The Wenner's Singapore Adventure

Sapa - Day 3

2009-04-09T20:41:00.020+08:00

We arrived at the station in Lao Cai at around 6 am and had 1 1/2 hour drive to Sapa. Sapa is Northwest market town located about 10km South of the China border. It is a town surrounded by the Tonkines Alps with Mt. Fansipan, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia within walking distance. This market town relies heavily on its own rice paddies and terraces to feed its people, mostly made up of the hill tribes who live in Sapa.

In the early 1900's Sapa was a holiday spot for the French colonists. In the 1950's it was retaken by the Vietnamese and then bombed by the French during the War. Unique to Sapa are its hill tribes which are considered by the Vietnamese "ethnic minorities" Some tribes have lived here for thousands of years while others have arrived within the last 50 years. The tribes have immigrated from Tibet, Burma, Laos and China. During the Vietnam War, the Americans and Vietnamese fought to have the hill tribes as their allies.

Our hotel was the Victoria Hotel set upon the hill in the town. The hotel was beautiful with lush greenery and lodge type rooms. The resort overlooked the town with the mountains in the background.

As we started our walking tour to visit Cat Cat (waterfall in French), we were joined by about 6 women from the Black H'mong Tribe. Dressed in indigo-dyed clothing, silver hoop earrings and a multitude of bracelets and necklaces, these women followed us for about 2-3 hours in a walk to and through their village in hopes of us purchasing their handmade goods. They spoke fairly good English. The women in the H'mong tribe work hard - 1 day making their goods, 1 day selling and 1 day farming and then they repeat the cycle. Women are generally married at 15 or 16 and have children. There are many traditions they follow. They are persistent in selling their goods. One woman walked the entire trek with her 2 years old strapped to her back. Their living conditions are very basic and they depend on the rice harvest to keep them fed throughout the year. A common conversation with a hill tribe woman would be "you - me - we friends. You buy from me? You buy from me later, right?" You had no problem with buying from them as they befriended you, the only problem being that 3 women befriended Jim and 3 me and they all want you to buy similar good!! They got quite upset when you bought from another! We attended a concert where the young adults where putting on a dance performance. Allison and Kristin were invited up on stage to dance with them , it was very fun and exciting for all of us! We saw the waterfall for which Cat Cat is named. There were water buffalo, pigs and chickens randomly wandering around the entire valley. The water buffalo presumably know where "home" is so no one has issue with taking anyone else's water buffalo which is essential in harvesting the land. The rice paddies and terraces are everywhere you look - it is amazing. The government of Vietnam allots families in the hill tribes parcels of land free of charge to harvest and maintain. Each family has a plot of land that once harvested should provide enough rice to get them through the year. They also eat corn, which hangs from the rafters of their homes and meat from the local markets.

We had the opportunity to see a performance given by the local teenagers who were playing music on native instruments and dancing with the music. Both boys and girls were dancing and telling stories through their dance. They invited Allison and Kristin up to dance as they pounded long bamboo sticks to a beat across the stage. They then dance between the bamboo. The girls did great and both the girls and the performers enjoyed the interaction. As we continued through the valley we saw local homes, men plowing the rice fields and the corn being made into grain. What amazed us the most was how ancient their farming techniques were and no one had given them instruction on how to modernize. Everything they do requires human driven labor, not machine.

We went back after a long day of hiking and rested for awhile as we were quite tired from the train ride the night before. Kristin was not feeling great but we all headed out to dinner. At the start of dinner, Kristin needed to go back to the room to sleep, she was exhausted. Sapa is a small town, but a hilly one so I wasn't sure she would make it back on foot. Our tour guide, Nam, who was eating with us, hailed a motorcycle taxi and off Kristin and I went. The driver, Kristin and I on a motorbike up to the hotel - it was quite an adventure and actually was fun! Kristin initially was a bit nervous but was all excited once we got going! We were all ready for a great night of sleep in cool weather and to rest for the next day's hike.

Hanoi, Vietnam - Day 2

2009-04-09T19:24:00.017+08:00

Hanoi is one of the most bustling cities I have ever visited. A highlight at the end today was sitting in the Highlands Cafe, in the center of the city, watching the action unfold. The motorbike scene is like nothing we have ever seen - no rules of the road, drivers drive in any direction and turn whenever they want. 2 or 3 people could be on a bike at once. They go through red lights, don't stop for pedestrians but slow down as you cross the street, you feel like you are just waiting to be hit. The way to cross is to walk slow and the motorbikes drive around you!

Vietnam is heavily influenced by the countries that have occupied it over its history. The Chinese ruled the country from 179 BC - 938 AD and the French from 1896-1954. The Chinese and French influences are very apparent in the architecture around the city. The Russian influence appeared when we visited Ho-Chi Minh mausoleum, modeled after Lenin's tomb.

The Temple of Literature and National University was the first stop of the morning. The temple was built in 1070 to worship Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher. The three buildings and courtyards are examples of Chinese architecture. On site are stone diplomas bearing the names of students who passed the examinations to become doctor laureates. We next visited Hoan Kiem Lake which is in the center of Hanoi and divides the French Quarter and the Old Quarter. A great myth surrounding the lake is the Legend of the Lake of the Recovered Sword. As legend goes a magical sword was given to the emperor in the mid -15th century to defeat the Chinese invaders. While the emperor was boating on the lake a giant tortoise snatched the sword away from him returning it to its rightful place and bringing peace to the land. The tortoise has symbolic significance in Vietnam and is seen over and over again in sculpture and art. We crossed the Bridge of the Rising Sun, a bright red bridge that takes you from the area around the lake to the Pagoda, a working temple. The whole area has a very Chinese feel from the bridge to the Temple.

After lunch we embarked on our journey to see and learn about the life of their revered leader Ho -Chi Minh. Ho-Chi Minh was a communist leader and statesman whose dream was to unite North and South Vietnam. Born in 1890 and living until 1969, Ho Chi Minh is a hero in Vietnam. He was influenced by the Russians and his Mausoleum reflects that relationship as it is built in Russian style architecture. The building is cold and dark in nature. He is one of only two individuals in the World to be embalmed, the other being Lenin. The Vietnamese government pays large sums to keep him embalmed and annually his body is sent to Russia for 2 months for "body maintenance". Despite his status while alive, Ho Chi Minh lived a simple existence with little to no luxuries. The two homes where he resided during his tenure as Prime Minister and President, are preserved. The first very simple in nature and shows the life of a solitary man. The second is in keeping with the hill tribe housing which he lived in the Northern hills in hiding during turbulent times. The museum built in his honor is like no other museum I have ever been to. The layout itself is an artistic masterpiece displaying facts about his life in an unusual manner. An example would be the display of gifts given to Ho Chi Minh during his rule. The large circular area is laid out like a giant lotus leaf and each petal houses a different gift. It is quite spectacular.

