Way Down South : Key West, USA

Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys.

One of the biggest attractions on the island is a concrete replica of a buoy at the corner of South and Whitehead Streets that claims to be the southernmost point in the contiguous 48 states The point was originally just marked with a sign, which was often stolen. In response to this, the city of Key West erected the now famous monument in 1983. Brightly painted and labeled "SOUTHERNMOST POINT CONTINENTAL U.S.A.", it is one of the most visited and photographed attractions in Key West.

Land on the Truman Annex property just west of the buoy is the true southernmost point, but it has no marker since it is U.S. Navy land and cannot be entered by civilian tourists. The private yards directly to the east of the buoy and the beach areas of Truman Annex and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park also lie farther south than the buoy. The farthest-south location that the public can visit is the beach at the state park for a small entrance fee.

Florida's southernmost point is Ballast Key, a privately owned island just south and west of Key West. Signs on the island strictly prohibit unauthorized visitors. The claim "90 Miles to Cuba" on the monument isn't entirely accurate either, since Cuba at its closest point is 94 statute miles from Key West. Further south than the southernmost point of Florida lies the entire state of Hawaii as well as US territories, with two (American Samoa and Jarvis Island) actually in the Southern Hemisphere.

We spent a wonderful day out on the Florida Keys with Susie Goh, a Malaysian living in Miami, whom we bumped into in Orlando. We were honoured to have been invited to stay in her home during our time in Miami.

Us at the southernmost point on Continental USA
90miles from Cuba
Key West
Miami, FL
12 July 2009

Susie with Adrian at South Beach
Key West, FL
12 July 2009

Tuah at Mile 0
Mile 0 of US Route 1....the road to America begins here!
Key West, FL
12 July 2009

Key West Sunset
Florida
12 July 2009

Adrian finds a spot to prance around
Key West
Miami, FL
12 July 2009

Alligators and the Everglades, Florida, USA

Everglades National Park protects the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River. The wilderness area is named for Marjory Stoneman Douglas who was instrumental in creating the park, and who coined the phrase "River of Grass." It has been designated a World Heritage Site

Although primarily freshwater animals, alligators will occasionally venture into brackish water.Alligators live in wetlands and this is the vital habitat that holds the key to their continued long-term survival. Alligators depend on the wetlands, and in some ways the wetlands depend on them. As apex predators, they help control the population of rodents and other animals that might overtax the marshland vegetation.

American alligators are less susceptible to cold than American Crocodiles. Unlike the American Crocodile, which would quickly succumb to the cold and drown in water of 45 °F (7.2 °C), an alligator can survive in such temperatures for some time without apparent discomfort.[10] It is thought that this adaptiveness is the reason why American alligators spread farther north than the American Crocodile. In fact, the American alligator is found farther from the equator and is more equipped to deal with cooler conditions than any other crocodilian

We were kindly hosted and given a wonderful tour of the Everglades by Susie Goh, A Malaysian living in Miami, whom we bumped into a few days before in Orlando, where she had been on holiday.

** Due to the massive oil spill in the Gulf Of Mexico, The Everglades was pronounced an Endangered Area on 30 July 2010

Alison at Everglades National Park
Miami. FL
11 July 2009

Alligator
Everglades
Miami, FL
11 July 2009

Adrian at the Everglades
Miami, FL
11 July 2009

Alligator
Everglades
Miami, FL
11 July 2009

Susie and Adrian
11 July 2009


A slide show on our trip to the Everglades and The Florida Keys
can be found on the blog entry titled
Way Down South : Key West, USA

Friends For A Reason

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support,
To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.


Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.


LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lesson.
Things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other
Relationships and areas of your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Goodbye Wei-Lin

There was no warning
only the sudden horror
of being torn apart
of being reminded
that nothing is permanent
not even the ones we love
and the ones who bring joy into our lives

Looks like we are all dancing
on the edge of
a cliff so high and
we can't see the bottom
It feels like we lost you
into that dark ravine
And this loss
has left a great pit in our hearts
a pit we struggle to avoid

Somehow, we will survive
the shock
the denial
the horror
the disbelief
the sleepless nights

Somehow, we will survive all that and
we will slowly begin to remember you
in a different way...

The laughter
the irrepressible spirit
the generous heart
the way your laid back manner made us feel
And in time, we'll fill the pit
with other memories
the only memories that really matter

We will still cry
We will always cry
But with loving reflection
more than hopelessness and helplessness

Cheah Wei-Lin
10 Dec 1978 - 9 May 2010