Marshalls in Manila Blog

2008-09-20T19:56:00.002+08:00

Mobile Device Bible Reader - OliveTree.com

Now available for the iPhone!

With the emergence of mobile personal devices, like the original Palm device, came the opportunity to digitize so much of our lives. I remember going through several different models of the Palm device and at one point I discovered the ease of putting scripture on the device. It made having access to the scripture so simple because the Palm device was always with me. It was during one of the later Palm models that I discovered what I think is the best Bible software out there, OliveTree.

I have used OliveTree software on the Palm, various WindowsCE devices, BlackBerry and now my iPhone. OliveTree has done a great job of keeping their software updated with enhancements and real value-added features. I love having easy access to various versions of the Bible, related texts like commentaries, etc. It can transform those otherwise "wasted moments" waiting in a line, waiting for your car to be serviced, riding in car/plane, stuck in traffic, whatever.

OliveTree software (I have reviewed several others) is appropriately robust (meaning it is not overkill on features, but nicely apportioned). The latest version (recently released) for the iPhone allows you to easily flip between versions of the Bible and other study texts which is very useful when doing comparisons for study or review. This version includes the red letters for the words spoken by Jesus and allows direct linkage between the text and relevant commentaries.

I (though some till think this is a bit wierd) use my OliveTree during church to look at passages we are studying, during other small-group activities it is very handy as well.

In terms of things to improve, one feature that would be GREAT would be the ability to highlight or underline favorite passages, and even "notate" them with personal reflections as I would have traditionally done in the margins of a physical Bible.

There are other cheaper options out there for iPhone, but nothing really compares with the whole integrated package approach. OliveTree is definitely the way to go!

2008-03-15T13:00:00.000+08:00

2007-10-23T13:06:00.000+08:00

Our sweet kitty, Chip, just having a little nap on our bed...

2007-10-23T13:05:00.001+08:00

In this house, everyplace is fair game for a nap...

2007-10-23T13:05:00.000+08:00

Chip and Barry...

2007-09-21T13:11:00.000+08:00

Barry and I out for a night on the town - actually a fundraiser for United Way...apparently this was picture worthy - sorry for the blurriness...

2007-09-08T13:02:00.000+08:00

Stevii's 8th grade volleyball team in action!

2007-07-18T13:29:00.000+08:00

Lunch with Susie, Jim, Grandad, Marie, etc. after picking Jaron and Ellie up from camp Elim...

Just the perfect way to end a trip to the USA...

Whew! Worn out on the plane...ready for our own beds...

2007-06-29T11:30:00.000+08:00

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND...
Once again, we are off to the great US of A - this time for 6 weeks (Barry will only be staying 2 because of that job thing he has to do...something about putting food on the table - whatever...). So our flight takes us through Tokyo's Narita airport where I found this sign...

And this yummy soup...

Our first real stop (where we got out of the airport) was Seattle. My brother and his wife just recently moved there when my brother took a new job with Microsoft. So we stayed for 5 days with them, overlapping with the end of my parents' visit to Seattle. Just so you get a general picture of how crazy this trip was, after 5 days in Seattle, we flew to Denver, dropped bags at my parents' house, slept overnight, and then drove 7 hours to Newton, Kansas, stayed the weekend, drove back to Denver, stayed 3 nights, flew to NYC (barry for 2 days, kids for 7 days, me for 10 days) and then back to Denver, where I am now, writing this blog entry...

All that said, here's the view from the plane window flying into Seattle. And, BTW, this is my first trip to Seattle...

Near the famous Pikes Place Market area, people apparently can just sit down wherever they feel the need...

2007-06-29T11:29:00.001+08:00

SEATTLE

Pikes Place Market...

Interesting juxtaposition of signage...if this was REALLY one sign, what would it mean?

