LITTLE TREASURES

For those who may not know, Singapore is a group of islands situated in between Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore lies one degree north of the equator, which, according to antipode.com, is the Western Hemisphere’s equivalent of Paul and me living in Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park.

Since we are mere miles of the hottest imaginary line to circle the Earth, we do not get to experience temperatures below 75 degrees (24 C). Most days the weather is somewhere in the 80s. We have two seasons – Wet and Dry – and lately the Wet has been ever present.

One of the best things about Bali was the breeze. Even though the temperatures were at or above typical Singaporean temps, the lower humidity and the constant breeze made the weather much more pleasant.

Though the rain often cools the temperatures here, when the sun comes out after the rain, the humidity rolls in and instantly makes a body feel sticky. Luckily, there are lots of things to do when the weather is less than ideal.

This has been a great week for finding Singapore’s little treasures. I feel like I have spent half the week in coffee shops, which I love. Oriole is a great café downtown that offers great food, artistic coffees and lots of opportunities for people watching through the windowed walls.

Yesterday I began my morning with a little housework before the housekeeper arrived (yes, I am one of those women). Later on when I was ready for breakfast, I was unable to make anything because our wonderful housekeeper (who I appreciate so much) was using a key kitchen item – our super converter. No problem.

I felt that was the perfect opportunity to take a mid-morning stroll and run an errand or two in the process. I needed to stop at the ATM and, by the grace of Howard Schultz, there was a Starbucks right across the street and a designated crosswalk with a little green man leading the way.

A small round table for four was the only available table inside or outside on the patio, so I grasped the opportunity and had a seat. After enjoying a surprisingly good soy, whole-wheat banana muffin (really good), I sipped my grande chai frappucino with soy milk while reading a couple chapters in one of my pastor’s books.

I was definitely distracted by the numbers of people coming in and going out, fighting over seats and tables (literally having words) and generally making noise. I had enough, however, when a couple came over and commandeered my table. I had just finished a chapter and I knew I had to start walking home soon, so again, I seized the opportunity, packed up my things and began my walk back home.

In the afternoon, I met a friend at another Starbucks downtown. This Starbucks, like the one on the East Coast, was all ready for Christmas. The boards were red, the holiday lattes were on display – the only thing missing was the Gingerbread Latte, which is not available in Singapore. What made this Starbucks even more special was the giant Christmas tree standing proudly outside the patio.

That’s right – trees are popping up all over the major shopping areas. Takashimaya, a very popular higher-end department store, boasts a two-story tree in the main lobby and it’s not even Halloween.

Coffee shops, boutiques like those on Haji Lane and little places to hide from the humidity and the rain are all little treasures in my eyes. 

MORE FANTASTIC ADVENTURES

This week I had the opportunity to explore two areas of downtownish Singapore. While I am quite familiar with Little India, it was a joy to join the block party celebrating the countdown to Hindu holiday Deepavali (Diwali everywhere else).

Tuesday night, Paul and I headed into Little India after 9 to see just what this “Festival of Lights” was all about. We were immediately greeted by lighted signs above the main roads through Little India.

I was looking forward to the New Year’s Eve-type celebration and expected to see streets as packed as Orchard Road on the weekend. The crowds were not as numerous on the streets as I was expecting but we did run into tight crowds as we fought our way through some of the Deepavali tents that housed all sorts of vendors. Jewelry, statues of Hindu gods, carpets and clothing were popular items; snacks and desserts were also on display.

A few vendors were eager to make deals so they resorted to yelling through loudspeakers to ensure their products were sold. One tent sounded like an auction house.

We encountered a seemingly endless crowd as we approached the area where a stage was erected. 

The men were going wild for the two acts that were on as Paul and I walked past. I could not see who was on stage, nor did I have any idea, but I did make a joke about the first guy being Michael Jackson because all I could see were backup dancers in black pants and jackets that were lined with shiny silver. The second lady was wearing a short, strapless dress. I would describe her as performing a stripper, hip hop, Indian singer but I cannot verify her ethnicity since I did not see her face.

