January 10th-12th

Talk about a marathon flight! I think we've been on the plane for 20 hours but not sure, we kind of lost track. But I do know my mouth and nose are as dry as if I had eaten a pack of saltine crackers without drinking water. Anyways we've arrived in

singapore... halfway around the world!The children are healthy, happy and wiser from just being in the very presence of elderly Chinese and Singapor-ians:)Singapore city is cleaner than any American city and feels extreamy safe from crime...which possibly has to do with the healthy caining and hand -chopping off of anyone who steps out of line. Actually, in all reality, things were pretty laid back, peacfull and are greeted by very friendly people who greet you with a welcoming warm smile and LOVE our blonde headed children!! (But we just felt the responsibility to keep up Singapore's reputation.)

Perfect weather...77F at night when we arrived at th airport.Loading all our boxes and bags on the cart, trying to get to our taxi (van) was somthin'. The cart and all our stuff spilled over multiple times and we started to wonder how we could ever pull all this on bikes from Singapore to China by human-man power. Not to mention our two beautiful, healthy...heavy children.

After spending $130 on our hotel and taxi...we can't wait to get out of the city where the living is SO much cheaper. First night we spent in a park, though, cause we arrived at 2:00am in the night and could save on spending on a hotel. It was totally a peacful experience laying under the stars of Singapore. Perfect warm weather, peacfull quiet city at night. Jade was very excited about sleeping in the park. She didn't actually sleep. She had fun collecting the shells of jungle fruit (made like a bowl out of it ) to gather all her findings of flowers, rocks and leaves. She became a tree climber and chased a little cat around till the sun rose on this awesome "jungle city".

That next day we had fun eating great spiced food and explored the Botanicle Jungle gardens. Gorgeous! Flowers and trees we've never seen before. Through-out the park , Singaporians (which are really a mix of Chinese, Indians, Thais and Malaysians) seem to enjoy gathering in groups to do what we would call arobics I guess. One group of elderly, with

umbrellas and fake samarai swords...do slow ..."I am Jacki Chan, ninja fighter" movements. One group,, if you can picture , the chinese elderly doing country line dancing to "My Ache Breaky Heart".