Cockateels, Giraffes and Tapirs but don't forget the DOG

Friday, January 14, 2011.

Mark and I debated about going to the zoo but we thought it would be a good introduction to the animals of Asia. We were pleasantly surprised by the natural surroundings of the place. The loud hollers of the Siamang monkeys greeted us at the entrance. Peeking over the boardwalk, we passed right by a caiman camaflouged on the rock. Over the course of the day we saw some pretty neat creatures like the Hamadryas Baboons and what Bella termed their 'pink underwear,' the freaky looking Komodo dragons, the Nubian Ibex with their twisty horns to name a few. We learned some interesting facts like how pink flamingos produce pink milk, that a rhino's horn is actually made out of hair and that a joey dives headfirst into the pouch before doing a somersault. We fed the giraffe carrots and watched the mahouts manouver their elephants. At the Animal Friends Show, Bella put up her hand to volunteer on stage along with 2 other kids. They were each given a hula hoop. Bella was very pleased to receive the gold one. Then they had a friendly hula hoop competition. Bella wins and receives a cockatell stuffie. She beams. She holds the hoop steady as the dogs of the show jump through it. When asked the highlight of this wildlife experience, she didn't mention the
orang Utan (mom's favourite) or the White Tiger (dad's favourite). It wasn't the probiscus monkeys, the giant python, the cassowaries, the warthogs or the interesting tapirs. It was simply, 'the DOG.' Mark and I looked at each other and decided that we weren't going to splurge on taking her to the Night Safari this time around.

Gardens and Red Lanterns

Thursday, January 13, 2011.

With our Singapore Explorer passes in hand, we tapped our cards to enter the MRT line to the Botanical Gardens. We learned our lesson about the midday sun yesterday and decided to visit in the morning hours. The gardens are quiet today and we are greeting by some lovely koi in the ponds at the entrance. We make our way around Swan Lake and watch a swan make a graceful entrance into the water. We notice the beautiful banyan trees and its massive roots descending down the hill. At the Orchid Gardens, Bella is intrigued by the ladies doing what looks like tai chi with colourful fans. It is very graceful and beautiful. We pass the Ginger Gardens and many exotic flowers along the way. Bella, though, is most excited about feeding the fish. We stop for a drink of mango juice and take shelter as Bella tosses pellets for her friends in the pond. We end our walk at the Children's Garden which is absolutely fantastic. Bella climbs a tree and yells directions over to Mark who is trying to get out of the labyrinth. We notice the red bananas growing down, the baobob trees and the giant green gourds on the calabash trees.We smell the many fragrances and are fascinated when the leaves of the mimosa plant shyly fold at our touch. There's a tree fort, a suspension bridge and a giant tree stump to hide in. After a great play in the gardens, we head for some food in Chinatown. As we emerged from the MRT station, a sky of red lanterns dangled from the ceilings.Preparations for the upcoming Year of the Rabbit are well underway. Shops are adorn with red pockets, flashing firecrackers and glittery decor boasting of prosperity. We get lost on our search for a buddhist vegetarian restuarant which turns out to be closed down. Bella enjoyed playing Follow the Leader down the narrow alleys and stopped whenever she saw golden trickets in the windows. We remove our shoes and enter the Sri Mariamman Temple, an old Hindu shrine in the middle of Chinatown. It was a juxtaposition of hindu gods and goddesses and the modern Singapore skyline behind them. Later, Bella bought a fan and mimicked the ladies from the Orchid Gardens. We noted that the horoscope for the Monkey (that's me) this year is fertile with fruit. Bella is very excited. I chuckled since every other horoscope speaks of fertility as well. I figure it's either because it's the Year of the Rabbit or the Singaporean edited version to populate their nation.

Getting our Bearings

Wednesday, January 12, 2011.

Our circadian rhythms were still out of whack today, waking up in the wee hours of the night. We begin our morning slowly with a refreshing dip in the pool. We then ventured down Pansir Panang Hill to catch the bus at the bottom. The high humidity continues to make us groggy. We head to Habourfront where the big cruise ships come in to catch the MRT (mass rapid transit). We first head into Habourfront Center and enjoy the cool air con of the mall. Bella's eyes pop wide when she sees a box with Barbie and a wardrobe bigger than ours put together. We take a picture instead of making a purchase. Looking out into the harbour we see the cable cars making their way to Sentosa Island. It's the home of Universal Studios and resorts. We buy a 3 day Singapore Explorer pass and hop on the MRT. I notice the nice murals on the walls, Bella notices the escalators and Mark notes the safety of the closing doors. All in all, it's the neatest and most efficient transit system we've seen. People line up orderly on the arrows and tap their transit cards upon entry and exit to record kilometers travelled. It's also a very good price, enticing citizens to use transit. From Dolby Ghaut, we transfer lines to Orchard Road, shopping mecca and home to high end wares. Everyone looks very fashionable. I notice that even the buildings are this city are very chic with their curves and angles. The architectural skyline is a beauty to behold in itself. I feel a little out of place with my travel wallet and Keens as Bella and I pose as fashion models with the colourful sculptures in front of PRADA. The store fronts are all polished and speak of money. We have neither so we head into the air conditioned food court to get a soymilk and Subway. We were planning to visit the Botanical Gardens in the afternoon but that exhausting blanket of heat and humidity did us in. We head back to Mel and Will's for a siesta.

