This will be our last blog from Singapore as we will leave tonight for the US via France. The first leg of the journey should be fine since we will be back on Singapore Airlines. We hope to be able to sleep on the United flight from CDG to Washington Dulles so that we will be able to make the drive from Northern Virginia back to NC on Wednesday evening. We will be beat by the time we get back! Fortunately there are two of us as it would be really tough to do this alone.

Our time in Singapore has been a short one, but really nice. Shuwen had not seen her Kor-kor (big brother) in over 3 years and we all got to meet his fiancée, Cynthia for the first time. Mama and Papa both seemed very happy to have the whole family back together. We had many good meals at home (compliments of Edelina) and outside together as a family. Marc continues to amaze everyone in his willingness to try all foods and his appreciation for spicy food.

It was also so nice to have the whole family working together to make sure things were in order for the tea ceremony and dinner we had on Saturday. Mama in particular had put in a lot of time and work. It was a lovely affair that was not over the top (except for the lobster entrances) like most Chinese wedding dinners. The restaurant manager must have thought it weird that we did not want a “grand entrance of the bride and groom”, or the big wall hanging with our names written in two hearts.

We spent the last 2 days taking things at a more leisurely pace. This morning we went for a walk at the Botanical Gardens with Mama, and Marc ran home from there. He is finally almost completely recovered from his cold and is sounding normal again. This may have been the result of trying a variety of Chinese herbal concoctions and eating lots of ‘cooling’ fruits such as mangosteens, guava, asian pears and a coconut.

In the afternoon we went into Chinatown to pick up a few things. It seems like it always rains on days when we leave a place as it was raining most of today. We will have a simple last meal at home before heading to the airport tonight. Wish us good travel luck!

~ Shuwen and Marc