Funny story about this one which illustrates the importance of reading directions, fine print and very faded and scratched up print as well. Barry put a $20 bill in a parking thing like this just before barely deciphering the hardly distinguishable words saying "no change given". Needless to say, someone got a very nice $18 tip that day. Lesson learned...

2007-06-29T10:55:00.000+08:00

Pikes Place Fish Market! Famous for having fun while working...they are now internationally known in the corporate world for their training videos on this very subject!

Davis has a crawfish discussion...

Pasta, pasta and more pasta...

In case you were wondering what it looks like up close...

2007-06-29T10:52:00.000+08:00

Snoozing with grandma...

Talisha and Braedyn...

Many great brother-in-law discussions are had over pizza...

2007-06-29T10:51:00.001+08:00

Braedyn and Michael...

Kids as art...

Michelle in Seattle...so there!

2007-06-29T10:51:00.000+08:00

Contemplating Seattle...

Half a boat????

Houseboats...

2007-06-29T10:50:00.006+08:00

Davis shops at flea market...

Braedyn shops too!

2007-06-29T10:50:00.000+08:00

Old coal plant - now a park...

Stars and stripes...

I'm about to break into song...

2007-06-29T10:49:00.006+08:00

Happy Stevii!

A street in Seattle...

2007-06-29T10:49:00.005+08:00

Hydroplanes over Seattle...

We got to watch them take off and land on the water...nifty!

2007-06-29T10:49:00.003+08:00

Kayaking - something we didn't get to do because we thought we had 4 more days to do it. However, the lovely Seattle weather that greeted us was nothing but a facade for a blustery 4 days...it was also a bit cold for those of us who only packed open toed shoes and got them stolen from the Motel 6 and had only a thin jacket to protect onesself from the elements...

2007-06-29T10:49:00.002+08:00

Just cause the kid is cute...

2007-06-29T10:49:00.000+08:00

I'll take this one!

That's what I'M talkin' about!

2007-06-29T10:48:00.000+08:00

2007-06-29T10:47:00.001+08:00

Davis sports a wig...

2007-06-29T10:46:00.000+08:00

Stevii and Braedyn in their PJs...

2007-06-29T10:45:00.002+08:00

View of Seattle from the space needle...

Me and Davis checking out Seattle...

2007-06-29T10:45:00.000+08:00

Jaron reading to Braedyn and Braedyn looking thoroughly interested...

2007-06-29T10:44:00.001+08:00

View of the Frank Ghery architecture from the Space Needle...

View of the space needle from the ground...

2007-06-29T10:44:00.000+08:00

Family as art...

2007-06-29T10:42:00.001+08:00

Space needle just peeking over the top of the Experience Music Project...

A couple close ups of the Experience Music Project, designed by Frank Ghery (famous architect), a tribute to rock and roll and the art of recording. It was a really interesting venue with all kinds of funky lines and undulating "walls". We got to play with all sorts of instruments and try to record music and realized, in doing so, that no matter how much we think even the worst musicians lack talent, their talent still far outweighs ours...

And that was our first Seattle experience in a nutshell...

2007-06-29T10:40:00.000+08:00

TRIP TO NYC
June 14-24
This was Stevii and Davis' first time back to NYC since we left for the Philippines, so it was fun for them to visit their friends there...

Sarah, Stevii and Becky - the triplets - are reunited...

Stevii and Sarah enjoying icees from the icee man. We used to love getting icees after school. Alas, there was no mango flavor this time!

Josh, Davis and Sam look at the "very interesting" pokidek book while in the subway heading to Times Square for dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner where the wait staff sings...this was one of the kids' dinner requests...

2007-06-29T10:31:00.000+08:00

Amalia arrived on Thursday and we spent a fun day taking random pictures of New York City as if we were professional photographers (I guess you can be the judge based on what you see in the blog here). We got tickets for A Chorus Line, Godiva, did some shopping and all those other things girls so...overall a terrific end of the trip!

