Home is Where the Heart is!

Thanksgiving has past and the Christmas season is blazing full speed ahead!  Time seems to be flying and I am blowing with the breeze of life.  

I wanted to post at Thanksgiving, but time got away from me.  Either way my thoughts have been of Thanks, family, friends and the things that make me happy.  I thought that since we will be embarking on our first trip back to the US it is a good time to write.

So, what is home?  Like they say, "home is where the heart is".  But what if your heart is in more than one place?  My heart is with my family in the US.  Thoughts of my sister in Charlotte, my parents in PA and my family members spread out over the US brings warm thoughts like marshmallows melting in rich and creamy hot cocoa (which I am looking forward to BTW).  My heart is also here with the friends that I have met here in Singapore.  As I think about what I am grateful for I would include all the wonderful friendly people that have helped to make Singapore a home for me.  Yes, I said home!  I must say that I think I feel at home here now.  I think the trip back to the US is feeling like a fun vacation.  When we come back, I have plans with friends or family almost every day!  It will be constant fun and entertainment, and if anything I am hoping that I don't wear myself out.  So, what really makes somewhere home?   A feeling of belonging, friends you can chat with just because, a routine, knowing where you are going and how you might get there, security in knowing your family will be healthy and taken care of.  I think the past few weeks have brought that "feeling of home" to me here.  And, can't your heart be in many places?  Mine is!

I think the first thing was when I went out on my own one day when E was at school and I went all over town running errands all without at car.  I rode the bus, the MRT and a cab to get where I wanted to go.  All in about 3 hours.  I know that might not be a big thing to some, but to me it was empowering.  I didn't get lost or frustrated.  I came home and was proud of myself.  The next day I did the same.  I think knowing that I can get around and do what I want was liberating.  Honestly, public transportation can be much faster than having your own car.  Not to mention cheaper and environmentally friendly.  

Friendships are the icing on the cake.  Life can be just fine, but with friends it has that special something.  Just like I think sharing your life with someone (my hubby) makes life more entertaining.  Hanging out or having a chat with a girlfriend seems to put me at ease.  There is something about being an expat that encourages you to let down your guard.  People want to know each other.  They want to share and be a part of one another's lives; they want to belong.  That is a beautiful thing!  

OK, so maybe we don't have the seasons like the rest of you out there reading this blog, but I know what to expect.  Maybe there is some comfort in knowing what the weather will be like every day.  The only thing you have to be prepared for is the rain, but other than that you know that it will be hot and humid pretty much every day.  There are some advantages to that you know.  Only having to have one wardrobe.  This is actually kind of nice.  No switching of clothes with the season, wondering if you need to wear long or short sleeves.  If anything you may actually wear out your clothes before they go out of style.  Packing to go home is much easier.  All of our warm weather clothes are back in the US, so packing is light.  If we want the seasons we just go somewhere to get it.  (Ok, I still miss the cooler weather, but I am warming up to the idea of a hot and humid climate - pun intended!)

I think the other thing is knowing that your family will be safe and healthy is another very important thing to feeling like home.  Yesterday I took E to yet another doctor's appointment for her asthma.  The good thing is that I found a new doctor's office that I just love!  It is the International Medical Clinic.  Ok, I knew about it before, but for some reason I felt it was too far to go.  Maybe now since I'm not afraid to venture out in the city, it took away that fear of going to far from home.  This place felt like home!  Everyone spoke English that I could understand.  It was clean and not crowded.  You could make an appointment and you didn't have to wait!  At the place E was going before, we couldn't get in last minute and when we did we had to wait no less than an hour.  It was located in a mall, so while you waited you could take your "sick" child walking around in the halls of the mall.  Humm, something is wrong with that.  I also got to talk to the doc at the new clinic; he had just moved here from Tennessee.  I told him I was an RN and that gave me some of the inside scoop.  He informed me of how well the clinic was run and how since they are still new (less than 2 years) they are open to improving their business and accepting new ideas.  (almost made me want to work there!) He also told me of some of the advantages of practicing and dispensing medicine here in Singapore.  There are medicines that you can give here that you can't back home.  I also think that having a more worldly view of medicine can give a better perspective in providing better care.  Love that!  Maybe there are lots of advantages of living in Singapore!

