The new view

Our US appliances aren't functional yet because we haven't been able to use our Indian step-down converters, (you know, the huge electrical boxes we had custom-made for the specific wattage of our different appliances). Our local electician will need to cut the plugs off these monsters and wire up the Singapore plugs. Since the voltage is the same, it isn't a problem except for hauling them over to the shop. H will use a heavy duty rolling suitcase to transport them from the cab to the store. Anyone who remembers me telling H when we moved from California, “Don't bring the electronics or appliances!!!” may hear me clear from Singapore say to him, “I f#@$%&* told you so!” Such is the “bliss” of being right all the time.

Before we moved here we heard such wonderful things about public transportation and yet we have not ridden one bus or train?!!! This afternoon I pour through all the map books I have trying to find a way to walk with a stroller or ride with a burley wagon to the nearest train station. I want to ride the train with the baby but I also want it to be fun and not scary. Tomorrow we drop off our bikes at the bike shop around the corner from our house for a tune up. Then we will begin our bike and train adventures.

It is hard to believe we will be travelling to the states in less than three weeks. And when we return we will have family visiting here. So I have got to take a course in “Knowing Singapore” and get ready for a marathon planetrip with Booty.

As you can see we are back to bare gleaming marble floors again.

But tomorrow deliveries begin and it seems our air shipment arrived on Friday and is going through customs.

Today Booty and I went to IMM, a huge mall in Jurong East that has a number of furniture stores on the third level. Afterwards we took a cab to the quarentine station, which is north of Jurong near the zoo.

One of the more difficult requirements of Singapore is that when your pet arrives in Singapore you are not permitted to visit with them to see how they handled the flight or if the quarentine "handler" has the correct pet for quarentine. You just hand a piece of paper to them outside the airport and they are the only ones allowed inside to take your pet. When we visited with the cats later in the day they were really bent out of shape. Who knows what they endured.But today they seemed in much better spirits, purring and rubbing against me.

Singapore is a friendly place. People constantly smile and engage with the baby. They are helpful if you are lost and will offer up useful information. All the cabbies seem to like children and I think this is generally true of Singaporeans. Many public places have play areas for children. And Ikea has a huge play room and offers babysitting, (which I did not utilize because I am not THAT trusting).

Important to note*
Cabs are super expensive here! If you call a cab (instead of catching one) it costs an extra 3 dollars and if you happen to be travelling during peak commuting hours it is an extra 5 dollars.

Singapore Now.

The Conrad in Suntec city, is the same as I remember but our daughter is not.

Over the last few months S has grown enormously and now the things we did before are very different. Like try shopping with "Me, Mine!". Try eating in a nice restaurant when she is tired. Try getting her back in her stroller. Try getting that phone out of her hands.

Like taking candy from a baby?
They weren't talking about Sunbooty.

And I, my dears, am not the patient kind.

Tonite, at the first sign of an emotional storm during sleep transition, (where she lays on my chest and falls asleep) I put her in her crib and kissed her good night. Lights out. Seeya.

It is true I am working with two hours sleep but one would think given the luxurious surroundings I could go with the flow and order another pot of coffee, glass of wine etc.

This morning was worse after I realized I would not be getting any more sleep. I screamed, "Its not fair!" and H cancelled his phone meeting and took S out for one hour so I could take the edge off my painful fog.

The quarentine station is on the west side of town and it takes one half hour to drive there. The cats are ok but barely eating and drinking. Sissy, the shy one, hissed during the entire visit. She wasn't hissing at me but at the situation, ("Who are these other cats in here?!")Their room is like a tiny dog run, but air-conditioned with a view of the outside.The people running it seemed competent.
Tomorrow we will bring by a bed and toys and some smelly shirts of ours.

We are in a hotel in Bangalore now having moved out of our house. Tomorrow we fly for Singapore. The cats will go into quarentine until 30 days from May 5. Our stuff is supposed to arrive in 10 days (air shipment)and one month, (sea shimpent).

Before leaving India we purchased some local crafts like this portable stool with a painting on it. My favorite "before we move out of India" purchase was a red Rajistani armoir with paintings on the doors.