2007-06-29T10:30:00.000+08:00

MICHELLE CELEBRATES #36 IN THE BIG APPLE
And what better and more traditional way (okay 2nd time tradition for me) than to hit Godiva and have the ever present chocolate covered strawberry. Please watch the wonderful birthday celebration in action...

So that's that...

For my birthday, I also went to visit Tracey in Chatham, NJ where we enjoyed some beading in the nearby town of Summit. After much contemplation I settled on a fun bracelet, which I then watched the lady make. I am soooo creative!

To cap off my birthday night, Mary Beth and I took the girls to Lincoln Center to watch the Romeo and Juliet Ballet and enjoy a nice glass of champagne during intermission. Happy Birthday to me and thanks everyone for making it so special...

2007-06-29T10:28:00.012+08:00

Friends to see in NYC...
Mary Beth and Keith...who kindly hosted us for our stay! Thanks Mary Beth and Keith!

Judy, Pat, Shelley, MaryBeth, Sheila and I with the George Washington Bridge in the background. Ladies night out in my old hood!

2007-06-29T10:28:00.011+08:00

Me, Mary and Amalia...out on the town...

2007-06-29T10:28:00.010+08:00

Me and Sylvia...catching the Father's day ball game in the PJ's...

Paoula and the gang...

Beading with Tracey and Victoria...

Stevii and Victoria (my how we've grown). They have known each other since Stevii was almost 2!

2007-06-29T10:28:00.009+08:00

Bess...

Joey, Jennifer and Courtney...

Me and Jennifer...

2007-06-29T10:28:00.008+08:00

MY NYC
(or what I love about New York City)
Creative public school doors...

One way streets...

2007-06-29T10:28:00.007+08:00

Times Square...

Subways...

Short skirts (or wear whatever I want cause I don't really care what everyone else thinks)...

2007-06-29T10:28:00.006+08:00

Flower stands...

The New York Times...

A Duane Reade on every block...

I love NY T-shirts...

2007-06-29T10:28:00.005+08:00

Parking Tickets...

Graffiti...

Projects...

2007-06-29T10:28:00.004+08:00

Historic buildings...

Skyscrapers...

Broadway...

City bus stops...

2007-06-29T10:28:00.003+08:00

Shoppers laden with bags...

Knishes!

Mama Mexico's homemade guacamole - made right at your table!

Blondie's wings!

2007-06-29T10:28:00.002+08:00

Alternate side of the street parking...

Double parking...

Graffiti on mailboxes...

All sorts of legumes...

2007-06-29T10:28:00.001+08:00

Busy streets...

Cherries!

2007-06-29T10:28:00.000+08:00

Mangos (though not as good as the philippines)...

2007-06-29T10:26:00.006+08:00

The Brooklyn Bridge...

South Street Seaport

Rust on steel beams...

The East River...

2007-06-29T10:26:00.005+08:00

2007-06-29T10:26:00.004+08:00

2007-06-29T10:26:00.003+08:00

2007-06-29T10:26:00.002+08:00

2007-06-29T10:26:00.001+08:00

2007-06-29T10:26:00.000+08:00

Happy Friends...

Silly girl/Tough girl...

Reading a book while waiting to get tickets for Shakespeare in the park (starring Camryn Manheim and a few others, who were great!). We waited for hours only to be turned away from the last available tickets about 50 people before us. Then they gave "waiting list vouchers" to the next 50 people in line, which ended 2 people before us. Luckily, Amalia was thinking on her feet that day (she finally got some coffee) and she talked a german girl out of her voucher since the girl was in a group that could share vouchers.

After all that, we had to come back at 6:30pm (after going to see a broadway show) to wait and see if we would be called to take any returned or unused tickets (we were number 50). At about 5 minutes till showtime, our number was finally called and we got to watch the show FOR FREE - except all our time and stress that day. But it was well worth it! Even better than the $50 Broadway tickets! Yay!

