8 Oct 2010 – Bye for now my adorable grandkids

Thank you Linn & Jeff for putting up with me the past week and thank you to the grandchildren for a delightful time. The art of being a decent grandparent, parent, friend, guest etc is to be positive, help around and NOT to overstay one’s welcome 🙂
A rolling stone gathers NO moss – Proverb

Wed: had lunch with Katy at Irmo Elementary School (Ellie also in the same school but they were having nap-time) and did some shopping. USA is certainly a consumers’ nation with all the choices, varieties and the not so out-of-range prices, especially brand-names at outlet stores. Even Gator got her Halloween outfit!

Thu: Linn chaperoned Ellie’s field trip to the zoo while I took care of JohnW & Sophie. It did not seem that long ago (1986) that May volunteered me to chaperoned a field-trip to Griffith Observatory in LA when she was in first grade in CA. Of course she does not remember that!

Cousin David WONG turned 70yrs 6 Oct, so I decided to surprise him by stopping in HNL/Honolulu. Thanks to Lisa XIAO for offering to pick me up at the airport and thanks to YY HUANG for arranging the pot-luck.

By the time this posting is circulated, will be en route to HNL via ORD/Chicago (4hrs lay-over), SEA/Seattle (3hrs layover) and over 12hrs of flying time. Lisa will pick me at HNL airport and drive me straight to surprise my cousin at the pot-luck party! Call me on my mobile in USA: +1 97861 54375 if you require more info but please do not be a party-pooper to squeal on me! David thinks I am somewhere in Croatia, so let’s hope that he has a strong heart 🙂

6 Oct 2010 – Recharging!

The past 3 months of traveling must have lowered some resistance from my system… a tooth infection on top of an awful cough and cold. Strangely enough, 4 months hiking on the AT and I was as fit as a fiddle, but that was 5yrs ago! Being in nature without the stress of cities, airport schedules and over-crowding is a healthier way to live. Glad to have a few calm days with Linn & family to enjoy the grandchildren, hoping that some of their energy will rub on to their grandmother 🙂

Mon: Dr Patrick Daley must be one of the best dentists and he is also the dentist for Linn & family. Having been to dentists in SE Asia, Europe and USA, I still believe that USA has the best dentistry. Had a tooth infection in Croatia… thanks to Peggy, a GP who provided me with antibiotic which was great a help. Linn got me a 0800hrs appointment to see Patrick at his new dental clinic which is equipped with the latest high-tech instruments. It was comfortable enough to get X-ray without having to bite into bite-wings which jabbed into your gums. Before getting a shot of anesthetic, the gum is numbed with some gel which helped to not feel too much of the shot. Also a TV screen with your choice of channel to distract you from the fear of any discomfort!

By 0900hrs, the infected tooth which was scaled, cleaned and padded with more antibiotic. Thank goodness, nothing too serious, but I will certainly return to do my teeth cleaning here yearly where they really put an effort to scale and clean the teeth. Thanks Patrick for being such a good dentist in every way.

Tue: Sophie went for her shots, poor baby and she did not even cry until her second shot! Clear blue sky… beautiful weather with cool nights. How blessed to be here with Linn & family. Wished May could be here too.

For there was never yet philosopher
That could endure the toothache patiently –
William Shakespeare from Much Ado About Nothing

4 Oct 2010 – Delta Airlines with D- Service!

Condolences to the LEE Family for the passing of Madam KWA Geok Choo, the wife of Minister Mentor LEE Kuan Yew, SIN’s first Prime Minister and the builder of SIN.

Fri: had a nice lunch@10 Downing**** with Kat before the shuttle pick-up. The traffic was back to back on this grey Fri afternoon. To think that I even worked for Delta Airlines many years ago, today’s service is just appalling. Flight from NYC/Laguardia to CAE/Columbia, SC was first delayed and later cancelled. Unfortunately the airports in NYC are not designed for the comforts of passengers 🙁 Delta claimed that since the delays and cancelled flight was due to weather conditions, they were unable to provide me with a hotel room. As it was I was coming down with a bad cold & sore throat and no sleep for a night did not help.

Sat: Instead of arriving CAE Fri night, I arrived Sat late morning. So much for airlines in the USA. Usually I fly budget airlines and have yet to encounter much delays or such rude service! Had to fly via Atlanta and there are some amazing sculpture displays at the airport near the main terminal: Zimbadwe Sculpture/A Tradition in Stone.

