Christmas on Orchard Raod

Every year for the last 25 years, Orchard Road, Singapore's designer shopping district, transforms at Christmas into a magical world of lights and 50-foot trees (well, one 50-foot tree and several others well past the 30-foot mark). It feels so Christmassy, except that instead of mittens and scarves, almost everyone is in shorts and tanktops!

Here are a few pictures. . . I hope you enjoy them =)

A Winter Wonderland--2007

Josh and Caleb in front of Tangs


An icy effect. . . but I mean that in a good way.


A Sweet Christmas--2008
Caleb admires his new basketball; Annabelle admires the lights =)

This arc is about 4 lanes wide!

This is one of about 5 displays telling the Christmas Story.
The REAL Christmas Story.

Merry Christmas to all!!

Chinese New Year: A Visit and some Factoids

Josh's sisters, Janella (and her husband and 3 kids) and Joanna, came for a visit over Chinese New Year. We said goodbye to them this morning after a fun-filled two weeks. Here are a few favorite pictures from our time together.

Firefly Tour in Desaru, Malaysia

The Pulai Resort, Desaru, Malaysia

Singapore Zoo

Palawan Beach, Sentosa Island, Singapore
(Sign says "Southernmost Point of Asia Continent")

Here are a few interesting things I learned about Chinese New Year:

1. Taxis charge extra.
2. If you go to California Pizza Kitchen on Orchard Road, they give you an $18 voucher for your next visit in the traditional Chinese New Year "red envelope"
3. Chinese New Year is determined by the first new moon of the new year. It starts on the first day of the first lunar month of the new year and ends on the 15th day.
   
4. We are now in "The Year of the Rat"
5. In traditional Chinese culture, if it is your year (the same animal of the year you were born) you are supposed to wear red every single day for the entire year.
6. On CNY Eve, families gather for a "reunion dinner." Typical dishes include fish and dumplings.
   
7. A few superstitions:
   
1. Don't sweep your house during CNY or you will sweep away the good luck.
2. Don't cut your hair during CNY or you will cut away the good luck.
3. Don't wash your hair on New Years Day or you will wash away the good luck.
   
4. Don't cry on New Years Day or you will cry ever day of that year.
5. Do wear red on New Years Day to ensure a bright and happy future.
6. Don't lend anything during CNY or you will be lending things all year long.
7. Do open your windows and let in fresh air. This will blow in the good luck for the New Year.
   

Prosperity Pizza

Everyone here in Singapore is getting in on the spirit of next week's big holiday, Chinese New Year. Even Pizza Hut!

Thanksgiving in Singapore

Since Thanksgiving Day, for both Josh and me, is usually celebrated with extended family, we weren't sure what to do with our first Thanksgiving-sans-relatives. We talked about trying to make our own Thanksgiving meal (feasible, thanks to the high-end grocery store nearby that caters to Americans and was carrying items like Stovetop stuffing, Libby's canned pumpkin, and Butterball turkeys), but decided that preparing a feast for just the three of us would result in lots of wasted food. We also considered joining a group of teachers from Josh's school who were getting together to celebrate, but since our calendar had been packed the last 2 months, a just-our-family-day sounded like a treat. So. . . we called up one of the nice hotels that was advertising a "Traditional Thanksgiving Buffet" and made a reservation.

(photo from concierge.com)

The Fullerton Hotel, located on the Singapore River, near the Esplanade and Merlion, is absolutely gorgeous. No doubt, it is one of the top two hotels in Singapore (the #1 spot being held by Raffles Hotel). It is the kind of hotel where the valet spends most of the day parking luxury Italian cars like Lamborghinis, Porches and Ferraris (if teaching doesn't work out, don't be surprised if you hear that Josh has taken a job as a valet!) In fact, when we arrived for Thanksgiving dinner, the front entrance of the hotel was temporarily cordoned off and the staff was laying out a beautiful red velvet carpet--turns out that top diplomats from all over the SE Asia were soon to be arriving at the hotel for some sort of international summit.

The buffet was gorgeous, but it was no where close to "traditional". The only traditional items being served were turkey and cranberry sauce. No mashed potatoes, no gravy, no green bean casserole, no buttermilk biscuits, no Jello salad, no sparkling cider, no apple or pumpkin pie. But, if you were in the market for fresh tropical fruit, or sushi, or oyster, or black pepper stir-fry, or bruschetta, or creme brulee, or chocolate torte, you would not have been lacking in options!

Us, in front of one of the dessert tables.

In a way, I'm glad it wasn't a typical Thanksgiving meal because it wasn't a typical Thanksgiving Day. It is nice to know that the giving of thanks isn't dependent on cool weather, cozy foods, and even good family fellowship. I Thes 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."