Today's June 19, which means I have exactly one month left here. Early Thursday morning I leave for Kuala Lumpur, then when I get back there will just be ten more days in Singapore. Kunming (China) next, then Bangkok (Thailand). Time seems to be flying, I think.

This post won't be too long because it is already 11:15 pm and I have yet to complete my reading for tomorrow's classes.

Yesterday we went on a field trip as a group to Pulau Island off the coast of Singapore, closer to the Malay coast. (By the way, there's only about a kilometer of water between Malaysia and Singapore, and a lot of illegal immigrants try to swim across. Just an interesting fact. Immigration isn't just a US issue.) The island was traditional, in the touristy sense of the word. The fifty native inhabitants refuse to adhere to the modernized lifestyles of Singaporeans today, instead choosing to live without electricity. The island is now mostly a trail for people to walk around and see plants. Basically, a plant zoo.





This is a view from the island's coast near where we "alighted." (Singaporeans seem to love that word. I've heard it *so* many times on the MRT. That and warnings not to leave my bags behind or to mind the gap.)














So we divided into two groups with tour guides and were shown around the island very slowly. It was quite hot, too. The air didn't stir at all when we got off the beach area. First we went through the medicinal plants section, during which our guide gave us some things to try. We tasted a plant that acts as a laxative and one that helps cool you off after hot foods. We also rubbed something over our legs to keep bugs away. This plant I knew, but now I've forgotten the name. The laxative one tasted so similar to tobacco gum, and it stayed there almost as long. Not pleasant at all.

Speaking of which, I discovered some interesting plants that everyone at home should recognize (at least, family should):

Yes. That is indeed the most pitiful tobacco plants I have ever seen. The poor thing looks like it's been primed and left with only a couple of suckers. That is not a proper tobacco plant. The stalk is thin and sickly, and it looked like it had been living in that hot, humid weather for far too long. This was past the medicinal section, by the way. I think it was just in the random plants section, along with some cotton and tomato and random flowers.

Then, I spotted something else people from home should appreciate, though probably none of my friends from school. Sorry, but this is more for certain family members:

Yes. I know. A horn worm, or tobacco worm, or whatever. The point is, I go literally to the opposite side of the world and I can't seem to get away from these things. It dredged up some lovely memories, of course. I laughed when a friend tried to poke it, and I remember pulling off dozens of these from tobacco leaves, throwing them down, covered them with dirt or old leaves, and stepping on them. I hate these things. And this one was so huge...

Daaaaad. I'm scarred. Scarred for life, I tell you!

Unfortunately this is all I'll be able to write for now. I'd finished the post and tried to post it but the site disconnected and erased nearly all of what I'd written. So my apologies for how inadequate it is, but hopefully I'll have time to post a more comprehensive description of my trips the past couple of days.

Have wonderful Mondays and weeks!