Christopher World Tour

Kyoto...more..Temples

2009-10-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

Top to bottom:
Kiyomizu Temple
Imperial Palace
Nijo castle
Ginkakji (silver pavilion)
Kinkauji (golden temple...yes, that is real gold leaf covering the entire temple!)

Flashback Friday

2009-10-02T01:50:00.001-07:00

Tammy arrives tonight! This picture is from her first trip to Singapore, July 2007. The first trip was with her family, this time we get her all to ourselves....girl stuff!

Nara and the Ryokan......

2009-10-01T04:26:00.000-07:00

A ryokan is a traditional Japanese Inn. Upon arrival, you trade your shoes for these slippers. Our rooms had tatmani mats for flooring, and a low table as the only furniture. We changed into a kimono while there, and were treated to a 2 1/2 hour keizeki dinner, served course by course. It was lovely, relaxing, and such a grand introduction to Japan! After dinner we returned to our rooms, to find the table gone and foutons on the floor for sleeping. When we left the next morning, the mama-san and her staff walked us out with a gracious smile and a bow. What a warm memory!!

Kyoto, Japan

2009-10-01T04:09:00.001-07:00

I just returned from a 5 day adventure in Kyoto, Japan with a group of 8 crazy women from the American Women's Association! What a wonderful time we had. Our first day we visited the Todai-Ji Temple in Nara, with its enormous bronze buddah. This temple was built in the 8th century, and is the largest wooden structure in the world. The bronze Buddah is 67 ft. tall!
Oh yes, this is the first of many group pictures...our first night we stayed in a traditional Japanese Ryokan, thus the matching kimonos! The rather reserved Mama-san did not know how to take us at first, but soon warmed up to our silliness.

Singapore Sangria.....

2009-09-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

As you know, Brad has moved to Singapore to further his career as a chef. Well, we are certainly enjoying his skills at our house! One of his best "Singapore" creations is this Sangria which incorporates our local tropical fruits. We added red dragonfruit to the mix and it stained the Sangria this gorgeous fushia color. Cool, huh?

2009-09-11T18:39:00.000-07:00

On September 6th, the wives of the Noble Danny Atkins suited up in hard hats and safety glasses to tour the rig. After 3 years of work, the NDA was scheduled for towing to deeper water for commisioning, and we wanted to see it before it left the shipyard. It is really hard to comprehend how enormous this rig is!

Happy 16th Birthday Taylor!

2009-09-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

Flashback Friday

2009-08-21T02:06:00.000-07:00

Wedding memories.....cutting the cake. Oh yeah...check out the chocolate creation...a Sandy Huckabee original!

Ubin encounter

2009-08-20T00:59:00.000-07:00

I recently went to Ubin with my Singaporean friend, Valerie Tan. We rode bikes up to the north coast of the island, where we found this Sea Goddess Shrine. Valerie later learned from her Taoist mum that the Sea Goddess had been placed there to protect the coast from mischief-making demons who are roaming about during the "hungry ghost festival".

Mirror, Mirror

2009-08-20T00:53:00.000-07:00

The Singapore Botanic Gardens....it is kind of a "fun house" effect, but we got everyone in the picture!

Farewell to Loren....

2009-08-12T01:57:00.000-07:00

Connie's niece, Loren, leaves Singapore Saturday AM, and I just wanted to say what a delight she has been! Glad we could share some adventures, and much love and happiness from me to you, sweetie!

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009....

2009-08-12T01:49:00.000-07:00

I'm smiling...Brad arrives in 14 hours...he is, at this moment, waiting for his connecting flight from Moscow to Singapore. We figured out the other day that he will have flown around the world this year! First trip to Singapore he flew west from LR. This trip he is flying east over Europe and Russia. I'm so happy to be here for this new phase in his life, a chef in Asia!

Happy Birthday Singapura!!

2009-08-08T23:23:00.000-07:00

Flags, banners, and billboards are up everywhere you look.....everyone celebrates National Day in Singapore! We'll be down at Marina Bay later tonight to enjoy the fireworks.

Flashback Friday

2009-08-07T06:14:00.001-07:00

Our first anniversary was March 16, 2007; and we spent it in Bali. As you can see, it was a trip full of memories.....what a great way to commemorate this day! Love our life, and I love my man!

2009-08-04T00:52:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox postcard

National Day practice

2009-08-03T05:53:00.000-07:00

Heidi and Ana with the Singapore Lion mascot.

These balloons were floating above Marina Bay.

Awesome fireworks at the end of the show!

Huey helicopters with a giant Singapore flag.

Crowds lined up along Marina Bay to watch the show.

The weeks prior to National Day are fun because the country hosts "practice" sessions which are actually a mini show. You can head down to Marina Bay and see everything from jets doing a fly-by to a fabulous fireworks show. I went Saturday night with Heidi and Ana and caught the preview.

Flashback Friday

2009-07-30T22:24:00.001-07:00

Stan and I in the perfect beach vacation picture; white sand, blue ocean, and a cold, fruity drink in hand!

The whole gang....Scott, Kathy, Ronnie, Betsy, Val, and Stan on the dock at "Lands End".

