Not only in America!

Happy Halloween!  This morning I was at the gym - it was 6:30 a.m. and the weather was already 81 with humidity at 72.  And what to my wondering ears should I hear but - CHRISTMAS music!  Santa Claus is coming to town and I'm dreaming of a White Christmas!  
First, most people here can't imagine snow and secondly - this is the largest Muslim country in the world.....hmm....

Hotel Morrissey in Jakarta - decorated already

One of the instillations at Selasar Sunaryo

Selasar Sunaryo Art Space

Selasar Sunaryo Art Space (SSAS) is a space and non-profit organization that aims to support the development of visual art practices and studies in Indonesia.

Getting gasoline Indonesian style

On our way to Bandung we needed to stop for gas.  Yes this is your corner store/gas station.  Further into the rural areas you purchase gasoline by the bottle.

Note to Self

One day I will remember that just because an establishment is opened in Indonesia it does not mean that it is regulated/certified/has any standards.

I desperately wanted (and needed) a pedicure, so Tasha and I went to a brand new salon.  First mistake, they had only been open for a week. I should have known something was amiss when she asked me if I wanted my nails cut - there was never any question that they needed to be cut.  Foolishly I asked for oval.  What I actually got was big chunks of nail missing on both sides of the toe.  Nothing is symmetrical and some of the toes edges could be used as lethal weapons.  However, the final insult was her nicking the skin of my big toe.  The cut was extremely small, but it would not stop bleeding.  The only medicinal substance they had was rubbing alcohol which she kept applying liberally to the open cut.  This obviously did not stem the bleeding.  One of the other workers had to go to a store to purchase one bandaid and mercurochrome. Before I knew it they had doused my toe in mercurochrome and then used the one bandaid. But since I was "scheduled" for a spa treatment which required my feet soaking in water, they then wrapped  a tissue around the toe, followed by tinfoil, followed by plastic wrap........Maybe I've learned my lesson...

Lots of good food in Bandung

 Gado-gado is an Indonesian salad made with par-boiled vegetables and cabbage covered in a delicious peanut sauce. This version added fruit so I had pineapple and water apple with cabbage, cucumber and corn. Very tasty.

Eating noodles for breakfast at an outdoor market.  Since Bandung is in the mountains- it is much cooler and more comfortable than Cirebon.

Cannonball tree

 Popularly referred to as the ‘cannonball tree’ because not only are the fruits as large, round and heavy as their namesakes, but when falling to the earth, they often do so with loud and explosive noises.

Burkill Hall

Situated at the highest point in the Gardens, Burkill Hall has a commanding view over the National Orchid Garden, Palm Valley and the Rain Forest. Built before the days of air-conditioning, it was designed to be cool and airy, with high ceilings, wide eaves and broad verandahs on the first floor. 

My favorite orchards in Singapore's Botanical Garden

Orchard Garden -Botanical Gardens, Singapore

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is one of Singapore’s oldest Hindu temples, in the heart of Little India.

Little India

Vegetarian Breakfast of Champions- the best part you eat with your fingers! 

Two of the many beautiful wall murals in Little India

Little India

Little India is a buzzing historic area that is more than wonderful food.In the 1840s, Europeans lived here mainly for the racecourse, where they met and mingled.

When cattle trading took root, it became a mostly Indian trade as traders hired Indian migrant workers. Certain goods and services took off, and mosques and Hindu temples were built. We wandered around and came to this little part with its colorfully painted animals.

Chilli Crab - Singapore Style

Chilli crab is a seafood dish in which stir-fried crab is coated with sweet, savory and spicy tomato based sauce. This dish is often accompanied by steam or deep fried buns (also known as mantous). It really is not spicy- but it was very good. 

Thai Feast- Singapore Style

I thought I ordered Laksa - but it tasted like green curry soup.  Regardless it was delicious!
I had it along with Mango Salad - not spicy enough for me - but very refreshing on a hot, humid autumn day in Singapore.

The Singapore Flyer - Singapore's response to London's "The Eye"

The Singapore Flyer reaches 541 feet into the air.  The wheel itself measures 492 feet in diameter and sits atop a three story terminal building.

Each of the Flyer's 28 fully-enclosed, climate-controlled, school bus-sized capsules can accommodate up to 28 riders apiece during the wheel's half hour revolution. What's more, each capsule is attached to the outer edge of the structure, providing an unobstructed view of the surrounding region and, on clear days when visibility tops 28 miles, riders are treated to views of the city-state as well as nearby Indonesian islands and Malaysia.

Mongolian Morin Khuur X Guitar

Mongolian folk music featuring the  Mongolian morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) with an acoustic guitar. The voices of both the performers were outstanding.  Again, not a clue what they were singing about - but it was beautiful.

Moonfest Chinese Opera Stage

Singapore's Street Opera performances of long-ago stories.  This one is performed by the Teochew Opera  - Premier of Six Kingdoms.  I had no idea what was going on (neither did Regina!) but it was fascinating to watch.

A Beautiful Night -Singapore

This is the Esplanade Waterfront in Singapore where we were for the Moonfest.

Weekend away in Singapore

It is hard to imagine that just under a 2 hour flight from Jakarta lies the island city-state of Singapore.
It is a cosmopolitan city which has a multicultural population.  Here is the Harbor Area that reminds me of Baltimore or Sydney.

Marina Bay Sands Casino Resort is a distinctive architectural addition to Singapore's skyline.  The three slanting 55-story hotel towers are topped by the SkyPark.  Although we can not enter the SkyPark - it is a 340 meter long outdoor terrace that features the world's longest infinity pool.

The lotus shaped building to the left of the Marina Bay Sands was designed by the same architect and is the home to the Singapore Art Science Museum.