So, in just 2 days we leave for the US.  (Get there in 3 days) We are all VERY excited!  E has had a great attitude and I think just the anticipation has put her in a good mood.  Me on the other hand have been planning for over a month.  I have ordered my favorite clothes and shoes from my favorite stores online (can't buy summer stuff in the stores there), ordered christmas presents for E, and made a list of things to bring back that is so long is takes up 3+ screens on my iPhone!  To be honest, if I have room in my suitcase I am going to load up on whatever I can.  The hubby and I have already talked about smuggling some pepperoni in our luggage.  (maybe they won't find it or care).  Yes, I am bring some gum back with me.  (haven't chewed gum in 4 months) Oh, the list grows!

So, what am I looking forward to when we go back? (not necessarily in this order of course)

• A beer and a choice of beer that doesn't cost $13 - $15 a glass
• A good bottle of wine!
• Chatting with my friends and catching up on life.
• Cold weather!
• Driving a car (yeah, I do kind of miss it)
• Hugging my sister!
• A good NY style pizza with REAL pepperoni!
• Trader Joe's
• Home Depot (for some reason I miss walking through home improvement stores)
• Uncured Pepperoni from Earthfare
• Wearing boots and wool socks
• My hair not frizzing when I walk out the door
• Food that isn't hawker fair (although I do like hawker food)
• My sister's BBQ ribs
• Being able to understand everyone (without having to stop and listen really carefully)
• Pandora
• Watching TV and having a plethera of shows to watch
• Sharing a meal with family (all of them!)

Until next year!  Hope to see you soon!

Flowers Flowers Everywhere!

First, let me thank my friend Melany for pointing out that I made a mistake on my last post.  The fruit was a passion fruit, but I had miss-labeled my photo as a dragon fruit.  It is in fact a Passion Fruit. (I have now corrected my mistake)

Well, the hubby has been out of town for a week now and only 5 more days to go till he gets home.  Just in time for Thanksgiving, which they don't celebrate here of course.  E will go to school in the morning and then we will be joining our neighbors for our traditional meal.  (Thanks Deb and Raul)  Yummy, I am so looking forward to it!  E just recovered from Strep Throat and has a cough, but no Asthma yet.  (keeping my fingers crossed)  When Daddy is out of town, we try to keep ourselves busy with playdates and outings.  The other day we went to the preview show of the 20th World Orchid Conference.  The Orchid Conference brings orchids and orchid lovers from all over the world.  Singapore is hosting this years event which really is a once in a lifetime experience.  The new Flower Dome at the Gardens by the Bay was one of the venues for the show.  The Flower Dome is a 1.2 hectare conservatory (about the size of 2.2 football fields) which replicates the cool-dry climate of Mediterranean and semi-arid subtropical regions like South Africa and parts of Europe like Spain and Italy. This is the first time the dome has been used; as the surrounding areas are not yet complete.  Let me tell you, this is going to be a fantastic and amazing place!  Just being in the dome was an experience.  It was like being in nature only inside.  There are so many other gardens that are being built; I can't wait to go back!  Will be a great place to come visit.  Now you really want to come visit don't you?

Now, I'll admit I love orchids, but to be honest I'm not good a keeping them alive.  I have had several in the past and once they bloomed that was pretty much the end of it for me.  That just goes to show what an amazing show this is and what it takes to keep these beauties alive and well.  Also keep in mind that I only went to the flower dome, the main part of the show was in the Marina Bay Sands.  With a 5 year old in tow; I decided not to make that part of the trip.  I wish I could have though, because I understand the orchids there were amazing!  Either way, enjoy the photos!

 The inside of the flower dome

That's all folks!

Things I have learned, Fruit of the week

Wow, it's been 3 months since we have been in Singapore and it is almost feeling like home.  It has been a busy past month with family visits, E's 5th birthday party, Halloween and even a couple of trips to both Indonesia and Thailand.  So, now that we are getting settled I thought it was time that I shared the things that I have learned. 


Moving to a new country has adjustments as we all expected, but in addition to moving to a new country we are also adjusting to living the city life without a car. So now you know where my list is coming from.


What I have learned!

