We spent the day at Sentosa. The weather was lovely.

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We’ve been back since last week and I’ve been very busy ever since.

Overall, our honeymoon was great (but too short)!! We spent 3 nights in Hua Hin and another 3 nights in Bangkok — I regret not going to Bangkok first!! Hua Hin was much better than Bangkok. Bangkok was just not my type of place for a relaxing honeymoon — too crowded, busy, noisy or maybe I’m just a beach person and prefer a slow pace of life!! We took a private car from Bangkok airport to Hua Hin and the journey was almost 3 hrs — cost about 2400 Thai Baht for a single tip (about $100).

Hua Hin is a quiet and peaceful beach place. The people were really nice and the resort (Let’s Sea Al Fresco Resort) was one of the best we’ve ever stayed during a holiday. It has a total of 40 rooms, it’s romantic and quiet, the bed is comfortable (this is very important to me), the interior design is modern and the reception people are very friendly. Breakfast isn’t buffet though (I would have preferred buffet for my breakfast). You can choose from a few sets (american, thai, healthy, low cholesterol sets etc). The beach isn’t crowded but definitely not as beautiful as Mauritius beaches. We didn’t do any sea sports, so it didn’t really matter.

We rented a motorbike during those 3 days — we paid about $40 total. The husband rode us around despite having no license! I think there were many other illegal tourist riders! The motorbike was really useful as it allowed us to explore Hua Hin on our own. We went to mountains, elephant park and simply rode from places to places etc. He enjoyed riding.

After our 3rd night it was time to head to Bangkok. Bangkok was totally the opposite of Hua Hin. It was my first time in this big city. The hotel that we were staying at (The Elegance Suites) wasn’t nice (pictures from their website look nice though). After our 2nd night, we decided to check into Sheraton hotel where we rested and enjoyed our last day of our honeymoon. I loved their dinner and breakfast buffet!

So in Bangkok we visited those famous markets (MBK, Chatuchak, Siam City etc). I didn’t do much shopping though. For sure I am not a shopping person. I’m still amazed how we ended paying $90 because of our excess luggage (10kg in excess). We also had to get 2 backpacks. One for tidbits and the other for the mua thai boxing set which we bought. We also visited Patpong night market. I’ve heard much about the boy girl show and of course I wanted to watch the show out of curiosity. Well, we ended up in the wrong place with lots of sleazy girls instead. We were like fools (we were the only ones at such an early hour - 7pm) sitting there for 20mins. They kept asking for tips, which we gave, but then we left after they kept asking for more.

Here are some random pictures out of the 800++ photos taken … loading time is loooong …

In Hua Hin: Let’s Sea Al Fresco Resort reception area

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The Best Kind of Love
by Annette Paxman Bowen

I have a friend who is falling in love. She honestly claims the sky is bluer. Mozart moves her to tears. She has lost 15 pounds and looks like a cover girl. “I am young again!” she shouts exuberantly.

As my friend raves on about her new love, I’ve taken a good look at my old one. My husband of almost 20 years, Scott, has gained 15 pounds. Once a marathon runner, he now runs only down hospital halls. His hairline is receding and his body shows signs of long working hours and too many candy bars. Yet he can still give me a certain look across a restaurant table and I want to ask for the check and head home.

When my friend asked me “What will make this love last?” I ran through all the obvious reasons: commitment, shared interests, unselfishness, physical attraction, and communication.

Yet there’s more. We still have fun. Spontaneous good times. Yesterday, after slipping the rubber band off the rolled newspaper, Scott flipped it playfully at me: this led to an all-out war. Last Saturday at the grocery, we split the list and raced each other to see who could make it to the checkout first. Even washing dishes can be a blast. We enjoy simply being together.

And there are surprises.

One time I came home to find a note on the front door that led me to another note, then another, until I reached the walk-in closet. I opened the door to find Scott holding a “pot of gold” (my cooking kettle) and the “treasure” of a gift package. Sometimes I leave him notes on the mirror and little presents under his pillow.

There is understanding.

I understand why he must play basketball with the guys. And he understands why, once a year, I must get away from the house, the kids - and even him - to meet my sisters for a few days of nonstop talking and laughing.

There is sharing.

