Business is Good!

All Hail FREE Business Class!The computer beeped ominously as our boarding passes were scanned.  The Qatar Airway representative fervently worked to clear the issue, but soon asked us to take a seat and await further instructions.  What had we done?  Why were we flagged in the reservation system?  Would we make our flight from Singapore to Denpasar (Bali) Indonesia?  The questions became more exaggerated as we awaited additional information.

Eventually the airline agent approached us and alleviated our concerns; we had been upgraded to business class seats...A message made all the more sweet because our imaginations had whipped up visions of stolen identities, delayed departures and intrusive secondary screenings.

Qatar Airways offers world class service and the premium seats were amazing.  Push one button for pulsating back and leg massage.  Select another and your seat automatically reclines into a completely flat sleeping surface.  Healthy and delicious meals were served, accompanied with exotic fresh fruits.  Qatar Airways surprised us in the best way possible, providing a fun experience and fond memory. 

Striking Balance in Singapore

Singapore is a city of contrasts.  Tall, modern buildings cast shadows over little houses which seem to exclaim, “Ha ha city – I will not yield!”  Skyscraper designs include some very unique structural attributes…We photographed one example in which three buildings were connected by what appears to be an entire city suspended many stories above the pavement below (See The Trip – Photoblogging Our Trip).

Coming from KL (Kuala Lumpur) where all the parks were being overtaken by urban sprawl, it was refreshing to see Singapore’s dedicated and significant expanses of parks, a valuable resource in this vibrant city.  If seeking solitude, one can conveniently visit many beautiful green-spaces or take the train to Sentosa Island for a bit of beach time.

With millions of residents, you might expect Singapore’s public transportation to be a bit “scary”, but it isn’t at all.  The subways and railways are very clean, extremely well organized, and easy to use.  Additionally, rules of the road were respected, so we didn’t feel like we were playing Frogger when crossing streets.  Were these the only things we noticed about Singapore?  No. 

Singapore is a hodgepodge of different cultures and people, each contributing to the unique food offerings such as chili crab, duck porridge, dim sum and chwee kueh (water cakes). These dishes and many others are affordable and conveniently available in markets and food courts throughout the city.  Was there a Hooters?  Yes, down by the touristy riverside; it offered dining diversity, but it would be a pity to eat there with so many other amazing flavors so close at hand.  ;)

P.S. – We have to give a special shout out to our new friends Ivan and Susan.  They took time out of their busy schedules to introduce us to their city for an entire evening.  They are truly two of the nicest people and we feel fortunate to have met them when we did in Manila.

The Americanization of Asia

English Language Sign Example - Monkey EncountersBefore setting off on this trip we were most concerned about the challenges we may encounter in Asia.  Language seemed to be the biggest worry; we envisioned signs displayed in unfamiliar characters and inevitable impasses of communication.  What we encountered surprised us.

English is prevalent from spoken language to street names and store signs.  We always learn key phrases in the local tongue (hello, please, thank you, where do you keep the penicillin, etc.) and residents seem to appreciate our efforts, but we haven't really had to rely on this as much as we originally anticipated.

Having previously visited Europe and now Asia, we think it may actually be more difficult to communicate in some European countries.  We'll verify if this is really true when we head back to Europe this Fall.

Bringing Back Cocktail Hour – KL (Kuala Lumpur), Malaysia

We toasted the generosity of Colleen who used the Bring Back Cocktail Hour feature to sponsor an amazing bottle of Prosecco at Table 23, a small, contemporary restaurant in a great little neighborhood that offered both charm and character. 

After the bottle of bubbly, we moved right down the street for live, local jazz at No Tie Required.  We loved KL and want to extend our appreciation to Colleen for generously sponsoring our delicious libations for the evening.

Left Isn't Right and Other Lessons Learned

Jenn using her Dirty Hand to Eat. Bad Jenn...Bad.We expected to learn a few lessons as our travels progressed.  Below is a sample of those that have recently come to our attention:

1. Left Isn't Right - In Asia left hands are often used for what might be referred to as "dirty work" and should never be used when eating.  Jenn is left-handed and tries to limit the use of her dirty digits when dining publically.
2. Electricity 101 - Plugging a 110 volt surge protector into a 220 volt power outlet will not offer the desired protection for your electronics, and may trip the fuses in your hotel room...and result in a puff of smoke...and a burn mark on the socket.  Enough said.
3. Liquids May Be Too Hot to Handle - Remember the McDonald's coffee in the lap incident in the US?  It has nothing on KL's hot tea on the hand incident of 2014.  It caused a real "sensation".
4. Crazy People Exist Everywhere - Sadly, we've encountered them in Hawaii and now Singapore.  :(
   The good news is, for every looney there are 10 amazingly nice people we encounter during our travels...Maybe even 11.
5. Spontaneity, Pshhh...Forget That - As much as we try to "go with the flow", airlines and the countries we visit have a different plan.  We have to purchase return or onward airline tickets more often than not in order to be allowed into several countries.  The welcome is something like, "We are glad you're here.  When are you leaving?"

We expect to learn more lessons as our travels continue.  What travel tips have you learned in your adventures that you'd be willing to share with us?