Christchurch Earthquake Hits Home

Hey everyone, this is Jason.  By now many of you have heard about the tragic earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand this past week.  This is the second earthquake to hit the city in the past 6 months.  The latest quake was much more devastating than the previous.  The death toll is approaching 100 and it is reported  that as many as 200-300 people are unaccounted for.  The number of deaths is attributed to the quake occurring in the early afternoon hours while people were working and out and about in the streets.

This is unfortunate for us since we are planning to visit Christchurch in April with a couple from Texas, living in Singapore.  Alaina and I were really looking forward to the trip since New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places in the world (It had nothing to do with the fact that I was going red stag hunting....well, maybe it had a little influence on my enthusiasm).  We are hoping that the trip does not turn into a logistical nightmare.  We are supposed to fly into Christchurch and spend two nights there, but we may have to alter our travel dates or make other arrangements with the hunting outfitter for lodging.  According to the news, authorities are evacuating the city-center because of infrastructure issues.  I was able confirm that our outfitter and his family were unscathed and they only felt a "little rumble" out in the country.

As you all know, we tend to steer clear of normalcy.  Very little in our lives goes according to plan.  The likelihood of having another earthquake within a month is pretty slim, so at their current rate, I would only get nervous if we were scheduled to visit in 6 months.  We will keep you posted on our plans for New Zealand.  In the meantime please pray for the victims and their families.



Photo courtsey of USA Today Travel



I am hopeful that I will still get to try my luck at killing a stag.

 

Meet Me in Malacca!

  Jason and I made the three hour trek from Singapore into Malacca, Malaysia for the Chinese New Year holiday.  (Since leasing a vehicle in January, we have been able to take in many of the sites and areas     surrounding Singapore.)

 Jason standing next to our "station wagon".  In Singapore one drives on the right side of the vehicle.

  Before we could pack up and head out on our first road trip though, we were awoken on Chinese New Year morning to an obnoxious drum pounding.  Jason went down to see what the commotion was all about and then raced back to our unit to grab the camera. Turns out, the drums were part of a lion dance performance in the lobby of our complex.   Lion dances are believed to bring good luck--imagine that!!   Jason captured these videos of the performance.

  Our first impression of Malaysia: miles and miles of palm plantations.  Palm trees were everywhere, but we both appreciated the rural scenery--a welcome change of pace from the bustle of city life.  After speaking with some of the locals, we were told that palm oil is a commodity with vast industrial and commercial uses.

  Perception is not always reality.  And boy is that the truth.  Arriving in Malacca, Jason and I looked at each other and began to chuckle.  We both wondered and thought a loud, "Should we turn back around?  Are we safe here?"  Driving to our hotel, the streets were congested with overzealous motorcyclists and littered with trash.  Many of the shophouses appeared dingy and abandoned to put it nicely.  Malacca is a far cry from Singapore, so I guess it was only natural for us to feel a bit skeptical and uneasy about the place.    



We have noticed three different spellings for this Malay state: Melaka, Melacca, and Malacca.  I prefer to use the latter.



  Thankfully our first impression was not lasting.  Our accommodations were cozy and made us feel right at home.  Once we set out in the heart of Malacca, we embraced the charm of the locals and the colorful history behind this sheepish little Malay state.   While Malacca's culture, heritage, and architecture are richly diverse,  some areas  remain very much in "development".  Once a burgeoning trading mecca for Portuguese and Dutch settlers, today Malacca seems to have settled back into its humble and unassuming beginnings.  Sometimes the simple and laid back lifestyle is a welcome change of pace for two city dwellers!



We stayed at the historic Majestic Malacca Hotel, a refurbished Peranakan (immigrants of Chinese decent) mansion.

Jonker Street- home of great antique shops and local food stalls



Loved, loved the tile mosaic! Many of floors in the shophouses were adorned with these beautiful tiles.  I told Jason we may need to make a trip back for some tiles (of course he just rolled his eyes).

Chinese New Year decor was sprinkled throughout the shophouses.

Malacca River  a.k.a" Venice of the East"

This fountain was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1904

 The front facade of Cheng Hoon Teng Temple.  Built in the 17th century, this temple is one of the oldest known Chinese temples in Malaysia.

Jason standing next to the burning joss sticks in the middle of the street

Windmill in Dutch Square

This statue was erected in honor of a local who was crowned "Mr. Universe" a few years ago.

