I am back

I am back and will be back to blogging more regularly- this is my April resolution. Let's see if we can get to June!

Holiday in Cambodia

 

Ok so no real excuse for the lack of blogs- actually I have tried to blog but my trusty Windows Live Writer has been preventing me from including photos in my posts. Which for me is so sad.

Big news from my end- Christmas and New Year in Singapore- it was lovely. Alan and I got a midget Christmas tree and managed to decorate it with 100 lights.

We hosted a Christmas Eve party and got so good at making martinis that we did it again on New Years Eve- it was lovely. Lots of friends and more martinis. Although if you can believe it we didn't get to the champagne so we will have to plan better next year :).

I am now addicted to Heroes- which is the new NBC (I think) show. It is so great and I am sad to admit that I ask everyone I meet now, "Do you watch Heroes"- and make people chant- "Save the cheerleader, Save the world".  Of course Hiro is my favorite and I am as excited as he is that in the future he will carry a sword. :)

Latest BIG news is that my parents came to visit and that was very fun. We ate and drank and also holidayed in Cambodia. Lots of temples and when I get my links organized I will upload the photos so you can all share in the O' Donovan family experience at Angkor.

Climate Friendly

http://www.climatefriendly.com/offset-air.php

I just got this website forwarded to me- I think I have seen it before. It is an interesting idea. I need to learn more about how I can offset my own pollution and save us all from the effects of global warming. I suspect I will definitely have to do a better job of keeping my plants alive.

A little bit of culture

After a great morning paddle, I met Alan and headed for a little bit of culture at the www.nationalmuseum.sg

I was told that it was originally built at the Raffles Library- after an extended renovation the museum was opened at the beginning of December and the space is beautiful. The old buildings have been maintained and upgraded so that there is a fabulous glass ceiling and a deep basement gallery- although we were there for the 'culture' we headed straight for food. I can't live without it for very long. (I also still believe that you can judge much of a museum by the coffee shop and the gift shop)

After a sandwich and a cup of tea, I joined the kids in wrapping Alan with magnetized wires and tubing. A new form of bondage that this totally above boardIt was hilarious and the kids, who we didn't know were totally into it. They must of known he needed some containing!

The actual fixed exhibitions are a little lacking- they have stuck with some main themes that 'define' Singapore. The one I thought was quite bizarre was the Roti Prata display with a full multi-media presentation on how to make it. I knew food was important to this island nation, and it is food one of the things I enjoy most about Singapore, but it still strikes me as odd that it is captured in the National Museum. I suppose we aren't allowed to display the latest efforts of the local taxidermist anymore...the building is grand and a lovely place to wander around.

Crunchy Granola Christmas in the Office

Can you imagine- the Christmas carols have started- I don't have anything on Sophie's Christmas madness in Manila- but there are carols blasted through the city stereo system as you walk down Orchard Road. CRAZY

I thought that would be as bad as it would get here- but my colleague has just started playing Neil Diamond Christmas Carols. I don't know how I can make it through...

I need to look through my music collection and get better ammunition- it is only Dec 12, things need to get serious. Bing's Holiday Favourites may need to be dusted off as I go into Christmas carol war.

When it gets too much

I just plug into my ipod and listen to Seasons of Love and all the client requests, deadlines, conversations seem not to be quite so traumatic. Show tunes soothe the soul I tell you!

In fact I have Seasons of Love saved twice so it is like it loops...what a nerd. I am surprised how good the song makes me feel, as there are a ton of Cole Porter songs that make me want to tap dance way more! (HAHA- yes I am not joking). Enjoy!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj7LRuusFqo

If you see me walking down the street listening to music- chances are it is showtunes- you know why? because it is the most ridiculous thing- you have Oklahoma in your ears but the Bus 190 to catch. I love it.

5 months and finally chili crab craziness

Ang Mo Kio- smack in the middle of Singapore island- think tall residential with trees and big streets has the restaurant with the biggest crabs! Well technically they are not Ang Mo Kioian crabs or even Singapore crabs- they are big Sri Lankan crabs- UNBELIEVABLE!.

We had a collection of some fabulous 'starters' ribs, veges with chili and veges not with chili, fried tofu- sort of sweet..and then the crabs came out- OH MY GOODNESS! Black pepper, traditional chili and then the one that Melben Seafood  (海鲜螃蟹王) is famous for- beehon crab- which is much like crab in a milky buttery soup- sounds weird but it was fabulous.

 Thanks for taking us there Derrick!

Chicken Rice Balls and Irish Coffee-isn't that what you do in Melaka?

Three day weekend last weekend, so Alan and I headed to Melaka, Malaysia.

In full pursuit of the Nonya and Baba experience we arrived after a five hour bus ride and the munching of the salvia sucking Chinese Hock Hoe Seng Sesame buns.

Melaka was a little disappointing on arrival-lack of zoning and planning made me a little hesitant but the old part of town
- Jonker Street- was what we were looking for- little streets with the old Peranakan style homes are still intact.

We spent the first night in one of them-well the front part of the hotel was an old home, the rooms were in an addition which was disappointing but we soon got over that as charm or 'experience' was restored as when we came home at night- BATS- lots of them were all over the lobby ceiling. It was a free National Geographic experience- but we surrendered our 'backpacker' abilities and checked into the Marriott the next day.

We tried chicken rice balls and frozen ice with palm sugar, Chinese hot pot style satay, and more chicken rice - as well as the not so traditional delicacies of Irish Coffee in a Spanish bar!

It was fun not to be an organized city, things built on top of each other and just a little hectic. I like the heat, the call to prayer and the feeling of just being somewhere different. Can't wait for my next holiday.