2007-06-29T10:24:00.004+08:00

Gay Pride Parade 2007

2007-06-29T10:24:00.003+08:00

2007-06-29T10:24:00.002+08:00

2007-06-29T10:24:00.001+08:00

Last moments together in NYC 2007...

2007-06-29T10:24:00.000+08:00

Featuring Stevii

Stevii up close...

This is kind of one of those artsy distorted pictures...if any of you have see the plush toys or the posters of "The Dog" where they head is immensely dispproportionate to the body, this is what I am seeing here...

2007-06-29T10:23:00.000+08:00

2007-06-29T10:10:00.000+08:00

Just thought you might want to see the great selection we have in our meat department in the grocery stores. This particular grocery store is one I frequent for the selection of imported items. This picture is NOT an example of an imported item.

2007-06-29T10:03:00.000+08:00

Sorry the picture is so blurry, but this is one of the few pics with all three of the cats in it. Slinky (Stinky, I call her) is the orange and white tabby to the left. Chip (formerly known as Socket and then Gloria until the vet came and told us she was not a she) is in the middle, the newest member of our ever growing pet population. And, lastly, Crookshanks, who is getting less and less tolerant of all the impositions in the house. They are all meeting in our tub for a drink. This is where they get the water (amongst other prime locations). Yes, we take GREAT care of our pets!

2007-05-29T10:42:00.000+08:00

Shabu Shabu

Davis is hanging with his friends before everyone leaves for the summer. Tonight we celebrate with a movie and some Mini Shabu Shabu - a Japanese soup that you boil yourself at your own table. The boys had a great time and all were experts in their respective fields of vege and meat boiling...

You can see that each place has it's own boiling pot built into the table. Each person also has control of the temperature of his/her own pot of water...

Ian, Tom and Davis posing...

2007-05-29T10:31:00.000+08:00

Despididas

Despidida time - so sad. For those of you who are wondering, "what is a despidida?", this is a goodbye party. Many of you may also think the life of an expat wife is a priveledged life and that may be true in some senses, but it does come at a price. We make friends quickly and lose them just as quickly. In this case we are saying goodbye to three of the ladies at the table. One is returning to Texas, one is moving on to China and another is heading back to her home in the USA. One more was unable to attend because the moving situation was in complete craziness and she is not even sure where she will be living when the kids enter school in the fall. And so, we all LOOK happy here, but its really a time when we wonder how we can possibly say goodbye again and is it really worth making more friends if they are just going to leave...The great expat dilemma...

2007-05-29T10:19:00.000+08:00

Concordia Children's Home

Our most recent visit to the Concordia Children's Home (Thursday's for Others group) was to see their new site. Unfortunately, they were evicted from their last home which they had been using for over 20 years. This was all a result of a fueding church and they were caught in the middle. Fortunately, however, they were able to find a new facility - not quite as big as the old one, but adequate. Here are some shots of that...

2007-05-29T10:17:00.000+08:00

Jessica wants to know the feeling of having twins...

Cecily shows the kids the pictures she has just taken of them! This is a source of endless fascination for most of the children we visit...

Vea is successful at lulling a baby to sleep!

2007-05-29T10:15:00.000+08:00

Helen attempts to give a baby a drink while others chat in the background...

Playing in the yard...

Little Miguel is so busy! He even has plans for his food!

2007-05-24T09:56:00.000+08:00

Shiprah Birthing Center & The Little Children's Home

We (the ladies from Thursday's for Others) visited the Little Children's Home today, started by a couple in our church many years ago. Today in particular was different because Dennis Gunderson, the husband, had just passed away the night before. We were really hoping to be of help by holding babies, etc., but we weren't able to do much. It was nice to see the home though. This couple has really made an impact in their neighborhood.

2007-05-24T09:53:00.000+08:00

Ethel holding baby...

2007-05-24T09:51:00.000+08:00

Lunchtime!...Yummy food!

Meticulously folding the clean diapers...

