Sensational Singapore!

Yesterday we may have been eating supper with the locals but today is a new day and we started it off -  American Style!  Iced Peppermint Mocha Coffees at Starbucks for Mommy & Daddy and breakfast at Micky Donald's (as Michael calls it!) for the kids.

Starbucks in Singapore!  WOO-HOO!

Never has a fat saturated, heart attack inducing, Sausage McMuffin with egg EVER tasted so good!  It really was a bit sad - The way the six of us scarfed down our food in record time like a bunch of starving refugees!  Nah.  Just some homesick foodies from America.  After breakfast, we decided we would see if we could figure out the public transportation thing.  It turned out to be super easy and the cleanliness left us speechless!

A nice woman took us under her wing and when we asked how much to ride the bus - She literally took out her pocketbook and started to give us her change!

  Rachel going into SHOCK due to the extreme kindness!

Outside the shopping mall by the bus stop.

Coins for David

I think I have enough to ride the bus!?

Matt waiting at the front of the bus & watching for our stop.

The people on the bus go "bump, bump, bump!"

A proud & shining moment.  Matt stops to gloat b/c it was HIS idea to take the bus!

Daver LOVES his dolphins!

Posing in the Park

The OCEAN!!  Yay!

We were a family on a mission!  We made our way to the beach...of course the kids wanted to SWIM but Daddy and I had other plans.  We'll have to save that for NEXT time!

If we had stumbled upon the Hatch Shell - I would've sworn we were in Boston! Well, sorta. Except for the palm trees and it was WAY hotter! Haha! 

 Aha!  BIKE rentals! 
That's what Mom & Dad were looking for!

Now that we got our bikes...Next mission?!  LUNCH!

It doesn't get much "fresher" than this, Kids!

The selection process was a bit daunting!

Showing Daddy our Scary Fish Faces!!

Fascinating

They gave us each a little bowl to wash our hands in (Rachel's doing what sisters do...badger their little brothers...all in good fun, right?!)

David figured out how to use his chopsticks ;0)

Struggling too!

Quick!  Eat it before you drop it!

Got it!!!

Frog Legs got a mixed review from Rachel

 Michael lovin' the frog legs!

Disgusted at the thought of it - She agrees to try this tiny little morsel....Of course, once she tried the frog legs - She liked them!

Now David's turn!  (He like them too!)

Chili Crab

 You're looking at one happy New Englander...he's missed his seafood since moving to India.

After lunch we hopped back on our bikes (we needed the exercise after all that food!  WOW!)  Rachel got a flat tire and Michael swooped in as "Hero Brother" and rescued her by riding her broken down bike all the way back to the rental shop.  Such a nice brother!!  However, I think Rachel regrets letting him help b/c she'll never hear the end of it.  He holds it over her head and brings it up to his advantage whenever he can squeeze it in.  Heehe!

It was a toasty day and the kids were so happy when they bumped into some people at the park passing out FREE ice cold drinks. (It was a marketing ploy...some new African fruit drink that had only been in Singapore for a couple of months.)

Chuggin' it down!

Then it was time to get back to the hotel for a quick family "power nap" b/c we had a big night planned back at the Singapore Zoo....The Night Safari!!! 

 One of our favourite attractions at the Night Safari was the

FIRE SHOW!!!

WOOOO-HOOOOO!

This poor Bugger from the audience got dragged onto the stage.

They told him to take off his shirt (Of course, I let out a Woot-Woot...gotta give the 'Ole Chap a little confidence in himself, right?!)  I mean my confidence would be in the crapper and I'd be crippled by embarrassment too if I got called up onto stage in front of all those people in what appeared to be my UNDERWEAR!!!  I know!  It's a fashion emergency!  Those are his shorts not his skivvies!!  Wee-Oo-Wee-Oo-Woo-Oo  (That's my Fashion Police Siren!)  YIKES! 

Although he may have been a bit fashioned challenged he was a GREAT sport and I would have never trusted these crazy-fire-breathin-whack-o's!  With multiple near miss Michael Jackson "flaming-Pepsi-hair" moments they somehow managed to put on a great show without turning themselves or anyone else to ASH!

We never did figure out what they were "Puff-the-Magic-Dragoning" out of their mouths?!  Alcohol, maybe?!  I don't know...it smelled like MOTOR-OIL!?  We determined that if the flames don't kill him that toxic TNT juice he's slurpin' most certainly will slay him! 

Notice the guy in the background - filling his cheeks full of magical fire fluid!

 They were blowing fumes all over tarnation! 

