TOTAL MILES TRAVELED SO FAR ON SAIL to SEE EXPEDITION: 19,640 NM
Hello SAIL to SEE Followers-
Logbook Entry 15 is going to be a little different. We have been anchored in Bali (and on the beach) for the past month doing some work on Elcie and exploring this beautiful island. We also made a short trip north to Singapore. We are going to do a photo essay of our time in Bali and Singapore. In two weeks, we will resume our usual logbook entry format. Meanwhile, we hope you will enjoy the photos!
In Bali, most who live there practice the Hindu religion. There are many temples and offerings are made everywhere to the Hindu gods for good luck. Here are photos of some of the offerings. The offerings typically contain flower petals, something sweet, some grains of rice and incense sticks. Holy water is sprinkled over them before they are placed on doorsteps, in small temples, in front of stores and even in cars.
After sailing so many miles, a boat needs a bit of work and new paint. The tides in Bali are very high so we were able to beach the boat at high tide, block it up with sandbags and paint after the tide went out. The workers at the boatyard put a very large offering on our deck for good luck for a successful work period.
We spent two days visiting an area with many rice fields (also called rice paddies). Rice is a semi-aquatic plant which means it is partly grown in water and the water levels are controlled by diverting streams. We loved the way the water reflected the surrounding landscape. The rice paddies were a great place to walk and to take photos.
In the same area, we visited a Sacred Monkey Forest that was home to around 750 Macaque monkeys. They were quite mischievous and you had to watch your backpack or they would try to get into it, especially if you were carrying food.
Indonesia is a country made up of over 15,000 islands. Therefore, it is a country with many boats! We saw boats of all shapes and sizes.
Unfortunately, there was a lot of trash in the water in Bali. Fortunately, some people are trying to clean it up. We heard about several beach clean-ups and many restaurants are starting to use bamboo, glass and paper straws. We even bought some bamboo straws of our own to use on Elcie.
Kite flying is very popular in Bali. The kites are gigantic and they require about 10 people to fly them on heavy line. They are usually flown by teams of teenage boys. Kite flying festivals and competitions are often held and they look beautiful in the sky.
Following are a few funny things that we also saw in Bali.
This item was for sale in a store and was called a Coat-Brella. We wondered how well it would work.
This was a sign we saw at a public toilet. It reminded people not to squat on a regular toilet.
Here is a cat perched on top of another large cat.
And here is a dog that rode on a bicycle with its owner.
There was so much to look at everywhere in Bali. It is an island full of statues and temples and interesting walls and landscapes. I took many, many photos and here are a few more...
While we were in Bali, we also flew up to Singapore for a brief visit. It is a very modern city with fast subways and contemporary buildings. We especially enjoyed the Marina Bay Gardens. This is a forest of futuristic trees. We went at night and there was a music show in sync with the lights on the trees. We also went on the Sky Roof at the top of the three buildings for a great view of the city.
WHERE WE VISITED: SINGAPORE
Official Name: Republic of Singapore
Population: 5.8 million people live in Singapore (2017)
Area: 278.6 sq. mi.
Capital: Singapore. It's a city state.
Type of Government: Parliamentary Republic
Currency: 1 Singapore dollar (SGD)=100 cents
Languages: English, Mandarin, Tamil, Malay
Highest Point: The highest natural point of the Singaporean island is Bukit Timah Hill with 164 metres/538 ft.
Climate: equatorial, tropical
Economy: It enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP higher than that of most developed countries. Shopping and tourism are contribute to the economy of Singapore.
Exports: Singapore's main imports are aircraft, crude oil and petroleum products, electronic components, radio and television receivers/parts, motor vehicles, chemicals, food/beverages, iron/steel, and textile yarns/fabrics.
Natural Hazards: flooding, droughts, heat waves, hailstorms, wildfires
Country Flag:
What does the Singapore flag symbolise? The red stands for brotherhood and equality, the white for purity and virtue, while the crescent moon stands for the young nation on the rise and the five stars are the ideals which are followed: democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
Interesting Fact: Chewing gum is against the law in Singapore. You are not allowed to bring chewing gum into the country and it is not for sale.
Another Interesting Fact: How Singapore got its name - Singapore comes from the Sanskrit name 'Singapura' which means 'lion city'. The Merlion, (like a mermaid but half lion), the country's national symbol, has been inspired by the city's name. Actually, the name Singapura was given to the city by a Sumatran prince who ruled in the region in the 14th century. This prince encountered a strange animal when hunting. At that time his advisors believed the prince spotted a lion. However, lions never lived in this region, but tigers did! Until the 1930s, tigers could be found in the wild in Singapore, now you only can see one in the city's zoo.