Swingin' in Singapore......

Well, not really but we did have a good time!

Singapore would of been a good introduction to Asia.  Someone should of dropped me off there for a good two - three weeks before bringing me to Manila.  Singapore is like the Swiss Asia.  Seriously, there were blue skies, clean streets, safe parks, beautiful gardens, an amazing zoo.  The only difference is that it is HOT and the food is much better in Singapore than in Switzerland.

The really good thing about our trip is that it made us realize how amazing cheap everything is in Manila.  That being said, since we have returned I have booked a private tennis lesson, a somewhat private pilates class, a dermatologist appointment and TWO photography workshops!  Look out Manila.  I am going to do everything that I possibly can while I am here since most things cost around $5.  I am also vowing to really utilize the help that I have while still being a good mother of course!  ;)

The View from our room

We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental which was near the harbor, which I highly recommend.  We had a baby sitter one night and she turned out to be the florist for the hotel as well.  She looked at our flower arrangement and said that it looked a bit tired and that she would arrange something special for us.  The next day the most gorgeous orchid showed up in our room.  I love Asian hospitality/customer service.  Nothing in the States or in Europe comes even close.

At first I was worried if the location of the hotel would be central enough but it turned out to be perfect.  We were also in walking distance from the new monstrosity (The Marina Bay Sands http://www.marinabaysands.com/ ) that recently opened.  It's a must see and it is amazing but I am not sure if I would ever stay there.  With 2000 rooms how can they have good service??  We went up to the top which is an absolute must.  It's like being at the top of the Eiffel Tower (sort of) and you have the most amazing views of Singapore.

View from the bridge that goes over to the hotel

View of the Flyer

View of the harbor

Infinity pool over looking the city.  

Max trying to escape for a swim

We arrived on Friday afternoon and just walked around.  We took Max for lunch at a sushi place where he gobbled up edamame and had his first taste of tuna sashimi.  He ate the really small pieces of tuna that I cut up for him but when I tried to give him a bigger piece he took it out of his mouth and threw it across the table.  Enough said.

Then we walked (and walked, and walked) around.  It was so great to be outside.

 Tai Chi anyone?

After we got back Max relaxed with Lars.

 On Saturday we went to Singapore Zoo.

On Sunday we went to the Botanical Gardens and spent all day playing.....IN THE GRASS!!!

Max LOVES pretty ladies!  Esp. when they have balls!

please play with me.........

How can anyone resist Max?

When we weren't walking around Max enjoyed playing in the pool at the hotel.  

On our last day there Max ate Vietnamese Spring rolls for the first time and got to experiment a bit with chop sticks!

Max wasn't really sure how to use his chop sticks to eat the Cheerios........

SO Daddy helped him out!

It was a great trip - can't wait for the next one!

The Road

At times I wonder what type of person Max will be when he grows up.  I wonder what country he will live in, what will be his profession, what languages will he speak besides English, who will be his friends, who will he marry....    

I wonder all of the time.......what type of man will my little boy become when he grows up?
I hope he grows up to be just like his father.

My little man........

is not so little anymore.  Max is amazing - he is full of surprises every day.  He never stops.  He like the energizer bunny without an off switch.

He runs, he plays, he throws a ball, he holds my hand, he hugs me, and he puts out his cheek to get a kiss.  He is big and rough, VERY dramatic, extremely charming (when he wants to be) and a really good eater.  He prefers veggies to cookies and loves his milk.  I think that someday he will run for Mayor of Makati.  As he strolls down the street in his pram (stroller) he makes sure to wave and smile at EVERY person that he sees.

He says mama, dadda, milk, more, please, callie, ball, monkey, mango, banana, food, cracker, shoes, school, hello, bye-bye, bubbles, color, blue, yellow, animal, tickle, bottle, dog, cat, belly.  He says words in Swedish.  His favorite is to say Nej (no) and shake his finger back and forth like his Farmor!  He remembers a few words in French.  One day Lars asked Max, in French, if he wanted his pacifier and Max replied - Oui!  When he asks for water he says "de l'eau".  It's amazing that he remembers.  Yesterday a plane flew overhead and he looked up, pointed, and said AIR PLANE!!!  Now where in the heck did he learn that???

It's the little things that amaze me.  Like how he can hold a crayon properly but he's not quite sure which hand to use yet, the left or the right.  He can eat with a fork and a spoon.  He knows where his head, eyes, nose, belly, and mouth are located.  His favorite thing to do is lift up my shirt, squeeze my belly, and scream BELLY (oh, and of course laugh hysterically.  It does wonders for my self esteem).  He wants to do everything himself but is still a Momma's boy.   He's so big yet still so small.  He runs, he climbs, he tries to jump, he has learned how to kick his feet and blow bubbles just this past week.  He is growing out of all of his clothes.  He has grown through two shoe sizes since we got here but he still drinks out of a bottle and he is still attached to his pacifier.   He is so curious and wants to touch everything.   He is very outgoing but will observe everything first before he breaks out.  We still haven't figured out where he got his ginger hair.

I love him more than life itself.

Max likes to try to fly.

Playing basketball with Sammy

Art

While living in Switzerland we went to France, a LOT.  Our favorite place is Cassis (Cote d'azur) and if we have to move back to Switzerland I see a nice little second home in my future.  Almost every time that we went to Cassis we stopped in Aix de Provence.  In the town of Aix they had a great gallerie called 'Carre d'artistes'.  http://fr.carredartistes.com/ This chain is all over Europe (and even in the States I believe) but there was something about the one in Aix.  The paitings/drawings are originals and signed, and their exhibitions change all the time.  I loved it and have about 4 original oil paintings from the store. 


While shopping at the Shangri-La Mall this weekend we came across a Gallery called Art Circle gallery.  All the artwork is down by Filipinos.  I am not a huge fan of Filipino art (most have really loud colors and are of people, or I find that there is a lot of macabre art as well) but this place had some gorgeous paintings.  In the beginning we were drawn to some oil paintings by Manuel Baldemor but then recognized that he was doing Provence (and other European) landscapes.  Well, I can buy paintings of Provence landscapes in France....give me something Filipino I said.  The people at the store were great and really worked at helping us find something that would suit us without being obnoxious (i.e. what about this ma'am, how about this one ma'am?......)  In the end we ended up with two oil paintings by Manuel Sinquenco.  Check out some of his work at:  http://www.artcircle-gallery.com/?q=node/98  We bought something like number 9411.  The artist paints houses from Vigan, Philippines.   Vigan kind of fascinates me, though I am not sure why.  Maybe it's the name??  It's supposed to have these old historic houses (which is a change of pace from the skyscapers of Manila).  They also make furniture there (we have lamps for the house being made there as we speak!) I think we'll make it a point to visit there before we have to leave.  


Anyway, I am pleased with our purchase.  It arrives tomorrow, newly framed and ready for our home.......now I have to figure out where to put them!


**The paintings arrived!