Paul hated every minute. He hated the crowds, he hated the smells, he hated the music, he hated the heat, he hated being anywhere except on the couch under the aircon watching Frasier. At least one of us likes to be cultural and blog about our various experiences.

Since Wednesday was a national holiday, Julia, Liana, Lucinda and I headed downtown for a coffee/lunch/shopping adventure. A new friend, Cassie, also joined us. Cassie went to Michigan but we still hang out with her.

We went to Oriole, one of our favorite hangouts where the Cubano sandwiches melt in one’s mouth like butter on hot bread, and then headed to Blue Mountain Coffee for another dose of caffeine. The truth is, it was pouring outside and we really just needed an excuse to stay indoors.

Once the rain cleared, we made our way to Haji Lane, a boutique shopping area in a Middle Eastern sector. The street was perfect – cute shops all in a line, decorated exteriors, window shades of varying colors and very few cars so we could walk up and down the narrow street.

We laughed out loud when we saw the Fat Lady cake shop. 

I decided to buy some cupcakes which turned out to look a lot better than they tasted. We perused the shops along the street and did some great window shopping. Liana found a great accessory, as seen below.

There are hundreds of little treasures like Haji Lane just waiting to be discovered and I cannot wait to find them.

I FULLY INTEND TO GO BACK

Sleeping in while staying in Bali is simply un-possible, so if you do not function well at 6:30 a.m., Bali may not be the place for you. By 6:30, the sun is bright in the sky, the birds are loudly calling out to everyone on the island and the rooster that crows all day and all night seems to have a new lease on life.

By 7, the villa staff is making their way in to sweep up the leaves and flowers that have fallen from the trees overnight. They are putting the poolside lounge area back together and prepping the kitchen for breakfast.

The first night in Bali, none of us slept well. I kept thinking about bugs and the possibility of having someone break into the villa. Plus, I could not figure out how to turn off the two bedside lamps so I just left them on. After a couple hours I ended up ripping the plugs out of the walls. The bugs were loud, the birds were loud. It just wasn’t a good night.

But the next day proved to be good; the outdoor yoga session was a necessary way to relax and feel rested after a somewhat rough night.

The next night we went to bed a bit earlier but we were still wide awake at 6:30. Lucinda and Liana took a bike tour in a city called Ubud in the center of the island. They had a great time learning about the land, local practices and experiencing some new foods.

I decided to see Bali on horseback, so I headed to a local horse farm and saddled up. I was under the impression that this would be a tour through rice fields and on beaches, so I was quite excited to embark on a two-hour adventure. Instead, a German-born woman around my age who moved to Bali two months prior and a local boy who did not speak English accompanied me on a ride up the beach.

There was no explanation of the land or where we were; we did not venture out of town. The girl did not know that I signed up for a two-hour tour so our trip was a little over 45 minutes.

It was certainly a great ride – don’t get me wrong – it just wasn’t the cultural experience I desired. I did get some photos of the area and the black ash beaches.

Not having been outside the U.S. or anywhere near a volcano, I had not seen ash beaches before. The picture below shows the color of my feet and sandals against ground that looks hard but is in fact sand.

The rest of the day was quite relaxing. I spent a lot of time at the pool and then grabbed some lunch at Echo beach. I decided to walk back to the villa so I was able to again take in the countryside.

When Lucinda and Liana arrived back at the villa, we spent a little more time at the pool before we received spa services. Four Balinese women arrived at our villa and set up shop poolside, where we received traditional Balinese massages, a hot stone massage and a Balinese facial.

Photo admittedly stolen from Lucinda - I take no credit

We felt a little awkward in the beginning when we found out that we would be nearly naked outside without the traditional sheet covering our lady parts. But we soon focused on the massages and cleared our minds as the sun set above us. The massage was amazing. I had two women working on me at the same time and, when one finished, another woman came over to begin my facial.

The villa staff cooked us an amazing dinner consisting of grilled fish, grilled boneless chicken, Balinese fried rice and stir fried vegetables. We filled our bellies and then headed off on a flashlight adventure to get some dessert at the Echo Beach restaurant.

