End of summer blues

Hi! We've just wrapped up a whirlwind of summer activity, starting with the opening of Gardens by the Bay, then a trip to Cambodia, followed by visits from Grandma Linda and our friends Danielle and Jamie, and ending with a trip to Bali. This flurry of activity was punctuated by rushing Iz to her first day of school from the airport last Tuesday. Needless to say, we had a great time this summer!

Our trips to Cambodia and Bali were both incredible adventures. Although the rice terraces and temples are amazing, the real beauty of both of these places is the people (those of you who have been there will know this well). The warmth and friendliness of the Khmer was very easy to experience, despite the huge economic disparity between us. Yes, they try to sell you things on the street, and yes, they may ask for money, but once you get past that, its easy to talk to them and find commonalities. Especially when you're traveling with a kid:) The Balinese touched us, too, in their ability to retain beauty and simplicity in their daily lives, which is exemplified in their religious offerings (we heard that 40% of their income is spent on offerings) and love of kite-flying.

We also had great fun with Grandma Linda and visiting friends, and enjoyed seeing Singapore through their eyes. Isabel's growing maturity shone through in her ability to guide Grandma around Singapore and navigate the public transport system by herself (she's now taking the public bus home from school by herself three days a week). Although I don't have any photos, she had an amazing time, too, at summer camp in Indonesia. She says her favorite parts were zip-lining and boom-netting (jumping from a moving boat into an attached net that hangs into the ocean). She's happy in her new class, and already has had two birthday parties added to her social calendar:)

I think I promised lots of photos from the Gardens by the Bay opening, but I decided that there's no way I can do it justice. There are lots of images online (much better than anything I could get), as the project has had a lot of local and international media attention. Unfortunately, the opening hasn't led to fewer work hours for Chad, as there seems to be an endless stream of dignitaries, royalty, and otherwise very important people who require private tours. On the up side, Chad gets to bask in the glory of being part of the greatest spectacle in the botanical garden world (at least for right now, before the next big thing is built:)) He also got to meet the Thai princess, which isn't too shabby either!

Well, I wasn't planning on writing so much, but there you have it. I guess I can't control myself:) I've also been doing quite well, although I now have to reconcile myself with the monotony of daily life again (you know, life is soooo much more fun when you're constantly flying off to exotic destinations!). I hope you've all had a great summer and I wish you all luck with re-adjustment back into your daily routines:)  Enjoy the photos!

Greetings!

I thought that I would post an update to let you all know what we've been up to lately. Nothing too exciting, really - mostly we've been working. I'm officially three weeks into my new job at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out for me to work from home, so I'm trekking my way to a desk four days a week in the heart of the Gardens. I can't complain though, since it's in a beautiful setting and I'm getting a good workout.  The other day, as I sat at my desk editing a document about a plant expedition to Indonesian Borneo (which resulted in the collection of a handful of undiscovered species), I got a little thrill as I realized how close I am to what led me to study botany as an undergrad (exploration of tropical jungles, discovery of new plant species, encounters with indigenous people,...). After all, Indonesian Borneo is in our back yard, and it's just a matter of time 'till I can work my way into one of those plant expeditions:)

Isabel has been busy at school, working hard at learning her times tables. She and her class hosted the school assembly a couple of weeks back, when they demonstrated how to do "Kung-Fu punctuation" (it was just as entertaining as it sounds). The end of her Year 3 / 2nd Grade experience is rapidly approaching, with her last day on June 22nd. We've got lots of fun things planned for the summer, but the highlight for her will undoubtedly be a week-long summer camp on a beach in Indonesia. She and a friend are going together, and they'll get to learn sailing and kayaking, go zip-lining, and even spend the night on "treasure island." I'm more than a little jealous!

