Solid As A Rock.

I'm in Thailand right now and Google knows it: ประเทศไทย.

6.20.11 Singapore
We woke up early and walked to Little India for breakfast at Komala Vilas, the oldest Indian restaurant in Singapore.  That same honor is attached to many proud restaurants in the neighborhood, but this particular one is strictly vegetarian. As much as I love Indian food, I have never eaten it for breakfast.  Tim takes care of ordering by pointing at the menu and our waiter pretends to understand.  Starting a summer's day in Singapore with a greasy sweaty spicy meal of samosas and dosas is something that I hope not to repeat.

Today we are attempting to see the entire city, a perfectly unattainable but not undeniable desire. On our way to the Botanic Gardens, we discover the Singapore School of the Arts, a magnificent homage to the rainforest through urban architecture.  We have permission to walk around the first three floors, take some photos, and move on.

Even though we took the train part of the way, it's still a far walk to the gardens.  Hey, did you know that 7 Eleven is the new Starbucks? Oh, and that there is a California Pizza Kitchen here? And a Toys 'R Us? And giant shopping centers filled with a million other stores you know.

We only had time to cover half of the Botanic Gardens, walking directly through and with only one stop:
"Look! Koi!" Tim leans forward to look at the fish.
Then: "TTTTTIIIIIMMMMMM!!!" I yelled, while hitting him on the shoulder.  He jumped, startled by my shout, and nearly crushed the beautiful turtle that was sunning on the concrete.  I couldn't help it, I was excited.

Continuing with an animal themed day, our next stop was Jurong Bird Park, the largest bird park in the world [Kuala Lumpur also claims this about their bird park].  We did a fast loop of the park and spent most of our time with the penguins. Because I said so.

If you ever find yourself in Singapore, you must MUST go to the Night Safari.  This was easily one of the most fun and scary and unique and fascinating things I have ever done.  The Night Safari is a smallish-scale zoo of mostly nocturnal animals that creep out from their dark habitats and into your face before your eyes have a chance to adjust to the night.

Since we arrived right as the park opened, we decided to walk the trail around the park as we saw everyone else board the tram.  This meant that we were by ourselves, walking a dimly lit pathway overgrown with thick foliage, masking the often paltry fences that separated us from them.  Because of the dark, winding trail, it was difficult to see what animal we were about to meet next.  Instead of cages, the park uses moats/trenches to keep the animals from escaping.  Sometimes, these trenches did not seem large enough.  At all.

Oh, are those spotted hyenas tearing apart a slab of meat just across the dinner table? Yes, they were and we were that close. I was a little disappointed I didn't get to see a Tarsier [couldn't spot him in the dark], my new favorite animal, but I was about one inche from a lazy tiger so that kind of made my life. Also, the Night Safari has two interactive "cages" that you can walk through while fruit bats swoop in your face [Dangerous? The sign said no but, uh, it was kind of terrifying] and another with giant flying squirrels hanging from the trees. I could go on.

 Flamingos @ Jurong Bird Park, Singapore

 

Penguins @ Jurong Bird Park, Singapore

  It's a bad picture but look! TIGER! Night Safari, Singapore

 KTM Ekspres Train pollution, Singapore to Kuala Lumpur

 Kuala Lumpur from the train. 

 Mommy monkey does not like me.  Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur

Lunchtime for monkeys. Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur

 Pink dragonfly + pink flower.  Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur

 I spy a butterfly.  Butterfly Park, Kuala Lumpur

 Dance party.  Butterfly Park, Kuala Lumpur

The Equator is Petty Hot in the Summertime.

Last days in Auckland ...
The ash cloud has cleared and the friendly skies are free to fly again. We are leaving for Singapore in a few hours and I wonder if the preconceived notions I have of Asia will be true.  Overcrowded loud streets planked by mega-skyscrapers supported by futuristic technology.  And cyborgs. 

