tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50991829538452277172024-02-02T14:46:55.181+08:00The Bomparradi's go to AsiaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-26825572681815208312020-10-06T05:37:00.003+08:002020-10-06T05:41:44.807+08:00As time passes, 05/10/2020Two years today since we have left Singapore, two years since we have come back home.
Two years full of life, milestones and love. Singapore and all it represented is still vivid in my heart.
The desire to go back is strong and it gets stronger by the day. Till we come back dear Asia, I treasure you in my heart and in the smiles your memory paints onto my face.
I leave you with the thoughts, never published, I had last year on the very same day.
<blockquote></blockquote>Another autumn is here. It marks exactly one year since our return from Singapore. Last year today we left.
Marco and a pregnant me. This year we are three, Maya is joy, laughter, exhaustion and a wonderful new life.
I often think of Singapore, our life at the equator, the delicious food, the crazy heat day and night, the city commute and the life lived in flip-flops. It’s been awesome. Difficult but awesome.
I’d do it again, and again. I left feeling content and grateful. One year on I’m nostalgic like crazy. I went over with the desire to travel and have the experiences of a lifetime, I came back with two lives, forever entwined with Asia, forever grateful<blockquote></blockquote>.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-80119309277225300282018-10-05T00:15:00.000+08:002018-10-05T00:15:45.233+08:00The last day in Singapore<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And here we are, our last day in Singapore.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It came fast, invasive and unwanted. We didn’t manage to do
many things we really wanted to, the last few days flew by in a cloud of
bureaucracy, work deadlines and annoyances.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But although we didn’t see again some places we loved, at
least we managed to say goodbye to the people that made our stay in Singapore a
unique experience.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We will miss you all (I still can’t believe this is it!) and
I leave with the certainty that true friendship does not care about distance
and time zones. Relationships remain and I am grateful for having you in my
life.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We will see you soon </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">r.& M xxx<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-86689856504338822532018-09-05T20:45:00.000+08:002018-09-05T20:45:50.693+08:00A month before we go back home<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
One month exactly to our repatriation date.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
I can’t describe how fast this 2018 has gone, the desire to travel and explore this part of the world is intact, so much we have not seen… there is still so much to do, experience, feel, taste and instead I’m packing my bags and thinking about these past two years with some regrets, but also gratitude.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
I have been through weeks of denial and rejection of the idea we had to go (no chance for another extension). I got to the point the husband had the ticket to go and I didn’t…<o:p></o:p></div>
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If only I could rewind time and start all over again… I would do it differently. I wish I could start with my current mind set. I can now let go, I can now step back and feel less intensely about everything, I no longer have to be liked (I failed miserably at this in the office, oh well…).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
A quick trip to UK and Italy in August boosted my desire to go back home. I have now come to terms with the end of our (hopefully first) Asian adventure, I am now happy to live closer to the people I care for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
It’s not a return, it’s not a defeat, it’s the beginning of a new adventure for us, definitely bigger than Asia and the only place for me to start this adventure is near the <span class="SpellE">Bomparolas</span>, the <span class="SpellE">Corradis</span>, the friends we have made over the years and over the countries in Europe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
I had time to reflect on the past 2.5 years, I had the chance to treasure the amazing memories and digest the hard bits, and God I feel blessed!<o:p></o:p></div>
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How lucky I have been to be sent here, to be living and experiencing such a different, rich and diverse culture. Who would have ever imagined that I would have the chance to see so many faces, to meet so many lives and to see so many stars in the night sky!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m truly grateful to life for this time and although with eyes full of tears, I can only smile to fate and say thank you!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-81447947524266892172017-12-30T13:57:00.004+08:002017-12-30T14:12:37.853+08:00Reflections of 2017 – part 4<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Outside
of the holidays and foods, the approach and acceptance of realising bodily
noises in any scenario, my abiding memory is best summarised as this: no-one
says “excuse me”. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It
was Roby who sussed it some months back. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
locals push past. It’s not that they behave as if you don't exist, like we can
often feel with certain tourists; rather, it’s just not a part of the day-to-day
vocabulary.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And
then, the moment you politely question the
situation, they apologise like they just dropped a massive shit on your
breakfast plate.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Example….blocked
by family welcoming home mother as I exit Changi airport. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Marco thinks “that’s
sweet, but I don't need that level of thoughtless shit after less than 40 hours
sleep and about 40 hours of flight-time in 7 days.”</span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Takes deep breath, applies standard British approach and apologises…</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“sorry
excuse me, can I squeeze past?”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Cue
chorus of "Sooorrrreeeeeee" as everyone moves out of the way.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As
we head towards our new year in Singapore, for me that’s the abiding memory of
2017. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It’s
the general lack of thoughtfulness and kindness, an appreciation and recognition of others
around you. It’s not malicious, it’s just not there. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There
are posters on trains, god-awful a-6-year-old-could-have-come-up-with-a-better-rhyme phrases, trying to get the
locals to think about others, not just themselves.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There’s
a kindness movement, with Ben and Bang (I’m not making this shit up!) in
adverts on TV, trying to teach people to be nicer to strangers; <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://kindness.sg/">https://kindness.sg/ </a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Here are a couple of the
posters you can see on the MRT:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">What aspects of anti-social travel behaviour do you think
“bag-down Benny” and “hush-hush Hannah” are trying to get across?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Here’s
the full gang outside taking a well-deserved break from another day of failing
to get their points across….</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There’s
a word for this behaviour, or self-first: kiasu; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiasu">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiasu</a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I
took exception to hearing one of our Australian contacts refer to
Singaporeans in this fashion – I still don't think it's a nice phrase to use in reference
to the locals, but the word is derived within the Hokkien culture; it’s a
Singaporean description for Singaporeans. And regretfully, it hits the spot to describe what you encounter more
often than not.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So that was 2017!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It has been brilliant and fantastic, difficult and troublesome, so relaxed I wondered if I would ever be able to get up again, and so intense that we thought we would both explode. We've had visitors, stay with us, or stay locally for work and / or pleasure. We've travelled lots, but it still feels like not enough. We've eaten things that should never be eaten, and experienced moments of such uniqueness, that we will likely never repeat, that I sometimes wonder if they actually happened.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Have
a fantastic new year to all of you, our family and friends. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We’ll be celebrating it
here in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Singapore, at a party looking
over the bay, with free-flowing food and drink. <span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Should
be a prime location for the fireworks, and loads of selfie opportunities! That assumes we haven't both gotten so rat-arsed we are asleep in the corner and miss it all. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We
both have form in this matter, so wish us luck, and lots of red bull based drinks.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">See
you all in 2018 X</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-12636952540016483462017-12-30T13:39:00.001+08:002017-12-30T13:39:48.296+08:00Reflections of 2017 – part 3<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u>Cambodia