Shiprah Birthing home - old posters advocating breastfeeding and prenatal precautions - something severely lacking in the country...

2007-05-22T10:05:00.000+08:00

Fourth Grade Talent Show

Shin Wan, Jaron and Nadine, almost ready for their performance in the 4th grade talent show...

Here they go...

Ta da! They did great!

2007-05-19T09:46:00.000+08:00

Women's Retreat

Today, I went to the Union Church of Manila Women's mini-retreat - just up to Tagaytay (the volcano with a lake in it with a volcano in it and lots of resorts and vacation homes by it). While some of the women took a boat to the active part of the volcano, others of us picked mangos off of loaded mango trees, swam and sat around bonding. Here's some pics of the mango picking. This is Norman, up the tree. He's one of the church drivers, who incidentally managed to lose me (I was following him) on the way up, get lost himself (while I didn't) and get a ticket for swerving (a very common excuse for giving tickets in the Philippines). He did redeem himself at this point by climbing the trees and throwing down Mangos. Go Norman!

Charity waiting for her next mango...Charity is actually Davis and Jaron's music teacher at school.

Charity, ??? (sorry I forgot her name) and Margot bagging their loot...

2007-05-19T09:39:00.000+08:00

Ants on mango...

Nature up close and understated...

2007-05-19T09:03:00.000+08:00

Some great excitement at our house on May 19...Davis and friend, Tom decide it's a good idea to run around the house, slamming doors and chasing each other. As you can see, this did not end well for our lanai glass sliding door, and as you may not be able to see, for Tom, who ran smack into the glass door after our son had closed it. Tom promptly was taken to the emergency room for stitches in his arm and is missing about 25% of one of his top front teeth. Do you think we should put some stickers up?

2007-05-17T21:21:00.000+08:00

HAPPY 15TH ANNIVERSARY!!!!

This year marks 15 full years of marital bliss (right) for Barry and I and so Barry thought it fitting to try and surprise me for once in our marital life! He almost suceeded, until he gave it away in a little blunder...

That said, it was a nice almost surprise...we flew on May 3 to Brisbane, Australia (via Sydney, but we didn't go out of the airport) and travelled about an hour south in our rented Toyota Prius to Hope Island, the home of the Pat Cash Tennis Academy. It probably doesn't sound that exciting to many of you, but we both are really enjoying our tennis and this was a terrific week of completely killing ourselves with tennis morning, noon and night! It was over way too soon and I've decided in my next life, I'm coming back as a tennis pro! I honestly didn't know who Pat Cash was until I went to this academy, but that's only because I didn't know anything about tennis until the last year and a half, so no offense to Pat himself.

Anyway, Monday through Friday was grueling (and wonderful) 4-6 hours of tennis a day and the weekends surrounding it left a little time for some sightseeing. So follow along in your internet blogs. You'll know when it is time to turn the page when you can't see anymore pictures, because there are actually close to an infinite number on our blog by now - sorry for those of you with slow computers!

Here's the view from the plane and hour or 2 before landing. It was a 9 hour flight in total, connecting in Sydney.

Australian coins!

2007-05-17T21:08:00.000+08:00

Our first full day in Australia we headed back up to the Brisbane area (about 45 minutes north of where we were staying) to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. There we met all kinds of creatures that one would only see in Australia - the Kangaroo, Wallaby, Dingo and the Koala...afterwards we headed into Brisbane for some shopping, dining and to pay a lot of money to see Spiderman 3 - Barry just couldn't wait to get back to Manila and pay P140 (less than $3.00 US to see it).

2007-05-17T21:01:00.000+08:00

A wombat! Actually, this guy looks suspiciously like our dog, Bond!

2007-05-17T20:59:00.000+08:00

Great signs! Why don't they have these in the US?

Barry makes friends with a kangaroo...

2007-05-17T20:54:00.000+08:00

Kangaroo feet - wierd!

