Singapore Tourist

With friends visiting us, it became time to start to know this country we are living in and see what most people come to see.  Living here almost 6 months it was about time.  Thanks goodness Darcy and Orestes came, otherwise we could have gone a year and not seen the main tourist places to visit.  And luckily for future visitors, I have a great itinerary already planned out for you. 

Darcy stated the visit perfectly on her blog.  So here it is:  https://thejacksonstakethailand.wordpress.com/2014/12/20/singapore/

Horse track...near where we live

Where's Waldo with O.

Golden Gardens

On top of Marina Bay Sands.

All you can eat chocolate and cheese buffet. 

Marina Bar Sands.

Yeah for visitors!

Singapore chili crab.  

Nutcracker

All the performers. 

SAS offers some great after school programs for students.  One of which was the Nutcracker this fall/winter.  For a small price, students from preschool to HS were invited to be part of the performance.  I signed both of my kids up.  Before practices even started, Liam withdrew.  But, Amelia started the classes for 1x a week for a couple months.  She LOVED them all.  

The KG girls were part of the "Snowflake Dance".  There was a good group of little girls, who were taught and guided by a high school team.  With the size of the performance and logistics of it all I have to admit I doubted it would all come together.   Man I was wrong.

Snowflake dancers. 

When the final performance came I was blown away.  I got to see it a couple times because I was helping put.  One performance, our good friends from Bangkok were in town and got to attend too.

The best part of it all was Amelia got to keep her costume.  It is now the outfit she changes into when she changes out of here school uniform. 

 Don't worry Grandparents...we also bought a DVD copy to share with you!

Amelia and a couple of her good friends from her class. 

Thanksgiving Weekend

There was a lot to be thankful for this past weekend: health, love, friends, family, jobs, but most of all a REAL turkey and all the fixings.   Again Singapore proved to be "Asia light" with a lot of possibilities and options for Thanksgiving dinner.  Not so true with Thailand where a turkey was tough to come by and if you did it cost you $$$$$.  

Our weekend included Thanksgiving dinner with friends, a trip to Ikea,  date lunch with Wade, and a sad Apple Cup.  

So Thankful!

Kids at the dinner table.  

My turkey.  I ordered a raw one and a pre-cooked one arrived.  Good thing because I had never cooked a turkey before.  Warmed it up and it was just like homemade.  The leftovers where awesome as well. 

The Konings and the Smiths.  The Smiths are a family that came in with us to Singapore from Chicago.  Families first international experience. 

Long weekend fun.  

Pre-game.  Notice the smile.  The best part of the game was place full of Cougs.  One guy I had met at the store earlier that morning.  He is now in SG with the Navy.  

Turkey Trot

Once upon a time I use to be an avid runner.  With age and moving to an endless summer (humid heat), I don't seem to have the motivation to go run for hours.  However, having a goal is always a good thing for me and helps me be accountable.  So in March I have agreed to run another 1/2 with a friend.  So...I am back on the wagon...hopefully I can maintain.

The timing to all this went along perfectly for a turkey trout that was sponsored by SAS and the American Association in Singapore.  I was going to run it alone, but then the school decided to cover all registration fees.   I then decided the kids and I were going to do our first family 2k run.

One is pumped and one a little worried. 

At first Amelia and Liam were very excited.  A lot a questions about the distance, but overall a feeling of confidence.  Amelia's nerves started to build-up and she decided she could not run that far once we got into the taxi to the race   Her worry continued upon our arrival.  Liam on the other hand was PUMPed!

The race was in the coolest neighborhood of old military black and white houses.  About 1/4 of a way Amelia took off.  Liam kept a good, steady pace, running the whole time and we met her at the finish line a couple minutes behind.   

They are already asking when the next race is.  Liam wore his race shirt ALL weekend.  I think they may have the running bug.  

And we're off. 

Just before she took off. 

Finishing strong! Amelia had already finished.  

2k Finishers. 

Halloween Week

You would think that not living in the States that there would be little options for Halloween.  This was not the case for Singapore.  I guess with over 25% of your population being expats, there would be a tendency for traditions to wear off.   This is VERY true for the area in Singapore that we live in, the Woodlands.

Once we moved here, we started hearing about how big Halloween can get in our area.  Same compared it to Mardi gras.  I was intrigued...topless women and beads?   

Trick-or-treating #1.

