President Bush To Visit Singapore This Week

I received this news from my cab driver, along with the fact he will be staying at the Shangri-La. Should people really know this? I mean, isn't this a matter of national security? Maybe Bush is really staying at Raffles Hotel (that's where I would stay).

The cab driver continued, "do you like your President?"

Singapore: Out And About

When I awoke this morning, it wasn't raining. Recognizing we had to act fast, we quickly had some breakfast (fresh papaya) ... Chase wasn't a fan.















So I froze the rest ...















We got dressed ...




















Took a look at the map ...




















I grabbed my umbrella, camera and diaper bag - and we were off!

Our first stop was Raffles Hotel (it was so fabulous), which opened in 1887 and was named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore. The Singapore Sling was invented at the Raffles Hotel Long Bar. Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin, Michael Jackson and the Queen have stayed there (all enjoying Singapore Slings I'm sure).

















































Just outside Raffles Hotel, we saw the Civilian War Memorial, a 67-metre high landmark, built in remembrance of some 40,000 to 50,000 lives lost during the Japanese Occupation. Built in 1964, the locals call it the 'Chopsticks Memorial.' The four tapered columns symbolize the four main races - Malay, Chinese, Tamil and 'Others' (including Eurasian and European).




















We also walked by the Singapore Art Museum, but we didn't go in because we thought Brian would want to come, too.















We also passed the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Singapore.




















Saw a strange statue (how I love those Orchids) ...















A building with colorful shutters caught our attention ...















And I came across one of the most gorgeous, graceful flowers I've ever seen...















As we were in a full sweat (even after stopping in two hotel lobbies and two gift shops for a little AC), we decided to call it a day.

On the way back to our apartment, I stopped at the grocery store and bought Brian some lovely, traditional desserts to welcome him back.

Another City To Explore

Okay, so it has been a week and I must admit that Chase and I really haven't made an effort to explore Singapore. The problem is that it is either stinking, melt-your-skin off hot or pouring, monsoon-style rain.

So, starting tomorrow (Monday), Chase and I are heading out to explore the city (but seriously, if it is pouring rain, I'm not going outside, there is just no point).

Darn Those Teeth - And Other Baby Updates

Our littlest darling is really feeling the pain now. I can't be sure but it feels like both bottom teeth are coming in at the same time.

It wakes her up in the middle of the night (and she only just got over jet lag). I smear on the (natural, homeopathic) teething gel and rock her gently back to sleep. She whimpers as if to say "make it stop, mommy." It distracts her during the day. It makes her want to chew on my shoulder. My chin. Her shoes. Anything but the teething ring.

Last night she tried chewing the leg of our coffee table. But rather than turn her head to the side (so that she could actually get her mouth around the leg), she approached it on her belly - straight on - like a bull charging a matador's cape. But she couldn't get her mouth around it, so she tilted her head slowly back and then quickly forward, which of course caused her to bonk her head on the leg of the table and burst into tears.

I bought some bread rolls for her. They seem to distract her. I tried the teething biscuits offered by Nestle, but they are a strange texture and turn into a weird cement after they get wet. She was a fan of the frozen carrot, but then I read somewhere that offering carrots to infants is dangerous due to nitrates or something and to wait until babies are older.

In other news, she has also started babbling. She actually started babbling about a month ago but I forgot to post it - bad Lang. It is the cutest thing ever. "Bababa baba baba." Seriously, it's outrageous. Her little girl voice. I just love it.

She's still "commando" crawling (a term I borrowed from a friend) - and getting pretty good at it - but she still prefers to sit, rather than be on her stomach. Yes, I know, she needs the tummy time.

Her latest toys: Brian bought her a harmonica, because she loves sucking and seems to be drawn to shiny things (that's my girl!). We're waiting for the first note! I found a kiddie-size soccer ball, so I'm teaching her how to kick the ball, instead of pick it up. The musical instruments (tambourine, bells and maraca) from Grandpa Mark continue to be among her favorites. She's also getting more and more into books. Pat the Bunny, Go Dogs Go, My First Book of Farm Animals, Baby's Busy Day At The Park, and the Numbers book from Kar Kar are her favorites. She has also played with the flower chime garden from Grandma Aiya so much that it's out of batteries.

