Monthly Archives: March 2012

Best Family Photos from Hanoi

31 Saturday Mar 2012

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There were a few good photos that we managed to take of each other while we were in Hanoi. These are the best ones. Cream of the crop. You know, the ones everybody longs to see. The real us.

I’m totally making fun of us just in case you wondered.

Btw, after a tea bag string and a blue and probably filthy plastic shopping bag, we found a place to buy REAL dental floss. Revolutionary! He also put it in our passport bag so it went with us everywhere.

Humor in Hanoi

31 Saturday Mar 2012

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I love to take photos of things that make me smile. Here are some from our recent trip to Hanoi, Vietnam. (click on the photos to make them larger)

Hanoi, Vietnam

30 Friday Mar 2012

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We went to Italy in February/March and I’m going to visit a friend in London in April. That left about 7 weeks in between trips. This may make me sound very spoiled, I probably am, but after almost 3 years in Singapore that’s a long time for me to be in the concrete jungle feeling all boxed in. This wide open space, Texas girl cannot stay confined very long. So, we planned a distraction trip to Hanoi for a 4 day weekend.

It’s a quick 3 hour flight from Singapore to Hanoi. A fairly cheap flight and trip in general. Our 3 night’s stay in our nice, 2 bedroom hotel with a kitchenette and breakfast included, a day tour to Ha Long Bay for three and transport to and from the airport was less than $300 USD. That’s not bad.

We enjoyed the trip and it was nice to get out of Singapore but we did find Hanoi very dusty and overly touristy. Tourist trap places are not our scene. The weather was amazing, though! No sweat and even sweater worthy at times. That’s my scene!

We arrived on Friday and had a driver from the hotel pick us up. It was about an hour drive so we were able to see a little bit of the countryside. Once we got settled into our hotel we went to check out our surroundings. Our hotel was on a very local street, which is typically where we try to stay. We’re not big fancy hotel people. We like looking out of our window or over our balcony and seeing real life going on around us. That’s definitely what we got here. The fish lady cleaning her fish, the egg lady selling her eggs, the jackfruit lady, moto’s zipping by, etc. Good stuff!

On Saturday we had our breakfast, Pho of course, and headed out for sight seeing and shopping. We walked to the lake and caught the water puppet show. Now that was a strange one… but still worth seeing which is what everyone had told us. It’s weird but you don’t want to miss it if you go. We walked around more, drank coffee at Highlands, ate Pho at Pho 24, ate spring rolls and sweet potato fries at a restaurant we found close to our hotel, dinner at Mediteranneo for pizza and headed back to our hotel. The streets were crowded and there was nothing else we needed to see, do our buy. We also were getting picked up at 8am for a day trip to Ha Long Bay so we turned in early.

On Sunday, we ate breakfast early and headed for Ha Long Bay. We had heard good things about this place. It’s beauty, it’s peacefulness, being on a nice boat. The bus ride was 4.5 hours each way and proved to be an adventure in and of itself. But we arrived, got on our boat and headed across the waters. The rocks darting up out of the water were beautiful but peaceful it was not. SO many boats and so many people. We were told we had good weather so we had that to be thankful for. At one point we were all called up to the top deck as if something major was happening. The sun was out. :) I suppose it is rare for the sun to come out? We took a little bamboo boat ride through some cave things but it was more like bumper boats. We were grateful for the experience but we supposed we were spoiled by having been to Milford Sound in New Zealand. Then the boat took us to some caverns. This was unexpected. Sadly they had put in colored lights, had pumped water inside to make “natural” water springs and named all of the formations (Dragon, Lion King, even a boob that our tour guide said God used to feed Eve – totally bizarro!) and disturbed the beauty of it all. It was just really touristy and disappointing. Then we had a 4.5 hour drive back to our hotel. It was a long day and in lots of ways weird, but we’re glad we went.

On Monday we had to leave about 10am for the airport so we ordered breakfast up to our room and had a leisurely morning getting ready to head back to the concrete jungle where we live our life.

Here are just a few of the highlight photos. Only 40. :) I took about 500 because it’s just the type of place that is chock full of photo opportunities. Deciding which photos to use is always the hardest part of putting together a blog post from one of our trips.

Here is Tommy’s post with his take of our Hanoi experience.