The street shops around the city are unbelievable due to the sheer volume of goods and the people surrounding the area. Hang Dau Street is a street lined with stores selling shoes, more shoes that you have ever seen in one place. The same goes for handbags - Prada and Gucci knockoffs, backpacks (North face supposedly) and accessories. Hang Gai Street is lined with a mix of silk stores, clothing and art galleries.

After dinner we boarded the night train for Sapa, a village about 7 hours Northwest of Hanoi. The Victoria Train has small but beautiful wood paneled sleeper cars for 4. The girls took the top bunks, Jim and I the bottom beds and we set off on a great but very bumpy adventure North.

Hanoi, Vietnam - Day 1

2009-03-29T15:20:00.017+08:00

On March 21, 2009 we headed to Vietnam to visit Hanoi, Sapa and Halong Bay. All these cities are located in North Vietnam. Hanoi is the Capital of Vietnam and means "bend in the river" as the city is located on the Red River which comes down from China and runs through the city. Hanoi became the Capital in 1010, so they are planning a big 1000 year celebration in 2010. Vietnam has many influences having been ruled by the Chinese and French and politically guided by the Russians. The French took control of Hanoi in 1888 until 1954 and portions of the city's architecture has a French influence. The population is about 3.5 million people with about 2/3 of the people using a motorbike as their primary mode of transportation. It is organized chaos like you have never seen! There are no road rules so drivers of motorbikes and cars drive in every lane, every direction, turn from anywhere they want - it is unbelievable!! You don't go a minute without hearing honking from a car or motorbike as honking is viewed as a reminder to others that you are approaching rather than an angry motorist.

On our first day we visited the Hoa Lo Prison, known to us as the Hanoi Hilton - the prison that housed US airman during the Vietnam War. It is located in the French Quarter of the city. It was built and opened by the French in 1896 to imprison anti-colonial movements. There were many Vietnamese patriots and revolutionaries imprisoned there by the French during their occupation. Vietnam became liberated in 1954 and the prison housed American pilots from August 1964-March 1973. There is a section dedicated to the American Pilots that includes many of their personal belongings such as clothing (even John McCain's Fighter Pilot suit), photos of them being captured from their planes, Everett Alvarez's belongings (first US pilot shot down and captured). The propaganda is unbelievable. A plaque is posted with regards to the treatment of the US pilots stating " During the war, the National Economy was difficult but the Vietnamese Government had created the best living conditions to US pilots for they had a stable life during the temporary detention period". There are pictures of US serviceman decorating xmas trees, making dinner, playing basketball, laughing etc... We met a woman there who good friend's husband was a prisoner there for 6+ years. She said he talked mostly of the tapping on the walls to communicate with fellow serviceman, not any of the "parties" shown in the pictures. In John McCain's book he writes of similar situations and stated that they would take them out of their cells to photograph them having a normal living situation but that was not the reality. The cells were small and dark and the building that remains today is about 1/3 of the actual prison as the rest of it has been torn down for office buildings.

The visit was very interesting and the Vietnamese like the Americans suffered greatly at the prison. The original guillotine is displayed that was used by the French against Vietnamese activists. Admission to the museum was 5,000 dong - 17,000 dong = 1 USD. The Vietnamese accept the US dollar as much if not more than the Vietnamese Dong. Many of the items we purchased were listed in US dollars.

Flat Stanley comes to Singapore, vacations in Vietnam

2009-03-29T14:57:00.018+08:00

Flat Stanley came to visit us in March. Kristin's friend Clare Hoult sent Flat Stanley to us. Flat Stanley had the great opportunity of visiting SAS - Singapore American School and then heading to Changi Airport to vacation in Vietnam. While there Flat Stanley had the opportunity to visit Hanoi and sit with Budda and see Confucius. The Buddah smiled down very favorable on Flat Stanley!! He rode on the cyclo ride around the streets of Hanoi, undoubtedly some of the busiest streets in the World and helped pick out a Vietnamese hat. Flat Stanley boarded the night train to go to Sapa, a town in the far Northwest corner of Vietnam. While on the train he enjoyed a serving of Creme Brulee in the Dining Car. A highlight of his trip was meeting the hill tribe women of Sapa. In his photo, he is visiting with a member of the Red Dao (pronounced Zao) tribe. These women live in the hills of Sapa - they make their own goods and harvest the rice fields in Oct/Nov. Flat Stanley needed to rest and found a great spot in the teeth of a white dragon!! Flat Stanley's last stop before heading home was Halong Bay where he visited the Surprise Cave - a huge rock formation with many caves inside. We made sure that he had a life preserver in case he thought about jumping overboard!! Flat Stanley will be headed back to the United States on March 30 and hopefully will make it back to Clare's classroom by April 6. We enjoyed our time with Flat Stanley and wish him many more safe and exciting travels!!

Bali, Indonesia

2009-02-28T14:00:00.000+08:00

On January 25 we left for a short vacation to Bali, Indonesia. Bali is an Indonesia island which is strongly influenced by Indian and Chinese culture. The island is inhabited with a population of 3,151,000 people. The majority of Bali's population are Hindu whereas Indonesia as whole follows Islam. Tourism is the leading industry making it one of Indonesians wealthiest regions. The island is known for its arts - batik and ikat cloth, wood carvings, stone carvings , painting and music. While tourism is the money maker, agriculture is the largest employer in the region with the rice being the biggest industry. There is also coffee production , small amounts of fruits and vegetables and fishing.

Being there for only a short period we tried to balance fun with seeing the sights. The first full day we went white water rafting. We donned our gear, life vests, helmets and oars and set out for an 2 hour ride along the Telaga Waja River with our guide. We quickly learned the appropriate lingo and got the hang of going through the rapids after a few episodes of being hung up on the rocks! Our guide was quite the comedian constantly stopping short and flying us about in the boat. We ended our ride with a lunch on the river. Upon leaving the area we were bombarded with people trying to sell us goods. The goods ranged from small wood carvings to t-shirts and the people were relentless. Jim bought one t-shirt only to be pegged as someone who would buy and was immediately followed and almost harassed by another peddler. She followed him up 200 steps in an attempt to get him to purchase another t-shirt. She kept coming down in the price as he told her had no more money. If you can picture her walking up the steps, speaking Balinese/English chasing him down while carrying 20-30 more tshirts on her head, it was quite a sight!!

