OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!: June 2014

Update

On my last day of 28 years old, I decided I should try and get this blog up to date. I'm still about 2 months behind but I'll try and get this done shortly.

My big news though, is that I'm wrapping up my time in Singapore as I've been offered a position in the Sydney office. Pending my visa gets approved by the government, I should hopefully be heading down to Australia in July. It's another 2 year contract so it looks like I'll be overseas a little while longer (sorry Mom & Dad but it's closer to home than Singie!).

I'm very excited for this new opportunity to explore somewhere new! I'm sad to leave my friends in Singapore but I'll still be back a bit for work and weddings next year.

Apparently I can't stay in one place for too long...a rolling stone gathers no moss!

Hong Kong 7's

Ever since I moved to Asia, one of the items on my Asia bucket list was to go to Hong Kong for the Rugby 7's tournament. I had heard stories about this weekend and was determined to go see if before my time in Asia was over! This year in coincided with a friend's 30th birthday so it was a great weekend to go!

Friday night I got in late and met the group in Lan Kwai Fong which is a district of Hong Kong known for it's bar and club scene. I have never seen more people crammed in one place in my life. You could barely move to walk down the street...like a salmon swimming upstream...trying to fight the people taking Jell-O shots and shots out of large medical syringes in the street. It was quite the sight!

On Saturday we went to the rugby tournament and had to dress up in costumes as it's almost a mandatory rule (unspoken of course). Our group went as Minions from the Despicable Me movie. Our costumes were pretty tame compared to others we saw! They served alcohol in jugs which was convenient so we didn't have to keep running to the bar. It was a long day of rugby, i.e. drinking, but I'm glad I can say I went!

Sunday I did a bit of touristy stuff before going to the airport. I didn't get to see much of Hong Kong itself but enjoyed what I saw. I also saw some great places to go shopping but didn't have time to browse...I'll have to go back!

First night in Hong Kong in Lan Kawi Fong...so many people!

Elevator selfie

Mark with one round of drinks

The rugby stadium

The Minions

Trying to do some sightseeing from The Peak, but it was too foggy :(

Chinese herb shop - just like Chinatown in SF!

The Stoddart Family goes to Chiang Mai

While my parents were in Singapore, I thought it would be nice to take them somewhere that was outside of Singapore. We decided to head up to Chiang Mai, Thailand for the weekend. Once my mom heard that there were elephants camps, she was sold!

We spent two nights in CM. On the first day we had a guide take us around to see some factories - silk weaving, lacquerware, wood carving and silver. We then went and saw a Buddhist temple that has been around for 500 plus years.

On the second day, we went to the Elephant Nature Park which is a sanctuary for abused and hurt elephants. At the Elephant Nature Park we had very close interaction with these beautiful animals! We fed them, bathed them, walked around with them. It was a wonderful day!

At night time we went around the markets to see the crafts and goods that were for sale. Most of it wasn't too great but we did buy some great MC Hammer type pants. So comfortable!

On the last day we did a little trip out of Chiang Mai before heading to the airport to see the Bhubing Palace (where the Royal Family stays in the winter) and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep which is a temple on top of the mountain.

It was great to see some of Asia with the parental unit...Singapore is so clean and efficient that it's sometimes nice to see something different...and Chiang Mai was!

Our room at Yaang Come Village - 3 peas in a pod

I think he's a tourist?

Weaving silk scarves at the silk factory

Buddha

Mom feeding the elephants

Family picture in front of the elephants

This guy was massive

Bathing the elephants

Doi Suthep

Family picture at Bhubing Palace. I had to wear a coverup as I was dressed 'inappropriately' in shorts and a tank top. Same with my pops - he could wear shorts. We were styling.

Mom & Dad's 2nd Visit to Singapore

The parental unit came to Singapore in March for the 2nd time. This time they were able to see some of the sights that they didn't get to see last year - they were too busy helping me put my apartment together during their first visit. This time we had a BBQ on my roof deck with some of my friends, went to Gardens By The Bay, ate at Din Tai Fung a few times and just hung out in Singapore prior to heading to Chiang Mai for the weekend. Another post to come on that!

Here are some pictures from their time in Singapore:

Enjoying a bottle of Peju on the roof - a Stoddart family tradition

Gardens by the Bay

Mom and I at Gardens by the Bay

Dad's masterful work on the BBQ

Having Singapore Slings at the Raffles Hotel

On top of Ku De Ta

A reenactment of how my mom tells people to quit getting in the elevator when there is no more room left...

Skiing in Japan for Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is probably the biggest holiday in Singapore (even bigger than Christmas). This year we got a long weekend so a group of friends and I went to Japan for a week to go skiing. We went to Niseko which is on the island of Sapporo; well north of Tokyo. Niseko is known for it's insane amount of snow, specifically powder. It snowed every day we were there, sometimes up to 6'' over night.

We had a lift pass that allowed us to go back and forth between 4 resorts on the mountain. They were all interlinked at the top so we could ski a different resort during the day and still ski back to our chalet which was on the bottom of the Grand Hirafu resort. I originally started the trip on skis but decided after a few days to switch to a snowboard which I was much more comfortable with. The powder was absolutely amazing...so much so that it didn't hurt when I fell!

Niseko was full of great bars and restaurants too. If I ever get the chance, I'd love to go back!