All in all, I continue to be amazed by her. By how quickly she learns. How inquisitive she is. How captivated she is by things and people. How outgoing she is. How easy it is to make her smile. She is so eager for adventure - she gets so excited when I put on the kiddie carrier, as if to say "where are we going now, mommy?"

Sometimes I really hate Skype

Like last night when I was trying to call my husband and the woman at the hotel in China couldn't understand me (and it wasn't because I wasn't speaking Chinese).

Dalian, China: Scout-It-Out

Brian has been in Dalian for the past several days. I chat with him every night - either on a phone with a crackly connection - or on Skype, with a severe lag and echo. Hard to say which I prefer.

The first time he called, there was a delay and crackle, which made it almost impossible for me to hear him. I thought he said there were icebergs in Dalian, when what he really said was he could use Skype in Dalian.

So he called me back. The second time, the connection was slightly better. At least I was able to make out what he was saying. Following are some quick updates and observations so far...

First, the job. The opportunity is looking really good. Loads of responsibility. The people in the office are very enthusiastic and very eager for him to join. He is super excited. So fingers-crossed, we'll be moving to Dalian soon (Ha! Good thing I just finished unpacking).

Brian reports it is a clean city, even when compared to a place like Singapore. The folks at the office have gone out of their way to find a Western doctor and an apartment for us. I was very concerned about water. I think I can sleep better at night knowing both Coke and Nestle supply clean, filtered water to the city.

Now onto the culture. As I have lived in Hong Kong, very little surprises me. The Chinese have figured out a way to employ as many people as possible - I guess they've had to, seeing as how China has a population of 1,200,000,000. Something that would take one person to accomplish in the US, takes at least three people in China. It's almost as though they make up jobs, or assign managers to projects, just for the sake of making people managers.
For example, in Brian's office there are three ladies in purple track suits (no silly, they aren't oompa loompas). They spend their entire day walking around the office cleaning, putting things away, etc. There is also a tea lady. Yes, she makes the tea. When I was working in Hong Kong, we also had a phone cleaner, who would literally visit you twice a week to clean your phone.

Brian has also commented on how crazy the streets are - for example, he saw a car going the wrong way around a roundabout. There is no such thing as pedestrian right of way. It's more like "walk at your own risk." I've heard people literally drive on the sidewalks as well. Interesting.

Oh, and my favorite... The Chinese government officially turns on the heat in December, so people across Northern China are freezing their tails off at the moment (there are currently snow flurries in Dalian). A company can pay the government to turn on the heat in their building, but in doing so, they also pay for the heat for all the other businesses in the building. Residences are treated differently. You can pay for heat as you need it.

So that's the news from the streets of Dalian, China. You heard it here first.

Pedicure

I am embarrassed to say that I have not had a pedicure in over a year (one is not supposed to get pedicures while pregnant and after having a baby it is so much harder to find the time...).

The woman who was doing my pedicure was clearly dismayed at the condition of my feet. I wanted to explain to her that our place in Switzerland had slate floors, which were gorgeous, but absolutely dried and ripped apart my feet.

Chase sat quietly on my lap the entire time. She focused every ounce of her being on what the woman was doing to my feet. She sat absolutely still for almost an hour. It was amazing.

There were a couple other women getting pedicures as well. They chatted with Chase as if she was a regular, getting her regular color (pink, I'm sure). It was hilarious. I could tell that Chase really felt like she was part of the club.

The movie, The Devil Wears Prada, was playing on the TV. It was in English, with English subtitles. The subtitles were so terrible I found myself laughing out loud. For example, at one point the subtitle had the word corpse in place of where someone said "of course."

Maybe the translator was taking the title of the movie too literally?

British Influence

I feel like I am still living in London.
A hot, sticky, tropical London.

I was in Marks & Spencers today.
Sure, it is smaller, but it still has tinned baked beans, preserves, and biscuits.
I still have to queue for a taxi.
The plugs are big ole three prong deals.
There are Brits everywhere.
Cars are driving on the "wrong" side of the road, but somehow it looks "right" to me.

So here's a funny little story from today - it reminds me a bit of London as well...