First of all I must credit Camille with the idea of "Flashback Friday". Every Friday she posts a picture from her family's past. This is my first post....

Stan and I were married in March of 2006. We didn't have a honeymoon because he was living and working in Houston, and I was still in Arkansas. I moved to Houston in July, and in September we gathered best friends Ronnie and Betsy Penney, and brother and sis-in-law Scott and Kathy Christopher and went to Belize for a holiday! We were on an island off the coast of Belize. The streets were all sand, no cars...just golf carts! We rented a 6-person golf cart and explored the island. We went literally to the end of the road to a resort called "Lands End", where we took these amazing pictures.

National Day

2009-07-29T23:14:00.001-07:00

Singapore will celebrate it's 44th National Day on August 9th. This year the theme is "Come together; every heart reaching out, every hand reaching up." How awesome is that? I love that Singaporeans honor their unique ethnic backgrounds, but also celebrate the fact that they are one nation, coming together!

Liverpool comes to Singapore

2009-07-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Juan came through for the "lads" this time by organizing an outing to the Liverpool vs. Singapore football match. As you can see, there was plenty of foolishness before, during, and after the match. We had a bus chartered to get us there, open seating on the south end of the stadium, and smuggled in refreshments to sustain us! We were all reminded of college football games....except it was 85 degrees! Liverpool won the match 5 to nil, and we learned "You'll never walk alone!"

Chaing Mai...super shoppers!

2009-07-26T22:33:00.001-07:00

In front of our hotel...left to right..Heidi, Ana, Loren (with Tracy), and Joyce.

Tuk-Tuk, the fastest way to get around!!!

Heidi and Ana.....ooooo, sparkly things!

Scoping out the purse shop.

Full bags=happy girls!

Of course we had to shop while in Chiang Mai....we are women, and there were bargains to be found. You may (or may not, but I'm going to tell you anyway) be wondering about my references to Tracy in the pictures. Our friend Tracy was supposed to go with us, but had to cancel at the last minute. We really missed her, but bought a "Tracy doll" and took her with us everywhere so she could still enjoy the trip! So, all the group photos include Tracy...kind of like "where's Waldo?" try to spot her!

Elephant rides...highly over-rated!!

2009-07-26T22:07:00.001-07:00

I know the picture is a bit blurry, but it is really hard to hold the camera still while riding on a moving elephant! Check out the facial expressions!

Sure, we are all smiles now....

This little guy was painting a picture with his trunk! It turned out to be a tree, and I bought the picture...what a great souvenir.

Bath time, the elephants really enjoyed this!

At the entrance to the elephant sactuary. Left to right..front..Heidi, Connie (holding Tracy), and Ana. Back...Valerie, Loren (peeking out), and Joyce.

I was the only one on this trip who had ridden an elephant, so that was a priority. I guess you want to experience it at least once....anyway, comfort is not a word one would associate with an elephant ride! You sway from side to side, then feel like you will be pitched over his head when you are going downhill...hanging on for dear life is necessary. Oh well, mark that one off the "bucket list" girls!

Still Catchin up....Chaing Mai, Thailand

2009-07-26T21:49:00.001-07:00

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Rajvoravihara in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The Naga Stairs...309 of em leading up to the temple.

Same picture...takin in 1967 by my dad!

Naga stairs....another pic by my dad, way cool, huh?

This is my dad, Hoover Herbert.

Ok, bear with me while I get a little sentimental. I recently visited Chaing Mai, Thailand with a group of my girlfriends. My dad had also been to Chaing Mai in 1967, while he was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. I went through his old slides and found these pictures taken during that time. We visited the same temple, and took virtually the same pictures! We lost my dad almost 5 years ago, and I have to admit, standing in that place, knowing he had been there was really awesome. I just wish I could call him and talk to him about the experience! Everyone out there, call your daddies right now......

A Costa Rican Sunset

2009-07-22T01:59:00.000-07:00

ENJOY!

Back to Costa Rica........Steamin

2009-07-22T01:33:00.000-07:00

Share the road, amigo!

This is the trail....see the actual volcano...way off in the distance?

A "volcanocito", or mini volcano with lava and ash.

Bubbling mud pots.

A steam vent, yes, that water is actually boiling!

Have I mentioned what a wonderful, understanding, patient husband I have? I REALLY wanted to go to a volcano while we were in Costa Rica, and nobody else did. The kids elected to stay at the resort and chill by the pool for the day, so Stan graciously agreed to accompany me to the Rincon Volcano National Park. Road signage is not a big budget item in Costa Rica, so you come to an intersection and basically guess which way you should go.....we guessed wrong 3 times. 4 hours later, we arrive at the park....did I mention it was really hot? And the last 10K was a dirt road? And we got behind a cattle drive?.....only to be informed that we couldn't hike up to the volcano because it was too late in the day..4 hours up and 4 hours back, senor! So we hiked through the National Park on a trail which led us past steam vents, mud pots, and baby volcanos. I absolutely loved it...Stan is still trying to decide what I have to do to make that one up to him! Love that man!

Solar Eclipse in Singapore....News Flash!

