More out of the world pics on sand castles

Building sandcastles....

Here are some out of this world type of pics on sandcastles....

Be careful of who you argue with...in the bus.

Chanced upon this clip....it is about an incident in Hong Kong whereby a young commuter got more than what he bargained for when he told a fellow bus commuter to lower his voice when answering his handphone.

The incident was secretly captured by another fellow bus commuter. View the clip with discretion as foul language in cantonese is used very now and then.

So, in a similar situation, should we just mind our business or we should speak up for our rights?

Fisherman's wharf in Monterey, California

Here are some pics of the Fisherman's wharf in Monterey,California. This was the place that we went for our whale watching expedition. In some ways, it is like the Fisherman's wharf in San Francisco but on a much smaller scale.

Besides the world famous Monterey Aquarium, the Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey is one of the must visit spots in Monterey. Besides the sourvenir shops, there are fine restaurants that serve some of the best clam chowder that one can expect to get. Of course, then, there are the Dungeness crabs that make crab eating an out of the world type of experience.

The Marina near Fisherman's Wharf....yatchs, boats and some boat houses..

When you see this signboard, you know you are in Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf

A sea otter that is a frequent visitor to Monterey...in fact, the sea otter is the mascot of Monterey.

Want to go swimming....?

It has been sometime since I last went swimming.....but after seeing this clip, I don't think I will be going for a swim for a while.

More whale watching pics

Here are more pics of the Humpback Whale.

Whale watching along the Monterey bay coast line

I thought of loading pics of our whale watching trip along the coast line of Monterey Bay. We staying in the Monterey Bay area then, and whale watching season was just beginning...from the early part of the year from January onwards in the Winter months.

That was the time when Humpback whales start their migration route from the Alaska to the warmer waters of Mexico. They will traverse the Western seaboard of USA, near California.
So,we started off on a early morning to one of the whale watching companies located in Monterey's Old Fisherman Wharf. There were a few of them operating at the Old Fisherman's Wharf. They cost about the same price....so, we reckoned that it didn't matter which company we chose. So, we chose Randy's Whale Watching. We paid about US$30 per person for a 1 1/2 hr trip.

Half the time was actually spent on setting out to sea....getting to the 'hot spots' where the Humpback whales were commonly spotted. Along the way, we passed by the breakwater and that was where we saw a number of sealions. We had to cover our noses as we neared the sealions basking as they really smell!

As we moved further away from the coast,with the coastline fast disappearing from our sights, the sea state got rougher. The good thing was that we had the stomach for the ride and the sea state, with waves rocking the boat every now and then, didn't affect us too much. The winds were particularly cold though as we were still mid-way through the winter months in the USA.

As we neared the migration route of the Humpback whales, the captain of the boat cut the engines. This was the standard practice in whale watching as it was intended not to alarm and cause panic to these magnificent mammals.

We didn't get to see an entire school of whales but one single solitary specimen. Nevertheless, seeing is believing and it was our first time doing this. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the whale spout nor manage to capture its complete tail flip.

Every now and then, our boat would speed up to catch up with 'our' whale and then the captain would again cut his engine and drift along. For the safety of everyone on board, the captain kept a safe distance from the Humpback whale making its journey south to the warmer waters of Mexico.

There are some really awesome pics of whales in Randy's whale watching website. Just click on this link...http://www.randysfishingtrips.com/photo_expeditions.html

This is the Old Fisherman's Wharf at Monterey, California.

Sealions basking in the sun at the breakwater as we moved to the high seas.

Our first sight of a young Humpback Whale....arching its back.