Getting ready to start our journey into the

 "Mystical" Night Kingdom.

Posing with one of the magical creatures from the Night Safari

Jelly Fish hanging from the sky!

All sorts of unique illuminations to light the pathway

One of the coolest things we got to witness during the Night Safari was watching a jungle cat go fishing for her supper!  She stood perched on the water's edge.  Watching.  Silent.  Her head would swivel back and forth as she would scan what was lurking below the rambling water service.  Then all of the sudden....BAM!  She lept across the trickling brook of water and SPLASHED into the water and came out with DINNER in her mouth!  I couldn't believe it!  I thought cats didn't like water!?  All I expected to see was her to stick her lightning fast paw into the rushing water and snag a fish or something!?  So when she went PLUNGING...Her Whole Body...into the water we all GASPED!  It was so shocking and so exciting! 

We also got to see rhinos taking mud baths and lions wrestling and playing with one another.  My least favourite portion was the flying squirrels and the bat exhibit!  I think ALL SIX of us might have hit the deck and screamed at least once!?! 

Time to say "Good Night and Good-Bye" to the Singapore Zoo!

Although the jungle might have been WIDE AWAKE it was time for these diurnal creatures to head back to the hotel.  We are heading to Phuket Thailand tomorrow! 

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

I know some of you that follow my blog are not on Facebook (which really is a tragedy) but that's an entirely different subject all together.  I LOVE Facebook.  That's all I'm gonna say.

So, anyhow, here is one of my recent Facebook Posts:



Most days I see the "silver lining" ... try not to complain, find the good (or at least the humor) in my current situation but today I crumbled. Emotionally drained today. I think my exact words to my husband were, "Today, I hate it. I hate it all!" Sigh. Not one of my brighter moments. BUT!!! I'll bet ya my bottom dollar that the sun will come up tomorrow. Chin up. I'm fine. Sometimes ya just have "one of those days" ya know?!

Luckily, currently, as in right now at this very moment, I'm feeling a lot happier then I was when I posted that message.  Kinda makes me think of a story in the Bible.  Maybe you are familiar with it?  The Story of Peter Walking on the Water?!  You can find the story in the Bible in Matthew 14:22-33 but here is the Jenny from the B'Block version (seriously, make sure you read the REAL version and not just mine b/c I'll probably mess it up!) 

Peter was part of an exclusive group of 12 men that followed Jesus everywhere.  In this particular story Peter is out in a boat with the other 12 disciples when a terrible storm comes over the sea.  (I'm thinking Deadliest Catch kinda stormy seas!!)    The disciples are afraid for their lives but they are also afraid b/c they think they see a ghost out on the water!!  "ACK!  Come on!  Guys!  Who believes in ghosts?!  You should know better than to let your mind run away like that!"  Well, then...what was this ghost?!  It was Jesus!  He is afterall God's son - So rather than hopping in a boat to catch up with the disciples well, He just decides He'll just walk across the sea to meet up with His 12 friends. 

Jesus calls out to them in his "Don't Worry - Be Happy" voice,  "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid!"  Now.  I'm not really sure if Peter was just your average over achiever.  Maybe a bit of a loud mouth?  You know that "Hey Look at Me-Show-Offy type?  Or maybe he was legitimately true of heart and I've mistaken his, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water."  I picture Peter trying to make a good impression on his "boss" and looking around at all the other shmucks in the boat and thinking, "You sissies!  I'm not afraid!  Watch this!"  Meanwhile, Jesus simply beckons Peter to "Come". 

I'd be one of the sceptical-fraidy-cat men on boat saying to Peter, "Zoinks, Man!  I-I-I-i-i-i-it's a Ghost!  Don't do it!  Don't leave the boat!"  But not Peter.  He literally stepped out of the boat, out into the tumultuous raging waters of the sea to walk to Jesus.   I'm not exactly sure what went through Peter's mind and I may have him pegged completely wrong.  Could he have been a thrill junkie?  You know, one of those crazy adrenaline hounds that is always looking for their next big "high".  Of Jesus' 12 disciples - Maybe Peter was the Bear Grylls of the group?!  Always up for an adventure?  I mean this might have been the adventure of a lifetime - A fishing trip that turned into a supernatural Ghost sighting and now the offer to WALK on water?!  Peter was probably looking around that boat thinking, "DUDES! What did we pay for this tour anyhow?!  This is amazing!!  Did you just hear Him?  He said I can walk on the WATER!!  Forget that....CANNONBALL!!!