2009-07-22T01:15:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a bit like Linus today. As you can see, the much anticipated solar eclipse that blacked out much of Asia today was a wash in Singapore! Do any of my fellow boomers out there remember the series of cartoons where Linus is so excited about the solar eclipse, and Lucy is full of dire warnings of "burning your eyes out" by looking at it? Linus devises a way to view it by poking a hole in a piece of paper, and letting the light shine on a second piece of paper.....anyway, eclipse day comes, Linus is standing in the rain, holding his 2 sheets of paper, and Lucy is standing in the doorway calling him a blockhead! Well, I was standing in the rain this morning, just to capture this special moment in history to share with you.......Singapore's Solar Eclipse!!!!

Costa Rica....Surfin

2009-07-21T07:04:00.000-07:00

Place your feet just so....

If only the math teacher had held their attention this well!

30 minutes of instructions, and they are ready to give it a go.

Last minute pointers....

Good job, Grant!

Spoke at little too soon!

Success!!!!!!

Grant and Carson took surfing lessons while we were in Costa Rica. Our beach was sheltered=no waves, so we ventured down the coast to Tamarindo Beach. We found surf shops and schools galore, a beach bar for Stan, and shopping for Rachel and I. It was a great day for everyone!

Costa Rica...Swingin

2009-07-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

Last minute instructions....are we sure about this?

Stan gets hooked up to the zip line

Carson showin out.....zippin upside down!

Is that a smile or a grimace on Grant's face?

Safe at last!!!! Back on the platform.

Ok, the family that plays together, stays together...right? "We" (me) decided to try the zip-line-canopy-tour-tree-top-adventure-thingy! We traveled from platform to platform, through the tree tops in harnesses attached to zip-lines. It was lots of fun, and we even spotted howler monkeys lazing in the trees.

Catchin up...May 2009

2009-07-21T02:13:00.000-07:00

We flew back to the US on May 15th. Carson's graduation was on the 16th, and due to 2 weeks of rain, the ceremony was moved in doors. You know the drill, each graduate receives "x number of tickets"...anyway, I didn't attend, so no photos! Stan assures me, yes, he did get the diploma. Congratulations Carson, we are so very proud of you!

Happy Birthday Tammy!

2009-07-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

First of all I must wish our beautiful Tammy Christopher-Spillett a glorious birthday. I know she is having a blast, because she is in Hawaii! Tammy is coming back to Singapore in October with her friend Kirsten.....can't wait!

Catchin Up with the Christophers.....

2009-07-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have been thoroughly chastised for getting behind in my blogging...sorry Sarah! Thank you for the prod, and here is a quick update on Christopher events of the last 3 months....hang on, they have been busy ones.

Goin Home......

2009-05-13T15:39:00.001-07:00

Stan and I will be saying "goodbye" to Singapore for 3 weeks. We are goin home for a much-anticipated holiday. Carson is graduating from Malvern High School on Saturday, so we have celebrations to attend! We are also going to spend a week in Costa Rica while home, and plan to scope out retirement locations.....more on that later. My next blog will be from the good 'ol U.S.A.!

Birthday Greetings

2009-05-05T15:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my favorite fellow Tai-Tai, Tracy Hunt! Have a good one girlfriend! Lookin forward to our next adventure in Thailand.

Biking, Birds, Beasts, and Bouquets....

2009-05-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

Biking through the jungle at Pulau Ubin.

Pink Flamingos at the Jurong Bird park

Orangutans hangin' out at the Singapore Zoo

And of course, banks of beautiful orchids at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

We have so enjoyed our time with Scott and Kathy! As you can see, the Singapore Grand Tour is always modified to fit the attendees. We had to say good bye last night, but there are already plans for a "part 2". We hope to stay in this part of the world for awhile longer, so get your name on the list!

Thailand with Scott and Kathy

2009-05-02T19:55:00.001-07:00

Mornings would find us lounging on the beach, sipping a cool one under a big umbrella.

Afternoons.....a cool one at the local pub.

So as not to give the impression we are totally worthless, lazy, pub-crawling bums.....we did rent motorcycles and zip around the island.....here is a beautiful waterfall we discovered.

A typical street in Koh Samui....note the hard-working local on the left!

Evel Knievel and biker chick!

Day 4 of construction...

2009-05-02T19:49:00.001-07:00

As you can see, it is really starting to look like a nest! I have to take the pictures before the sun comes up, because my friend starts his workday at first light.

New Neighbors

2009-04-29T23:57:00.001-07:00

It may just look like a wad of leaves to you.......but to this little guy it will be home sweet home. He has been working diligently for the last 2 days, adding bits to this nest in my lemon tree. Can't wait to see the finished product, and maybe even some "grandbirds"!

More Christophers on the island.

2009-04-28T20:56:00.000-07:00

We have been so happy to have Scott and Cathy visit us in Singapore. We have been doing the "Singapore Grand Tour" with them and having a blast! We just got back from a weekend in Thailand (more blogging on that later), and they are off to Malacca today. Don'tcha want to come visit too?

Good bye to Brad...

