Two More Days in Paradise

So I've been greatly enjoying myself here with Travis and Jessica. Actually, Travis was working in Vietnam most of the time... something about being important, they can't do it without him, yada yada. Anyway, Jess and I have fun with each other, and with Travis when he's around.
On Tuesday, it rained like crazy and we went to Chinatown. Jess taught me all about Buddhism and riding the bus.
The next day the sun came to pay us a visit, so instead of going out we laid by the pool. No pictures of that, but I have the sunburn to prove it. :)
On Wednesday night Jess took me to happy hour at Morton's bar. The ridiculously expensive martinis were good, but the tiny steak sandwiches were heaven! They hand them out, about every 20 minutes or so, to everyone drinking in the bar. We met up with Kerry at Morton's and then Lara on our way to Clark Quay. Tapas and some people-watching were followed by a night of dancing. We were in a club straight out of the movies!
The next morning we met up with friends again and headed to see Ratatouille. The movie theater was the biggest I've ever been in... too bad I didn't think to take a picture. From the theater, we headed over to the American Club for High Tea with the American Women's Association. In a room full of women from all over the world, almost 20% were from Texas... weird.
Finally, on Thursday night Jess and Travis (home from Vietnam) took me to a "white" party. It was fun to see everyone dressed up and blinged out... Jess thinks this is how I should celebrate my 30th.
Only a couple of days left, and I can say I'd stay if I had the choice!

Jess and I take a double-decker bus to Chinatown.

Shot of a side street in Chinatown.

Jessica checks out the tiny buddahs at the Buddhist temple.

Here we are at the back of the main room. Right after this picture a woman handed us some sweet rolls to take home as a gift.

Girls Night Out

Top left: Kerry and I enjoy steak sandwiches and martinis at Morton's Bar. Top middle: Jess and Kerry on our stroll to Clarke Quay. Top right: A blurry view of the night scene at Clarke Quay. Middle left: Kerry, Jess, and I met up with Lara on our way to Clarke Quay. Middle middle: My feet enjoyed the stroll. Middle right: Having tapas at Clarke Quay. Bottom left: Jess and me strike the usual pose. Bottom middle: Jess and I strike a pose in the middle of a fountain. Bottom right: Dancing the night away at the Ministry of Sound... full of smoky air, but not from cigarettes.

White Party

We've arrived! Travis, Jess, and I enjoying the high life.

I think white is becoming. Don't Jess and her friends look beautiful?!

Two funny guys. Want to be cracked up? Join a conversation with Anthony and Travis.

Here is Jess relaxing with a few more friends.

Jess and I party with Laura, the birthday girl.

Mandalyn is Here!

Mandalyn is here to visit us for a week and we are having so much fun! So far we have toured a little, gone to a party and seen the King and I. We still have quite a bit on the agenda including a high tea, a white party (meaning everyone must wear ALL white) and more touring. Should be a great week!

Our Outings!

The first thing we did with Mandalyn, who was super jet lagged, was a going away party for Malay (not pictured). Mandalyn barely made it through the night but was glad to meet our friends!

The next day we took a tour of the downtown harbour area.

The famous Merlion

And we saw the King and I at the Esplande Theater. It was incredible!

She is a blonde!

The top left picture is the first picture we took when Mandalyn arrived. The others are after she made the change and she looks great!

You've been tagged!

I have been tagged by Gretchen which means I have to list 8 Random Things about myself. I have been thinking about it for some time now and it has been hard coming up with 8 things, I always wanted to be random but it turns out I am pretty ordinary!!
Here goes...
1. I always knew I would marry Travis so I tried to avoid him for as long as possible. That only lasted for a few years since I met him at 12 and we started dating at 17...never to be apart again!
2. I was stung by a scorpion in Hells Canyon. I didn't think I would live through it but it turns out only the black (or dark) ones are deadly. I was stung buy a tan colored one.
3. I was a bartender! I know, you don't have to tell me.
4. I was nearly struck by lightning! Mandalyn, my sister, and I were riding in the opening ceremonies in a Rodeo. There were about 30 other riders in the arena for the crowning of the queen when the lightning struck in the middle of the arena only 15 feet from us. You can imagine the chaos with the horses but that pales to the fact that the man who was hit was killed. (As I am writing this there is a huge thunder and lightning storm out my window. Yikes!)
5. I could hang out in a book store or a coffee shop for hours on end. I don't know what it is but I love it, I guess I am kind of a nerd. Travis never lasts!
6. I have met Bill Gates (tipped me 25 cents when I was a bartender), Danny Glover (helped me with my luggage in LA), Hugh Grant (when I was a nanny for film producer Michael Hoffman), Keira Sedgwick (Hoffman took me to NY for a movie premier and I met her and tons of directors I don't know!), Jimmy Carter (S.Africa on Habitat build), that is my claim to fame!
7. I actually liked Junior High
8. I have never received a speeding ticket or even been pulled over for that matter. I was in a car accident once but the officer did not give me a ticket. I am sure that is all about to change since they drive on the wrong side of the street here and have laws I have never heard of before!
It was hard but I did it! So now I tag Kelly and Amanda!

Shanghai, China

Shanghai

Shanghai Museum- People's square

Shanghai theater

Sky View

The Bund- walk along the river
The forecast said it would rain all weekend but we lucked out and had perfect weather! I don't think many people get to see blue sky in Shanghai because of all the pollution but we managed to get some amazing pictures with blue sky and billowy clouds!

Shanghai City Tour

Travis has been working in Shanghai/Wuxi the last two weeks so I came to visit him over a long weekend. He was still in Wuxi the night I arrived so I stayed the night by myself as well as the next day. It was not at all hard to do since he arranged for us to stay the weekend in the Ritz Carlton! I never thought I would stay at a Ritz but he was able to get a company discount so we were able to stay for a reasonable price! It was great! On my day alone I decided to take a city tour through a tour company. Normally it is a group thing but on this day I was the only one who signed up. I had a personal tour guide and driver all day! It was amazing and my tour guide, Jean, went above and beyond what was expected of her! Here are the places she took me, all pictured above. We started off on the oldest street in Shanghai, top left picture. The next three are from Yu garden, a private garden that has now become a tourist attraction. The next two are from the French concession. This area is where the French people lived during the opium trade and is still a popular place for Westerners to live. Then Jean and I had a huge lunch, which is all just for the two of us! And the final tow pictures are from the Jade Buddha Temple where I had this man write Travis and my names in Chinese calligraphy. Jean convinced Travis and I to join her tour for that evening to a Chinese acrobatics show which turned out to be a highlight of the trip. It is amazing what they can do with their bodies! It turned out Jean was our tour guide the next day on our Water Villages tour. She was great and I would highly recommend her to anyone visiting Shanghai!

Suzhou private garden

Acrobatics show!

These are real spinning plates! We saw some fall in the middle of the show! (Sorry the video does not work. It is pretty cool because they walk across each other's shoulders and then one lady does a head stand on another lady's head, all while still spinning the plates! Incroyable!)

Suzhou silk factory

Zhouzhuang Water Village