Trip details:
*We flew Silk Air (Singapore Air’s budget line).
*We stayed at the Rising Dragon Estate Hotel.
*The hotel arranged our transport to and from the airport.
*We got our visa’s online. Well, the approval letter, anyway. You still have to wait at the visa on arrival counter when you get to Vietnam but we find it much easier than going to the embassy and leaving our passports with them for a few days. And it’s cheaper.
*The hotel also arranged our day trip to Ha Long Bay. The whole day with bus and boat and lunch and a bottle of water :) was $40USD/person.
*We always enjoy eating at Pho 24. It’s a chain and there are many outlets all over Vietnam.
*We chose not to visit any of the war memorial sights. We had seen a lot of that in HCMC in previous trips there and the heaviness of it all just didn’t fit in with the type of relaxing getaway weekend we needed.

Art Date

22 Thursday Mar 2012

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Tommy and I have a date night every Wednesday. We normally we end up at our favorite date night restaurant, Spruce. But that gets a bit pricey for us at times so we’ll go on hawker center dates to offset the budget. Sometimes our dates are mandated by me not wanting to sweat so we have to find a place with limited walking and air conditioning or it might be mandated by the type of food or the type of environment we are in the mood for. Sometimes it’s Chili’s and sometimes it’s Little India. Sometimes it’s dressy and sometimes it’s shorts.  It’s nice to have so many options here!

But this time, I chose and I didn’t tell Tommy because, for one, I love to give surprises, but also because I was afraid if I told him he might have preconceived ideas and not be excited about going. I was confident, though, that he’d enjoy it so I kept it to myself and just told him where to drive to and where to park.

Tommy loves to draw and be creative so at the recommendation of a friend, I had bought a Groupon for this place, Arteastiq at Mandarin Gallery on Orchard Rd., and scheduled our session for our date night. It was a 2.5 hour painting session where they provided the canvas, the paint and we even got a free drink. The shop is a tea shop/cafe’ with sandwiches and coffee’s and such and an art studio attached. Check their website for details and pricing. If you run across a Groupon, buy several.

We perused the provided art books and selected what we wanted to paint, put our aprons on and started painting. On certain nights they have an art teacher there walking around helping you with strokes and color mixing, etc. We were both glad she was there to help us.

Being the rebels we are, we took a break from our painting session and ordered dinner. It was funny that this just really took them by surprise. It’s like no one had ever eaten during one of the sessions before. We got a good chuckle. You just don’t bend Singaporean rules or guidelines or think outside the box. Well, most don’t anyway. :)

It was a fun and unique date and one we’ll most likely do again. Maybe we’ll even take some art classes somewhere. Being creative is good for the soul and being creative together in your marriage is very healthy and fun!

Tommy chose a Cheetah and I chose trees with colorful blobs. Mine was much more forgiving on the level of skill required. His was hard. We’re pretty happy with our artwork and our date night.

He Just Can’t Stop

18 Sunday Mar 2012

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When our kids were little we always asked them to stop growing up so fast. I suppose Jakeb is just not going to listen so I should probably just stop fighting it and go with it.

When Jakeb learned to crawl, he went straight to running. He skipped the walking part.

When Jakeb rode his first bike, it didn’t take him long before he begged Tommy to take off his training wheels and then he promptly took off on his own. We stood and watched. None of the running along side him to make sure he doesn’t fall over.

Jakeb picks up everything very fast. He just does. He always has. He just goes. He’s not weighted down by all the thinking. Which works out for him. Mostly. :)

Today, he grows up just a little bit more. Although, he’s done it a little bit at a time, hour by hour, day by day, month by month, and year by year. Today, he has been at this growing up thing for 166,440 hours or 6936 days or 19 years. It appears he just can’t stop.

Because of this crazy overseas life we happen to be living, we find ourselves once again, on the other side of the world not able to celebrate one of our kid’s birthday’s with them. It’s a real downer not to be with them on these special days. Fortunately, he was back in our hometown this past week and my Mom made him a cake that he could stick his finger in. I told you it was a tradition. A weird one but we like our traditions. :) Thanks so much, Mom!!!

Tonight, in Singapore, we are having friends over. It happened to be time for Tex Mex and I needed some way to celebrate since I couldn’t throw my son a birthday party. Anna made him brownies. We’re celebrating anyway. His birthday is worth celebrating whether he’s here or not.

Jakeb, we couldn’t be more proud of who you are becoming. Who you already are. We love you and absolutely love being your parents. You are such a blessing to us!! It’s ok if you don’t stop growing up. You’ve got a pretty good momentum going. Keep running, keep rolling, keep growing. Please don’t stop!

And did you see the Bluebell ice cream??? Oh my…. I probably should have cropped that out. Torture!