2009-04-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

I've had to say good bye to Brad, but I'm happy to report that he is actively seeking employment in Singapore! Keep your fingers crossed for him, I know first-hand what a great chef he is!

Pulau Ubin and beyond!

2009-04-28T20:11:00.000-07:00

"Bumboats" lined up to take you over to the island.

Spicy seafood, washed down with lots of cold beer!

The elusive Hornbill.

I love finding new places to take people when they visit Singapore. Several of our friends had been recommending Pulau Ubin, an island just 10 minutes from Singapore, but at least 100 years back in time! It is a small village that thrives on the "city folk" tourist trade by providing good, fresh seafood and bikes for rent. No kidding! That is all you do over there, but it is jungle and quite a change from busy, metropolitan Singapore. Brad, Stan, and I spent a lovely Sunday afternoon with friends hiking and enjoying a huge, family-style seafood lunch.

More Cambodia Bayon and Ta Phrom

2009-04-12T17:28:00.001-07:00

Brad and I at the South Gate to Bayon Temple....darn bus!!

The famous "enigmatic Bayon smile".

Tracy, Connie, Val and Brad.

Ta Phrom temple where the huge tree roots were left to illustrate how the jungle had totally engulfed the temple.

Ta Phrom temple.

You may be getting tired of posts from Cambodia..sorry! We had such an amazing time here exploring these temples from the 11th century Khmer civilization. These 2 temples were great because they were so different. Bayon was once a walled city, so has gates with massive carved stone faces and lines of soldiers leading up to it. The temple has 5 towers with faces carved on each side. They are said to represent the ruler, and allowed him to watch all sides of his kingdom at once. You can see that the faces are carved out of huge blocks of stone, and you can only wonder how the artisans fit each piece together.

Ta Phrom was featured in the "Tomb Raider" movie, and has been left to the jungle. It really helps you imagine what the early french explorers found when they first stumbled upon the ruins. Also what great efforts have gone into restoring them. Giant trees still grow throughout the temple, their roots in many cases holding the walls together.

Kmer Food

2009-04-04T21:13:00.000-07:00

Chicken Amok, don't you love the bowl? Several meals were served in folded banana leaves...no dishes to wash!!!

Barbeque pork, with HOT pepper dipping sauce.

Oh yes, a cold Angkor beer to wash it all down. This tiny bottle was $1.00, and happy hour lasted all day, buy one get one free!

The "Happy Special Pizza" was recommended by the Lonely Planet guide book. You have to guess what the secret ingredient was that made it "special!"

Cambodia

2009-04-04T20:56:00.001-07:00

Our first day in Cambodia was spent at Angkor Wat, a temple built by the ancient Khmer people. Angkor Wat is
a world UNESCO site and listed in the book, "1,000 Places to See Before You Die." It had huge towers, very graphic bas-relief of battle scenes, and many carvings of graceful Apsara dancers. We spent several hours cllimbing and exploring these ruins.

Brad in Singapore

2009-03-28T01:59:00.000-07:00

We had lunch at Zam Zam....great Indian food...try the Chicken Murtabak!

Brad at the Fountain of Wealth

View of Marina Bay and Central business District from the Singapore Flyer.

In the center of the CBD.

Brad had been in Singapore for 4 days now, and we have been busy touring. We have done a walking tour of Boat Quay and the Colonial District, including a round on the Singapore Flyer. We did the "Hippo" bus tour, and even played golf Friday. Brad is in Indonesia today, playing golf with Stan, and tomorrow we fly out to Cambodia for 4 days! Keep watching the blog for more info....

King of the Jungle

2009-03-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

While we were at Steve and Jenny's we went to the Semenggoh Wildlife Center which is one of the few remaining places in the WORLD where you can see Orangutans in the wild. The big guy on the right here is Ritchie, the undisputed "King of the Jungle". It is hard to tell how massive he is, but believe me, that is a big zoom I used to capture this pic! No way do you get close to him. There was a momma and baby who were eating nearby, but the young males kept a healthy distance away. As a matter of fact, once when they got too rowdy, he turned and gave them a look that shut them up fast! Just like getting called down by any authority figure...even all the people watching hushed up!

Borneo...pt one.

2009-03-20T01:14:00.001-07:00

Our first night in Borneo, Jenny and Steve brought out the "tuok", a local rice wine. Jenny's mom makes an especially smooth, deadly version! Anyway, as you can see, we carried on the tradition started by the previous visitors (you know who you are!) and drank shots of Tuok on the back porch. Note Stan was confused and thought he was drinking "three-ok".

Belated Happy B'day

2009-03-20T01:10:00.000-07:00

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SIS-IN-LAW KATHY! SORRY ITS LATE, LAH! CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR VISIT IN APRIL!!!

2009-03-09T21:56:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Rainy Day...

2009-03-08T23:54:00.000-07:00

I know we have to have rain to support all the lush greeness....but enough already!

Birthday Blog....

2009-02-28T17:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Beth....hope you have a good one!