A Warm Welcome

Tuesday, January 11, 2011.

As we begin our descent into the island state of Singapore, the silhouettes of freighters and cargo grew larger and larger to dot the habour. A massive traffic jam of activity was stirring in this second busiest port in the world. Changi Airport welcomes us with its orchids and order. We are relieved to see our baggage come out below the sign "A New Journey Begins Now." And so we queue up at the taxi line. We notice the heat and humidity of this new place. Our cab heads to Pansir Panang Hill. We are greeted by Mel at the gate. How wonderful it feels to be meet by a friend in a foreign place. Mel welcomes us into her lovely apartment pad with a gorgeous view of the harbour. Bella is keen to meet her cousin Ashley and it's amazing how 5 years don't need formal introductions. They head to the bedroom and get out the Barbies. Play begins right away. We are feeling very tired and head for an early bedtime. It feels good to be on land again. It's hard to believe that from the 49th parallel, we are now only 137 kilometers from the equator.

A Lucky Toonie and a Loose Tooth

  Sunday, January 9, 2011.

A lucky toonie and a loose tooth marked the eve of our departure. My mom put on a delicious hotpot dinner and we toasted to a safe journey. Bella made a travel wish on Mandy's  'Good Trip' cake and Uncle Jay gave her a lucky toonie for the travels. Grandma also tucked a lucky red pocket into her backpack. We gave Grandpa a hug and headed to YVR. Uncle Tony was arriving back to Vancouver the same evening from Ottawa. We enjoyed a nice chat with Auntie Angie and Tony by the Bill Reid sculpture before checking in. It turns out that not was our flight the last of the night but also delayed. Bella managed some shut eye come midnight on the floor of Gate D55. All night she had been complaining about a toothache. We discovered en route that she has her first loose tooth. With heavy eyelids, we staggered onto the plane and we teased by the first class clients already snoozing in their comfy bed. We managed to get some sleep. Bella was fascinated by the stars when she opened her window screen and later, a beautiful sunrise. We watched the world turn from night to day on the monitor screen and tracked our route in the sky. Mark was astounded by the isles of lights as we passed our Japan. After watching a few screenings of Beauty and the Beast, the captain finally announced our descent into Hong Kong. We managed to make our connecting flight from Hong Kong to Singapore with just minutes to spare. Whew!

As for the loose tooth, here's another Division 4 challenge:
I'm wondering what tooth fairy traditions there are in the countries we are going to. If you know anything about the tooth fairies here down by the equator, let me know. Just in case, Bella's loose tooth falls out in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, China or Australia.

The Fortune

"There is only one journey...going inside yourself."

(Rilke)

At dinner that other night, I opened my fortune cookie. It read, "You will do well when you expand your horizons." That led me to thinking about how the deeper meaning of our venture. The who? what? when? where? are basically figured out, but what about the Why? of this journey. I posed this question to my fellow travellers.

Bella's Wonderings:
"I wonder what kind of languages other kids speak."
"I wonder what fruits I'll eat."
"I wonder if other kids have a zhu zhu pet and what toys do kids play with?"

Anita's Inquiry Questions:
"In what ways will our travels enrich us as individuals and as a family?"
"Why is change good and what lessons are to be learned by living outside the box for a little while?"
"How will my worldview change when I look at the world through the lens of a 5 year old?"

Mark's Response to my question was simply "Why?" and when asked if he could be more specific, he answered, "Why?" My man of many words will be the philosopher of the all expansive wondering, "Why?"

Pau Pau's Beads

" Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." (Emerson)

'Pau Pau' is Chinese for grandmother. On every journey, her wooden buddhist beads accompany me. I remember my grandmother placing the beads in my hands on the eve of my travels in the mid 90's. With a sparkle in her eyes she said, "Go see the world. Do something you fear. Believe in yourself. Trust in others."  With that blessing began my wanderlust and travels abroad. Pau Pau's beads have found their way to Nepal, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and across Canada to Newfoundland over the last decade and a half. Even now, whenever I rub them, they bring back fond memories and remind me of lessons learned along the way. For me, there are blessings ingrained in these simple wooden beads. With these beads I have tried something I feared- my first dip in the Ganges, staying silent in the Himalayas and travelling solo. Pau Pau's bead have shown me the kindness of strangers- at a Delhi train depot in the midnight hour, the one who gave me a hanky in my sadness, the family with the cup of tea. They remind me of beautiful moments with Mark- starry nights in Nepal, a glorious sunrise at Machu Picchu, an autumn canoe paddle out east. Pau Pau's beads are a reminder that there is much beauty and goodness in this world- in its natural wonders and its people. We need to trust and believe in this goodness in ourselves and those around us. My grandmother taught me to open my heart and my mind to all experiences and to live for the moment. I always smile in the simplest moments when the light shines sweetly or when the wind whispers softly for I know there's a greater spirit that still soars. We visit Pau Pau's memorial before we leave.

