Back in Singapore: Chinatown and the haze . . .

The air in Singapore really changed in the days were were gone.  The fires burning in Indonesia, combined with the prevailing winds, have made the air in Singapore hazardous. I am sure it has been in the news in the States.  As a point of reference, normal air quality should be under 100, but right now it's over 400. It actually makes your throat and eyes hurt -- like being on the wrong side of a bonfire.  It is better in the evening, so we were able to go to Chinatown last night. That was wild!  Shop after shop after shop -- with a Hindu temple in the middle of it all. Saturday was spent indoors shopping at the HUGE mall. The biggest bookstore in the world - Kinokuniya - was a great and confusing experience. I could have spent a fortune, but only bought a political map of the world for my classroom. I plan to have the most geographically-educated Kindergarten in the U.S.!  I also saw a restaurant that reminded me of home. (Somebody show him, please!)

                            

THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT IS THE FIRST TIME WE WERE IN SINGAPORE, AND THE ONE ON THE RIGHT SHOWS  THE HAZE OVER SINGAPORE AS WE ENTERED THE CITY ON FRIDAY.  QUITE A SHOCKING DIFFERENCE.

                                  

                                                           THE STREET IN CHINATOWN

                                  

SOME PICTURES OF THE HINDU TEMPLE. WE COULD NOT TAKE PICTURES INSIDE AND WE HAD TO REMOVE OUR SHOES TO ENTER.  I FELT VERY "CREEPY" WHILE INSIDE.  VERY DIFFERENT, EVEN FROM THE BUDDHIST ONES IN JAPAN.

                                  

        

                                                    I WAS THINKING OF MY FAVORITE SON!

Random observations from the day. . .

        

                                             OUR TAKE-OUT IS CALLED "TAKE-AWAY" HERE

                                  

                                                       THIS IS SINGAPORE KETCHUP