Rod Stewart

2009-02-28T16:53:00.001-08:00

Saturday night a big group of us went to the Rod Stewart concert. Ok, no groans out there! The man is 64 years old and still rocking! He sang for over 2 hours, had an awesome band and backup singers, and even had his 21 year old daughter come out and sing. For us baby-boomers it was a great concert.....for you younger ones...you know you love "Maggie Mae"!

Malacca

2009-02-27T22:54:00.000-08:00

Preferred mode of transport...decorated trishaw.

Old church from time of the Portugese rule in Malacca. Note the colorful Trishaws in the circle in front.

The gate to the fortress that once protected the harbor at Malacca. From the 1500's.

Artist on Jonker St. He is doing Batik painting on silk. We bought some beautiful paintings of orchids from this store.

My friend, Tracy Hunt, and I went on an overnight trip to Malacca, Malaysia on February 25th. I had heard about Malacca since moving to Singapore, and had always intended to go since it is a short bus ride (4 hours) there. Well, Tracy and I went to investigate pricing with a local tour company, found out how cheap and easy it was and signed up on the spot!

What a great trip it turned out to be! The town is full of history since Malacca is on the old "Spice Route" through Asia. Its history is basicly a series of occupations from the early 1500's! The architecture is varied, and shows Portugese and Dutch influence. The people have done an excellent job of restoring the old churches and government buildings and we covered all the highlights on foot and in one day!

"McDelivery"

2009-02-22T02:15:00.000-08:00

This picture is for Rachel! She loved the "McDelivery" here in Singapore, and tried in vain to get a picture of one of these guys when she was here. This guy is trying to look cool, delivering for McDonalds on a pink motorcycle!

Paul and Betty Helberg visit...

2009-02-16T21:53:00.000-08:00

Betty, Val, and Tracy cool off.....Tai-Tai style.

Betty gets a henna tattoo.

Stan, Betty, and Paul outside the "Long Bar". On our way up for a Singapore Sling!

We were so happy to welcome Paul and Betty Helberg to our home February 14th-16th. They had just completed a holiday in Malaysia, and "dropped by" Singapore on their way home. You know I am considered the "official" tour guide for all visitors to Singapore.....so.....we did what became known as the Singapore Death March tour! Stan was teasing me, because there is so much to see and do that 2 days was stressing me out! Really! We did find a happy compromise; the guys did a pub-crawl-taste test, and the girls did bargain-hunting-shop-til-you-drop. Anyway, we throughly enjoyed their visit.....here's to another Arkansas family discovering Singapore!! Oh yes, and here's to the discovery of another Tai-Tai..you know who you are!

Thaipussan Little India

2009-02-11T01:20:00.000-08:00

The temple in Little India where the devotees begin their 4.5k trek.

This devotee was dancing! Note the 108 swords piercing his body, and the oranges hanging by hooks from his waist.

Thousands of devotees and their supporting families make this trek each year.

Near the end and exhausted....

This devotee is pulling an altar by ropes attached to hooks through his back. His cheeks are pierced.

This man has cups of milk suspended by hooks on his chest, his cheeks are pierced, and he is wearing shoes made of nails.

In the prep area, this devotee is having swords pierced into his body prior to his trek.

Thaipussan is an important religious celebration in Little India. Each year thousands of devotees begin the celebration with a 45 day fast and prayer time, and end it with a 4.5k trek between 2 temples in Little India. Devotees have their bodies pierced with swords and hooks, their cheeks and tongues pierced closed with rods, wear shoes with nails, and often hang limes or oranges on the hooks. The astonishing thing is, there is NEVER a drop of blood shed! I've seen it myself, and the pictures prove it. This is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen!

The Honeymoon!!!

2009-02-11T00:50:00.001-08:00

Beth getting a henna tattoo in Little India.

Cruise on the Imperial Cheng Ho.

"Double Happiness"

Me and Beth at the Bird Park. These flamingos were made out of flowers...really cool.

Another kind of bird....Feeding the Rainbow Lorries at the Bird Park.

Yummy and colorful lunch at "Seafood at the Pier" on Boat Quay. Stan tried the Barbeque Stingray, but was not too impressed!

Beth in a "Stanwich", heading up to the Long Bar for a Singapore Sling!

Beth at the Merlion Mosiac.

Stan says "I AM smiling!"

The honeymooners at the Botanic Gardens.

Stan and Beth Herbert arrived in Singapore on January 16th for their honeymoon. I was so excited to finally get them here, after 2 years of dropping not-so-subtle hints. We had so much fun, and really covered alot of Singapore in one week. I think between the 3 of us, we took 500 pictures, and made memories that will last a lifetime! Stan and I love them both, and are so glad that Beth is now officially a member of our family! You did good big bro! In case you are totally confused....my brother and my husband are both named Stan, and when you have a picture taken between the 2 of them we call it a "Stanwich"!

Catchin Up....still!

2009-02-11T00:36:00.000-08:00

Me and Brad at the airport...

Grant and his new truck....one happy guy!

Tammy and Izzie.

Carson, our senior.....go Leopards!

Rachel with Lyle and Lola

And of course...our Little Angel!