This is what koalas spend most of their time doing - 20+ hours a day are spent sleeping!
\

Kinda cuddly...

Did you say you'd been married 15 years!? Wow! What a nice ring? Did your wife give you that? No wonder you married her! She is so thoughtful and considerate! And that ring makes you look hot!

2007-05-17T20:51:00.000+08:00

Koala butt!

The first Sunday we were there, we had a nice hour drive south of Hope Island to Byron Bay, known for its artsy community. There was a bazaar held on the first Sunday of every month where we bought our first hemp clothing articles (me a shirt and barry a pair of pants). We also took a little drive to the lighthouse at the "bottom" of the bay and had a nice "hike" to the eastern most point of the country. Really beautiful. A little chilly, but beautiful. The temp was around 70 degrees farenheit/21 degrees celcius. I guess we've acclamated to tropical weather now. We walked around the little shops by the beach, talked to the kids on the phone, played a little frisbee and had a nice dinner.

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My pictures of the lighthouse, etc. Barry's to follow...

2007-05-17T20:38:00.000+08:00

The lighthouse at Byron Bay...

I think the sign says it all...

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Just for my nephew, Julian...

Some pics of the eastern most point of Australia...

2007-05-17T20:31:00.000+08:00

Byron Bay...

Incredible! God IS an artist!

We stayed with an English Couple in their home near the tennis academy - a bed and breakfast of sorts. It was very interesting to hear their story of migrating to Australia over 30 years ago when the country was trying to recruit skilled workers by offering $20 boat fares! Yes, they road a boat from England to Australia!

We were pleasantly suprised to find that kangaroos roam the back yards or common areas of the small neighborhood - just like bunnies in my parents back yard in Colorado. This is the view out of our second floor bedroom window!

2007-05-17T20:26:00.000+08:00

The only shots you'll really see of tennis even though the bulk of our trip was consumed by tennis. Fortunately or unfortunately, I had to chose to hit the ball with either a tennis racket or a camera and I picked the tennis racket. I thought it was actually the smarter choice of the two, which shows how much I've learned in my tennis lessons over the last two years and my tennis academy training (haha).

Anyway, I couldn't resis picking up the camera at the tennis cour to capture this rainbow which kept appearing and disappearing in segments. The picture really doesn't do it justice, but I do have proof now that I was actually standing on a tennis court!

Turn around 180 degrees and this is the view from the tennis courts - spectacular!

2007-05-17T20:20:00.000+08:00

The Man From Snowy River! I love this movie and I only just learned it is based on a poem by a famous Australian Poet! Go figure!

Kangaroo meat anyone?

Would anyone care for a lolli? We found all kinds of abbreviations here that just made us smile (physio for physical therapist, uni for university, cab sauv for Cabernet Sauvignon - and the list goes on!).

For Mother's Day we took a wine tour. We were joined by an American couple (Terry and John) who had recently relocated to the Gold coast from Michigan. We met Terry in one of our tennis clinics and found out that we both had been considering doing a wine tour. Well, one thing led to another and so here you have it...Barry and John head into our first stop on the wine tour just east of the Gold Coast area where we were staying.

2007-05-17T20:14:00.000+08:00

I love dandelions!

Poinsettias as bright as my toenail polish - almost a neon pink. This pictures doesn't do it justice!

Winery #?????

A beautiful view of the vineyards out a beautiful window...

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Some wine tasting...

Just a nice shot of a winery interior...

Some interesting umbrella like trees...

And one of the ever-fascinating hilarious signs...

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Wine anyone?

Terry and I had some fun with the close-ups of the foliage - I found a kindred spirit (as far as close-ups go...)!

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A view of the "hinterlands" between us and the Gold Coast.

What anniversary trip would be complete without a couples picture under an arch and with a beautiful background?

This is as close as I got to the Sydney Opera House...

Just a really cool view of the fields below with clouds that look like blobs of whipped cream and the shadows they cast on the farmland below...