That evening we went to dinner at a fantastic restaurant with our friends, the Bartons. It was about an hour car ride away as everything in Bali is fairly spread out. The restaurant was on a plateau overlooking the ocean and rice fields. We arrived in time to catch a beautiful Balinese sunset and once set it started to rain so we ate in a semi covered area and had a meal of fresh fish. There was a local band there serenading all the tables. It was as if they were imitating the Beatles - it was really fun! After dinner, the rain stopped and we had a drink while listening to water crash upon the shore.

The next day we had a day of site seeing planned. We piled the kids - Allison, Kristin, Noah and George - and 4 adults - Jim, Jeff, Susan and myself with a driver, who charged $35 for the day , into a SUV and off we went. He first took us to the Batik making center. Batik is a traditional style of weaving, using a loom and hand dyed fabrics. Their were woman set up with their looms as well as women doing hand painted pictures on fabric using hot wax. Batik pieces are passed down through family generations. There are certain tribes that know that art of Batik making, and generally the girls start learning the process around the age of 13. What is produced ranges from simple shirts, dresses, boxes to large framed pieces. It is quite an industry for the people creating them. We next went to a silver shop where they make jewelry. Most of the silver and gold is imported by they do all the art work. As with any industry in Bali, the sales people follow you around the store and if you show the slightest bit of interest the bargaining begins. You have to be able to walk away if you want to bargain them down otherwise they are full of reasons why the price is firm. Bargaining is definitely an art that you get better at with experience.

We next went to lunch at a beautiful restaurant that overlooked rice fields. The rice fields are absolutely beautiful and I have whole new respect for every grain of rice I eat! It is an enormous amount of work and the individuals harvesting the rice are all ages. There quite a few older men and women in the fields in the heat picking the rice. We then all piled back into the car and headed out for the wood carving store.

Wood carving is a speciality in Bali. The store has magnificent pieces, some enormous and some as simple as a recorder. At the front entrance the artist were there carving the wood and it is really quite a process. It was amazing to watch them work the wood and see the end results of what could be created. The compound where the store was housed family homes as well. There was a temple in the middle that was quite a site - large golden figurines. Obviously this was a well to do family who had more solid structures than the home we had previously viewed. The artwork was amazing and we walked away with a piece that depicted the Indonesian version of Romeo and Juliet. In their version the ending is a happy one and they end up together!

Our guide then took us to a typical Balinese home. Individuals let tourist see their homes as a way to get money. When entered into an open space or large compound area that housed about 4 huts. Two huts were sleeping quarters, another a kitchen , one was an open bed that was used only when someone passed away and displayed the body. Each hut was raised off the ground and had thatched roofing which is said to last about 30 years. The kitchen was very basic with no refrigeration, no electricity. The woman start cooking in the morning on a wood burning stove and food is kept for 48 hours and then discarded. Each compound has its own temple for which the family prays to the Gods and pays homage to its ancestors. The compound had a well for water, pigs, chickens and 2 porcupines which had been captured because it had been eating the rice in the fields and were housed and fed. They had certain chickens that were kept in cages for chicken fighting which is a ritual for them. There was no plumbing on the grounds. The compounds are passed down through generations and house members of the family as the family grows. Men stay at their compounds and women , upon marriage, move in with the men's family.

Our next stop of the day was an art gallery. It had local painters in the front of the shop creating art, drawing and painting. The art ranged in size and style. Some were still life paintings, others very modern depictions. the gallery went on and on in every direction. It was almost so overwhelming the number of painting that it was difficult to decide on what caught you eye. We picked up a painting for friends of our back in Singapore that they had seen in the works when they were last in Bali that was now completed. The artist was there working on another piece, it was fun to be able to see the artists at work.

Our final stop of the day was the Monkey Forest. Monkeys in Indonesia are considered to be sacred animals. The forest is an actual preservation site in which researchers are able to study the monkeys behavior within their habitat. That being said the monkeys are very attuned to the humans and that humans bring food and therefore are fairly forward in approaching humans. Jim, Allison and Kristin all had a monkey climb up on their shoulders and heads in order to get food! Once there, they were fairly comfortable and unfazed to be sitting on them! It is unbelievable how many monkeys there are - thousands! Big, small, young and old - could be the makings for a Dr. Seuss book! It was quite a site and the monkeys just roam around looking for any food you have to offer.

Our final day in Bali was a pool day at the resort. We really needed to build a little more of this into our stay as the sight seeing and the time spend in the car was tiring. The girls loved the pool and the pool bar was really fun!

Bali overall was a nice getaway. It was very different than I had envisioned as I think it is often painted as paradise. I found it to be an interesting place but not as tropical and breath taking as I would have thought. The people of Bali are kind and hard working. The standard of living is low compared to what we are accustom to and many jobs are very labor intensive. In my view it is a very hard life and the city is crowded with very narrow roads. It would not be uncommon to see a family (mother, father, child and baby) on one motorcycle as that it a major mode of transport. The transportation infrastructure is very archaic and the roads sometime have room for only one car even though there is traffic in both directions! It is an eye opener to see how the rest of the World lives!!

Chinese New Year Photos

2009-02-02T17:50:00.012+08:00

Some additional Chinese New Year Pictures! The first one is a mall decorated with red laterns. The next is the salad and the salad toss. And the remaining are the evening in China town.

Chinese New Year - The Year of the Ox

2009-01-23T13:29:00.019+08:00

Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year is one of the most important Chinese holidays. The holiday begins on the first day of the Lunar month on the Chinese calendar and lasts for 15 days. This year ,the year of the Ox, celebrations will start on January 26 and end on February 9.

The myth behind Chinese New Year is based on the mythical beast called the Nian. The Nian would devour the crops, children and livestock on the first day of each year. The villagers would put food in front of their doors which would protect them as Nian would eat the food instead of their crops, children etc... Myth has it that Nian was scared away by the color red, hence the use of red lanterns, scrolls and clothing in the color red during this period. All over Singapore red lanterns hand from doors of homes and shops. Lion and Dragon dances are held to scare away the bad or evil spirits and bring good luck. The dances are quite magnificent having large colorful lion heads with embroidered cloth and housed by acrobatic men making the lion dance.

Leading up to the days of the celebrations is a time of thorough cleaning, sweeping away of the bad luck. People buy new clothing, shoes, new hair cuts - symbolizing a fresh start in the New Year. The first day is a time when families come together to honor family - past and present. Each day holds particular meaning as to who it to be visited and pay homage to.