Stan's one request from my trip back to the U.S. at Christmas was pictures and kisses from the kids and puppies. Well, here are the pics, and if any of you are dog owners, you know all about the kisses! The kids were a little harder to catch, but it had been 6 months since I'd seen them, so they didn't really have a choise!

Catchin Up!

2009-02-11T00:31:00.000-08:00

Me and my big brother..the happy groom... right before his Christmas Eve wedding! Beth was hiding out, making herself beautiful,

Catchin Up!!

2009-02-11T00:17:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I am WAY behind in my blogging! Sorry folks, but this Tai-Tai's life has been very busy. Quick update.....
I found out in December my big brother was FINALLY going to tie the knot with our beloved Beth. On Christmas Eve! The email was short and sweet "By the way, Beth and I are getting married on Christmas Eve". Typical Man!! This prompted a call to mom, and a mutual decision to attend the wedding at all costs! Last minute airfare from Singapore is not a good idea, but off I went....thru Minneapolis!
The wedding was beautiful, and I now have a new sister! Christmas was in Austin, then off to Arkansas for 2 weeks of visiting.
I returned to Singapore on January 14th, and right on my heels Stan and Beth arrived for their 1 week honeymoon! Just call me the Singapore tour guide. Loved every minute of their visit, it was just WAY too short!
Stan and Beth have been gone for 2 weeks now, and life is back to normal for us....so I'll try to keep this blog more current...

Koh Samui Full Moon Party

2008-12-20T23:26:00.000-08:00

Dancing, glow-in-the-dark body paint, and a full moon.

"Full Moon Party" refreshments....each plastic pail had a pint of alcohol, a mixer of some kind, and a can of Red Bull. The friendly bartenders mixed it all together and gave you straws to drink it with! Everyone was carrying around plastic pails....no glass on the beach!

"Do not disturb" sign on our bungalow!! How cute is this?

Sunrise from our front deck....

The view from our "Beach-front Bungalow".....this is how you spend the winter months folks!!

On December 11th, Stan and I went to Koh Samui, Thailand for a 4 day get away. We were joined by our friends, Joyce and Martin. We rode motorcycles around the island; took long, slow walks down the beach, went to the "Full Moon Party" on Koh Phagan, and even got in 18 holes of golf! It was a very relaxing weekend...loved it.

Dragon Boat Races at Boat Quay....

2008-11-26T21:24:00.000-08:00

It was a dark and stormy night.....actually, it was 2:30 in the afternoon! As you can see, there was quite a storm brewing on the east side of the island! It's hard to believe, but we just had a sprinkle of rain on our side of the river. These pictures were taken from the comfort of the "Penney Black" Pub on the Singapore River.

Dragon Boats waiting for the next crew. One of the crew beats the cadence on the drum so the paddlers can stay together.

This boat is heading for the starting point, as another race is going on in the background.

A photo finish in this heat.....you can see the boat behind #4 is barely a "nose" (snout??) ahead!!

As the sun went down, we were rewarded with a full rainbow arcing across the sky!

On November 22nd, we made our way down to Boat Quay to watch the Dragon Boat races. Joni Plomp's husband, Laurence, is a member of the American team..so we went to cheer on team USA! We also caught the final rugby match of the season on the telly! The New Zealand "All Blacks" upset the Aussie team. A fun day of Dragon Boats, Rugby, Tiger beer and pub grub!

Tour of a Wet Market....

2008-11-17T19:29:00.000-08:00

Fresh flower shop. You can buy orchids for less than an dollar a stem!

Freshly made tou fou, sold by the block....also sacks of noodles in the back.

Beautiful, fresh veggies!!

Artfully displayed papayas and mangos.

Fresh fish stall. You must arrive early for the fresh fish. These stalls close by 11:00.

After shopping at the wet market, we had lunch at the "Hawker Center". Pictured here: Beef Kway teoh, fried carrot cake, fried tou fou, otah, chicken rice, won tons, and steamed buns (pau).

My Singaporean friend, Valerie Tan, took a group of us to a wet market for a question-and -answer tour. She explained the different veggies to us and even showed us how to gently haggle for the best price! The wet market is really the very best place to get fresh produce. I have a certain stall I go to for my fruit, and the owner always picks out the best, ripest fruit for me. He always asks me if the fruit is for today or tomorrow...

After the shopping, we had lunch at a hawker center. That was a learning experience too! I have a few things I've discovered at hawker centers, but many more I've been afraid to try. We sampled several new things, and it was all yummy! Sometimes it is best not to know what the ingredients are....oh well! Be adventurous!

Barclay'sSingapore Open

2008-11-17T18:55:00.001-08:00

The leader board at the 18th green.

Our view of the 18th green. We stood right behind this sign and had the best seats in the house for the final hole. See the crowd in the background? They were all following the leaders around the course. Note also my giant umbrella....compliments of Stan's great putting!

Ernie Els from South Africa blasts one out of the sand on the 18th. He ended up in a tie for 2nd with Padraig Harrington (Ireland) at -5.

Jeev Singh from India lining up his last putt. He won the tournament at -6.

Phil Mickelson at the 9th hole. He ended up -1 for the tourament.

