Singapore - City of Friendship!

Imagine traveling with only your family and not seeing anyone you know for three months.  You might be getting a little tired of each other, wanting a break from Mom and Dad (and freedom from the kids), and desperate to change it up.  Then imagine seeing three of your dearest friends and their awesome families in the span of four days.  This was what it was like for us Singapore.  We could not have asked for a greater gift than spending time with the Hayling/Misner and Entwistle families that Christy knows from her Henry Crown fellowship at the Aspen Institute, and the O’Callaghan family that Jay has known since 4^th grade. 

I am not sure who had more fun in Singapore, the parents or the kids.  Luke and Ryan felt like they were back in the US as they played with their English-speaking friends.  They did everything from lounging on the coach and eating pizza while playing Wii and watching movies, to jumping on a trampoline, playing soccer, having squirt gun fights in the pool, and just running around like crazy kids. 

Jay and Christy were wined and dined by their friends – enjoying an adult dinner along the Quay, lunch at the China Club and coffee at a hip breakfast spot.  The grand finale was the BBQ/pool party that Laura & Brooks hosted at their home for the Orris and Hayling/Misner families.   Our combined 7 kids and their dog Aspen splashed in the pool, ran around enjoying grass between their toes and played board games as the adults indulged in wonderful wines, food and conversation.  We can’t thank our friends enough for the huge boost of love and support they gave us which helped propel us on to the next stage in our journey.      

In addition to seeing our friends, we took in a few of Singapore’s sights.  In the beginning, we tried walking, but the scorching sun and withering heat quickly convinced us that taxis were a better mode of transport.  Singapore has continued to grow rapidly, enhancing its skyline and river front with artsy buildings and fun attractions.  We were awed by the giant 3-tower hotel complex which has a large boat shaped structure sitting on top of it, complete with the hotel pools and restaurants - 56 stories in the air.  We also loved visiting a Lego art exhibit where the artist created fascinating sculptures all out of legos.  We are now inspired to see what we can create with the numerous boxes of legos we have in our basement.