Singapore

The last straw was walking past the health monitors positioned at passport control who had pointed temperature readers at us to get our body heat readings. Thankfully, we were just hot looking. Swine flu was as big deal here and they weren't messing around since most of the recent cases had been brought courtesy of visitors from the United States and Mexico.

Anyway, by the time we crawled out of the baggage terminal and were greeted by Dominique, it had taken us twenty-nine hours to get to Singapore. The kids were well behaved if not a wee bit smelly and sticky.


Mak and Jack passed out the minute we reached the condo so Do and I caught up and created an attack plan to entertain them for the next seven days. Although I was disappointed that Do's husband was stuck working in Australia, it was probably for the best. He wouldn't have to suffer our jet-lagged three AM awakenings and Dominique wouldn't have to feel torn about giving us all of her attention. He wasn't there! We had her al to ourselves.


Sunday was spent by the pool getting used to the 100 degree weather and ridiculous humidity and then walking through an Indian neighborhood and checking out Mustafa's: The most insane six story shopping plaza/fire trap that sold everything from Reebok shoes in the basement to electronics, medicine and freshly slaughtered goat meat on the third floor. The aisles were narrow. The place was overcrowded. You had to turn sideways to get passed people and the stroller didn't fit down most aisles. The only saving grace was that Makena had fallen asleep so I didn't have to worry about losing her. That would come later. I made it out of there with rice milk and a box of frosted flakes cereal.


Day two was spent at the Singapore zoo. The most grand, clean and beautiful zoo I have ever set foot in. The white tiger exhibit was something to behold. All the animals were active and not pacing like I often see in most other zoos. Do and I lost five pounds chasing after Makena all day because she wouldn't wait for us and kept running ahead. If that wasn't enough, after a full day at the zoo, we decided to cap it off with a visit to the night zoo to see nocturnal animals in action and to eat an amazing (zoo purchased) dinner of Laksa (a spicy coconut, noodle, seafood dish). The day was repleet with stops at spotless restrooms where I would cool Makena off by pouring water on her. Seriously, Singaporeans know how to keep public facilities clean.


Of course, none of my photographs correspond to any of the places I have mentioned because I forgot the battery to my camera. Do has promised to send me the ones she took and I am still trying to figure out how to get the ones Jack took with his phone onto this blog. These will have to do for now.

More adventures to come.

Is-loving Singapore.