Sun: Struggling to fight my cough and cold but thank goodness for the 4 lovely grandchildren who are giving me a good dose of encouragement. Katy (soon 9yrs) read to me, Ellie (5yrs) served me pancakes for breakfast, JohnW (4yrs next month) making funny faces & jokes, Sophie oh Sophie (18months), she is as cute as a button, Linn’s yummy stew and butternut squash soup – the perfect food for a sore throat. Jeff took the children to Sunday School and church so that Linn & I could catch up. Later he drove to Atlanta (app 4hrs drive) for a Tropical Medicine Conference and he will surely be missed for the next two days.

Cherish your human connections… your relationships with family and friends – Barbara Bush

1 Oct 2010 – En route to Columbia, SC via Stormy NYC

Thu: The Bláa lónið/Blue Lagoon is located 20 minutes drive from Keflavík International Airport. Just to submerge here for half hour is worth the trip. Wished I had a few more days. This geothermal spa is really doing a world of good for me. If only I knew earlier that there will be a delay with the flight, would have stayed longer… and also remember to take my camera!  Blue Lagoon pix are credits to wikipedia!

The steamy waters are part of a lava formation. The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulphur. The lagoon is fed by the water output of the nearby geothermal power plant Svartsengi and is renewed every 2 days. Superheated water is vented from the ground near a lava flow and used to run turbines that generate electricity. After going through the turbines, the steam and hot water passes through a heat exchanger to provide heat for a municipal hot water heating system. Then the water is fed into the lagoon for recreational and medicinal users to bathe in.

Amazing rainbows at the airport before departing Iceland and beautiful views as the plane flew over Canada.

To Kat & Greg- thanks for putting me up on a Thu stormy night. Good luck to their very busy schedules…

Oct’s Special Dates

3 Happy Bday CHONG Siong Yin

5 Happy 95th Bday LAM Poh Kow

6 Happy 70th Bday David WONG

7 Happy Bday Leslie LAM

8 Happy Bdays Larry LAM, Audrey WONG, KONG Heng Sun

12 Happy Bday Karen SCAF-BENHAM

13 Happy Bday David YUNG

16 Happy 40th Bday Patricia LAM

21 Happy Bday Steven LAM

27 Happy Bday Ellen HALD sr

29 Happy Bdays LAM Kwok Lock & Kiera CHUA

31  Happy Bdays Adeline LEE, Mark BOROWSKY and Happy Halloween

There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather –
John Ruskin

29 Sep 2010 – Back in the UK

Mon: arrived back in Gatwick. Appreciations to David KRAUSE/Paul’s brother who met me and drove me to meet up with Paul, Lilian and their adorable princess Anabella/3yrs. Paul crossed my path when I moved to SIN 10yrs ago. He was then working for Philips and was in SIN quite often for work projects. Being an orchid fan, we became friends and it is always a pleasure to show SIN to him.

Tue: a delightful day in the Wisley Garden, Woking/Surrey.

The Glasshouse has a nice collection of orchids and other tropical flowers. The English certainly has a way to plant perfect gardens!

One of my favourites… the Alpine Display House.

Was fortunate to see the sculptures exhibited thru’ out the gardens. Thank you Lilian for taking me there and to Anabella for her patience and her willingness to walk many hours. Great to catch up and to meet Paul & family. Gratitude for all their hospitality. Grateful to David who drove me from and to Gatwick to Ashtead.

I sometimes wonder if the hand is not more sensitive to the beauties of sculpture than the eye. I should think the wonderful rhythmical flow of lines and curves could be more subtly felt than seen. Be this as it may, I know that I can feel the heart-throbs of the ancient Greeks in their marble gods and goddesses – Helen Keller

26 Sep 2010 – Perast & Kotor

Sat: Montenegro=Black Mountain is a country of its own just south of Dubrovnik. The drive took app 2hrs and we needed our passports to cross the border. In spite of the rain (all day), one could still appreciate both the beauty and culture here. The history of Montenegro dates back to 9th century with the emergence of Duklja, a vassal state of the Byzantine Empire.

A sovereign principality since the Late Middle Ages, Montenegro saw its independence from the Ottoman Empire formally recognized in 1878. From 1918, it was a part of various incarnations of Yugoslavia. On the basis of a referendum held in 2006, Montenegro declared its independence then. With a pop of 673,180 in an area of 13,812 sq km/5,014 sq mi, this exciting country is a must-see if in the region.

