Buddhas, Hawkers, and High Tech

Hello all. We are overdue for an update! I can’t believe we’ve been in Asia for over two months now. Crazy. We’ve spent most of the time in Singapore, but went to Hong Kong for two weeks. Will try and summarize the events – while I’m watching the Miss World pageant on tv :) (Already know that Miss China won. Think it was rigged, she is not an impressive speaker whatsoever.)

Singapore highlights:

- Meeting and getting to know the Singapore side of Brian’s family. Looking forward to spending Xmas Eve with the whole clan – Auntie Constance is having around 50 people over for a big potluck.

- Night safari – Yes, after a summer in Africa we still enjoyed the night safari here in Singapore. It was the weekend before Hallowe’en, so all the employees were dressed up. Thankfully they didn’t dress up the animals :) It is a really unique experience, going around the park (on a train or walking) at night time. They also had a show which was excellent – except when they pulled out a massive boa constrictor from under the floorboards right in front of us. Not impressed.

- Hawker stands – Outdoor food courts with super cheap, amazing food. The two of us can eat dinner for $5 Cdn! Love the satay, mee goreng, black pepper beef clay pot…

- Art museum – We try and get out to the museums and the concert hall to get some culture. The art museum was very nice, with a large exhibition of art from around Asia.

- Sentosa – Took a gondola over to Sentosa Island. Had a “good” view of the shipyard and construction zones. There’s an incredible amount of building going on here, including two massive “Integrated Resorts” – big casinos with hotels, conference centres, shopping and entertainment. But we just hung out on the beach, saw a cool laser show, and relaxed.

- High tech – Love the little things, like when you go into a parking garage they have signs that tell you how many spots are empty on each floor, and there’s a green or red light above each stall so you can see ahead where the free spots are. And everyone has a pre-loaded card on their dash that is automatically scanned to pay for parking, tolls, etc.

- China town, Little India, Arab Street. All the different cultures living together, all the different food, makes this a special place.


Hong Kong highlights:

- Seeing where Brian grew up – Brian lived in Hong Kong from age 7 to 13. We went to see his old house in Chung Hum Kok, and he reminisced of his days running around getting into trouble with Gavin. Saw his old school in Repulse Bay, the market in Stanley, and relaxed on the big Jumbo boat restaurant where we enjoyed a glass of wine in lounge chairs.

- Big Buddha – We took the ferry to Lantau island and visited the big budha (Tian Tan). The hike down was fabulous – down a path winding down the mountain, surrounded by trees, except for occasionally coming across monks tending their gardens, with Buddhist chants on a radio. Peaceful and beautiful.

- Shopping mecca – while Singapore has tons of malls, Hong Kong has quantity and quality. If only we had money!

- A city of contrasts – Incredibly tall modern buildings (the new Batman was causing a stir when we were there, filming him jumping off the tallest towers); grimy highrise apartments; streets full of Chinese herbal medicines, birdnests, and antiques; lovely Chinese restaurants where no English is spoken (thank goodness for pictures); peaceful Chinese temples filled with incense smoke; beautiful beaches; hiking trails in the mountains with stunning look outs; alley full of bars, loud music and drunk expats; and in the centre of it all the happening horse races.

We took the ferry to Macau for a night, where we treated ourselves at the new Venetian hotel. Loved Macau for the Portugese influence. You’d think you were in Europe sometimes, but then look around and see Chinese style buildings. Quite the contrast. We didn’t do any gambling at the Venetian, just a fancy Italian dinner “under the stars” while singers from Italy put on a show, and we had breakfast delivered in the morning to our room.

And of course throughout it all we’ve been busy, busy, busy with the job search. Interviews, networking, emailing. We’re getting there, but it is a frustrating process.

My brother Neil is coming to Singapore tomorrow evening and staying with us for a few nights – yeah! After he leaves we head to Malaysia to do some sightseeing in Melaka and Kuala Lumpur, get our tourist visas renewed, and I have an interview in KL. We will probably be in Singapore for Xmas, but leave for Cambodia on Christmas Day – spend a week there exploring.

We hope you’re all doing well. We miss you – especially at this time of year! Doesn’t quite feel like Christmas, despite the non-stop carols in the malls and decorations. But have to say, we’re enjoying our daily swims in our outdoor pool :-)

Lots of love,
Anne & Brian