Lunar New Year in Singapore

We packed our bags and left the relative chill (51°) of Hong Kong behind for the past 4 days, setting off for a destination closer to the equator: Singapore. Our daily urban combat on HK's streets gave way to leisurely strolls along riverfront promenades, al fresco dining and an unbeatable cultural experience over the Lunar New Year. Deemed “Asia Lite” by some because of its immaculate streets, sophisticated populace, and chewing gum free sidewalks, Singapore set the perfect pace for a relaxing Chinese New Year holiday.

My father has been quite seriously ill over the past couple of weeks and it has been weighing extremely heavily on the minds of Lizzie and I, made worse by being on the other side of the globe. I've not yet returned home to attend to the matter and to join the family support effort but plan to do so in short order. Meantime, it felt oddly appropriate to get Ingrid and Lizzie out on our first official family adventure as a fitting gesture to the man who introduced me to so many memorable family road trips.

Using soon-to-expire air miles to fly there allowed us to guiltlessly shell out for a room at the fabulous Fullerton Hotel. "A six-star masterpiece of understated comfort and elegance" is how its website proudly back pats itself. To think it was nary a year ago we were traveling the world and were ecstatic to secure a room in a $10/night fleabag hostel with a locked door and a fresh towel. Undersplurging then, oversplurging now. But this place was awesome and best of all it's located smack in the middle of anything that matters in Singapore.

We were pretty proud of ourselves until we strolled over to the Raffles Hotel and realized that we had been bested. Named after the British gent who founded modern Singapore, this hotel truly captures all the colonial charm you'd expect from such an exotic locale -- Elegant rattan furniture, staff in pith helmets, towering banana trees, the full 9. Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham and other greats found the necessary inspiration from the hotel to pen classic novels. Don't know how they afforded a room there though, let alone its signature Singapore Sling in a souvenir flute at an extortionate $30USD. But the place is a classic, right down to the impressively turbaned Sikh doorman, a vestige from the days of the English empire. But he lost all street cred when we bamboozled him into posing for a photograph with Ingrid. And of course the hotel is not above selling a stuffed version of the doorman in its gift shop, and we weren't above buying one. The pictures bear witness that Ingrid preferred the mini-version.

Singapore is a mecca for foodies with many of best delectables being sold at hawker stalls along the street at dirt cheap prices. The city pulls on strong culinary influences from its large Chinese, Malay and Indian populations. And while you can no doubt find all the foods that would test even Anthony Bourdain's gag reflex, you can also easily find a huge array of delicious local dishes. We ate plates of satay, fried noodles, fried chicken and Char Kway Teow at next to nothing prices. We went upmarket one night for a Chili Crab feast at a place called Jumbo Seafood, not quite what I'd expected when I asked the concierge for a 'not too touristy' place, but it too was awesome. Delicious food quashed by a mug of Tiger Beer. I'm definitely fatter today than I was a week ago!



The Bjorn stayed at home as we feared the humid temps would turn me into a walking puddle, so Ingrid's new pink stroller made its maiden voyage on the trip. When she's clobbered out in a head-to-toe pink outfit and being pushed around in that stroller you half expect a crowd of paparazzi to start giving chase. She's a bit of a spectacle, particularly when rolling past the many women of Singapore's Muslim community who are suffering the tropical heat under headscarves or fully decked out to the wrists in a hijab. Their stares give away either jealously or extreme contempt, maybe a little of both. But Ingrid pays no mind. I’m fearful of the monster we’re creating, one whose first words will be "Dahhhling" or some Zsa Zsa Gabor quote.

A very nice Singaporean family nearly abducted Ingrid after falling in love with her in the lobby of the Asian Cultural Museum. She is such a ham. She draws people in with the smiles and the eye contact, and when they are close enough she reaches out and tries to grab their nose. Picture from L to R are Janet, Ingrid, Doris, Victor and Jasmine.

Ingrid made her first swimming pool appearance, donning the cute little swimsuit that Auntie Christine gave her. She was cool, calm and collected as she splashed around under mommy's close guidance.


Her little Dragon one-sy was a big hit, though she had her Zodiacal signs mixed up. But I suppose it's better than a one-sy covered in rats.

This is what serves as an Asian seat belt as we bounce around from taxi to taxi.


It’s a difficult time for us, but this was a wonderful family holiday.

Happy Chinese New Year, Kung Hei Fat Choy!