• It's hot here! - Ok no surprise, but really its hot and sweaty pretty much every day.  If you visit; plan accordingly
• When it rains it pours! - When it rains here it storms!  And let me tell you the storms are fantastic.
• Did you know that Singapore is the "lightening capital of the world"? - We have seen the most amazing shows right from our balcony.
• People are people wherever you go - we may speak different languages, but we all still live our lives pretty much the same.  We eat, we sleep, we work, we play and we raise our families.
• English isn't English everywhere you go - Even though someone speaks English doesn't mean that I can understand it.  The hubby is better at it, since I think he has more exposure.
• A smile goes a long way!
• Hawker centers are the way to eat - not only are the cheap, but they have variety and what is better than cheap food under the stars?
• I can spot an American from a mile away - I might be off a bit sometimes as they might be Australian, but honestly, we are pretty easy to spot over here.
• Things are never what they seem.
• Papertowels or napkins are overrated  - No one has them here; bring your own or just have wet or messy hands. (isn't that what clothes are for?)  
• When you leave the house always have the following:  umbrella, tissues/napkins, bus pass, keys and money.
• Lettuce and greens are plentiful and cheap!
• Noodles go with everything
• MInce?  That means ground - i.e. beef, pork etc.
• Messenger bags are the way to go - you to have your hands free to wrangle kids, swipe your bus pass, hail a cab etc.
• Comfortable walking shoes are a must!
• The dust collects here like I have never seen.
• Being organic and green is hard, but we don't have a car and we ride our bikes.
• Plastic containers are more than plentiful!
• Public transportation is the best - if you can find the bus stop and get on the right bus!
• Trash chutes are the bomb!
• Doing dishes is a pain in the &%$!!
• Grocery delivery Rocks!
• American ideas and things are everywhere! (all over the world)
• Living in a small space isn't so bad - you just don't have or keep a bunch of "stuff"!

Well, that's enough for now, but I am sure that I will have another list in a few months.

Just so I don't get too far behind on my fruit of the week I figured I better post a new fruit.  I think it might end up being the "Fruit of the month", how much new fruit can you really eat.

Fruit of the week:  Passion Fruit

Ok, so I bought this fruit and thought it would be ready to eat.  Once I did a little research I found out that it needed to sit until it was quite wrinkly. 

Fresh Passion Fruit (not yet ripe)

Ripe Passion Fruit

So, I cut it open and it was like cutting open a pinata or paper mache.  Once I cut through and opened it I saw that the outside was almost like styrofoam.  The inside was a full of these yellowish pods with black seeds in the center.  

 Passion fruit opened

Without the seeds

So, I scooped out the seeds and had a bite. I gave E a sip of just juice and it is really sweet and tasted a lot like fruit punch.  If you have a bite with the seeds too (which are edible) it adds a bit of tartness.


Hope you enjoyed this little visit to my blog!

Serendipity!

Yes, I am finally posting after a few busy weeks.  So much to tell and not nearly enough time!  I started a post earlier today and was telling everyone the detail of our most recent trip to Thailand and as I thought about it I just wasn't into to the process.  Then I remembered why I am doing this blog.  To have an outlet to write.  Yeah, I know, you want to know what it's like here.  Well, I hope I do that too, but today it is about the thought and the feeling that go along with all that.  I promise, I'll post lots of photos, but for the written word I think today I will write from my heart and soul.  

It has been a wonderful few weeks here.  My hubby's Mom, "Grandmommy", has been visiting.  I have explored more of the city and gotten to see things that I haven't seen yet thanks to being a tourist with my Mother-in-law.  Thanks Grandmommy!  Not only that, the hubby and I have gotten to explore a bit as a couple.  Oh how I wish we could do more of that.  It brings back memories of our early days, romance, thoughtful conversations, and just time spent alone!  I really miss that sometimes.  By the way, if you didn't know, we celebrated our 10th Wedding anniversary last Thursday, Oct. 20th!    For me, I need to get out of my box to be able to relax and "let go".  That equals being on vacation and a very different me.  I get the feeling that there are no rules, no agendas and just plain life without boundaries.  Ah, such is the life!  I think that also gives me a bit more desire to explore.  To be honest, I haven't been feeling the urge to explore here.  I'm not sure if it is the fact that I was settling in or that I was focusing on making friends and a life for myself.  I can't say that I want to explore all the time, but I know some downtime has helped.


So, this takes me to my latest and most profound musing.  Serendipity!
I first began giving this word thought when the movie "Serendipity" came out.  Yep, one of my favorites.  So, what does it mean, Serendipity?  Dictionary.com defines it as:


Serendipity - "an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident."