in August</u></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Glorious temples, and unbearable heat! If Singapore has been bad,
never have we experienced greater humidity and more heat than walking through
Angkor Wat in Siem Reap.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It
was truly beautiful, ancient temples slowly being consumed by nature, man
seeking to hold back the tide.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
fusion food we tried in Embassy, delicious! With geckos watching us through the
windows.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Eating
bugs? Turns out if you cook them and flavour them with French pastry and
sauces, then all they are is a mental block to swallowing and a photo
opportunity to share later. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
Cambodian people, so kind and helpful, so many smiles, so much gratitude,
despite the poverty.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
town always awake, or so it seemed; the brown dust and mud (that persists to
this day in the treads of my trainers), the poverty of the water village. <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A
truly beautiful place to visit.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u><br /></u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u>Vietnam
in October</u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The madness of Hanoi, crossing the street by not looking at the
cars and motorcycles, trusting they will flow around you, like water around a
rock…a rock that is slowly crossing a river, trying not to show any fear that
the water is going to kill it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The night market, the dancing on the street around the lake; how everyone lives on the street, not just cooking and eating food, sat on what can only be described as pre-school sized plastic chairs and tables, but working, welding, selling, even having hair cuts.</span><br />
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The motorbike is king! Deliveries are made by bike, gas cylinders, hundreds of helium-filled balloons, chickens and all manner of animals and vegetables, are all transported by bike. The traffic makes it the most convenient form of transport. Even the Grab taxis that we use in Singapore (similar to Uber) offer motorbike pillion taxi travel in Hanoi. For the brave or desperate only!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The serenity of cycling and being paddled down the river in Tamcoc in Ninh Binha.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And Halong Bay...</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The serenity, beauty...silence, while kayaking into grottos and caves...as the junk sails further into the bay...a barbeque on a secluded beach....which changes the moment our allotted time is up, as we are suddenly swamped by tourism-overload.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Another country we will go back to in 2018, the middle and South need us to visit too.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And
the other trips and events…work with a twist of fun, work just for work…Europe
for weddings or wedding anniversaries, Norway for stop-overs, Singapore for the
National Day….we’ve done so much that the level of tiredness we feel presently
makes a lot more sense if considered in the context of travel. And 2018
threatens to be just as busy, even more so.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So
how can I sum up this trip so far……….?<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-1281268444860371282017-12-30T12:36:00.000+08:002017-12-30T12:36:20.597+08:00Reflections of 2017 – part 2<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u>Phuket
Thailand in April</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The James Bond island, famous as the backdrop from The Man
With The Golden Gun, the face-off between Roger Moore's 007 with Scaramanga. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Asians
and Westerners all posing, hands clasped together with index fingers pointing,
loaded weapons ready for the photo opportunity. Seeing the 2 Asian ladies
posing, so different in style and yet both so equally mesmerising…in a
car-crash / "WTF" way!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
posture of the Chinese tourists in the waiting room....don't worry if it’s a
public area, just relax, treat it like home. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Belch,
yawn, snort the phlegm in and eat it. It’s all perfectly acceptable. Oh,
feeling a bit warm? Cool off by raising your t-shirt over your belly. That’s
better…</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">On
the return the air stewardess…. "boarding paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....". I
think I was sitting by the time she ended that word (more on the local use of
English at a later blog-date).</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tourists
are weird. So interested in visiting other nations, seeing what must be seen,
getting themselves as many photos as possible, and yet often so unthinking of local cultures, and what is appropriate. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
Chinese tourists are probably the worst we have seen overall, but not just from
our trip to Thailand. When we went to buy a new TV in Mustafa's, Chinese
tourists would loudly walk in front of everyone, no regard for people other
than themselves, literally as if no-one else exists. <span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It
has just never happened, in any society where I have spent any time, that while
shopping, looking at shampoo, with barely 30cm between you and the shelves,
that someone comes and stands in front of you. And yet it happened to Roby. All
it needed was a Chinese tourist who had an interest in looking at the same
goods. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">But
in Phuket, it was the Russian tourists who stood out as the biggest wankers; no
modesty on display, the women in bikinis, the men topless in shorts, all of
them bright red from too much sun. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Still,
the best tourist moment….(drum roll)…. goes to China and the Chinese gentleman
pretending to take a photo of the rock formation, whereas when I passed behind
him saw he was actually taking close-up photos of Russian cleavage. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Maybe
such “materials” are not readily obtained from the internet in China? Or can
only be secured at personal risk? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Just think, he might literally explode with excitement if he went to the
Jeju Island sex park.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u>Tokyo
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A trip by train to Kamakura, and walking on the beach. A sunny day,
with children playing in the water, kites being flown.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
Westerners soaking as much sun as possible, the Asians wrapped up in clothes,
wide-brimmed hats, arm covers, for fear of tanning, or sitting in little tents
safe from the rays of Vitamin D while enjoying their more compressed views of
the sea. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Weddings
and newly-weds posing in town, being photographed by their official
photographers, friends, and visiting strangers ;)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Eating
tonkatsu in our favourite tonkatsu restaurant in the world, Katsukura in
Shibuya.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Trends
2017, the Ishibe-san retirement party, and ending the night in a karaoke bar.
“Big in Japan” by Alphaville was my song of choice. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“Oh
Sole Mio” was our duet – needless to say we didn’t choose the song, it appeared
on screen and 2 microphones appeared as if by magic in our hands.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">‘course
we nailed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>;)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-35278603284953563542017-12-30T12:25:00.001+08:002017-12-30T12:25:59.192+08:00Reflections of 2017 – part 1
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I
recognise that I have reverted to type recently; talk a good game when it comes
to blog posts, but unlike The Wife I often lack blogging inspiration, a clarity
of what I want to say, and….energy. That most basic requirement that enables
one to get off one’s arse and do something that needs doing or that you might
want to do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">All
of you who know me will of course recognise my preferred hobby of “doing as
little as possible for as long as possible”.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
Wife calls me “loffio”, so I have christened my relaxing time as the process of
“loffiaggio”. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Anyway,
I digress, for despite my natural tendencies, as the new year lands upon us
all, I must endeavour to be better at taking those little things, observations
and feelings, and turning them into a more regular commentary worthy of my
habitat.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Before
that though…some thoughts and memories of 2017…</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u>The
Maldives in February</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
beauty of the Indian Ocean and the archipelago, the blues and greens, the calm,
the silence, the sense of isolation. Diving into the clear Indian Ocean from
our water villa, drying off on our deck. The claustrophobia of Male, the volume
of plastic and rubbish in the water around the capital, compared to the
perfection of the resorts. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And
the washroom cleaning lady in Changi airport whom I approached for directions
to the nearest toilet…her squawked reply makes us laugh even now...