Chee Family Ancestrial Home


 I think it is pretty safe to assume that Malacca is deeply rooted in Christianity!

St. Peter's Church is the oldest Catholic church in Malaysia.

Another gem, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church,  just down the street from St. Peter's.  If you notice, the church leans slightly to the left.

An old Methodist church

St. Paul's Church is the granddaddy of all the churches in Malacca. It was built in the 1500's by the Portuguese.



 Tan Beng Seng Clock Tower and Christ Church

Christ Church was built in 1753 by the Dutch.

 The Stadhuys building served as the residence of a former Dutch governor.  Today, it is a history museum.

Jason admiring the primitive guns at a local museum

An exhibit depicting the multi-racial lifestyles in Malacca

Taking in the antiques and silver...this girl was one happy camper!

Malay house

Another traditional Malay house in a small village inside the town limits

  After three days in Malacca, we had our fill of culture and history.  Aside from the bug Jason contracted our last day in Malacca (more about that in a minute), our stay was very enlightening.  Malacca isn't a place you will probably read about as a "must see" destination; but, as Jason and I are discovering, sometimes the days spent in the byways are the trips we remember most.

  Side note:  After two trips to the 24-hour medical clinic in Singapore, Jason is just about finished with his prescribed antibiotics and is feeling fine again.  We received Jason's tests results in the mail today and all came back negative (thank you sweet Jesus!).  I am so very grateful to a dear friend who persistently stayed on our case about getting vaccinated with the shots recommended by the CDC for the Orient.  Otherwise, I would have been in a panic about Jason getting sick.  Thanks Wendi!

Zipping Right Along!

  Saturday afternoon Jason and I went out to the Bedok Reservoir Park for a relaxing Forest Adventure...or so we thought.  Actually, our adventure turned into quite a workout!  We were under the impression that we had signed up to go zip lining (neither of us had ever been).  We zip lined alright, but what we didn't realize was that we had to complete a challenging, aerial obstacle tree course comprised of ladders, bridges, swings, nets, and trapezes before we could zip across the reservoir.  We were both exhausted when we finally finished, but it was all worth it for the ride!   

"What I have gotten myself into?!"

View from the tree-tops

In case you are wondering, I didn't hit the tree. :)

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Rabbits Everywhere...

  Thursday kicks off the start of the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, the oldest and most important of the Chinese holidays or festivals.  2011 is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac, and so, elaborate Chinese New Year decorations abound with rabbits and lanterns, lining the streets and storefronts throughout Singapore and especially in Chinatown.  The Year of the Rabbit falls every twelfth year and I have read that those born during the Year of the Rabbit tend to personify certain characteristics--some good others less desirable, including:  keen, wise, fragile, tranquil, serene, considerate, fashionable, sneaky, and obsessive. 

  (Jason was curious to find out the animal of the year for 1980, since both of us were born then.  Fittingly, 1980 was the Year of the Monkey--go figure!  Some of our friends will get this and find it quite comical that "Billy and Tina" were born during the Year of the Monkey!!) 

  Another common Chinese decoration theme used for the New Year are citrus trees/shrubs.  It is customary for the Chinese to give oranges and tangerines as gifts as part of the New Year traditions; pronunciations of orange and tangerine in Chinese sound like "wealth" and "gold".  Our maid had two oranges waiting for us when we returned to the apartment Wednesday afternoon.   

  Recently, Jason and I went into Chinatown to experience (and take pictures too) the pomp and traditions that go along with the Chinese New Year.   



Decorations with rabbits lining the streets into Chinatown

If we had a patio, I wouldn't mind a pair for myself.  Luckily we don't and not to mention, I think $88S is a bit steep!

This tree is one of two large citrus trees at the entrance of our apartment building

Chinatown was very crowded!  

 Many of the shops in Chinatown are transformed into festival-like booths selling traditional Chinese candy, delicacies, and fruits. 

I preferred to shop at the Chinese antique stalls.  I am very fond of these "Double Happiness" porcelain ginger jars.

  As for our Chinese New Year plans,  this holiday is a chance for us to get out of Singapore and travel a little.  Thursday morning we are taking a road trip into the southwestern coast of Malaysia and spending three days in Melacca, a small historic state in the southern Malay peninsula.  I surely hope this trip provides me with more quality blogging material than the last time we ventured out of Singapore!

p.s.  For once, Jason and I are thankful we aren't home given the frigid weather.  Stay warm my friends!