Favorite Funny Fotos – Italy 2012

12 Monday Mar 2012

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Pictures say a thousand words. But since my last post was well over a thousand words I thought I’d make this one easy on you.

2012 Italy Trip Itinerary – Official

12 Monday Mar 2012

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I posted our proposed trip itinerary on the blog before we left. We deviated a little bit but all of the hotels we stayed at and places we visited are on that post and mostly accurate. We were very pleased with all of the hotels/b&b’s except the one in Sorrento. More on that below.

Anyway, here is our official itinerary. How it really went down and a picture or two from each stop. I will do specific posts of the more notable destinations and attractions but this is just a quick (turned out to be not so quick) overview of our trip.

We left Singapore on Saturday evening, flew through Doha for a short layover and arrived in Rome a little after 6am Sunday. We picked up a SIM card for our cheapo travel phone then went to pick up our rental car and were out of the airport by about 8:30. We used Rick Steve’s free tour guides that I downloaded from itunes and printable maps provided for Pompeii, Colloseum, the Forum and the Jewish Ghetto. It gets a little old listening to Rick Steve’s voice but the information was good so I definitely recommend using his tours – and they’re free. We had a “real live person” guided tour for Vatican City/St. Peter’s Basilica. That was worth it but had to be arranged online ahead of time.

Day 1

We had all of our maps handy, Tommy doesn’t believe in GPS’s :) , and headed toward Pompeii. We had planned on trying to stop of at Campodimele a few days later but we were way ahead of our time schedule and we were passing by so we decided to detour. We also were craving back road Italy rather than highway Italy so we bailed from the Autostrada and found ourselves immersed in small town Italy.

We had read about Campodimele in a CNN news story we’d found while we were planning our trip. It was described as a quaint, friendly, village of eternity town up on a mountain top with good food. It was just that.

Day 2

From there we headed on a few more back roads. Some planned and some not. But we made it to our hotel Pompeii by about 4pm. We passed the ruins on the way to our hotel. That was cool. We got to our hotel and Anna and I absolutely crashed. I think Tommy may have even checked to see if we had a pulse. Tommy went out to try to find some bottled water, ended up buying it from the hotel, and then came back to find us still comatose. We all ended up skipping dinner which was a travesty since it certainly would have been a GREAT Italian meal and slept through until morning. We woke up to a nice breakfast of pastries, sliced meats, cheese and delicious Americano’s and Cappucino’s. Anna ordered a Latte and we found out that a Latte in Italy was hot milk. Order a Cafe’ Latte if you want coffee milk. :)

After breakfast we walked over to the ruins of Pompeii. This was THE place Anna wanted to see in Italy and it happened to be her birthday so she was happy!

Next stop, Sorrento. By way of a few more roads less taken. I should insert here that it seems the further you get away from Rome, the worse the signs are. Then factor in construction that blocks the exits you’re supposed to take and it’s kind of a nightmare. Plan in some extra travel time if you’re planning on driving your way around Italy.

We stayed at a b&b in Sorrento that was in a citrus orchard. That was cool and it was not bad but just not as impressive as it looked on their website so we were a little disappointed. We’d have much rather stayed somewhere that overlooked the ocean. There was a stunning view when we could catch it without buildings in the way. We shopped, we ate, we froze and got windburn. It was super cold and windy up on the top of that mountain.

Day 3

We ate breakfast in Sorrento and walked around a little bit more and froze a little bit more and then checked out of our b&b and headed to Gaeta and Fondi.

We ate lunch by the bay or port or whatever you call it in Gaeta and then drove over to Fondi. We got checked into our hotel and rested for a bit and then went to a family friend’s house for dinner. This family happens to be friends of my sister from when she lived near Fondi years ago. It was such an honor to get to know them and have a wonderful homemade Italian meal.

Day 4-8

Off to Rome! We drove to the airport and returned our rental car and then had a driver that we’d set up in advance take us to our apartment. We highly advise setting up any transportation needs in advance that you can when traveling.

Over the next few days, we did all the touristy things you’re supposed to do in Rome. We visited all the hot spots, window shopped, drank good coffee, ate all the good food, drank good wine and ate gelato. We even tried Limoncello which I really cannot recommend. Even the apartment we rented, although VERY nice and in a GREAT location, was at the top of 5 flights of stairs (that’s 100 steps), was very Italian.