I went to the mall to get a mobile phone. On the way, I stopped into a bakery (I love all those sweet buns filled with pork, wasabi, bean paste, etc.). I was tempted to purchase a green tea muffin, but instead selected a flat bread that had nuts, raisins and some kind of paste in the middle (methinks it was bean paste) and took it over to the cashier. There was one woman standing in front of me (yes, she was British).

The bakery is set up in such a way so that when you enter (after you pick up a tray and tongs), you are immediately forced to go left. You then circle an island of various bread products before arriving at the cashier - which puts you just to the left of the person in front of you.

When I arrived at the cashier, there was one woman directly ahead of me. I stood behind her, just to her left. The cashier gave me a piercing look and pointed, saying, "the queue is over there." I looked at where she was pointing, but I didn't see a queue. I didn't see anyone. And then it occurred to me that I must be standing on the "wrong" side of the woman. Even though there was no one else in line, I wasn't queuing properly, which is, as we all know, the end of the world.

The woman I was queuing behind turned to face me and gave me a look like, "oh, you must be new."

"Silly me," I said, giving her a smile. She returned the smile as if to say, "yah, I know, the woman behind the counter is crazy, but you need to learn how to queue properly."

About Singapore

Singapore was first mentioned in a 3rd century Chinese account which described Singapore as "Pu-luo-chung" ("island at the end of a peninsula"). By the 14th century, Singapore had become part of the Sri Vijayan empire and was known as Temasek ("Sea Town").

During the 11th century, this small but strategically-placed island had earned a new name - "Singa Pura" ("Lion City"). According to legend, a visiting Sri Vijayan prince saw an animal he mistook for a lion and Singapore's modern day name was born.

Then, during the 18th century, the British saw the need for a strategic "halfway house" to refit, feed and protect the fleet of their growing empire, as well as to forestall any advances by the Dutch in the region. Sir Stamford Raffles established Singapore as a trading station.

By 1824, just five years after the founding of modern Singapore, the population had grown from 150 to 10,000.

In 1832, Singapore became the centre of government for the Straits Settlements of Penang, Malacca and Singapore. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the advent of telegraph and steamship increased Singapore's importance as a centre for the expanding trade between East and West.

Singapore had been the site of military action in the 14th century when it became embroiled in the struggle for the Malay Peninsula between Siam (now Thailand), and the Java-based Majapahit Empire.

Five centuries later, it was again the scene of significant fighting during World War II. Singapore was considered an impregnable fortress, but the Japanese overran the island in 1942. After the war, Singapore became a Crown Colony. The growth of nationalism led to self-government in 1959 and on 9 August 1965, Singapore became an independent republic.

History provided by VisitingSingapore.com and photo courtesy of asiainfo.org

Big News Day

- Rumsfeld Steps Down
- Democrats Take Control Of House And Senate
- Britney Files For Divorce
- Chase's First Tooth Appears

Can I Hold Her?

I thought that Chase received a lot of attention in Switzerland.

She is now the center of attention just about everywhere we go - both men and women love her - and strangely, they all ask if they can hold her.

A group of girls followed us at the mall yesterday, giggling behind us, cooing over her.

I was a little overwhelmed by it all in Switzerland, but here it's twice as overwhelming. I'm just not sure what to say when every other person wants to touch her and asks to hold her.

I've come up with "she's just getting over a cold," which seems to work. I'm playing with the idea of cutting down on the touching by saying something like, "she's contagious."

Singapore: First Impressions

I can't believe it has been nearly 10 years since I was last in Asia. It's good to be back!

Stepping off the plane, the first thing that hit me was the familiar smell. I can't really explain it. It's sort of a sweet, musty, air-conditioned smell - and it's everywhere. The second thing I recall is noticing the elaborate orchid arrangements. The third, and most unexpected, is that everyone speaks English.

It wasn't like I was expecting people to speak Swiss German, but after spending 6 months in a country, where English is not spoken widely, it's a little odd to be halfway around the world and have absolutely no problem communicating.

The good news: Chase slept well on the plane.
The bad news: she was not keen to get another 8 hours of sleep.

And so, for the past two nights, we've spent the hours between 2 am - 5 am quietly playing.

Destination: Singapore

And we're off!




















Twelve hours later ...

And Quick Stop In London ...

