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Here we are on St Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

Once a Danish possession, it was purchased by the United States in 1917 as a base for the navy, during WW1.


This was the first time we had Wi-Fi since embarking because we economised on the ship's 'extras'.  Other passengers have been complaining about it. When do people not complain about Wi-Fi?  But I think we may have been taught a lesson - it's hard to do without.

St Thomas was previously Danish so, like Denmark did long ago, they drive on the left.  Yet, as in the US, the cars here are left-hand drive.  It's a reverse of taking an English car to the Continent or in Myanmar where they drive right-hand drive cars, from Japan, on the right.

It's strangely disorienting, and not very safe.

It's a small island and not a big job to reverse the traffic lights.  On September 3, 1967 the whole of Sweden, road tunnels and all, switched sides overnight.  Even Myanmar switched overnight (the wrong way).  Yet something about the US psyche resists change. They can't go metric either.  

The island seems idyllic but it was far too hot.  While Wendy shopped, I just had to find a bar and sit in front of the fan, drinking pina coladas ?.

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Travel

Sri Lanka

 

 

 

In February 2023 we joined an organised tour to Sri Lanka. 

 

 

Beginning in the capital Colombo, on the west coast, our bus travelled anticlockwise, in a loop, initially along the coast; then up into the highlands; then north, as far as Sigiriya; before returning southwest to Colombo.

Read more: Sri Lanka

Fiction, Recollections & News

A Womens' view

 

Introduction

 

The following article presents a report by Jordan Baker, as part of her history assignment when she was in year 10 at North Sydney Girls’ High School.   For this assignment she interviewed her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother about their lives as girls; and the changes they had experienced; particularly in respect of the freedoms they were allowed.

Read more: A Womens' view

Opinions and Philosophy

Sum; estis; sunt

(I am; you are; they are)

 

 

What in the World am I doing here?

'Once in a while, I'm standing here, doing something.  And I think, "What in the world am I doing here?" It's a big surprise'
-   Donald Rumsfeld US Secretary of Defence - May 16, 2001, interview with the New York Times

As far as we know humans are the only species on Earth that asks this question. And we have apparently been asking it for a good part of the last 100,000 years.

Read more: Sum; estis; sunt

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