Russia claims the Arctic Seabed

Russian Subs Reach North Pole Seabed
By DOUGLAS BIRCH Associated Press Writer
9:54 AM EDT, August 2, 2007





AP/NTV Channel,

A Russian miniature submarine is lowered from the research vessel Akademik Fyodorov moments before performing a dive in the Arctic Ocean beneath the ice at the North Pole in this image made from television broadcast on Aug. 2. Russian scientists hope to plunge to the seabed beneath the North Pole in the next few days in a miniature sub and plant a titanium capsule containing the Russian flag, symbolically claiming much of the Arctic Ocean floor for Moscow.
MOSCOW - Two deep-diving Russian mini-submarines slipped beneath the ice at the North pole and descended more than 2 1/2 miles to the ocean floor Thursday on a Russian quest to claim much of the Arctic's oil-and-mineral wealth. Expedition leader Artur Chilingarov, who was aboard the MIR 1 three-person sub, told colleagues on a research ship on the surface that his craft had reached the seabed. "The landing was smooth, the yellowish ground is around us, no sea dwellers are seen," he said, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency.

The voyage has some scientific goals, including studies of the climate, geology and biology of the polar region. But its chief aim appears to be to advancing Russia's political and economic influence by strengthening its legal claims to the Arctic. The crews of the MIR 1 and MIR 2 are engaged in what Russian authorities called the first dive to the ocean floor at Earth's northernmost point. The crew of the MIR 1 planned to drop a titanium capsule containing the nation's flag on the bottom, symbolically claiming almost half of the planet's northern polar region for Moscow. Chilingarov, 68, a famed polar scientist, spoke of the danger of the expedition on Russia's NTV television before boarding. "I am scared and I don't hide it," he said.

The subs began the eight-hour plunge later than expected, and were expected to return to the surface and the research ship Akademik Fyodorov late Thursday. They planned to spend several hours in the murky depths conducting a study of the water chemistry and geology near the seabed at the pole, according to Russia's Institute of the Arctic and Antarctic, which organized the expedition. Expedition members say the biggest challenge for the sub crews will be to find their way back to an opening in the 5-foot thick polar pack ice after their dive. Russian scientists planned to map part of the Lomonosov ridge, a 1,240-mile underwater mountain range that crosses the polar region. The ridge was discovered by the Soviets in 1948 and named after a famed 18th-century Russian scientist, Mikhail Lomonosov. In December 2001, Moscow claimed that the ridge was an extension of the Eurasian continent, and therefore part of Russia's continental shelf under international law. The U.N. rejected Moscow's application, citing lack of evidence, but Russia is set to resubmit it in 2009. If recognized, the claim would give Russia control of more than 460,000 square miles -- almost half of the Arctic seabed. Little is known about the ocean floor near the pole, but by some estimates it could contain vast oil and gas deposits. Before Thursday's dives, researchers mapped the location of natural openings in the polar ice. The icebreaker Rossiya spent most of Wednesday night and Thursday morning carving a 400x30 foot artificial opening near the pole, RTR television reported. The Russian expedition leader, Chilingarov, became a hero of the Soviet Union in the 1980s, after leading an expedition aboard a research vessel trapped in Antarctic sea ice. He descended with two crewmates, Anatoly Sagalevich, the pilot, and Vladimir Gruzdev. Before the dive, Gruzdev joked about what the submarines might find, Russia's Channel One reported. "And what if we encounter Atlantis there?" Gruzdev said. "Nobody knows what is there. We must use the opportunity given to us 100 percent." The MIR 2's crew includes Michael McDowell, an Australian described by the ITAR-Tass news agency as a polar explorer, and Frederik Paulsen, a Swedish pharmaceuticals millionaire described as a co-sponsor of the dive. The deepest dive on record, according to several sources, was by the bathyscaphe Trieste, which in January 1960 descended 35,810 feet into the Mariana Trench in the Pacific. In the coming weeks, expedition researchers plan to set up an Arctic research camp near the pole, called a "drift station" because it will drift with the shifting ice pack in the polar sea, to carry out long-range climate studies.

The scientific ship Akademik Fyodorov is expected to remain in the region until mid-September. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Leslie Phillips said, "We wish the Russian scientists a safe expedition." The U.S. Senate has not yet ratified U.S. accession to the U.N. Law of the Sea, which would give Washington a seat on the panel that will consider and eventually rule on the Russian Arctic seabed claim. Phillips said the Bush administration would continue to press hard for ratification in order to give the United States a voice on that commission.

Amazing houses...