Chad's almost down to the last crunch to ready the conservatory for the grand opening. I think things are going well for him, although there's still a lot of work to do and endless changes which are a constant frustration. But he's getting some really good (and interesting) experience and learning how to cope with unusual situations:) (someday maybe he'll tell you about them...). In March, he got to travel to Spain and the Canary Islands on a plant-sourcing trip. He even ran into someone that he knew in Spain (small world, huh?)!

We did manage to get in a trip since my last post. In April, we went to Pulau Tioman (Malaysia). This is the same island that we visited last October, but this time we stayed on the relatively undeveloped east side of the island. It was a nice relaxing trip, with three whole days in a small village on a beautiful beach that was clean, quiet, and surrounded by mountainous jungle.

Besides lounging on the beach, we did some hiking and snorkeling. We also had the most incredible experience on a kayak, which we paddled up a small channel into the jungle. The channel was narrow, the water murky, and the banks lined in mangroves...definitely suitable crocodile habitat (don't tell Isabel:)). Coming back, we paddled downstream to the sea, just as a full moon was rising. The water was calm and crystal-clear - like a swimming pool - and the memory of gliding over the surface back to the beach will last with me forever.

One other little adventure of note was a cooking class that Isabel and I took on Pulau Ubin (one of Singapore's small islands - an hour-long bus ride and 15 minute-bumboat trip away). The class was held in a traditional kampong house in the jungle, and included a trip around the forest to learn about some of the herbs used in local cooking. We made four dishes - nasi kerabu (a Malay dish with cooked rice and a variety of up to 25 fresh herbs), butter prawns (exactly what it sounds like, plus curry leaves), sambal belachan tumis (chili paste), and ice kachang (this one is a little bizarre to me - shaved ice with various gelatinous-type substances and a combination of not-deserty sorts of ingredients like beans and creamed corn - it tastes pretty much how it sounds:)). Isabel got to play Junior Masterchef, and we definitely came out of it with a greater appreciation of local dishes. Lots of fun, and a really great day!

So, as we are nearing the end of the first year of Chad's contract (which will officially be June 6th), I think I would say that we are well-settled and happy here in Singapore. We're looking forward to a full and exciting summer, including trips to Cambodia, Bali, and Yogyakarta. We have good friends coming to visit us (finally!), as well as Grandma Linda (Chad's mom), and we're excited to show them all our new home. We think often about all of you, and hope that you all have fun adventures planned for the summer. Please continue to write to us when you can.

Hi All!

So, several weeks ago, Chad ran into this Indian guy in Chinatown, who stopped him on the street to tell him he had a very strong forehead, and that if he didn't cut his hair on Tuesday or Saturday, then many good things would come to him soon. Well, Chad hasn't cut his hair, and while we haven't won the lottery, it does seem like we've had some good luck lately. Chad will be getting a raise, I've gotten the job at the botanical garden, and Isabel has become very good friends with two little girls that moved in next door. Of course, it's always much easier to notice (and appreciate) the things around you when things are going your way, so I thought I should take the opportunity to reflect on and share some of the most remarkable parts of our new lives here in Singapore:

*The presence of tropical wildlife, even though we're living in a concrete mega-city and Singaporeans do everything they can to keep the environment at bay:). Giant monitor lizards can be found nearly anywhere there's water, monkeys are all over the reserves, and parrots roost in the trees outside of Isabel's school (she can see them out the window of her classroom).

*The climate. The rain, heat, and humidity mean having to share our outdoor dining room with giant snails, but I absolutely love it. By the way, side-stepping these guys as we walk the path leading to the back of our house is lots of fun (especially in the dark)!

*Observing subtle changes in Isabel that indicate that her frame of reference is broadening. I notice this when she asks me what the conversion of her Malaysian Ringgit into Singapore Dollars will be, when she jokes around with a fake Aussie accent, when I hear her describe what India is like to her Indian-Singaporean friends, or when she distinguishes between the American and British spelling of a word. A few weeks ago, after Air Asia announced a huge sale on regional travel, Isabel told me and Chad “only 8 more dollars and I’ll have enough for a one-way ticket to Borneo!" Not only is she unafraid of her surroundings and other cultures, but she's got a healthy sense of adventure. I am so proud!

