Cook out and birthday cake

We signed up to use one of the complex's outdoor grill and picnic pavilians and had an American bar-b-que. Lia invited her two newest friends and thier mothers' to join us. Both her friend's dads are "back home" working, one in China, one in Korea.

 Doug surprised me and turned it into birthday party for me. Complete with silly hats and a novel birthday cake. It started to rain while the grill was heating but luckily it soon quit. Just enough to bring temps down to comfortable level.

We cooked hot dogs and sausages on the grill. Also sweet corn and foil packets of potatoes, Helen (Doug's helper) made a couple of salads and we had a feast. Plus a birthday cake from Paris Baguette Bakery.

Fish Skins and Flowers

Speaking of Singaporean favorites. . . How about Salted Egg Deep Fried Fish Skins. You see them all over in stores in snack bags like potato chips and on restaurant menus. Had to try it. Wasn't my favorite but certainly not as bad as it sounds. I probably won't order it again, however.
To do something fun on my birthday today, we went to Singapore International Flower Show at the Garden Festival on the grounds of the Gardens By The Bay. 
I like this picture for the reflection in the water.

The displays and installations were like no flower show I had ever seen before.

About the time we were getting tired of walking around it started to rain so we popped up our umbrellas and made our way back to the subway. With a stop at McDonalds for lunch.  How's that for a upscale birthday lunch.

Singapore breakfast

Its Saturday morning. Doug and Lia sleeping in but as usual we are up early. Just outside the gate of the complex and next to subway station/bus stop is a fresh market and small strip mall.  We went for breakfast and to have a look. I found a Youtiao (Chinese fried bread ) which I can't pass up. Like a friend doughnut without sugar. And a iced Kopi which is coffee with condensed milk. I usually don't like sugar in coffee but this is almost addictive.
Will is standing in line waiting for a Prata. Its India food, easy to find all over Singapore.  Kind of a sweet egg pancake. He had egg and cheese flavor. Comes with chili sauce which he ignores.

Morning at the Botonical Garden

Doug lives close to the Singapore Botonicsl Gardens which is a spectacular green space. In fact we walked to it, took about 30 mins. Inside this huge park is the National Orchid gardens which are out of this world.

Coffee (ice coffee for Will, watermelon juice for me) at the tropical outdoor restaurant in the Botonical Garden. 
Never saw this before. . .I liked it, citrus flavor, like a clear Squirt.
Sunset off the patio
Amazing architecture in this city. This is shopping center not far away. In fact we went there for dinner tonight.

A temple in China town. "Buddha Tooth Temple. " Apparently Buddha relic here is believed to be one of his teeth.  Monks leading devotees in chanting prayers for peace and luck.

Settling In

Dinner on the deck. Lovely sunset view.

A quick trip to see Lia's school. She will be going to second grade at Singapore American school. Two week "Jump Start" begins tomorrow.
Dim Sum lunch at Crystal Jade. Very nice, very yummy. This is one of the nicest of "Doug's restaurants."

Back at that pool with grandpa! Pretty inviting.

Arrived in Singapore

Long flight is over. Whew. 14 hours to Tokyo, 4 hour layover, then 6 hour flight to Singapore. But all flights on time, no problems and Lia was a trouper. She watched movies, slept and drew pictures. Never a complaint. She watched "101 Dalmations" twice in fact and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. I however, did not sleep, but read and watched movies and managed! Dad was there happily waiting for our arrival!
The pools at Doug's complex is what Lia has been waiting for.  She was out there early this morning. Gotta do the sun things really early or late afternoon while it's not so intense.
Here is view of Singapore waking early from Doug's balcony. Rained a bit late at night and moisture still rising as sun breaks through.
That pool!!  I went to have a massage to treat my body after long day yesterday.  Will is on his way now and will arrive around midnight tonight. All 3 of us are going to need a couple of days to get in the groove.

One of the pools with Doug's building in background.

Off again

Bags packed, flight to New Jersey,
Waiting for Micheal Park to pick me up from Newark airport.
Grandgirl time. Aeri's 4th birthday is this next weekend so present time. Big sister gets presents also. . .how does that work?!

Out for icecream!

Dinner out with the Park's, a Korean Hotpot feast! To say goodbye to Lia and me. We are on our way to Singapore in the morning.

Chasing weather all the way home.

The Monsoons have begun bigtime in Southern Arizona. We chased rain all the way to Tucson.
Came home to find we had plenty in our back yard as rain came hard and fast.  There is a line on our back wall where water backed up.

Ground soaked and my prize Saguaro fell over. No saving it. Cracked in two. Several prickly pears soaked up water greedily, got too heavy and also toppled over or arms broke off. The washes were running for sure.

 But we are home safe and dry. Mostly unpacked and ready to put RV back in storage. Digging out suitcases now for flight to Singapore next week.

Train derails north of Tucson on stormy day - Arizona Daily Star

Train derails north of Tucson on stormy day - Arizona Daily Star




I hope you can open that  link I just posted.  Its a picture from Arizona Star newspaper about a train derailment that happened a couple of days ago.  Its only a couple of miles from our house.  Apparently we got a huge downpour of rain.  I will post pictures of our backyard, where the water couldn't wash out fast enough through the back wall drain holes and backed up so for a while my yard must have been a little lake.  No damage.  My raingauge said 2 1/2 inches which sounds like it might be right.  That is HUGE for us.  That is a lot for anyone in one day.  Also we lost a Saguaro cactus.  Found it laying on its side.  Ground apparently got soaked and it fell over.  Too bad.  Thankful for rain but would have liked it a little at a time--never happy.

Last day . . .next stop Tucson

Found the most contemplative spot to just sit and enjoy. Nice rock right on the "Rim" to watch the valley below. . .and get some cell service.  We stopped here several times.
This is same spot  after a downpour of welcome rain.

Little dark but after rain and clouds breaking up enough for sunset.

  On our way to Tucson now. Comparatively cool this AM. We'll be busy unpacking, cleaning up and getting ready for next adventure. . .starting on Monday.

Back in Arizona

We are back where we started at Wood Canyon Lake near Heber, Arizona. This elk was in our campground. Went all the way to Colorado but saw elk here in Arizona!
We did this hike around the lake again this morning. Saw same family of Bald Eagles from the last time we hiked it but now understand the baby has fledged the nest.

Still having fun with hummingbird feeder wherever we are. Found a Roufus Hummingbird this time and boy is he protective of the feeder!!  Nobody gets a chance while he is around.

Gallup N M

Ended up staying two nights in Gallup. Found a local Methodist church since it was Sunday morning. Had to stop at El Ranch Hotel to check out the lobby and and all the fun history and unique furnishings. It opened in the 1930's and has been a magnet for movie stars and famous people of the 20th century. Walls are covered with autographed pictures of stars from my childhood, and actually my parent's era. We also had lunch here.

Gallup is interesting place, Route 66 put it on the map, but the railroad kept it there. The city runs along the train tracks paralleling old Route 66 for something like 9 miles, now interstate 40 takes the hiway's place.  But the old Trading Posts, Pawn Shops still serve the Native American populations plus the tourists. It's the shopping hub for Navajo, Zuni nations and Southern Utes. We found a donut shop/diner that was open 24 hours that served a great breakfast burrito.