"EEh??? Don knoooowwwww" and then she was gone, off to clean the next
toilets. Should I have followed her? Might have looked odd.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Maldives
is a definite on the visit list this year…we’ll be back, for one more visit…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u>South
Korea in March</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Jeju
island, volcanic rock formations, like the Devils Causeway but slightly smaller?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rocks
and rock sculptures, and amazing trees, in Hallim Park and in Ssangyong caves.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
views from Seongsan Ilchulbon, the top of the stunning deceased volcano, a
unesco world heritage site and rightly so. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The
sex park. Models and sculptures of people...having sex....or of massive members
and enormous clitorises being fingered. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Best
memory? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Eating octopus so fresh it still hadn't worked out it was dead. Seeing
Roby’s face drain of all colour as the plate of octopus arrived, the plate
moving as if full of worms. The sheer joy in CW’s face, clapping with
excitement. At that precise moment, a dawning of the sheer authenticity of
actually being in Asia. I laughed, knowing I would have to try it. I did. I
also knew Roby would be too competitive not to do the same as a result. She did
:)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-83025814482687735792017-11-26T16:58:00.002+08:002017-11-27T08:22:36.856+08:00Finally Vietnam!<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A couple of weeks ago we decided to escape to Vietnam for a
few days.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We really needed a break, it was best time of the year to
visit Halong Bay and it was my birthday.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So off we went to the north of Vietnam for 6 days.<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">6 days is definitely too short for this amazing country, but
we managed to get a flavour of this beautiful crazy place.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Hanoi is the busiest city we have seen so far.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">By far.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The number of motorbikes around is mind blowing. And even
more so is what it’s carried on each motorbike: people (from 1 to 4-5 including
babies), animals (we have seen a cage full of hens), stuff (from massive number
of balloons , Up-style, to wall mirrors).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">They don’t necessarily stop at traffic lights, and
definitely do not stop at zebra crossings.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Therefore, walking in Hanoi is an adventure. With pavements
occupied by motorbikes for rent and street food ‘restaurants’, streets full of
cars, bikes, motorbikes, pedestrians and sometimes animals, you pretty much
walk in the middle of the street where motorbikes zig-zag around you.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Plus the constant honking, in a non-aggressive way though, just to let
you know they are there and they are not stopping to let you pass.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Pure madness.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">But a safe and organised madness, in a way.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Then another reason why this is one of the craziest places
we have visited so far, is the street.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Life happens on the street. The
cooking, the eating, the selling, the hair-cutting, the nail varnishing, the
grooming, the dish washing, and even some personal washing.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It all happens on the street. Fascinating is an understatement.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We have to try it, so birthday dinner is cooked (by us) on a
tiny table, sitting on a tiny chair on a pavement. Tom Yam soup, or something
similar. Nice, cheap and heart-warming. No-one speaks English, so no-one offers
us any drink, one more reason to hit the pub later.<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And it’s festive. Every night. And not in a touristy way,
but in a very local way, with music playing around the lake and LOADS of people
dancing, strolling around, kids driving tiny motored cars and teenagers buying
stuff at the night market.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">A happy mess.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">After not even two days in Hanoi, we went on a day trip to
Nihn Bihn region, Tam Coc to be precise.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Where the limestones are on land and
the rice fields surround them.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">A blissfully green landscape we enjoyed on a bike, followed
by a boat ride on the river (locals row with their feet!).</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s finally time to relax and we leave the busy city to go
on the bay. After hours on the road (single line and questionable safety) we
arrive at Halong City (via a water puppet show and a visit to a massive
souvenirs shop).</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We took a boat to Ba Tu Long Bay, only to return after two
nights.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The scenery is breath-taking, the noise is forgotten,
phones don't connect, wifi is not available, we are isolated, and fully immersed in the most peaceful nature.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Kayaking, swimming, bbq on tiny beach and drinks on the boat
are the activities for the day.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">By the time I get used to being spoiled, it’s time to come
back.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sweet, sweet Vietnam! I am not done with you. I will see you
very soon.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-78558469012937990182017-11-09T22:03:00.002+08:002017-11-09T22:04:47.026+08:00Little rant<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Today I went back to the office after almost two weeks of
absence. A few days holiday followed by <span style="font-family: "calibri";">a short trip to China meant I have
not been at my desk for a little while.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So today I go back (reasonably) happy. Usual colleague
(the one from 'mmmmmhhh sun, cancer… Hugh Jackman' comment) is there when I arrive and first
thing he does is to point at my face, my skin that these days is worse than a flowering field.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">How wonderful.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">A male colleague in their 50’s commenting on my spots. <span style="font-family: "calibri";">All I needed to boost my confidence.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Thanks T. I love you too, and I love being back.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">#thejoygivenbycaringcolleagues</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">#believeitornotheismybestmateintheoffice</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">#helpmennowbeforeiexplode</span></span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-55051261024485994962017-09-30T11:15:00.001+08:002017-10-02T09:26:10.196+08:00The last couple of months<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We are so behind in reporting our adventures that maybe easiest thing to do is bullet points and photos:<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We had our first visitor in August. Teresa arrived just before National Day and made us feel like tourists again</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We saw the fire works on the bay for Singapore 52nd birthday</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Went to Siem Reap for a weekend: AWESOME place and AWESOME people. </span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We continue pushing our gastronomic boundaries by eating insects, flies and spiders. I had something stuck in my throat for a few days (or did I just imagine it?) but it was worth it.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It’s been an alcoholic August, cheers! With Dain visiting for one day, Davide for two, Andrea moving to Singapore and Dan doing handover with Marco we have been drinking all sort of spirits... (thank you Simon for having introduced us to Moscow Mule!)</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We have been off to UK for about two weeks. It’s been a feast of food pretty much every day.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I wore my Burberry all the time, and jeans and sometimes socks. YAY! Small things that make me happy</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We have spent quality time with family, friends and colleagues. </span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Weekend in Stavanger: autumn, graffiti and family delighted us!</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And I have managed to send my citizenship application! Super-YAY!!! It’s been an adventure, but I made it :) and now I can only wait with my fingers and toes crossed that I will be invited to affirm my allegiance to the Queen.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Back to damp Singapore, I had to trade my straight hair for beautifully painted toes nails… I guess everything has a prize, so welcome back spots and shitty skin, but I will get you tanned ;)</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I have found a sign that represents us perfectly! (It was not even mid-day.)<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-2379533599618884002017-07-26T18:46:00.001+08:002017-07-26T18:46:51.206+08:00The other side of the coin of an expat assignment--Brexshit<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That I am very upset about Brexit is no secret.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But not everyone knows that it has happened at the worst