Okay.  Told you that you better read the real version b/c I just got slightly derailed...Back to the real version.  The Bible doesn't mention cannonballs or any crazy water entrance just simply that Peter exited the boat to walk out to Jesus.  Wow!  That's amazing faith, huh?!  I wonder how far he got?  The Bible does say that when he (Peter) noticed his surroundings he was afraid and he began to sink!  He held out his hand to Jesus and He saved him.  The Bible doesn't say how they got back to the boat just that when they were inside the ship the storm stopped.  Amazing.

So, why have I brought up this story from the Bible?  Well, because I feel like I've had a very "Peter" week.  One of my friends, Helen, stated it very well this week when she wrote that India is a "very colorful, crazy, curious and chaotic country."  In all honesty, sometimes it can all be a bit overwhelming, daunting and frustrating.  This week....I really had to fight off discouragement with the 'ole one-two punch.

Just like Peter though I am realising - If I focus in on my current surroundings (For Peter it was the stormy sea, for me, it is My India) there are times when I feel it...I'm sinking.  Nay, even drowning, perhaps!!  But then, if I stop thrashing around - I realize, He's there.  Calm.  Steady.  My Saviour.  Just waiting for me to "KNOCK IT OFF!" so He can rescue me.   He's right here with me.  He always is it's just a matter of whether I'm allowing Him to work through me or if I'm just trying to accomplish everything on my own (very BAD idea!) but I do it time and time again.  Through good days and bad days...my feelings and emotions change by the minute.  Not My Jesus.  He's a fortress.  Steady.  Unchanging.  PHEW!!  What a relief!

Back in the day, Whoopie Goldberg starred in a movie called Sister Act 2 and at the time there was a relatively unknown young actress/singer named, Lauryn Hill that blew my mind.  She along with Tanya Blount sing one of my favourite songs of all time!  An old hymn called, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow"  Powerful and amazing song.  It puts my mind in the "right" place.  Total Goose Bumps!!  Man!!!  This song touches my heart every SINGLE time to think that yes, He sees and watches over even the tiny little sparrow and how much greater His love and care is for ME....for YOU!

---

Thank You God for your care.  Your protection.  Being unwavering when I'm an emotional disaster.  Thank you that tomorrow is a new day and that by your grace - It'll be a GREAT day!

 



Time for a Holiday!

On December 15th we set off for our Christmas Holiday.  Well, at least out of Bangalore for awhile.  Buckle your seat belts - You are about to go on a "Weimann Family Vacation" (Yes, much like a Griswold Family Vacation!)  We didn't get far before Salome called to tell us that we forgot one of our suitcases!  ACK!  "Claudius!  We gotta turn around!  Sir forgot his suitcase!"  So, after a slight detour back to the house for Matt's suitcase, we were on the road again!  First stop - Bangalore International Airport.

 No matter what clock you are looking at - Our bellies told us it was time to EAT!

PIZZA HUT!!

Waiting for our pizzas

The kids watching this man play a video game

on his computer while they wait for their pizza.

Very Proud of their local beer.  I thought the Indian flag across

the nose was a nice touch!  Haha!

After a short safety briefing - The girls declared, "Look, Mom!  We're getting ready to cast off!"

SINGAPORE!!!

Oh my word!  I can't even begin to describe what it was like landing in Singapore.  Those people have got their...stuff....together!  WOW!  Talk about efficient.  Clean.  Everything I have NOT been experiencing for the last four months.  More on Singapore to come but I'm telling ya' - If we were to ever to do an overseas assignment again - I would officially like to put in a request for Singapore.

Already making themselves comfortable in the hotel.  The Little Varmits stole our slippers!

There were four in the bed and the little one said, "Roll Over, I'm crowded!"

So, Rachel is completely "faking it" in this picture.  The rest of them are legit "out of control" and to answer the burning question, "Did they all sleep together?!"  Well, yes, they did!  For the first night, anyhow.  It was a disaster.  The next night they brought in a cot and then they fought over who got to sleep in peace...all ALONE...the other nights!  Siblings! 

Big plans for our first day in Singapore...we're off to the Zoo!  They all went to bed singing the ever delightful but truly annoying, "Daddy's takin' us to the zoo tomorrow...zoo tomorrow...zoo tomorrow....Daddy's takin' us to the zoo tomorrow - We can stay all day!"

Honkin' Huge Singapore Cab!

Great Day for the Zoo!

Absolutely Amazing seeing these guys sooo close.

Kangaroo with her BABY in her pouch!  COOL!

Supposedly, if you were an ape - This guy would be irresistibly HAWT!!! 

DUDE!  They have something for that....It's

called Preparation H...Just trying to help a brother out!

