Bangkok, Malaysia, Singapore June 2023

More travel. More haiku.

Artwork from the wall of Tiong Bahru Bakery, Fort Canning, Singapore.

Bangkok

Siering old giant
Chatuchak with kids is hard
Mud farm, river balm

Georgetown Penang

Art filled allyways
Found archipelago bar
Behind the blue door

Langkawi

Sick child. Sleepless nights
Hot heads, tiny bites, small sips.
Influenza A

Bon Ton Resort

Silk house. Outdoor tub
Same strawberry daqueris
Fifteen years have passed

Singapore

Tiger beers, old friends
New World’s End tour through wet streets
Still, our favourite

Where we stayed

• Royal River Hotel, Bangkok
• Jawi Peranakan Mansion, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
• Tanjung Rhu Village and Villa, Langkawi, Malaysia
• Bon Ton Resort, Langkawi, Malaysia
• Dayang Bay Resort, Kuah, Langkawi, Malaysia
• Thanksgiving Serviced Apartment, Oxley Road, Singapore

Turning 40 in Singapore and Thailand 2022

My new era of backpacking. Railay pier, catching the boat to Koh Yao Noi, Boxing day 2022.

I’ve said a lot about Singapore and Thailand over the years. Now traveling with young kids leaves little time for writing long blog posts, so I thought I’d try Haiku.

Singapore

Warm city of ease,
Lazy river of old haunts,
Age thirty. Forty.

Thailand

Ninth maybe tenth time 
Less banana pancake trail
More zen cat islands

Where we stayed:

• Concourse Skyline Singapore
• Mai Khao Palm Resort
• Railay Village Resort
• Koh Yao Seaview Bungalow, Koh Yao Noi
• Casa Blanca, Phuket Old Town
• Raiwai Palm Beach Resort

Travel with an 8 month old baby…

One of my favorite pictures. Our 8 month old daughter fast asleep on the back of a loud, choppy speedboat traveling to the islands from Belize city.

‘You’re traveling to Central America and Asia with an 8 month old?’ ‘You’re traveling by bus overland across the Mexico Chetumal border?’ ‘You’re taking a baby away for 6 weeks?’ were all questions people asked even more than ‘You’re eloping in Belize?!’

To anyone that knows us (my visit list is up to 65 countries now, hubby’s 35) the answer was ‘of course we are – our 8 month old will love it!’ And she did.

Our route was Australia – LA – Belize – Mexico – UK – Singapore – Australia. 45 days, 8 different beds in 5 countries, 52 hours of flights, hundreds of new faces and experiences.

I’ve honestly never seen her more curious, more happy, or more adaptable. What surprised me the most is how natural it comes to them. She got more sleep on our long haul flights & dealt with jet-lag quicker than both of us! Watching her dip her toes in the Caribbean, charm Singaporean strangers on the MRT and scoff Mexican tacos till her heart is content was utterly worth it.

We found 6 weeks away with a baby a crazy, exhausting adventure, but most of all a huge bonding experience. Our daughter relished having both mum & dad (and grandparents) around her, as well as the overwhelming kindness of doting strangers. Everyone loves a baby. I’d of had one long ago if I knew how useful they are for nabbing the best seats on buses and cutting boat queues :)

There’s so much written about the negatives of travel with children, about baby routines, about jet-lag adjustment schedules etc. People often stress about whether such young babies will miss home or feel secure.

Before we left a friend gave me the following advice, which I absolutely love (in the context of travel and just motherhood in general); “You are their home. You are their safe place. Make all the lists you want of tips, advice, things to pack. All they really need is you. “

Beautiful. Simple. True.

 

Pic of the week; Singapore Stopover

A short and sweet 5 days in my favorite to show our baby where mum and dad first met 2 years ago. Well, that and to break up the marathon Australia flight in Asia and take the edge off the jetlag. And to show off the baby with our remaining friends over a boozy brunch at Cafe Melba. AND because we love a (third!) round the world trip…Ok, any excuse to revisit this city :)

Pic of the week; 1929 Hotel

For one night only; the incredible outside bathroom terrace of Keong Saik road’s 1929 hotel. Some of the best customer service and qwerky touches in the city. (Free unlimited apple juice and iced jems biscuits!)