time for me. I moved to Singapore just the month before the referendum. Marco
and I watched incredulous, mad and heartbroken the results unfolding while the
majority of the British population was enjoying a satisfying night sleep before
waking up to an historical event.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once the emotions eased and I was able to think logically, I
realised that at the end of my expat assignment I could enter a totally new and
maybe not so welcoming country, that I used to call home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, I decided to apply for the Permanent Residency. It was
tricky, given the fact that all of my documents were in the UK. But with
Marco’s help (and excellent organisational skills) I did it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 months later it was rejected. Our fault, we did not
provide prove of employment. We were so busy in providing all sort of evidence
that I missed one of the most important documents.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clock is ticking, but what could I do?? Accept and move on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I re-applied, providing this time an overwhelming amount of
evidence. And I got it after only 3 months. Success.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was so relieved! Until the day after, when the Government
hinted to the possibility that EU citizen that already have PR, might need to
re-apply with new (to be defined, or at least to be disclosed) application
rules.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">PR is not enough. Especially as it can be lost if more than
2 years are spent outside of the UK.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And guess what. I am living in Singapore with a two years
contract. And my PR has been back dated to 2015.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I decide I need to apply for British Citizenship in the
UK. But I still live in Singapore, and I have exceeded the number of days I
can be out of UK.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I can apply and rely solely on HO discretion
(risking to lose over 1000 pounds) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">OR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">risk to lose the PR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">OR</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">end my expat assignment earlier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hate all of this from the bottom of my heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It makes me sick to even hear the word Brexit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just want it to go away.</span><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-23692969602211078932017-06-26T14:57:00.001+08:002017-06-26T14:59:15.290+08:00Senso del gusto, addio<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;">Oggi è festa a
Singapore (fine del Ramadan) ma io lavoro perché in cambio prendo libero questo venerdì che viene,
quando saremo già in Italia </span></span><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Grazie a Dio
mancano solo 4 giorni alla partenza perché oggi abbiamo toccato il fondo,
gastronomicamente parlando.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"></span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Lavoro da casa e
Marco passa dal letto, al divano per mezza giornata prima di decidersi ad
andare a nuotare. Poi ci va e mi lascia in pigiama seduta al tavolo della cucina
al mio computer.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"></span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Torna, abbiamo
fame e l’eco nel frigorifero.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"></span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Prepariamo cibo
veloce, velocissimo. Cibo finto.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"></span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Cous Cous
marocchino liofilizzato (con tutti gli ingredienti già dentro!) e tom yum
noodles secchi al sapore di pesce, ma di pesce non si vede manco l’ombra.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"></span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ole’.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"></span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Marco alla fine
ha ancora voglia di qualcosa e affetta soppressata calabrese.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"></span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Papille gustative
perdonateci, siamo stanchi e abbiamo bisogno di vacanza.</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-28956870263352329532017-06-16T10:32:00.001+08:002017-06-16T10:32:47.432+08:00Our latest trip to Japan<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back to a ‘normal’
week in Singapore (see previous post).</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although to
many it can seem exciting, travelling constantly is very tiring. Especially
when it’s work related and after a day at work you need to go for dinner with
colleagues and keep the conversation going…</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">I</span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"> love Japan
though. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And if trips
to JTC are quite exhausting, I would go back now if I could, not to mention how
I would love to live there!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most of the
days were sunny, not too hot and so perfect for walks at the weekend!!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We went to
Yanaka on a Saturday to walk around houses from pre-WWII. It was very different
from the rest of the city, an oasis of peace lost in time, with traditional
tiny shops where the owners were cooking delicious rice crackers. Shrines in
flowery gardens, the Japanese trees I love (and want in my garden when back
home) and a very cool art shop. Ended up in Ueno park to see a lotus pond, that
I could stare for hours, such was its charm…</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The afternoon
was sweet and it slowly dissolved in a not too busy Shimbashi area for dinner,
in a Japanese/Spanish fusion restaurant.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s one
more thing I love about Japan, there are so many fusion eateries! And so
delicious!! I love the diversity and the experiments they do… even if it means
eating pizza straight after some sushi while drinking red wine.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Something
Italy is definitely not ready for.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Sunday we
took a train for a day trip to Kamakura. A lovely little city by the sea rich
of temples and with the famous Daibutsu, massive Buddha.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The beach was
crowded with Japanese families completely dressed and hiding from the sun in
tents and desperate Westerners sucking up the sun while laying on a very
dirty beach, full of all what the tides have brought.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We strolled
around, looked into the little, unique shops around, and bought cherry blossom
shells.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pure bliss!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is
something nostalgic about that country that touches my heart.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lost in time
but yet at the front of the most modern technologies.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So generous,
hospitable and yet so traditional and inward facing. Definitely unique in its
kind.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Till soon my
beloved Land of the Rising Sun.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-26891335308474125642017-06-15T14:35:00.001+08:002017-06-15T14:36:23.056+08:00Die Slowly<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Another day at work, another lunch in a local canteen and
another ‘death in small dose’ as Pablo Neruda would say…</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">EVERY day I go for lunch with my colleagues I get a comment about
