Page 72 - Phonebox Magazine April 2008

Singapore . . . last stop in Asia and a passport and language check . . .
Our last stop in South East Asia was Singapore. All was running smoothly after catching a bus from Johor Bahru over the
border, until, we arrived at passport control where Emma got pulled up for questioning.
We did expect this to happen at some point as the colour of her hair is different in her passport compared to now and she does look a bit different. Taken into the questioning room Mark sat bemused as
Emma was questioned, the most bizarre being (in broken English) “if you from England then why you no speak English?’’ A rather stupid question as all the previous questions had been in English and answered to accordingly. After a while he seemed to finally give up and let us through.
With accommodation being more expensive in Singapore than we were used
to so we opted for a mixed dorm house in the little India area. One of the people in our dorm ended up being an older well- travelled woman on her way to Burma. She had actually worked as an aid worker in Cambodia until the Khmer Rouge fully took over and they were deported for their own safety.
We were in Singapore for three days which was about right to explore the city. We visited a bird sanctuary, which was amazing seeing so many birds from around the world, from huge African wetland birds to smaller South American hummingbirds. The next day we visited the Asian Civilisation museum which turned out to be very interesting, especially the ancient Chinese Civilisation section.
At the end of the third day we both packed our bags as the realisation sunk in that our journey around SE Asia was over. The last 4 months have been incredible and a real eye opener to just how different life is for people on the other side of the
world. Money is just as important as the majority of the world sees it, but with considerably lesser incomes than the west, most people are happy with close bonded family and friends and never let things get them down too much, they’re just happy to be blessed with a new day.
The worries and stresses of everyday modern western life and the pressure to conform to the standardised dream of 2.4 children with a nice house, car, perfect reputation seem quite comical at times when you witness and hear about how a lot of SE Asians have to get by. Of course globalisation has started to really take hold in some parts of Asia, but a strong sense of roots continues.
Seriousness aside, the memories from SE Asia will definitely stay with us forever and we have had a brilliant time. Where else in the world could you see an elephant outside a Red Lion pub? or witness one man carrying a washing machine on the back of his motorbike, using just one arm to drive in out out of
the crazy Vietnamese traffic? From spotting Geisha’s in Japan, drinking 7p a pint beer on plastic chairs on the streets of Vietnam, to the killing fields and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Bob Marley chilled atmospheres of Northern Thailand and tubing down the river in Laos we have experienced an amazing amount in the last 4 months.
Next onto Australia!.........
Here Comes Summer! . . . Bedford Park and Milton Keynes Campbell Park
Breeze into Summer with Easternbreeze 2008 Concert Season
At Easternbreeze we’re all looking forward to a sizzling summer of fun, with concerts planned for nearly every weekend from July through to September, at stunning outdoor locations from the Midlands to the South!
Outdoor summer concerts are an ideal
summer activity to share with family and friends. What better to way to pass a long summer evening, than with a relaxing picnic at one of the Proms or Jazz concerts?
Alternatively you can enjoy food and drink from our high quality outlets at the concert.
Milton Keynes Campbell Park
We specialise in choosing beautiful parkland locations, sometimes in the grounds of stately homes, but also in town and city centres which pride themselves on creating an urban oasis with well maintained parks and green spaces.
Bedford Park
Saturday 2nd August
Looking for sensational summer entertainment in Bedford?
Then come along to Bedford Park, because for the 15th consecutive year there is a live music weekend in Bedford Park.
Proms in the Park returns on Saturday 2nd August, with the London Gala Orchestra, Bedford
Choral Society conducted by
Stephen Bell, guest soloist Juliette
Pochin, tenor Lynton Atkinson and a spectacular firework and laser finale.
Followed on Sunday 3rd August by a laid back ‘Soul on Sunday’ a Picnic Party of Non Stop Hits,
Saturday 19th July
Looking for sensational summer entertainment in Milton Keynes?
Then come along to the concert in Milton Keynes, once again a wonderful line up is coming to Campbell Park.
Proms in the Park returns on Saturday 19th July, with the London Gala Orchestra, Milton Keynes Chorale conducted by Hilary Davan Wetton, guest soloist Juliette Pochin, tenor Lynton Atkinson concluding with a spectacular firework and laser finale. Followed on Sunday 20th July by a return visit from the ever popular Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, featuring Gilson Lavis, Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall with a very special guest vocalist, Marc Almond.
featuring a
selection of the
top bands who
made soul
popular, with
music from The
Four Tops, The
Temptations and
performances by
Alexander O’Neal, Rose Royce featuring Gwen Dickey, Heatwave, Ultimate Earth Wind and Fire and Imagination featuring Lee John.
Full details of these and all the other Easternbreeze concerts are available
at www.easternbreeze.co.uk
or telephone the ticket hotline on
0870 842 2230
some special ticket discounts are
Rose Royce
70 Phonebox Magazine
Jules Holland
still available!