*The cultural diversity. I love finding myself in a group of British and Indian nationals one day, and Cambodian, French and Germans the next. It's kind of an odd thing...living in Singapore has definitely illustrated how much culture impacts human behavior (we've witnessed differences in problem-solving, acceptance (of everything ranging from a person's lot in life to everyday challenges), and willingness to take responsibility, just to name a few), but also how many things cross cultural divides (not just the desire to get an education and a good job, but humor, interests, and taste - as I write this, I can hear Isabel and her Singaporean friend in her room singing Katy Perry's Firework:)), enabling us to have amazing shared experiences. While I have always been drawn to traveling just for the sake of exploring cultural differences, settling down and living in another country has made me realize that there's a lot to be said for similarities, too!

So, since my last post, we have of course been keeping busy. We visited Sungei Buloh Wetland Preserve, a very impressive wetland area in the north of the island with crocodiles, otters, and giant monitor lizards (one crept through the visitor’s center while we were there!). Isabel and I also got to see proboscis monkeys at the zoo (sooo cool!) while on a field trip with her class (lots of fun, although completely exhausting!). Isabel got dressed up in her cheongsam to sing in a performance for Chinese New Year at school, and the three of us counted down to midnight in Mandarin on Chinese New Year Eve with thousands of our closest friends. Isabel has also kept busy making forts and having sleep-overs with the neighbor girls, and learning the guitar.

The most interesting event over the past couple of months was Thaipusam. This is an occasion celebrated by some of the Tamil Indian community in Singapore and Malaysia. Devotees of Lord Murugan walk 4.5km from Little India to a Hindu temple in central Singapore to make offerings of milk and prayers. Some of the devotees pierce their skin, lips, and tongue and attach these amazing headdresses (called kavadis) to the piercings. As they walk in the progression, they stop every once in a while to break into dancing (the kavadis are very large - I can't imagine how painful this would be). The event is unique to Singapore and Malaysia - it's actually banned in India, which says a lot! It was absolutely amazing, and really my favorite cultural experience so far in Singapore.

Things have been going well for Chad in the conservatories. He’s been researching how to import avocado trees donated by Jason Mraz (yes, this is very random, but apparently he owns an avocado tree nursery - he will also be performing the first concert at the garden). Chad also got to have lunch with the Mexican ambassador (who is unfortunately leaving this summer, so we'll have to start all over with forging our diplomatic relations!). He also will be travelling to Spain and the Canary Islands the end of March for a plant buying trip. If any of you would like a preview of the conservatories, you can check out the Amazing Race Israel – the contestants tightroped across Marina Bay and finished an episode inside the conservatory!

In addition to putting in a lot of effort to get the job at the botanical garden, I've been volunteering as usual, and have been lucky enough to get some freelance work. I enjoyed spending some time researching the feasibility of growing and exporting lemon grass for a Jamaican farmer living in Cuba (yes, also very random, but very interesting). And as always, I have also been busy travel planning. We head back to Tioman the first week of April, where we'll be staying on a very undeveloped part of the island. We're hoping to see lots of sea turtles there, as they nest on this part of the island. We've got 4 days in a basic chalet on the beach, with not much planned but hiking, swimming, kayaking and snorkeling. Yes, I know, we are so lucky! We're going to Cambodia in July, and also just bought tickets to Yogyakarta, Java for October (that Air Asia sale was incredible!). We’re also hoping to fit in a trip to Bali sometime this year. We're saving vacation time to come home for Christmas, otherwise we would hit Vietnam and/or Borneo this year too. So, unfortunately, we won't be able to travel all summer long; our door is always open - if any of you would like to visit Singapore this summer, we've got a blow-up mattress with your name on it!

Until next time...

Happy New Year!

