Text 22276, 142 rader
Skriven 2009-03-23 09:06:00 av Glen Jamieson
     Kommentar till en text av Michael Loo
Ärende: TRAVELS 380  90323
==========================
 -=> Quoting Michael Loo to Glen Jamieson <=-

 ML> Just pointing out that current rates are somewhat lower,
 ML> as the travel industry struggles. But when I wanted to go,
 ML> 300-450 was the norm - very rich for my pocketbook.

For me, that is in the stratosphere!  Or even the Van Allen belt.
 
 ML> Back in pre-Kwan Yew days when I was even
 GJ> tighter with my money than I am now, I stayed at the sort of place
 GJ> that only had a communal Asian style toilet, and table-cloths on the
 GJ> bed instead of sheet.

 ML> I've stayed in some extremely stripped-down places, not many,
 ML> but I'm unlikely to do so in future, as I tend to lug my
 ML> identity, er, laptop computer with me wherever I go. An extra

The last time I stayed in one of those places I left my larger luggage
with the elderly Chinese lady concierge, who spoke no English, while I
disappeared Northward to Malaysia and Thailand for 2 weeks.  It was
well looked after, and ready for me to collect when I returned and
signed her book.  No charge.  I found that those Chinese-run hotels
were quite safe, and scrupulously honest.

 ML> $25 a night is good insurance. I also don't like squat toilets
 ML> and tend to hold it for days and days and days when traveling
 ML> in areas where they are the only available.

In Sumatra, a couple of years ago, the workshop toilet was of that
type.  Fortunately I didn't need to squat, as otherwise my arthritis
would have made it very painful, and difficult to rise.
 
 GJ> I don't think Singapore has a history of earthquakes.

 ML> Everyplace will find an earthquake sooner or later. Singapore,
 ML> being outside an active zone, is less likely to experience one,
 ML> but the taller the building the more displacement from even a
 ML> small shock. The Singapore government actually has a system
 ML> for earthquake monitoring, and I doubt it was established just
 ML> as a porkbarrel project.

Singapore is in a good position to monitor surrounding earthquakes,
without becoming too directly involved.

 
 GJ> The new MRT circle line has been taking ages to construct, rather like

 ML> It's not a perfect country, even setting aside human rights
 ML> and individual freedom issues. The circle line, supposedly
 ML> meant to open about 2-3 years ago, is in limbo since the
 ML> Nicoll Highway and Holland Road collapses (the latter was not
 ML> publicized outside the region, as there were no fatalities).

The excavations remain something of a barrier to traffic.
 
 GJ> the open cut Boston metro line.  Is that finished yet?
 ML> What open cut Boston metro line?

The last time I was in Boston, I remember seeing an extension of the
subway which was being built using the open cut then fill method.  At
least that was what I was told that large hole in the ground was.
 
 
 GJ> It is a long time since I was on Pulao Penang.  Maybe time to return
 GJ> and inspect the new bridge across to the island.

 ML> It remains the most heralded tourist attraction of the region,
 ML> despite being some 20 years old. I looked at it and thought
 ML> to myself, gee, a bridge. It might have been more interesting
 ML> to see from the Menara Komtar, but that was closed the day I
 ML> was willing to plunk down my dollar or two. Next time perhaps
 ML> I'll try to see it from the tower and the ferry.

When I travelled on the ferry, passengers were only charged for travel
in the one direction, which I think was to the island, on the
principle that nearly everyone who went there would return the same
way, so only one ticket office was needed.
 

Southwest.
 
 GJ> e.  I don't understand what the FA is saying, anyway.

 ML> That's because they speak some kind of weird teenage
 ML> dialect, as opposed to some kind of weird Ozstrine.

I read somewhere that during the Battle of Britain, female Australians
were preferred as radio communicators, as their harsh accents were the
most effective at cutting through the static and other noises when
talking to pilots.
 
 GJ> f.  All I want is a peaceful flight, undisturbed by intrusive
 GJ> behaviour by FAs or other passengers.

 ML> And Courvoisier.

Or a reasonable red - or two - or three.
 
MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
 
      Title: Grilled Meat with Spices (Sate kuning)
 Categories: Meat, Main course
      Yield: 4 Servings
 
      2 lb Sirloin steak or lambs meat
      1 md Chopped onion
      1 tb Chopped garlic
      1 tb Ground coriander
      1 ts Caraway
      1 tb Turmeric
    1/2 c  Coconut milk
    1/2 c  Grated coconut (unsweetened)
      1 ts Ginger
      2 tb Lemon juice
      3 tb Brown sugar
           Salt and pepper to taste
 
  http://www.rugebregt.com/frank/IndonesianCooking.html
  
  Frank Rugebregt is a Dutch-Indonesian who moved to the US sometime
  after the war and went to work for United Airlines. He's retired now,
  and his website contains quite an assortment of Indonesian recipes
  (which he learned from his mom). I see that someone recently posted
  his nasi goreng (or, as it is spelled in Mary R.'s list of weird menu
  entries, Nazi goreng) here; well, there are a bunch of other good
  dishes described on his site. This recipe looks pretty appetizing,
  but the portion size is somewhat closer to Texan than to Indonesian.
  
  Cut the meat in 3/4 inch cubes. In a pan, add all other ingredients,
  and bring to a boil. Cook for about 8 min; do not overcook the meat
  as you have to finish the cooking on the grill or over the charcoal
  fire. Let cool and place 5 to 6 pieces of meat on each skewer and
  grill on moderate heat, turning 2 or 3 times, about 8 min, or until
  done. Serve hot with or without a sate sauce.
 
MMMMM
 

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