Rock Climbing

I've mentioned this before, but Dallin has gotten really into rock climbing since we have been here. He's in the Rock Climbing Club at school and climbs a couple days a week after school. It's been so wonderful for him to have this outlet and find something to get into that he really enjoys. This last weekend he participated in his second competition - representing SAS (his school). He did a wonderful job - making it into the finals and placing 4th overall.

It's actually very fun. I went with him one time and really enjoyed it - it's a great workout (takes alot of strength). I think I could really get into it!

Penang Malaysia

Sorry about all my travels blogging but since this is also our family journal, I want to record all our experiences here. This past weekend I went to Penang which is a small island in Malaysia. Craig travels there often for work and he was there last week. A coworker of his invited him to his wedding to take place on Saturday so I decided to fly up and meet him there and attend the wedding. Georgetown (city in Penang) is an UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the history and architecture. Penang, like Singapore, was once a British colony so this is a great deal of colonial architecture, which I love. I flew up early Friday morning and spent Friday touring Georgetown on my own (Craig was working). I took a few self guided walking tours around the city. I love history and I love architecture so I was in heaven.

Like Singapore, Malaysia has alot of diversity in terms of cultures and religions. Within about one square mile, I walked by an Anglican Church, a Mosque, a Hindu temple and a Buddist Temple. Temples and churches like these dotted the cities.

I toured a Chinese aristocratic mansion - beautiful and fascinating. When I got out of the tour it was raining so I ran over to the Eastern and Oriental Hotel - considered one of the most elegant in the orient - and had a chocolate croissant and some hot chocolate. They brought me a whole tea kettle full of the best hot chocolate so I sat at the table drinking hot chocolate for quite some time. Sometimes I feel guilty for loving solitude so much.

Friday night Craig and I met up and had dinner by the beach - in the resort area of the island. Saturday we visited a huge Buddhist Temple up in the hills of Penang before heading to the wedding and then the airport. It was a quick trip but such a nice one. Penang is a beautiful place - I especially loved all the rolling green hills (Sinapore is very flat). I was proud of myself for traveling all alone - that used to scare me but I'm getting more used to traveling in Asia and was comfortable. I also enjoyed being able to do things that my children would never have tolerated (all the walking tours). It was also wonderful to spend the weekend with Craig.

Bryant and Soccer

So, after years of watching siblings from the sidelines, Bryant finally got to enter the world of team sports. In January he began a season of soccer. It's funny to watch these little kids learn to play. Craig, with all his patience, coached his team. At first we were concerned that we started Bryant too young as he just couldn't seem to figure it out. However, with time, he finally got it - at least he touched the ball and kicked it the right way. I didn't get to see many of his games - Breann played basketball at the same time - but I went to his first game and his last. There was a HUGE difference. I guess that means that Craig did a good job. Most importantly, Bryant had fun - and got to wear his soccer cleats and shin guards for something other than riding his bike.

During the breaks, Bryant would kiss his muscles - such a goofy kid sometimes.

Bali Getaway

My sister, Anna, and I were lucky enough to steal away for a few days in Bali last weekend. I feel in love - Bali has to be one of the most beautiful place on earth! I really couldn't get enough of it.

Our hotel was nestled on a cliff along the river gorge. The grounds were incredible - lush green with carved stone all around and dotted with bungalows. It was originally the home of Walter Spies who was an artist who settled there and influenced the art industry in this part of Bali.

The food was AMAZING! Everything was so good. We went with restaurant recommendations from friends who have been and that served us well.

We stayed in central Bali (not near the beach) which is the artistic area of Bali. We visited a few villages that were known for certain arts. One was were all the silver jewelry is made. We got to watch them at work - it was fascinating. Each piece is hand made with tiny pieces of silver. I've always been an admirer of Bali beads so it was so fun to see how they are made.
We also went to a village that does much of the wood carvings. Incredible to see the talent.
I couldn't get enough of the scenery - it's truly a beautiful place. Very clean (sometimes unusual in Asia) and miles and miles of terraced rice fields and incredible architecture and stone work.
I often felt like I was walking and driving thru pages of National Geographic magazine.

