Singapore- My New Favorite Place on the Planet

December 27th- 1:00 AM- The Hyatt - Delhi, India

Julie and I set out for Bangkok, Thailand late December 26, where we would get a connecting flight to Singapore about 11 AM the next morning. However, our ADVENTURES began when our flight in Delhi was canceled due to fog.

The only BEAUTY of the delay was the Hyatt. A five start hotel of pure bliss- involving never ending hot water, silk robes, and heaven-like mattresses. I wish I could say that we acted maturely when we arrived in our room, but no, we acted as KIDS. We couldn't help it- we jumped on the beds...they were so bounce worthy. You can't jump on the beds in India, it's like jumping on the floor. No fun. The only thing torturous about the experience was the 6 AM wake-up call to leave.





December 27th- Bangkok International Airport - 3:30 PM
Yes, it is true we missed our connecting flight to Singapore. We arrived in Bangkok about the time we would've originally arrived in Singapore. The gift of living in India, however, is that nothing phases me now. Yes. My flight was canceled and I had to repurchase a new one-way ticket to Singapore that was three times the cost of my round-trip ticket, but you know it's life. I would like to say we maintained our INTEGRITY and cool. The last flight out to Singapore that night was booked so we stayed an UNEXPECTED night in Bangkok in a nearby hotel.



December 27th- Outback Steakhouse- Bangkok - 8:oo PM

We decided to make the most of our extra time so we traveled about 30 minutes to the Siam Center to enjoy some beef and a bloomin' onion. The food was unbelievably DELICIOUS. Seriously it was a party in my mouth. Another earth shattering concept was the whole "free refills". Yummy. Yummy. Yummy.

December 28th- Bangkok International Airport- Starbucks- 5:00 AM

My PRECIOUS ... an iced caramel macchioto from the glorious Starbucks. Our luggage is checked and our boarding passes for Singapore are finally in hand!! We are about an hour from finally reuniting with our friend Chesi.

December 28th- Singapore- DAY ONE

The REUNION of being together was a little emotionally anti-climatic. Julie and I had this really dramatic running, hugging, screaming act, but Chesi and her brother went to the wrong terminal and we didn't seem them till about 15 minutes later. But none-the-less it was good to be together again!

We stayed with Chesi's FAMILY (her parents and brother) in their home. Chesi grew up in Singapore and so it was really special for her to have friends come and see where HOME was for her. We enjoyed Aunt Anne's southern hospitality and home cooking. She even did our laundry. We were pretty spoiled indeed.




December 29th- Singapore - DAY TWO

This was our first official full day in Singapore. So we decided what we would do what everyone who comes to Singapore does... they SHOP. So shopping we did. We also went to a lot of Starbucks when we needed a break.

Orchard Road is a very well-known road in Singapore where there is miles and miles and miles of malls! From Gap, to Hang Ten, to Borders, to Gucci- Singapore has it all. People travel to Singapore just to go shopping!! It was crazy fun. I am honestly not a huge shopper, but I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY enjoyed myself and had fun spending money!





December 30th -Singapore- DAY THREE

On day three we went SIGHTSEEING. We went on a small boat on the Singapore River, saw the Merlion, and went inside the Fullerton. It should've only taken us a few hours, but as girls we took it upon ourselves to take a million pictures and CAPTURE everything to last a lifetime.

So in the title I stated that Singapore is my new favorite place on the planet. It is the best of Asian culture (the hospitality and food) and the best of the Western culture (development, cleanliness, and efficiency) joined to make one BLISSFUL city. It has been called the New York of Asia. It is also an island, city, state, and country- who knew?






December 31st- Happy New Year- Singapore- DAY FOUR

We started the morning by attending a Chinese church service and following it up with delicious
chicken-rice from a nearby market. Then Chesi, Julie, and I decided to make one last trip to Starbucks and one last HEART-TO-HEART! It was really great to share together and know how to pray for each other his next 6 months.

We then came home and watched some movies with her family. We decided that we would rather stay in than go out- so we enjoyed a low-key evening in playing cards, listening to i-tunes, dancing, making chocolate chip cookies and drinking sweet tea. At midnight, we brought in New Year with sparkling grape juice and sitting on Chesi's kitchen floor SHARING about 2006 and making resolutions for 2007.

January 1st 2007- Leaving Singapore- Bound for Chiang Mai, Thailand

Any Grey's Anatomy Addicts out there?

Jonathan and Kelley got Grey's Anatomy season one for Christmas which means that "we" got Grey's Anatomy Season one for Christmas too!!

The first thing we did when we got back was watch it...I am automatically hooked!! I finally understand why it is the #1 Television show in America!!

Currently, we are about half way through season 2 (j & K- also addicted -bought season 2) and can't wait to finish it up!!! I am also really really really excited because you can buy season 3 of Grey's Anatomy on I-tunes for $35. I think Lindsey and I will have to start saving our pennies so that we can catch up and actually discuss the show with people in America!!!

Seriously, all I have been able to think about is surgery lately. We have watched a lot of episodes (22) in a row...its ridiculous!!!!!

Ok...so i figured out how to post pics. But i have had no motivation for the Singapore post...so please be patient. Sorry I have been so quiet on blogger. I guess in my free time instead of blogging I have been watching Grey's Anatomy!!!

Anybody else out there addicted?!!!

pics problem

I have been wanting to post but it continues to not let me post pictures. Is anyone else having this problem or is it just me. And does anyone know how to fix it?!!