For about four months, Tim and I have been talking about taking a trip to Waiheke Island off the coast of Auckland.  Considering we have been in New Zealand for exactly four months, our ratio of thought to action in this case is rather sad.  After the cranky ol' foot made it difficult to explore Rangitoto, an island comprised of walking trails only, our island explorations came to standstill.  In the truest sense.

Several weeks ago I purchased discount ferry tickets to Waiheke Island through one of the 15 different coupon deals I subscribe to.  And yesterday at 3pm, on a windy cold grey rainy day two days before we leave town forever, we decided to jump on the ferry.  The off season on Waiheke is slow, very slow, like ghost-town empty. We arrived with no plan and walked into "town" in search of food.  There was a convenience store, a bar, a cafe, and Stefano's Italian Restaurant that didn't open until 5:30pm.  It was 5:00.  We went into Malone's Irish Pub and were served by a cranky woman named Mary Malone.  Sure, on a busy party day, I don't expect a bartender to be my friend.  But we were the only people in the bar.  Well, there were a few blonde haired children in a semi-private section [behind an ill hung sheet] watching television.  It's a small family business, I guess, and I was all too happy to leave the family to business.  Dinner at Stefano's was great, expect for the veggie pizza with "56" mushrooms [that's Tim's estimate, he hates mushrooms].

It really started raining as we walked out to the bus stop.  Tim had a Red Hot Chili Peppers song in his head and wouldn't stop singing it, knowing very well how much I detest that band.  But in the strange fog of mixed messages, I was dancing around. It was soaking wet and very cold -- I only had on my hoodie -- I was so cold I couldn't stop moving!  I sent all my warm clothing back to the US earlier in the week. Why? ...

6.19.11 Singapore, here we come! ...
Ah, saying goodbye to New Zealand is a happy sad.
We are sitting in comfy chairs at the airport and there is a vivid rainbow over the runway. You can even see the violet!  Goodbye EnZed, goodbye.
I can't believe I am traveling around the world. This is the dream you joke about living someday.  Did  you know they don't sell gum at the airport here? Just mints. Gum is messy, I guess.

OMG.
OMG.
Oh no.
There are no tv's on the plane.  There are no tv's on the plane?  There are no tv's on the plane!
Oh no.
What was that? The trip will take extra long today? 10hrs 45min? I gave in and handed my credit card to a flight attendant and in return, I received a portable tv device thing to which my face was glued for 10hrs 45min.


6.19.11 Singapore, here be we! ...
At the airport, big signs announcing "ARRIVALS" direct us to customs. English is confusing in Singapore.

Me: Hello!
Customs lady: *grunt*

Tim: Hello!
Customs guy: *grunt*

And then they let us into their country. 
We stepped off the train at our hotel and paused -- you would have too -- it is so hot and humid outside it is difficult to breathe.  After dropping our bags off, we went in search of food. My body clock tells me it's 2am but Singapore says it's 10pm.  We walk to the esplanade, a solid recommendation we received from the 'Welcome to Singapore' video we watched on the airplane. 

Restaurants were either closed or dirty or not in English. After weaving in and out of a few mega malls, we found ourselves at Glutton Alley.  In this row of food carts and picnic tables, we ordered extra-greasy-most-likely-and-hopefully-is-because-we-asked-to-make-sure-but-there-is-a-language barrier vegan food.  Also, deep fried carrot cake? Not vegan but this really exists. Feeling disgustingly satisfied, we caught the last train back to our hotel. My body says: "Ouch!" It's 5 am [or 1 am, depends]. 

This computer only let's me upload 3 photos. I'll post more as soon as I can!

 Auckland Airport

 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Glutton Alley, Singapore

Near, Far, and Everywhere You Are

My glasses rest on the nightstand, my head on the pillow, and the light walks across the bedroom wall appearing just as anxious as I am.  There is a fair amount of ambient light that seeps in at night: the street lamp is positioned so that it shines exactly between the panels of shades, the marina is lit as if it was a lighthouse on top of a treacherous cliff, and the construction cranes flash like an airport runway.  It's late and I can't sleep.