Perast is located twelve kilometers from Kotor and was once one of the most beautiful baroque towns on the Boka Kotorska. But the earthquake in 1979 left almost nothing but rubble and ruins. The two small islands off the coast are Sveti Juraj and Our Lady of the Rock/Gospa od Skrpjela. On Sveti Juraj is a Benedictine monastery; on Gospa od Skrpjela a baroque church built in 1630. Below 3 pix credits to: http://www.galenfrysinger.com/montenegro_perast.htm

Located along one of Montenegro’s bays is Kotor, a city of traders and famous sailors. The Old City of Kotor is a well-preserved urbanisation typical of the Middle Ages, built between the 12th and 14th century. Medieval architecture and numerous monuments of cultural heritage have made Kotor an UNESCO listed ‘World Natural and Historical Heritage Site’. The Cathedral of Sveti Tripun , a monument of Roman culture and one of the most recognisable symbols of the city.

Kotor has been fortified since the early Middle Ages, when Emperor Justinian built a fortress above Ascrivium in AD 535, after expelling the Goths. Today Kotor is one of major tourist destination in Montenegro. It has one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic. It has numerous other sites with the ancient walls which stretch 4.5km/2.8mi directly above the city.

There was in a traffic line on the boarder back to Dubrovnik… maybe only red cars get to cross the boarder 🙂 Went grocery shopping and was caught in the storm, nearly got swept by the flooding waters and was totally wet with a broken umbrella! Was later told that it was the worst storm even.

Sun: the day started with pouring rains but cleared up for us on the cable-car to view and say our goodbyes to Dubrovnik/Croatia. It has been wonderful meeting up with childhood friends in this part of the world. Swam 6 days in the Adriatic Sea, walked & crossed beautiful paths and had yummy food. Thank you to all our Croatian hosts and hostesses/Mr & Mrs Zoran Franotovie, Mrs Nada Stražičič, Mrs Ivana Bego and especially to Tomislav Črorič/Viator Travel for their kind services.

Where will 2011 take us???

Saying goodbye doesn’t mean anything. It’s the time we spent together that matters, not how we left it – Trey Parker

Continue reading →

25 Sep 2010 – Happy 34th Anniversary Peggy & Ian

Fri: a feature of Dubrovnik is its walls that run more than 3km around the city. The walls run from four to six metres thick on the landward side but are much thinner on the seaward side. The system of turrets and towers were intended to protect the vulnerable city with a pop of app 43,770 in an area of 21.35sq km (8.2 sq mi) In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

The prosperity of the city of Dubrovnik has always been based on maritime trade. Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy, the city achieved a remarkable level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries. Although demilitarised in the 1970s with the intent of forever protecting it from war devastation, in 1991, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was besieged by Serb-Montenegrin forces and heavily damaged by shelling.

Our guide provided us with interesting info she has learnt from the U course, but even then as she said… next year might be a different history! With all the wars and political disagreements, the facts get confused, not easy to understand! It is doubtful if I will return to hear the new history but will follow-up reading updates. It is not my scene with crowds and over-commercializing. The wall is the high point and Kenson flying off to Paris is the low point, as that means the Croatia trip is nearing to it’s end 🙁

It is a great pity that every human being does not, at an early stage of his life, have to write a historical work.  He would then realize that the human race is in quite a jam about truth – Rebecca West

24 Sep 2010 – Polače/Mljet

Tue: 0600hrs ferry from Korčula to Orebic/app 10mins, 2hrs drive from Orebic to Dubrovnik and 1.30hrs ferry from Dubrovnik to Mljet- the most southerly and easterly of the larger Adriatic islands of the Dalmatia region. Mljet is of volcanic origin, with numerous chasms and gorges, of which the longest, the Babino Polje, connects the north and south of the island.

Port Polače, the principal harbour in the north, is a port of call for tourist ferry. The National Park, built in 1960 lies on the western part of the island covering an area of 54 sq km. Stayed in Polače/pop 123 at a B&B located by the edge of the National Park and the last house numbered 46! Walked 4km to Pomena/pop 50 as Ian did not bring his swimming trunks and had to buy a new pair there! Yummy dinner of wild boar with local wine back in Polače@Antika****