After Bruges, we headed to London, where we met up with friends (a very special thanks to all for making the trip!), sold the car, and jumped on a plane to Singapore.

Many thanks to the Sunila-Andersons for hosting us!

Renee and Patrick...















John Hall ...




















Allison and Addie ...




















Christina with Chase ...




















Matt ...




















Dan and Emily ...















Zack and Sarah (almost there!)...




















Mark and Feneulla ...















Renee, Matt, Patty ...















Ryan and Gretchen ...















Felix and Emma (somehow Emerson got away)...




















Isaac ...




















Elaina and Callia ...















Aunt Ann and cousin Corina ...















And Ben!

Road Trip: Bruges, Belgium

We left Luxemboug early in the day and sped to Bruges, as we heard it was quite lovely. It was in fact, so lovely that we didn't want to leave.

Like Venice, Bruges (Brugge) is filled with small, winding, cobblestone streets, bridges and canals. It is a small town (with a Medieval atmosphere and good waffles) with a population of about 120,000.















The town is believed to have been founded by Vikings in the 9th century. Its name may be related to brygga, a Scandinavian word meaning a mooring place. Bruges prospered as an international port. Two outposts were created at Sluis and Damme when the Zwin began to silt up and the ships could no longer sail to the town. Traders from near and far came to Bruges to buy Flemish cloth, a high-quality woollen material produced in other Flemish cities. The enjoyed its peak as a trading and financial centre in the 13th-14th century, but went into decline in the 15th century with a crisis in the textile industry and the competition of other harbours. By the late 16th century, however, Bruges was the poorest town in Belgium. It was only revived by tourism in the 20th century.

Here's a pic from the main square ...






























The Chapel of the Holy Blood (below) contains a relic of great significance to Christians: a flask oft rock crystal believed to contain Christ's blood.



































And the place that sells he best art in Bruges. We were so impressed we bought three pieces.




















If you decide to go to Bruges, we recommend staying at the Hotel Princenhof - it's a gem of a hotel and very reasonably priced. http://www.prinsenhof.com/

Special thanks to http://belgium.europe-cities.com/bruges/bruges.aspx for providing the historical information about Bruges.

Road Trip: Luxembourg

And so we left Zurich and made our way North, through France, to Luxembourg. We weren't expecting much, so we were pleasantly surprised by the city. Unfortunately, we were there during a holiday, so all the shops and cafes were closed.

The origins and the name of Luxembourg are intrinsically linked with one person. In the year 963, a Count by the name of Siegfried (a Carolingian - a descendant from Charlemagne) acquired a rocky promontory overhanging the valley of the River Alzette from the St. Maximin Abbey in Trier. According to the deed, a small stronghold called "Lucilinburhuc" was situated there. It was there that the name of Luxembourg first appeared in history.

According to legend, Count Siegfried was to be married to Melusina, a mermaid who became a part of European folklore (for those interested in Melusina's story, visit http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/jwss/annotations/possession/melusina.html). Siegfried was present at the very birth of the House of Luxembourg, a dynasty which, during the 14th. Century and the first half of the 15th. Century, was to provide four Emperors to the Empire and four Kings to Bohemia.

Following are some of our pictures.

A lovely square ...




















The palace (on the right - there was one guard) ....















The cathedral ...















The gorgeous valley (the city overlooks it) ...















And a quick shot, sans Chase. She was fast asleep ... shhhhh ....
















Special thanks to http://www.lcto.lu/html_en/history/index.html for providing me with the history behind Luxembourg.

Bye-Bye Tram

Chase absolutely loved the tram in Zurich.

Everytime she saw (or heard) a tram, she would smile, giggle and wave. So we started saying, "bye-bye, tram" everytime the tram went by.

Bye-bye tram! Bye-bye Zurich!

Moving Day

Chase enjoyed moving day - she especially loved our French movers!















And so tomorrow we depart. We will drive to London - this time through Luxembourg and Belgium - spending one night in each.

I can't tell you how much we enjoyed living in Zurich. I will miss so much - the cheese, the chocolate, the weather, the lake, the sound of the tram as it passes our flat, the vines that grow outside our living room window, the fireplace we never got to use, and the little old ladies who make such a big deal over Chase.

What a lovely chapter of our life this has been.