Hungry Hungry Hippo!

Here Monkey, Monkey, Monkey! 
I have a delicious carrot for you!

One of our favourite attractions at the zoo was the elephant show.  What an amazing animal!  Unlike Bangalore, Singapore was hot and humid so we were psyched when we found a spot right down front and in the shade.  Minutes before the show started, with the stands now jammed with sweaty folks, one of the zoo staff voice came booming over the loud speaker to inform us that we were sitting in the "splash zone"....Great.  I know what that means when you're at Sea World.  Does that mean the same thing when you are at an elephant show in Singapore?!  Matt and I exchanged looks of "Seriously!?"  He climbed the stairs until he found a zoo worker who explained to him that "Yes.  The elephants will probably spray you.  Enjoy it.  It'll cool you off."  Hmmmm...yah.  Not so sure I'm cool with that.  Matt told the kids, "Keep your mouths shut!"...not as in "stop talking" but literally as in "keep your mouths shut" that's all we need is to get that disgusting water sprayed into our MOUTHS.  Okay.  Now that those initially formalities were behind us...it was time to watch the BIG (and I do mean ENORMOUS show) unfold in front of us.

Oh boy!  Here they come!!!

Yep.  Filling that trunk with water....You know what's next, right?!  YEP!  SSPPRRAAAYYYY!!!!

Thank God it wasn't more than a light spritz b/c it was making me tense.  I think the lovely speaker phone lady sensed the stress I was experiencing b/c she announced that it was "potable" water and that this portion of the show was over and so we didn't need to worry about getting wet anymore.  FANTASTIC!!  Because no sooner did those words fall from her lips then THIS HAPPENED....

Oh no she diin't....Ah.  Shucks!  Yah, she did!!

That's one big ole Pachyderm Poopin' in da Pond!

Watching in shock, awe and disbelief...

"Ewwww!  She pooped!"

Balancing Act

A Tightrope Turn

  It's official - Even an ELEPHANT has better balance than me.  What an embarrassment.  I'm ashamed.

Show-offs!! ;0)

Time for some Teamwork!

Cooling Off.  We'll take 2 mango & 2 cranberry - To Go!!

Holy Bamboo, Batman!!!

#1 and #3

Aw, Sparky!  We made it to Singapore!

Hey There Big Fella! 

Wow!  The King Cobra!  Had Nooooo idea they got this big and I feel so relieved to know they live in Bangalore (insert sarcastic, nervous warbly voice!)

Nap Time

The kids were fascinated with the Komodo Dragon.  He freaks me out.  Too much 'tude in a little package.

Rarrrrrrr!!!!

Yikes!  Pretty sure there's a reason he's the KING of the Jungle!

Pretty Gal - Catchin' Up on Some Beauty Sleep

We got to watch them feed the lions!

Whatchu Lookin' At Willis?!

Zebra Smiles!

Rhino Snack Time

A great time was had by all at the zoo.  Complete with hot dogs for lunch and dessert at Ben & Jerry's!  Supper....well, let's just say that was a little more unconventional and just slightly more "local" cuisine!  We ate one of the local "Hawker Centers".  Great food on the Cheap!

Stingray, anyone?!

Hahaha!

It's about to get CRAZY up in here!

Who's hungry!?

Yep.  This is how we roll in Singapore!

Some sort of chicken soup thingy!?

Manners out the Window!

Michael "our resident foodie" LOVED the food so much.  He didn't want to share his bowl of food with anyone and he literally resorted to SHOVELING so he could get it in his mouth before someone else tried to sneak in on his cuisine! :0)  SELFISH!!!

Reserved Erica.  Deep in contemplation.

Daddy went back for MORE food!

Full Bellied David is ready for bed!

From a distance we thought these were snowballs floating in the water but we knew that couldn't be right because it was way too HOT out...

Turns out they are white beach balls.  People write their New Year's Resolutions on them and then throw them into the water.  On New Year's Eve they light them all up!  COOL!

I think Mikey thought we was on the "catwalk" struttin' his stuff?!  I was worried he was going to fall into the fountain - But apparently, he AND an elephant have better balance then me!

Some carolers in the mall.  "Clark" just HAD to join in!

We had a fun-filled first day.  I will leave you with this short video of the kids.  Such nice CLEAN bathrooms in Singapore.  I never even had to dip into my secret stash of toilet paper!  Hehe!  As you can see from the video, the kids would have stayed in the bathroom for hours!  Haha!  It's the SIMPLE things, right?!  More to come.  Stay tuned!