Ah how I wish I could always live my life via Serendipity!  I would be a much better person for it.  Not always trying to plan, think ahead, make so many decisions.  For someone who is good at all of those things you would think that Serendipity would be hard for me to embrace, but let me tell you, it is the greatest joy I have.  It's the times when E and I discover something while we are at the park, the shop that I find when I was looking for something else, the friend I made just by going somewhere I have never been.


These past few weeks have been full of Serendipity.  On my exploration of Chinatown with Grandmommy,  I was looking for a particular temple.  I kept following my instincts that I thought I remembered where is was, as I had been there before.  As we looked we didn't find it, but found the Buddha Tooth Relic temple.  As we entered the building, it began to rain and then began to pour!  It was perfect timing!  We entered the temple and I was in awe.  Not only was it beautiful, but we entered right before the monks began their chant.  Their chant made me want to close my eyes and let the sound run through my veins and calm every part of me.  What a great find!


Another serendipitous event was when the hubby and I were riding through the mountains on a motorbike looking for waterfalls in Koh Samui, Thailand.  We started following signs for Tartain Waterfall, the "wonder of nature".  We rode and rode!  Keep in mind the weather was kind of yucky and I was wearing a skirt.  (it was the only thing I had that would dry fast if it got wet)  As we rode we came upon a Durian farm and we happened to be riding through on harvest day.  I have never seen anything like it.  If you remember my photos of Durian they are large like a football or bigger and are kind of prickly like.  They grow on trees and hang from the limbs by a long stem.  They men were up in the trees in their bare feet, climbing and climbing to reach the fruit.  They would clip the fruit and it would fall fast!  As it neared the ground a man at the bottom would catch it in a piece of burlap.  They made it look so easy and boy were there fast!  As we rode that road in search of the Tartain waterfall we saw more Durian that you can imagine!  I bet we saw thousands.  You would think that with Durian being so smelly that it would be overpowering, but to be honest, we didn't even smell it.  There was a very faint sweet smell in the air, but I think because it was so fresh and they weren't cut open there wasn't a smell.  So we did get to Tartain waterfall after an hour motorbike ride and a 30 minute hike into the forest.  To be honest, I wouldn't even call it a waterfall.  It was a large creek with lots of rocks.  Not at all what we expected.  As the hubby went further into the forest to see if he could find "the actual" waterfall I decided to stay put.  I sat on a rock and thought about that Durian farm and how amazing it was.  That's when it hit me - "Serendipity"!  On the way out there was a sign that said Singha beer for sale.  When we asked the only person that was there if we could get one, he looked at us like we had just asked if we knew where God was.  We decided that it just wasn't worth trying.  To end our journey we saw a sign for the Peak Restaurant touting that it had "the best view".  Ok, maybe we are suckers, but we went.  Not to mention we were thirsty for more than water and hungry.  I will say that the Peak restaurant was just what the doctor ordered.  They handed us a beer in a coozie and we had the best Thai meal!  I had my favorite Tom Kah soup and it was divine!  Oh yeah and it did have the best view!  Even with the clouds and rain!  Ah, to another serendipitous day!


Hope you enjoy the photos!

Buddah Tooth Relic Temple

(Singapore)

The temple I meant to find

Sri Mariamman Temple 

(Singapore's oldest hindu temple)

Shoes lined up outside of the temple

Wat Plai Laem 
(Koh Samui, Thailand)

 18 Arm strong Buddha

Laughing Buddha (aka Big White Buddha)

 Funky mermaid coming out of the water (not quite Ariel)

 The "Big Buddha"

 The Monk that gave us a blessing.  Did you know that monks can't touch women?  The monk gave each of us a braided bracelet.  Scott had to put mine on me.

 Nothing like keeping your cleavers on the back of your scooter!

Gas!

The gas pump!

 Gassing up!

Durian and more Durian!

Durian Fruit on the tree

The Durian harvest

 On our way to the "falls"

 The beautiful falls?

Taxi?  Really?

 The walk to the "Peak Restaurant"

 Havin' a beer on top of the world!

Yummy, yummy Tom Kah!

On the way back to civilization - guess the floods in Thailand have taken their toll.  Good thing it didn't happen while we were driving on it!

 Grandfather Rock (yep, looks just like what you are thinking)

Happy 10th Anniversary Baby!