Not only do we share household worries and parental burdens - we also share ideas. Scott came home from a convention last month and presented me with a thick historical novel. Though he prefers thrillers and science fiction, he had read the novel on the plane. He touched my heart when he explained it was because he wanted to be able to exchange ideas about the book after I’d read it.

There is forgiveness.

When I’m embarrassingly loud and crazy at parties, Scott forgives me. When he confessed losing some of our savings in the stock market, I gave him a hug and said, “It’s okay. It’s only money.”

There is sensitivity.

Last week he walked through the door with that look that tells me it’s been a tough day. After he spent some time with the kids, I asked him what happened. He told me about a 60-year old woman that had a stroke. He wept as he recalled the woman’s husband standing beside her bed, caressing her hand. How was he going to tell this husband of 40 years that his wife would probably never recover? I shed a few tears myself.

Because of the medical crisis. Because there were still people who have been married 40 years. Because my husband is still moved and concerned after years of hospital rooms and dying patients.

There is faith.

Last Tuesday a friend came over and confessed her fear that her husband is losing his courageous battle with cancer. On Wednesday I went to lunch with a friend who is struggling to reshape her life after divorce. On Thursday a neighbor called to talk about the frightening effects of Alzheimer’s disease on her father-in-law’s personality. On Friday a childhood friend called long-distance to tell me her father had died. I hung up the phone and thought, This is too much heartache for one week.

Through my tears, as I went out to run some errands, I noticed the boisterous orange blossoms of the gladiolus outside my window. I heard the delighted laughter of my son and his friend as they played. I caught sight of a wedding party emerging from a neighbor’s house. The bride, dressed in satin and lace, tossed her bouquet to her cheering friends. That night, I told my husband about these events. We helped each other acknowledge the cycles of life and that the joys counter the sorrows. It was enough to keep us going.

Finally, there is knowing.

I know Scott will throw his laundry just shy of the hamper every night; he’ll be late to most appointments and eat the last chocolate in the box. He knows that I sleep with a pillow over my head.

I guess our love lasts because it is comfortable. No, the sky is not bluer:
it’s just a familiar hue. We don’t feel particularly young: we’ve experienced too much that has contributed to our growth and wisdom, taking its toll on our bodies, and created our memories. I hope we’ve got what it takes to make our love last. As a bride, I had Scott’s wedding band engraved with Robert Browning’s line “Grow old along with me!”

We’re following those instructions. “If anything is real, the heart will make it plain.” There are some people who meet that somebody that they can never stop loving, no matter how hard they try. I wouldn’t expect you to understand that, or even believe it, but trust me, there are some love that don’t go away. And maybe that makes them crazy, but we should all be blessed to end up with that somebody who has a little of that insanity. Somebody who never lets go. Somebody who cherishes you forever.

Hope you find this kind of love in your life.

Christmas was spent at home. I think every year I spend my Christmas at home with my family and to me that’s how it should be spent… with the family and loved ones! Christmas eve was just between the boy and I — well, we didn’t do much. We bought some normal food, ate, watched TV (been watching the Travel & Living channel more often lately — I like their “Christmas Special”), played games on play station and slept way before the stroke of midnight!! Yeah can you believe!?! We were both oh so tired.

This morning (on Christmas day) my alarm rang at 7am. It was time for a morning workout. The boy also woke up and came with me to the stadium. I did my second 5km time trial run on track (my first was last week). This time I ran in 22:55, about 30 seconds of improvement hehe. My body still ached from Sunday’s weight training. Tomorrow’s just gonna be some light 1km interval.

And as we walked back home hand in hand we stopped for a while…

“I love you”
“I love you”

*grin*

Merry Christmas

*smile*

Once again the boy and I — and of course my fatty cat — wish you a Merry Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

This pic was taken after he’s smashed played with a cockroach and I managd to video it. Video soon.

[Edit] - Met sis, bro and in-laws this afternoon.

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The boy bought Haagen Dazs. I’m not much of an ice-cream person but I would have preferred to have some Ben&Jerry instead hehe.

– Man Utd is currently leading 2-1 hehe

My weekend at Desaru Beach was nice. I had a good rest, a good tan and a good time with my darling. Here are some pictures.

Our passports

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