Concert in the Gardens

I forgot to take a good picture, but maybe you can use your imagination to extend the one below :).

From the back, this is the stage/amphitheater/whatever it's called.  Sunday kicked off a series of big band shows at the Botanical Gardens in Singapore.  I think this past Sunday was the Singapore Armed Forces band.  They played all sorts of songs from Disney to classical to a Lady Gaga medley.  The show was about an hour and half (I was late of course and missed the first 30 minutes).  It was really great!  A group of us from work and mutual friends from out of work got together.  The lawn in front of the theater is very open and was full of law chairs, blankets, young and old alike.  It was a great way to spend a late Sunday afternoon and we brought out some of our picnic attire.  I contributed fresh fruit (grapes, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries) and some quick and easy crab wontons from my good friend over at Prevention RD*.  Looking forward to next week's band!

*If you're ever looking for a good new recipe (and usually healthy), Prevention RD has a great Recipe Index to everything she's posted.  Always looks so good too!!

Double Take

Have I mentioned some of the odd flavors and tastes I run into here? 

Here's a couple I've come across in the grocery store that were new to me.

Too many fish flavored things here.  I like fish, but not in chip form :).

I like bananas, but to drink? really? Anyone else had banana juice??

Day 11: All good things must come to an end

The 2nd of January was everyone's last day of vacation.  We walked downtown and along the river to get in some last minute sights.  Here are some pics.

Mom & I along the river in front of the business district (CBD).

Day 10: Exploring Singapore in 2011

We still had plenty left to do in Singapore at this point and Little India was one place I wanted to introduce my mom and brother to.  India is so different from anywhere else I've been.  At first it all feels like chaos, but once you've been in it a while, it somehow becomes order.  Or at least it no longer feels like chaos.  We did a quick walk up and down the main street, stopping by one of the larger Hindu temples.  We went to Mustafa, which is like Singapore's answer to....Wal-Mart crossed with TJMaxx.  It's got everything, but it's everywhere, with small aisles and lots of people. We needed to get out of the rain and probably spent an hour or so there.  Picked up a few items as we looked around.

Day 9: End of the Year, Baby!

We needed a rest after the action packed trip to Malaysia, so New Year's Eve was relatively quiet.  Curtis worked on some school stuff, Mom laid out at the pool reading and I was doing some internet/tv surfing as always.  I had hoped we could cook out on the pool grills for dinner, swim a little and ring in the new year pool side.  But dumb me didn't reserve a grill before-hand and they were all taken.  I actually wrote my name in for grill #7 which was open.  However, seeing as we only have 6 grill pits at the pool, not sure where that would have taken us ;).

Day 8: Orangutans & Airports

Okay, so it was more like a sabbatical than a break, but I was just a little burned out and got super lazy.  What will I do when I have to take come of someone besides myself?? :)  Good thing that's a ways away.

Now...to remember the rest of our days of fun over the holidays.  I left off on Day 7 with some pictures of our two days in the jungle.  Before we move to Day 8, I have to tell about our way out of the park.