Off to Australia

Heading out in less than half an hour and off we go. Flying to Sydney and coming back to Singapore in a week. Our plan is to drive from Sydney to Melbourne down the coast and then to hit the Great Ocean Drive. Sounds a little ambitious, but super excited to hit the road "en famille."

Any tips are super welcome because at this point all we have is our lonely planet as our guide.

Bring on da juice

Seems like a lot people around me these days are going on juice cleanses, along with yoga retreats but that's another topic, so I thought I'd give it a try, just the juice part. Well, after a mere 24 hrs (or maybe less) I'm not sure that I'm cut out for this kind of diet, actually I know I'm not. I'm starving and think about solid food the entire day. On the other hand, if you think this is your "thing" Singapore is the perfect place for it. There are a ton of juices bars around town and added bonus is that mangoes are in season now. Sun Moon on Telok Ayer is my personal favorite

http://www.sunmoonfood.com/retail.htm

but you should also try the invigorating orange, carrot and ginger combo at

http://www.boostjuicebars.com.sg

Let me know if you have more luck at your cleanse than I did

Kisses from Saigon

Spending a couple of days in the bustling city of HCM. Seems like all is in constant motion here, especially the motorcycles. Honking noises in the streets of HCM is quite something. Think I'll be hearing noises long after I leave.

Have met interesting people here in the past few days as trying to work on a new home linens project that I look forward to tell you soon more about.

Shophouse Envy

Walked around Joo Chiat area this morning and lusted over the Peranakan (early Chinese settlers) style shophouses of the area. Love their pastel color facades. Pastels, isn't that one of the big trends for this summer? Shophouses traditionally housed shops at street level and living space for the shop owners above. Each have their own veranda as to create a protected walkway, very handy in this tropical climate. Singapore definitely has some of the most eclectic architectural styles I know of, undoubtedly a reflection of the melting pot that Singapore is.

Thaipusam Festival

Today I stumbled upon Thaipusam, a festival observed by the Tamil Hindu community here in Singapore and elsewhere around the world. Thaipusam commemorates the victory of the Hindu god Murugan (the patron deity of the Tamil people) over an evil demon. Tamils demonstrate their devotion to Muragan by making simple offerings to temples whilst others choose to show their devotion by self-mortification. I saw men carrying, what I now know to be called, kavadis, sort of ornate costumes but the pecularity is that they are held by pins pierced through the carriers body. It seems that the more the carriers suffer the greater will be Murugan's merit and after watching these carriers singing and dancing I can only hope that it's true.