Cotton In Bloom

Visited a grower in Alamo, TN, today. Unlike a lot of places in the USA, they have a great crop going. A little rain shower passed through while we there. Of course, we took credit for bringing them a rain. We were in a heavy cotton area. In West TN there's about 700,000 acres. 

Clean Cotton

This is a shot from Roundup Ready Flex field. It is loaded with fruit. 

Good Cotton

About to lap the row. 

On Our Way...

to Singapore. Actually, this shot was on our way back home aboard Singapore Airlines. I can't say enough good things about Singapore Airlines. That's Scott McClure my travel mate on the trip - a long trip. We were in the air probably 20 to 21 hours and 26-28 hours all told with layovers, but "bidness class" ain't a bad way to fly. It would be a tough deal going coach.

We flew a different route than I expected. I've always envisioned flying over the Pacific to go to Asia. However our flight from Chicago to Shanghai took us North of Alaska over the Artic Ocean then south over Siberia over Russia into China. It was strange that it was daylight the entire trip, except the very last of the leg from China to Singapore. On our way back we took did fly out more of the Pacific directly over Japan then over Alaska over North Dakota then on into Chicago.

The jetlag was tough, but really not as bad as I expected. Going over was not bad at all, other than a brief bout of the "Singapore Shakes" the morning after the fly over. Back on the homeward side was probably the toughest, but after a day or two I was back on track. Keeping up with time was easy over there - just switch the AM and the PM. Midnight in Singapore is Noon Eastern time in the USA.

All in all, it was a great time and I enjoyed being in Asia - I felt tall for the first time ever. While Singapore is a very modern, eastern-feeling city, there was no doubt you were somewhere different. You saw eastern people, but few, the streets full of Asian people. Don't know why I would expect any different.

Enjoy the pics below. I wish I would have carried my Nikon - the pics would have been better than the work Cannon Rebel, which took the shots you see. Didn't carry my camera, as I would rather have the work camera confiscated than my own. 

The Only Way to Fly

Here is a shot with my Singapore Airlines Flight Attendent. Believe me they all look as good as her. Singapore Airlines is the best airline I've ever been on. Sorry for the blur. The alltitude was affecting the camera. 

Two Forms of Bathing

Talk about fancy. I could take a bath and shower in a different place. At home my tub and shower come all in one. 

Ain't Bad Living

Here's my room at the Four Seasons Singapore. It is probably the best service hotel I've ever stayed in. The hotel staff were extremely helpful and friendly. They called me "Mr. Gi-Wiees" 

Stand Back

This was our amazing native entertainment before dinner at the Singapore Zoo. Along with the fire dance, there we wild drums playing in the background. This was a pretty cool shot. 

No Really Stand Back

Fire from two mouths at once. This was an amazing shot that I was lucky on timing. 

Better than Listerene

Kills germs and gives the mouth a nice fuel taste. 

Watch Out

Don't burn yourself 

A clear shot

Here is a less blury shot of the lovely young native girl. I would have asked her to dance had she not been blowing flames out of her mouth. 

Fire

I like the blur effect 

Fire

 

Meeting Shot

Here is a shot from our Bayer Meeting. About 150 or so in attendance. 

Boats

 

Heading over to the Island

Here's me on the "bon bon" not sure of the spelling, but it means boat that bounces your butt. It is a bumpy ride. Here I was thinking boy I wish I had brough my sunscreen. Luckly we were in the trees on much of bike tour we were about to head out on Ubin. It is hard to describe how hot it is over there. As our guide said it is summer all the time there. In fact, the local TV has no weatherman because it is always hot and humid with a chance of a passing shower. That's Richard Knowles from Lubbock next to me. Here is a cotton trader. 

Can You Say Bird Flu

Here is a side porch from the home of the 102-year old Palua Ubin islander. Look at all those birds. I must say I was bit a-scared walking through there. But in truth all the poultry had been removed from the island and Singapore mainland since Bird Flu scares came about. They take Bird Flu pretty serious over there. In China, we had to fill out a form about our potential exposure to the flu. At security screening they had doctors at the Shanhai airport. I guess if you went through and looked sick, they would have wisked you off to an isolation ward. 

Welcome to the Island

Palau Ubin. (note I've been misspelling Palau below) Palau means island. This is where we took our bike tour. It is an island just off the mainland of Singapore and is home to around a 100 people. Here you go from the ultra-modern city to the "olden ways" as our guide called it. The only source of power was generators and all water is pulled up from wells. 

The Bikers

Here is our group of bikers on Palu Ubin. It was hotter-ner-hell. 

Colorful Housing

Here is one of the houses of the 100 or so folks that live on Palu Ubin. There is a big emphasis on shaded porches here where it is as hot as I've ever experienced. 

Fences Up

The fence across the water is to keep out illegal immagrants from Malaysia (sp?) out (sound familar). The land across the way is Malaysia. The guide said an elephant swam across to Palu Ubin in 1992. 

Palms Everywhere

 

Down in the Lagoon

Here is a nice shot from the high point on Palu Ubin. It is very tropical only 1 degree north of the equater. 

Looking From the Old to the New

Here is a shot from Palu Ubin across to Singapore main island. Many boats were in the waters between.