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Monday, May 31, 2010

MY WEEKEND IN KUALA LUMPUR

I got to go to KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia!! Second time, but in 2002 all we did was change buses here….it’s got some spectacular scenery….
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There really were two parts to the weekend—from the time I left Manila at about 9:00 p.m. Thursday a week ago until Friday evening was the first part, which I call The Tour. The second part will be a different post, and that’s the Friday evening, Sabbath morning, and Sabbath afternoon Faith/Science Conference.

Everything began at my front door, when the taxi driver arrived around 4:15 in order to be sure that I got to the airport two hours ahead of flight time. It can take anything from 60 minutes to more than two hours to make the trip to the NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, because the route is one of the most congested in the city. As it turned out, my driver knew what he was doing, took a “short cut” that added 10 kilometers to the trip, but he avoided the worst of the congestion and we made it in about an hour and a quarter. That means I sat around for 3+ hours, but that’s fine—much better than being late!

I was glad for the extra time, too - after checking in and getting my boarding pass, there were a couple of fellows in front of the second security checkpoint who insisted on weighing all the carry-on baggage. I had everything in one rollaround, and it weighted 12 kilos or so. They said nothing over 7 kilos could be carried on, and sent me back to the checkin line. I removed my laptop case and slung it over my shoulder, plus put some stuff in my pockets, and got the bag down to 7.7 kilos and the lady gave me a sticker that made it OK.

Once through the security point, it appeared that this airport is still under construction, which made for a strange vista….
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Posted by Earl on 05/31 at 12:40 AM
PHILIPPINES TEACHING ASSIGNMENT • 04 KUALA LUMPUR • Comments •

Sunday, May 30, 2010

MR. TOAD COMES TO VISIT

I was sitting at my computer fixing photographs for posting, when I noticed that it had started to rain…..it doesn’t take much on this metal roof! Anyhow, a noise outside the door engaged my attention…...I looked through the screen and saw this
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I’ve been a complete flop at securing a photograph of the tiny indoor geckos, and even the much larger outdoor TOKAY GECKO, the “pit bull of the Gecko world” has managed to evade my (somewhat desultory) efforts - although he continues to sit on my screens and bark at me. I told myself that this quarry would be different…..and it was - well, sort of. I crept over, opened the screen, and shot again
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Bingo! But, I wasn’t satisfied, so I tiptoed out and attempted to circle past him to get a full-frontal photograph…..and
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off he went into the bushes…..

Foiled Again!

I’ve had a very long day on CORREGIDOR ISLAND and am heading for bed. Tomorrow, I complete the grading for the class I’ve been teaching, and I should have time to post.

Posted by Earl on 05/30 at 07:56 AM
Miscellany • Funny (strange?) Stuff • PHILIPPINES TEACHING ASSIGNMENT • Comments •

Friday, May 28, 2010

COCONUTS ON THE AIIAS CAMPUS

There are coconut palms all over campus….
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You may be wondering what happens when those (rather large) coconuts ‘WAY up there fall…... I did, anyhow, and promised my self I wouldn’t walk anywhere near the drop zone, as I’ve seen a nut or two on the ground under a tree.

Then I found out why more people aren’t killed by falling coconuts on this campus.
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Posted by Earl on 05/28 at 12:28 AM
PHILIPPINES TEACHING ASSIGNMENT • 02 AIIAS • Comments •

Thursday, May 27, 2010

OBAMA’S LYNDON JOHNSON MOMENT?

PRESIDENT LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON famously said that if he’d LOST WALTER CRONKITE on the Vietnam War, then he’d lost Middle America.
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That was a bad moment for an embattled President, and it didn’t get better, either. But, losing a news anchor is one thing…..can our current President actually survive LOSING JAMES CARVILLE?
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DO NOT miss the video….incredible!

Posted by Earl on 05/27 at 06:58 AM
Politics • Domestic • Government Outrage • Comments •

A VISIT TO THE VOLCANO…...

Woody and Peggy Whidden

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have been my mainstays during the time I’ve been at AIIAS. It was Woody who met me with his car at the NINOY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT in Manila the night I arrived, and Peggy who’s cooked the fabulous food every time I’ve been to their house for meals and good conversation - over and over again. Woody is the “fixer” when I have a problem (and what I’m going to do from Friday to Tuesday without him here, I’m not entirely sure), and my guide to the distinctive and unfamiliar society in which I find myself. On the first Sunday (or maybe it was Monday) of my stay, the Whiddens invited me to ride with them to see the TAAL VOLCANO, which sits in the midst of TAAL LAKE, that occupies an extinct 25-30 kilometer wide caldera that has erupted multiple times over the last several thousand years and longer. We would see some of the surrounding countryside and a bit of wildlife, as well as both rural and small town Philippine living situations.

So, off we went up the road
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