Le Grand Tour D'Asia: Day 36 of 58

Leaving with a smile on my face...

Friday, February 12

Learning Moment: Ubud, Bali

We fly back to Singapore this afternoon and then to Japan on Saturday.

There's still time for some adventure today - it's the start of Chinese New Year, after all - but the Southeast Asia portion of our tour is about to come to an end.

We'll be swapping shorts, sunscreen, and swimsuits for winter jackets, freezing temperatures, and cold winds. On the other hand, we'll get to see old friends and familiar places.

So, much like the Balinese statue pictured above; I'm leaving with a smile on my face.

Le Grand Tour D'Asia: Day 27 of 58

February 3, 2010

Learning Moment: Singapore

File this one under the title of "Artistic Bullsh*t"...

Tonight we checked out ION, a monumental mall on Orchard Road. In front of the mall is a sculpture of a nutmeg. I took this picture and walked over to read the artists statement.

This is what it said:

"Ion Orchards's signature sculpture connects the mall building site with its past as a nutmeg plantation - a reminder that present-day social spaces are enlivened and enriched with histories and collective memories."

Seriously? Is that what they think this sculpture does? Somehow a giant brass nutmeg spontaneously summons up collective memories of the plantations of the past? Do they think anyone is buying that line? Do they even believe it?

If they had stopped at the first sentence, it would have been okay. But the rest is laughably insincere. Oh well, at least there's that James Bond girl on the screen to distract us...

Balance

Rock Sculpture at San Francisco Maritime Park