me eating. EVERY SINGLE DAY.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s usually about me eating fast. I promise you, anyone
would be fast compared to people that eat one noodle or rice grain at a time.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It can also be about me being hungry (we eat the same
amount, and I am not particularly fat..), or how expensive my meal is (5
Singaporean dollars compared to the 3 they spend).</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">EVERY SINGLE FUCKING DAY.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Every single day a bit of me dies. Every single day I wish I
did not have to endure this. I wish I was not the different one, but I am. And
even when I don’t want to notice it, it’s highlighted to me.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Whilst for many lunch is a break, for me it’s very much a
meeting, part of my job.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I don’t want to sound negative, because it is not all bad,
but the same comment every day is really hard to bear. It always has. What can
I say, I am a sensitive soul.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Today we also talked about dishwashers, and the fact that is
not common in Singapore. So young colleagues setting up a new house are not
going to buy one because they don’t believe in it.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">At my comment “You don’t have to believe in it, it’s not a
religion” I had weird faces looking at me, mostly lost. So I am the weirdo that
misses having a dishwasher.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fucking yeah.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-11500639879086903562017-05-30T09:52:00.000+08:002017-05-30T10:02:30.956+08:00Thailand and the Chinese tourists<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In order to have something to look forward to at the end of
our Florentine week, the husband has very sweetly booked a short break in
Phuket, yay! He knows how to spoil me :D</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tired, absolutely unprepared but excited we make our way to
Thailand on a Wednesday morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">All goes well and we are welcomed in this beautiful hotel in
the south of the island by its own beach, we check in and relax! Marco falls
asleep pretty much instantly (admittedly we got up at 5 in the morning) and I
do my challenging exercises (that I am more and more sure won’t improve my look
but just damage my back..).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">An hour later we hit the beach, looking forward to our break
by the seaside 😃</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There is no loungers on the beach, we are given towels and a
plastic mat, which is ok, we are soooo thrilled to be there. Half an hour later
I am deep asleep on the mat, covered in sweat like a mermaid (well, this is how
I like to picture myself 😜).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The sky is cloudy, but I don't care and I go for a swim (or
dip, however you want to picture it) in a darkening but still inviting sea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s all good; we decide we don't need to take too much in,
let’s take it easy and tomorrow, first thing in the morning we come down to the
beach and we go a bit further down where you can rent loungers for the
equivalent of 5 pounds a day, for 2!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In the evening we go to the hotel restaurant for Thai food,
delicious even though not very traditional. Satisfied and happy to have booked
a day to James Bond island we go to bed just when it starts raining.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The morning after is raining, consistently and heavily,
through breakfast (which is by the way AMAZING), through lunch and all
afternoon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Nonstop. Until the day after.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We try not to get too much affected by it, we stay by the
bar of the hotel overlooking the sea (people more desperate than us are
actually swimming), we read, relax, sweat. The humidity is unbearable. It bring
us all sort of creatures, geckos, flying ants, and massive flies are everywhere
and don’t hesitate to get close to us even though we are sweating out all the
DEET we are covered in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The day after a bus comes to pick us up for the tour, yay!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We go to a pier to get a speed boat. It is still raining but
we find a very entertaining distraction: Chinese Tourists.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And possibly the classiest in the whole world. They occupy
an area with sofas and chairs just behind us, and without any consideration of
being in public they sit in all sort of positions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We start taking selfies of us in order to capture their
poses in the background. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">(PLEASE try not to look at me, just focus on the people behind us!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Here we go, the day has brightened!</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The speedboat comes and I am sitting right under the hole in
the tent above, it’s raining at speed on my head. I hate when it rains on my
head. I can’t even describe how much I hate it. I </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">By the time we get close to JB island, the rain easies and
we are able to enjoy the scenery and dry up a bit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">No words to describe the natural beauty. It’s breath taking!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Too many tourists though. Too many selfie sticks, groups,
children and vendors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It is actually a bit sad that the ability of seeing places
has been lost, I am as culpable as everybody else. Everything is watched and
experienced through a phone or a camera in the best case.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The selfie poses are hilarious, from the Russian lady with a
perfect body (aaarrghh!) and a flower in her head (fake boobs though), to the
Chinese fat woman in a nonsense pose with arm sleeves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This is not only reason for laugh with incredulity, it is
all good experience, learning and a more open mind.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We are ecstatic. We loved the James Bond island and we
cannot wait to go back and explore more of Thailand. Phi Phi island is on my
list, as well as Krabi, Bangkok and the rest of the country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Back at the hotel after the killing exercises (supposed to
eventually give me the body of a 20 years old) we go for a swim at twilight,
the sky is patched with dark clouds, but with some clear spots too, the lights
of the hotel are illuminating the palm trees and the beyond green vegetation.
Pure bliss. (I am also learning to enjoy everything, without getting to
obsessed about the lack of sun, which usually is the main thing I want).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The day after is cloudy, humid like hell and miserable. We
spend the day by the pool and dip into the sea just before we go and pack our
bags.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The sun comes out, just when we enter a taxi to the airport.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-89551551390462113632017-04-26T10:51:00.005+08:002017-04-26T10:51:58.831+08:00ONE year in
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Our first year in Singapore has passed so quickly that we
have not yet had the chance to acclimatise.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Time is flying and I am not happy about it. I am aging at
the same pace.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">This past year we have travelled a lot, especially in Japan
and Korea, seen amazing places, met wonderful people, tried all sorts of exciting (and not) delicacies, re-encountered old friends, missed friends, missed the
families, established the “bestie” relationship, drunk loads of wine, champagne
(mainly travelling Singapore Airlines) and sake, eaten too much MSG and too few vegetables, got rid of socks, got a more decent
skin tone (less corpse-like and more human), found out I can actually sweat,
seen paradise on earth, changed job, experienced solitude, answered some very funny and weird questions, realised the
importance of my bimby, missed M&S and Waitrose, got gold card membership and beyond, got stressed like never
before, found a grand piano in my kitchen (not my piano, and temporarily not
my kitchen), got a new nephew, celebrated our first wedding anniversary, missed
my mini pretty much every day, got rid of my glasses, accepted looking like a
lioness most of the time, got used to living
with damp armpits, got used to being either too hot or too cold (never ok), had my