Mandarin oranges are popular during this period as they represent gold. Colorful Mandarin trees of all sizes are seen throughout the country in front of homes, hotels, etc... I participated in a Yushengs which is the tossing of the salad. The higher you toss the salad which is made of many different vegetables and fish, the greater luck and prosperity you will have that year. Another tradition is the Red Envelopes or hong bao are passed out during this period. They almost always contain money but always in even numbers with the exception of the number 4. 4 is considered bad luck because it is a homophone for death, whereas 8 is considered good luck as it is a homophone for wealth. Decorations with Chinese characters are hung on the doors and Allison pointed out to me that one must be turned upside down. This allows the good luck to come in to the home.

We were treated by our friends, Tony and Rebecca to a wonderful Chinese New Year meal. Tony and Rebecca were both born in China and have since immigrated to the US but moved over to Singapore with Abbott around the same time we did. Rebecca told us that Chinese New Year is more celebrated in Singapore than it is in China. That is because during the late 1970's China had their cultural revolution which basically stripped any cultural out of China. It was time when everyone was to be made equal and religion ceased to exist in the eyes of the government. Rebecca now is reminded of the traditions of Chinese New Year living in Singapore. They took us,with another family, Irene, John and Luca, to a Chinese restaurant and ordered food, including a yusheng salad and we tossed in the good luck for the coming year. It really was a great way for us all to celebrate our new found friendships here in Singapore.

We experienced our first Lion Dance which was truly amazing. Two men perform many acrobatic moves and manipulate the lion, it is beautiful and quite an athletic feat. One man is in the back of the lion controlling his hind legs and lifting at times his partner. The man in the front controls the head and the front feet. It is awesome how real the character becomes.

The girls fully embraced the traditions of Chinese New Year and were sure to wear Red clothes on the first night so they wouldn't be devoured by the Nian. They were mesmerized by the lion and dragon dances and enjoyed a crowded but fun trip to China Town. Overall the holiday is one that very much encompasses family and tradition.

We had a great Chinese New Year this year and hope for a great 2009, the year of the Ox. Which by the way according to the Chinese zodiac, Allison is an Ox!

Home for the Holidays

2009-01-11T11:10:00.024+08:00

We just got back from a three week vacation at "home" , the US. It was great to be back in the United States and spend time with family and friends. Here is a recap...

* Fortunately we got upgraded to business class in both directions. It was huge relief especially because Kristin told me " Mom, you know I can't sleep in economy!"

*You forget how long a 18 hour flight is and that jet lag really does exist!

* Greeted at O'Hare with 16 degree weather - that is cold for us who have not seen a cooler temp than 85 and live on the equator!

* Our luggage made it from Singapore to O'hare but not from O'Hare to Newark - what does that tell you?

* Saw our dog, Jenkins who was happy to see us and us to see him. He wouldn't leave the kids room our last night at my parents.

* Finally got to meet Claudia, Brian and Lisa's daughter who they adopted from China in July. She is amazing and full of life and energy. Colton was great as always and the girls had a wonderful time seeing him!

* Had many Christmas parties and got to see the Rubensteins and hear about Jamie's plans for college next year, and visit with the Gersh and Hernandez families. We really enjoyed seeing everyone! Thank you Mom for all the wonderful food!

* Went to Michigan to spend time with Jim's family. Stayed with Karen, Rick and Owen - who is growing up so much. Thanks for being our home while we we in Michigan!

* Had another Christmas party with the Wenner clan and it was great to see all the cousins together - Allison, Kristin, Quinn, Casey, Cooper, Maya, Eli & Owen - they all had a great time playing together! Thank you Carolyn for putting together a great meal for so many people!

* A great night out with our friends who live in Michigan - Eppinks, Hutchisons, Walls, Morans & Leepers - it was great to get together and laugh. We feel lucky to have such great, lifelong friends!

* Watched the MSU game at Russ and Ruth's - thanks for the great food, the outcome of the game could have been better!!

* Had a 4 hour drive from Michigan to Chicago in perfect weather - almost unheard of to make that kind of time and not hit traffic.

* Stayed with Leslie, Jack and Noah - who is so cute. It was great to spend the time together!

* Allison and Kristin had a social weekend at Kelli and Bridget's houses - thank you Cherri for having them and basically letting them move in for a few days!

*Seeing the Casper's and how much Carson and Pierce have grown!

* A great night out with our soccer crowd - Quane's , Hoult's, McKernan's, Villanueva's - it was wonderful to see everyone.

*Kristin had fun seeing Clare and Lilly, her old soccer buddies

* Thank you to Paul, Tasha and Drake for having us stay at Chateau Fitzgibbons while we were in IL. It was great to spend the time catching up and to see the kids have so much fun!

* Target - what else is there to say!

* Pulling into a parking space forward - really it is a treat!

* Ate at Panera - twice!

* Seeing everyone from Lake Forest Hospital - I miss you all!

* Having lunch with Karen - great to see you and pick up like it was yesterday.

* Seeing the Paslaski Clan - thanks Judy for having us over!

* Meet the renters who live in our house, we feel fortunate to have great people living there who really love our home.

* Maureen and Erin it was fun to catch up on the neighborhood and good old GLSA!!

We really enjoyed our time in the US as it will always be home and we appreciate it more now than ever. We really do live in a great country!! Happy 2009!!

Krabi, Thailand - Day 3

2008-11-29T20:18:00.023+08:00

Day 3 was a day of variety. We went out on a land tour which took us to three locations. The first being the Hot Springs, which if anyone has ever been to one, it always leaves you thinking how nature works. The pools of hot water at the top of the Springs were quite amazing and emptied into a large cool body of water. When we arrived we were the only tour group there (there were 6 of us total) and had a private bath of sorts. The water was so hot that you really did need to go and cool off!

We next ventured to the Emerald Pool located in a National Park in the jungle. The "pool" was quite warm and comfortable and the kids ( and Jim too!) dove off the dock and slid off the sides. It was quite fun!

The finale of the day was elephant trekking which was very enlightening. The elephants are trained starting at the age of 8. It is a very controversial practice as there is much concern as to how the elephants are treated. Our elephants appeared to be treated well by their trainers and were never hit but rather expected to respond to commands. However they did have the elephants chained by the ankle to a tree in between rides (we didn't actually witness that but you could see the tree and the chains). At night they presumably take the elephants into the hills and allow them more freedom although they are still captive but have a wider area in which to roam. The ride was slow and clunky ( I don't know how else to describe it). Kristin and I had a novice and he was slightly misbehaved!! He veered off the path to eat and headed towards the water - we thought at that point that the three of us were going for a swim!! Fortunately he only bent down to take a drink and didn't spray us!! He definitely made our adventure interesting! We had mixed feelings after riding the elephants as it was an experience to ride such a large animal but it left you a little disheartened that their captivity became their existence.

