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!
