Day Fourteen - 1 December

Today, we spent the morning continuing Debi's Moplan training ... and called it quits at about 12:30 pm to allow the TIS staff to continue with close activities. We caught up with e-mail, and then left work to take in a few sights! First, we went to Riverside Point for a late lunch (that's me beside the river with the sailors!) --- which is the original port of the Singapore River --- which by the way is sea water --- even though it's called "River"! We ended up eating lunch at a Spanish tapas bar, and I had the tortilla --- and Lauren, your tortilla of potatoes, eggs, cheese, onion, and sausage is much better! but it was good, nevertheless ... And, then to life's necessities ... a haircut! I told you all I would need a haircut in Singapore and a haircut I had! I had the best head massage in the shampoo bowl I have ever had in my life! Plus, the most fragrant shampoos and rinses ever --- ginseng, lotus, and orchid! My "operator #12" - ( I couldn't understand her Malay name - but we communicated just fine about hair) came highly recommended by Greg --- and if she were to move to Dallas, I might just abandon Connie!

Next, we headed to Orchard Road --- one of the most famous shopping streets of Southeast Asia! It's Asia's answer to the Miracle Mile and Fifth Avenue combined! Just such a shopping mecca! Singapore is a city of financial institutions --- banking, trading, investing --- and so there's much money to be had. As a result, the pastime of the city seems to be shopping --- for there is a mall every time you turn around --- and filled with people! And, people with shopping bags --- not just window shoppers! I love Singapore! Anyway, we wandered up and down the street --- waiting until dark --- until the Christmas lights came on! And when they did --- our jaws dropped! What an amazing sight! These people love celebrations --- and we later learned that they observe the same magnitude of celebration with the Chinese New Years and other local religious holidays! They seem to be in a constant celebration mode --- or so we understand! Regardless, it was amazing --- and I am so glad I got to see a Singapore Christmas! Enjoy!