Singapore: Last Call (November 2013)

We had been on the road for 2 months, traveling from country to country not knowing what lies ahead and who we would meet along the way. Arriving in Singapore was bittersweet. It’s a great city, very modern, comfortable and picturesque, but it meant we were at the end of our journey.

Our first day in Singapore was a rainy one. Not just your standard drizzle, we’re talking torrential downpours. We did our best to wander around, but the rain was getting the best of us plus we were just exhausted. So whenever we would get to this point, we headed to the local theater. After seeing a movie and letting the rain settle down, we went over to the waterfront area to get a good view of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel laser light show. It was an extravagant event like most things in Singapore.

Thankfully the rain gave up and we enjoyed the next full day nice and dry. We went over to Universal Singapore where we walked around the aquarium with the largest tank in the world. It was very impressive. I’ve never seen a tank of sea creatures with stadium seating. Aquariums are always fun to walk through, and the shark tank tunnel was particularly exciting!

After exploring Universal and a traditional Singaporean lunch at a hawker center, we walked back over to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel area where we strolled through the gardens. The highly architectural walkways and greenhouses were like nothing I've ever seen.

We had a couple hours before we had to catch a cab to the airport to make our big trek back home. Word on the street is you can get to the top level of the Marina Bay Sands for free if you go to the bar instead of the “observation deck” which happens to be right next to the bar. So we enjoyed a final rooftop cocktail! It was the perfect place to soak up the city and reflect on the journey we just completed.

   

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand: Traditional Thanksgiving (November 2013)

Celebrating Thanksgiving outside of the US always brings a unique approach to the traditional American holiday. The first Thanksgiving I spent out of the country was in 2011. I was in Cape Verde, Africa visiting a dear friend who was serving in the Peace Corps. We spent the day relaxing and cooking, then enjoyed a delicious meal slightly altered than traditional foods, which we shared with old and new friends.

This Thanksgiving abroad was just as special. We started the day on Koh Lanta, paddleboarding around the cove. The weather was a little gloomy, but the water was beautiful, and there’s no better way to start a holiday than paddleboarding around the Andaman Sea.

Next stop was the island of Koh Phi Phi. We had been enjoying a relaxing couple days on Lanta, so Phi Phi is the natural destination to spice it up a bit due to its party hardy reputation with mixed reviews. After finally finding a guesthouse, which was located above a pirate themed restaurant and ended up being nicer than expected, we spent the afternoon roaming around the island… shopping, eating and drinking per usual.

That night we had our Thanksgiving feast at a German or Austrian or something restaurant. Unable to find a turkey on the island we improvised with comfort foods such as sausage, mashed potatoes and other close substitutes. After stuffing ourselves, we hit the town, which meant beach bar after beach bar. In the middle of an intense round of flaming limbo (literally on fire), who do we see… the Brazilians, again! Our friends who we met in Vietnam and also ran into in Cambodia were now dancing the night away at the same exact beach bar on this tiny Thai island!

I was resistant to go to Phi Phi. At first it sounded crowded, dirty and not what I was in the mood for at the time. It was crowded and not exactly the cleanest place, but it turned out to be my favorite night of the trip, dancing with old friends and getting to know new ones.  I haven’t been with my family for Thanksgiving in 5 years, but whether out of the country or serving up the big meal in my little apartment for 10 friends, it will always remain one of my favorite holidays.

Everyone has their own Turkey Day traditions. I might not have turkey or watch football every year, but I’ve been fortunate to be able to spend all Thanksgivings with good company, and I’m hoping to keep that tradition alive for many more years to come.