On Sunday, November 16th, Stan and I went to the Barclay's Singapore Open. This was the first time I had been to a professional gold tournament. Phil Mickelson was the best U. S. player there, and was one stroke from the leader going in to the last 9 holes. He ended up well off the lead, but we did get to see him make an amazing putt on the 9th hole.

It was a very hot, sunny day. Stan and I got TOASTED, but he won us 2 enormous umbrellas

putting at the Tiger Beer booth. He had to sink 3 putts to win the umbrella....it was hot...we were burned...he came through for Tai-Tai!!

Birthday Greetings...

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HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY GRANT!!! Celebrate in moderation please!!

Girl's Night Out...

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October 30th my friends Sarah, Joyce, and Tracy and I had a "girl's night out". We had dinner at Capella's at Chijmes, then went to the Raffles hotel to see the play The Blonde Bombshell's of 1943.

At the theatre. I guess Joyce and Tracy were our very own "Blonde Bombshells"!

Take-away juice...

2008-11-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

This is one of the unique things about Singapore....take-away juice. There are these stalls where you can get fresh fruit juice made. You pick out which fruit you want, or a combination of fruits and veggies, they throw it in a juicer, and voila! fresh, yummy juice. When you ask for it "to go", or "take-away" as they say here...they put it in a plastic bag that has handles on it, give you a straw, and there you go...take-away! My favorite is watermellon juice, which I am drinking here. Oh yeah, they put hot coffee in these bags too....it looks REALLY gross...brown liquid...plastic bag..ICK!

Great eastern Women's 10k

2008-10-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

October 26th was the Great Eastern Women's 10k. I've just started running again, so though I'm no longer very fast, I'm happy to report that I improved my time from my last 10k. There were 5,559 women in this 10k....1,444 were in the "masters" category. "Masters" is a politically correct term for "Old Chicks". I was 318th in the masters, with a time of 1:05.41.

Barbeque at the Henderson's

2008-10-25T23:09:00.000-07:00

John and Jane...our lovely hosts!

Joyce and Martin

Stan and Val

Where's the food???

Grilled fish and ribs, and sausages.....MAN FOOD!!

Jenny and Joyce...yum...grilled asparagus!

Saturday night we all gathered poolside at John and Jane Henderson's condo for a barbeque. What can I say? Good friends, good food...... we are blessed!

Move over "Alamo Draft House"!!!

2008-10-25T22:45:00.000-07:00

The "Gold Class Theatre....check it out:

You order the tickets on line, and the seats are assigned to you. When you get to the theatre, your tickets are given to you in a black envelope. Each theatre has only 30 seats.

Each seat is a man-sized recliner, and you get a polar fleece blanket in case the theatre is too cold for you. Tracy perusing the menu...and yes, they do have adult beverages!!

Kicked back and ready to watch the chick flick "Nights in Rodanthe".

The first time Stan and I visited my brother Stan in Austin he took us to this really cool movie theatre called the "Alamo Draft House". It is a regular theatre, but you can order food and adult beverages to enjoy along with the movie. Well, we are from Arkansas, and that was about the coolest thing we had ever seen.....until Singapore's version...the Gold Class Theatre! The only problem we've discovered is when we take people who haven't quite gotten over their jet-lag....the chairs are great for napping!

Around Singapore Colonial District

2008-10-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

From across the Singapore River...lt to rt...new Supreme Court Building (the flying saucer), the old Supreme Court Building (green patina tower), The Swissotel (tallest building in Singapore), the Victoria Hall Clock Tower, and the large red-tile roof building is the Asian Civilizations Museum.

From Marina Bay. The "Merlion", The Fullerton Hotel, and the CBD. The Fullerton is a 5 star hotel which was the post office during the Colonial times.

St. Andrews Anglican Church.

Central Business District with old shophouses along the Singapore River in the foreground. Great contrast of "Old and New".

The Raffles Hotel, birthplace of the "Singapore Sling"

Singapore's Colonial District is centered around the mouth of the Singapore River. Singapore was on the old "Spice Route" through Asia, so all commerce was conducted at the river. The old colonial buildings have been beautifully preserved, and most are in use today. As you can see, Singapore has blended the old with the new in its financial district by preserving the old shophouses along the river and building its new skyscrapers right along side them.

Tai-Tai Toes

2008-10-22T20:52:00.000-07:00

Who would ever have thought 4 years ago that I would have a weekly appointment to get a mani/pedi? Not me! And of course, we must have hand-painted flowers added...after all none of my shoes are closed and every good Tai-Tai has to have pretty toes! (I must amend that...my running shoes are not sandals)

Bible Study Girls

2008-10-21T19:39:00.001-07:00

A big "Shout Out" to the beautiful women in my bible study....especially Rosemary who is leaving us (you will be missed, girlfriend!) and Jessica with her cute little baby bump!! You ladies are the BEST!

Golf in Malaysia....

2008-10-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

The welcoming committee......monkeys on the roof of the Club House at Desaru, Malaysia.

Beautiful golf course by the ocean, beautiful ,sunny day....

See the muddy spot in the middle of the fairway??? Guess what that small white dot is......

My ball, of course, in the only mud on the entire course!!