first pedicure, bought a couple of gorgeous swimming
suits, received a Burberry for my birthday, and a Prada for Christmas (from
different people in case you are thinking about the
extravagance of the expat life style), done pilates in a park in
tropical weather, walked 24 Km in Kyoto, cycled under a thunderstorm, felt
appreciated, felt like a bitch, got very annoyed, very happy, very emotional,
very emotion-less, woken up many times by thunder
(and got fucking scared when the husband was not responding to my prodding as he was sleeping deeply through one), read a unique series of books and felt
totally empty when I finished them, became addicted
to Netflix, achieved first Level in Chinese
language, put a picture on my desk, found a
dead cockroach under my desk, worked my ass off, felt absolutely mad and
incredulous, started drinking milk in coffee, started using linen sheets, applied for British residency, didn't get British residency, applied for British
residency again, started talking with an old friend after more than 10
years, wrote an unprecedented number of PCMs,
got my first ECG (almost got confused with EGR,
doh!), became used to telling taxi drivers which way to go, felt frustration like
never before, missed fireplaces, took LOADS of FaceTime calls, bought new furniture,
became a landlady, lost weight, put on weight, wore out
clothes and shoes, shopped for summer clothes (every time I go shopping), used litres of mosquito
repellent…</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">I could go on forever, but figured I will need to leave
something for year #2.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">The adventure continues. Week break now, for an Italian wedding;
we will be back in Asia very soon.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-84859766317423924372017-03-11T11:35:00.000+08:002017-03-11T11:35:09.633+08:00What's so wrong with tiramisu?We ended this week with a dinner with a car manufacturer customer, in a high end restaurant overlooking the marina that spins slowly. 90 minutes for one rotation. A high end place with a high end menu and a high end price to boot. Our guests were Asian and American, and we, the hosts, Asian and European.<br />
<br />
The soup course. I recognised some of the food as I ate it...sometimes chewing quickly, sometimes choosing not to chew and not to think too much about what I was not chewing. I saw pondering on the faces around me, a furrowed brow, a question forming, and then asked.... "What is this?"<br />
<br />
I had my mouth full, with the last of my bowl.<br />
<i>Don't answer, just don't answer</i><br />
"Fish stomach in chicken broth"<br />
<i>I thought it was fish bladder.</i> Still....<br />
Swallow, drink wine, think of chips.<br />
<br />
Other courses came and went. Those more visually paltable were eaten in silence. Those that were more local in appearance were challenged. Didn't see many non-Asians clean up the abalone. I did of course, it was delicious. I thought it was a meaty mushroom....it was served with rice and was very mushroomy in taste. No, apparently it's a sea snail.<br />
Tasty or not, it's a snail.<br />
<br />
A. Fucking. Snail!<br />
<br />
And at the end, never had before, birds nest!<br />
Consisting of birds nest, egg white and coconut, served as a warm broth in a coconut shell.<br />
<br />
"Why is it called birds nest?"<br />
It tasted ok. <i>Don't answer, please don't answer....</i><br />
Because it's made from the nests of birds that are found in coastal areas. The nest is cleaned and then used in sweet soups as a delicacy, affording a delicious gelatinous base.<br />
<br />
Roby ate slowly at that point. I focused on extracting egg, you know where you stand with egg. Comes out of a hen's arse but it's in a case that can be discarded.<br />
<br />
Why does knowing what you are eating affect how it tastes? Thinking is over-rated in these situations, but can't be avoided. The focus in Asia is on the taste, but more so, on the best bits, on eating something expensive. Fish bladder or stomach is good for you, birds nest is high end and expensive. Fish cheek, fish tail, and it wouldn't surprise me, rats arse. I recall the technical summit in Shanghai in 2016 and how we left a beer hall, which had fried food and seats and above all shit-loads of beer, to go to an expensive restaurant where we didn't eat the expensive food that was on offer, because it wasn't fried or beer.<br />
Was still a great evening, BPC knows about the best places, and we had fun. Ended the evening wandering around the funfair and Festival of Lights.<br />
<br />
This morning, having finished our coffee and chocolate biscuits in bed, a lazy Saturday treat, Roby wondered out loud what would be wrong with a dessert of tiramisu. An espresso to go with it. In this apartment Asia is outside; we venture out and experience it, and then lie here amazed that we tried it, ate it, swallowed it...we even bring it in sometimes, but we westernise it.<br />
<br />
Roby misses tiramisu. I miss sticky toffee pudding. I think we will do our bit for nature and henceforth endeavour to leave the birds nests where they are, for the birds.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-13908358387091445652017-03-11T10:49:00.001+08:002017-03-11T10:49:24.805+08:00Miss this... a lot!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-66404131014175483502017-03-06T22:38:00.004+08:002017-03-06T22:38:51.644+08:00Snapshot of my daily life<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s been over 10 months now that we live in Singapore,
surely the cultural shock should have been over by now but I am still surprised
by the inappropriateness of certain questions and comments from people.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It happened again last Friday.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I arrive at the office with my beautiful Maldivian tan and someone cannot help themselves and has to comment. The usual ‘mmmmmmhhhhh’
followed by a word, in this case it was ‘mmmmmmmmhhhhhh tan’, followed by
something I did not get (to be brutally honest, I was not even that interested
in it), followed by the word cancer and the fact that Hugh Jackman
(Australian!) has a melanoma.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Immediately I think, WHAT THE FUCK and I want to touch wood,
my left boob, (my testicles if I were a man) to avoid the bad luck.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">How un-needed was that?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Especially as I am a well-known hypochondriac, and all of a
sudden I start thinking about the fact that maybe we did get too much sun and
in fact even burnt ourselves a bit and what I am left with is an unpleasant
feeling of uneasiness and annoyance.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Nice welcome back after holidays!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Another time on the way to lunch I was asked with the most
innocent expression ever whether I am "an alcoholic person". Ta dam! How can I
explain to someone who drinks only water and sugarcane, that of course I am not.
But of course I do like drinking wine, beer, prosecco, digestives, limoncello
and all sorts of alcohols and that of course I do have days when I go home and
want a drink. BUT of course I AM NOT "an alcoholic person". I should be outraged. What
sort of question is this? Is it due to the sarcastic comment Marco put on
Facebook months ago? UNBELIEVABLE (it does make me smile though ;) ).</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Another time, I was asked how much I paid for my wedding,
how much I paid for the hotel during holidays, how much I pay for my flat,
whether I want kids, whether I pray to have kids. Whether based on my
‘achievements’ (still need to understand what achievements they mean) I consider myself a
genius.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This is real life in Asia, cheers!</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-865067550857048132017-03-04T16:45:00.000+08:002017-03-04T16:45:52.277+08:00Le Maldive e i retroscena di una vacanza perfetta o quasi<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Dopo 10 mesi
passati al caldo e umido tropicale, io e Marco ci siamo finalmente concessi 5
giorni di mare bello, di mare che si vede in cartolina, alle Maldive.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Facciamo una
valigia piccola, in fretta, senza sapere bene cosa portare, vista l’ignoranza
in materia di vacanza al mare, mettiamo dentro l’essenziale: costumi, crema
solare e libri.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Venerdì sera
partiamo, e dopo una notte passata in un hotel piuttosto squallido non lontano
dall’aeroporto di Male, sabato mattina prendiamo un sea-plane e andiamo in
paradiso.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Le spiagge da
cartolina esistono, le Maldive esistono e sono incantevoli.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Persino l’acqua
del porto è cristallina e di un azzurro accecante.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Siamo felici e
bramosi di relax. All’aeroporto siamo circondati da italiani, al resort ci
