Happy Birthday Lil' O

5 years old today my lil' boy.

5 lil' friends just spent

5 really fun days together

Come back soon

Happy Depavali

Today in Singapore, and elsewhere in Asia, Indians are celebrating Deepavali more commonly known as the "festival of lights." Indians light small clay lamps which signify the triumph of good over evil.

Last Friday, I accompanied Rose's class on an outing to Little India. Together we went on a treasure hunt organized by their teacher. The children loved the bustling activity at the local temple, the colors, the women's saris, scary sculptures of Kali and getting henne tattoos. I love that my children can now participate and understand other cultures and most of all that they are interested in knowing more.

Singapore Art Scene

The above pieces hanging in our living room

My favorite Singaporean artist, Izziyana Suhaimi, is having a new show this weekend at the Little Drom Store. My advice is to definitely check out Izzy's show if you're in town. I'm in love with Izzy's work. I love her intricate ink and watercolor drawings with embroidered or knitted details. The works featured at the Little Drom Store are part of her "Friends to Keep you Warm" series. 

Happy Weekend

http://www.thelittledromstore.com/

http://my-bones.tumblr.com

Around the house

Buddhas have recently been popping up all around our house.

When not traveling...

we like to try out new activities.

Figure that one of my roles, as a non-working expat mom, is to expose my Zoros to as many activities as possible in the hope that they will find one they like. Hence, the 20,000k on my car in a year without ever having left the island. Anyway, lil' O loved his taekwando class and he can't wait to go back next week. Bonus (apart from the sooo cool outfit) is that it's 2 streets down for us, so were biking there.

http://www.tkd-singapore.com/s/

Penang Getaway

Penang, another great and easy weekend destination from Singapore.

Penang is an island off the western coast of Malaysia, just south of the island of Langkawi. Back in the 1800's, Penang was an important maritime port attracting merchants from all over Asia. All of these international merchants created a melting pot of different cultures which is seen today in the people and architecture of George Town, now protected by UNESCO.

 There is also an old world charm to Penang. Many of the colonial buildings, dating back to British colonial era, have been preserved including the beautiful E&O hotel. Needless to say, Penang has a cool fusion vibe. Many of the old shophouses are being restored into hip cafes and boutique hotels. Our favorite hangout was Kopi Cine, part of the Straits Collection.

http://www.straitscollection.com.my

/http://eohotels.com/index.php

A year of blogging

Home in Singapore

This little blog of mine all started a year ago...already.

Initially, this blog was just an easy way for me to stay in touch with family and friends. The blog avoided me having to write 15 similar emails describing our life here in Singapore. Once we were more settled and the initial novelty of living in a foreign country wore off, I became lazy with my blog and often wondered who cares to know how it is here? Then this summer back home, I was really touched to hear that a number of you follow our adventures and enjoy hearing from us...  

and so begins, year 2 of our Zoros in the East.

Have a nice weekend.

xxx

Lil' O's first mohawk

Grandpa Ic now wonders (or more likely worries) when lil' O will get his first piercing

Should you want the same "do" run on over to 

JasonSally's salon

http://www.facebook.com/jasonsally.hairdressers

A wet Siem Reap weekend with the girls

One of the perks of living in Singapore is the extensive exotic weekend destinations and so on that note, we decided to fly to Siem Reap. We were so excited to leave kids and hubbies behind that none of us checked the weather forecast. Wet feet, a ghost town and perilous rides through the streets is what we had all weekend. Siem Reap had not seen floods like these in 10 years. In the end, Angkor Wat remains incredibly beautiful and fascinating wet or dry and a girls getaway weekend will always be fun. Some of the temples were closed off due to floods, so I guess all that means is that we'll have to next time remember to check the weather or pack our wellies.

Gogos Mania

Total Gogos craze here at home.

Little O is obsessed with these little "crazy bones" and

for once has no problem learning names and remembering numbers.

Knows his collection by heart and can recite his sticker book

BUT he says he's missing lots...

Please tell me that someone out there is willing to trade with him.

http://gogoscrazybones.com/splash_page_funzone.html

Our homegrown fruit cocktail

Meet our new housepets:

Mango, Kiwi and Banana

3 very young lovebirds

that we have to bottle "syringe" feed x3 times a day

My Zoros are in love with their new babies

and are so far being very responsible parents.