In the morning, we were awoken a little earlier, not by birds but by an island storm. I found the rain peaceful and welcomed it. After a relaxing morning, we packed up and ventured off to the airport about an hour south. The drive gave us an opportunity to see the island during the day; the sun had set by the time we landed.

Bali is much different from Singapore, at least from what I witnessed. Even in the populous areas, there were no solid structures, no office buildings, no grand malls. There were divided highways that were no more than streets with grass in the middle; no exit signs lined the highways. There were stop lights in town but I only saw one in the rural areas.

Huts, homes, temples and small buildings stand up against the streets. There are no sidewalks, not a lot of grass, no frills at all. No big signs, no designer retailers, no fancy cars. It is a nice getaway and a great way to experience a new way of life.

This trip I spent time with friends and did girly things. Next time I plan to return with my husband and see more of the island. I would love to take a trip to the lake, see the volcanoes and head south to the peninsula to see different beaches, swim with dolphins and paddle board. Here’s to more fantastic adventures while spending some time here in Singapore. 

PICTURES OF PARADISE

Bali is everything you imagine it to be. It is green, beachy, hot, breezy. There are huts and men with triangle hats on their heads and women with stacks of fruits and baskets on their heads. There are palm trees and rice fields. There are beaches, there are mountains. It is beautiful and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to see it.

Liana, Lucinda and I had a few things in mind for our trip but we did not schedule much in advance. Our first morning here, we were treated to breakfast made by the villa staff. We then decided to participate in a yoga session at a nearby spa resort.

The resort was unlike anything I have ever seen before; I described it as something out of a fairytale book. There were lots of little huts and grass everywhere; little objects like statues stuck out of the ground. There were so many colors of flowers and buildings. The sky was bright with large clouds. It was almost unbelievable.

This is where we had our yoga session

Once we arrived, we were advised that the class was 90 minutes, which was a bit longer than we were expecting. Lucinda, being the yoga goddess that she is, was way more prepared in our eyes, but Liana and I were up for the challenge.

Our instructor was a young, pretty American girl who was not uber thin and inhumanly flexible, which was nice. She also did not yell at us for wiping our sweat during the session. She was kind and spoke gently. She was funny and she made the class fun. After class she told us that she travels the world teaching yoga, which sounds like an ideal career for a single person.

The class was held in a large, open hut with a thatch roof. We climbed narrow, steep steps to the platform and placed our rubbery yoga mats atop the wood floor. I noticed some bugs and worried that they would be a problem throughout the session. I hate bugs but I did not think that flicking them across the platform or killing them would be a very yoga-like thing to do so I did my best to ignore them or move them in a new direction.

As we started warming up, there was no music. Music was not necessary. We listened to the breeze as it came flowing through the open-air structure. The palm leaves and grasses rustled with the wind. Exotic birds were chirping. For a few minutes, some soft hammering could be heard in the distance and the occasional gong would ring in the background. This, to me, was a perfect moment.

After yoga, we came back to the villa, showered and headed off in search of lunch. We ate at a great place called Deus, which was a restaurant attached to a surf/motorcycle shop that sold knick knacks and T-shirts. Through the shop was an art gallery where we quickly learned about the most dangerous thing in the ocean.

Oh yes, Surf-Fu

A man we assumed was the restaurant owner came over to see how we were and how we were enjoying things. A tall, blonde American man, we wondered how he came to own this place and how it all came together. “I think I will open up a restaurant/art gallery/surf shop/motorcycle shop/souvenir shop in Bali.”

After a leisurely lunch and afternoon coffee, we explored a gorgeous part of the island just north of us on the west coast. We took some great photos of the spectacular views and walked through the many street vendor tents. Here are just a few:

We finished the day with a fancy dinner at Hotel Tugu and had some wonderful Indonesian fare. For the price of a burger and fries in Singapore, we were able to enjoy a cocktail, a large plate of food that resembled American portions and dessert. It was a wonderful day and I fully intend to go back for more!