Ku De Ta Birthday Girls from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.

We had a great Easter weekend catching up with some lifelong friends. Ashley and Suhas learned paragliding in Seattle with Kingsley many years ago and thus they had a ball recently reminiscing together about the "good old days".

Quote from Ashley:

"Paragliding brought three people together that would likely have never met one another otherwise, in a country that was not native to any of them, that it would lead to many years later those same three people, now all living in three different countries to the one in which they met, to be drinking cold beer outside a bar in Singapore telling yarns about how good they all used to be!!!"

This Sunday Kingsley and I got back into the swing of things and went yoga and sushi lunch. Later on the way home Kingsley kindly offered to go grocery shopping with me for the week and to help me with the heavy carrying of groceries.  Of course it had to start torrentially raining while we were in the store so we walked out with a shopping cart full of food and NO TAXI’s available.  Our only hope was to catch the number 11 bus but the bus stop was quite a distance from the store exit.

Rainy Sunday from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.

On March 23rd the "leader and visionary who through struggle and backbreaking years of work established Singapore as a nation and grew it to be an economic giant" passed away.

Throughout the, appropriately rainy and dreary day,  there was an outpouring of love and support from around the world. I was inspired to capture a few of the many impressive quotes I read that day about Singapore's amazing leader.

May you rest in peace Mr. Lee.

“A big man on a small stage.”
— Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State

“The leader who, perhaps, impressed me most was Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore… He was an individual who changed the course of history… Lee Kuan Yew took the right decisions for his country; he chose the right values and the right economic policies to ensure the development of a successful society. In this, he was an artist painting on the largest canvas that society can provide.”
— F.W. de Klerk, former President of South Africa

“This is one of the legendary figures of Asia in the 20th and 21st centuries. He is somebody who helped to trigger the Asian economic miracle.” (October 29, 2009)
— Barack Obama, President of the United States

“Lee Kuan Yew took a small spit of land in Southeast Asia, which became independent in 1965 after great struggle and anguish, with no resources and a polyglot population of Chinese, Malaysian, and Indian workers, and turned it into one of the economic centers of the world… He is still indisputably the father of Singapore. I was struck by the depth of his understanding of the world — China, Russia, and the United States — all at age 85.” (September 21, 2008)
— Fareed Zakaria, editor-at-large of Time Magazine

“The smartest leader I think I ever met.”
— Tony Blair, ex-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

“In my long life in public service, I have encountered many bright, able people. None is more impressive than Lee Kuan Yew.”
— George H.W. Bush, former President of the United States

"He and Dr Kissinger are probably the only two world statesmen who, after leaving office, find an open door to every head of state and government anywhere in the world.”
— Lord Carrington, former British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

“Over the years Lee has been called many things — unflattering as well as admiring. But perhaps the single most fitting description is: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow.”
— Zoher Abdoolcarim, Asia Editor of Time Magazine

Nestled in the son vida hills of Palma de Mallorca, is a 13th-century castle-turned-luxury-hotel that overlooks the bay and the city center of Palma about 14 km away. The property is bordered by golf courses on 2 sides.  We spent 5 nights here in our complimentary upgraded room with a stunning balcony view where Kingsley and I would have enjoy our morning tea in the glorious island sunshine.


Another highlight of the hotel for me was the food.  They were very kind to cater to our gluten free restrictions and even made us cheeseburgers with a gluten free bun which Kingsley stated was his favorite meal of the trip!

A MAJOR highlight of the trip for me was a two hour trail ride that I convinced Kingsley to go on with me through Hipica Formentor. They also offer two and four day trail rides through the mountains of Mallorca but somehow I am not sure Kingsley is cut out for a multi-day riding event.

During our horse riding adventure, I promise you, I have never laughed so much in my life. Kingsley, as an absolute beginner was placed on an big gentle giant of a horse who quickly figured out that Kingsley hadn't a clue so took full advantage of the situation doing as he pleased hanging back and then cheerfully trotting to catch up with my horse all the while Kingsley was bouncing around hanging on for dear life. It was priceless, just priceless. At one point I was laughing so hard I thought I might actually fall off my own horse!