Christmas in Singapore

2008-11-29T18:17:00.023+08:00

December has arrived and Singapore is ready for the holidays. The decorations started going up right after Halloween! Christianity is as relative new religion to Singapore and therefore a small percentage of the population celebrate Christmas. However, despite the fact that most Singaporeans are of other religions, they enjoy the decorations and the celebration of the holiday. Orchard Road, which is the equivalent of Michigan Avenue in Chicago or Madison Avenue in New York, is decked out for the holidays. It is a festival of lights like nothing you have ever seen before - no branch is untouched and no building without lights. Every mall has a tree, inside and out, full of lights and large decorations. Many of the decorations have signs posted saying "high voltage - do not touch" due to the vast number of lights attached and glowing. Some of the decorations are quite beautiful and others are just tacky. The theme this year was centered around candy so it looks much like candy land. It is a sight to see and everyday you notice something new. The blog pictures don't do it justice but it gives you the basic idea. So enjoy the walk down Orchard Road and Happy Holidays!!!

Krabi, Thailand Day 2

2008-11-21T11:03:00.010+08:00

On Day 2 we headed into town to check out the shopping options. We took a speedboat from our hotel into the town of An Nong, which is the main town where the resort was located. Once reaching the town we hailed a "cab" a moped with an attachment where we could all sit. While there were cars, there were many of these cabs as a way to navigate through the town. There were shops upon shops of stuff - clothing, trinkets, candles, place mats. Once you walked into a store, they were immediately on you and ready to bargain. Bargaining is big in these places and is a game that you get progressively more efficient at the longer you do it. As our stay went on we would realize the poor deals we got and the good ones. You always leave thinking you could have done better and the shop owner always believes he gave away!

Realizing that shopping in town wasn't going to be a full day activity we looked into renting a private boat for the day to take us snorkeling. We weighed the options - long boat vs speed boat. The girls were very against the long boat option. Long boats are the taxi cabs of the water and operated by a single motor and steered with a long pole off the back of the boat. The inside is similar to a canoe. In the end we went on the speedboat and had a great driver who had lived in Phi Phi when the Tsunami hit and now lived on Krabi. One of the best parts of any boat outing was the fruit they cut up for you - fresh pineapple and watermelon. Very ripe and tender.

The girls continue to love snorkeling and we saw some amazing fish and sea urchins. The waters are so clear and the fish so abundant. We saw so many colorful fish - it was really a great day.

In the evening at the resort they had a woman there who did soap carvings in the shapes of flowers. The Thai people are so kind and she invited Kristin to sit down with her and teach her to carve the soaps. The soaps were carved in a variety of flowers and colors and then placed into a hand carved shell.

By the end the day, we were exhausted in the best way and fell asleep to the sound of the waves crashing on the shoreline.

Krabi day 1 -Phi Phi Island

2008-11-11T14:04:00.014+08:00

The Phi Phi Island tour offered us a full range of things to see, snorkeling and lunch at a quaint restaurant. Phi Phi was all but destroyed in the Tsunami and has since been rebuilt and there are signs now posted about evacuation procedures should another Tsunami hit. It is part of the Marine National Park and boosts some of the best diving sites in all of Thailand. We set out on a speed boat with about 15 other people. The water was a deep green - blue and the island formations in the water were magnificent. We stopped to do some snorkeling, which was a first for Allison and Kristin. The waters were warm and crystal clear and the fish abundant. We then visited Maya Bay which was a beautiful swimming spot and the site was used for the filming of the movie "The Beach". Next came Monkey Bay, a deserted beach area full of monkeys. Everyone had food to give to the monkeys and they definitely knew it was for them. They were very willing to take the food and entertain the crowds. We ended up the morning at Phi Phi Island itself for lunch at a beach side restaurant. The food was delicious and there was always fresh pineapple served, which was sweeter than any we have ever tasted. It was then back into the clear waters for some swimming and snorkeling. We finished up our day pool/beach side watching a beautiful sunset. We all really enjoyed the sites, swimming and snorkeling so much that the girls were hooked and wanted to snorkel more on day 2!

Helpers

2008-11-09T21:15:00.006+08:00

As of November 1, I am helperless and it feels wonderful. Helpers offer a lot with regards to housework but the trade off is the drama that comes with it. Our helper Zeny, came from the Philippines over 6 years ago. She has 4 children there whom she supports through her work, it is not an easy life. Most helpers want to work for "ex-pat" families because they tend to be good and easy going compared to the Chinese who are very hard and demanding of their helpers. Zeny came recommended to us and appeared to be hard working and efficient.

One thing that always bothered me about Zeny was her lack of a relationship with Allison and Kristin. It was not one she worked at or was interested in developing. It is not that she was unkind to them but it did not go any further than that level. She never found out their likes and dislikes, never made them their favorite snack or meal. Knowing this when other happenings occurred, pushed us to realize it was time to let her go. Zeny came to us with a very typical helper story back in Sept - my mother is sick and I need my pay early. I tried to verify the facts by asking her for the name and phone number of the hospital where her mother had her appendix out. My belief being that any village/town where Zeny grew up and her family lives, she would surely know the name of the hospital there - there can't be that many that do surgery. Zeny was unable to provide that information to me and knowing we were questioning it, still did not seek the information to clear herself. She was also full of excuses of why she couldn't call - her cell phone minutes were out ( I offered my phone to make the call) and that she was unable to get a hold of her daughter (her daughter who had her appendix out just 7 months earlier). In the same breath, she asked us for an additional $150 a month to pay for "her food". Helpers are paid monthly with food and housing provided by the employer as part of the package. Zeny never alluded to us that she had dietary restrictions and in fact was eating the food I was buying up until that point. She is a Muslim and said that she needed food that was appropriate for her religion. This was a surprise to us and certainly we were unprepared to fork over an additional $150 when she was making more than her peers and it was not something we were aware of when we hired her. She also wanted us to pay for computer classes which she would take on Sundays , her day off. All of this didn't add up for us and a few days later we told her we no longer would require her services and she had 30 days of employment with us and needed to find another job or be sent home. (that is how it works - get a new work pass or be sent home at the employers expense). It was a difficult month. When you know someone is leaving it makes everything they do more intolerable. She interviewed many places but was very particular about who she would work for and where their home was located. She had wanted to live close to the city so she could continue her social life (which should have happened only on Sundays - her day off) As the days winded down, we told her she had to be less picky and find a job. We even extended her stay until Nov 1 from Oct 22 to allow her more time, which many people told us was a generous and unnecessary thing to do. She took the liberty of going to her presumed cousins on 2-3 Saturday nights (helpers are to work 6 days a week with Sunday off per their contract) which at that point I was glad to not have her in the house. We also found out that she had a Malaysian boyfriend so who knows where she spent those Saturday nights. No one I know has ever let their helper have a Saturday off. She didn't ask, she told us that she was doing these outings. The more experienced they are, they bolder they get. We being inexperienced with having live in help were not strong enough in laying down the "rules" and were taken advantage of for being to nice.