Goodbye, Australia! I'll be back!

2007-05-17T20:00:00.000+08:00

ISM Gymnastics Team Trip to Singapore

Jaron and I went with the ISM (International School of Manila) Gymanstics Team to Singapore April 29-May 1. The team was competing in a meet with other international schools in the general area as well as local Sinapore teams. We left early from school on Friday and stayed through Monday. Tuesday was a holiday and we wish we would have stayed a little longer even. Normally the President of the Philippines moves the holiday from a Tuesday to a Monday (at the last minute of course) so we have a long weekend, but this was one of those wierd exceptions - something I'm trying to learn to accept, sometimes more successfully than others. So we missed a day of school.

We got some good shopping in - you'll see pictures of Little India, Arab Street, etc. and many malls that surrounded our hotel on Orchard Street - as well as some good kid activities like the Science Museum and the Night Safari. You won't, however, see any pictures of the night safari because it was dark and my camera just doesn't take great pictures in the dark. It was quite amazing though to ride the tram around and have the animals (not penned up except for the more dangerous ones) right at the side of the road. A much different experience than going to your average "day zoo" and wondering why you can't see the tiger who is sleeping way in the back of his cave...apparently the trick was to sprinkle all the food near the tram trail so the animals would all graze peacefully in full view - good trick!

Some interesting things about Singapore that you may or may not know...a few people that I've heard comment about the country (city?) have expressed disappointment in the place because it's so small and limited. However, I did hear from one person who had lived there for a few years that that is really deceiving. There really is a lot to do there and no matter how long you live there (according to him) there is always something new to explore. The shopping is great, the streets are immaculate (laws against chewing gum, strict fines for littering, etc. really seem to be working - I guess they really learned from NYCs shortcomings). English is very good here and kids are required to go to school. In my travels, I've noticed that the enforcement of mandatory education seemingly makes a great difference in the development and efficiency of a city or country - fancy that! Another thing that is quite noticeable is the complete lack of poverty and/or homelessness. There just isn't any! And was told that this is attributed to the first leader of Singapore (I think, and correct me if I'm wrong) who was a benevolent dictator, really looking out for the interests of his people. He ensured that EVERYONE was to have decent housing and the pay for government jobs is adequate so as to discourage poverty. Seems like the plan is working! Unlike some other Asian neighbors, this city is very efficient and timely (meaning there is no flex time or stretch time). It was almost difficult to get used to that mentality in Asia, but it was attributed to the influence of their timely and efficient neighbors - the Chinese. I had to turn off the Filipino time that has been engrained in my head lately...

Overall, we really had a nice visit and enjoyed Singapore immensely. I hope you enjoy the pictures below...

2007-05-17T19:43:00.000+08:00

ISM gymnastics team arrives at the Singapore airport! I think they may have had a little too much candy on the plane!

Fun shot inside a mall, looking up at a dome. This was in a mall that had a Border's Books - one of the things those of us living in Manila get really excited about. Sad, I know, but they just have so many books! You really forget how good you have it until you don't. Barnes and Noble and Border's books really get us more excited than the average bear...

Amalia and Jaron getting settled in for our first night in Singapore...

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And the favorite for breakfast at the Hilton was the Rice Krispie dispenser!

Just some fun shots of all the sari material in Little India...

Have I ever mentioned that I think heaven will have a lot of fabric stores?

Jaron at the Science museum. She was on a very strict diet for the gymnastics meet...

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Amalia and Riley at Hard Rock Cafe - having a little fun with static electricity...

Jaron too!

It's competition day and here are the level 1 girls, ready to compete. I have to say they were the most spirited team!

Jaron took 7th place on the beam! Great job Jaron!

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Jaron and Amalia fast asleep after the competition! Jaron was a bit of a cover hog, but...

Isn't she sweet when she's sleeping?

Windows in Singapore make great pictures!