HELP!

safe & sound in India and a little randomness

I arrived home a little bit before midnight yesterday (the 17th). It is good to be home. It's amazing to me how ugly and drab india looks after being away for so long. Even the busses and rickshaws seem dirtier and uglier than before...which sometimes I didn't think was possible.

My adjustment back has been good so far... it is really just great to be home. I spent most of today putting my house back together from the holiday rush and doing a deep clean. I also had the electrician come and fix several of our outlets. Later in the afternoon, I went to teach English and also got to meet a new member and potential new roomie today! Laura is really sweet and I think we are going to get along just great. So it was a great first day back...a little out and a little in.

My computer is finally back together tonight! In the busyness of the Christmas season, I didn't have time to put everything back on it! So now, I have finally have all my songs in itunes (PTL!) and I now have contacts in my Outlook...so now I can send out a newsletter. I guess I have to write one first before I can send it...its on my list of things to do on the weekend. Oh and I finally have all my pictures back now too... yay

Random. Did you know that apple came out with a new product? iphone. I love gadgets....it makes me really want this....Anyone wanna buy me one when i get back...ha ha

Random again. I watched American Idol tonight....it made me and my roommate laugh really hard... do they realize they are being made fun of??

Bittersweet- I'm going home

After 12 days of an unexpected extended vacation, I am going home. Today, I was able to pick up my NEW passport which now has a 6 month Indian visa so that I can return home. Previously, I had a 10 year visa...so I will have to renew it when I am back in Thailand in just 6 short months.

My time here has been refreshing, relaxing, and delightful. A typically stressful situation (losing your passport in a foreign country) turned out to be a HUGE blessing. I have sweet sweet friends (the Kapur's) who live here that insisted that I come stay with them in their home rather than in various hotels. I took them up on their offer and it has been WONDERFUL. Their house is beautiful and in a perfect location in the city. The Kapur's are godly people and just being with them and seeing how they live their lives daily has been an inspiration and such a great example to me. They are great mentors for me.

The best part of my time here is the time I have had to spend with the Lord. Every day, I would go to Starbucks and sit for hours and just journal and read while listening to my i-pod. It was blissful. It was a great time of reflecting, focusing on my last 7 months, and also praying for my future when my term ends! The Lord really spoke to me a lot and I feel refreshed, encouraged and strengthened.

Another thing I loved about being here is getting walk around everywhere! In India, I never really get any physical activity and I hate it. You can walk places but you are dodging way to many items such as cows, rickshaws, potholes, crap, and people that its unenjoyable and takes too much focus. But in Chiang Mai they have great sidewalks and everything is so beautiful to look at. Another thing I loved about Chiang Mai is that I don't get stared at! It's amazing! I blend in with all the other foreigners that are here! This also makes walking around the city suprisingly delightful.

As sad as I am to leave, I am really ready and anxious to go home. I have been away for more than 3 weeks and it's time to go. I only have 7 months left and honestly I am afraid its going to go by too quickly! But now, I am focused and have direction...so India...here I come!!

COMING SOON...pics of my time in Singapore (my new favorite place on the planet).

In Chiangmai, Thailand....Waiting....

Well...it looks like I have an extended vacation here in Chiangmai. I received my new passport and now I am waiting to get issued my Indian visa so that I can go back. As it looks right now, I will head back to India on the 17th of January.

So what will I do....

lay out at the pool
read
drink starbucks
sleep in
watch movies
go see movies
do some shopping
spend some extended time with the Lord
thai massages
eat good food
get a manicure and pedicure
visiting other company friends in town

Well...now my RESTFUL vacation begins. Luckily my company will absorb all my expenses. (Thanks lottie). So...i pretty much get a 11 day paid vacation!!

I know the Lord did this for a reason. I was planning on taking a few days of spiritual retreat when I returned, but now its forced. I am without a computer, phone, and people. I honestly hate being alone, but I think that the Lord has something to teach me these next few days. Please keep me in your prayers if you think of me! Ask that I would be faithful to sit in His presence and just listen! Usually I am not good at this.

I hope everyone has had a great New Year! Can you believe it's 2007?

Traveling Woes

So these past 11 days have been quite testing in the area of "travel". Currently I am stuck in Thailand with NO PASSPORT and NO VISA to get back into India. Yes it's true. My passport was either stolen or I am a complete idiot and I lost it. Either way it is gone and I am in the process of applying for a new one. There is about a 2% chance that I can get everything worked out tomorrow OR I will be here in Chaing Mai for about 7-10 days waiting for my visa to be processed. So I think I might get an extended vacation...

So this was just the current traveling woe. But actually this was one of many woes this trip. My original flight out of India was canceled and I missed my connecting flight to Singapore. Once I got to Bangkok, Thailand we were unable to fly to Singapore that night and had to fly out the next morning. Not to mention, I had to REPURCHASE my one-way ticket to Singapore. The one-way ticket was double the price of my original round-trip ticket. So much for using a discount airline.

So these are my traveling woes...but here are some of the Positives.

1. In India, they put us up in the HYAT for the night (just for the record- its the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in)
2. In Bangkok- when we were stranded we found OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE and ate some great beef.
3. India has taught me to not freak out when things don't go my way. So it didn't even phase me when all this was happening. I think I maintained my integrity and my cool.
4. We only missed like 12 hours in Singapore.
5. My passport is being processed quickly and everything is coming together.
6. I just might get another 7-10 day paid vacation (while waiting for my visa to be processed) while in one of the nicest cities in Asia.

So anyways... despite the woes and God sent sweet blessing along the way. I will one day post about Singapore when I have my own computer again....sigh I miss it. Email me at gmail or leave comments... i am missing my link to america. you.