Break Time

I've been trying real hard to keep up this daily blogging habit.  However, it ends up happening at night after a long day, which keeps me up until all hours, wake-up to go back at it and the vicious cycle repeats.  So I'm going to take a little break and try not to make it too long because we still have several more days to cover.

I know, it doesn't seem like that much effort....but I'm a slow writer and picture poster :).  Plus, I tend to ramble.  Like this post should be about three sentences and somehow I now have three paragraphs.  This is why my "literature" credit in college was spanish literature.  There's a little bit of a break since it's another language and so isn't as intense as true English/Literature classes.  My assessment anyway.

I have updated the blog a little bit.  In particular, I added my new "What's on my Kindle?" page over to the right.   It is meant more for selfish reasons, but maybe it will inspire someone to read a new book.  Basically, I'm miserable at remembering books even a month afterwards and this is a good refresher for me.  Plus, I feel accomplished as the list grows ;).

Day 7: The Bare Necessities

Man this photo and blog editing takes a lot longer than one would think.  I will pay for it when my alarm goes off tomorrow this morning. Here's a fun video with highlights of our two days in the rain forest.  We definitely look like we're living on the bare necessities and it was only one afternoon and the following morning!

Enjoy some Jungle Book while you're at it ;).

Day 6: Buses, Boats and Hiking

It's Monday now and time to get up early and head to the jungle/rain forest.  We decide to partake of the breakfast buffet at the hotel which had a big international spread and would be our last western food for the next couple of days.

Day 5: Exploring Kuching

Today we explored Kuching, after sleeping in a bit.  Tomorrow, we will head out for more exploring, so today was time to relax.

  

One of the river taxis that would scoot people across the river.  There weren't many tourist activities across the way, so we did not take one.  Probably should have....oh well :).

Day 4: Christmas Cheer!

And then it was Christmas!  Time to give rather than receive, and the gift to my visitors was a trip to Kuching, Malaysia.  I wanted to share a little bit of Asia outside of Singapore.  Because, let's face it, Singapore is like Asia-lite. :)  I say that with great love, because coming to Asia can be scary and Singapore helps newbies ease into it.  I always say, Singapore is the easiest place to move to/live in.

Borrowed from another website, here is a map to show where we went.  Singapore is in the middle to the left and Kuching is a straight shot to the east on the island of Borneo, which consists of three nations: Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

Day 3: Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a day to chillax at the pool, get some presents, do some homework and work and go to church.  Mom and I spent the morning at the pool until our tummies (or at least mine) was growling.  Then, mom couldn't wait to "open gifts".  

Thanks for all the goodies!  Clearly I'm a junk food junkie :).  Although my mom tends to go overboard.  I asked for one bag of Butterfinger (there are none here and I was craving them after Halloween); one hunk of velveeta since it lasts forever and some of grandma's cookies.  That was it!

Day 2: Tour of Singapore

On our second day, it was time to show off Singapore the easiest way I knew how, tour bus. We picked the cheapest one, did a full loop including some off-bus detours in the business district, Chinatown and the Botanical Gardens.  The day ended with a chili crab dinner with friends and still a bit early but we should soon be done with the jet lag.

Curtis and I on one of the many bridges over the river.

Day 1: Grocery Shopping & Jet Lag

I will try to tell the story of my holiday visitors with some pictures of each day.

Me & Curtis on Orchard Road - the shopping mecca in Singapore.  It's very decorated for Christmas and all lit up at night.  We did some window shopping and people watching on the way to the grocery store.

Happy Holidays Finally End :(

Well, I am just home from the airport where I dropped Mom & Curtis (my brother) for their 24 hr journey home.  They leave here 1am Monday morning local time and arrive in Chicago at just 7:30am Monday morning CST.  This time change thing can be a doozy!

It has been a great couple of weeks (well 12 days) and while we tried to pack in as much as possible, we also needed our rest! :)  I mean it was Christmas vacation after all.  

I have lots of pics to sort through and share.  Here are some highlights.  

Beach we hiked to through the rain forest.

Mom in the rain forest.  She's a trooper!

Sunset on Kuching, Malaysia river cruise.

Inside a Buddhist temple in Singapore.

Watch out for them crocs!!

The beautiful nighttime skyline of Singapore.  Oh yeah...and I got a haircut ;).