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Scenery around Little India where we shopped for Saris...

Elizabeth begged for one of my "famous" close-ups, so here ya go!

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Colorful buildings...

Cool Art Deco buildings...

Great street for fabric...

And a mosque...

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Welcome to BALI, INDONESIA - the first stop on our spring break R&R trip.

Last year at this time, we took a short jaunt to Guam, USA to relive my younger years and give the entire family a taste of my life (and have some fun in the sun while we were at it. This year, we chose Indonesia and Malaysia. Mostly we chose Indonesia and Malaysia happened to be a stop on the way so we took a couple days there and we're not sorry we did that.

Anyhoo...the choice was chosen because Barry's mom and stepdad are there for 3 months. Susie took a volunteer pastorship at an English speaking christian church in Bali. And so there is a most excellent excuse for going somewhere the kids had not yet been. Both Barry and I have actually been there before, but we were seriously feelin' the years as we talked about how long ago that had been. I think it had been 17 years for me and even more for Barry. Since I still actually think I'm 17, it was little confusing to think that I was there as an infant. Ok, I was 18. Don't even think about adding that! All that to say, a lot had changed in Bali since our last visit. Our second reason for visiting, was to hop up to the island of Sulawesi where my Aunt Barbara (mom's younger sister) and Uncle Timothy have lived for almost 25 years.

And so the story begins. We stayed at the hotel where the church was housing Susie and Jim - right on Kuta beach - nice. The christian church there owns the resort and helps to train locals in the hotel service industry. Bali is a very big tourist town, especially for Australians and Europeans. Their tourist industry has taken a big hit in the last year or two, though, because of the relatively recent bombings there. It seems that I like to go places that have terrorist attacks - NYC, Manila, Bangkok (did I mention I was in Bangkok when several bombs exploded in the city? That was fun.) and now Bali.

All that aside, our first day was rather relaxing: mall to check out the handicrafts available in Indonesia, Starbucks for some true Indonesian adventure (did you know they do RASPBERRIES and cream fraps there with chocolate chips blended in?! to die for!), and Hard Rock Cafe for lunch to get a necessary Hard Rock Bali T-shirt or two. The afternoon was spent relaxing on the beach. Susie was home relaxing because she was down with typhoid! Thankfully not a horrible case of it - just flu-like symptoms and very low energy.

The next day we headed for an artists' area called Ubud. We were seeking adventures - particularly white water rafting, but we found out there is really no white water

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So we headed for lunch at a beautiful resort set back above the river so you could see (and hear) the rafters go by. It really was a beautiul setting though, with rice fields and lush greenery below. The resort itself was very tropical open air balinese style architecture. The food was delicious and we enjoyed chatting with Susie, Jim and their assigned driver, Wyan. Not sure the spelling is correct, but we were told that every first born is named Wyan (or called Wyan - sounds like YN). There are also given names for second, third, etc. children.

The food was delish - sort of a blend between Indian and Thai food and slightly less spicy than both. Lots of curries and lots of peanut sauce. Definitely a far cry from Filipino food, though the fried noodles are almost identical to pansit which is a common food at parties in the Philippines. We had those for breakfast almost every morning.

Stevii tries on many sunglasses to avert the glare on that drizzly day. You can see some of the background scenery. Huts dotted the sides of the surrounding hills. Very pictureque.

Just pretty.

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Princess Jaron in her Hard Rock Bali t-shirt...

Much of Bali is Hindu, so just about everywhere we went there were small offering plates made of palm leaves filled with flowers, leaves and snacks to appease the gods, maybe? They were pretty, but mostly a nuisance because they sat right in the middle of just about every doorway and all over the sidewalks (not to the side, mind you, but in the middle) and I was afraid I would trip on them and do a big cultural faux pas.

After lunch we hit the monkey temple area and then the market. Boy these monkeys were feisty! Not that I've ever seen a lazy monkey.

Okay, one exception...