The problem with helpers is that they lie, they say things and then a few days later it is a new story or the details have changed. We really wanted to believe her, trust her but it is not in their nature. Even when you are willing to be generous ,they want more. Zeny finally left on Nov 1. She had told me that day that she would be staying with a friend until her work permit came through, which originally we thought would be completed on Oct 31. A few days later Jim heard from her via SMS that she was outside our apartment, didn't know when her new job was starting and had nothing. Basically she wanted money as she had used her last $100 that I had given her 2 days before. It was never ending as to what she needed and the saga and tears that came with the stories.

Prior to her departure she sent a large box home to the Philippines for her family. As one week has gone by we have discovered some of the items she sent. As trivial as they are, they are still items that weren't hers but ours. Jim went to make coffee and went to the 270 cup container that I bought less than a month ago, to find it almost empty. The salt was missing. She went through enough laundry detergent that I had brought for 6-8 months in 3 months, now I think she hoarded it and sent it home. It is sad really that life is so desperate however what goes unlearned is that had she been honest and forth right, I would gladly bought her those things to send home. My story pales in comparison to two friends who just this past weekend are in the process of dismissing their helpers.

One believes that her helper left, after telling her that her father had passed and she needed to go to the Philippines to say goodbye, to have an abortion. Her plane flights didn't exist, she too packed a big box to be sent home and packed all her belongings. Helpers in Singapore are automatically sent home if they are pregnant. My friend found a receipt for a pregnancy test and her best guess is that she took the matter into her own hands. She awaits her arrival back tomorrow, if she shows, only to have to let her go on the basis of her leaving for an extended period of time, mistrust and possible pregnancy.

My other girlfriend had been marking her money for months and had misplaced two cell phones to the point that she never found them. She planted some money to see if her helper was taking it and indeed she was. She then went into her room with the helper present during the confrontation and looked under her mattress to find a box with the missing cell phone in it. The other cell phone had disappeared and was probably already out of the house and sold. Of course the helper denied knowing how it got there. Other valuables were found missing and they gave her the opportunity to fess up and they wouldn't call the police but rather dismiss her. She wouldn't comply and she is now in jail and under investigation for stealing money, cell phones and valuables worth about $6,000 that have presumably been pawned. Her fate remains to be seen.

What I find interesting about all this is that you have 3 families all looking for helpers who were willing to be generous. All willing to help if the stories were true. It simply not in their nature due to where they have come from. While we can not imagine the poverty and desperateness that these women face, I am not sure that any are better off with how they have handled their situations. In the end it leaves us all a little bitter and untrusting of any helper. The stories here are so common that they surprise no one here as either they have experienced it themselves or known someone who has. Many people I talked to have put their helper on a plane home for one reason or another (usually because they have stolen from them). The rule of thumb, if you can stand it, is that you generally go through 2-3 helpers before you find one that you keep. For me that is an exhausting task, one that I am not willing to partake.

Krabi, Thailand

2008-10-28T16:27:00.016+08:00

On October 4 we headed out for our Fall break to Krabi, Thailand. Krabi is located in Southern Thailand on the Andaman Sea, part of the Indian Ocean and covers about 500 Square Miles. Back in Dec 2004 this region was hit with the Tsunami - a 9.5 magnitude earthquake that originated in the Indian Ocean. Today there are signs warning people of a Tsunami and what to do if one should hit the islands. Many places that were devastated by it have since been rebuilt. The Phi Phi islands were completely wiped out from the Tsunami and have since revitalized and continue to have some of the most beautiful beaches/waters in all of Thailand. One of tour guides lived on Phi Phi and was out on his boat the day of the Tsunami. He said that he knew something was different but having never experienced a Tsunami before had no idea what was actually occurring. His family home on Phi Phi was completely destroyed.

The Thai people are very gentle and kind people who are proud of their country and customs. The main industry is rice production and Thailand ranks among the world leaders in rice exports since the 1960's. The country has a population of around 65 million. 95% of the population are Buddhist, with about 4%Islamic, and 1/2% following Christianity. We arrived during the annual Vegetarian Festival, a Buddhist celebration where they abstain from meats and have a procession that involves ritualistic self-mutilation. We saw individuals with piercing through their cheeks, quite a sight. Apparently due to mediation practices that feel no pain during this ritual.

We stayed at a hotel called Centara, which has a number of resorts throughout Asia. The resort was nestled into an area that was surrounded by large rock formations. It was quite breathtaking. It is the second picture on this page with the first being the view from our room. We reached the resort by speedboat as it was on an island separate from the main town nearby. It was set in a National Forest so the surroundings were very lush and monkeys lived in the forests. We only saw one monkey sitting on a rooftop. It was a beach front property and we ate dinner 4-5 times beach/pool side and watched the sunset while the girls jumped the waves. We were really fortunate to have great weather as it was monsoon season. It rained twice, once at night and once around 6pm on into the night. We were so lucky as our days were filled with sunshine, warm water and great beach weather!!

We took over 300 pictures on our visit to Krabi as each day we went out on a different excursion. I have decided to have each day be a separate blog, to keep them straight (and the pictures) and be able to document them accurately. Enjoy beautiful Thailand - it is really a scenic paradise!! Allison and Kristin were ready to go back before we even left!!

Formula One Grand Prix

2008-09-30T16:37:00.016+08:00

Over the September 26-28 weekend, Singapore was host to a Grand Prix event, its first since the 1970's. The event, which has been publicized for months, (we purchased tickets back in May before we even arrived) was a huge undertaking for Singapore. It was a Street Circuit race (meaning it was held on the streets of the city as opposed to a track setting) held during the evening so that it could be broadcast in Europe. It apparently is unusual to have a night event and many of the drivers had to adapt their schedules for racing in the evening. There were 110,000 tickets sold for the 61 lap, 192.055 mile race. The race itself was held in the Marina Bay area of Singapore, which is on the waterfront, so the back drop was quite spectacular with the Singapore skyline in the background. We were fortunate to see some unusual happenings at the race. The first happening occurred when one of the race cars hit the wall and crashed, fortunately the driver walker away. The car was then lifted off the track via a crane which took longer than anticipated. This all happened right in front of our seats!! Just after that, the leader of the race went into the pit only to pull away while the fuel hose was still attached to his car knocking some of his crew members down and ultimately costing him the race due to penalties. The driver who started the race in 13th position ended up winning. While I would not say we are "fans" it is definitely a scene worth attending and we may find ourselves at the event again next year!!