We visited a temple with Holy Waters. It was fascinating to see the people (Hindu) practicing their religion. The Balinese people are very religious and it was apparent everywhere. Each family (living area) had it's own temple for daily worship.

Our last day we went on a rice field walk. Breath taking scenery.
We stumbled upon a quaint organic restaurant out in the middle of the fields.
It was almost surreal sitting there with the beauty all around eating this amazing food (my broccoli, celery, apple, orange, ginger, honey smoothy).
A truly amazing experience. I feel very blessed to be able to visit these parts of the world and have these experiences. I'm also grateful for a wonderful husband who's willing to take over so I can get away for a few days (and didn't even complain too much about all the throw-up he cleaned up while I was gone). I'm looking for any and all excuses to return to Bali so if anyone comes here for a visit - I'll take you to Bali (and that's a promise!!). My way of enticing visitors!

Taylor Swift Concert

Last Wednesday evening, Ashlyn and I got to go to the Taylor Swift concert here in Singapore - the kick-off for her Speak Now tour. It was a unique experience to attend a music concert here - although the audience was probably about 1/3 Americans. Overall, it was very entertaining. Taylor really does an amazing job entertaining an audience. I think because she writes her own music from her experiences, she puts a lot of personality into each one of her songs. When I went back and listened to the songs the next day it was almost disappointing - they were so good live.

It was fun to spend the evening with Ashlyn and her screaming friends.

Chinese New Year Walk

This is a big time of year for the Chinese people as they prepare to celebrate Chinese New Year this week. Yesterday I was able to participate in a tour thru China town and learn about the history of the Chinese here in Singapore and the traditions of the New Year celebration. As the Chinese are probably the largest population of people here in Singapore - this is probably the biggest holiday here as apparently most the city shuts down for a few days for celebration.

There are lots of decorations up all over the city and it's all red, red, red - and some gold. Everything has symbolism for the people - the decorations, the colors, the food, the gifts, etc. Apparently red scares the dragon away and is also the color of prosperity (as well as gold). Most all the New Year symbols have something to do with prosperity, wealth, good health and long life.

It was raining on the tour - it's been raining for four days straight - but in Singapore, rain doesn't stop anyone or anything.

This time of year, the people clean their homes top to bottom and buy all new clothes. They even buy new clothes, made out of paper, for their dead ancestors. They burn the clothes, along with all types of accessories and paper money, so that they will get them in heaven (or hell). They believe that everyone starts in hell and must work up to heaven. They have paper passports and plane tickets for hell, as well as hell money (to buy your way out), that you can burn for your ancestors to help them get out (my kids got a kick out of this stuff).
We visited a few bakeries where they were very busy preparing the traditional New Years food and treats. These pineapples cookies are popular this time of year. The pineapple is a symbol of good luck.
They also make all kinds of little cakes. However, they are not like US cakes. They are made with glutenous rice flour (very sticky), are not very sweet, and have fillings like coconut, lotus, or peanut.

I love the architecture in Chinatown - all the old Colonial English buildings. I can't get enough of it!

Lunch! Chicken Rice is a famous chinese dish - and one that I'll eat. They also have duck and pork. I had the pork and it was quite delicious!
Much of the New Year celebrations have to do with the gods and making the gods happy and sending them gifts and money. In this Chinese temple (Buddhist), they have the gods all dressed up for the New Year and have oranges, pomelos, and gold for them on the alters.
I love these fortune sticks. They shake the can until a number comes out. The number they get correlates with their fortune for the day.

After the tour, I went down to visit the Chinese market. Apparently, great deals on food and a good place to shop.
Have I mentioned that they eat alot of fish here! Practically everything has some kind of seafood in it (that's why I stick with the chicken rice)
Or you can always go for a little frog soup???