Monthly Archives: July 2015

My Hotel taken from Michael’s apartment

July 7th, 2015

I had dinner with Michael at a place next door to the hotel overlooking the Marina.  I met Michael while I was working at Transamerica close to 20 years ago.  Who would have thought that 20 years later we would be having dinner together in Singapore, with me on a business trip and he having moved there. It is a reminder that life is rarely predictable, this is one of the those moments that is a pleasant surprise and all I wish I could savior the moment for a little while longer.

I have had a great trip and it started almost three weeks ago but I have to say that I am ready to go home. There were a lot of late night flights, early mornings , meetings during the day while trying to keep with email at night.  I saw a lot, I did a lot and ans as much as I loved it, it  is time to go back home and I am ready!

Jul 6th, 2015

I went out with the team here in Singapore to have a Duck Lunch.  I have been to this same restaurant before and it was just as good the first time I went.  The bring the finished duck out and present it (with head) and then carve it there at the table.  They ask you what you want to do with the remain duck – noodles or rice and come back a little bit later with a rice or noodle dish.  I love Peeking duck!

July 5th 2015

I got some sleep the night before so I woke up feeling great.  I headed out to meet my friend Michael and we went to the Mandarin Hotel for Dim Sum.  This wasn’t just any Dim Sum, this was high-end Dim Sum.  It was good, better than anything I had.

We then took a boat tour up the river.  The weather was beautiful, not too hot.  After finishing the boat tour, we walked for a while and stopped for a few beers then headed out to “Fair Price”  I love going to a grocery store in foreign countries.

What a great day!

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July 4th, 2015

When we changed the dates of the trip, I was a little bummed that I was not going to be in town for Independence Day.  I love the 4th of July, when I was growing up in the northeast, I loved the summer (although they were very short) and July 4th was the first summer holiday.  BBQs were about BBQ chicken, hot dogs, burgers, potato salad, baked beans and red white and blue Jello.  It was a tradition to cook the meat on the grill and to eat the entire meal outside.

The day always ended with going to see fireworks.  Where I grew up, it wasn’t always a show but rather a few people setting off a few fireworks they had purchased in a state where the sale of fireworks were legal.  I was a little disappointed that I wouldn’t be home.

As my friend Michael and I walked back from his apartment to my hotel, we saw that they were practicing the fireworks show and decided to go to the rooftop of my hotel to watch the show. I have been in Singapore a few times before about this same time of year.  Singapore’s National Day is on August 9th. I knew on previous visits that on weekends, they often practice the show in days leading up to the big day.  I guess that since Singapore is turning 50, they start practicing the show early.

The fireworks I saw were to Celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday.  I didn’t get BBQ but I did get to see fireworks.

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July 4th, 2015

I have passed by this hotel dozens of times on previous trips to Singapore. It is so elegant and on this trip, I am staying there.  My room looks right at my company’s office here in Singapore and my friend’s condo.  I arrived and by the time I checked into my room, it had started to rain – it rained real hard.  I drifted off to sleep for a few hours and then headed out to take on the day in Singapore.  I love Singapore! Continue reading →

July 4th, 2015

Michael and I signed up for a cooking class.  I found a list of places that offered cooking classes in Singapore and we decided on this one.  What drew Michael and I to it was the menu, Char Kway Teow, Singapore Chilli Crab and Onde Onde.  All three of the dishes are popular dishes in Singapore.  The class was given by Ruqxana in her home.  There were four other people in the class – a couple from Dallas who decided they wanted to come to Singapore for the food and 2 girls who live locally.

It was very nice and we learned how to cook the dishes and then enjoyed eating them.

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