There's a lovely breeze today blowing in from Indonesia. It would be a fantastic day to be outside, except that haze has rolled into Singapore like fog.

It's from the forest fires burning in Indonesia. This haziness is a reasonably common occurrence during the dry season. We've only had a few hazy days since we've come to Singapore, but this is the worst I've seen it. It's hard to make out the features on Sentosa Island just across the Harbour from us. I snapped a few photos when I walked Ms.C to her friend's house this afternoon.

Today we're up to 97 PSI (Moderate) - top of the range where sensitive people may be bothered. We're about to tip over to the officially Unhealthy zone at 101. It's the first time in 3 years that Singapore has had an Unhealthy reading.

Looking through the haze to Sentosa Island in the middle of the afternoon. 
The view to Sentosa on a normal day. 

Normally it's crystal clear out here, with blue skies and water and sharp shadows from the bright sun. You can usually make out all the features on the hotels just across the water. Today it's like standing in the shade on the Boardwalk; there are no shadows. Still it's not nearly as bad as forest fire season last summer on Vancouver Island, Canada. Here we are along the ocean which seems to keep the air at least moving. At our home in Canada we were in a valley where the smoke settled, socking us in. Our condo in Singapore seems pretty air tight. I can't smell the smoke inside at all. We're just running the air conditioners and keeping the windows closed.

We're taking turns having the kids over to play inside, so we can avoid the playground. Now would probably be a good time to visit a museum for the day. I imagine the MRT system we would use to get there has good air being mostly underground.

Last night the kids were a little squirmy from being inside all day. I had promised them a lantern walk as it was the actual date of Mid-Autumn Festival and the Full Moon. As soon as darkness fell at 7:15, we lit our lanterns and walked our friend home the slightly longer way. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to see the moon in the haze, but lanterns are always fun.