Tim challenged me to a five day "stretch." A five day metaphorical stretch. This kind of stretch is the equivalent to someone daring you to do something that you don't particularly want to do so you say no. But then they double dog dare you times infinity. Basically, you have to accept if you don't want to get beat up in the parking lot after school. Grow up already. Jeez.

After a false start and redo on day one I've successfully made it five days and beyond. Challenge? Pshh, bring it on. Tim challenged me to be positively optimistic for five days in a row.  I know, I know ... but it's harder than it seems.

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Today we moved out of our apartment. It's a good feeling to move and not really have anything to move. Freedom.
I love New Zealand, I really do, and even though this trip was the converse of what I planned [and it was completely] it was all right.  For four months I watched the sunset everyday and appreciated countless hours of comedy television.  I also explored the crannies of a beautiful world far from my own and shared my days with a person who taught me the importance of an awesomely awesome really grand smile.

In the last few years I have tried to defeat the universe, twice, and failed so I ran away. No, toward? No, through it. And here I am tumbling head first into a new day everyday. Tada!

I do miss home and friends and family.

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We are staying in a hotel in downtown Auckland until Sunday and then we are out of here. Probably, hopefully.  We are closely monitoring the whereabouts of the volcanic ash cloud because we have a schedule to keep. Jetstar however, has it's own schedule and it's not flying with us. Literally.

Wake up! It's time to make the donuts. Zig-zagging around the world: Singapore ... Kuala Lumpur ... Bangkok ... Israel ... Stockholm ... Milan ... Venice ... Fussen ... Munich ... Berlin ... Leipzig ... Prague ... Madrid ... Barcelona  ... New York Aug 5! And San Francisco shortly after.

I will have at least a bazillion photographs to share along the way and surely some stories to tell. YES!

A Pirate's Life For Me

I injured my left foot and have been keeping a pace even slower than the slow pace I normally keep.  Most days I just sit around the apartment watching the sun move across the sky and the clouds change formation.  It is differently satisfying than running around New Zealand, exploring the lunacy of a foreign city and the charms of the serene countryside.  Learning to sit still has been a lesson in patience; enjoying sitting still is for the birds. Really.

Unbeknownst to me, I traded my future mobility for the beauty of the Milford Track.  During the hike, I had terrible pains in my feet that I thought would disappear when I stopped the 33.5 mile hike, took off my pack, and forever removed the stiff rental boots from my delicate dogs.  Shortly after coming home, I realized I was still in pain but continued running, walking, and jumping around. Because that's what I do! And then I could no longer.  So, I complained about my foot, drowned my woes in old episodes of The Office, and rode the exercise bike.

Finally recognizing that I was not powerful enough to will away the pain, I went to the doctor last week.  I googled "Auckland podiatry," clicked the top listing, made a phone call, and had an appointment the next day.  For the first time in my life, I am certain I was older than the medical professional who was treating me. Wow. Just. Wow, I am old.  After the standard poking around and jogging in place, she thought I might have a tear in my posterior tibial tendon but sent me for an x-ray and ultrasound to eliminate other possible diagnoses.  Like, maybe a stress fracture.  Or, maybe I have an extra bone in my foot [my self-diagnosis].

Two days later, I hobbled over to Horizon Radiology and had what I thought would be pointless exams.  I seriously underestimated how very special I am though. There were some gasps from the technicians regarding an impressively sized boney-like mass in my foot that shouldn't be there.  Since they aren't allowed to tell you what is wrong, they can only show you and wait for the official report from a doctor.  So I waited. And waited. Days ...  there is little sense of urgency in this country ...

My records were lost, then found, and now in my possession is the formal diagnosis: "A 10 x 8mm accessory ossicle ..."  TOLD YOU SO! By "accessory" they mean extra and by "ossicle" they mean bone in my foot.  This 27th bone nestled in the posterior tibial tendon and waited for the perfect combination of overuse and irritation before making an appearance.  Now go back to your hiding place and keep quiet, stupid bone.

Cool. I'm a mutant!

>Succulent: Terrarium/Hobby