accolgono italiani e ci ritroviamo in Italia senza nemmeno saperlo. Il che ci
va benissimo, visto il numero di aperol spritz consumati in 5 giorni e la
colazione italiana con cornetti e torte.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ci danno un
upgrade e la nostra casina nell’acqua è un sogno.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Senza indugiare
ci mettiamo il costume, ci facciamo un bagno scendendo dalla nostra veranda
direttamente in acqua e ci addormentiamo beati sotto il sole.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ci avventuriamo
alla scoperta dell’isola, e dopo 5 minuti di orologio l’abbiamo percorsa tutta,
rifatto un bagno questa volta dalla spiaggia e provato l’amaca nell’acqua,
insomma si sta da Dio.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Torniamo a casa a
prepararci per la cena e perché no anche una seratina romantica, visto lo
stress delle ultime settimane e di quelle che ci aspettano al rientro. Io mi
rilasso, il che per una stitica incancrenita come me è un miracolo e uso il
nostro meraviglioso bagno a contatto con la natura (aperto con doccia all’aria
fresca).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Il water si
blocca. Invece di scaricare, riporta su tutto.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Imbarazzata come
pochi, rientro in camera e chiedo consiglio al consorte sul da farsi.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Riprovo a
sbloccarlo senza successo. E non so come, e nemmeno perché, il consorte si
inalbera quando decido di chiamare la reception, volendo provare lui stesso a
sbloccare il cesso. Il che è ovviamente fuori discussione.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In qualche modo,
tra l’aiuto dello staff, tra un aiuto divino, il cesso si sblocca.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Io mi preparo,
andiamo a cena, con un muso fino ai piedi e a letto di spalle. Day 1 alle
Maldive è andato.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Il giorno dopo,
decido che non posso stare in un resort fighetto, di stampo italiano (e si sa
che gli italiani alla forma ci tengono) e vado a farmi manicure e pedicure (che poi non resisterà nemmeno fino alla fine della vacanza!). Ci
sto più di due ore! Due ore, che avrei potuto passare al sole a bruciarmi
(anche se ci sono riuscita lo stesso e nonostante la protezione 30!). Dopo due
ore riemergo contenta dello smalto viola e vado a casa, dove col consorte ci si
scambia qualche parola a denti ancora stretti, per una discussione che non
aveva motivo di esistere.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Il giorno per
fortuna procede bene, tra sole, mare, aperitivo ed eccitazione per una nuotata
con le mante!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">E’ da un mese che
in zona si vedono le mante e lo staff ha organizzato una escursione che
decidiamo di fare con tanto entusiasmo. Ci affittiamo la maschera, le pinne e
tutti contenti ce ne andiamo in barca veloce a cercare le mante. Dopo un’ora di
ricerca in varie zone intorno all’isola, lo staff rinuncia e le mante non si
vedono. Ripieghiamo delusi e con un forte senso di sfiga addosso sullo
snorkelling, che per carità ci ha fatto vedere pesci splendidi e coralli di
color tufo.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Va be’, la natura
è cosi, imprevedibile. Del resto il giorno dopo (e ultimo di vacanza) si
scatena un temporale da paura e forse le mante se l’erano sentito e hanno
deciso di dileguarsi. Per consolarci ce ne andiamo al bar per il consueto
aperol spritz che a questo punto è diventato un must.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ci portano anche
le pizzette, evvai!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Un pezzettino di
focaccia ha il segno dei denti, di qualcun altro.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Che in un resort
da centinaia di pounds a notte è inaccettabile.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">E anche lo spritz
va giù a fatica.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ma noi ce ne
freghiamo e continuiamo a fare il nostro, ben sapendo che la perfezione non
esiste, e cerchiamo di prendere il meglio. Vogliamo vivercela sta vacanza, il
più possibile, che già dura poco, e poi si ritorna a Singapore.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Facciamo la prova
di respirazione delle immersioni. Ne restiamo ‘flashiatissimi’. Io ho scoperto
uno sport meraviglioso e voglio fare un’immersione, ma ovviamente ci siamo
decisi troppo tardi e con un volo internazionale da prendere, l’immersione va
rimandata. A quando non si sa.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">L’ultimo giorno
comincia la sera prima, si scatena un temporale assurdo e la nostra casina
tanto privata che guarda il mare aperto è in balia del vento e delle onde.
Niente bagno il giorno dopo, colazione con il maglioncino, un po’ mi girano, mi
aspettavo qualche ora di sole, ma poi egoisticamente penso che è meglio cosi,
mi sarebbero girati ancora di più andare via e lasciarmi alle spalle una bella
giornata. Ovviamente il sea plane parte lo stesso, nonostante il vento e ci
ritroviamo in aeroporto circa 5 ore prima del check-in.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">GoodBye Maldive,
paradiso meraviglioso, resort bellissimo nonostante la stitichezza di shampoo e
gel doccia e pizzette mangiucchiate.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Andiamo a farci un
giro a Malè con una guida locale che parla l’italiano benissimo.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Amici stranieri,
non è vero che l’italiano si parla solo in Italia, si parla anche in resort di
lusso dove donnine di mezza età combattono il tempo a siringate di botox nelle
labbra e a costumi minuscoli, cosi infra da non vedersi proprio.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Dicevamo,
passiamo qualche ora in giro a Malè sotto la pioggia battente, che mi “sponza”
i piedi e mi arriccia i capelli in modo inguardabile. Riusciamo a farci fregare
in un negozietto locale e compro una collanina di ‘coralli’. Va be’ l’unica
consolazione è che almeno contribuisco all’economia locale, oltre che a fare
arricchire un europeo, padrone del resort.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Partiamo in
serata, dopo aver mangiato un panino al Burger King (dopo anni di voluta
astinenza) e torniamo a casa con la voglia ancora intatta di relax, sole e
mare, il telefonino pieno di foto di un paradiso meraviglioso e non troppo
lontano.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Eccoci qui a
Singapore, dove il caldo mi rende i capelli ‘barbieci’ (stoppa pura, come una
bambola, peccato non averci il fisico di barbie) e i pori del viso cosi aperti
che sembrano boccucce di pesciolini in cerca di ossigeno in questo caldo umido
da post-monsone.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ora della vacanza
mi restano i brufoli, che puntualmente arrivano dopo il sole.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">E un ricordo
bellissimo.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Io alle Maldive
ci torno di sicuro.</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-55877453702146461032017-02-02T13:35:00.000+08:002017-02-02T13:35:24.988+08:00So that was that then... wonder what happens nextHappy 2017!<br />
<br />
As for the last weeks of 2016.....<br />
Visit Stavanger in Norway for Christmas and spend time with Rosa, Mauro, Emma and Giorgio - tick<br />
Visit Scandale In Italy for new year and spend time with Franca and Raffaele and Zia-Tere-Zia-Tere, Francesca and Franco and Giulia and Lara, not forgetting the chocolate-loving great grandmother, 96 year old "La Bis" - tick<br />
See nephews and nieces and reinforce that I am the best uncle - tick<br />
Get ill - tick<br />
Make a lot of it, suffer greatly and obviously - tick<br />
Put on the standard 2 lbs of Christmas Weight - tick<br />
Bring back loads of food to offer us variety when we crave something that reminds us of Europe and don't want to pay twice as much as we feel is acceptable - tick<br />
Get back to Singapore and discover the timer didn't work in the end, so the aircon has been on for 2 weeks - tick<br />
Return to work and feel like you need a holiday - tick, tick, tick!!!<br />
<br />
Yep. We are back.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Let's see what 2017 brings.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-65721667864273340862016-12-21T22:05:00.000+08:002016-12-21T22:05:50.685+08:00Christmas in Singapore<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As expected, Christmas decorations in Singapore are simply
grand. </span>Amazing. Excessive. </div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">No cheap and understated choices have been made anywhere in
the city. Christmas carols have been playing in the shops since mid-October. Jingle bells? Ok. Have yourself a merry little xmas.... sure, we'll do our best. Let it snow? Well that's not likely now, is it. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Frosted Christmas trees, toadstool forests, life-sized ginger bread men, have decorated Shopping Malls and
given spots for thousands of selfies to the Orchard Road and Tanglin Mall visitors.
