I am home now after just a short 20 some hours of travel. I am definitely feeling the effects of the time change, more than I did when I was in Singapore. It has been hard sleeping and I found myself up reading though the early morning hours.

Singapore was fun, clean and safe with great food and friendly people and very western. Almost too western with all its McDonald’s and 7-11 and did I mention they love KFC. But really who doesn’t love KFC?

People have been asking me today what was the best thing I did, or what my lasting impression was. I would have to say the beauty of the place. It is so green and lush and clean, which is a plus to someone like me. Germs, well I have some issues. Let’s not go into it, no Howard Hughes jokes Pop. I enjoyed the mix of culture, something that is lacking here in whitey land. The food and tastes from all over the world were fantastic. I was surprised to see my Father eat fish, or crab. You know it is good if he is eating anything from the ocean. What really stands out is service. I am huge fan of great service, but who isn’t. No Chuck not that kind of service? It didn’t matter where we went, from the small home run restaurant to up scale upper priced, the service was great. I have not been waited on like that since that time Chris and I were in that flop house in Vietnam. But that is a story for another day. One of the best things about Singapore dinning is the hot towel. Ever place you eat you are given a hot towel for your face and hands. What a joy! I wish that was something that happened here more often. In one Japanese restaurant every time you used one towel the replaced it, needless to say I went through a few. Poor girl just kept running back and forth fetching towels. Did I mention no tipping! There is a tax, but still less than 10%. They are working that hard and not getting tipped. Can you imagine what eating out in this country would be like with no tipping? Everything would be self serve.

What a wonderful time I had though! It is an experience I will never forget. It has opened my eyes to a part of the world I wasn’t sure I would see. It is funny how being away from your life allows you to refocus when you return. I feel anew again and energized, although being back at work with the lag is no fun. Being able to go somewhere with out my cell phone was a much needed break for me. It’s funny how little I missed it, although it was pretty lonely in bed. It is the vacation I have been talking about taking for the last few years. Being removed from my everyday was the break I needed!

Thanks Mom and Dad, you have proven your worth again and I swear if I ever have kids I will tell them how great you are. If you get the chance to travel to this part of the world, a part of the world without SUV’s, you should. I think every American would benefit from seeing the world outside his or her bubble. I love this country, America, but I can see leaving for another place would have its upside.

In the next couple of days I will post all of the pictures from the trip. I also have another blog I want to write, but we will see if it gets done.

Singapore

PS

Hot women with really cool cell phones, big plus on this trip, big plus! I thought how one of my friends, and you know who you are, would have a hard time coming home because of all the hot Asian women.