an Englishman figured in her story..........!.  4 a must, nicely French.

Gek's Art

A large swooping eagle is now coming out of our wall.

With evil intent.

We have currently over 40 oil paintings around the apartment.  This is one of Gek's latest.  Check out others at Gek-Art. She is also painting to support Lotus children's Centre in Mongolia.  Check out our fund raising blog.  All donations gratefully received.

Film - Proposal.

A feel good movie.  It made me feel good......so it works.  Bit wooden in parts and the best scene IS the naked bump.  More to do with Sandra's curvaseous lines than two people trying to occupy the same space at the same time.  So only 2.5 for this one.

Book - High Road to China.

A book I couldn't put down.  Check out the Telegraph review.  Why I am using the Telegraph...no idea!!!  Reading this book it dawns on you where the story lines for Kipling's Kim and the Man Who Would be King  came from.  Interest!!!

Book - On Roads

Very readably written.  Check this review in the Telegraph.  Couple of pieces that made me chuckle.

Lord Byron writing to Thomas Moore in 1817.

"Last week I had a row on the road....with a fellow in a carriage, who was impudent to my horse....I wheeled round,  rode up to the window, and asked him what he meant.  He grinned, and said some foolery, which produced him an immediate slap in the face, to his utter discomfiture.  Much blasphemy ensued, and some memace, which I stopped by dismounting and opening the carriage door, and intimating an intention of mending the road with his immediate remains, if he did not hold his tongue.  He did it."

Much, much later in 1994, involves

an elder from a London Synagogue getting out of his Mercedes and punching a Buddhist monk sitting in a Nissan Micra.

Why do I find that absolutely hillarious???

Boston Brass

B B have been in Singapore to run classes with local students. Last night was a end of session concert involving themselves and the students. Brilliant. Singapore has talent.

Film - Management

Management. Funny.  Once you get beyond....is this a stalker movie?  Jenifer still has the perfect bottom lip biting action on the big screen.  3 stars seems fair.

Steve McCurry

A photo journalist with a great eye. We caught a small exhibition of his pictures at the Asian Museum. Check out http://www.stevemccurry.com/main.php.

Now and Then

From David

The TODAY free newspaper invited it's readers to submit photos of now and then. It being 50 years since Sinapore became self governing. This picture was taken in 1965 and shows Gek and extended family going on holiday. Gek is some where hidden but her father is standing on the running board.

From David

Compare and contrast!!!! A few weeks ago returning from Penang.

A visit to the Cantonese Opera - in English

Photo from web publicty site.

This opera tells the life story of Emperor Guang Xu, the eighth (or second last) Emperor of the Qing Dynasty (AD1654 - 1911) and the power struggle between him and the Empress Dowager during his reign from AD 1875 - 1908 as well as the political intrigues in the Qing Imperial Court during this epoch.

What a revelation. Chinese Opera made accessible for the foreigner!!! Sung in English and performed by the Chinese Theatre Circle to a packed house. A story line of corrupting power and delusion told in words, song and dance with drama and some humour. Loved it. And the costumes were stunning. I am now a fan.