Abundance is the only word that comes to mind to describe this feast of
commercial adverts.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
But <span style="font-family: "calibri";">there is no real Christmas feeling or atmosphere.
And I am not talking from a religious point of view, as I wouldn’t know what
has been going on in the various Churches. I am talking from an
excitement point of view. The commercial side of Singapore is truly astounding. The number of people shopping at the weekends completely obliterate any desire to be out there. It's even driven Marco to prefer to sit by the pool. But it lacks a little bit of soul, of genuineness. What's missing..... </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">cold dark evenings accompanying the last working days before the break. Anticipation as we get closer and closer to parties. Knowing we will soon be </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">spending time with family and friends, eating sweets, playing games, exchanging presents. We have that in flashes; last weekend I wrapped presents, getting ready for our trip to Europe</span><span style="font-family: calibri;">. Our anticipation will be condensed and concentrated into a trip to the airport and our flights to Norway and Italy.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But right now for us there is a certain calm.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Our colleagues will take a
long weekend. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">For them xmas will be over quickly. The new year, the one we are used to, will pass. And then we will build to the real main winter event - Chinese new year. </span><br />
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-55535593643333948002016-12-17T21:24:00.000+08:002016-12-17T21:24:06.758+08:00What a massive pikachu! Part #2In between my 2 trips to Japan we had the Singapore xmas meal. So different from the Japanese one; firstly it's lunch, and in a land where good quality food is common and large quantities are expected, where better than the Pan Pacific hotel all-you-can-eat buffet in The Edge restaurant. I'm not sure we need to travel to at least half of Asia any more as we tried the food from most countries at that buffet, and once you've seen one temple.... It was a very nice meal, delicious food, the dessert bar especially was magnificent. I'm not into durian but Auntie Mary managed to pack away upwards of 10 durian mousses. The sulfurous end apart, a very pleasant meal in a very nice place. Biggest buffet in Singapore someone said.<br />
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Two xmas meals, two parties, one team - mine - and yet so different. The cultural differences are never more apparent than from these 2 events. Oh, that and getting off the plane today at Changi airport and immediately being cut up by a local resident who was so desperate to get off the plane before me, and then promptly walked like she was pulling a fucking tractor and not a tiny suitcase. And this was indoors in the aircon. Imagine how slow she will walk outdoors. Compare that to the bell boys at the dai ichi this morning at 6am, bowing as my taxi pulled away to take me to Haneda. Where is home?<br />
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Where you live or where your heart is?<br />
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So what about this pikachu? Well, Singapore may not have invented Pokemon but they have embraced the Pokemon go culture and even had loads of Pokemon on display at the airport! Look carefully though - is that me with a massive pikachu behind me, or a normal sized pikachu with a midget walking up my arm? Either way, pretty standard for Singapore.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-67192387652145196882016-12-17T21:23:00.000+08:002016-12-17T21:23:53.550+08:00What a massive pikachu! Part #1I've been to Japan twice in the last 3 weeks. The land where Pokemon were conceived, where those cheesy Godzilla movies I used to watch on late night channel 4 many years ago were made. The land of Battle of the Planets and Mazinger Z and Jeeg robot and of course Goldrake! Although they have different names out there. Gatchaman and UFO robot Grendizer...neither of which I managed to find in the manga museum in Kyoto. But then there was a lot of manga...<br />
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The Japan team xmas party was much more sedate than I expected. I suspect that's because the colleague there are so well trained in dealing with alcohol that it simply doesn't have an effect. Free flowing prosecco, wine and beer and all they did was get loud, more talkative, friendly. But they held it all together. I just love the seat swapping too. Every meal in Japan with large numbers of people when they have a visitor involves them swapping seats, to all spend time talking to each other and the visitors. Arancini and mozzarella di bufala to start. Wagyu grade A5 beef with salad....the most delicious beef in the world, for main. Then the pasta dishes, then the dessert and coffee....a wonderful night with new friends. The previous night was one of those "didn't expect to drink so much" evenings. Japanese food with sake and beer and wine, and then Miyoshi insisting that we should have one more in a "traditional pub". The little place under the railway bridge, fried food on sticks - think it's an izakaya bar, warm sake with chicken kebabs. I walked him....held him upright, to get at cab home at the dai-ichi hotel. At the party he was certain he had caught the train home. On the basis of the resistance that he has developed over 30 years of hard drinking, that must have been some serious alcohol consumption even by his standards. Morning of the party I was rough. He looked it too during our goals review. But he perked up by noon and was ready for round #2. Meanwhile I needed to go back to the hotel and have 3 hour lie-down. It was only the prosecco at the party that saw me through the night! God bless prosecco and its medicinal powers.<br />
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More shortly - and is that a massive pikachu I see....??Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099182953845227717.post-41931434674454046332016-11-28T00:04:00.000+08:002016-11-28T12:43:28.356+08:00Fish is the new pig<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A few days ago we have tried one of the signature dishes of
Singapore, fish head curry.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The cheek flesh, supposed to be the best part, is indeed
very tender and delicate in taste. If I did not see it coming from the fish
head, I would have thought it was just fish…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The eye ball are supposed to be a delicatessen too. They are
given to the kids, as it’s good for developing good eye sight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Marco and I are not very clever, we consider ourselves
funny, but maybe we are just stupid. We tried the eye balls. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Marco went first, I was horrified and disgusted, I called
him a monster for eating eyes! The only edible eyes to me were/are the Haribo
ones for Halloween.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But then I couldn’t let him win, I had to do it too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, I did it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The day after I didn't feel quite right. It wasn't
the eye ball obviously, it was tiny and without any taste. It was knowing what I
have done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Instead of feeling brave after matching my husband in a
performance recorded by many people, I felt disturbed. I felt violated by my
own actions. Went quiet. Couldn’t stop thinking about it and while I was
brushing my teeth, my stomach was turned inside out by some strong gags.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Managed to keep it in. But even after a few days, I am still thinking
about it. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The spoon full of rice and spicy vegetables I had straight after the eye didn’t help much. The beer did not console my mind. Only the
chocolate and Amaro at home made me feel safe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It was horrible.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Good thing is that nothing of a fish gets wasted here; Singaporeans eat not only the body and the head, but even the bladder. Fish is
the new pig.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And we have crossed a line. Despite of what I said on FB, I
am not sure I am ready to push myself any further. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I just don’t have the stamina for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0