I’ve arrived and am nicely set up at our hotel, where we received a free upgrade to a harbor-view room for checking in at 2 a.m. I can see the Merlion from our balcony! Wish you were here!
Hello, Singapore!
Two for the Road
The first time I watched the 1967 film “Two for the Road,” it literally made my stomach hurt and blood pressure rise. When Chris and I got our marriage license I asked someone entering the courthouse to take our photo. He took the camera, focused and said, “Here’s some advice for you—don’t get married!” Well!…
The Summer of Awa Odori
Rain sprinkled across my windshield as I pulled into the JMSDF building where we costume up. But thankfully by the time we boarded the buses to Higashi-Rinkan the cloud layer had risen and the evening was beautiful, if humid. Tonight was even more fun than yesterday. We knew the route; we knew the drill. We’re…
Higashi-Rinkan Awa Odori Festival
Our Awa Odori routine has slight variations: short and long; version A or B; with or without the important people’s interlude in the middle. The first time we got the passback for long version A today I tilted my head and did a dramatic Japanese, “EEEEEeeeeeehhhhhh?” The lead girl started to explain it again slower…
Genki Ondo in Yamato
I love summer in Japan. I love mincing along in my yukata to the train station as the sun sinks behind the mountains, illuminating a dark silhouette of Fuji. I can smell the fish my neighbor is cooking for dinner and incense smouldering at a local shrine. A breeze picks up and the evening star…
Singapore Blue Moon Salad
I’ve been dreaming of Singapore lately because exactly a year ago Chris and I were shopping the markets of Little India and the Arab Quarter buying silk scarves, chopsticks, teapots and a duvet. In a cramped medicine shop near Chinatown’s Buddha Tooth Temple I found honeysuckle tea for my mom and me. That sounded like…
Hi Honey, How Was Your Day?
“The helicopter on deck on the very front of the carrier….that’s me with my rotors turning waiting to take off after just having landed for fuel.Love, Chris”