Wed: Mljet was discovered by ancient Greco-Roman geographers, who wrote the first records and descriptions/6th century BC. The Benedictines became the feudal lords of the island in 1151, having come from Monte Gargano in Italy. They came ashore, built and donated to them the Church and Monastery of St Mary on the islet in the Big Lake (1187–1198). Walked from Polače to Pristaniste, ferry to St Mary, ferry back to Pristaniste, walked to Soline where 4 families live in that village. After lunch continued walking uphill but unfortunately the map is incorrect and we made a turn half way up the hill instead of continuing straight 🙁 Thank goodness the delicious dinner@Antika(fish stew & kid/baby goat made up for that extra 2hrs walk) 🙂

Thu: relaxing morning swimming and reading. Kenson was rather perturbed about losing his hat yesterday but thank goodness he found it early this morning. Ferry left Mljet 1600hrs arriving 1730hrs in Dubrovnik. Staying in a 16th century mansion/Pension Ivana with a lovely garden outside the old city. An evening guided tour in the old city to celebrate the full moon festival (Chinese Lunar calendar)!

No matter how far you have gone on a wrong road, turn back – Turkish Proverb

20 Sep 2010 – Hvar & Korčula

Sat: ferry from Split to Hvar took app 1.30hrs with a wedding group making merry and drinking when the ferry took off at 1130hrs. Hvar is app 68km/42.25mi long, known for its exports of lavender and rosemary production for the French perfume industry. An afternoon is not much time but then, there was not much to see! Left Hvar 1815hrs, arrived into Korčula town 1930hrs.

It was dark by the time the ferry docked and we were met by our taxi driver who drove us app 15mins away from the town center to Lumbarda. According to legend, the island was founded by Trojan hero Antenor in the 12th century BC who is also famed as the founder of the city of Padua.

Sun: walked around Lumbarda and its surroundings with the lighthouse being the most southern end of the island (over 10km app 5hrs including a lunch and swim stop). The are plenty of vineyards in this area and the most important settlement dated 3rd century BC/ruins by the church. It was indeed a refreshing 1hr swim (clear salty water of the Adriatic Sea) across and back in the tiny bay where our accommodations are located/app 10mins walk from the center of Lumbarda.

Mon: a day in Korčula old city was delightfully charming and seems like Peggy, Kenson & I are the only Asians here! The old city with it’s Renaissance & Gothic architecture is surrounded by walls. The streets are arranged in a herringbone pattern allowing free circulation of air but protecting against strong winds. Korcula is tightly built on a promontory that guards the narrow sound between the island and the mainland. Building outside the walls was forbidden until the 18th century and the wooden drawbridge was only replaced in 1863. All of Korčula’s narrow streets are stepped with the notable exception of the street running alongside the southeastern wall. The street is called the Street of Thoughts as one did not have to worry about the steps!

The tomatoes here must be the best I have ever tasted and the seafood has so far been deliciously fresh. We have also been blessed with perfect weather… hopefully this will continue!

The Mediterranean as it once was – tag-line for Croatia

18 Sep 2010 – From Antiquity to Present Day

• Ancient Greek: Aσπάλαθος Aspálathos/app 200BC…
• Latin: Spalatum/app 300AD…
• Medieval Dalmatian: Spalatro=little palace/10 century…
• Today Split.

After the end of World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the province of Dalmatia, along with Split, became a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes which in 1929 changed its name to Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Croatia declared its independence again in 1991.

Split is one of the oldest cities in the area and is traditionally considered just over 1,700yrs, while archaeological research relating to the ancient Greek colony of Aspálathos/6th century BC, thus establishes the city as being several hundred years older. In the years following 2000, Split finally gained a momentum and started to develop again. The focus mostly came on tourism. From being just a transition center, Split is now a major Croatian tourist destination, home of Diocletian’s Palace and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many new hotels are being built, as well as new apartment and office buildings. Large development projects are revived and new infrastructure is being built.

Founded in 1820, the Archaeological Museum is the oldest museum in Croatia. It has a large stock of archaeological objects from prehistoric times, from the period of the Greek colonization of the Adriatic and from the Roman, Early Christian and early Medieval ages. The impressive collections of coins, glass etc makes the visit a most interesting and educational one.

With perfect weather in this antiquity & medieval ambiance, life is like a fairy-tale in the delightful company of my childhood friends Kenson, Peggy & her husband Ian 🙂

Plato, who may have understood better what forms the mind of man than do some of our contemporaries who want their children exposed only to REAL people and everyday events—knew what intellectual experience made for true humanity. He suggested that the future citizens of his ideal republic begin their literary education with the telling of myths, rather than with mere facts or so-called rational teachings – Bruno Bettelheim