LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA

Happy 2 Year Anniversary to Us 

(insert mushy sentimental stuff here)! 

Obviously, I capitalized on the occasion by booking a weekend getaway to Langkawi, Malaysia.  Langkawi is an island in the Andaman sea, and only an hour flight on Silk Air (the budget version of Singapore airlines).  It has plenty to do, but we opted to skip the touristy attractions and park ourselves at our colonial-style resort The Danna.

BATAM, INDONESIA

After a jam-packed few weeks,  Jim and I decided it was time to slow down and I knew just the place  - Tempat Senang!  Last year, I spent one of the most blissful weekends here with my girlfriends, and have been dying to get Jim there.  Tempat Senang is a luxury spa resort in Batam, Indonesia - a quick 30 minute ferry ride across the strait of Singapore.  Easy, Cheap and Scenic.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong is only 3 1/2 hours away, but it could not feel more different than Singapore!  It only took us about 10 minutes to remember how much we loved the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong.  The city itself is gorgeous and steeped in rich culture everywhere you look.

Formula One Singapore

It's the most wonderful time... of the year....

Vroom! Vroom! That's right - it's Formula One Time! 

 Singapore starts setting up for the race a few months ahead of time, so there is much anticipated excitement by the time race weekend arrives.  The city truly comes alive, and the official celebrity watch is on! 

BALI, INDONESIA

Slow Clap for Bali.  Hands down in the running for our favorite trip. 

As you may recall, our Bali trip last summer was cancelled due to volcanic ash closing the airport.  We finally got around to re-booking the trip, and feel foolish for waiting so long!

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Our celebratory 31st Birthday Trip was to Ho Chi Minh City, formally known as Saigon (any reason for another vacation - right?).  We immediately took to the patchwork cityscape of HCMC with its high-energy vibes, fabulous food, and tumultuous history.

TOYKO, JAPAN

Kon'nichiwa! 

On the way back to the red dot, Jim and I made a pit-stop in Toyko.  Toyko had been on our bucket-list for quite some time, and we can finally confirm it is as delightfully weird as everyone says. From the whacky fashion to the animal cafes - its quirky colors shone brightly from the moment we landed. 

CHICAGO

USA! USA! 

It had been 5 months since Jim and I were stateside, so we headed home for a much needed visit filled with family, friends, Chipotle, Target and Miller Lite.  You realize how long 5 months truly is when you see how big your nephews/niece have gotten.  

MARGARET RIVER, AUSTRALIA

G'Day Mate!  

Jim and I just returned from a fabulous week down under in Western Australia.   Most of our time was spent in the Margaret River region (aka the wine region).  It is only a three-hour drive from Perth, but driving on the opposite of the road with kangaroos popping out like deer definitely made it more interesting. 

LUANG PRABANG, LAOS

Luang Prabang is a Unesco World Heritage City that was re-oped to tourism in 1989.  The town has a sleepy vibe with wooden houses and french architecture situated on the expansive Mekong River.  We truly enjoyed experiencing the magic of this town.. even if it was in 110 degree heat! 

Bryar in Asia

The 21 hour flight to Singapore is a commitment.  I was fully aware of this from day one.  However, when people asked which friend would come visit, my only reply was - Bryar.  Emily Bryar is one of my dearest and most adventurous friends.  Her outgoing and spirited personality made her the perfect candidate for a visit. 

The Sh*tstorm

Two months ago, after a relaxing weekend in Chiang Mai, Jim and I were ready to crash for the evening when a literal sh*tstorm blew into our apartment.  I will never forget the sentence that started it all "Jenna, is it normal for our toilet to be bubbling"?

BEIJING

Can you say you lived in Asia for over a year if you have not visited the Great Wall?  Jim and I finally decided enough was enough - and we headed off to arguably the most famous landmark in Asia.

On the day we were scheduled to travel to Beijing, we both woke up sick (of course).  Thankfully, we were first ones at the medical clinic and were both on meds before our red-eye flight out.  Beijing is about 6 hours away (much further than we initially thought) and the Chinese visa cost a cool $250 a person. It was all worth it in the end as Beijing may be my favorite trip so far!

THE ROGERS' FAMILY DOES SINGAPORE

There are very few things that excite me more than my nephews and niece.  So you can imagine my level of excitement when one of my nephews came to Singapore for 9 days of playtime!

Chiang Mai

Chinese New Year is the most celebrated holiday in Asia and it lasts for an entire month. Singapore declared Feb 8th and 9th national holidays!  To escape the festive craziness, we jetted to Chiang Mai for some relaxation at a Wellness Spa - the Rarin Jinda. 

CHICAGO

Sweet Home Chicago! 

 Right during a spell of homesickness, Jim and I were lucky enough to have a trip planned to Chicago for my cousin's wedding.  We cut the flight close to the wedding, but thankfully we arrived delay-free ; ) 

One Year Singaporean Anniversary

Happy Happy One Year Anniversary Singapore!  

One year ago, tearful goodbyes were said to our families and a plane to Singapore was boarded.  We had never been to Asia and knew absolutely no one – but decided to take the risk. 

Expat life definitely has highs and lows, but over the past year we have learned to deal with the unknown and laugh through it. 

Below is a quick recap of what we learned in Asia 2015 ; )

Vietnam - Hoi An

The last leg of our Vietnam adventure finished in Hoi An, where we rang in the New Year!  Hoi An is the polar opposite of Hanoi.  It is calm, relaxing and toursity. Jim and I really took to the slower pace of Hoi An and it's lantern lit streets.

Hoi An is pretty much famous for three things - tailors, silk lanterns and an old Japanese bridge.  While the bridge intrigued me, I immediately had my sights set on a tailor!  We had a recommendation for Jenny No9 in the cloth market, and it did not dissapoint.  Jenny was so nice, and not pushy like many of the other tailors.  We both got into the process - picking styles and fabrics.  After being measured, we headed to explore along the river before our first fittings.

Vietnam - Halong Bay

Recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage Site, the Halong Bay has thousands of natural islands peaking out of the sea.  It was truly the most scenic place we have visited so far in Asia.

The Halong Bay also signaled our first time on a cruise ship!  We were both very excited (although watching Titanic the week before the trip was probably a poor choice). 

Vietnam - Hanoi

For the Christmas holiday, Jim and I started our exploration of Vietnam.  We started in Hanoi, which is in northern Vietnam.  When we landed in Hanoi, we were stunned by the chilly weather and chaotic traffic.  It was complete departure from our typical beach vacations, which we both grew to love.

Christmas Time

Since the 90 degree weather made it difficult to get into the Christmas spirit, we splurged and ordered the 6 foot, 400 branch tree from a local Singapore grocery store. Obviously, we opted for delivery since we knew we would have trouble getting a tree that size in a cab.  We both cleared out schedules and got ready for a night at home to celebrate Christmas. 

Hen and Stag Parties

Jim and I have been very fortunate to have stumbled upon some amazing friends in Singapore. One of the couples we have met is getting married, so naturally - we celebrating their union in true expat fashion .. Hen and Stag TRIPS!