Singapore Day 1

Motto for this trip---The old saying "Join the Navy see the world".....has become "marry the military and see the world". If it wasn't for this opportunity I doubt I ever would have seen this great country. 

We opted to do the city Hop On Hop Off tour bus to see what we could for the first day. It was a VERY fun way to get around. And super easy with the kids and the stroller in tow. The buses have tons of space and we were able to wheel them right on and not fold them! The tour also includes an audio tour of the city pointing out all the top sights to see along the way. 

Ready to board the bus

On board the double decker topless bus

We brought Mike with us.....in plush form!

China Town--so many cool shops and restaurants. We did a kid friendly lunch since they outnumbered us! Chinese food of course. Delicious noodles with prawns and the BEST sweet and sour pork any of us had ever had! 

Loving on Mike at the table! These girls can't wait to hug and kiss the real thing soon!

The wheels on the bus go round and round.......

Singapore Flyer! Hoping to convince the kids to do this before we leave!

The newest hotel in Singapore.....YES they built a boat structure on top of three pillars of hotel! Cheaper to just look at it from afar. 

Clarke Quay! 

Our hotel package includes breakfast and a evening reception with food and alcohol nightly. SCORE!!!! I've never felt more comfortable travelling. After living in Japan for three months Singapore makes things EASY! They speak English!!!!!! That solves all your problems! Abby doesn't understand why they all "look" Japanese but all speak English! Ummmm.....mommy can't explain that one. It's a melting pot here! 

We boarded our flight at 8am yesterday and although we had done our hotel research the weeks prior, we booked our rooms two minutes before boarding the flight! Couldn't chance losing a night of hotel cost if we didn't make the flight to begin with. 

Phuket Day 1

Spent our first day in Phuket at the waterpark at our resort! Included with our room! 

Walked the resort property today on or way to our breakfast buffet (also included in our room cost). Each of the 4+ pools on property are infinity pools. This one overlooks the beach. 

NorthWest Phuket beach

Oh and the resort includes a kids club daily with activities and childcare at no addl charge 

Abby caught a butterfly on her walk back from breakfast 

1/5th of the waterpark! This is the older little kid area! Dumping refilling bucket on top and all! 

Maddy enjoyed the slides for the first time ever. 

Abby spent all day on the BIG kid slides!!

Off for an excursion tomorrow!! 

We haven't had enough sun!! 

Kids ended the night in the tub!

Singapore Adventures

We have spent the last four days in Singapore! It is an amazing city and I'm so glad I got to experience it. 

Our first day here we did the city hop on hop off sightseeing bus tour! Worth every penny!! Three routes cover the entire city and major sights

We spent the midday in Chinatown. Fun shops and lunch! Best Chinese we have ever had!! 

We brought stuffed Mike along too!

The girls loved the double decker open top bus tour!! Wind in their hair!!

The second day we took a guided walking tour of Little India. So much history. 

View from the top floor from our rooms! 

Singapore Nigt Safari! It's a special zoo only open at night. To see the animals in their element. Most enclosures have no cages! 

The girls had a lot of fun in the hotel pool! Such a nice break from Japan! 20 degrees cooler!! 

BONUS: our standby flight home from Singapore to Japan was cancelled so we took the opportunity to travel elsewhere! Tonight we fly to Thailand to burn three days before the next flight home to Japan! Should be fun!!

We arrived in a new country! Just Visiting!!

Our first adventure from Japan.......Singapore!

 The kids crashed in the cab on the way to our hotel....but of course didn't sleep a wink from our 3am wake-up through our 7 hour flight 😁😂✈️

We took a FREE military Space-Available flight from Japan direct to Sinngapore. 

Spending 4 nights here seeing the city and a little R&R! 

Cloud Park

Went to a new park off base today! Very close to the base and super fun! Tons of roller slides and a HUGE spider climber! They call it "Cloud Park" because of the giant cloud-like trampoline poofs you can bounce on! FREE! The misters on this hot day were a plus and great way to cool off! 

Bon Odori Fun

Bon Odori base festival 2015 complete!!

It was such an amazing event and I am so glad I spent every Thursday morning for the last 6 weeks practicing. We learned 10-12 Japanese dances that are NOT easy to retain. 

The base opens its gates twice a year for events and this was the second one. There was a live band, food to eat, and then three hours into the event the Bon Odori formal dancing began! Many dance groups from different places off base attend and perform their routines. While they are on stage the rest of the dancers proceed to dance along with them on the ground. 

Some friends and squadron ladies I have been dancing with for two months! 

Sophia and I--good friends from Norfolk

It was so nice to have the girls with me at this event. So many friends didn't dance and instead helped keep an eye on my kids while I was off doing my thing! 

Liberty Bell kids!! Yep! LOTS of girls

The girls enjoying a snow cone cup! 

Thanks to friends who took photos of me dancing tonight! Great memories

Center stage! I did three dances up there

The live band that performed--the Japanese LOVE all things American

Oh and this is the base commander doing his talk. Those fuzzy guys behind him are local city mascots. YES each city has its own mascot!! Don't ask me what the broccoli guy represents, because on his behind he had a corkscrew tail.....not your average broccoli.....

Summer Camp

Abby's summer camp program had an end of summer finale they put on tonight.

It was a solid hour of song and dance. And showed the true military spirit of togetherness that they have. 

She went on numberous field trips, twice a week to the base pool, and many other fun activities. 

After the show they hosted a "Dessertfest" for the kids full of treats! 

Rice anyone?

Of course they have a 24HR rice dispensing station here.....

I doubt I'll be needing this much at a moments notice....but maybe I'll have to try it once just because....when I'm Rome....

The story behind this summer

This article explains what Mike's deployment is all about this summer. 

It's a good read that sums up what they are about to endure. 

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/aug/05/three-presidents-crew-cvn-220/2/?#article-copy

Grass and Safety

Another way Japan does even the littlest things better!!

Anywhere they cut grass around the base, they always have a person with a screen following the person with the weed wacker to ensure grass or debris is not sent into cars or people passing by. 

Imagination

Maddy came into the kitchen today and announced she was leaving on a train for Colorado and she would be back in an hour. 

I'd love to experience this lightning speed train!!! 

Then when she returned from her trip 5 minutes later she proceeded to tell me Colorado was near Washington DC. I love her personality and imagination. 

Abby is so REAL these days, it's a breath of fresh air to have her around!! 

The Old Ballgame

Went to my first Japanese baseball game tonight! SO much fun to see a different culture enjoy the same thing we grow up with in the USA!

They are all positive with chants and cheers and smiles on their faces! No boos or negativity towards the opposition at all that we witnessed. And we sat in the opposing teams side of the stadium (not intentional--but the perk ended up ending their side is in the shade!!! Win!!)

Street food snack outside the stadium before going in--my favorite octopus balls, and squid on a stick was a new one--that I won't get again. Too chewy! 

In our seats!! Sunday night game, the place was packed

Kind of neat we got to see the home team spirit from across the stadium

Everything they do is synchronized

And they ALL cheer with these mini bat sticks that clack and clang together! Don't worry, I bought a set!! We clacked along with them! 

Very notable--the cost of food and souvenirs at the stadium is VERY cheap!!! I ate way too much for under $15 and these cheer souvenir sticks are $5.....hat $20......so reasonable. 

Not to mention you can bring all your own food and alcohol into the stadium! 

I had my purse stuffed! 

Pretty unique compared to the states. 

Aside from the cheer mini bats, these LONG balloons were very spirited! They blow them up during their teams 7th inning, and when their team makes the third out they release them and they deflate as they whiz through the air! 

Prepping our balloons

Spirit everywhere! What a great night