Downtown Singapore

As most of you know Ben has been in the USA and I miss him like crazy. The otherday I was going through some old photos and came across this great day Ben and I had downtown. We wandered through the city as if we were tourists and had a great time.
 

 

 

 

I love how intent these "uncles" are playing their games.

 

 

 

 

 

If Ben read this blog he would probably make me pull this picture off:)
I love this picture, even though he was completely joking.,

 

Singapore National Day!

 

 

This is the McDonalds on Orchard Road, we were blown away by this when we first moved here.

Some even older photos of our first night in Singapore.

Check out those handmade noodles....mmm

Singapore's Chinatown

I love Singapore. I really do, sure at first it was a little hard to get use to with the hot weather, weird smells, and the language barrier (yes they speak English, but there is a huge difference between what is said and what is understood...from both parties). The lack of family, old friends, a car, and a fully stocked Target can be rough, but despite these inconveniences, Singapore is an incredibly wonderful place to live and I really do love it.

The otherday I decided to spend some time in Chinatown and take some pictures of this great city where I am so blessed to live.

 

 

 

I love the old historic houses that line the streets of Chinatown. The architecture is evidence of past British influences on this Asian trading city.

 

Great street for local "street food" along with excellent hand made noodles

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buddha Relic Temple in the heart of Chinatown.

 

 

 

Manila with the Hyatt's

I got to Manila this Spring and was fortunate enough to swing my meetings just before Easter so Ben and I could stay there over the long weekend. Yes in Singapore, Good Friday is a National Holiday!

Some of you may have heard the stories about  Easter in the Philippines and how....interesting...it can be. I will let you research for yourself, but some of the activities include live reenactments of the crucifixion or people carrying crosses through the streets, just to name a few. Ben and I didn’t participate, or even watch for that matter, but did go to a few cathedrals and were met by throngs of Christian parishioners.

Here are just a few of the adventures we had in Manilla.

While in Manila, we met up with our good friend (Sarah)'s sister (Alma) and her adorable family. We were only suppose to hang out with them for an afternoon, but had so much fun with their cute family that we changed our plans so we could hang out with them. 

 

 I love the markets around the city. Little kids everywhere ran their family fruit and vegetable stands.

We started our trip with a “Wok”ing food tour through Manila’s Chinatown. My favorite food included some incredible pork and chive dumplings. I think I ate the equivalent of a bucketful. I am pretty sure the only fight Ben and I got in was over the last dumpling :) We really love dumplings.

Ben and I are like TWO PEAS IN A POD.....

.....Unless we have dumplings to fight over. Then you better stand back.

This is my favorite picture from the trip.

Little Mila is definitely beat Ben in Chess.

I was super excited to finally find a hand carved nativity set.

On Saturday we drove to Vila Escudero. It was basically a large family plantation for a very wealthy family in the Philippines that has since been turned into a museum, amusement park, water park, waterfall restaurant, tourist attraction. It was pretty awesome, kind of tacky and super kitschy, but we had a blast with the Hyatts.

This was our mode of transportation around the Villa.

One of the many attractions around Villa Escudero, this was the "waterfall restaurant". We literally sat and ate at the base of the waterfall.

Another attraction which we participated in was longboat canoeing.

There were tons of hilarious decorations, sculptures and statues like the gigantic whale  in the top right corner. There was also, oddly enough, an ET statue, minney and mickey mousse and a lot of European statues.

Another picture of the "waterfall" restaurant.