good morning vietnam...

august 1st- weekend in saigon

to start the weekend off right and because we are completely spoiled expats, farah and i had to get some wine in the singapore air gold class lounge before our flight. what will we do when we have to return to the "normal life of american citizens?"

so while dirk was hard at work in australia offshore, i took a weekend off work and traveled with farah to vietnam and met up with her husband in ho chi minh city, vietnam. the weekend was filled of eating, drinking, and shopping... all things tops on an expat vacay.

we stayed at the rex's hotel in the middle of ho chi minh. this hotel was featured in the book "1000 places to see before you die" for its great views on the roof top bar. one down, 999 more things to check off.

mr. ho chi minh himself infront of a really cool building that we never figured out what it was... this was directly infront of our hotel.

mango margaritas at lunch!

restuarant we ate at the last night in town... great food!

fried scallops

fried spring rolls

painting i bought in the market

plate i bought in the market

one more goodbye

august 5th- laura is off and flying to perth, australia!



we wish you the best kirkham family.



they still have dirk hostage down in perth (i kid, i kid) but dirk is still offshore for an undisclosed date to me or anyone else. hopefully he will be home soon. this weekend is a holiday, singapore national day. singapore is 44 years old. otto and i will be celebrating at the dog park and laying by the pool...

in other news... got the all clear from the doctor this week. there is no scar tissue and everything seems to be up and running since surgery. so all good here!

all of laura's pretty ladies at villa bali

Asian Edition

otto has converted...

fun little hat i got in vietnam last weekend, this is what happens when dirk is away for a month. my poor dog, at least he is a good sport about it :) i put up with his snoring and he puts up with my antics!

meet an asian boxer

he might be bored with this....

or i might have interrupted his afternoon sunbathe...

but he fits in so well, maybe more people will like him now?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

july 30, 2009- happy birthday dad!

i am thinking about you and hope you had a great time in galveston! don't work too hard and your present will be coming soon... anything you want from vietnam? knock-offs of any sorts??

personal side note (don't read if you don't want to hear an opinion)... i am appalled at some men. the cheating and unfaithfulness is astounding here in singapore among white men. i hope i don't offend anyone with this post but please, if you live in singapore, are married, and you know me... don't come to the clinic i work at and get tested for every std possible AND please don't bring the significant other in with you (this not being your wife).... so many expats wives away for the summer...

and you know the saying when the cats away.......................................the mice get busy!

good thing i don't know many people in singapore :) it gets more interesting everyday... i am quickly learning what type of mother i WILL NOT be... so God help me!

i was eating lunch today and could not help but smile about the methods/utensils used to eat by four people... one lady was eating an indian dish of rice and curry with only her hands, another was using chop sticks, and another was using a spoon and a fork (but cutting the meat with her spoon not a knife), and me with my sandwich... got to love all the culture!

july 2009- one happy dog...

otto recieved a package in the mail. he says thanks grandma... otto loves this frog and even better he thinks every package that comes in the mail is for him (this is because my mom sends him so many goodies) who wouldn't love this face? the woman upstairs from us... that is who! i don't know if she is muslim or what but she won't let us in the elevator with her and asks us everytime to get out of the lift if she needs to use it... typical singapore style.

love the chinese on the tv in the back ground... so use to it by now!

dog park fun! this border collie and otto got along great and even shared otto's ball really well. i have never had a boxer that likes to play fetch as much as otto.

new friend at the dog park... he is one popular dog there, espeically when he brings toys and his papa who is the only one that plays with all the dogs... otto trained him well :)

love the dog clothes... otto has only been attacked at this dog park a couple of times... apparently people in singapore don't believe in neutering their male dogs so they are very aggressive.

otto will be going to the pet hotel this weekend while i take holiday in vietnam with farah & patrick. we will be doing some shopping and eating while there... stay tuned for pics. can't wait to get off the island this weekend :) no word on dirk... a few disgruntled emails from offshore but that is it... pray he comes home soon and in a good mood?

wherever you are...

it is your friends who make your world (William James)

july 23rd- happy birthday laura!

we celebrated laura's birthday early and had dinner thursday night at p.s. cafe in dempsey hill. we are really going to miss laura and her family as they move to australia next week... can't believe it is already here. the great thing about asia is nothing is too far (except the states) so the kirkham's will only be a 5 hour plane ride away (sounds long but after doing 24 hours... anything under 12 is fine with me).

farah, lou ann's mom, lou ann, laura, and me

p.s. cafe was great... can't wait to go back!