A great pleasure since returning to the East Coast of the USA has been long evenings. The sun sets much later here in the summer than in Malaysia and Singapore. The Summer Solstice was two days ago; the sun rose at 5:31am and set at 8:54pm. Unfortunately, the days get shorter from here, leading to the Winter Solstice on December 21 when the sun will rise at 7:40am and set at 4:38pm. In Malaysia and Singapore the sun rises and sets between 7 and 7:30 all year long. Time doesn’t seem to pass nearly as quickly.

Last night, Mitch and I drove out to Mendon Ponds Park in the evening. Mendon Ponds is the largest of Monroe County’s parks with 2,500 acres of land and water. We stopped at Hundred Acre Pond to take in the spectacular view. (Please click on the picture – it’s a panorama and it shows up much more clearly when enlarged.)

As excited as I am to be returning to Southeast Asia, words cannot express my joy at being in such a beautiful place for the summer.