The River Boat Festival

2008-09-30T16:11:00.009+08:00

On Saturday, September 20 we headed down to Clarke Quay (pronounced key) which is on the Singapore River for The Riverboat Festival. The festival was a lead up event to the upcoming Formula One Grand Prix. There were decorated boats and Singapore dancers dressed in ornate costumes. It was a very happening place to be!!

The Mooncake Festival

2008-09-16T14:56:00.006+08:00

This past weekend we attended the Moon Cake Festival also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival. On the lunar calendar it falls on the 15th day of the eighth month, which on the solar calendar was September 14. It happens on that day because it is when the moon is at its maximum brightness for the year. The day is as much about the celebration of the harvest as it is about the Chinese philosophy of man being one with nature and achieving perfect harmony.

There are many legends for which the moon cake festival is based. The most famous, according to the Chinese, is the moon cakes role in Chinese history. The Chinese used moon cakes to plan their rebellion against the Mongols in the 13th Century. Moon cakes were distributed to the citizens with a hidden message telling them when to revolt. They were instructed not to eat the cakes until the moon festival, which is when the rebellion occurred. The Emperor took the city and moon cakes became more famous. It is the Chinese version of the Trojan Horse, it is unknown whether this legend is truth or fable.

Another legend, Allison's favorite, is about the "lady living in the moon". The Emperor ordered an archer to shoot down nine extra suns that appeared in the sky. The archer was rewarded with an immortality pill, however his wife took the pill and was banished to the moon. The legend says her beauty shines the brightest on the day of the Moon festival.

Moon cakes themselves are cakes about the size of a human palm. They are very filling as the interior is a paste which comes in many different flavors. Some flavors are lotus seed paste, mango, green tea, & durian. Some have a cooked egg yolk on the inside representing the full moon. They are an acquired taste and it is quite a business as we found out. There are numerous vendors that make the moon cakes, and you have an opportunity to sample them. Each comes in a box, some quite beautiful, which is as much (if not more) of the prize than the moon cake itself. Each moon cake is imprinted with Chinese writing and a design.

We enjoyed partaking in this tradition and trying the different moon cake flavors. The moon cakes are sold throughout Singapore for about 1 month prior to the Festival at different hotels and shops . It was fun to taste, watch them make the cakes and see an important part of the culture. We did get to see the full moon on our walk home and the circle of brightness around it was brighter than we had been aware of in the past. It was quite breathtaking. It gave us a new perspective when viewing the moon and the significance it has to many cultures.

Fun and interesting things about Singapore

2008-08-28T14:10:00.006+08:00

Now that we have been here for 6 weeks, I thought I would share some fun and interesting tidbits about Singapore :

Driving:

* Everyone backs in to parking spaces. We are getting quite good at this! You even do it in the car park!

*When you enter into mall garages there is signage that tells you how many spots are available on each floor, so you know which floor you should park on.

* The mall garage lots have ramps that are circular and narrow, there is a lot of car paint on the walls from people not navigating correctly.

* The cost of a new vehicle in Singapore ranges from $90,000- 180,000 Sing Dollars.
($63,658-$127,325 US dollars)

* gas costs approximately $8 a gallon

* They drive on the wrong side of the road with the steering wheel on the right.

*people in Singapore J walk more than any other place I have ever seen - and it is suppose to be against the law

Housing/apartments:

* Anything over 15 years old is considered old and could possibly go "en bloc" meaning it will be torn down and rebuilt. Many high rise condo complexes have had this occur and your lease does not hold up.

*The average rent for a Singapore apartment for an ex-pat ranges from $8,000-20,000 Sing per month (6,000-14,000 US)

* Each bathroom in the apartment has its own water heater, which must be switched on before taking a shower/bath for about 15 minutes or you won't have hot water.

*There are no outlets in the bathrooms due to the 240 voltage that is used here. Makes it fun to dry your hair!

*There is no disposal in the kitchen sink

* All appliances have a wall switch which must be turned on for them to operate (the dishwasher, the oven, the microwave etc...)

*The oven is in degrees Celsius not Fahrenheit so I constantly am converting to cook at the right temperature!

* There is no central air conditioning - each room has its own air conditioning unit that is individually controlled.

*An average electric bill is about $800 Sing a month (565 US)

*Realtors work in a whole different way. If you are a renter and have a problem, you call your realtor. Who then calls the landlords realtor (who then call the landlord). So if you have an issue, it does not get taken off quickly as there are so many people involved!!

* When you call the exterminator, a gentleman will first come by who is dressed in a shirt and tie to "assess" the situation. Then in a few days they will come spray.

* The plumber and the electrician are the same person!

* Singapore does little to no recycling.

Food/Shopping/Dining

* You have to put in a $1 coin into the grocery cart to use one. when you are finished you get your dollar back. It forces people to put the carts back where they belong!!

*All fish in the supermarket comes with the head intact, some chickens come with the feet and head!!

* 1 pint of Haagen Daaz ice cream costs $12.50 ($8.84), if you get it on special you can get 2 for $23.90($16.90)

*When you eat at the food courts which are mainly Asian foods, you never can find napkins and almost never get a knife. Food is primarily eaten with a fork and spoon when not using chopsticks(which you really don't see as much as you think you would). Even in fine restaurants you do not get a knife.

Helpers:
Helpers are also known as amahs. They come primarily from the Philippines and Indonesia. The majority of helpers live with their employers in a room that is just slightly larger than a single bed. They have their own small bathroom, which does not necessarily have to have hot water. (at least they do not check upon inspections to see if that bath has hot water). They work 6 days a week and have Sunday's off. They make anywhere between $350-700 dollars a month.
When you have a helper you need to have only 2-3 pairs of anything because the minute you take it off, it is washed and back in your drawer again!!

There are probably 100 more things that are different and interesting but this is what is fresh in my mind today.

Transportation

2008-08-18T21:33:00.001+08:00

Singapore is a very well planned out urban design, and it public transportation is no exception. I have become quite a user of the public transportation for two main reasons - one, we only have one car in which we share, something we are very unaccustomed to, and two, I am still working out the driving on the wrong side of the road! I am actually making progress and now it really comes down to knowing where I am going. Jim has mastered driving and is getting more familiar with road ways. These facts have forced me to be a user of the wonderful public transit system they have here.