Stan and Steve

Steve, Stan, and Jenny putting on the 17th hole.

On October 19th we caught the 30 minute ferry to Malaysia to play golf at Desaru Country Club. We had a great time, but as usual, golf is a major challenge for me! I keep thinking I will get better, but it is a very frustrating game! Oh well, as they say, my cup if always "half-full" so I will keep at it...maybe a few more lessons.....

The monkeys are always fun. They will sneak up to your golf cart and steal whatever they can. They are not afraid of people, and equate a golf cart with snacks, so everything has to stay zipped up in your bag or it is gone for good! They also hang around the Club House looking for free food.

Singapore and Beyond

2008-10-11T23:05:00.001-07:00

Magnet Cove Homecoming

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Taylor and Carson

These guys should be grinning....they are with the most beautiful girl at Magnet Cove High School!!

Last Friday night was Homecoming at Magnet Cove High School in Arkansas. Our grand-daughter, Taylor Dixon, was in the homecoming court. As you can see in the first photo, she scored a "perfect 10!!" We couldn't agree more.....love you Taylor!

Pink Ribbon Walk

2008-10-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

Tracy and I before the Pink Ribbon Walk. Central Business district and the Singapore River in the background.

I think we had some "hashers" in the crowd!! Husbands getting into the spirit of the "Pink Ribbon Walk".

And we're off!!

Tracy entering a tunnel under the road at the start of the walk.

Crossing the bridge, half-way point.

A steady stream of walkers on the opposite side of the river.

Stan the "support team" cheers us on from inside Brewerkz. Yes, that is a horse racing form in his hands. He studied while we walked!

On October 4th, my friend Tracy and I participated in the Pink Ribbon Walk for breast cancer research. There were over 2,500 women, men and children in the walk. We started at the Raffles landing site on the Singapore River, and walked 5k total all along the river's edge. You can imagine a mile-long line of people in pink shirts caused quite a few comments! It was for a great cause, and we did enjoy a beautiful evening out with our guys afterwards.

Meet Daisy Duke....

2008-09-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

Joyce and Martin have a new baby! Her name is Daisy, and what a cutie she is.

Golf

2008-09-29T18:47:00.001-07:00

The NSRCC golf course on the East Coast.

The dreaded ball-eating pond on the 3rd hole!

Stan chips on to the green.

Sunday afternoon is our relaxation time. We wander around Clarke Quay people watching, if the weather is bad we go to the movie, or we golf. Those of you who golf know how RELAXING it is!! Ok, I took lessons last March so I wouldn't be a "Golf Widow", but really people, I stink! It is an adventure every time I go. Stan is very patient with me, because he really wants me to like it, and he gives me helpful pointers like: Keep your head down, and scoop the ball...but still, I really stink! Jenny, come home!!! I need my golfing buddy back!!!

Another Saturday Night......

2008-09-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

The best premo margaritas in Singapore. On the rocks, and by the jug!!

The friendly and efficient staff

Our favorite restaurant.....Margaritas!

Last night we walked to our favorite restaurant, Margaritas, for dinner. Not the one at Dempsy Road, the original location on Faber Drive. We love this resaurant! We've gone so often that we have our own table for 2 in the corner. If I don't call ahead and reserve it, Rosa fusses at me. She says "Miss Valerie, you must call so I can hold your table!" The staff is so sweet, Stan and I never look at menus any more; we walk in, sit at our table, and the chips and salsa and a pitcher of premium margaritas arrive! We do share fahitas too..... Anyway, for those who have visited us, enjoy this trip down memory lane.....for those who have yet to visit, a teaser!

The "A List"....Our Visitors to Singapore. Don't you want to join?

2008-09-26T23:37:00.000-07:00

Carson, Langston, and Vernon on the MRT.

Shirley and Viv at the Bayon temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Betsy, Stan, and Val at the "Villa Bali".

Rachel and Carson at the Raffles Hotel.

Stan with Taylor, Tammy, and Steve at Clarke Quay.

Grant at the Southern most point of Asia. Sentosa Island.

Now, we know everyone wants to come to Singapore to visit. You have ALL promised! These intreped folks have all survived the 18+ hour flight and come to see us. We promise to show you a great time...hey, I've had lots of practice as tour-guide....so, what are you waiting for?

2008-09-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Ok, my first attempt with this blog-thingy! Many thanks to my friend, Camille, who spent all afternoon with me yesterday setting this up.....no way could I do all the background-picture- music stuff! So, I thank her for making sure I don't have a "boring blog".
The pictures are from a trip to Hanoi and Sapa, Vietnam. What a great experience this was! I went with 15 lovely women on this AWA sponsored trip. We spent 5 days exploring the ethnic villages of North Vietnam. As you can see, this is a place of astounding beauty, where the people live as they have for 500 years. All the work is done with hand tools, all the labor is manual, including weaving and dying material for clothes. The children are precious, the people happy and hard-working.

Christopher Columbus move over... Announcing the CHRISTOPHER World Tour!

2008-09-24T21:57:00.000-07:00

We now have our first family Blog... Come and join the fun!