We just returned from a glorious week traveling in Malaysia, where we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in style! We visited Penang, an island off the northwest coast of Malaysia, near Thailand.
The major city on the island, Georgetown, is full of history, culture, and even has a little bit of an edge (well, compared to Singapore!). We had great fun wandering the streets, stumbling upon Buddhist temples and really cool old buildings, and eating naan fresh out of a brick oven in Little India. Careening into traffic at 5 miles an hour on a trishaw without a pause by our driver while blasting Eminem was also a highlight of our Georgetown experience! We also rented a car and drove around the island, stopping to ride a funicular 2000 feet to the top of Penang Hill, to check out an incredible Buddhist temple complex (Kek Lok Si - the largest in SE Asia), to swing on a giant swing at the Tropical Spice Garden, and to swim in the ocean at sunset.

After Penang, we headed to the highlands to enjoy cooler weather (nearly 60 degrees). The area is the source for much of the produce that we get here in Singapore, especially lettuce and tomatoes. There are also lots of strawberry farms and beautiful tea plantations. The area supports habitat for Rafflesia kelatanensis, which of course we had to see for ourselves!
The plant is actually a parasite on Tetrastigma spp. vines, and although the giant flowers take months to develop, once opened, each flower only lasts for 4-7 days. Hiking through the jungle to see Rafflesia was definitely a highlight of the trip. Chad also found pitcher plants growing along the roadside, which was too cool. After hiking in the jungle or wandering the tea plantations each day, we went back to sit in the garden of our hotel, have our fill of tea and scones, and play Cluedo. It really was an incredible trip, and we had a great time as a family. Also a great reminder of why we moved to this part of the world:)

I hope everyone enjoyed wonderful holidays. We certainly did. Isabel stayed home from school and Chad from work to celebrate Thanksgiving Singapore-style. Cooking was a bit challenging given our limited counter space and tiny oven, but we managed. My mom came out for two weeks to spend Christmas with us, and we had a great time playing tourists around Singapore. Actually, Christmas in the tropics doesn't look much different from Christmas in the desert, but the heat and humidity did take a bit of a toll. Our live Christmas tree barely made it through the holiday (I found it at Ikea - freshly shipped from somewhere in Scandinavia), and our gingerbread house lasted for less than one day before it collapsed into a softened heap. Other than that, we enjoyed the holiday the same as if we had made it back home. Oh, and instead of looking at Christmas lights from the comfort of our own car (as is our annual tradition), we enjoyed them from the top of the No. 7 double-decker bus:)

The World Orchid Conference (and public preview of the conservatory and outdoor gardens) came and went back in November. The conservatory was fabulous, of course! Chad's hard work definitely paid off, as he received lots of compliments about his succulent areas. I didn't get great photos since we went at night, but I promise to post lots after everything is completed and they have the grand opening in June. Chad's still working in the dry conservatory, but they're now starting to shift their attention to the second conservatory - for cool moist plants - which will host cloud-forest type plants and a mountain with a waterfall. I'm sure things will get crazy for him again in a few months, but for now Isabel and I are enjoying Chad's company on weekends and for dinner each night.

I was offered a part-time job at Singapore Botanic Garden, but I'm still not certain if it's going to pan out (keep your fingers crossed for me). The work would entail editing and some writing for the garden publication and a peer-reviewed journal that they produce. It would be great, and I'm hopeful, but it's in HR's hands now, and I've been told that I won't hear anything till February. Other than that, I'm continuing to do volunteer work for both aidha and the botanic garden, and travel planning in my spare time:)

The next adventure for us will be Chinese New Year, which is coming up in a couple of weeks. The stores are stocked full of red decorations and cheongsams, getting ready to usher in the Year of the Dragon. Isabel will be performing a song in Mandarin with her class, and I'm sure we'll be heading to Chinatown for the celebration.

That's it for now, but I'll try to post again soon. As always, I hope all is well with you. Please email when you can, I love to hear what you're all up to!