We walked and walked and walked and walked and walked around Rome and then walked up 100 stairs to our apartment at least twice each day. One evening I decided food wasn’t worth it so I didn’t even go out for dinner. I was not about to climb those steps again. They brought me a sandwich. :)

We had the afternoon of our first day in Rome to wander. We walked to the Spanish Steps which were very close to our apartment. Then over to the Trevi Fountain. Had some ‘gelati’. And then walked to the Capuchin Crypt. No photos were allowed inside this very strange place filled with a bazillion bones from monks. Google it for images. Totally bizarre and slightly freaky.

On our second day in Rome we stopped in a Caffe’ Bar for coffee and pastries then walked to Vatican City on a pre-arranged guided tour (advisable to get good information and skip the line). Then we walked to the Pantheon. Impressive place! And then we walked over to around the Jewish Ghetto.

Our last full day in Rome we visited The Borghese Gallery. We also reserved our tickets online in advance for this as it’s mandatory. No photos inside here either. They allow you to stay for 2 hours on your ticket but honestly about 30 minutes was enough for us. I guess we just don’t appreciate art like some do. There were people laying on the floor staring up at the ceiling and just in awe of naked statues. Just not our scene. I suppose we’re still uncultured Texas home folk. Even with that said, we’re still glad we went.

Our next stop , by way of our first and only taxi ride (weird driver, weird story), was the Colloseum. We really enjoyed touring here but it just really felt morbid to me. It is a magnificent and awesome historical structure but all the stories of blood and death and gore just turned my stomach. I’m thankful I didn’t live in that time period or culture.

Then we walked over to the Forum. Beautiful place. Much more peaceful. It was incredibly cool to walk along cobblestone streets that Julius Caesar and Paul and Peter and so many historical figures walk along thousands of years ago. We camped out here for a while. Mostly to take a break in the shade sitting on stones that Julius Caesar most probably sat on and just to soak it all in.

We walked up MORE stairs to get to the Mamertine Prison. This is supposedly where Peter and Paul were imprisoned. If it wasn’t, then they were in a prison much like this one so it was still cool to see the history of it all.

Another good dinner and climb up to our apartment and we called it a day.

We woke up on day 7, Saturday, having a few hours to fit something in before our ride picked us up to take us to the airport. Anna decided to be lazy and stay in the apartment so Tommy and I went out for coffee and pastries and walked around the area where we were staying. We went into a few Basilica’s that were just beautiful. So peaceful and reverent and old and historical. We did a little bit of shopping and got Anna and went for an early lunch.

It was mid day when our driver picked us up and we were off to the airport. Headed back to Singapore.

Notice I put ’2012′ in the title. That’s because I’m really hoping they’ll be another trip in the future and I’ll be able to dig up the posts easier because of the date. :)

A Very Special Day – Part Deu

05 Monday Mar 2012

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We celebrated Anna’s actual birthday in Italy! Who gets to turn 13 in Italy??? Well, I guess lots of people do if they live there but it’s a little out of the ordinary for us down home Texas folk.

Our day started out in Pompeii where she had her first Italian latte which turned out to be hot milk and then her first Italian Cappucino.

We walked nearly every square inch of the ruins that have been uncovered after Mt. Vesuvius erupted in the 70′s (70 AD). Anna’s one thing she wanted to see was Mt. Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii so we were so glad it worked out the we were there on her birthday.

We gave her some Tom’s shoes (that didn’t fit!) and then we went for real Italian Margherita Pizza for lunch. Did you know that Margherita pizza was named after an Italian King’s Umberto’s wife, Queen Margherita of Savoy? The colors of cheese, tomato sauce and basil represent the Italian flag. Pretty neat!

We then drove from Pompeii to Sorrento where we froze our tooshies and shopped a little and ate well – again. She had her first Italian lasagna. I don’t think lasagna is named after anyone but she loved it anyway. And then she got dessert and stuck her finger in it. One of my family’s birthday traditions. Yes, we’re strange but we can’t break tradition even at a fancy restaurant in Italy.

During dinner, Tommy pulled out her gift that has traveled with us from Texas to Singapore to Italy. We have a tradition at 13 for Tommy to give a little speech to our upcoming young adults to encourage them to remain pure in heart, mind and body for their future spouses. We pray that their future spouses are doing the same for them. We gave Anna her ring which has a heart and a cross on it. The circle of ring symbolizes eternal love. The cross, of course, represents her faith in Christ and His position in helping her remain pure and the heart represents our love for her and our commitment to help her in her journey as long as she needs us. She’ll wear it on her wedding ring finger until such time as it’s replaced by the real deal. She was touched and really liked the ring and the ceremony of it all. I cried. Not surprising.

It was a great day in Italy and another very special day for us all.

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