Don't ask me where these houses are from....
I really don't have a clue and I'm not even sure if there are for real and how much they cost!

I worry about the last house though...with global warming, will it shrink in size?!

Your humour medicine...

The weekend is coming to an end...surely, we can afford a laugh or two...

Seattle...one of the most romantic cities in USA

Here are some pics of downtown Seattle.

You might be aware...but Seattle was one of the most romantic cities in the United States of America. According to Spring 2005 edition of American magazine, Tango, Seattle is up there on the romantic stakes with cities such as New York, San Francisco, New Orleans and Miami.

This is a little known fact....because Seattle's literary reputation, its bookstores and music shops tend to overshadow this aspect of the city. Having Bill Gates as its most honourable resident also does not appear to be raise any points on the romantic scorecard.

Never mind the weather, it rains most of the time in Seattle. That drives people in doors, enjoy their oysters with wine or champagne....The sound of rain drops....pitter, patter on the roof tops triggers fond memories and brings back memories of the past.

The movie. "Sleepless in Seattle" has put Seattle on the world map and perhaps upheld the city's reputation of being one of the most romantic places to stay in.

Where else can you see mountains in your backyard, enjoy whale watching.....enjoy some of the finest wine in the world....all in one place.

The truth will set you free...

For laughs...

Snoqualmie Falls....and "Twin Peaks"

We are not done with Seattle as yet....If you are in Seattle, please pay a visit to Snoqualmie Falls.

It is a natural wonder in Seattle and there are various tour groups in Seattle that will bring you to the Falls for a small fee. Located at the outskirts of the city, it is very scenic and I was told by my guide that the cult TV series "Twin Peaks" was actually filmed here.

You can actually make your way to the base of the falls by foot if you are adventurous enough. We didn't do that....Anyway, we were quite wet as a result of the strong winds that we experienced.

Oh yes, I forgot...bring a raincoat, because if the wind is blowing strongly in the direction, you will get wet and cold! There is a fenced up area (for safety reasons) where you can gaze at the grandeur of the Falls. There is a hotel at the top...nice view!
On the way back, we passed by some waterfront housing and that was when our guide told us that was where Bill Gates lived.

Notice the lodge overlooking the Falls ...it costs a bomb to stay for a night.

Peering downwards...that is a 270 ft drop to the bottom!

Notice the mist 'kicked' up by the Falls.

Nobody walks in the United States of America...

There is a saying in America....nobody walks in the United States of America.

Almost 1 in 2 Americans own and drive a car. It is easily...one of the most convenient ways of getting around...but the road infrastructure are not necessarily the safest. This is especially so if you are new to the country and being Singaporean, we are pretty used to driving on the left side of the road and driving on a right hand drive car. So, switching over to another type of driving environment and type of car can bring about some amount of anxiety.

In the big Apple and most parts of Europe, the cars are left hand drive and cars drive on the right side of the road i.e. you keep right and the divider is on the left hand side of the driver.

Hence, I thought of offering some tips on driving overseas, particularly in countries like the USA.

(i) Provide adequate insurance coverage on your car. Have at least Collision Damage Waiver. This is especially useful if you are driving long distance. We normally request from our car insurer for this when we planned our long trips. It only cost us USD$1 /day for that kind of coverage.
If you are driving a rental vehicle, the insurance coverage is already in the package.

(ii) Let your families and friends know where you are going...maintain contact with them.
Have autoroaming on your handphone...my wife always tops her Go Phone package whenever we go on long trips. You might never know when you need assistance.

(iii) Know the local laws. Know the laws adequately...the important ones so that you won't break them. Keep in touch with the local AA, they will offer you free maps as well as free advice.
If you get stopped by the cops, pull over safely to the side of the road. Stay in the vehicle at all times and follow the instructions given by the officer.
After a number of cop killing cases, the highway patrol has a particular SOP to follow through.

(iv) Be picky when it comes to selecting a rental car....No amount of advice is needed here. Pick the wrong car and your holiday could well be ruined as a result. If you feel that you can't handle a large saloon, don't choose one.
Rental car companies like Avis, National, Hertz...have cars that are 1-2 years old. So, rest asssured on the serviceability and reliability of rental cars from reputable car rental companies.
I would strongly recommend an auto car for Singaporeans who are already so used to a right hand drive car.

