Singapore

March 20: Line from Passage to India particularly interesting: “It matters so little to the majority of living beings what the minority, that calls itself human, desires or decides. Most of the inhabitants of India do not mind how India is governed. Nor are the lower animals of England concerned about England, but in the tropics the indifference is more prominent, the inarticulate world is closer at hand and readier to resume control as soon as men are tired.” Of course that doesn’t deal with the environmental damage than man can do to the habitats - those beings are (we assume) unaware of man’s role.

Ah, Singapore! Multicultural but maintaining traditions of each culture. Quaint history in such places as Raffles Hotel but gloriously creative modern architecture across the way. City coexisting with its rainforest. Must return to see the Botanical Garden and its orchids, along with so many other sites, and talk with more people living there. [Yes, Dan, it is a rigidly enforced safe and clean place - had to remember not to drink even bottled water while walking along the street].

On this trip I have the sense of being a traveler to distant lands, not really a tourist.

One of our earlier ports - Tonga - has had a violent undersea eruption, but it appears the danger of a tsunami is past. Traveling around the world makes me so much more aware of global weather. And more aware that the US is but one country in a big world.