The train system is called the MRT (mass rapid transit)and has 4 main lines that run all over the island. It is an underground system and is amazingly efficient and clean. With the use of a card called an EZ-link you can ride the MRT for a very reasonable price. The card also allows you to use the bus system which is equally clean and efficient. I have given up my cab days to use the public system. The girls are getting used to it and quite enjoy it and I feel it is a great opportunity to enlighten them on the use and ease of public transportation.

When you have a need to cross streets in the main part of the city, you don't have to do it at street level. They have incorporated into many MRT stations, crosswalks that take you underneath the road, so you are not confronted with cars etc... It is quite a system that in the main part of the city can lead you to any four corners of a very congested street area. There are the usual musicians playing for money as well as shops (Singaporeans love to shop so why sacrifice valuable space) that you pass by while moving from one area to the next. The trick of course is figuring out which exit to emerge from which only comes with time and familiarity. I have more than once gotten to the street level, only to find that the location I have come upon was not my planned destination!! One thing I have yet to work out, like driving, is do you stay to the left when walking or the right which is very much habit for me. These are the little things that no one informs you!

On another transportation note, they have a very interesting system for parking. There are no parking meters in Singapore. Instead, there are signs posted as to .50 or $1.00 parking. They have a very unique system where you purchase tickets in increments of .50 and $1.00 and after punching out a number of chads (thought I would use that term since it is an election year!) on it such as date and the time you arrived, you leave it on the dashboard of your car. It is based on an honor system that you have entered the correct time that you arrived. The tickets can be purchased at none other than 7-11 stores! It is also one of those things that you happen upon someone telling you but find no mention of it in any book or other information source. We have parked many a time without any knowledge of the system and were fortunate not to get a ticket.

I find the more I am out and about that Singapore is a very easy country/city to navigate. The trick is knowing which MRT stop has what and which exit to use. But it is an enjoyable experience and an easy way to travel around.

The packing, the airplane and the luggage!

2008-08-04T16:14:00.000+08:00

I am a little out of order but I have our sea shipment on my mind so I thought I would share this with all of you.

Just thought I would include some visuals for everyone with regard our house being packed up into a box and shipped across the world! This is a 20 x 20 storage container that gets loaded onto a barge (we saw them this past weekend and it is amazing how many come into port). Included is a view of our stuff loaded into it - we are still waiting for it to arrive! Packing occurred in the beginning of July! It is due to arrive on August 7 (originally due July 29) with delivery to us about a week later.

In the car is the stuff that didn't get packed but what we needed with us - all 500 pounds!!

The girls enjoyed the airport executive lounge and business class on the 747! They quickly got the hang of their own TV's and getting up for late night snacks!!

After 19 hours of flying we finally arrived at 11:30pm Singapore time (10:30am Chicago time) into Changi Airport to start our adventure!!

The Botanic Gardens 1

2008-08-04T13:59:00.000+08:00

The girls and I set out on Thursday July 24 to see the highly acclaimed Botanic Gardens. The Botanic Gardens in Singapore were established in 1822, closed in 1829 and reopened by the government in 1859. Its initial purpose was to foster agriculture development. It is a 128 acre property that sits in the heart of Singapore. Right outside the walls is the city yet it is very peaceful within its boundaries. Residents and visitors use the gardens for recreational purposes and enjoy the many wonders that it offers.

The Gardens are host to the National Orchid Garden which has the largest display of orchids in the world. It houses over 1000 species of orchids, which are absolutely beautiful . They have a VIP orchid garden where orchids are named after visiting dignitaries from many countries in the world. There are many types of vegetation present - a rain forest, cactus, palms trees,rubber trees and a display of eating plants ( pitcher plants,Venus flytraps etc...). The grounds are full of waterfalls, lakes and sculptures.

The girls and I had fun exploring the gardens and seeing all of its wonders. They have an area call the Cool Mist Room that houses the plants eaters. The plants are really quite interesting in how they capture their prey. One plant called the pitcher plant was shaped like a pitcher and had nectar that would lure an insect into its well. It was lined with plant goo so that when the insect tried to get out, it would be unable to and then the plant could digest it. The great part was that Allison had learned about this in school so she was really excited to see it!We were all captivated by the beauty of the orchids - the colors and volume were unbelievable. It is a beautiful place to spend time. We will go back as there is plenty more to explore and revisit.

In search of a supermarket

2008-07-25T16:38:00.000+08:00

Amazingly enough you think a supermarket would be easy to find. In Singapore many supermarkets are housed within malls. They are often on the 1st floor on a 5 story mall that has shops . There are some that are in "strip "type malls but not many. So it has definitely been a challenge to locate a place to purchase food as I wanted to investigate a number of them to see which had the best variety and pricing.

Pricing, all I can say is unbelievable. Today we venture into a market called Tanglin market. It was a beautifully laid out store with everything you could ask for within its walls. It has a meat market, wine area, cheeses, fresh fruits etc... So We strolled down the aisles to get a feel for what is available and what the cost would be... Nestle choc chips s$10+ a bag, salad dressings s$8+ a bottle, Spaghetti sauce s$10. raspberries were very expensive - s$8 a pint, strawberries s$7.25. A couple of steaks would cost around s$50-60. I bought chicken for s$10.20 which was not so bad. A box of cereal was s$10.85. I am not sure of anything I bought that was a "bargain" by any means. No use your card and get 2 for $1. There are a couple more stores for me to investigate but from what I hear, anything you purchase from the US will be expensive.

One of the many challenges is finding brands that are familiar. Others have told me that once you find a certain product, it may disappear for months. Food is packaged differently as well. Cereal and many other items come in smaller portion sizes. One reason for this is that food here spoils more quickly due to the heat and humidity. Fresh fruit, like cantaloupe or strawberries, last for a couple of days. You can not find what we refer to as a stick of butter. They come in blocks, some small, some large. They also are measure in 50 grams increments (as opposed to our butter measured in Tablespoons) which makes it especially challenging when an American recipe calls for a stick of butter!! I have taken to ordering my cold cuts by the slice (I will have 6 slices) because, as I yet, I have no idea how many grams of meat I would order!! All these things make what would be a 10-15 minute trip to the supermarket about double the time. I am slowly getting more familiar and will soon be a metric shopper!!

Another option that I need to investigate are the wet markets. Wet markets are like big farmer's market except they include fresh meats, seafood etc.. as well as fruits and vegetables. Our helper, Zeny is very familiar with the wet markets. She says it is a great place to buy fresh fruits, veggies and meats at more reasonable prices. There is a lot of bargaining going on at the markets, so I will have to go with Zeny to know that best way to shop there.

note s$ denotes sing for Singapore money. The exchange rate is about $1 American = s$1.33 Sing