(v) Driving long distances...Last the pace by having frequent stops. You will need them or you will start to feel the cramps. For the rental car, get one with cruise control. That will allow you to set the speed that you would like to travel and allow your foot to be off the pedal and let the car go on auto-pilot, more or less!
Along the highways, there will be eateries, restaurants and petrol kiosks.

(vi) Observe the speed limits...In Singapore, the speed limit are typically 90 km/hr. In California, it is about 100 miles/hr. That makes it about 130 km/hr.
Stay on the right, to allow other cars to pass if you can't keep up with the neck breaking speed.

(vii) Road conditions...When going up mountainous roads, step down the gears to a D2..or 2. It gives you more power on the uphill and more engine braking on the downhill.

Be extra alert, because you don't know what is coming round the corner on mountainous roads. Usually, there are speed signs... a lower speed sign usually indicates a certain degree of risk as in the tightness of the bend.

(viii) Control the kids... Have them well settled before driving off. Kids can be a major source of distraction on the roads.

Relieve Stress

Relieve Stress

Since I quoted the news article about stress....I found this blog that offers pretty useful ways to bring down your stress levels. I would tend to think that a large part of our stress is self-induced...to want to excel, to meet our self-actualisation needs and goals.

I'm a strong believer that it is an innate nature of human beings to want to their very best, to continuously self reflect and improve whatever they are doing. That makes life more worthwhile and worth living for. Without that inner drive, there won't be much progress in society and the human civilisation in general.

Then, the other aspect of stress is externally induced. Then again, it is how we respond to it that determines whether we are able to cope with it. By all means, strike a balance. A little tension in life is good, because it provides that motivation to get things done.

But then, when it is excessive and prolonged, then it will surely and slowly degenerate into a health issue...you would have suffered a burnt out. My tip of the day for stress is to make an assessment of how your personal abilities and competencies and the demands that are being placed on you. If your capabilties and capacity far exceeds the demands, then, you ought not to be stressed out. If otherwise, then, it is an early warning indicator of an impending rising stress levels.

Stressed out at work? Abattoir workers..?!

read with interest in Today's paper that the most stressful jobs in the world are that of chefs, teachers, abattoir workers ..?!

I can certainly understand the stress that chefs and teachers go through...but abattoir workers?
What stress do they face in their daily routine?

It beats me becos' I was not in this trade and I can imagine that part of the stress will come from the threat of diseases from the pigs, cows, chickens... Speaking of pigs, I can't help but recall what I have encountered in the big Apple.

Back then, I was in this place in Salinas....a laidback farmland area in the American state of California. Our strawberries probably came from there....you know, the Dole brand of strawberries.

In Salinas, there was a farmland exhibition of sorts that showcased farm animals such as cows, pigs, chickens etc. There was an auction going on...the typical American type and you wouldn't believe how fast that they go on with the sales pitching.

The visit to Salinas changed my perception of pigs. I mean I do eat pork but I can't stand the sight of them wallowing in mud and to think of the smell! When I was a lot younger, I stayed in one my classmate's place....her family ran a pig farm. It was one of the most enduring stays that I ever had to make. Given the condition of the place, I was often awoken to the whiff of stench coming from the pig sty....

Anyway, here are some pics that I took of the pigs that I saw in Salinas. You wouldn't believe it and you wouldn't thought that kids would come that close to these animals...as if they were pets. The pigs had names...as if they had a personality and character of their own.
The pigs had to look their best as there was an ongoing competition. We didn't stay long enough to find out who was the winner!
Oink!

Some more curios...the tame sort

I'm continuing with Part 2 of 'Ye Olde Curiosity Shop'...this time, goin to add tame photographs....ha!

This is labelled as an Eskimo medicine ball....but I've absolutely no idea on what it does.

The most characteristic part of a saw fish.

A figure of a typical African Witch Doctor...an imposing figure indeed.