I have to say Kingsley and I have been so very fortunate to have met many great friends in Singapore. I think there is something to be said about being out of your comfort zone of long time friends and just putting yourself out there with an open mind. The most unexpected friendships are often the best!
Having a wonderful time at a weekend BBQ/Braai/Barbie with our American, Canadian, Australian, Singaporean, South African and British friends.
As a belated birthday surprise, my friend Victoria packed a picnic and took me to watch a ballet performance in Fort Canning park.
It was sprinkling lightly when we first arrived which is why you see all the umbrellas out but it cleared up as the evening progressed. I love that in Singapore it never gets cold. It's balmy even at night in the rain.
Champagne with fresh strawberries...she thought of everything!
Bread, cheese, salmon, capers, caviar, goat cheese stuffed red peppers. A very decadent and delicious picnic! Much fancier than the PB& J sandwiches I probably would have packed!
The ballet was a compilation of dances from the Singapore Ballet Company and Manila Ballet Company. The final dance of the night was scene two from Swan Lake which was breathtaking.
Teresa Hsu is a feisty, quick witted Chinese-born Singaporean nurse and social worker, who is affectionately known as Singapore’s Mother Teresa. Inspired by her mother, she has dedicated her life to helping the poor and needy.
Born in 1898 during the Qing Dynasty to a poor family in Guangdong Province, China, Teresa Hsu has led an extraordinary life that has taken her to Penang, Hong Kong, England, Paraguay and finally Singapore. She has harnessed her life experiences to fight inequality, poverty, unkindness where she sees it.
In 2005, she was the recipient of the Singapore government’s Special Recognition Award to honour her contribution to the country.
She is feisty, witty, determined and at 114 years old still helps the less fortunate through her organisation Heart to Heart.
Had an amazing experience tonight listening to the wisdom and witty humor of a 114 year old Chinese Singaporean nurse who has devoted her life to serving the poor. Her secret to long life? Laughter, yoga, meditation and a raw egg every morning for breakfast (half of which she eats the other half spread on her face as a beauty treatment).
The evening was video taped and will be online soon so I will add that video to the blog when it becomes available. Until then here is a quick interview that was done last year.
My friend Clancy, an awesome Bikram yoga instructor, opened her own studio in Singapore last week. Kingsley and I went to the inaugural class last Saturday and to be perfectly honest...we nearly died. This whole hot yoga stuff is no joke, I don't think I have ever sweat so much in my life. Poor Kingsley looked like he had jumped in a pool fully clothed by the end of class. Since I bought a 10 day intro pass I am determined go as much as I can this next week to see if this strange torture is something that actually becomes fun over time!
"Never too old, never too bad, never too late and never too sick..." Bikram
Clancy teaching the first class
Kingsley and I are in the back (far right corner in the picture)
Again you can see Kingsley and I in the back row. We are the two that look like we may fall over any minute.
You probably guessed from the crazy title that we have another batch of foster kittens AND that Kingsley has named them! Eeny (no tail female), Miney (half tail male), Moe (tuxedo full tail male).
As you can see from the photos they live a pretty tough life at the Wood household...
I was very impressed with the quality and selection of restaurants in Hoi An. Many of them offer cooking classes for anything from $7 per day to $40. Sadly we were too busy with our tailoring appointments to do a cooking class....but hopefully next time.
The Mango Room - Was a hip little restaurant right on the riverside. Carolee and I shared the fresh spring rolls and the grilled jumbo prawns with Vietnamese seasoning.
Good Morning Vietnam -best (gorgonzola) gnocchi I have ever had in my life. Loved the food so much we went back the next night and ordered the same thing. Also got a chance to meet the owner who was from Venice. We begged for the gnocchi recipe and he gave us a rough outline of how to make it but its pretty intimidating to try to duplicate perfection.
Mango Mango - excellent dessert Mango Flambe with coconut sauce and mango nectar. Would love to learn how to duplicate that as well. The Secret Garden - banana chocolate crepes. Most entrees on this menu were $3-$6. Our entire meal plus Champagne and dessert was around $20.
Having a wonderful time at a weekend BBQ/Braai/Barbie with our American, Canadian, Australian, Singaporean, South African and British friends.
Having a wonderful time at a weekend BBQ/Braai/Barbie with our American, Canadian, Australian, Singaporean, South African and British friends.