We bow three times, with respect, remembrance and gratitude. I smile and rub those beads...knowing that we are blessed to be on a journey, this time as a family.

less is MORE

"Less is More"

Yes, it's that time. The final decision on what to pack and what to leave behind. In this process, I find myself reciting the ever wise mantra: "less is more." Luckily, we're heading to tropics where fluffy parkas and heavy boots are not required. Mark and I will each have pack on our backs. Bella will have her own daypack. I have a small camera pack for the front and Mark has a daypack for everyday stuff.
For the record, here's the "stuff" for the road:
Bella's pack: sunglasses, bandaids, id, whistle, photos, skipping rope, change purse, notepad, kleenex, magnifying glass, bubbles, mini flashlight, polly pockets, worry dolls, froggy (for belly breathing), water bottle, Thea Silton and The Mystery of the Dragon Code, and a pink hamster.

Anita's pack: I will carry Bella and my clothes along with a towel, a bar of soap for washing ourselves and laundry, water bottle, toiletries, homeschooling materials, journal, playing cards, cutlery, teabags and my lucky pack of dried mangoes that I start every journey with. And yes, must not forget the tp! Along with a few luxuries- mini kite, a glow in the dark yo yo and black licorice. Lucky Canadian pennies to give to newfound friends. There's four stowaways in this photo. Can you spot them?

Mark's pack: Clothes, medical kit, water pump and purifier, toiletries, electronics (cords, chargers, iPad), sleeping sheets, mosquito nets.

Stowaways: Monty the Marmot with his 3 Canadian buddies- a raccoon, a brown bear and a moose. We still don't have names for our Canadian buddies. Send us your ideas and Bella will choose the winners.

Travel Tips

  "Be sure to bring your fun back." (David)

 A big heartfelt thank you to the class of Division 4, Ms. Ong and Ms. Yip for a memorable farewell on my final teaching day. Your guide book beats any Lonely Planet on the shelf. I'll keep in mind everyone's tips for my travels. Here are a few for the road...
Starting with...Don't be Late for your Flight...Drink lots of water in hot places...Bring a souvenir home from every place you visit.. Don't forget the mosquito spray...Bring your camera...Bring your maps and be sure not to take the long-cut...Don't walk too far or you'll eventually get lost...Dress for the weather...Bring a pocket dictionary...Don't forget the sunblock....Remember to see the worldwide monuments at LegoLand...Check out the Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunter Zoo...Don't forget your umbrella...Double check everything...and always, remember your passport!

 *Division 4 Challenge Project:
We will be on the lookout for animals in these new lands.
You can help me do some research and collect interesting facts to share with us. Here are some species we are hoping to study:
Asian elephants, komodo dragons, oranguatans, butterflies, emus,
koalas, kangaroos, wombats, pandas to name a few. Perhaps you know of an animal native to the countries we are travelling to. We would love to hear from you.
Super Challenge: I'm in search of a species known as the Megascolides australis. Can you tell me about this creature and where it's found?

                  

Puzzle Pieces

"Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down; we'll leave the figuring to those we pass on the way out of town; don't drink the water, there seems to be something ailing everyone; I'm going to clear my head, I'm going to drink that sun; I'm going to love you good and strong" (Indigo Girls)

Bella and I have been piecing together our world jigsaw in preparation for the journey ahead.

At 2 am on Monday January 10th we board our flight on Cathay and cross the Great Pacific to Singapore. It's a long haul...17 hours, with a short stopover in Hong Kong. There, we will spend some time with Mark's cousin Wil and his family. We then depart for Bangkok and on to explore Thailand, hoping to find elephants, wats, buddhas and beaches along the way. Next, it's off to Australia where we will make our way along the eastern seaboard from Melbourne to Brisbane in search of kangaroos, koalas and emus. Our next stop will find us in Indonesia where our puzzle piece speaks of komodo dragons and oraguatans.  We will then need to find our way to the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, China. We meet my family (mom, dad, Aunty Angie, Uncle Tony, Aunty Mandy, Uncle JJ) in Beijing for a family adventure in China. Pandas, the Great Wall and colourful kites decorate the pieces of the puzzle here. The last leg of our adventure returns to our own backyard as we explore the national parks of North America. The big ticket items are booked (major flying routes) and the rest is well, relatively, unplanned. Probably best that way. We are leaving it to a blend of seredipity and spontaneity. We look forward to our puzzle unfolding in the months ahead. We're glad to have you join us on our adventures.