Week of October 18th...A Lot of Eating!

Hey everyone!

  Aside from us recuperating from sore throats/upper respiratory issues and poor air quality this past week, we had a busy and fun-filled week to say the least.  Singapore has been blanketed by a thick haze as a result of fires from neighboring Sumatra Island, Indonesia.  I just haven't felt like dragging the camera with me everywhere...so I am lite on photos for this week.

  Before I forget: A very special Happy Birthday to Aunt Mary!!  Hope you have a wonderful day.



Photo from Channe NewsAsia.com



   Yesterday (Sunday) we had lunch with a couple from Texas (Ryan and Jill) at an American patio restaurant owned/operated by a Louisiana native.   Jason has known Ryan since he began working in Broussard, and Ryan stopped by the Ensco office in Singapore a few weeks back.  After a few attempts, we were finally able to get together for lunch and trade stories of life in Louisiana, Singapore and Texas.  Ryan and Jill were kind enough to show us a few popular areas afterwards.  We had great time with them! 

 

  Jason's general manager arrived in Singapore on Thursday, so he took the project team/spouses to dinner Saturday evening at a Mediterranean-styled establishment, Esmirada along Orchard Road.  We enjoyed our meals thoroughly, but the highlight of the evening came when we were given plates to shatter across the restaurant floor (mine was the only one not to shatter). 



Jason had the beef skewers and I had a pasta dish with steamed clams - photo from Esmirad.com



  Wednesday I had my first AWA outing--a lunch social at an eclectic Italian restaurant, The Verve Bar and Bistro (the gelato was divine).  I enjoyed my meal so much that I took Jason back to the same restaurant Friday evening!  I was a bit nervous attending the AWA event, not knowing anyone; but, the ladies I sat with were very outgoing and easy to converse with. The irony of my afternoon was that I befriended two British ladies, who ditched the British Club to join the American Women's Association because in their words, "American women are more fun" (lol).

  Earlier in the week we received an invitation to a cocktail party on October 28 at the Fairmont.  Along practically every street corner in Singapore you can find a custom tailor shop (many of which I have frequented).  Well this party gave me the perfect excuse to convince Jason that I needed to have a cocktail dress made and he, fitted for a suit.  Since the exchange rate is very favorable to the U.S. dollar and with holiday parties around the corner, Jason didn't resist.  So Tuesday evening we went out to Maharaja's Custom Tailors (we had been to this particular place when we visited Singapore in July and many times since then) to select fabric and dress/suit styles (the possibilities were endless).  This afternoon (Monday) we went for our first fitting and after all the eating we did this past weekend, I was a bit concerned that our measurements might have increased a tad--but all fit to size.   The tailor said he should have our clothing in time for the party Friday night.  Let's hope so!

Maharaja's Custom Tailors

It took a while, but Jason finally found fabric he liked for his suit.

Jason trying on his suit



Sweet Sentosa: The Week(end) in Pictures

  Since Jason was able to take off of work last Saturday, we ventured out to Sentosa Island to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for some leisure time along the water.  Sentosa is an island along the southern border of Singapore, home to one of the famed and majestic Merlions and an array of attractions, entertainment and restaurants. 

  One restaurant in particular almost made us sick (no, not food poisoning) but, homesick!  We stumbled upon the restaurant, Big Easy Cajun Bar and Restaurant, and our mouths began to water. Though we knew the food would not compare to those savory dishes served in New Orleans, the temptation for Cajun food was too great to pass up.  Our lunch left a little to be desired, but the restaurant decor and wall hangings within gave us a little taste of home!

Have a good weekend everyone and enjoy some authentic Cajun food for us!

So after eating lunch at the Big Easy Restaurant, we both left longing for home.

Standing in front of the famed Merlion

The majestic Merlion--the head of a lion and a body of a mermaid



Inside the mouth of the Merlion

South China Sea





This picture sums up our day in Sentosa: beautiful!



View from the sky lift ride

We had Asian cuisine for dinner...

baits is known for their dumplings and they didn't disappoint!

The dough for each dumpling is shaped and folded at least 18 times 



Singapore Sundowner

    Friday evening we were invited to a Sundowner Party (Halloween Night Safari) hosted by Keppel FELS Shipyard at the Singapore Zoo.  The zoo grounds were decorated with the usual traditional Halloween scenes of witches flying on broomsticks with black cats, ghosts, goblins, and skeletons.    It was really nice to enjoy some Fall festivities and meet some of the guys Jason works with at the shipyard.   After the party, we took a train ride through the safari-like grounds of the zoo.  Jason was even able to catch some glimpses of deer.  (He has been a bit down since the opening of bow season on October 1st.)  Some pictures from the evening are posted below (picture taking during the safari train ride was not allowed).

    If only I had brought my camera Saturday morning for Jason's first fish spa experience--it was quite humorous!! Jason and I had breakfast at Starbucks and then I suggested that we visit the fish spa.  Jason had a rough week at work and I figured the fish spa and shoulder massage would do him some good.  Well of course he was adamant about not going; but, after much insistence, he begrudgingly obliged.  To his surprise, the fish spa and shoulder massage was so relaxing for him that he intends for us to have a weekly fish spa date--lol!

  What are the chances... Wednesday I finally made my way over to the American Club to turn in my membership application for the American Women's Association (AWA).  As I was making my way over to the AWA office, I spotted a familiar face sitting at a table.  As it turns out, that familiar face was Schuyler  Houser House, a friend from high school.  Schuyler's husband is employed with McDermont and she is a second-year PhD student, raising three young girls.  Our chance visit was the highlight of my week!

Squid in chili sauce

Some dressed in costumes...

Tan, Chad, and Jason

Safari entrance

Gentlemen Start Your Engines! (Week in Pictures, Part II)

 Last Sunday evening, Alaina and I attended the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix race, which was broadcast live on ESPN.  It was quite an experience for both of us!  I have never been a big fan of road-type or stock car racing, but I must admit that I now have a new-found appreciation for these  Formula 1 cars and drivers.   

 We watched the race from the rooftop of the Singapore Recreation Club, which was located in the sharpest turn in the track and a really nice venue to watch the race.  It was amazing to see the cars take that sharp curve at +80mph in 2nd gear.  Once out of the curve, the cars were all in 7th gear in a matter of 3 seconds. 

 Being F1 novices, we really didn't know who to root for.  Naturally, I would have pulled for an American driver, but there was not one in the field.  It appears as though there aren't even any U.S. drivers on the entire circuit.  The only natural alternative was to pull for the oilfield sponsored (Shell) Ferrari.

 After the 61 laps through the streets of Singapore were completed and the smoke had cleared, Fernando Alonso came out on top in one of the Shell cars.  Even though the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) remains favorite racing circuit, I may pay closer attention to Formula 1 in the future.

Take care,

Jason

The race course through the streets of Singapore

Mariah Carey and Adam Lambert performed

Try capturing a  photograph of a car racing at speeds of +100mph