Tag Archives: ASEAN

Double-whammy

8 Sep

The hazy conditions have not improved, leaving visibility blurred and colorless, especially on the road. To make matters worse, Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia erupted last week, disrupting air travel and posing further health challenges on top of the haze.

The reported 25-hour continuous eruption sent massive ash clouds and lava fountains into the air. Ash plumes were recorded reaching heights of 50,000 feet. As a result, airports in Indonesia and surrounding ASEAN countries had to close or delay flights until the situation improved.

I can’t help but feel incredibly thankful that we returned from Jakarta just a week before the eruption! Imagine if we had been stranded there. We would have likely been worried sick, wondering when we could safely depart for home.

What a double-whammy environmental hazard!

Carrots are Good, Part 2

20 Aug

The carrots are being dangled again this year! I figured if it worked last year for the girls with the reward being ‘The Great Adventure Road Trip to USA’, this year we will do a regional destination for its city and the islands. I love this Asean country for its food, golf courses and shopping. Both M1 and M2 have never been there but I think they are old enough now to appreciate the culture and the food, besides the shopping and sights. Also this time, I dispensed with secrecy and let it be known where and when. So the girls know what is at stake and what they have to do in order to enjoy the reward, pocket money for spending included!

The current August school holidays has ended with two weeks of staying put and not much excitement on the homefront. M2 has exactly three weeks to her big UPSR exam while M1 has the year end to show her results. She promised she will not be watching anymore ‘Friends’ until the year-end exams are over; I hope she keeps to her word.

Having made all these exciting travel plans with the children, suddenly a curve ball was thrown when we were summoned to Singapore for a year-end wedding.

Both M1 and M2 are really enthusiastic about Singapore as well but hubby is a little bit concerned. Three destinations. Uh-oh… so much traveling, so little time!