Thursday, August 11, 2011

Singapore: First Impressions

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This picture kind of says it all.

We took the two hour flight from Bangkok to Singapore on Friday to spend a long weekend with Brooke and Stuart. We love hanging out with their family; they are awesome and their kids are so adorable. Brooke is literally the very first person I met on the very first day of orientation to our new jobs, and we've been friends ever since.

Did I already tell you this story?

The highlights: We picked up our nametags and were herded into a group of about 6 people to get a short walking tour to the holding pen mix 'n' mingle room prior to the start of the orientation day. Being forced into this little group, we started chatting. We had a lot in common and it wasn't until later that we learned that -- albeit several years apart -- we had lived in the SAME HOUSE, SAME ROOM, SAME BED, in a houseful of girls at college!!!! Quiet House, represent!

Back to Singapore. We arrived in the afternoon and Stuart met us at the airport. Kind of hard to miss a big, tall white guy in a hot pink T-shirt in Asia.

We headed home in a taxi. I was impressed by the beautiful green trees and grassy areas along the way. Especially the pink bougainvillea in the median of the highway. It reminded me of spring in D.C. and pink azaleas.

When Brooke got off work, we went to a "hawker center" -- basically a mall food court -- to have a local meal. It was really good; I am glad Stuart ordered a sampling of items to try. I was torn with indecision, too many choices!

Brooke has better pictures here.

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Yes, I did say Stuart was in a hot pink t-shirt. I like the blue/pink/purple coordination going on here.
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This dessert was SO delish -- ice cream and peaches -- and mango too, I think?

Neil got "the works" on this shave ice -- which includes CORN, of all things!

Back at their fab apartment, we'd heard about their nanny's legendary cooking, and we finally got to try it later during our stay. Holy amazing, she whipped up the most delicious chicken curry. It was soooo good, with snow peas and eggplant on a bed of cabbage. Served with rice and fresh pineapple. Perfect!
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Once I found out Singapore imports Ben & Jerry's, there was no stopping me!!!!!!! There's a reason that under "Interests" in my Blogger profile, the only thing it says is "Anything that tastes like s'mores." It's my FAVORITE. I highly recommend Ben & Jerry's "S'mores" ice cream ...............
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FYI the Singapore dollar is nearly even with the US dollar, so yes, that is about USD $10 per pint!!!!!!!! And yes, I bought 4 pints before the weekend was through!!!! Hey, I didn't eat them ALL by myself ...... just half .......

2 comments:

Anne said...

I have been a fan of B&J's S'mores ice cream since it was called Marsha Marsha Marshmallow. I generally prefer vanilla based ice cream flavors, but S'mores is definitely the exception. If I ever found it in Guinea, I would buy it no questions asked, even if it was 50 dollars. That's how good it is!

...And now I'm craving it. Thanks for nothing! ;)

modestmuse said...

Maybe you can plan your R&R around the availability of B&J's S'mores ... ! I first had it in 2005 when it was still Marsha Marsha Marshmallow; it was a clever and cute name in keeping with the style of B&J flavor names. I guess it wasn't descriptive enough?