Greetings from Singapore

I'm way behind on my email but I thought I start with this -- and will go at it until either the battery runs down or they tire of me squatting at the McDonald's with the free wireless.

Singapore is as expected -- a great city. The sense of order and manicure of landscape reminds me of Disneyland. The buildings in downtown remind me of Dallas. And the cosmopolitan feel of the city reminds me of San Francisco. In many ways Guam has more natural beauty but these people have more than maximized what they have. Their primary product is excellence.

I've got to come back here again -- only next time definitely with Cheryl. It would be more fun to enjoy together.

A few observations:

~ It's a visitor friendly atmosphere. The immigration agents who stamp passports all have small bowls of mints on their counters. (You don't see that kind of hospitality statement in the US!)

~ As on Guam English is the common language, although it is more kin to British English. The non-Asians here are mostly Brits and Aussies. I've only met a few Americans so far. While English is the common language you're just as likely to hear some other Asian language.

~ I take a lift up to me 14th floor room at the Furama Riverfront.

~ All the cars on the crowded streets are but a few years old. No beaters with dents and bumpers hanging on with wire.

~ People drive on the left but generally walk on the right.

~ People still smoke in public.

~ The Filipino workers (which seem to do all the labor -- with the help of Indonesian crews) ride around in the back of open lauries. But they're nice looking Toyotas and Nissans.

~ My new favorite utility car is a Toyota Wish.

~ This is the kind of place where you'd likely find live plants in the bathroom or washroom or toilet or whatever it is. (The airport in Manila also had beautiful plants in the convenience room.)

~ People don't wear hats here as much as Guam -- even though it is a hair warmer. With all the humidity it seems more overcast so there isn't as much sun or glare. Interesting. I think we're about 130 km north of the Equator.

~ The conference I'm attending is good. I've met lots of very interesting people but I haven't come up with any new great insight into our distance education issues, yet. We go at it again tomorrow.

I'll try to upload some picture tomorrow.