Cleanliness is next to .... the police station

The last few days I have been shopping quite a bit and so I have been utilizing the transportation system. Buses, MRT (the subway) and of course, taxis. Everything is so clean. The reason being it's frowned upon, and in many cases illegal, to eat and drink outside the confines of a restaurant or hawker stand (the little sidewalk cafe things).

You simply do not see people eating or drinking on the street, buses, subway or in taxis. Most raxi drivers will refuse you service if you have a drink of any sort in your hand. It is actually illegal to eat or drink on the buses and subways. Big fines and/or jail time. You do not even see babies in strollers with a sippy cup or bottle in hand. Mothers will stop at a restaurant or the sidewalk cafes to bottle feed a baby or give a sippy to a child. No one leaves McDonald's with an open cup. Consequently, you don't have sticky spills or messes left behind, either from the food and drink in spills or in trash left behind.

The buses are clean, many of them are double-deckers and some even have a flat screen tv tuned to a local station to watch while you are riding. Some of the bus stops, but not all, have flat screen tv's to watch also while waiting for the bus. They are built for small people though. Gene - when we take you on a bus here you will be stooped over until you sit down. You'll be impressed by the bus system, but uncomfortable until you sit!!!

The strange thing is I'm noticing about the Asian culture is that people do not look at one another and will very rarely make eye contact. Me, being from Texas always having a smile, nodding and speaking to people - they just don't have any idea what I'm about! Some will immediately look away, some will very tentativly smile back, some just look shocked. I just plow blindly ahead and smile, nod and speak to everyone! Establishing new cultural ties! When asked a question, people will look at you and have always been unfailingly nice and helpful and friendly.

We're headed back to the States for a visit arriving in Louisville on the 9th of May so we'll see some of you pretty soon. This will be Basil's first trip home since October. Look out Abby - he's got big hugs - lots of them for you! Look out Shari - he's got everything in the world for Abby - clear a space for it all! I think one whole suitcase homeward bound is presents for all!! If we don't get to see you - at least look for a phone call that comes up on calller ID as being from Louisville - Shari's number or my cell from Shreveport.

I don't know if I'll blog back from the states or not, so check back and watch for the next one!

Love to all!

Lindsay - we're here for 6 years. You've got plenty of time for a visit - tickets are about $900 to $1500 round trip. No jobs to look for here. Jobs are available, but you must find one from the states, get a contract in hand and they sponsor you to come here and work. People do not hardly change jobs because the paperwork and permits are such a hassle for anyone from any country other than Singapore. Even the workers from Phillipines, Indonesia, anywhere - it erequires lots of work to work here. But it can be done!!

Jim and Pam - hope it was a fun trip!

Patsy - I see margaritas in our future - soon!

Lynn - see ya soon!

Heather - loved the stuff about your trip!!

And Heather - Still future. Still there.

Where in the world is Basil now?

Thought I should probably give an update on Basil and his flying since that seems to be the reason we are over here! He is having an absolute ball! I'm up typing on the computer while he is sleeping. I thought I'd just stay up so I can make some breakfast or dinner or whatever when he wakes up to get ready. He takes off about 4 am and flys to Hong Kong. He'll stay there for 2 to 3 days and then be back. This should be his final training flight. If all checks out and the training captain signs him off, he'll fly his next flight as a full fledged Captain with Singapore Air Cargo! The training has been long and tedious, but good. He loves flying the 747 and going all over the place. Ok, to be perfectly honest - he doesn't love everywhere he's been to.

He was in Calcutta, India last week for 3 days. definitely not his cup of tea. He says the first thing that hits you is the smell. Next is the crazy taxi drivers and their driving. He got in while it was dark and said it was terrifying driving in from the airport to the hotel. Riding in a taxi in broad daylight did nothing to dispel the terror. In fact, he said that was almost worst because you could see everything when you weren't hiding your face in hands! The mass of people, the poverty, everything - he was shell shocked when we spoke on the phone. After a couple of more taxi rides and trying to decide what to eat and where - he was a little more acclimated, but I suspect it will take several visits there before he is not just in a daze about it. He still has Mumbai, Delhi and Chenai to visit.

Favorites stops have been Melbourne, Australia and he seems to like London and Hong Kong. Dubai he says is incredible with a horrendous amount of traffic on the road and pretty crazy drivers there, too. The goods you can get there are mind-boggling as is the amount of building go on there. Our friend Wayne got to go to Auckland, New Zealand and he loved it there. He spent two months living and working in India and was just having the most fun with Basil's shell shocked reaction to it all. Bear in mind the fact that Basil has never really seen poverty on much of any level in the states, much less abroad. Whizzing past the housing projects at 65 mph has been the bulk of his experience with poverty. But not anymore! He's seeing the really real world now. Wayne just keeps laughing at him! India is one place I have never had a desire to see. I would, however, love to see New Zealand.

Guess I'll go get dinner or breakfast for him so his stomach won't be growling during his check ride to Hong Kong! Then I figure I'll get some sleep unless Abby calls to tell me she wants to see me on the 'puter!

Joyce - getting ready for Barb's visit? Still playing Blokus?

Rusty - baby yet?

Lynn - our bet is on!

Karen - where are you?

Shari - love ya! Love Abby! Love Doug!

Heather - yes, still.