Halloween started early in the week for us with a private trick-or-treating event for local neighborhood kids.   This was an invite only event with a list of house giving out the good stuff.   I could have passed it off as the real thing.  That week the school also had a variety of events.  This included classroom parties and a man made "pumpkin" patch.   By the time the actual holiday came, we were already tired.

Halloween night we waited for Wade to get home.  He took a taxi, but got stuck in traffic due to closed streets.  By the time we made it outside our complex, I could see the masses of people.  On the main street we only made it to a couple house.  This was because of the lines just so get candy and maneuvering around people.  We finally found calm at a friends house where we decided to stay and avoid the masses.

By the end of the week I was tired.  So were the kids.   I was definitely Halloween'd out. 

. 

With our friends Ella and Gideon. 

Calm...my style.

Getting the good stuff, chocolate!

Liam's class party.

Martha Stuart type food.  

Pirate Liam!

Flower Fairy Amelia

Amelia's class party.

This picture doesn't give the masses justice.  Honestly...1000s of people  Buses come people in from ALL around Singapore and from Malaysia. 

Poor kid was worn out.

Legoland: Everything is Awesome.

We went to Legoland in Malaysia to meet our wonderful friends for the last weekend of our break.  They lived on our street in Bangkok and we all bonded fast and have created a forever friendship.   They moved on to the International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.   KL is only a four hour drive from us, but due to Malaysia law, they are not allowed to leave until the end of Dec for tax reasons. 

 Legoland seemed like the best place for us to all meet....it is just a border jump for us and still in Malaysia for them.  It is also ALL things Lego and they were the ones who turned us onto the toy.

The group. 

I was never a lego fan until I was an adult.   I had a neighbor growing up who had buckets of them, but my brother and I never understood the draw.  Having two kids who do enjoy legos, we can now spend hours building and being creative.  With today's technology, I love that it is still remains popular.  Liam loves it too and it a great builder even though he is only three.  

We went on a Saturday, but the place was not crowded and we got onto rides very easy.  There was even times when they just kept letting them go and go until we said stop.  They had roller coasters to lego displays.  Amelia liked the thrill rides and Liam liked the slow rides (so much like my brother). Malaysia is also cheaper then Singapore.  This was great for us!   

The splash ride.  

We decided to stay in a nearby hotel instead of going home that night.  The hotel was in the harbor that looked onto Singapore.   It was a cool area and one that I would definitely go back to for a weekend getaway.  The weekend went way to fast and I am already missing our friends :(.  

Yahoo for Legoland!

One of the MANY lego displays.  Liam wanted to have his picture taken with them ALL. 

Boat Quay, Singapore...Made of Legos.  This is the area Wade works.  So much detail!

Liam and Anna.  These two have a special bond.

Liam got his face painted early in the day.  It had melted within an hour and we had to wash it all off. 

This was Liam's favorite ride.   He would have spent ALL day on it.  

The infinity pool at the hotel.  It was rooftop.  

 

The plate of bacon our friend's ordered.  Malaysia is a Muslim country and most of it Halal.  They can't get pork products in KL, so they have to get it while they can.

Krabi, Thailand

Last week we had no school.   Hating to waste time off without travel, I started to search for good travel deals out of Singapore.  I happen to stumble onto a 75% off flight sale at AirAsia.  Too good of a deal to pass up and husband approval I booked a trip to Krabi with some other friends from work.

Rented kayaks for an afternoon.

Poor Wade having to work, I was traveling alone with two kids.  But the resort another family (who is also from Bham) had found, was perfect for us.  Kid's club, pools, and easy accessibility to paradise. It also offered babysitting service, so one night we hired a lady-boy to watch 4 kids while the adults played.    The resort allowed us to swim/relax and the area allowed for quick boat rides to nearby islands.  

It was a quick trip and made me miss Thailand food and people.    I am hoping to make it back once again! 

Cave of fertility on Railay.  Poor kid had no idea when I told him to say "cheese".  Amelia couldn't understand why I was taking pictures of mushrooms.

Swimming pool ocean. 

Boat to the islands. $12 total for the day.

Thai long boats

Little crew....they all got along so well. 

Kid's Club. 

One of the pools.  Way cheaper to enjoy drinks here then in Singapore. 

Holiday Inn Ao Nang

We went to this place twice to eat.  Great service.  Teaching the kids to be fire dancers. 

Kid's table.